TORAH EMETH: 38Parsha Korach

38Parsha Korach – Korah

Badmidbar 16 :1 – 18 :32

1 Shmu’el 11:14 – 12:22, Romans 13:1-7

Daniel ben Ya’acov Israel

This “Parasha” is for all those who love יהוה to learn that rebellion brings trouble in our life and this is very bad in יהוה’s eye. Read what יהוה told Saul the first King of Israel by the mouth of Shmu’el:

1Sa 15:23 “For REBELLION is as the sin of divination(witchraft), and stubbornness is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of יהוה, He also does reject you as sovereign.”

Rebellion is equal to the sin of divination, stubbornness is equal to idolatry.

Deu 18:10 “Let no one be found among you who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practises divination, or a user of magic, or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer, Deu 18:11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. Deu 18:12 “For whoever does these are an abomination to יהוה, and because of these abominations יהוה your Elohim drives them out from before you. ----- Idolatry is directly connected to whoredom and is punished by יהוה by been cut off from Israel, and for Ephraim to get a bill of divorce:

Jer 3:6 And יהוה said to me in the days of Yoshiyahu the sovereign, “Have you seen what backsliding Yisra’ĕl (Ephraim) has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there committed whoring (idolatry). Jer 3:7 “And after she had done all these, I said ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Yehuḏah saw it. Jer 3:8 “And I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Yisra’ĕl had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Yehuḏah did not fear, but went and committed whoring too. ---- יהוה divorced Ephraim, the House of Israel because of idolatry! It seems today that not so many believers realize how awful idolatry is!

Qorah or Korach was an important leader with great influence among the children of Israel. Let us look at the Hebrew meaning of the name:

Strong’s #H7141 קרח qôrach ko'-rakh From H7139; ice; Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites:

Korah....H7139 qârach kaw-rakh' A primitive root; to depilate: - make (self) bald...--- The name is very interesting as it means: “ice” from a root word meaning “making self bald"!

Have you ever heard about people who are “cold like ice”? It is say of people who have no emotion and are not move by situation. Korach had something in mind and was a carnal man. Please do not forget that the Torah reveals also our carnal nature. Too many times have I have spoken with brethren who have been discouraged to study the Torah because they couldn’t grasp what is the meaning behind the letter. יהוה do not want us to learn Torah just in order to know what happened to our forefathers, although this is our part of the study.

If we don't want to repeat the same errors, we need to study the Torah:

1 Corinth.10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was the Messiah. 5 But with many of them YHWH was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

The Torah is the foundation of our faith which comes once we are in Messiah יהושע. In the time of Moshe while walking in the wilderness, faith was demonstrated by following Moshe, as Caleb and Yohushua (Joshua), all those who came out of Egypt (Mitzrayim) from twenty and above died in the wilderness because they lack faith:

Heb 3:16 for who, having heard, rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Mitsrayim, led by Mosheh?

Heb 3:17 and with whom was He grieved forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses(A corps is a small group of people who do a special job) fell in the wilderness? Heb 3:18 and to whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest, but to those who did not obey?(question mark) Heb 3:19 So we see that they were unable to enter in because of unbelief. ------ Unbelief is lack of faith, trust, “emunah” in Hebrew.

We see here a man, Korach who had a position among the children of Israel, He was a Prince from the tribe of Levite (verse 8), and anointed to serve in the Tabernacle (verse 9). Korach should have know that rebellion against Moshe can only bring trouble, he was witness of what happened to Myriam, Moshe’s sister who was punished with “tsara” (leprosy/psoriasis)by rebelling against Moshe (Badmidbar 12:1)

To understand the context this happened in the 37 seventh year of their wandering in the wilderness (Keil and Delitzsch), just before Myriam died and they returned to the place they were before in the desert of Zin.

You can imagine the pressure when somebody run, following others but has no faith in the one he walk after! How is it with you, have you put your faith in Messiah יהושע, or do you trust in your own strength?

Heb 11:6 but without belief it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. ---- It’s time to understand why is it so important to study the Torah and that without the Torah we cannot have faith, I mean the faith which bring the power to follow Messiah no matter what!..... Listen what Shaul write to the Romans: -- Rom 10:17 So then BELIEF comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Elohim.

Let me ask you; What is the “Word of Elohim”, is it not the Torah?

Isa 1:10 Hear the Word of יהוה, you rulers of Seḏom; give ear to the Torah of our Elohim, you people of Amorah!

Isa 5:24 … because they have rejected the Torah of יהוה of hosts, and despised the Word¹ of the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.

Many other verses to prove. The Torah is directed to the Word of Elohim & to conclude is that the Word of Elohim is the TORAH.

Remember the Torah was read in the synagogue every Shabbat:

Act 15:21 “For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being read in the congregations every Sabbath.”

“From ancient generation”, it was not a new style to be applied on those returning to the Torah, it was from “ancient generation”, and perpetuated from generation to generation. I have already explained that when we read the Torah we take part on the “bread of life”. To walk in the “ruach” (Spirit) is to take the Torah and let it penetrate in our inner man and let the work be done by the Ruach HaQodesh (Set Apart Spirit), the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) in order not to be conformed to this world but be transformed, changed into the image of the Son of יהוה, יהושעHaMashiach that he may be the first born from among many brethren (Romans 8:20).

Unfortunately I have seen many brethren who gave up the reading in order to follow their own ways, finding too hard to study the Torah. Is that not a form of “rebellion” against יהוה?

Korah went on a way which would become disastrous for him and all those who followed him. To learn from our brethren from Yehuda is not false, we may think that they are wrong in many ways, but we also read that the Torah was read “from ancient generation”, at the time of the apostles.

Let me ask something: What was the duty of a king?

Deu 17:18 “And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his reign, that he shall write for himself a copy of this Torah in a book, from the one before the priests, the Lĕwites.

Deu 17:19 “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he learns to fear יהוה his Elohim and guard all the Words of this Torah and these laws, to do them,

Deu 17:20 so that his heart is not lifted up above his brothers, and so as not to turn aside from the command, right or left, so that he prolongs his days in his reign, he and his children, in the midst of Yisra’ĕl.

The purpose of reading the Torah “all the days of his life” was in order “that is heart is not lifted up above his brother”! let me ask you: Are we not today King and priest?

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Who was the “he”, was it not the King?

Deu 17:15 Thou shalt in any wise set^{H7760 H7760} him king^H4428 over^H5921 thee, whom^H834 יהוה^H3068 thy Elohim^H430 shall choose:^H977 one from among^{H4480 H7130} thy brethren^H251 shalt thou set^H7760 king^H4428 over^H5921 thee: thou mayest^H3201 not^H3808 set^H5414 a stranger^{H376 H5237} over^H5921 thee, which^H834 is not^H3808 thy brother.^H251

Another translation:

Deut.15 you shall certainly set a sovereign over you whom יהוה your Elohim shall choose. Set a sovereign over you from among your brothers, you are not allowed to set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.

Question: Who was Herod the King in the time of Yeshua, was he from the tribe of Yehuda? You certainly know the answer: No! He was an Edomite converted to "judaism", a stranger. This was the practice of the Pharisee and against the Torah.

You will say: What has this to do with me to study the Torah? Brothers and sisters I will tell you why it is our obligation to do the same:

Rev 5:10 and made us Kings and priests to our Elohim, and we shall reign upon the earth.”¹ Footnote: ¹Dan. 7:18-27.

Dan 7:27 ‘and the reign, and the rulership, and the greatness of the reigns under all the heavens, shall be given to the people, the set-apart ones of the Most High. His reign is an everlasting reign, and all rulerships shall serve and obey Him.’

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.....

Do you still think that we don’t have to study the Torah?

It is amazing to see Christianity, they are those who have the spirit of Korach, the spirit of rebellion telling יהושע that they also are “anointed” and that they can also be leader of יהוה‘s people. You have just to go to some web site from these “so called great anointed preachers” to see how they, like Korach rebel against the Most High.

When we force our destiny and go against the Torah we found ourselves in danger, but let us read an explanation from Keil and Delitzsch: --- The rebels appeal to the calling of all Israel to be the holy nation of Jehovah (Exo_19:5-6), and infer from this the equal right of all to hold the priesthood, “leaving entirely out of sight, as blind selfishness is accustomed to do, the transition of the universal priesthood into the special mediatorial office and priesthood of Moses and Aaron, which had their foundation in fact” (Baumgarten); or altogether overlooking the fact that God Himself had chosen Moses and Aaron, and appointed them as mediators between Himself and the congregation, to educate the sinful nation into a holy nation, and train it to the fulfilment of its proper vocation. The rebels, on the contrary, thought that they were holy already, because God had called them to be a holy nation, and in their carnal self-righteousness forgot the condition attached to their calling, “If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant” (Exo_19:5).

We can learn a lot from this words from Keil and Delitzsch, today many think also that “they are called”, that they also can teach the congregation, that they also are already “Qadosh” and have the “gifts” to serve. Keil and Delitzsch explain that these kinds of people forget their position and it is not because we are called that we are not “carnal and selfish”. Who is the giver of gifts, is it not Messiah, and who is the mediator between Elohim and man, is it not יהושע?

Eph 4:11 And He Himself (יהושע) gave some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers .....

For which purposes?

Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the set-apart ones, to the work of service to a building up of the body of the Messiah,

1Ti 2:5 For there is one Elohim,¹ and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah יהושע, Footnote: ¹1 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6, Mk. 12:29-34………

Once again we can see the duality and the parallel between Moshe and יהושע. The first was the redeemer of the carnal man, the second the redeemer of the spiritual man……..

Numb.16:2. Keil and Delitzsch explanation: --- The 250 men of the children of Israel who joined the rebels no doubt belonged to the other tribes, as is indirectly implied in the statement in Num_27:3, that Zelophehad the Manassite was not in the company of Korah. These men were “princes of the congregation,” i.e., heads of the tribes, or of large divisions of the tribes, “called men of the congregation,” i.e., members of the council of the nation which administered the affairs of the congregation (cf. Num_1:16), “men of name” (שֵׁם אַנְשֵׁי, see Gen_6:4). The leader was Korah; and the rebels are called in consequence “Korah's company” (Num_16:5, Num_16:6; Num_26:9; Num_27:3). He laid claim to the high-priesthood, or at least to an equality with Aaron (Num_16:17). Among his associates were the Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, who, no doubt, were unable to get over the fact that the birthright had been taken away from their ancestor, and with it the headship of the house of Israel (i.e., of the whole nation). Apparently their present intention was to seize upon the government of the nation under a self-elected high priest, and to force Moses and Aaron out of the post assigned to them by God, - that is to say, to overthrow the constitution which God had given to His people.

I will explain how it is today. Among the congregation we see families going to fellowship with brethren and from time to time we see discord, And when, the head of the family, i.e. the father goes against the leader of the congregation, the all family leave and there is a split, sadly I have seen this happen many times. When we go to an existing congregation our duty is to pray for the leader for guidance and if they are wrong, we chose either to stay and pray or to leave and “close our mouth”, not going into gossip which is like canker(A canker is something evil that spreads and affects things or people.) destroying the body. If a leader is wrong and keep going this way, time will come when all will be brought to the light and the leader will receive according to what he has done. It is NOT given to a member to gossip or to go against a leader unless יהוה has expressively told him so, but tell me today how many among believers have heard directly from YHWH?. We don’t depend on our knowledge in this case, but on the leading of the Ruach HaQodesh (Set Apart Spirit)....Concerning the Reubenite who joined themselves to Korach I want to tell you something which is quite amazing to observe today. If you study the wandering of the Ten Tribes of the House of Israel, Ephraim, you will see that a majority (not only) of the “reubenites” settled in France and therefore France was blessed with the wine (French vine been famous in the all world) has it was one of the blessing of Reuben. Today has judgment has started, vine become a curse for many.

We read from Keil and Delitzsch explanation that they (Reubenites) were not able to get over the fact that the birthright had been taken away from their ancestor!......In France (the land of the Reubenites in majority) it is well known that our present President Nicolas Sarkosy (up to 2012 is in competition with Barak Obama (even if President Obama is not what I thought he was), and want to make things run like it please him, and do not like Obama to get credit for change in the world, even in the European Union, he is always to try to get the credit for decisive changes. Is it not that, He has “the head” of “reubenites” has forgotten that the birthright is no more on his shoulder? This do not mean that Obama is right but he has been put in place, simply that France has lost the privilege they had until 1789, the date of the “Revolution”, when France enforced “Marianne” the “goddess of reason”, burning publicly bibles, the bishop of Paris declaring before the people that “the god of the Bible is a liar and do not even exist”. Since this very day, France has never won a battle on his own, but depended on her “brothers” England and US.

Rebellion has we have seen: rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as wickedness and idolatry (1^st Shmu’el 15:23).

I will show you how יהוה judge in the world, please do not misunderstand me, because if you are in Messiah, you have passed from death to life, from darkness to the light, you have become a new creature. Nevertheless we need to understand what is going on in our days, as Judgment has already started among the nations. This Judgement is different depending on what people have done (ancestors), or are doing right now. If you observe many countries where the people have been under the invasion of the Spanish armies and power of Spain Government, like the Philippines and almost all Countries from South America, you will see idolatry, and witchcraft, the result of following a blind religion based on idolatry and falsehood the fruit of it is misery, and more and more destruction in families. Although people of low condition think to be devoted to “G-d” they have fallen into idolatry and the result of it is that they are under curse. In France since 1793, Catholicism has no more authority and is only a “static” religion without any power.

There are other countries who also have put themselves under curse because of witchcraft and idolatries like India, Indonesia, and many other countries, but I make a difference between those who think to follow the “G-d” of the scriptures and the others nations who will also been judged having followed their own ways after the “g-ds” of the world.

Korach though that has a “prince” among the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel (carnal man), he could pretend to get a better position on his own, just putting Moshe before the fact! Moshe was very angry (verse 15), the Hebrew word say “charah”, meaning: to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy: - be angry, burn, be displeased,

Verse 6-7…….. Take fire holders, Qoraḥ and all your company,……….and put incense in them before יהוה tomorrow…

You remember the censer and the incense in it is a picture of the prayer ascending to the heavenly room where the throne of יהוה is:

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the set-apart ones, went up before Elohim from the hand of the messenger.

……… And it shall be that the one whom יהוה chooses is the set-apart one.(Verse 7);

Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Moshe knew that only by relying on Elohim the matter could be settled.......

Verse 16:13. You have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness……

Is it not amazing that Korach called Egypt (Mitzrayim), a “land flowing with milk and honey”. Looking backward trying to make Moshe been short in the promise made by Elohim: Luk 9:62 But יהושע said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the reign of Elohim.”¹ Footnote: ¹Lk. 14:26, John 12:24-26.

Can you see what יהושע is saying: Once we have started to walk the way following him, if we look back to our former past life, we cannot be counted worthy to enter the Kingdom of Elohim! This is a strong statement, have you checked your way of life, are you following Messiah יהושע with all your heart? We need also to understand the difference today and in Moshe’s days. Many do not understand, this is why the Greek had the doctrine of the “bad G-d” the one of the “Old Testament” and the “good G-d”, “Jesus Christ”, because under the Torah, many died in the wilderness. I will show you that today there are NO DIFFERENCE, only that the people do not even know, look, and understand what Sha’ul and the others apostles say:

Rom 6:11 So you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to Elohim in Messiah יהושע our Master. Rom 6:13 neither present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to Elohim as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to Elohim. Rom 7:6 But now we have been released from the Torah, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of letter.

The Torah brought death to those transgressing the righteous mitzvoth (commandments), but יהושע has delivered from the death sentence brought by sin to make us new by His death on the stake. To believe יהושע means to walk like he walked, keeping the TORAH; Rom 8:10 And if Messiah is in you, the body is truly dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness.

2Co 5:14 For the love of Messiah compels us, having judged this: that if One died for all, then all died;

Eph 2:1 And you were dead in trespasses and sins,¹ Footnote: ¹v.5 and 5:14, Mt. 8:22, Rom. 8:6, Col. 2:13, 1 Tim. 5:6, 1 John 3:14, Rev. 3:1.

1Ti 5:6 But she who is living in luxury is dead while she lives.

Jud 1:12 These are rocky reefs in your love feasts, feasting with you, feeding themselves without fear, waterless clouds borne about by the winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots,

These are some few examples from been dead while still alive. We see clearly that in the Brit Chadasha (renewed covenant) the dead are many times spiritually dead and not physically. Once again we see that the Tanak, i.e. the sins of the people killed the body, today when one sin he become dead spiritually, i.e. cut off from Elohim presence until the physical death come upon him. This is so, because יהושע died for the “all world”, and a time of repentance has been given unto men. You can ask yourselves, today when all those dying in “young age”, I mean an age which is not in what יהוה gave to man to die:

Psa 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet the best of them is but toil and exertion; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away

You will observe that all people dying before this age are dying from sickness or accident! Can you see how judgment comes upon people?

Pro 3:1 My son, do not forget my Torah, And let your heart watch over my commands;---Pro 3:2 for length of days and long life and peace they add to you.

Is that clear, Torah + keeping the commands (mitzvoth) bring length of day and add long life! Halleluyah! This is a much better promise than all the foolishness of the worlds recipe. Moshe challenged Korach and his follower to demonstrate that what he did was not in his own power (verse 28).

King David writes:

Psa 41:11 by this^H2063 I know^H3045 that^H3588 thou favourest^H2654 me, because^H3588 mine enemy^H341 doth not^H3808 triumph^H7321 over^H5921 me.

יהושע spoke also to those of his generation (Yochanan 5:42-47)

Joh 5:42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of Elohim in you. Joh 5:43 “I have come in My Father’s Name and you do not receive Me, if another comes in his own name, him you would receive.¹ Footnote: ¹“Another,” another one, was indeed a prophecy by יהושע of another one, probably the same one we read of in 2 Thess. 2:4. See Anti-Messiah in Explanatory Notes. Joh 5:44 “How are you able to believe, when you are receiving esteem from one another, and the esteem that is from the only Elohim you do not seek?

Joh 5:45 “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Mosheh, in whom you have set your expectation. Joh 5:46 “For if you believed Mosheh, you would have believed Me, since he wrote about Me. Joh 5:47 “But if you do not believe his writings,¹ how shall you believe My words?” Footnote: ¹Lk. 9:33, Lk. 16:31, Mal. 4:4-5……

Moshe wrote about יהושע and this was well known at יהושע’s time:

Deu 18:18 ‘I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him......

Now see what the people in יהושע’s day said:

Joh 1:21 And they asked him, “What then, are you Ěliyahu?” So he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

They don’t say “a prophet”, but “THE prophet”, this making allusion to Moshe’s writing in D’varim 18:18. let us see more,

Joh 6:14 Then the men, having seen the sign that יהושע did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is coming to the world.”

Joh 7:40 Many from the crowd, when they heard the word, then said, “This truly is the Prophet.”......

Verse16:32-33.and all the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up…..and all their goods…..and went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.......

This is a picture of eternal destruction, because rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry (1 shmu’el 15:23). Iniquity is the rejection of the Torah.

Verses 41-42….but on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel (carnal man) murmured against Moshe and against Aharon, saying YOU! have killed the people of יהוה….

It is amazing in spite, having seen what Elohim did to Korach and those following him, they still try to put the blame on Moshe and Aharon. Elohim respond with a plague (verse 46), Moshe intercede for the people with incense in his censer (48) and he stood between the dead and the living.

Compare what Sha'ul says:

1 Timt.2: 5 For there is one Elohim,¹ and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah יהושע,

Messiah hold the same position like Moshe.

Mediator: Storng's G3316 μεσίτης mesites (mes-ee'-tace) n.

1. a go-between

2. (simply) a spokesman

3. (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor)

Sha’ul write: and you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He Quickened together with him (Messiah יהושע), having forgiven you, all trespasses.

Sha’ul writes also to the Corinthians: For He has made Him (יהושע) sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of Elohim in Him (2^nd Corint.5:21).

Verse 49. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand!....(7 x 2 x 1000 = 14 000). Seven divine perfection, Two is for division and Thousand (i.e. 000) is the multiplication that brings to the third heaven, the throne of Elohim.

Num 16:1-50.... And Qoraḥ, son of Yitshar, son of ...Num 16:3 and they assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, and said to them, “Enough of you! For all the congregation is set-apart, all of them, and יהוה is in their midst. Why then do you lift up yourselves above the assembly of יהוה?” Num 16:4 and when Mosheh heard, he fell on his face, Num 16:12 and Mosheh sent to call Dathan and Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, but they said, “We are not coming up! Num 16:13 “Is it little that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you would also seize total rule over us? Num 16:17 “And take each one his fire holder, and you shall put incense in it. And let each one bring his fire holder before יהוה, two hundred and fifty fire holders, and you and Aharon, each one with his fire holder.” Num 16:21 “Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.” Num 16:22 but they fell on their faces, and said, “O Ěl, Elohim of the spirits of all flesh! When one man sins, are You wroth with all the congregation?”Num 16:24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Move away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram.’ ”Num 16:26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Please turn away from the tents of these wrong men! Do not touch whatever belongs to them, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” Num 16:28 And Mosheh said, “By this you know that יהוה has sent me to do all these works, that they are not from my own heart. Num 16:30 “But if יהוה creates what is unheard of, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you shall know that these men have scorned יהוה.” Num 16:33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the grave, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. Num 16:37 “Say to Elʽazar, son of Aharon the priest, to pick up the fire holders out of the blaze, for they are set-apart, and scatter the fire some distance away.

Num 16:38 “The fire holders of these men who sinned against their own lives, let them be made into beaten plates as a covering for the altar. Because they brought them before יהוה, therefore they are set-apart. And let them become a sign to the children of Yisra’ĕl.” Num 16:40 a remembrance to the children of Yisra’ĕl that no stranger who is not of the seed of Aharon, should come near to offer incense before יהוה, and not be like Qoraḥ and his company – as יהוה had said to him through Mosheh. Num 16:46 So Mosheh said to Aharon, “Take the fire holder and put fire in it from the altar, and lay incense on, and go, hurry to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from יהוה, the plague has begun.Num 16:48 and stood between the dead and the living. And the plague was stopped.

Num 16:49 and those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died on account of Qoraḥ. ………………………

Chapter 17.

This chapter contains only 13 verses and in spite of its shortness bring a new testimony of Messiah! ---Moshe want to remove any doubt of Aaron’s authority concerning the priesthood given by Elohim directly to Moshe by His own will. This is a picture of Messiah receiving His authority from the Father while the Pharisee had their authority build on man’s power. The rod was the symbol of the head of the family in each tribe, therefore Moshe commanded every “head” of their father’s house to bring the rod on which their name has been written, has proof of their authority. The rod was made from almond trees, which particularity is that it is the tree that blossom the end of the winter, in the all Mediterranean region thus announcing the end of the winter sleep whilst all the other trees are still in their winter sleep. It bears beautiful small pink flowers with delicious fragrance. The fruits are in a form of seeds protected in a thick shell which can be eaten when they have been dried.

The name of the Almond tree in Hebrew is “shâqêd” and comes from the word “shâqad” meaning, to be alert, sleepless, hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill): - hasten, remain, wake, watch (for) Strong’s #H8245. It is used only three times in the scriptures and takes its full signification in the book of Yrmeyahu.

Jer 1:11 and the word of יהוה came to me, saying, “What do you see, Yirmeyahu?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

Jer 1:12 and יהוה said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to do it.”

יהוה demonstrate again the authority He gave to Aharon with the rod that bud, please keep in mind that it was the authority of the High Priest. The rod that blossom represent the life given by Elohim to the work of Aharon as the mediator between Elohim and man in the service of the Tabernacle. It was not man’s work has we found in the dead man’s religion all around the world especially the Roman Catholic. From all rods brought to Moshe, only Ahraon’s rod budded and brought forth fruits although it was a dried branch to demonstrate that it was the creator of all things that gave this authority according to His own pleasure. At the same time (verse 8) the rod brought forth blossom, and ripe fruits, only one day after having been in the tent of meeting. This should cut short all grumbling from the children of Israel (carnal man). Now the complete understanding of this chapter is that the rod that bud and bring forth fruits is a picture of יהושע bringing fruits having been cut off from the living(died & resurrected), versus the dead works of the Pharisee.

Mat 7:20 “So then, by their fruits you shall know them –

And Aharon’s rod became “ a sign against the rebels” (verse 10).

The Hebrew word for “sign” is: Strong’s# H226 אות 'ôth oth!

Probably from H225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.: - mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token..........

We have already seen this word in other places:

Exo 31:16 ‘and the children of Yisra’ĕl shall guard the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant. Exo 31:17 ‘Between Me and the children of Yisra’ĕl it is a sign (oth) forever.

Is it not a sign (oth) that those who believe in the name of יהושע are saved? I mean those who believe in His name and keep his commandments!

Num 17:1-13 and יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,..Num 17:2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and take from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each one’s name on his rod, Num 17:3 and write Aharon’s name on the rod of Lĕwi, for there is one rod for the head of each father’s house. Num 17:5 “And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose buds, and I shall rid Myself of the grumblings of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they grumble against you.” Num 17:7 so Mosheh placed the rods before יהוה in the Tent of the Witness. Num 17:8 And it came to be on the next day that Mosheh went into the Tent of the Witness and saw that the rod of Aharon, of the house of Lĕwi, had budded, and brought forth buds, and blossomed and bore ripe almonds. Num 17:10 and יהוה said to Mosheh, “Bring Aharon’s rod back before the Witness, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, so that you put an end to their grumblings against Me, lest they die.”

Chapter 18. ---- Commentary from Keil and Delitzsch:----The Official Duties and Rights of the Priests and Levites. - Num_18:1. To impress upon the minds of the priests and Levites the holiness and responsibility of their office, the service of Aaron, of his sons, and of his father's house, i.e., of the family of the Kohathites, is described as “bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary,” and the service which was peculiar to the Aaronides, as “bearing the iniquity of their priesthood.” “To bear the iniquity of the sanctuary” signifies not only “to have to make expiation for all that offended against the laws of the priests and the holy things, i.e., the desecration of these” (Knobel), but “iniquity or transgression at the sanctuary,” i.e., the defilement of it by the sin of those who drew near to the sanctuary; not only of the priests and Levites, but of the whole people who defiled the sanctuary in the midst of them with its holy vessels, not only by their sins (Lev_16:6), but even by their holy gifts (Exo_28:38), and thus brought guilt upon the whole congregation, which the priests were to bear, i.e., to take upon themselves and expunge, by virtue of the holiness and sanctifying power communicated to their office (see at Exo_28:38). The “iniquity of the priesthood,” however, not only embraced every offence against the priesthood, every neglect of the most scrupulous and conscientious fulfilment of duty in connection with their office, but extended to all the sin which attached to the official acts of the priests, on account of the sinfulness of their nature. It was to wipe out these sins and defilements, that the annual expiation of the holy things on the day of atonement had been appointed (Lev_16:16.). The father's house of Aaron, i.e., the Levitical family of Kohath, was also to join in bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary, because the oversight of the holy vessels of the sanctuary devolved upon it (Num_4:4.)................

Yom Kippur in the seventh month on the ten of the month:

Lev 16:16 “And he shall make atonement for the Set-apart Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and because of their transgressions in all their sins. And so he does for the Tent of Meeting which is dwelling with them in the midst of their uncleanness. ......

Now let us look at the work of Messiah יהושע concerning sin:

2Co 5:21 For He made Him(יהושע) who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.

Heb 7:27 who does not need, as those high priests, to offer up slaughter offerings day by day, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Heb 7:28 for the Torah appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the Torah, appoints the Son having been perfected forever.......................

Messiah finished the work:

Heb 10:11 And indeed every priest stands day by day doing service, and repeatedly offering the same slaughter offerings which are never able to take away sins.

Heb 10:12 But He (יהושע), having offered one slaughter offering for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of Elohim,

Heb 10:13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.

Heb 10:14 for by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being set apart.

How it is with the conscience, Keil and Delitzsch explain: ---The “iniquity of the priesthood,” however, not only embraced every offence against the priesthood, every neglect of the most scrupulous and conscientious fulfilment of duty in connection with their office, but extended to all the sin which attached to the official acts of the priests, on account of the sinfulness of their nature. It was to wipe out these sins and defilements, that the annual expiation of the holy things on the day of atonement had been appointed

The Priest were Set Apart but were still of carnal nature and therefore under the power of sin, which was also to be atoned at Yom Kippur.

Heb 9:9 which was a parable for the present time in which both gifts and slaughters are offered which are unable to perfect the one serving, as to his conscience,.......

How it is with Messiah יהושע?

Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?

Conscience: Strong’s #G4893 suneidēsis soon-i'-day-sis.......From a prolonged form of G4894; co-perception, that is, moral consciousness: - conscience......G4894 suneidō soon-i'-do .....From G4862 and G1492; to see completely; used (like its primary) only in two past tenses, respectively meaning to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of: - consider, know, be privy, beware of......

1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit distinctly says that in latter times some shall fall away from the belief, paying attention to misleading spirits, and teachings of demons, 1Ti 4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having been branded on their own conscience,

Branded, other translation give “seared with hot iron”.

The Greek word is

Strong’s #G2743 kautēriazō kow-tay-ree-ad'-zo.......From a derivative of G2545; to brand (“cauterize”), that is, (by implication) to render insensitive (figuratively): - sear with a hot iron. This is particular to those having not the Ruach (Spirit)!

The conscience is part of the mind and will be under the influence of the mind, until we receive יהושע Messiah as our Master and Savior, who will transform our mind into set apartness day by day as we walk in the Torah. “Messiah in you the hope of glory”

Verses 20-32. The reward of the Levites, the priest…………..

The Priest didn’t had any possession on their own ……………..20……and יהוה said to Aharon, “You are not to have an inheritance in their land, nor have any portion in their midst……...

Mat 8:20 And יהושע said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the heaven nests, but the Son of Aḏam has nowhere to lay His head.” ………………..

יהוה gave the offering to the priest and he add the tithe of the land. Be careful in reading, because you will be able to see the meaning of paying “tithe”:

Num 18:12 “All the best of the oil, and all the best of the new wine and the grain – their first-fruits which they give to יהוה – I have given them to you (the levites).Num 18:13 “The first-fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to יהוה, are yours. Everyone who is clean in your house eats it. Num 18:21 “And see, I have given the children of Lĕwi all the tithes in Yisra’ĕl as an inheritance in return for the service which they are serving, the service of the Tent of Meeting.

Tithe: Strong’s# H4643 מעשׂר . ma‛ăśêr ma‛ăśar mah-as-ayr', mah-as-ar', mah-as-raw'....From H6240; a tenth; especially a tithe: - tenth (part), tithe (-ing).

Now is that all what יהוה told the Levites, or have they also an obligation?

Num 18:26 “Speak to the Lĕwites and say to them, ‘When you take from the children of Yisra’ĕl the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution of it to יהוה, a tenth of the tithe.Num 18:26 Thus speak^H1696 unto^H413 the Levites,^H3881 and say^H559 unto^H413 them, When^H3588 ye take^H3947 of^{H4480 H854} the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478
(H853) the tithes^H4643 which^H834 I have given^H5414 you from^H4480
H854 them for your inheritance,^H5159 then ye shall offer up^H7311 an heave offering^H8641 of^H4480 it for יהוה,^H3068 even a tenth^H4643 part of^H4480 the tithe.^H4643

We could say a tithe of the tithe, “ma’asar of ma’asar”..............;Now you will understand how Christian pastors and even messianic leaders twist the word quoting Malachi to give believers a “bad conscience” telling them that if they don’t pay tithe, they will be under curses and sicknesses:

Mal 3:8 “Would a man rob Elohim? Yet you are robbing Me! But you said, ‘In what have we robbed You?’ In the tithe and the offering! ----Mal 3:9 “You have cursed Me with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this nation, all of it! Mal 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in My house. And please prove Me in this,” said יהוה of hosts, “whether I do not open for you the windows of the heavens, and shall pour out for you boundless blessing! Mal 3:11 “And I shall rebuke the devourer for you, so that it does not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor does the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” said יהוה of hosts.Mal 3:12 “And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a land of delight,” said יהוה of hosts. ………………

.If we are not careful, we can indeed believe that curse is on us if we don’t pay tithe. The problem here is to know first to whom the prophet is speaking, does is he speaking to you and me or to another group of people and has been taken out of the context?

Mal 2:1 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. Mal 2:2 “If you do not hear, and if you do not take it to heart, to give esteem to My Name,” said יהוה of hosts, “I shall send a curse upon you, and I shall curse your blessings. And indeed, I have cursed them, because you do not take it to heart. Mal 2:3 “See, I shall rebuke your seed, and scatter dung before your faces, the dung of your festivals. And you shall be taken away with it. Mal 2:4 “And you shall know that I have sent this command to you, as being My covenant with Lĕwi,” said יהוה of hosts.

You can read chapter one and see what is יהוה reproaching to the Levites, the priest and NOT the believers. First of all tithe was made of the “fruits of the land” in no way it was money. Secondly it was to be brought to ONE PLACE , Yerushalayim and no other place

Deu 12:11 “And it shall be, that unto the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell there, there you are to bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your offerings, and your tithes, and the contributions of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to יהוה

Deu 14:22 “You shall tithe without fail all the yield of your grain that the field brings forth year by year.

Deu 14:23 “And you shall eat before יהוה your Elohim, in the place where He chooses to make His Name dwell, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and of the firstlings of your herds and your sheep, so that you learn to fear יהוה your Elohim always…

Here there are no error as what was to be brought as tithe to Yerushalayim….

How do we know that Yerushalayim is the chosen place for יהוה ..

2Ki 21:4 and he built altars in the House of יהוה, of which יהוה had said, “In Yerushalayim I put My Name.”

1Ki 8:29 “For Your eyes to be open toward this House night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name is there (Jerusalem),’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.

1Ki 9:1 And it came to be, when Shelomoh had finished building the House of יהוה and the house of the sovereign, and all the desire of Shelomoh which he was pleased to do, 1Ki 9:2 that יהוה appeared to Shelomoh the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibʽon.1Ki 9:3 and יהוה said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me. I have set this house apart which you have built to put My Name there forever, and My eyes and My heart shall always be there.

2Sa 7:12 “When your days are filled and you rest with your fathers, I shall raise up your seed after you, who comes from your inward parts (zera, sperma), and shall establish his reign. 2Sa 7:13 “He does build a house for My Name, and I shall establish the throne of his reign forever.

In these two last verses from Shmu’el we have the duality of the word, in the p’shat (plain) text, the literal it speaks of Shalomo and in the “sod” the mystery it speaks of יהושע who also will be of the seed of David according to the flesh:

Rom 1:3 Concerning^G4012 his^G848 Son^G5207 Yehoshua^G2424 Messiah^G5547 our^G2257 Master,^G2962 which^G3588 was made^G1096 of^G1537 the seed^G4690 of David^G1138 according^G2596 to the flesh;^G4561

Seed: Strong’s #G4690 sperma sper'-mah........From G4687; somethng sown, that is, seed (including the male “sperm”); by implication offspring; specifically a remnant (figuratively as if kept over for planting): - issue, seed..............But let us go back to the tithe and what happened with the Levites who didn’t paid their tithe to יהוה calling a curse upon themselves:-Neh 10:35 and to bring the first-fruits of our soil and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the House of יהוה, ….Neh 10:36 also to bring the first-born of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Torah, and the firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to the House of our Elohim, to the priests attending in the House of our Elohim. Neh 10:37 And that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our contributions, and the fruit from all kinds of trees, of new wine and of oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the House (see Malachi 3:10) of our Elohim; and the tithes of our land to the Lĕwites, for the Lĕwites should receive the tithes in all our rural towns. Neh 10:38 And the priest, son of Aharon, shall be with the Lĕwites when the Lĕwites receive tithes, and the Lĕwites bring up a tenth (tithe of the tithes to the House of our Elohim, to the rooms of the storehouse. (compare Mal.3:10)….Neh 10:39 For the children of Yisra’ĕl and the children of Lĕwi bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the vessels of the set-apart place are, where the priests who attend and the gatekeepers and the singers are, and we should not neglect the House of our Elohim.

Here we learn why יהוה is angry and send the prophet Malachi to speak to the priest.

Neh 13:7 and I came to Yerushalayim and learned of the evil which Elyashiḇ had done for Toḇiyah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the House of Elohim.

Neh 13:8 And it was very displeasing to me. Therefore I threw all the household goods of Toḇiyah out of the room, Neh 13:10 And I learned that the portions for the Lĕwites had not been given “them”, for each of the Lĕwites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field.

The original text do not has “them” but read: --- “I learned that the portions for the Lĕwites had not been given, for each of the Lĕwites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field”.

In the King James it is written in italic meaning that it is not in the Hebrew text: ----- Neh 13:10 and I perceived^H3045 that^H3588 the portions^H4521 of the Levites^H3881 had not^H3808 been given^H5414 them: for the Levites^H3881 and the singers,^H7891 that did^H6213 the work,^H4399 were fled^H1272 every one^H376 to his field.^H7704

This should be taught among the believers, in order to remove the “bad conscience” of the unlearned, as I was before. I was very proud to pay tithe to the pastors, because so I would receive from “G-d”, what a lie! Let us speak the true with boldness, as we learn to discern between right and wrong. You will see that I don’t speak of not giving to your congregation, if you have the financial ability and the heart, it is good to give and for sure, יהוה will reward you, but it has nothing to do with paying tithe. Tithe was brought ONLY to the Temple and no other place has we have seen, “the place where יהוה has put his Name”, that is Yerushalayim, and today, brethren there is no Temple standing there! There are other places in the “Brit Chadasha” (“new testament”) used by wicked pastors to extort money from unlearned believers, which by studying carefully will also demonstrate that Sha”ul was not promoting to give generously to the “pastors”, but this is another “midrash”!

Num 18:1-32 and יהוה said to Aharon, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you are to bear the crookedness against the set-apart place, and you and your sons with you are to bear the crookedness against your priesthood. Num 18:3 “And they shall guard your charge, and the duty of all the Tent, but they do not come near the furnishings of the set-apart place and the altar, lest they die, both they and you. Num 18:4 “And they shall be joined with you and guard the duty to the Tent of Meeting, for all the service of the Tent, but a stranger does not come near you. Num 18:5 “And you shall guard the duty of the set-apart place and the duty of the altar, so that there be no more wrath on the children of Yisra’ĕl.

Num 18:6 “And see, I Myself have taken your brothers the Lĕwites from the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl – a gift to you, given by יהוה, to do the service of the Tent of Meeting.

Num 18:10 “Eat it in the most set-apart place – every male eats it. It is set-apart to you. Num 18:11 “This also is yours: the contribution of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Yisra’ĕl. I have given them to you, and your sons and daughters with you, as a law forever. Everyone who is clean in your house eats it. Num 18:12 “All the best of the oil, and all the best of the new wine and the grain – their first-fruits which they give to יהוה – I have given them to you.

Num 18:13 “The first-fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to יהוה, are yours. Everyone who is clean in your house eats it.Num 18:15 “Everyone opening a womb of all flesh, which they bring to יהוה, whether man or beast, is yours. But the first-born of man you shall certainly ransom, and the first-born of the unclean beast you ransom.

Num 18:16 “And ransom their ransomed ones when one month old, according to your valuation, five sheqels of silver, according to the sheqel of the set-apart place, which is twenty gĕrahs. Num 18:17 “But the first-born of a cow, or the first-born of a sheep, or the first-born of a goat you do not ransom, they are set-apart. Sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as an offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance to יהוה. Num 18:18 “And their flesh is yours, as the wave breast and as the right thigh, it is yours. Num 18:19 “All the contributions of the set-apart gifts, which the children of Yisra’ĕl present to יהוה, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as a law forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before יהוה with you and your seed with you.” Num 18:20 and יהוה said to Aharon, “You are not to have an inheritance in their land, nor have any portion in their midst. I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Yisra’ĕl. Num 18:21 “And see, I have given the children of Lĕwi all the tithes in Yisra’ĕl as an inheritance in return for the service which they are serving, the service of the Tent of Meeting. Num 18:24 but the tithes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they present as a contribution to יהוה, I have given to the Lĕwites as an inheritance. That is why I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Yisra’ĕl they have no inheritance.’ ”

Num 18:26 “Speak to the Lĕwites and say to them, ‘When you take from the children of Yisra’ĕl the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution of it to יהוה, a tenth of the tithe.

Num 18:27 ‘And your contribution shall be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing-floor and as filling from the winepress. Num 18:28 ‘Thus you also present a contribution unto יהוה from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Yisra’ĕl. And you shall give from it the contribution to יהוה to Aharon the priest. Num 18:31 ‘And you shall eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your service in the Tent of Meeting,

Haftorah

1Sa 11:14 And Shemu’ĕl said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew the reign there.”

1Sa 11:15 and all the people went to Gilgal, and there they set up Sha’ul to reign before יהוה in Gilgal, and there they made slaughterings of peace offerings before יהוה. And there Sha’ul rejoiced, and all the men of Yisra’ĕl, very greatly. 1Sa 12:1 And Shemu’ĕl said to all Yisra’ĕl, “Look, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have set a sovereign over you. 1Sa 12:2 “And now, look, the sovereign is walking before you. And I am old and grey, and look, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth to this day. 1Sa 12:3 “Look, here I am. Witness against me before יהוה and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I oppressed? Whom have I abused, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? – then I restore it to you.”

1Sa 12:4 and they said, “You have not oppressed us or abused us, nor have you taken any bribe from anyone’s hand.” 1Sa 12:5 so he said to them, “יהוה is witness against you, and His anointed is witness today, that you have found naught in my hand.” And they answered, “He is witness.” 1Sa 12:6 And Shemu’ĕl said to the people, “It is יהוה who appointed Mosheh and Aharon, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Mitsrayim. 1Sa 12:7 “And now, stand still, so that I judge you before יהוה concerning all the righteous acts of יהוה which He did to you and your fathers: 1Sa 12:8 “When Yaʽaqoḇ had come to Mitsrayim, and your fathers cried out to יהוה, then יהוה sent Mosheh and Aharon, who brought your fathers out of Mitsrayim and made them dwell in this place. 1Sa 12:9 “But they forgot יהוה their Elohim, so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Ḥatsor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the sovereign of Mo’aḇ. And they fought against them. 1Sa 12:10 “And they cried out to יהוה, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken יהוה and served the Baʽals and the Ashtaroth. And now, deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we serve You.’ 1Sa 12:11 “And יהוה sent Yerubbaʽal, and Beḏan, and Yiphtaḥ, and Shemu’ĕl, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies round about, and you dwelt in safety. 1Sa 12:12 “And when you saw that Naḥash sovereign of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but let a sovereign reign over us,’ when יהוה your Elohim was your sovereign.1Sa 12:13 “And now, here is the sovereign whom you have chosen and whom you have asked. And see, יהוה has set a sovereign over you. 1Sa 12:14 “If you fear יהוה, and shall serve Him and obey His voice, and not rebel against the command of יהוה, then both you and the sovereign who reigns over you shall follow יהוה your Elohim. 1Sa 12:15 “But if you do not obey the voice of יהוה, and shall rebel against the command of יהוה, then the hand of יהוה shall be against you, as it was against your fathers.

1Sa 12:16 “And now, stand and see this great matter which יהוה does before your eyes: 1Sa 12:17 “Is today not the wheat harvest? Let me call to יהוה, so that He sends thunder and rain – know then and see that your evil is great, which you have done in the eyes of יהוה, in asking for yourselves a sovereign.” 1Sa 12:18 And Shemu’ĕl called to יהוה, and יהוה sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared יהוה and Shemu’ĕl. 1Sa 12:19 And all the people said to Shemu’ĕl, “Pray for your servants to יהוה your Elohim, that we do not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil of asking for ourselves a sovereign.” 1Sa 12:20 And Shemu’ĕl said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this evil. Only, do not turn aside from following יהוה. And you shall serve יהוה with all your heart, 1Sa 12:21 and do not turn aside after worthless matters which do not profit or deliver, for they are worthless. 1Sa 12:22 “For יהוה would not cast away His peopleThis “Parasha” is for all those who love יהוה to learn that rebellion brings trouble in our life and this is very bad in יהוה’s eye. Read what יהוה told Saul the first King of Israel by the mouth of Shmu’el: