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RECOGNITIONTHE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECThttp://www.messianicbible.com
HEAR O ISRAEL www.hearoisrael.orgSHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKERwww.sheepfoldgleanings.com
MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCEhttp://www.messianicisrael.comAZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM GREENBAUMhttp://www.azamra.org 2
MASSEI – “JOURNEYS”
TORAH: Numbers 33:1-36:13HAFTORAH: Jeremiah 2:4–28 and 3:4
B’RIT CHADASHAH: On being spiritual pilgrims: Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11. Instructions on living in the spiritual wilderness of life: Romans 8:13; 13:14; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 7:1; Galatians 5:17; Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Peter 1:7; 4:2; 1 John 2:15–17. On spiritual warfare in the world (spiritual wilderness): James 4:1–12; 2 Corinthians 10:3–6; Ephesians 6:10–18. On the spiritual inheritance of the twelve tribes: Luke 22:30; Revelation 21:12
All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted
MASSEI“Massei” is Strong’s #4550 meaning “journeys” or “stages”. Talks about the 40 year journey and the 42 stages along the way. The numeric value of the letters in “Massei” is 170 and matches the following words from Torah: • Genesis (which is about the formation and history of Israel), “l’Olam” or “forever”, “l’panah” or “before me”, “ni’milayim” or “were circumcised” - The circumcised will be forever before me
• Exodus (the exodus & giving of Torah), “m’ahnee” or “our affliction”, “mei’leyanim” or “murmurings”, “pe’sel” or “graven image” – Our afflictions remove idols and murmurings
• Leviticus (the priesthood & ordinances), “y’ kalail” or “curses”; • Numbers (the wilderness testing), “tsal‟may” which are “idols”,
“lema’ol” or “to trespass against”- Testing against idols• Deuteronomy (the Words), “ma’eyul” which means “deliver” or
“rescue” and “m’sinai” which means “from Sinai” or “from the clay” – We will be delivered from the clay
GOD’S PURPOSE“Remember the former events of old, for I am Ěl, and there is no one else – Elohim, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning,
and from of old that which has not yet been done, saying, ‘My counsel does stand, and all My delight I do,’
(Isaiah 46:9-10)The word used here for counsel is Strong’s #6098, “etsah” and literally means “purpose”. יהוה’s “purpose” does stand and all that delights Him, He does. The “stages” represent and show the stages of יהוה’s dealings with Israel through the trials, testing's and miracles. These “stages” Israel went through and the restoration to the Kingdom is made up of these same “stages”. NOTE: “The deeds of the fathers (our ancestors) are signposts to the children”. From history we also see the stages of deliverance and restoration as s’יהוה “chosen people” this also apply to us, here and now……and tomorrow.
JOURNEYSJourneys can be defined as pulling up stakes, breaking camp, setting out. The journey had a goal and it was accomplished by moving from one location to another, under the hand of Moses and Aaron, the High Priest.At this point in time all focus is on entry into and the inheritance of the Promised Land. Much of the Torah has in fact been pointing us to the importance of the land. Remember that Abram was directed to leave his home in Mesopotamia and to travel to a “land I will show you” where :”would make him into “a great nation יהוהAnd יהוה said to Abram, “Go yourself out of your land, from your relatives
and from your father’s house, to a land which I show you. “And I shall make you a great nation, and bless you and make your name great, and
you shall be a blessing! (Genesis 12:1-2)Our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived much of their lives in the Land of Promise. When they were forced to leave it, they longed to return.
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THE PREPARATION takes יהוה the children of Israel out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai where He gives them His Torah/instructions in order to prepare them for entry into the land. Teaching them precious lessons of faith, trust, and the attainment of a higher moral standard necessary for a people belonging to יהוה. ‘But I say to you, “You are going to possess their land, and I Myself give
it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am יהוה your Elohim, who has separated you from the peoples. (Leviticus
20:24) In the book of Numbers the people have been counted, organized, and tested. Although a second generation has replaced the first, the initial goal of reaching the Promised Land remains fixed on the horizon. Moses has been commanded by יהוה to record this complete list of journeys with their 42 encampments. Each location is said to be a clue as to the journey that we will be on as we keep in mind our goal of the Promised Land. It does not escape our thoughts that there are also 42 months (3 ½ years) in the Great Tribulation. 7
42 STAGESThese are the departures of the children of Yisra’ĕl, who went out of the
land of Mitsrayim by their divisions under the hand of Mosheh and Aharon. (Numbers 33:1)
Egypt “Mitzrayim” (#4714), Matsowr / Matswur (#4693 & 4692) and “Tsuwr” (#6696) meaning “besieged”, “bondage” or “constricted”. The journey from Egypt to the Promised Land could have been accomplished in 11 days but instead, it took 40 years. There were basically three stages to their journey of deliverance from bondage to freedom to the Land of their inheritance. There were 13 encampments during the first year and a half, 19 during the next 37 1/2 years and 10 during the 40th year.
So all the generations from Abraham to Dawid were fourteen generations, and from Dawid until the exile to Babel were fourteen
generations, and from the exile to Babel until the Messiah were fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:17)
STAGE 1 - RAMESESSo they departed from Raʽmeses in the first month, on the fifteenth day
of the first month, on the morrow of the Passover the children of Yisra’ĕl went out with boldness before the eyes of all the Mitsrites,
(Numbers 33:3)Rameses means Strong’s #7486, meaning “child of the sun” and it was from here that they departed from Egypt. The date given for their departure is actually a full-moon date. Most of us have also been “children of the sun” as in the past our faith focused on the solar events of Christmas and Easter. Today we watch the moon as an indication of the time, and the seasonsbesides the burnt offering with its grain offering for the New Moon, ..
(Numbers 29:6)
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STAGE 1 - SUKKOT Numbers 33:3-17 From Mitzrayim (bondage / constraint), they left from Ra’meses and camped at Sukkot – #5523, meaning “booths” or “tabernacles”. SYMBOLISM AND REASON: “Mystical City of Sukkot”. “Sukkot” was an ancient Bedouin city that was home to as many as 200,000 people and was literally a moving city. As Bedouins have done for millennia, they would move their tents, families and herds as the seasons and grazing changed. This is where Israel learned to “camp out” in tents, or Sukkot. They had been city dwellers in Goshen and the Nile Valley for several generations and lost their knowledge of tents. So, Elohim brought them here, to “Camping R Us”, in order to learn how to be tent dwellers again. It also symbolises the Feast of Sukkot that we will not have a permanent dwelling until we enter the promised land (The new heavens and the new Earth).
STAGE 1 – ETHAM & PIHAHIROTHThey left Sukkot and pitched in Etham (Aetom) – #0864, meaning “a multitude” or “you are many”.
They turned unto PiHahiroth – #6367, meaning “mouth of the cave” which is before Baal Tsephon – #1189, meaning “lord of the north” or “lord of the hidden” or “secret place”, (“north” represents “hidden” in scripture); and they pitched before Migdol – #4024, meaning “tower” or “fortress”.
STAGE 1 - MARAHFrom there they passed through the midst of the Yam Suf (Sea of Reeds) and went three days’ journey into the Wilderness of Shur - #7788, meaning “journey” and pitched in Marah – #4785 meaning “bitter”, “angry” or “heavy”. And they came to Marah, and they were unable to drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. So the name of it was called Marah. And
the people grumbled against Mosheh, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then he cried out to יהוה, and יהוה showed him a tree. And when he
threw it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a law and a right-ruling for them, and there He tried them. And He
said, “If you diligently obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim and do what is right in His eyes, and shall listen to His commands and shall guard all
His laws, I shall bring on you none of the diseases I brought on the Mitsrites, for I am יהוה who heals you.” (Exodus 15:23-26)
Marah still exists today and the water is still bitter, but it has health benefits in that it kills parasites and bad bacteria in the digestive system, while not harming the good bacteria.
STAGE 1 – ELIM & REED SEAThey then pitched at Elim – #0362, meaning “rams” (as sacrifices or offerings), “righteous men” or “upright trees”; where there were twelve fountains (the twelve tribes) and 70 palm trees (original nations representing the whole world). Here Exodus 15:27 says that “they camped by the water.” Here, they were being fed and given living water. PROPHETIC PICTURE: The fulfilling of the “Great Commission” of making taught ones in all the nations, during the time leading up to the second exodus; the “Remnant”, the “Two Witnesses” from the twelve tribes (House of Ya’aqob) teaching (feeding & watering) all those who will still be scattered among the nations of the world. Then, Israel encamped by the Reed Sea / Yam Suf – #5488 meaning “sea of reeds” or “an end” (as uttermost part or farthest reaches).
STAGE 1 – WILDERNESS OF SIN & ALUSH
They then moved from the Yam Suf and encamped in the Wilderness of Sin – #5512, meaning “clay”. Clay is a scriptural euphemism for man or mankind. Also, the Hebrew word for “wilderness” (midbar) also means “mouth”. So, the Wilderness of Clay can also be the mouths of men. Within the Wilderness of Sin they then encamped in Dophkah – #1850, meaning to “knock at the door”.
They then encamped in Alush – #0442, meaning “I will knead (as bread dough)”. Been tested
STAGE 1 - REPHIDIMThey encamped at Rephidim – #7508, meaning “rests” or “support”. But, they were tested, as there was no water. … and camped in Rephidim. And there was no water for the people to
drink. Therefore the people strove with Mosheh, and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Mosheh said to them, “Why do you strive with me? Why do you try יהוה?” And the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Mosheh, and said, “Why did you
bring us out of Mitsrayim, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Then Mosheh cried out to יהוה, saying, “What am I to do with this people? Yet a little and they shall stone me!” And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Pass over before the people, and take with you some of the
elders of Yisra’ĕl. And take in your hand your rod with which you smote the river, and go. “See, I am standing before you there on the rock in
Horĕb. And you shall smite the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people shall drink.” And Mosheh did so before the eyes of the elders
of Yisra’ĕl. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the ‘strife’ of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and because they ‘tried’ יהוה, saying, “Is יהוה in our midst or not?” (Exodus 17:1-7)
STAGE 1 – WILDERNESS OF SINAI & QIBROTH HATTA’AWAH
They pitched their tents next in the Wilderness of Sinai – #5514, while Strong’s defines it as “Wilderness of Clay”, Klein’s Etymological translates “Sinai” as “scholar”. This would make it “Wilderness of the Scholar” or “Mouth of the Scholar”. They pitched at Qibroth Hatta’awah – #6914, meaning “graves of lust”, “appetite” or “covetousness”. It was here that the people lusted after meat to eat in And the people were up all that day, and all that night, and all the next
day, and gathered the quail. He who has least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. The meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, and the
wrath of יהוה burned against the people, and יהוה smote the people with an exceeding great plague. Then he called the name of that place
Qibroth Hatta’awah, because there they buried the people who had lusted. (Numbers 11:32-34)
STAGE 1 - HATSEROTHThey encamped next at Hatseroth – #2698, meaning “a place surrounded by a fence”, as in a “settlement” or “village”, a “place of protection”.
But, it is also a conjunction of two words, #2690 “ha’tser”, meaning “to sound the trumpet or shofar” and #226, “oth” which is a “sign” or “banner”. It was here that Moshe sent the twelve spies into Canaan to spy out the Land. This was indeed the place of a significant sign, both then and for the future.
STAGE 1 – BIGGER PICTUREIsrael having discovered that they are oppressed and enslaved, cry out to ,for deliverance. As they were leaving the land of “sun god” worship יהוהthey were indeed a “multitude” living in tents. They grumbled that the water tasted bitter, even though it was provided to cleanse the parasites of Egypt out of them; just as His Word (Living Water) does for us today. We encounter those who grumble at that today. They then came through the Yam Suf and Pharaoh’s army was brought to “an end”. We are witnesses to their deliverance. We also see that even though they were tested and failed, El Shaddai (Elohim Sufficient) cared for them, fed and watered them, and gave them rest. Elohim brought them to Sinai; because, on Mount Sinai, the “Mouth of the Scholar” יהוה spoke with His Mouth, the Covenant. He then brought them to the border of Israel, at Hatseroth and that they rejected their “inheritance in Him” because of the “evil report” of ten spies regarding giants in the Land. At this “place of protection” a loud, or notable “sign” for future generations was established to that reject .s provision and promises’יהוה
FUTURE PROPHETIC• We are receiving the Torah from the Mouth of the Scholar. • Paul taught that Torah is indeed our Teacher. • We have all experienced the graves of lust. • We have been convicted, through Torah, about lust of the eye and pride.
We are now at “Hatseroth”, the place of protection, where we have a choice, whether to believe the evil report of giants in the Land, or whether to accept our inheritance and go in. Here, we can choose to hear and listen as the “shofar blows as a banner to His people”. It is written: And He shall raise a banner for the nations, and gather the outcasts of Yisra’ĕl, and assemble the dispersed of Yehudah from the four corners
of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12)
STAGE 2 – RITHMAH, RIMMON PERETS, LIBNAH, RISSAH & MOUNT SHAPNER
Numbers 33:18-36 They pitched in Rithmah – #7575, meaning “to bind”. Then, they camped in Rimmon Perets – #7416 and #6556, meaning “abundant fruit” or “stand in the breach” and also “he who breaks”. “Perets” was the name of King David’s grandfather and was an ancestor of .יהושע The Hebrew name of the constellation known as Orion is Perets and refers to Mashiach, “The Breaker”. They then pitched in Libnah – #3841, meaning “frankincense” from #3835 laban, meaning “made white or purified”. This refers to “purification”. They pitched at Rissah – #7446, meaning “to temper”. They camped next in Qehelathah – #6954, meaning “the assembly” or “entire congregation”. They pitched in Mount Shapher – #8234, meaning “beauty” or “brightness”.
STAGE 2 - HARADAH, MAQHELOTH, THATH, TERAH, MITHQAH, HASHMONAH, MOSEROTHThey encamped next in Haradah – #2732, meaning “a great fear” as in the “fear of יהוה”. They then pitched in Maqheloth – #4722, meaning “place of assembly” or “place of gathering”. They camped at Tahath – #8480, meaning “beneath”, “under the authority of” and “in the place of”. They pitched next at Terah– #8646, meaning “to delay” or “to tarry”. They pitched in Mithqah – #4987, meaning “sweetness” or “pleasantness”. They pitched in Hashmonah – #2832 meaning “fatness” (euphemism for the best) or “ambassadors”. They encamped at Moseroth – #4149, “admonition” or “correction” by one in authority, such as a king or ruler.
STAGE 2 – HOR HAGGIGAD, YOTBATHAH, ABRONAH & WILDERNESS OF SIN
They encamped at Hor Haggidgad – #2356. “Hor” means “mountain” or “cave” and #1412 “Haggidgad” means “the thunder”. Here we see “mountain of thunder”. They pitched in Yotbathah – #3193, meaning “pleasantness” or “rejoicing”. They encamped next at Abronah – #5684, meaning “passage” and is also a variation of the word “Hebrew”, meaning “to pass over”. They encamped at Etzion Geber – #6100, meaning “strength of a warrior”. They pitched in the Wilderness of Tsin – #6790, meaning “palm tree” which is Qadesh – #6946, meaning “set apart, consecrated (holy)”. Palm trees represent righteous men in Scripture. Here it speaks of righteous men as being set apart. It was here that Moshe and Aaron, got angry with the people for contending with Elohim in their thirst, and Moshe “struck” the “rock” twice, while Elohim instructed Moshe to “speak” to the rock. As a result, Hashem called the place Meribah, or the “waters of contention” and Moshe and Aaron were forbidden to enter the Land.
STAGE 2 – BIGGER PICTUREVerse 19 speaks of Rimmon Perets; which indicates that the testimony or Word of the “Breaker” produces abundant fruit. There are quite a few references, throughout Psalms and Proverbs, as well as the rest of Scripture, to the purification, tempering, brightness, sweetness, fatness and correction this Word brings to the individual and the whole assembly. There is “twisting of truth” mentioned also; referring to the various attempts to pollute the Truth with false and contentious teachings that are designed to split the assembly of יהוה and take some of His people off task. There was contention over the waters (living water or water of the Word). That contention caused even Moshe and Aaron, two of s’יהוה most righteous men, to get angry and lose their own opportunity to enter into the Land. Let their mistake be a lesson to us, not to lose our tempers or our focus, which is always to set יהוה apart in all things and to be obedient to Him. Everyone connected with this worldly system is trying to keep you from your inheritance. We have to choose which bank of the river are we going to live on.
STAGE 3 – MOUNT HOR, TSALMONAH, PUNON, OBOTH
NUMBERS 33:37-49 They then pitched in Mount Hor – #2023, meaning “mountain of the cave”, in the edge of Edom – #0123, meaning “red – children of Esau” or another word for “Adam or man” where Aaron (whose name means “enlightener”) died. They pitched in Tsalmonah – #6758, meaning “shadow of death”. Psalm 23 David walked through his own wilderness experience. It’s also interesting that it was here, near the end of their journey, that Israel grumbled and rebelled in their hearts once again and יהוה sent fiery serpents among the people to bite them, and many died. They camped next in Punon – #6325, meaning “darkness” or “obscurity” (as in outer darkness). They pitched in Oboth – #088, another Hebrew word with two meanings. First there’s “water skins”, or second “those who have familiar spirits”. This word refers to those who worship the “fathers” or dead ancestors, practice necromancy.
STAGE 3 – LYE HA-ABARIM & DIBON
They pitched in Iye Ha-Abarim – #5856 and #5674, meaning “ruins of Abarim”, or perhaps better translated as “remains of Abarim” as this is speaking of an archeological or heritage site. “Abarim” or “Ibrim” is the plural of “Hebrew”, which means “passing over” or “emigrating”. It’s as if this verse is referring to crossing the remains of past “emigrations” or “passing's over”. In this context, “the remains of the Hebrews”, repeating what’s been done before in the same location. This is in the border of Moab – meaning “of his father”; again, referring to the emigrations of our fathers. It is here that those wandering see and discover the path of those who went before them into the Land. They pitched in Dibon Gad. “Dibon” is Strong’s #1769, meaning “wasting” or “pining away”. The word “Gad” was added by translators and does not appear in the Hebrew Torah; as this ruined city was later rebuilt by the B’nei Gad, the Tribe of Gad. By adding “Gad”, you would get “wasting fortune” for Dibon Gad.
STAGE 3 – ALMON DIBLATHAYEMAH & MOUNTAINS OF ABRIM
They encamped next in Almon Diblathayemah – #5960, meaning “concealed” or “hidden” and #1690 which means “fig cakes”. This is a word play as “figs” represent the fruit of Israel and “cakes” refer to the individual tribes. The “showbread” was made into cakes. Here we see the reference to the “hidden (or dispersed) tribes of Israel”. There is also a spiritual meaning here, in that “figs” represent the fruit of the Spirit and “cakes” represent “bread”, the substance of nourishment. In this picture, we see a people hidden or concealed being nourished by the fruits of the Spirit.
They pitched in the Mountains of Abarim – #5682, “the mountains of the Hebrews”, meaning or representing the “region beyond or across”, before Nebo – #5015, meaning “prophet”.
STAGE 3 – MO’AB & YARDENThey then pitched in the plains (#6150 - wilderness) of Moab – meaning “of his father”, by the Yarden – #3383, meaning “descended or came down” (which is from “yarad” meaning “as revelation”), near Yeriho – #3405, meaning “city of the moon” or “fragrant place”.
They finally pitched at the Yarden – meaning “descend or came down (as revelation)” from Beyth Yeshimoth – #1020, meaning “house of desolation” even unto Abel Shittim – #063, meaning “meadows of acacias (or scourging)”. The first time they came to this place the daughters of Midian tempted the sons of Israel, fornicated with them and caused them to serve Baal Pe’or (lord of light). From there, the Children of Israel would pass over into the land of Canaan– #3667, meaning “lowland (to be humble or under authority)”.
STAGE 3 – BIGGER PICTURE“Stage 3” is all about the future, and not the distant future. We can easily see men passing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death (the Great Tribulation).
Stage 3 also speaks of those who’ll hear the “words of the Father” and His “prophet”, that come down as revelation and will accept His “scourging”; will acknowledge their fathers’ sins and accept their punishment. Jeremiah 3:13-14 says that when Ephraim acknowledges his sin and accepts יהוה’s punishment; then, he will be restored. Then, all Israel will gather in Ammon, Moab and Edom to meet Mashiach and submit to His authority, to rule and reign with Him.
REMOVE ALL OBSTACLESAnd יהוה spoke to Mosheh in the desert plains of Mo’ab by the Yardĕn of Yeriho, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them,
‘When you have passed over the Yardĕn into the land of Kenaʽan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and
shall destroy all their engraved stones, and shall destroy all their moulded images, and lay waste all their high places, and you shall
possess the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess. (Numbers 33:50-53)
If we are going to be able to hear, in order to follow His voice, we must clear out these strongholds in us, by Ruach Elohim. We must get rid of the noise of this world.
7 STRONGHOLDS: DEUT 7:1-51) Hittites –#2850, meaning “sons of Heth” or “terror” - Fear. 2) Girgashites - #1622, meaning “on clayey soil” or “unsure foundation” - Be sure of our foundation, the Word. 3) Amorites - #0567, means “boasters”. The Amorites, or Emori, were the biggest and strongest people in Canaan. - Pride .4) Kena’anites - #3669, meaning “brought down”, “defeated” and “made low” or “humbled”. - Depression and hopelessness. 5) Perizzites - #6522, regarding a village its meaning is; “having a breach in the wall” or “a breach of promise”. - Honesty and justice in our relationships. 6) Hiwwites - #2340, meaning “dwellers of the high place” whose capital was on Mt. Baal Hermon (#1179, meaning “lord of destruction”).- False worship in our hearts. 7) Yebusites - #2983, “sons of Yebus” #2982, meaning “threshing”, “trampled”, “trodden down”, and to “desecrate and utterly reject”. - Rebellion
THE INHERITANCEWe have already begun our own journey out of this world (Egypt) and are headed for the Land of Promise, as we know each name of each of the encampments is an important revelation for our future. The Israelites became aware of when it became time to move by the lifting of the cloud containing the Shekinah Glory. After we receive the commandments in our hearts and decide to follow them we will also when it is time to move on to the next location on to the promise land. The pattern of the 1st Exodus, the lifting of the cloud was obvious to all. Let’s look at the land that is to be possessed….the inheritance:
And He said to him, “I am יהוה, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” (Genesis 15:7)
Strong’s defines the word inherit (3423) yarash, meaning: to seize, dispossess, take possession of, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir. Note the almost opposite meanings….to inherit or to disinherit. To impoverish, or to become an heir. To seize or to dispossess. 31
POSSESSContrasting meanings in the different translations of this one verse:and you shall possess the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the
land to possess. (Numbers 33:53)you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I
have given you the land to possess. (Numbers 33:53)Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land
to possess. (Numbers 33:53 NIV)QUESTIONS: 1. To possess this inheritance means that the land must be seized
from the people that currently lived there. 2. Understanding that an inheritance is something that is owned and
passed down from generation to generation, how then, can the Land of Israel be called “our inheritance” when it was occupied by people of other nations? 32
THE LANDThere are really two reasons:1. owns the land יהוה
• Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity His people. (Joel 2:18)
• "For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. (Joel 3:1-2)
• I brought you into a bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My heritage an abomination. (Jeremiah 2:7)
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ISRAEL IS HIS FIRSTBORN2. Israel is His firstborn
• Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. (Exodus 4:22)
• ...For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. (Jeremiah 31:9)
• to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)
The land given to Israel is unique in all the world. Possessing the land is linked to the keeping of the Torah. When the inhabitants of the land keep Torah, the land flourishes. But when the inhabitants of the land disobey Torah, the land withers and dies. The reason why obedience is important is because יהוה desires to live in the land. This is why so many of the commandments deal with preparation of the land.
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PURGING OF THE LANDIn our Parasha we see the commandment to purge the land: "Speak to the children of Israel .. you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; At the same time, they were warned that if they did not fulfill this commandment to drive out the inhabitants, they would suffer trouble: ... But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.' “ (Numbers 33:51-56) was יהוה warning them up front that if they considered compromising with the residents of the land, i.e. dividing the land with them, then those nations would not make peace. Instead, they would behave with hostility towards Israel. Peacefully living side by side with enemies is an impossible option, and we see that so clearly today in Israel
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HARASS YOURabbi Sholom Gold points out a subtle word change in the translation of a phrase in verse 55. He says instead of:“they shall harass you in the land where you dwell” it should read: “they shall harass you about the land where you dwell” In other words, even though the Palestinians have their own areas to dwell, they will continually harass the Jews about the land where they are dwelling. They will never make peace. Rather they will constantly be asking the Jews to give up more and more of their land. It’s pretty impressive that יהוה could thousands of years ago, speak so accurately of Israel’s situation today!It was יהוה’s plan that only HE be worshipped in the land. The current state of affairs in Israel is a perfect example of what happens when people decide to modify His instructions because it seems more reasonable, peaceful, or politically correct to allow those following other gods to live with them in the Land. 36
TODAYThere is a Psalm that describes today’s plight of those who wait for יהוה to make a move on their behalf. It is a plea for יהוה to recover His land and His people. O Elohim, do not remain silent! Do not be speechless, And do not be still, O Ěl!
For look, Your enemies make an uproar, And those hating You have lifted up their head. They craftily plot against Your people, And conspire against Your
treasured ones. They have said, “Come, And let us wipe them out as a nation, And let the name of Yisra’ĕl be remembered no more.” For they have conspired together with one heart; They have made a covenant against You – The tents of Edom and the Yishmaʽĕlites, Mo’ab and the Hagarites, Gebal, and Ammon, and
Amalĕq, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tsor, Ashshur also has joined with them, They have helped the children of Lot. Selah. Do to them as to Midyan, ...
Who have said, “Let us take possession of the pastures of Elohim For ourselves.” .. Fill their faces with shame, And let them seek Your Name, O יהוה. Let them be ashamed and alarmed forever; And let them become abashed and perish, And
let them know that You, Whose Name is יהוה, You alone are the Most High over all the earth. (Psalms 83:1-18) 37
CLEANSING OF THE LAND cannot abide יהוה in a land that has been polluted by murder as this pollutes and defiles the land. We know how key blood is to all of His instructions. While atonement for sin was made possible by the blood of a guiltless substitute, the improper spilling of blood is an abomination to the Almighty and therefore defiles whatever it touches. In the first unlawful homicide, innocent blood was shed and cried out from the land for vengeance:And יהוה said to Qayin, “Where is Hebel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s guard?” And He said, “What have you
done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. (Genesis 4:9-10)
For this reason, Numbers 35 contains many instructions concerning homicide. The possibility of asylum is discussed and should be understood to be limited solely to the unpremeditated manslayer. In verse 19, the person who is to be the executioner for the murderer is called the blood-avenger:
‘The revenger of blood himself puts the murderer to death. When he meets him, he puts him to death. (Numbers 35:19) 38
AVENGER OF BLOODIn Hebrew, the term for the “avenger of blood” is the “go’el hadam”. Hadam means “the blood”, and although “avenger” is the translation for “go’el”, the word is more commonly translated as “redeemer”. The redeemer is the “restorer of the status quo”, a responsibility that rests on the next of kin. Redeemers performed several functions. 1. For example, a redeemer would provide his deceased kinsman
with a survivor by marrying the childless widow (such as Boaz did for Ruth’s husband).
2. A redeemer was obligated to bring his kinsman out of a debt that resulted in his being sold into slavery (Leviticus 25:48).
3. In cases of homicide, the obligation of the blood redeemer/avenger falls on the brother, the uncle, or the cousin, in that order.
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יהושעJewish commentator Jacob Milgrom writes:“Adam is created in God’s ‘image’ (Gen. 1:27; 9:6), an idiom that is used for the father-son relationship (Gen. 5:3). By declaring Himself to be man’s kinsman, God automatically becomes man’s blood redeemer, obligated to execute each and every murderer.”Taking another look at Numbers 35:19. We see that there is one called the avenger of blood, the blood redeemer, who has the responsibility of finding and executing the murderer. Who was behind the murder of the first man and is therefore called “murderer” by יהושע in John?“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and
the father of it. (John 8:44)“The thief does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have
come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure. (John 10:10)
So we see that the murderer is satan! 40
יהוהAccording to the Jewish teaching above by Milgrom, יהוה has declared Himself to be man’s kinsman and man’s blood redeemer. This is why who יהושע is Yah in the flesh qualifies to be our kinsman Redeemer/Avenger! He is the firstborn among the brethren (kinsmen)!
Because those whom He knew beforehand, He also ordained beforehand to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, for Him to be
the first-born among many brothers. (Romans 8:29)The Promised Land must also be redeemed because it has been defiled by blood:
‘And do not profane the land where you are, for blood profanes the land, and the land is not pardoned for the blood that is shed on it,
except by the blood of him who shed it. (Numbers 35:33)If someone who is guilty of murder is let off the hook, then the land is not considered redeemed. Only the justice of Elohim can keep the land from being defiled. This is an instance where demands יהוהretribution. The land has been polluted which means it has been made common rather than holy and set apart. Once the Land of Israel has been defiled, it is no different than the land of the rest of the world. 41
DEATH OF HIGH PRIESTNow the death of the High Priest was an acceptable substitute for the killer if he had taken a life by accident. The High Priest’s death relieved the land of its defilement. However, a purposeful killing required the death of the murderer. It brought on the wrath of the blood avenger. Is this not what we will see when ?returns יהושע The wrath of יהוה will come upon those who have murdered and persecuted His people:
For the displeasure of יהוה is against all the gentiles, and His wrath against all their divisions. He shall put them under the ban, He shall give them over to the slaughter, and their slain be thrown out, and their stench rise from their corpses. And mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of the heavens shall rot away. And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll,
and all their host fade like a leaf fading on the vine, and like the fading one of a fig tree. “For My sword shall be drenched in the heavens. Look, it comes
down on Edom, and on the people of My curse, for judgment. “The sword of .shall be filled with blood ... a great slaughter in the land of Edom יהוה
(Isaiah 34:2-6) 42
SONG OF MOSESThose who are victorious over the beast will understand the importance of His avenging as they will be singing of it as a part of the Song of Moses:And I saw like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those overcoming the beast and his image and his mark and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of Elohim. And they sing the song of Mosheh the servant of Elohim, and the song of the Lamb, .. (Revelation 15:2-3)These are some of the words from the Song of Moses:‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no Elohim besides Me. I put to death and I make alive. I have wounded, and I heal. And from My hand no one delivers! ‘For I lift My hand to the heavens, And shall say: As I live forever, ‘If I have sharpened My flashing sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I shall return vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me. ‘I make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword devours flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired enemy chiefs.’ “O nations, acclaim His people! For He avenges the blood of His servants, And returns vengeance to His adversaries, And shall pardon His land, His people.” (Deuteronomy 32:39-43) 43
THE MARTYREDThose martyred for their testimony will also call for the avenging of their blood:And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the beings of those
having been slain for the Word of Elohim and for the witness which they held, and they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Master, set-
apart and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10)
Justice will prevail as will יהושע be leading the charge at the Battle of Armageddon in response to the lives taken and as our Kinsman Redeemer, our go’el hadam, our Avenger of Blood:
And after this I heard a loud voice of a great crowd in the heaven, saying, “Halleluyah! Deliverance and esteem and respect and power to יהוה our Elohim! “Because true and righteous are His judgments, because He has
judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her whoring. And He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” (Revelation 19:1-
2) 44
THE LAND PURGEDFor the land to enjoy the peace and safety יהוה promised, the Messiah must purge it completely. Blood will be avenged for in the battle of Armageddon. The land will then be completely cleansed by fire and returned to a Garden of Eden-like existence:
Blow a ram’s horn in Tsiyon, and sound an alarm in My set-apart mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble, for the day of is coming, for it is near: a day of darkness and gloom, a day of יהוהclouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains – a people many and strong, the like of whom has never been, nor shall there ever be again after them, to the years of many generations. Ahead of them a fire has consumed, and behind them a
flame burns. Before them the land is like the Garden of Ěden, and behind them a desert waste. And from them there is no escape. (Joel 2:1-3)
Wrath and the justice (which includes avenging) of Elohim, is as much a part of His character as His love and grace. 45
WHAT ISיהוה WAITING FOR? As believers we have been taught not to seek revenge and revenge belongs to יהוה . Romans 12:9
‘Vengeance is Mine, and repayment, At the time their foot slips; For near is the day of their calamity, And the matters prepared are hastening to them.’ “For יהוה rightly rules His people And has
compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is no one remaining, Shut up or at large. (Deuteronomy
32:35-36)Revenge is not the same as defending yourselves. Going to war can be a necessary action. But vengeance belongs to יהוה. The verses above tell us that יהוה’s vengeance will occur when His servants’ strength is gone. It means if we are survivors, we will have to remember to never, never give up. HE WILL DELIVER!
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