42Parsha
Matot – Staffs -Badmidbar 30:2- 32:42
Masei
- Journey - Badmidbar 33:,j1 – 36:13
Yrmeyahu 1:1-2:3, - 2:4-28, 3:4, 4:1-2,
Philippians
3:12-16, Ya’acov (James) 4:1-12
Daniel ben Ya’acov Israel
PART I
PART I
Portion Summary
Mattot
The name of the forty-second reading from the Torah is Mattot (מטות), which means "tribes." The name is derived from the words of Numbers 30:1, which says, "Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel." Numbers 30 discusses the laws of vows and oaths. Numbers 31 tells the story of Israel's war with Midian. Numbers 32 relates the story of how the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Mannaseh came to inherit the land east of the Jordan River. Except in biblical calendar leap years, Mattot is read together with the subsequent Torah portion, Massei, on the same Sabbath.
Massei
The last reading from the book of Numbers is called Massei (מסעי), a word that means "journeys." It comes from the first verse of the reading, which begins with the words "These are the journeys of the sons of Israel" (Numbers 33:1). Massei is the end of the continuous narrative of Torah that began in Genesis with the creation of the universe. The narrative does not resume until the end of Deuteronomy, when Moses dies.
The final reading in Numbers settles several last-minute details. In it we find a list of the encampments from Egypt to the plains of Moab. We also find instructions for apportioning the land, as well as the specifics regarding the borders of the land. While explaining the land and its borders, Moses introduces the laws of the cities of refuge and more inheritance laws. In most years, synagogues read Massei together with the preceding portion, Mattot, which accounts for the brevity of this portion's commentary.
Portion Outline
- TORAH
- Numbers 30:1 | Vows Made by Women
- Numbers 31:1 | War against Midian
- Numbers 31:13 | Return from the War
- Numbers 31:25 | Disposition of Captives and Booty
- Numbers 32:1 | Conquest and Division of Transjordan
- Numbers 33:1 | The Stages of Israel's Journey from Egypt
- Numbers 33:50 | Directions for the Conquest of Canaan
- Numbers 34:1 | The Boundaries of the Land
- Numbers 34:16 | Tribal Leaders
- Numbers 35:1 | Cities for the Levites
- Numbers 35:9 | Cities of Refuge
- Numbers 35:16 | Concerning Murder and Blood Revenge
- Numbers 36:1 | Marriage of Female Heirs
- PROPHETS
- Jer 2:4 | God Pleads with Israel to Repent
Today in
our society the rulers of the world have established rules by which women are
“equal” to men in all. During the year 1968 and after, we see the rising of a
movement called “women emancipation”. From this point on,
women will begin to be in opposition to men decision, requiring “equality”. The
result of it is that for example in the first five year of marriage we have in
France a statistic of over fifty five percent divorce!
Num 30:3-15
Num_30:3-15 contain the rules relating to positive and negative vows made by a
woman, and four different examples are given. .....The first case (Num_30:3-5)
is that of a woman in her youth, while still unmarried, and living in her
father's house. If she made a vow of performance or abstinence, and her father
heard of it and remained silent, it was to stand, i.e., to remain in force. But
if her father held her back when he heard of it, i.e., forbade her fulfilling
it, it was not to stand or remain in force, and Yehovah would forgive her
because of her father's refusal. Obedience to a father stood higher than a self-imposed religious
service........... –
Today
especially in western countries we see women committing adultery without any
fear, it is just accepted that “it can happen”, they are in “competition” with men in evil doing!
This is HaSatan, the “god of this world” doing.
Read what the prophet Hoshea says of
Ephraim:----
Hos 4:1 Hear the
word of יהוה, you children of Yisra’ĕl
(that is Ephraim),
for יהוה has
a case against the inhabitants of the land: “For
there is no truth or kindness or knowledge of Elohim in the land.
Hos 4:2 “Swearing, and lying, and murdering, and stealing, and committing
adultery have increased. And bloodshed
follows bloodshed. (compare with Sh'mot 20:1-17)
Hos 4:6 “My people have perished for lack of
knowledge (da’at). Because you
have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since
you have forgotten the Torah
of your Elohim, I also forget your children.
Hos 4:12 “My people ask from their Wood, and their
Staff declares to them. For a
spirit of whorings has led them astray, and they went whoring from under their Elohim.
Hos 4:13 “They slaughter on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills,
under oak and poplars and terebinth, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit whoring, and your
brides commit adultery.
Hos 4:14 “I (Elohim) would not punish
your daughters when they commit whoring, nor your brides when they commit
adultery, for the men
themselves go aside with whores, and offer with cult prostitutes – a people
that do not understand are thrust down!
Hos 4:17 “Ephrayim is joined to idols, let him alone”.
---------
Moshe
followed יהוה’s command and
they killed all the males (verse31:7) they
killed also Balaam the son of Beor
(verse 8).
The second case (Num_30:6-8) was that of a vow
of performance or abstinence, made by a woman before her marriage, and brought along with her (“upon herself”) into her marriage. In such a case
the husband had to decide as to its validity, in the same way as the father
before her marriage. In the day when he heard of it he could hold back his
wife, i.e., dissolve her vow; but if he did not do this at once, he could not
hinder its fulfilment afterwards, gossip of her lips, that which is uttered
thoughtlessly or without reflection (cf. Lev_5:4).
This expression implies that vows of abstinence were often made by unmarried women without thought
or reflection............. –
The third case (Num_30:9)
was that of a vow made by a widow or divorced woman. Such a vow had full force, because the woman was not dependent upon a
husband.
- The fourth case (Num_30:10-12)
was that of a vow made by a wife in her married state. Such a vow was to remain
in force if her husband remained silent when he heard of it, and did not restrain
her. On the other hand, it was to have no force if her husband dissolved it at
once.
(I believe Sha’ul
had this Torah passage in mind when writing to the Corinthians in 1st
Corinthians chapter 7, especially verses 36-38)
After this
there follows the general statement (Num_30:13-16),
that a husband could establish or dissolve every vow of performance or
abstinence made by his wife. If, however, he remained silent “from day to day,”
he confirmed it by his silence; and if afterwards he should declare it void, he
was to bear his wife's iniquity, the sin which the wife would have had to bear
if she had broken the vow of her own accord. This consisted either in a
sin-offering to expiate her sin (Lev_5:4.);
or if this was omitted, in the punishment which God suspended over the sin (Lev_5:1). (Keil and Delitzsch)
We see that in a believer’s
household, the husband or father’s word is binding. Do you think it is
different today? Discuss this point according to the Torah!
Num 30:1 and Mosheh spoke to the heads of the tribes
concerning the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “This is the word which יהוה has
commanded:... Num 30:16 These are the laws which יהוה
commanded Mosheh, between
a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her
father’s house. …………..
Chapter 31.
This
chapter deals with the destruction of Midian,
which was already commanded by יהוה in Badmidbar 25:16-18.
Moshe
was married to Yethro’s daughter Zipporah (Hebrew meaning is “bird”). Who was Yithro also called “Reuel”Num.10:29 And Mosheh said to Ḥoḇaḇ, the son of Reʽuw’ĕl the Miḏyanite, Mosheh’s father-in-law, ……
Read
Mattytyahu 7:15-20 יהושע
warns from false
prophets. The flesh (carnal man) made the children of Israel fall. Sha’ul says: walk in the ruach (Spirit) and you will not fulfil
the lust (desire) of the flesh! For the flesh lusteth against the “ruach” (spirit), and the “ruach” against the flesh: and these are
contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.
Galatians
5:16-17. As we have seen many times the
plain text, the “peshat” level
(literal) shows us what happened to our forefathers. In the Sod (mystery),
behind the letter we see the carnal man who was not able to control the flesh.
We now have received the Ruach HaQodesh
so that he helps us in our infirmities in order to walk in the light following יהושע
HaMoschiach.
Yude (Jude) speaks also from the way
of Balaam: -----
Jud 1:11 Woe unto
them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error
of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying
of Core......................
Should
we think that things have changed? יהושע gives us a strong warning: ---
Mat 13:40 as
therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the
end of this world. .....................
How are we walking today? After the
truth spoken of by יהושע or after the doctrines of Balaam’s
teachers? The first lead us into everlasting life, the second unto eternal
death. ...... Jamieson, Fausset and Brown give us detail concerning Midian and Bala’am:....The Midianites, a distinct people on
the southern frontier of Moab, united with them as confederates against Israel,
their common enemy. Midian was a descendant of Abraham through Keturah is second wife: ---
Gen 25:1 and
Aḇraham took another wife, whose
name was Qeturah.
Gen 25:2 And she bore him Zimran, and
Yoqshan, and Meḏan, and Miḏyan, and Yishbaq, and Shuwaḥ.
Gen 25:4 And the sons of Miḏyan were
Ěphah, and Ěpher, and Ḥanoḵ, and Aḇiḏa, and Eldaʽah. All these were the children of Qeturah. ..............
They were not included in יהוה’ promise to Abraham
and therefore was the reason of the enmity between their descendants and the
children of Israel although they also were taught on the way of יהוהduring
their time with Abraham! ------
Gen 25:5 now
Aḇraham gave all that he had to Yitsḥaq,
Gen 25:6 but
to the sons of the concubines whom Aḇraham had, Aḇraham gave gifts while he
was still living, and sent them away
from his son Yitsḥaq, eastward, to the land of the east
.We must look in this context today to
understand who are those descendants when speaking of “Ishmaelites”, “Edomites”, “Moabites”, “Assyrians”, “Babylonians”,
”Balaamites(midian)” are they not “Arabs”
“Romains, i.e. western countries”, all countries surrounding Israel “Syria”, “Iran”, “Iraq”, “Libya”,in the
north Turkey and the “corrupted Catholic church”? What can we say more concerning Midian and Bala’am in the later day we are now? Many so call “teachers” and “pastors” in modern “churches”
and even assemblies” do not research
and go into error teaching out of their own mind, they are antinomians
(rejecters of the Torah). By reading I
found something very interesting. We know that the book of Revelation is for
many a book of “confusion”, although יהושע
says: “blessed is he that read and they that hear
the words of this prophecy, and those things which are written therein: for the
time is at hand” (Rev.1:3). I read from “Vincent’s
word study”, not something spiritual but much more factual established on
research, which I quote. At first it doesn’t look to point to Bala’am and Midian but read:
Rev 2:6 - The Nicolaitans
From the Greek νικᾶν to conquer, and λαός the people. There are two principal
explanations of the term: The first and
better one historical. A sect
springing, according to credible tradition, from Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch, one of the seven deacons of Jerusalem (Act_6:5) Act 6:5 AndG2532 theG3588
sayingG3056 pleasedG700 the(G1799)
wholeG3956 multitude:G4128 andG2532
they choseG1586 Stephen,G4736 a manG435
fullG4134 of faithG4102 andG2532
of the HolyG40 Ghost,G4151 andG2532
Philip,G5376 andG2532 Prochorus,G4402
andG2532 Nicanor,G3527 andG2532
Timon,G5096 andG2532 Parmenas,G3937
andG2532 NicolasG3532 a proselyteG4339
of Antioch:G491
Nicolas, who apostatized from the truth, and became the founder of an Antinomian (anti-nomian: Opposite to Torah) Gnostic sect. (Gnostic is the teaching of secret
knowledge)
They appear to have been characterized by sensuality, seducing “Christians” to
participate in the idolatrous feasts of pagans, and to unchastity. Hence they are denoted by the names of Balaam and Jezebel, two leading agents of moral contamination under the Old Testament
dispensation (Torah). Balaam enticed the Israelites, through the daughters of
Moab and Midian, to idolatry and fornication (Numbers 25; Num_31:16).
Jezebel murdered YHWH's
prophets, and set up idolatry in Israel. The Nicolaitans taught
that, in order to master sensuality, one must know the whole range of it by
experience; and that he should therefore abandon himself without reserve to the lusts of the body, since
they concerned only the body and did not touch the spirit. These heretics were hated and expelled by the Assembly of Ephesus (Rev_2:6), but were tolerated by the Assembly of
Pergamum (Rev_2:15). The other view
regards the name as symbolic, and Nicholas as the Greek rendering of Balaam, whose name signifies destroyer or corrupter of the people.
This view is adopted by Trench (“Seven Churches”), who says: “The Nicolaitans are the Balaamites;
no sect bearing the one name or the other; but those who, in the new
dispensation (covenant), repeated
the sin of Balaam in the old, and sought to overcome or destroy
the people of God by the same temptations whereby Balaam had sought to overcome
them before.” The names, however, are by no means parallel: Conqueror of the people not being the same as corrupter of the people. Besides, in Rev_2:14, the Balaamites are evidently
distinguished from the Nicolaitans. Alford remarks: “There is no sort of reason for interpreting the name otherwise than
historically. It occurs in a passage indicating simple matters of
historical fact, just as the name Antipas does in Rev_2:13.”
Badmidbar 31:22: only the gold, and the silver,
the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
Num 31:23 every
thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it
shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified
with the water of separation: and all that abides not the fire ye shall make go
through the water. ....
Shaul writes:
1Co 3:11 for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is יהושע Messiah. ---
1Co 3:12
Now if any man build upon this
foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 every man's work shall be made manifest: for the
day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall
try every man's work of what sort it is.
Num 31:24 and ye shall wash your clothes on
the seventh day (read Revel.7:13-14), and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye
shall come into the camp ......
The seventh day is a Euphemism for
the Shabbat pointing to the time of יהושע
ruling on earth with
the saints...
Let us look a bit to the Gemahra (gematria) in this chapter from
verses 32 to 35.....
Num 31:32 and the spoil which the army had
taken, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,
675 000
= to 6+7+5=18. 18 =6+6+6 (man’s number)…..יהושע say that we are sheep (Yochanan 10: 14, 15, 16). 6 is the number of man, as man was
created the sixth day. It looks also very interesting the animals which were
brought from the spoil were clean animals, save the ass!
Num 31:33 Seventy-two thousand oxen, …..72 000 = to 7+2= 9 the number for
judgment….
Num 31:34 Sixty-one thousand asses: 61 000 = to 6+1=7. Seven is the number for divine perfection on
earth; Perfection is only brought on earth when man (6) is joined to יהוה (1)!......
Ass in
Hebrew is strong’s
# H2543....חמר חמור chămôr chămôr written: chet(8),mem
(40),vau(6),resh(200) (254).....kham-ore', kham-ore'....From H2560;
a male ass (from its dun red): - (he) ass.....Strong’s # H2560 ר
châmar : written
chet(8),mem(40), resh(200) (248) khaw-mar'
A primitive
root; properly to boil up; hence to ferment (with scum); to glow
(with redness); as denominative (from H2564) to smear with pitch:
- daub, foul, be red, trouble..
.יהושע was riding an ass when he entered Yerushlayim:
Matt. 21:4 now all this was done that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet (Yeshayahu 62:11), saying: Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Tzion: Behold thy king cometh to thee, meek
and sitting upon an ass and a colt,
the foal of her that is used to the
yoke. ....
Mat 21:6 and the disciples going, did as Yehoshua
commanded them. .....Mat 21:7 and they brought the ass and the colt and laid their garments upon them
and made him sit thereon. ...Num 31:35: and thirty-two thousand persons of the female
sex that
had not known men (were virgins). …….32000 = to 3+2=5 is also 8x4 the
number 8 been for behind natural and the number 4 for test and trials!
Also in Hebrew thought it is also
taught concerning the thirty two path of wisdom, i.e. thirty two teeth in our
mouth; the last one been call “wisdom teeth”!
Five the number for grace and also
the number for the Torah, the five books Moshe.
These women didn’t have intercourse
with men and therefore could be brought as spoil, their womb remaining closed!
Remember that when a man comes into
the wife both become one. Here we have woman having not been joined to men?
Women have a special purpose on earth and will carry the progenitor of man they
are the vessel to bring life.
1Co 6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members
of Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah and make them members
of a whore? Let it not be!
1Co 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is
joined to a whore is one body? For He says, “The two
shall become one flesh.”
Num 31:50 We have therefore brought an
oblation for יהוה, what every
man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and
tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before יהוה
Oblation:
Strong’s # H7133 קרבּן
קרבּן qorbân qûrbân kor-bawn', koor-bawn'
From H7126;
something brought near the altar,
that is, a sacrificial present: - oblation that is offered, offering.
The spoil
of gold brought by the men was:...... 16750
= 1+6+7+5= 19.that is Ten + nine or the perfection of the sum of all number
i.e. the Ten commandments bringing “nine”, that is judgment!......19 = to 1+9=10 (see above). Ten is
equal to the divine perfection man can achieve on earth by following the
commandments, when this is not done, it brings judgment. Ten is the sum of all
number for the oblation brought to יהוה
serving as
propitiation, atonement for the souls of the men......
Num 31:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, ……. Num 31:2 “Take vengeance for the children of Yisra’ĕl
on the Miḏyanites. After that you are to be gathered to your people.” Num 31:3 and Mosheh spoke to the people, saying, “Arm
some of yourselves for the campaign, and let them go against the Miḏyanites to take
vengeance for יהוה on Miḏyan. Num 31:4 “Send a thousand from each tribe of all the
tribes of Yisra’ĕl for the campaign.” Num 31:5 so
there were supplied from the tribes of Yisra’ĕl one thousand from each tribe,
twelve thousand armed ones for the campaign. Num 31:6
and Mosheh sent them on the campaign, one thousand from each tribe, them and Pineḥas son of Elʽazar the priest
on the campaign, with the set-apart
utensils and the trumpets for sounding in his hand. …. Num 31:7 and they fought against the Miḏyanites, as יהוה commanded Mosheh, and slew all the males. Num 31:8 and
they slew the sovereigns of Miḏyan with the rest of those who were pierced:
Ewi, and Reqem, and Tsur, and Ḥur, and Reḇa, the five sovereigns of Miḏyan.
And they slew Bilʽam son of Beʽor
with the sword. ….Num 31:9 and the sons of
Yisra’ĕl took all the women of Miḏyan captive, with their little ones, and
took as spoil all their livestock, and all their possessions. …; Num 31:10 and they
burned with fire all the cities where they dwelt, and all their
settlements. ….Num 31:11 and they took all the
spoil and all the booty, both of man and beast.
Num 31:12 and they brought the captives, and the booty, and
the spoil to Mosheh, and to Elʽazar the priest, and to the congregation of the
children of Yisra’ĕl, to the camp in the desert plains of Mo’aḇ by the Yardĕn
of Yeriḥo. Num 31:13 and Mosheh, and Elʽazar
the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation, went to meet them outside
the camp. Num 31:14 but Mosheh was wroth with the officers of the army, with the commanders
of thousands and commanders of hundreds, who had come from the campaign.
Num 31:15 and Mosheh
said to them, “Have you kept all the women alive? Num
31:16 “Look, they are the ones
who caused the children of Yisra’ĕl, through the word of Bilʽam, to trespass
against יהוה in the matter of Peʽor, and there was a plague among the congregation of יהוה.
Num 31:17 “And now, slay
every male among the little ones. And every
woman who has known a man by laying with a man you shall slay. Num 31:18 “But keep
alive for yourselves all the female children who have not known a man by
lying with a man. ….Num 31:19 “And you, camp outside the camp seven days.
Whoever has slain any being, and whoever has touched any slain, cleanse yourselves
and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day. Num 31:20 “And cleanse every garment, and every
object of leather and all the work of goats’ hair, and every object of wood.” ….Num
31:21 and Elʽazar the priest said to the men of the campaign who went to
the battle, “This is the law of the Torah which יהוה commanded Mosheh: ----- Num
31:22 “Only the gold, and the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and
the lead, …Num 31:23 every object that passes
through fire, you put through the fire, and it shall be clean; only, let it be
cleansed with the water for uncleanness. And whatever does not pass through fire you pass through water. ….Num 31:24 “And you
shall wash your garments on the seventh day and be clean, and afterwards
come into the camp.” Num 31:25 and יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 31:31 and Mosheh and Elʽazar the priest did as יהוה commanded Mosheh. Num
31:32 and the booty remaining from the plunder, which the people of the
campaign had taken, was six hundred and
seventy-five thousand sheep, Num 31:33 and seventy-two thousand cattle, Num 31:34 and sixty-one
thousand donkeys, Num 31:35 and thirty-two thousand human beings in
all, of women who had not known a man by lying with a man. Num 31:36 And the half, the portion for those who
went out on the campaign, was in number three
hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,
Num 31:37 and the levy unto יהוה of the sheep was six hundred and seventy-five. Num 31:38
and the cattle were thirty-six thousand,
of which the levy unto יהוה was
seventy-two. Num 31:39 and the donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the levy unto יהוה was sixty-one.
Num 31:40 and the human beings were sixteen thousand, of which the levy
unto יהוה
was thirty-two beings. Num 31:41 So Mosheh gave the levy which was the
contribution unto יהוה to
Elʽazar the priest, as יהוה commanded
Mosheh.
Num 31:42 and from the children of Yisra’ĕl’s half, which
Mosheh divided from the men who campaigned:
Num 31:43 now the half belonging to the congregation was
three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,
Num 31:44 and thirty-six thousand cattle,
Num 31:45 and thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,
Num 31:46 and sixteen thousand human beings.
Chapter 32.
The plain text is obvious so I will take some
explanations I found in the parasha from the congregation Hoshana Rabba
(although in many areas I don’t agree with their teachings) which relate to the
character of the people:-----
Quote: 32:1–15, Both Christian commentator Matthew Henry and Jewish ArtsScroll Chumash suggest that materialism played a role
in Reuben’s and Gad’s request to settle the
east side of the Jordan River. Henry further notes that the request showed
disregard for the land of Canaan, distrust for YHVH’s promises, and an
unwillingness to encounter the difficulties and dangers of conquering and
driving out the inhabitants of that land. Yeshua admonished his disciples to
endure to the end (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Heb. 3:6). What did Yeshua say about
getting embroiled in the cares of this life? (Luke 21:34). What does Scripture
say about being over comer? (1 John 5:4, 5; Rev. 2:7, 11, 26; 3:5, 12, 21;
21:7). Henry continues that ill comes to any of YHVH’s people who sit down
unconcerned about the difficult and perilous concerns of their brethren,
whether public or personal. Moses then reminds them of the fatal consequences
of the unbelief and faint-heartedness of their fathers, when they were, as
themselves, just ready to enter Canaan. We might add to Henry’s commentary by
asking the question, in the face of self-assured pride and spiritual slackness
or reluctance to do our part to move the kingdom of Elohim forward, what
dangers await us? (1 Cor. 10:12). Was Paul concerned about these issues for his
own life (1 Cor. 10:27)?
What can we learn in Chapter 32
about the needs and wants of the individual or local community versus the needs
of the larger community or nation? Is it necessary for us to sometimes forget
our personal wants for the greater good of society? (Phil. 2:3; Rom. 12:10)
What was Moses’ response to Reuben’s and Gad’s request? Why did he respond so
forcefully? What does this teach us about the role of YHVH-ordained leadership
to steer (motivate, encourage) YHVH’s people in paths of righteousness and to correct those who err? The two
tribes had their interests in mind and not those of the nation. Moses helped
them to understand the bigger picture. What was the response of these two
tribes in the face of correction? Did they decide to split off from Israel and
start their own nation? What often
happens today in congregations when leaders attempt to correct those who err?
One verse I
want to point to:
Num 32:23 “But if you do not do so, then see, you shall sin against יהוה, and know: your
sin is going to find you out. ……
Your sin is
going to find out! This is a powerful statement, sin call for judgment and will
require “full payment” according to
the Torah. Today people throughout the world have made up their own
righteousness. Even in many assemblies people have become lukewarm they are no
more able to discern been content with their own ways. Leaders have no courage
to correct the believers and to admonish them to turn back to the true light. Sha’ul say that the wage of sin is death
(Romains 6:23)….
Num 32:1 and the children of Re’uḇĕn and the children of Gaḏ had much livestock, a large
number. And they saw the land of Yaʽzĕr and the land of Gilʽaḏ and saw that the place was a place for
livestock. ....Num
32:5 and they said, “If we
have found favor in your eyes, let this land be given to your servants as a
possession, and do not let us pass over
the Yardĕn.”
Num 32:13 “So the
displeasure of יהוה burned against Yisra’ĕl, and He made them wander in
the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the
eyes of יהוה was destroyed. …
Num 32:23 “But if you do not do so, then see, you shall sin
against יהוה,
and know: your
sin is going to find you out.
Haftorah
Yrmeyahu, a prophet to the House of Yehuda, even though he also spoke to the
“all House of Israel” “in the days of
Yehoyaqim, son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of Yehuḏah, until the end of the
eleventh year of Tsiḏqiyahu, son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of Yehuḏah” during the year six
hundred after the split between the House of Yehuda and the House of Israel,
Ephraim……The name of the prophet Yrmeyahu
“יהוה thrown” given by his
father set the frame on his life as a prophet…..“Yrmeyahu
and his father belonged to the priests who lived in Anathoth, now called Anâta, a town of the priests, lying 1
1/4 hours north of Jerusalem (see on Jos_21:18),
in the land, i.e., the tribal territory, of Benjamin.”
(Keil and Delitzsch)............;“in the thirteenth
year of his reign.” (verse 2).
Thirteen is the number for rebellion in the scripture, and this rebellion
is what brought יהוה
to call Yrmeyahu as his spokesman to the
House of Yehuda……“until the end of the eleventh year of Tsiḏqiyahu, son
of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of Yehuḏah,”
Eleven is the number for imperfect government between the divine numbers
ten and twelve. Eleven is twelve minus one that is the unity of יהוה and one more then ten, the
divine number which denote the ultimate perfection on earth which can be
achieve by man coming to Elohim. (i.e. the ten commandments).
Keil and
Delitzsch give us an interesting approach of the calling in Yrmeyahu’s life and our also:..... Jeremiah's appointment to be a prophet for
the nations follows upon a decree of God's, fixed before he was
conceived or born. God in His
counsel has not only foreordained our life and being, but has
predetermined before our birth what is to be our calling upon this earth; and He has accordingly so influenced our
origin and our growth in the womb, as to prepare us for what we are to become, and for what we are to accomplish on
behalf of His kingdom. This is true of all men, but very especially
of those who have been chosen by God to be the extraordinary instruments of His
grace, whom He has appointed
to be instruments for the carrying out of the redemptive schemes of His
kingdom; cf. Jer_44:2, Jer_44:24; Jer_49:5;
Gal_1:15.
The man God has chosen before his birth to a
special office in His kingdom He equips with the gifts and graces needed for
the exercise of his functions. The three clauses of Jer_1:5
give the three moments whereof the choosing consists: God has chosen him, has consecrated him, and has installed
him as prophet.
Verses 13-19. יהוה
announce judgment with the vision he gave to Yrmeyahu“I see a
boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.” יהוה confirms and give the reason of the judgment: “I shall pronounce My judgments against them concerning all their evil, because they have forsaken Me, burned incense to other mighty ones, and
bowed themselves to the works of their own hands”.
What is the
purpose of the judgment?
Jer 2:3 “Yisra’ĕl was set-apart to יהוה,
the first-fruits of His increase. All who ate of it became guilty – evil came upon them,” declares יהוה.’
”
Jer
2:4 Hear the word of יהוה, O
house of Yaʽaqoḇ and all the clans of the house of Yisra’ĕl.
יהוה has chosen Israel, because of the promise he did to
Abraham, Itzak and Ya’acov and He
will fulfill his promise, He knows how to bring back His children to the path
of righteousness.
יהוה has chosen prophets to
admonish, correct and bring back His people to him since the time they refused
to hear him:----
Exo 20:19 and said to Mosheh, “You
speak with us and we hear, but
let not Elohim speak with us, lest we die.”
Moshe was a
prophet chosen by Elohim.........
4:3-31
……Threatening of Judgment upon
Jerusalem and Judah. - If Judah and Jerusalem do not reform, the wrath of God will be
inevitably kindled against them (Jer_4:3, Jer_4:4). Already the
prophet sees in spirit the judgment bursting
in upon Judah from the north, to the dismay of all who were accounting themselves secure (Jer_4:5-10). Like a
hot tempest-blast it rushes on, because of the
wickedness of Jerusalem (Jer_4:11-18), bringing desolation and
ruin on the besotted people, devastating the whole land, and not to be turned aside by any meretricious devices (Jer_4:19-31). The
circumcision should not be in the flesh merely. In the flesh all Jews were
circumcised. If they then are called to circumcise themselves to YHWH, this
must be meant spiritually, of the
putting away of the spiritual impurity of the heart, i.e., of all that hinders
the sanctifying of the heart; see in Deu_10:16.(Keil and Delitzsch).....
How it is
with us, have put away all spiritual impurity of the heart that hinders us to
walk uprightly before יהוה?
Jer 17:9 “The heart is crooked1 above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it? Footnote: 1See
7:24, 16:12, 18:12, 23:17....Jer 17:10 “I,
יהוה, search the heart, I try the
kidneys (seat of the emotions), and give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds. ….
In Hebrew thoughts the heart is the
seat of decision, while the kidneys are the seat of the emotions;
Jer 1:1 the words of Yirmeyahu the son of Ḥilqiyahu, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land
of Binyamin, ...Jer 1:2 to
whom the word of יהוה came
in the days of Yoshiyahu son of Amon,
sovereign of Yehuḏah, in the thirteenth
year of his reign. ….Jer 1:3 And it
came in the days of Yehoyaqim, son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of Yehuḏah, until
the end of the eleventh year of Tsiḏqiyahu, son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of Yehuḏah, until the exile of Yerushalayim in the fifth month. …Jer 1:4 Now the word of יהוה came to me, saying, Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in
the belly I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I did set you apart –
I appointed you a prophet to nations.”
……Jer 1:6 And said I, “Ah, Master יהוה!
See, I do not know how to speak, for I am a youth.” Jer
1:7 And יהוה said
to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ but go to all to whom I send you, and speak
whatever I command you. …Jer 1:8 “Do not fear
their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares יהוה. ..Jer 1:9 Then יהוה put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and יהוה said to me, “See, I have put My words in your
mouth.
Jer 1:10 “See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the reigns, to root
out and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” …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.” Jer 1:13 and the word
of יהוה
came to me a second time,
saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing
away from the north.” …Jer 1:14 and יהוה said to me, “Out
of the north evil is set loose on all the inhabitants of the land. ..Jer 1:15 “For look, I am calling all the clans of the
reigns of the north,” declares יהוה.
“And they shall come and each one set his throne at the entrance of the gates
of Yerushalayim, against all its walls all around, and against all the cities
of Yehuḏah. ….Jer 1:16 “And I shall pronounce My judgments against
them concerning all their evil, because they have forsaken Me, burned incense to other mighty ones,
and bowed themselves to the works of
their own hands.
Jer 1:17 “Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to
them all that I command you. Do not break down before their faces, lest I break
you before them. …..Jer 1:18 “For look, I have
made you this day a walled city and an iron column, and bronze walls against
all the land, against the sovereigns of Yehuḏah, against her heads, against
her priests, and against the people of the land.
Jer 1:19 “And they shall fight against you but not prevail
against you .for I am with you,” declares יהוה, “to
deliver you.” ….
Jer 2:3 “Yisra’ĕl
was set-apart to יהוה, the first-fruits of His
increase. All who ate of it became
guilty – evil came upon them,” declares יהוה.’ ”
Jer 2:4 Hear the word of יהוה, O house of Yaʽaqoḇ
(12tribes) and all the clans
(mishpachah/family) of the house of Yisra’ĕl.
Jer 2:5 Thus said יהוה, “What
unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? …Jer
2:6 “And did not they say, ‘Where is יהוה, who
brought us up out of the land of Mitsrayim, who led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of
death, a land that no one passed through and where no one dwelt?’ …Jer 2:7 “Then I
brought you into a garden land, to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when
you entered, you defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination. ….Jer 2:8 “The priests did not say, ‘where is יהוה?’
And those
who handle the Torah (levites) did not know Me, and the shepherds1
transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baʽal, and walked after matters that did not profit. Footnote: 1See
10:21, 12:10-11, 50:6-7…..Jer 2:9
“Therefore I still contend with you,” declares יהוה,
“and with your children’s children I contend. …..Jer
2:10 “For, pass beyond the isles of Kittim and see, and send to Qĕḏar
and observe well, and see if there has been any like this. …Jer 2:11 “Has a nation changed its mighty ones, which
are not mighty ones? But My people have changed My esteem1
for that which does not profit. Footnote: 1Symbolic
name for His Ark…..Jer 2:12 “Be amazed,
O heavens, at this, and be frightened, be utterly dried up,” declares יהוה.
…Jer 2:13 “For My people have done two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain
of living waters1, to hew out for
themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns, which do not hold water. Footnote: 1See 17:13.
Jer 2:14 “Is Yisra’ĕl a servant? Was he born in the house?
Why is he given to plunder? …Jer 2:15 “The
young lions roared at him, they growled, and made his land waste; his cities
have been burned, without inhabitant. Jer 2:16
“Even the sons of Noph and of Taḥpanḥes have shaven the crown of your head. …Jer 2:17 “Have you not done this to yourself, by
forsaking יהוה your
Elohim when He led you in the way? ….Jer 2:18
“And now why take the way to Mitsrayim, to drink the waters of Shiḥor? Or why
take the way to Ashshur, to drink the waters of the River? ….Jer 2:19 “Your own evil instructs you, and your backslidings reprove you. Know therefore
and see that it is evil and bitter that you have forsaken יהוה your Elohim, and that My fear is not in you,” declares the Master יהוה of hosts. Jer 2:20
“For of old you have broken your yoke and tore of your bonds. And you said, ‘I
am not serving You,’ when on
every high hill and under every green tree you lay down, a whore. Jer 2:21 “Yet I had planted you a choice vine, all of it a
true seed. How then have you turned
before Me into the degenerate plant of a strange vine?
Jer 2:22 “Although you
wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your crookedness is
ingrained before Me,” declares the Master יהוה. Jer 2:23 “How do you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have
not gone after the Baʽals’? See your way in the valley, know what you have
done: a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways, Jer
2:24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the
desire of her being – in her time of mating, who turns her away? All those who
seek her need not weary themselves; in her month they find her. …Jer 2:25 “Keep your foot from being bare, and your
throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is useless, because I love strangers, and
after them I go.’ Jer 2:26 “As the thief is
ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Yisra’ĕl ashamed – they and
their sovereigns and their heads, and their priests and their prophets,
Jer 2:27 saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a
stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not
their face. But in the time of their calamity they say, ‘Arise and save us.’ Jer 2:28 “But where are your mighty ones that you
have made for yourselves? Let them arise, see if they save you in the time of your calamity. Because your
mighty ones have become as many as your cities, O Yehuḏah. ….Comments from Keil and Delitzsch......The
nations will bless themselves in or with Jahveh, i.e., will desire and
appropriate the blessing of Jahveh and glory in the true God.
the words stand in manifest relation to the
patriarchal blessing. If the heathen peoples bless themselves in the name of
Jahveh, then are they become partakers of the salvation that comes from Jahveh;
and if this blessing comes to them as a consequence of the true conversion of
Israel to YHWH, as a fruit of this, then it has come to them through Israel as
the channel, as the patriarchal blessings declare. ..... Jeremiah does not lay
stress upon this intermediate agency of Israel, but leaves it to be indirectly
understood from the unmistakeable allusion to the older promise. The reason for
the application thus given by Jeremiah to the divine promise made to the
patriarchs is found in the aim and scope of the present discourse. The
appointment of Israel to be the channel of salvation for the nations is an
outcome of the calling grace of God, and the fulfilment of this gracious plan
on the part of God is an exercise of the same grace - a grace which Israel by
its apostasy does not reject, but helps onwards towards its ordained issue. The return of apostate Israel to its God is
indeed necessary ere the destined end be attained; it is not, however, the
ground of the blessing of the nations, but only one means towards the
consummation of the divine plan of redemption, a plan which embraces all
mankind. Israel's apostasy delayed this consummation; the conversion of Israel will have for its
issue the blessing of the nations......
The
promise to Abraham was that through
him the nations of the world would be blessed. Keil and Delitzsch seem to
ignore the fact that the House of Israel i.e. the Northern Kingdom has been
scattered among the nations and have received the blessing promised to Abraham through Messiah יהושע: Abundance in harvest,
victory in conquest, powerful position, glory which they have turned to
themselves.
Today the
time of judgment has come upon the all world. Those who are faithful to the
Torah through Messiah יהושע,
a remnant abide on the shadow of the almighty and will not fear when evil
comes, a thousand will fall, ten thousand on their right hand, but to them it
will not approach, only with their eyes will they beheld and see the punishment
of the wicked (Psalm 91).
Jer 3:4 “Shall
you not from now on cry to Me, ‘My father, You are the guide of my youth? ....
Jer 4:1 “If you do return, O Yisra’ĕl,” declares
יהוה,
“return to Me. And if you remove your abominations from My presence, and cease
straying, J
Jer
4:2 and shall swear, ‘As יהוה lives,’ in truth,
in right-ruling, and in righteousness
– then nations shall bless themselves in Him, and they shall boast in Him!” ….
Three requirements: ---
-
Truth= Torah…..
-
Right-ruling= Justice
trhough Torah….
-
Righteousness= Having the
Torah in our heart (Yeshyahu 51:7)
Sha’ul say to press on, not to stay on the past, but
to forget the past, he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)to become the head of the Sanhedrin, he was persecuting the disciples of יהושע
until he met the master
in a visions. Sha’ul had any reason
to forget what was past and give himself fully to his call in order to achieve
the race made for him…..
How it is
with us, are we running as to win or do we look back “nostalgic” to our former life?......“The high calling of
Elohim in Messiah יהושע “……….walk by the same rule, be of the same mind.
This is
that way we should walk; “same way, same mind” and pray for those who do not
follow this principle. Do not let corrupted conversation be among us during our
Shabbat, keep the day Qadosh, forget
your weekly habits, put everything away, clean your mind from worldly thoughts......
Php 3:12 Not that I have already received, or already
been perfected, but I press on, to lay hold of that for which Messiah יהושע
has also laid hold of me. ……
Php 3:13 Brothers, I do not count myself to have laid hold
of it yet, but only this: forgetting what is behind and reaching out for what
lies ahead, ….
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of Elohim
in Messiah יהושע. …
.Php 3:15 as many,
then, as are perfect, should have this mind. And if you think differently
in any respect, Elohim shall also reveal this
to you. …..
Php 3:16 but to what we have already attained – walk by the same rule, be of the same mind……..
Ya’acov makes clear that “friendship with the world”is “adultery”, remember we have already
seen in past “parasha” that adultery
is not only to have intercourse with a non legal married man or woman. As
Israel we are already “married” to יהוה we wait for יהושע to come in order that the marriage
been consumed......
We should
earnestly check our life and ask Aba יהוה
if we are not in adultery! How it is with Shabbat keeping, is it a Qadosh day (set apart) for all of us,
have we set our mind on Torah from the going down of the sun to the end of the
Shabbat, or are we still wandering in our mind, after the world? Do we call the Shabbat a delight, or
are speaking our own words, doing our own way? (Read: Yeshayahu 58:13-14)
Ya’acov is very serious saying that “to be a friend to the world makes us an
enemy of Elohim”! Have we spend time to think on this verse.
Ya’acov was considered to be the “glue” between the Yehudin
who didn’t recognized יהושע and those following him, both having fellowship
in the synagogue every Shabbat. After
he has been killed, the split was made and a gape built between both
communities...... “Brothers do not speak
against one another” (verse 11) It is recurrent even in our days and in our
midst! Unfortunately there are some who take pleasure to speak against other,
hiding behind their self-righteousness, thinking that they are the “good ones” and the others “the bad ones” in particular those above
them in position...... Yes I know you will tell me that it is true, that many of
those leaders do not do what they should! It might be, but who are thou O man
to speak against יהוה people!
I will tell
you something which came to my ear this week...... When I was in Germany, still
among Christianity, I spent around ten years in a big “church” in Cologne.
There were five pastors the head of those Pastor was the founder of the
“church”, a man who was boastful and arrogant. He taught heresy and abused many
people financially....... The other pastors because of position and security
purpose (money) instead of taking a step to speak to their leader and try to
bring him to the right way, agreed with his teaching and even closed their eyes
when members left, having been hurt badly by reproach in front of the
congregation. The list is too long to say what he did...... Anyway, I was among
those members, I got a position as “cell group leader” and was in charge of
“order” during the Sunday service. I was a young “believer”, without knowledge
and like many other, I have been abused financially...... After some years,
reading the “bible” I began to see that many teaching were not in harmony with
the scriptures, and even worse, against the scripture, the “church” had become
a “money machine”.
Many times
I spoke with other pastors in particular with the one in charge of my sector,
telling him that we had a complete “lack of love” in our “church”, he was seemingly
“offended” and rebuked me.
After so
many years and many struggles one day I decided to leave this “church”, I went
to the mean pastor to let him know the reason why I left. He was very upset
with me not because I left, but much more because I told him the reason: “I
couldn’t anymore agree with his teaching which from year to year had change”.
Nobody was
sad that I left, many before me had left and it didn’t stop the “church growth”
because every week many new believers came. The city has around one million
people and with a good team i.e. “cell groups meeting” they brought new members
every week......The “Church” was grounded in the 80’s and had up to one
thousand members. This means an average of seven hundred thousand euro (almost
forty five millions pesos) per year between “tithe” and “offering”. All pastors
and their family were “fine” and comfortable always having nice clothes and
making holidays every year.........When I left I went to another “church” and
forgot the past years, unfortunately the new “church” was in the same way, I
spent there four years, included two years “Bible school” which in reality are
the doctrines of the “Church”, before Aba יהוה
took me away and brought me to the faith of my ancestors....... Why do I make
mention of all those details. You remember we Ya’acov write “brother do not
speak against one another”. Sometime it is hard to be quite when we see
brothers doing wrong, more, when the brothers are leaders, but the best way is
to pray fro them. Is not יהוה Elohim in
charge of his people through Messiah יהושע?
Is not He who corrected his people in the wilderness? Yes he is the one who
does correct and punish those doing evil......
Read what Shlomo write: ----
Ecc 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is
not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is filled in them
to do evil.
Ecc 8:12 Although a sinner is doing evil a hundred times, and his life is prolonged, yet I know that
there is good to those who fear Elohim, who fear before Him. ..........
Many
of us think that because nothing is happening, that יהוה
hasn’t seen what is going on: --- Psa 103:8
יהוה
is compassionate and showing favour patient, and great in kindness…… 2Pe 3:9 יהוה is
not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient
toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that
all should come to repentance.1 Footnote: 11 Tim. 2:4….. You see יהוה
is not like us, but patient and full of mercy, waiting for sinners to repent,
until the day comes when there is no more time, and judgment fall……
This
week, I wanted to find the telephone number from a former brother and his wife
whom I love, they also had been badly abused in this “church”……I came to speak
to the secretary, a Lady, I know from the past, she asked straight if I was the
“Daniel” from early years? I answered that I was he.
To find the
telephone number I look in the internet and “googled” the name of the “church” to find their web site. It was
strange, a fully new web side, same address, same telephone number, but
different presentation.
Now the
Lady on the phone, after having asked where I am now, couldn’t give me the
telephone number, but told me something which is the reason I explain you this record….The
“church” pastors had been scattered during the year 2007, none of them could
escape, two of them, Americans, went back to the US, one to Canada where he
came from, the other one was a German with five children, he is now “working” a
secular job and his wife also……Not all, the “church “ failed from nine hundred
members since the day I left to be today a small fifty members “church”……Do you think it is man’s work or יהוה judging his people who have rejected his truth?
You know the answer, even if this pastor and pastors enjoyed position during
more than twenty five years, judgment came! I have even met former believer who
were in this church and today they have no more “appetite” for the truth and
play on philosophy been blind of the
truth! What a pity.
What does
Ya’acov say: “Elohim
resists the proud, but gives favour to the humble.”..... יהוה’judgment has started and many are not prepared they have not put on
the garment of righteousness and will be taken in their evil ways......Have we
check our ways or are we still compromising, going the same way, week after
week ignoring the small voice of the Ruach
HaQodesh in us, or even not able to listen to the voice, been too busy with
our own way!....
Brother it
is a very serious matter do not reject
correction as many do, because it is יהוה’s doing because of his great love for us. We are call
to make every effort to bring change in our life and not to dye in the
wilderness of life!
Jas 4:1 Where do fighting and striving come from
among you? Do they not come from your
pleasures that battle in your members? .....Jas 4:2 You desire, and do not have. You murder, and are jealous, and are
unable to obtain. You strive and fight and you
do not possess, because you do not ask. .....Jas 4:3 You ask and do not receive,
because you ask evilly, in order to
spend it on your pleasures.
Jas 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses!
Do you not know that friendship with the world is
enmity with Elohim?1 Whoever therefore
intends to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim. Footnote: 1Mt. 13:22, Lk. 4:5-6,
Lk. 14:33, Rom. 12:2, 1 John 2:15-17.
Jas 4:5 or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the
Spirit which dwells in us intensely crave unto envy? ..... Jas 4:6 but He gives greater favour.
Because of this He says, “Elohim resists
the proud, but gives favour to the humble.”....Jas 4:7 So then subject yourselves to
Elohim. Resist the devil1 and he shall flee from you. Footnote: 1Or adversary.
Jas 4:8 draw near to Elohim and He shall
draw near to you. Cleanse hands, sinners. And cleanse the hearts, you double-minded!
Jas 4:9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and
your joy to dejection. ....Jas 4:10 humble yourselves in the sight of the Master, and He shall lift you up.
..... Jas 4:11 Brothers, do not speak against
one another. He that speaks against a brother and judges his brother speaks
against Torah and judges Torah. And if you judge Torah, you are not a doer of
Torah but a judge.
Jas 4:12 There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save and to destroy.
Who are you to judge another?
May יהוה the Father of us all and our Master יהושע
keep you from all evil and guide your way in righteousness, as you walk in the
path of life.
