3/11/2016

Parashat 6 Portion 23 - Toldot – Ber/Gen 25:1-26:11 2 Sam 5:17-6:1 Heb 12:14-29


Gen 25:1  And Aḇraham took another wife, whose name was Qeturah.

The Yakult Midrash makes an assertion concerning all three wives of Abraham.
        Abraham married three wives – Sarah, a daughter of Shem; Keturah, a daughter of Japheth; and Hagar, a daughter of Ham. (ibid., chpt. 8)

One modern commentator on the Hebrew Scripture has called Keturah "the most ignored significant person in the Torah." 
The name Keturah lends itself to a number of Rabbinic interpretations. She was perfumed (mekuteret) with commandments and good deeds (Gen. Rabbah 61:4); she was (through her good deeds) more savory (mekuteret) than all manner of spices (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer [ed. Higger], chap. 29); her deeds were as fine as incense (ketoret—Tanhuma, Hayyei Sarah 8). An additional explanation gives this word the meaning of binding or sealing (keshurah). When a person secures his valuables with his seal, they are still shut when he opens his treasury.

Gen 25:2  And she bore him Zimran, and Yoqshan, and Meḏan, and Miḏyan, and Yishbaq, and Shuwaḥ.
Gen 25:3  And Yoqshan brought forth Sheḇa and Deḏan. And the sons of Deḏan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Le’ummim.
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.
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.

pilegshim (concubines) in Gen. 25:6 is spelled deficiently, without the letter yod. The intent of the Torah  was thus to only a single concubine, Hagar (Gen. Rabbah 61:4).

These offspring express the fulfillment of the blessing given by YHVH to Abraham in Gen. 12:3: “and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you,” for three families came from Abraham: the twelve chieftains from Esau, the sixteen descendants of Keturah, and (Gen. 25:23) “two nations are in your womb” (Tanhuma [ed. Buber], Hayyei Sarah 8). The Rabbis further learn from Abraham that even if a man has children while he is young, he should still take another wife in his old age and beget further offspring (Gen. Rabbah 61:3). All of Keturah’s sons were the heads of nations (Gen. Rabbah 61:5).


The above mentioned web site gives detail as to the meanings of the names and possible destiny of these sons.

Gen 25:7  And these are all the years of Aḇraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years.
Gen 25:8  And Aḇraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, aged and satisfied, and was gathered to his people.
Gen 25:9  And his sons Yitsḥaq and Yishmaʽĕl buried him in the cave of Maḵpĕlah, which is before Mamrĕ, in the field of Ephron son of Tsoḥar the Ḥittite,
Gen 25:10  the field which Aḇraham purchased from the sons of Ḥĕth. There Aḇraham was buried with Sarah his wife.
Gen 25:11  And it came to be, after the death of Aḇraham, that Elohim blessed his son Yitsḥaq. And Yitsḥaq dwelt at Be’ĕr Laḥai Ro’i.
Gen 25:12  And this is the genealogy of Yishmaʽĕl, Aḇraham’s son, whom Haḡar the Mitsrite, Sarah’s female servant, bore to Aḇraham.
Gen 25:13  And these were the names of the sons of Yishmaʽĕl, by their names, according to their generations: The first-born of Yishmaʽĕl, Neḇayoth; then Qĕḏar, and Aḏbe’ĕl, and Miḇsam,
Gen 25:14  and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
Gen 25:15  Haḏar, and Tĕma, Yetur, Naphish, and Qĕḏemah.
Gen 25:16  These were the sons of Yishmaʽĕl and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve chiefs according to their tribes.
Gen 25:17  And these were the years of the life of Yishmaʽĕl: one hundred and thirty-seven years. And he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
Gen 25:18  And they dwelt from Ḥawilah as far as Shur, which is east of Mitsrayim as you go toward Ashshur. He settled before all his brothers.
Gen 25:19  And this is the genealogy of Yitsḥaq, Aḇraham’s son. Aḇraham brought forth Yitsḥaq.
Gen 25:20  And Yitsḥaq was forty years old when he took Riḇqah as wife, the daughter of Bethu’ĕl the Aramean of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laḇan the Aramean.
Gen 25:21  And Yitsḥaq prayed to יהוה for his wife, because she was barren. And יהוה answered his prayer, and Riḇqah his wife conceived.
Gen 25:22  And within her the children struggled together, and she said, “If all is right, why am I this way?” So she went to ask יהוה.
Gen 25:23  And יהוה said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body. And one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older serve the younger.”
Gen 25:24  And when the days were filled for her to give birth, and see, twins were in her womb!
Gen 25:25  And the first came out red all over, like a hairy garment, so they called his name Ěsaw.
Gen 25:26  And afterward his brother came out, with his hand holding on to Ěsaw’s heel, so his name was called Yaʽaqoḇ. And Yitsḥaq was sixty years old when she bore them.
Gen 25:27  And the boys grew up. And Ěsaw became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, while Yaʽaqoḇ was a complete man, dwelling in tents.

“Complete man” H8535 tâm
1) perfect, complete
1a) complete, perfect
1a1) one who lacks nothing in physical strength, beauty, etc
1b) sound, wholesome
1b1) an ordinary, quiet sort of person
1c) complete, morally innocent, having integrity
1c1) one who is morally and ethically pure.

Gen 25:28  And Yitsḥaq loved Ěsaw because he ate of his wild game, but Riḇqah loved Yaʽaqoḇ.

Perhaps the parents were the source of many of the problems Yakov would have to face.
We are then told that Yitchak loved Esav "because he had a taste for game." (25:28). Literally, however, the verse explains that  Yitchak loved Esau because "hunting was in his mouth." (25:28).  The ancient Jewish commentary Midrash Rabbah suggests that the "hunting in his mouth" should be understood as Esav's deceit of Isaac. History teaches us that Esav and his descendants were violent greedy men who took whatever he wanted, by force or by their words.

Gen 25:29  And Yaʽaqoḇ cooked a stew, and Ěsaw came in from the field, and he was weary.
Gen 25:30  And Ěsaw said to Yaʽaqoḇ, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” That is why his name was called Eḏom.
Gen 25:31  But Yaʽaqoḇ said, “Sell me your birthright today.”
Gen 25:32  And Ěsaw said, “Look, I am going to die, so why should I have birthright?”
Gen 25:33  Then Yaʽaqoḇ said, “Swear to me today.” And he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Yaʽaqoḇ.
Gen 25:34  Yaʽaqoḇ then gave Ěsaw bread and stew of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up and left. Thus Ěsaw despised his birthright.

The writer to the book of Hebrews explains the deeper and significant message of our current Torah portion.

Heb 12:15  See to it that no one falls short of the favour of Elohim, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, by which many become defiled,

Why would there be a root of bitterness with Esav or with anyone else?

In the context of this scripture we are warned that we will be disciplined (flogged) like sons. Discipline may cause extreme bitterness to those who are rebellious and unwilling to submit to YHVH and His Ways.
Bitterness may also be caused by those who claim or would like to have the birth right but do not. Before Esav and Yakov were born the birth right blessing was given to Yakov -  see 25:23.
Before the foundation of the world the birth right blessing was given to Messiah.

There is a spirit in the world today that hates the truth that Yahshua was the first born of YHVH.

Rom 8:29  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.

In the light of this Torah portion we can understand that Avraham had several sons and grandsons but only one son and grandson and their seed – the Hebrews - were promised the blessing of the birth right. This obviously was and remains a cause of great bitterness to this day.
Tragically this bitterness has also revealed itself in the “church” through replacement theology. The Christian religion was birthed by the Roman Catholic Church and Constantine with a determined agenda to rid the church of any “Jewish” influence. This in spite of the fact that Yahshua said that salvation and deliverance come from the Jews – See John 4:22. Rom 11:29 says that YHVH will never change His mind regarding the birth right blessing of Jews.

Heb 12:16  lest there be anyone who whores, or profane one, like Ěsaw, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

Here the writer to the book of Hebrews compares someone who tries to obtain the birth right in an illegitimate way to a whore. When a destitute woman can no longer care for herself or her children she may resort to the desperate measure of selling her body to  get what she wants and to support herself and her children. This is profane and unacceptable to YHVH.

There are terrible consequences to those who oppress widows and orphans.

Psa 68:5  Father of the fatherless, And Right-ruler of widows, Is Elohim in His set-apart dwelling.
Psa 68:6  Elohim makes a home for the lonely; He brings out into prosperity Those who are bound with chains; Only the rebellious shall dwell in a dry land.

Exo 22:22  “Do not afflict any widow or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23  “If you do afflict them at all – if they cry out to Me at all, I shall certainly hear their cry,
Exo 22:24  and My wrath shall burn and I shall slay you with the sword, your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.

Who is the mystery harlot in the book of Revelation?



Rev 17:4  And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup filled with abominations and the filthiness of her whoring,1 Footnote: 1Jer. 51:7.
Rev 17:5  and upon her forehead a name written, a secret: BAḆEL THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE WHORES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the set-apart ones, and with the blood of the witnesses of יהושע. And having seen her, I marvelled – greatly marvelled!

Why would Yochanan marvel at this mother of whores?

Maybe because she didn’t look like a whore; she didn’t speak like a whore AND she wanted to kill those who had the birth right.

Here is another mystery: the bride of Messiah, whom YHVH cloths with a spotless robe of His righteousness, doesn’t want any spot or stain that comes from any teaching word or doctrine that comes from the mother of harlots. See Yesh/Is 61:10 and Eph 5:27

2Jn 1:9  Everyone who is transgressing and not staying in the teaching of Messiah does not possess Elohim.1 The one who stays in the teaching of Messiah possesses both the Father and the Son.2 Footnotes: 11 Tim. 6:3. 2See 1 John 1:3, 1 John 2:22, 1 John 5:20.
2Jn 1:10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house nor greet him,
2Jn 1:11  for he who greets him shares in his wicked works.

I personally believe we should extend love and kindness to those who disagree or have other teaching NOT TO COMPROMISE  but with the hope that they will come to their senses and repent of the Torahlessness.


Heb 12:17  For you know that afterward, when he wished to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears.
Heb 12:18  For you have not drawn near to a mountain touched and scorched with fire, and to blackness, and darkness and storm,
Heb 12:19  and a sound of a trumpet, and a voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that no further Word should be spoken to them,1 Footnote: 1Ex. 20:19.
Heb 12:20  for they could not bear what was commanded, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot through with an arrow.”
Heb 12:21  And so fearsome was the sight that Mosheh said, “I exceedingly fear and tremble.”
Heb 12:22  But you have drawn near to Mount Tsiyon and to the city of the living Elohim, to the heavenly Yerushalayim, to myriads of messengers,
Heb 12:23  to the entire gathering and assembly of the first-born having been enrolled in heaven, and to Elohim the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  and to יהושע the Mediator1 of a new covenant,(renewed covenant) and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better than the blood of Heḇel. Footnote: 1See 8:6.
Heb 12:25  Take heed not to refuse the One speaking. For if those did not escape who refused the warning on earth, much less we who turn away from Him from heaven,
Heb 12:26  whose voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”
Heb 12:27  And this, “Yet once more,” makes clear the removal of what is shaken – as having been made – so that the unshaken matters might remain.
Heb 12:28  Therefore, receiving an unshakeable reign, let us hold the favour, through which we serve Elohim pleasingly with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29  for indeed, our Elohim is a consuming (present active verb) fire. – (Note He still is a consuming fire)

This letter was written to Torah seeking believers in Yahshua.

1Jn 2:3  And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands.1 Footnote: 1See 3:6.
1Jn 2:4  The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5  But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected1 in him. By this we know that we are in Him.2 Footnotes: 1Gen. 17:1, Ps. 119:1, Mt. 5:48. 2See 3:24.
1Jn 2:6  The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.
1Jn 2:7  Beloved, I write no fresh command to you, but an old command which you have had from the beginning. The old command is the Word which you heard from the beginning.1 Footnote: 1See v. 24.


 Gen 26:1  And there was a scarcity of food in the land, besides the first scarcity of food which was in the days of Aḇraham. And Yitsḥaq went to Aḇimeleḵ, sovereign of the Philistines, in Gerar.
Gen 26:2  And יהוה appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Mitsrayim, live in the land which I command you.
Gen 26:3  “Sojourn in this land. And I shall be with you and bless you, for I give all these lands to you and your seed. And I shall establish the oath which I swore to Aḇraham your father.
Gen 26:4  “And I shall increase your seed like the stars of the heavens, and I shall give all these lands to your seed. And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
Gen 26:5  because Aḇraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torot1.” Footnote: 1Torot - plural of Torah, teaching
Gen 26:6  And Yitsḥaq dwelt in Gerar. (Gerar means a place where the cud is chewed)
Gen 26:7  And when the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me for Riḇqah, because she is good-looking.”
Gen 26:8  And it came to be, when he had been there a long time, that Aḇimeleḵ sovereign of the Philistines looked through a window, and he watched and saw Yitsḥaq playing with Riḇqah his wife.

Vs 8 Hebrew word for playing is “metzachek” same root word for Yitzchak the same root word for laughter.
The sages derive from this that you can tell when someone is intimate with another by the way they laugh together.

Gen 26:9  So Aḇimeleḵ called Yitsḥaq and said, “See, truly she is your wife! So how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And Yitsḥaq said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’ ”
Gen 26:10  And Aḇimeleḵ said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people had almost lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.”
Gen 26:11  And Aḇimeleḵ commanded all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall certainly be put to death.”