3/08/2014

Parashat 21 Portion 70 – Shemot 32:15-34:26 Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:10- Second Writings: Rom 9:14-16


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.)

Exo 32:15  And Mosheh turned and went down from the mountain, and in his hand were the two tablets of the Witness, tablets written on both their sides, written on the one and on the other.
Exo 32:16  And the tablets were the work of Elohim, and the writing was the writing of Elohim engraved on the tablets.

--חָרוּת, עַל-הַלֻּחֹת.

Engraved (charut) on the Tablets (32:16) Had the First Tablets not been broken, no nation or people could have subjugated the Hebrew people, as it is written, "Charut on the Tablet." Do not read charut (engraved), but cheirut (free); on account of these Tablets, Israel would have remained ever free. (Talmud and Rashi, Eruvin 54a)
Avot 6:2 … )---for there is no free individual, except for he who occupies himself with the study of Torah

Yakov/Jas 1:25  But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom,1 and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah. Footnote: 1See 2:12.
Jas 2:12  So speak and so do as those who are to be judged by a Torah of freedom.1 Footnote: 1See 1:25, and John 8:32-36.

This is not the Torah of bondage as the church has taught – it is the Torah of freedom because when we are empowered by the Ruach Ha Kodesh to walk in all the righteousness of the Torah we will progressively experience a life of freedom.

Rom 8:2  For the Torah of the Spirit of the life in Messiah יהושע has set me free from the law of sin and of death.
Rom 8:3  For the Torah being powerless, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim, having His own Son in the likeness of flesh of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh,
Rom 8:4  so that the righteousness of the Torah should be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Exo 32:17  And Yehoshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted and he said to Mosheh, “A noise of battle in the camp!”

The sound of idolatry is impressive – it sounds mighty and convincing but in reality it can be compared to a spiritual drunken orgy where the religious masses fornicate with the most despicable theological doctrines imaginable, done in the name of “serving” Elohim.

Exo 32:18  But he said, “It is not the sound of those who shout of might, nor is it the sound of those who cry out in weakness, but the sound of singing that I hear.”
Exo 32:19  And it came to be, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. And Mosheh’s displeasure burned, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 

It is very clear that idolatry consists of any actions, words or thoughts that contradict or violate the covenant (Torah) of Yahvch.
The greatest responsibility placed upon man is to hear, obey and do all the commandments of YHVH.
Wilful and ongoing disobedience to YHVH’s covenant carries with it the most serious consequences imaginable for man.

“Idolatry is putting someone else in YHVH’s place.
Genuine faith in YHVH is singular faith – a faith that relies upon the Elohim of Yisrael and upon Him alone.
Idolatry is not only bowing to a false god, or putting man in the place of YHVH. It is also thinking and living as though there is no real need of YHVH
Idolatrous people are satisfied with a corporate relationship with YHVH.”

Most people who claim to follow true religion will be turned away from entering into YHVH’s presence.

Mat 7:21  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens.
Mat 7:22  “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’
Mat 7:23  “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’1 Footnote: 1 See v. 15.

Mat 25:11  “And later the other maidens also came, saying, ‘Master, Master, open up for us!’
Mat 25:12  “But he answering, said, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’


Exo 32:20  And he took the calf which they had made, and burned it in the fire, and ground it into powder, and scattered it on the face of the water and made the children of Yisra’ĕl drink it.

Moshe imposed on them a test like that given a “sotah” a wife accused of adultery – Bamid/Numbers 5:16-18. It is likely that a plague came upon those who were guilty see 33:25

 “Colloidal gold” (gold dust) preparations (suspensions of gold nanaoparticles) in water are intensely red- coloured, and can be made with tightly controlled particle sizes up to a few tens of nanometers across by reduction of gold chloride with citrate or ascorbate ions. Colloidal gold is used in research applications in medicine, biology and materials science.”  Wikipedia.

Is this just a coincidence that the water turned red when the gold dust was mixed with the water?

Midrash:

Idolatry or false religion is often obsessed with the acquiring of wealth (gold).
A severe judgment will be made on such idolatry illustrated by the gold being ground into powder. People will one day come face to face with their idolatry illustrated by drinking of gold dust as a form of severe judgment.
One can also midrash around the fact that Yahshua was broken (Torah tablets smashed) and his blood flowed for the healing of our seemingly incurable disease of idolatry and all other related iniquities.
Yahshua will return during a future Yom Kippur. The second set of tablets were given to Moshe during the time of Yom Kippur.
Yahshua return in the fullness of Torah to teach Torah to the nations – Yesh 2:2,3.

Isa 2:2  And it shall be in the latter days that the mountain of the House of יהוה is established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills. And all nations shall flow to it.
Isa 2:3  And many peoples shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of יהוה, to the House of the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ, and let Him teach1 us His ways1, and let us walk in His paths1, for out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah1, and the Word1 of יהוה from Yerushalayim.” Footnote: 1His ways, His paths, the teaching and the Word of יהוה are used synonymously.

Yahshua has come in the volume of the book and will return in the volume of the book.

Heb 10:7  “Then I said, ‘See, I come – in the roll of the book it has been written concerning Me – to do Your desire, O Elohim. (Ps 40)

Exo 32:21  And Mosheh said to Aharon, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”
Exo 32:22  And Aharon said, “Do not let the displeasure of my master burn. You know the people,  that it is in evil.

Their hearts are set on being idolatrous.

Exo 32:23  “And they said to me, ‘Make us mighty ones who go before us. For this Mosheh, the man who brought us out of the land of Mitsrayim, we do not know what has become of him.’
Exo 32:24  “And I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let them take it off.’ And they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.”
Exo 32:25  And Mosheh saw that the people were let loose, for Aharon had let them loose, to their shame among their enemies.

Exo 32:26  And Mosheh stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Who is for יהוה? Come to me.” And all the sons of Lĕwi gathered themselves to him.

We need to note here that the majority of Yisrael did not join Moshe – only a few priests – Levites.

Exo 32:27  And he said to them, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl: ‘Each one put his sword on his side, pass over to and fro from gate to gate in the camp, and each one slay his brother, and each one his friend, and each one his relative.’ ”
Exo 32:28  And the sons of Lĕwi did according to the word of Mosheh. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Exo 32:29  And Mosheh said, “You are ordained for יהוה today – since each one has been against his son and his brother – so as to bring upon you a blessing today.”
Exo 32:30  And it came to be on the next day that Mosheh said to the people, “You, you have sinned a great sin. And now I am going up to יהוה – if I might atone for your sin.”
Exo 32:31  And Mosheh returned to יהוה and said, “Oh, these people have sinned a great sin, and have made for themselves a mighty one of gold!
Exo 32:32  “And now, if You would forgive their sin, but if not, please blot me out of Your book which You have written.”

Moshe seeks to annul the covenant of death Yisrael has made. The Torah teaches in Bemidbar/Numbers 30 that the father can annul a vow that his daughter or wife enter into unwisely.

Moshe seeks to annul this vow by offering himself up as a ransom. This points us to a future time when Messiah himself would be the only one who could offer up himself to be cut off from YHVH and annul the covenant of death mankind has entered into.

Exo 32:33  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I blot him out of My book.
Exo 32:34  “And now, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. See, My Messenger goes before you. And in the day of My visitation I shall visit their sin upon them.”
Exo 32:35  And יהוה plagued the people because they made the calf, which Aharon made.

Exo 33:1  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Come, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Mitsrayim, to the land of which I swore to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, saying, ‘To your seed I give it.’
Exo 33:2  “And I shall send My Messenger before you, and I shall drive out the Kenaʽanite and the Amorite and the Ḥittite and the Perizzite and the Ḥiwwite and the Yeḇusite,
Exo 33:3  to a land flowing with milk and honey. For I do not go up in your midst because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.”
Exo 33:4  And when the people heard this evil word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
Exo 33:5  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. Should I go up in your midst for one moment I shall consume you. And now, take off your ornaments, and I shall know what to do to you.’ ”
Exo 33:6  So the children of Yisra’ĕl took off their ornaments at Mount Ḥorĕḇ
.
Exo 33:7  And Mosheh took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the Tent of Meeting. And it came to be that everyone who sought יהוה went out to the Tent of Meeting which was outside the camp.

This pattern seems to repeat itself again and again. If you truly want to be free from idolatry you need to “leave the camp.”

Exo 33:8  And it came to be, whenever Mosheh went out to the Tent, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Mosheh until he entered the Tent.
Exo 33:9  And it came to be, when Mosheh entered the Tent, that the column of cloud descended and stood at the door of the Tent, and He spoke with Mosheh.
Exo 33:10  And all the people saw the column of cloud standing at the Tent door, and all the people rose and bowed themselves, each one at the door of his tent.
Exo 33:11  Thus יהוה spoke to Mosheh face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Yehoshua son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the Tent.

יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן נַעַר, לֹא יָמִישׁ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל.  {פ}

The sages say “bin” is used instead of “ben” to denote that Yehoshua was a man of “understanding” – “bein” in Hebrew.
In a midrashic sense this Yehoshua can be likened to our own Yahshua Moshiach who was a disciple of Moshe. They even carry the same name.

Exo 33:12  And Mosheh said to יהוה, “See, You are saying to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not made known to me whom You would send with me, though You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favour in My eyes.’
Exo 33:13  “And now, please, if I have found favour in Your eyes, please show me Your way, and let me know You, so that I find favour in Your eyes. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
Exo 33:14  And He said, “My Presence does go, and I shall give you rest.”
Exo 33:15  And he said to Him, “If Your Presence is not going, do not lead us up from here.
Exo 33:16  “For how then shall it be known that I have found favour in Your eyes, I and Your people, except You go with us? Then we shall be distinguished, I and Your people, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”
Exo 33:17  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Even this word you have spoken I shall do, for you have found favour in My eyes, and I know you by name.”

Exo 33:18  Then he said, “Please, show me Your esteem.”
Exo 33:19  And He said, “I shall cause all My goodness to pass before you, and I shall proclaim the Name of יהוה before you. And I shall favour him whom I favour, and shall have compassion on him whom I have compassion.”
Exo 33:20  But He said, “You are unable to see My face, for no man does see Me and live.”

The name of YHVH is the single summation of all He is – the sum of all His attributes. Thus when YHVH puts Moshe in the cleft of the rock He first declares His Name and then proceeds to reveal His Esteem by describing His attributes. “To be satisfied with the pop culture name (God) and definition of YHVH is likewise to engage in idolatry, for the worship of the G-d which the culture has defined is the worship of another G-d. Our golden calves are less obvious, but they are there nonetheless.”

That’s why you have to come to come out of the camp and seek to join yourself to the heart of Moshe.

Exo 33:21  And יהוה said, “See, there is a place with Me! And you shall stand on the rock.
Exo 33:22  “And it shall be, while My esteem passes by, that I shall put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand while I pass by.
Exo 33:23  “Then I shall take away My hand and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
Exo 34:1  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I shall write on these tablets the Words that were on the first tablets which you broke. (Emphasis added by myself).
Exo 34:2  “And be ready in the morning. Then you shall come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself to Me there on the top of the mountain.
Exo 34:3  “And let no man come up with you, and let no man be seen in all the mountain, and let not even the flock or the herd feed in front of that mountain.”
Exo 34:4  And he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones. Then Mosheh rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as יהוה had commanded him, and he took two tablets of stone in his hand.
Exo 34:5  And יהוה came down in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name, יהוה.

Exo 34:6  And יהוה passed before him and proclaimed, “יהוה, יהוה, an Ěl compassionate and showing favour, patient, and great in kindness and truth,
Exo 34:7  watching over kindness for thousands, forgiving crookedness and transgression and sin, but by no means leaving unpunished1, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Footnote: 1This is confirmed in Num. 14:18, and in Jer. 30:11.

Jer 30:11  ‘For I am with you,’ declares יהוה, ‘to save you. Though I make a complete end of all gentiles1 where I have scattered you, yet I do not make a complete end of you. But I shall reprove you in judgment, and by no means leave you unpunished.’ Footnote: 1See 46:28, Isa. 34:2, Isa. 45:17, Dan. 2:44, Amos 9:8, Hag. 2:22.
Jer 30:12  “For thus said יהוה, ‘Your breach is incurable, your wound is grievous.

Jer 30:24  The burning displeasure of יהוה shall not turn back until He has done and established the purposes of His heart. In the latter days you shall understand it1. Footnote: 1See 23:20.

Exo 34:8  And Mosheh hurried and bowed himself toward the earth, and did obeisance,
Exo 34:9  and said, “If, now, I have found favour in Your eyes, O יהוה, I pray, let יהוה go on in our midst, even though we are a stiff-necked people. And forgive our crookedness and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
Exo 34:10  And He said, “See, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I am going to do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of יהוה. For what I am doing with you is awesome.