Blessing for the Torah Reading:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher
bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn
ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples,
and have given us your Torah.
Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
Why “shemot”- “names”?
YHVH calls each one of us by name as a shepherd
would call each one of his sheep by name in ancient Yisrael.
Exo 1:2
Re’uḇĕn, Shimʽon, Lĕwi, and Yehuḏah;
Exo 1:3
Yissasḵar, Zeḇulun, and Binyamin;
Exo 1:4 Dan
and Naphtali, Gaḏ and Ashĕr.
Exo 1:5 And
all those who were descendants of Yaʽaqoḇ were seventy beings,
as Yosĕph was already in Mitsrayim.
These were the names
of the 12 tribes of Yisrael that were in bondage in a foreign land. YHVH is
calling the descendants and ‘companions” of these 12 original twelve tribes out
of the bondage to the nations of this world back to Yisrael in these last days.
Jer 31:10 “Hear the word of יהוה, O gentiles,
and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Yisra’ĕl
gathers him, and shall guard him as a shepherd his flock.’
Jer 31:11 “For יהוה shall ransom Yaʽaqoḇ, and
redeem him from the hand of one stronger than he.
These are the ones
that went in and these are the ones who are going out.
“Christians
have been taught for centuries that the Church has replaced Israel as
the Chosen nation, taking over her mission to the world. In a related way, the
dozens of Prophetic texts which promise the full and complete restoration
of all Twelve Tribes of Israel to the Land have been allegorized and applied to
either the Church, or to salvation in Heaven. The sad tale of Christian
history, particularly the Christian slander and slaughter of the Jews,
certainly belies any such transfer of the Plan to the Church. It is noteworthy
that many texts from the New Testament itself reject such displacement
interpretations, indicating that such ideas entered the Nazarene movement only
over time and slowly took root. However, it is beyond doubt that the Hebrew
Prophets know of no such shift in the Abrahamic Plan. Accordingly, those who
take the Biblical revelation seriously must thoroughly reject all forms of replacement
theology.
Mat 15:24 And He (Yahshua) answering, said, “I was not
sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ĕl.”
According
to both Torah and Prophets, and pious Jews have understood this through the
centuries, the House of Israel (the northern 10 tribes), and subsequently the
House of Judah (the Jews) went into Exile because of their sins, and YHVH
actually hid His face from them:
Deu 31:17 “Then My displeasure shall burn against them
in that day, and I shall forsake them and hide My face from them, and they
shall be consumed. And many evils and distresses shall come upon them, and it
shall be said in that day, ‘Is it not because our Elohim is not in our midst
that these evils have come upon us?’
Deu 31:18 “And I shall certainly hide My face in that
day, because of all the evil which they have done, for they shall turn to other
mighty ones (idols in other translations).
Deu 31:29 “For I know that after my death you shall do
very corruptly and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil shall come to you in the latter
days, because you do what is evil in the eyes of יהוה, to provoke
Him through the work of your hands.”
Deu 4:30 “In
your distress, when all these words shall come upon you in the latter days,
then you shall return to יהוה your Elohim and shall obey His voice.
“However,
this "hiding of the face" is neither rejection nor replacement.
On the contrary, the very purpose of the Exile is to prepare for the full
restoration of all Israel. Exile is always understood as a temporary
measure of discipline, for a set period of time. Notice, when Moses first
mentions the Exile, he includes promise of restoration:”
Deu 30:3 then יהוה your Elohim
shall turn back your captivity, and shall have compassion on you, and He shall
turn back and gather you from all the peoples where יהוה your Elohim has scattered you.
Deu 30:4 “If any
of you are driven out to the farthest parts under the heavens, from there יהוה your Elohim does gather you, and from
there He does take you.
Deu 30:5 “And יהוה your Elohim shall bring you to the land
which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. And He shall do good to
you, and increase you more than your fathers.
Deu 30:6 “And יהוה your Elohim shall circumcise your heart
and the heart of your seed, to love יהוה your Elohim
with all your heart and with all your being, so that you might live,
“These
promises of restoration are addressed to both the House of Israel (the
Lost Tribes) and the House of Judah (the Jews). One of the most neglected
points in the Hebrew Prophets, even among Jews, but virtually unacknowledged
among Gentiles/Christians, is their constant emphasis on the total restoration of
ALL Israel--meaning all twelve Tribes. Ephraim/Joseph, who has seemingly
been lost among the Gentiles, will make himself known to his brother Judah. The
results of this reunion will astound the world and alter world history. This is
even hinted at mystically in the Joseph story (Genesis 45), but is declared in
most uncertain terms throughout the Prophets. The average reader seldom notes
the careful distinction which the Prophets consistently make between the House
of Israel (Ephraim/Joseph), which refers to the Lost Tribes, and the House of
Judah, whom we have known since the Babylonian Exile as the Jewish people.”
2
Esdras 13 (Apocrapha)
40 Those
are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in
the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away
captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another
land.
46 Then
dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,
“The
Hebrew prophets consistently and carefully distinguish between these two
"Houses." This is not a minor theme, but actually the dominant
emphasis that runs throughout these texts. This restoration of all Israel rests
upon the absolute promise of YHVH. Although Israel (that is the Ten Tribes) is
scattered through the nations, numbering as the sands of the sea, and they even
come to think of themselves as Gentiles, YHVH declares that not
the "least grain" will be lost. His eyes are on all their ways, and
they will surely RETURN--to YHVH their God, to Judah (the Jews), and to the
Land. The following texts provide a brief overview of the prophetic picture.
The details and consistency one finds in the Prophets on this subject is quite
impressive. Anyone who will bother to carefully study these texts will
come away with a transformed understanding of what lies on the horizon with
regard to the prophetic times in which we live.”
Jeremiah 3:6-18: The northern tribes of Israel return and join Judah, "one from a city, two from a family" prior to the complete union when the Kingdom of God comes. This appears to be what has begun to happen in our day.
16:14-19: This is often applied to Judah and to the Jews returning to the Land in our century, but in context, it applies in particular to the House of Israel (Lost Tribes), who have become like the "nations," whose fathers have inherited lies.
23:1-6: This passage makes it clear that both Houses will come eventually--and again their return is associated with the Davidic Messiah. This GREAT RETURN is to rival the Exodus from Egypt in the time of Moses!
30-31: These key chapters are particularly full and vivid regarding the sequence of events to come about in the "latter days," and the establishment of the much expected new covenant with the restored Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Hosea 1-3: The Lost Tribes become "not My people," losing their identity and their knowledge of God and turning to paganism ("days of the Baalim,") through their number as the sands of the sea (1:10-11; 2:13). They remain in this state for "many days" but return to Judah and to their God (Elohim) in the "latter days." Once again their return is associated with the appearance of the Davidic Messiah (1:11; 3:4-5).
Hosea 5:6- 6:3: verse 2 of chapter 6: They are "revived on the third day," …..
Amos 9:8-10: In 8:11-12 the northern Ten Tribes lose contact with YHVH. They are to be sifted through the nations, nonetheless they are kept intact. Their restoration is once again connected to the Davidic Messiah.
Obadiah 15-21: A restored ``Joseph/Ephraim" (Lost Tribes) is instrumental in finally punishing the Arabs who have rejoiced at Yehudah’s (the Jews in the Land) troubles and distress (the Holocaust, the Wars of 1947-73, the Gulf War).
Zechariah 8:13; 9 & 10: All the tribes eventually come together--Judah and Ephraim are joined. Judah seems to be saved first (12:7), and have great military success (10:3-5), but Joseph (the Lost Tribes) is afterward associated with them (10:6-10). They are so numerous that they spill over into Lebanon and Gilead. Of particular note is the language of Zechariah 10:9: "And I will sow them among the peoples; and they shall remember me in far countries, and they shall live with their children, and turn again."
Ezekiel 34-37: YHVH Himself will search out His "lost sheep" which have been scattered among the nations (34:11-13). The "two sticks" of the House of Judah (the Jews) and the House of Israel (the Lost Tribes of Joseph and his brethren) are absolutely destined to become one, leading to the Messianic era (37:15-28).
Almost all interpreters of prophecy, whether Jewish or Christian, tend to loosely read these texts and apply them in a blanket way "to the Jews." Surely, the return to Zion in our century, with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, is of the greatest prophetic significance. However, these passages from the Prophets clearly speak of a further GREAT RETURN of ALL Israel. This vital distinction between the House of Yehuah/Judah and the House of Yisrael/Israel must be carefully noted if one wants to understand the detailed prophetic picture presented in these texts.
These promises to national Israel are absolute and unconditional.
There are over forty separate sections of the Hebrew prophets which deal
specifically, and in the greatest of detail, with this theme of the full and
unqualified restoration of all twelve of the Tribes of Israel. The cumulative
impact of these texts is overwhelming. They cannot be ignored or spiritualized
if one wishes to interpret the Scripture with any historical seriousness. The
Prophets speak of Judah returning first to the Land. Their return in our
day is a concrete demonstration that YHVH has not and will not cast off or
reject His people Israel--including the Ten Lost Tribes:
Isa 54:10 “For though the mountains be removed and the
hills be shaken, My kindness is not removed from you, nor is My covenant of
peace shaken,” said יהוה, who has
compassion on you.
Hos 3:4 For many days the children of Yisra’ĕl are to
remain without sovereign and without prince, and without slaughtering, and
without pillar, and without shoulder garment or house idols.
Hos 3:5 Afterward the children of Yisra’ĕl shall
return, and seek יהוה their Elohim,
and Dawiḏ their sovereign, and fear יהוה and His
goodness, in the latter days.
Jer 16:14 “Therefore see, the days are coming,”
declares יהוה, “when it is
no longer said, ‘יהוה lives who
brought up the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of Mitsrayim,’
Jer 16:15 but, ‘יהוה lives who brought up the children of
Yisra’ĕl from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven
them.’ For I shall bring them back into their land I gave to their fathers.
Eze 39:25 “Therefore thus said the Master יהוה, ‘Now I am
going to bring back the captives of Yaʽaqoḇ. And
I shall have compassion on all the house of Yisra’ĕl, and shall be jealous for
My set-apart Name.
Eze 39:26 ‘And
they shall have borne their shame, and all their trespass they committed
against Me, when they dwell safely in their own land, with none to make them
afraid,
Eze 39:27 when I
have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of the lands of
their enemies. And I shall be set apart in them before the eyes of many
gentiles.
Eze 39:28 ‘And
they shall know that I am יהוה their Elohim,
who sent them into exile among the gentiles, and then gathered them back to
their own land, and left none of them behind.
Eze 39:29 ‘And no
longer do I hide My face from them, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on
the house of Yisra’ĕl,’ declares the Master יהוה.”
Eze 36:26 “And I shall give you a new heart and put a
new spirit within you. And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh,
and I shall give you a heart of flesh,
Eze 36:27 and put My Spirit within you1. And
I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do
them.
Jer 33:7 ‘And I shall turn back the captivity of Yehuḏah and the captivity
of Yisra’ĕl, and shall build them as at the first,
Jer 33:8 and
shall cleanse them from all their crookedness that they have sinned against Me.
And I shall pardon all their crookednesses that they have sinned and by which
they have transgressed against Me.
Jer 33:9
‘And it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and a pride before all
nations of the earth, who hear all the good I am doing to them, and they shall
fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the peace I am doing to it.’
The conversion of Israel leads to the turning of all
nations to the knowledge of YHVH and His Torah Way for all humankind. The
Davidic Messiah re-gathers all Israel, and at the same time the nations seek
YHVH (Isaiah 11:10-12). It is at that time the "earth becomes full of the
knowledge of YHVH as the waters cover the seas (Isaiah 11:9). The Torah goes
forth from Jerusalem to all nations; the nations stream up to the Land to learn
the Way of YHVH (Isaiah 2:2-4).
Consistently the Prophets associate these
three related phenomena: the return of the House of Judah, the joining of
Judah with the Lost Tribes, and the subsequent conversion of all the nations to
YHVH and His Way (see Isaiah 14:1-2; 56:7; 60:3; Zechariah 2:10-13; and Psalm
67). Note these clear examples:
Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for
behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst, declares YHVH. And many
nations will join themselves to YHVH in that day and will become My
people (Zechariah 2:10-11)
·.·. For I will bring them back into their land
which I gave to their fathers .·.·. The Gentiles shall come to You from
the ends of the earth and say, surely our fathers have inherited lies,
worthless and unprofitable things (Jeremiah 16:15-19).
At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne
of YHVH, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of
YHVH, to Jerusalem. Nor more shall they follow the dictates of their evil
hearts. In those days Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they
will come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given
as an inheritance to your fathers (Jeremiah 3:17-18).
Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall
come to seek YHVH of Hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before YHVH .·.·. Thus says
YHVH of Hosts, "In those days ten men from every language of the nations
will grasp the corner of the garment [the tzizit; Numbers 15:38-40] of a
Jewish man saying, `Let us go with you, for we have heard that YHVH is with you"
(Zechariah 8:23).
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah says, "Israel was set apart
to YHVH, the firstfruits of His harvest" (2:3). This image of the
firstfruits relates to the symbolic meaning of YHVH’s “Appointments/feasts” and
the harvest seasons, as set forth in Leviticus 23. The Way of YHVH will first
be realized through the "great nation," as promised to Abraham,
repeated to Yitschak/Isaac and Ya’akov/Jacob, and reiterated throughout the
Scriptures, then the "full harvest will follow. There is nothing racist
about this Plan of YHVH. Rather it is a matter of YHVH using those whom He has
determined and prepared for his historic purposes, thus fulfilling His promises. As YHVH Himself declares, this
Restoration of All Yisrael/Israel is a "vindication" of His Set Apart
Name (Ezekiel 36:23). This is the prime Messianic task according to all the
Prophets.
Eze 36:22 “Therefore say to the house of Yisra’ĕl,
‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “I do not do
this for your sake, O house of Yisra’ĕl, but for My set-apart Name’s sake,
which you have profaned among the gentiles wherever you went.
Eze 36:23 “And I
shall set apart My great Name, which has been profaned among the gentiles,
which you have profaned in their midst. And the gentiles shall know that I am יהוה,” declares the Master יהוה, “when I am set-apart in you before their
eyes.
Eze 36:24 “And I
shall take you from among the gentiles, and I shall gather you out of all
lands, and I shall bring you into your own land.
Unless
and until all Yisrael/Israel is restored to the Land, with Yehudah/ Judah and Yosef/Joseph
joined as one, there is no Messianic fulfillment, and there will be no
realization of the Kingdom of YHVH.” End quote.
Exo 1:6 And
Yosĕph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.
Exo 1:7 And the
children of Yisra’ĕl bore fruit and increased very much, multiplied and became
very strong, and the land was filled with them.
Exo 1:8 Then
a new sovereign arose over Mitsrayim, who did not know Yosĕph,
Exo 1:9 and
he said to his people, “See, the people of the children of Yisra’ĕl are more
and stronger than we,
Exo 1:10
come, let us act wisely towards them, lest they increase, and it shall
be when fighting befalls us, that they shall join our enemies and fight against
us, and shall go up out of the land.”
Exo 1:11 So
they set slave-masters over them to afflict them with their burdens, and they
built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raʽamses.
Exo 1:12 But
the more they afflicted them, the more they increased and grew, and they were
in dread of the children of Yisra’ĕl.