Haftarah:
YHVH’s promise to Yakov’s flock.
Isa 43:1 But now, thus said יהוה, your Creator,
O Yaʽaqoḇ, and He who formed you, O Yisra’ĕl, “Do not fear, for I
have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are Mine.
Isa 43:2 “When you
pass through the waters, I am with you; and through rivers, they do not
overflow you. When you walk through fire, you are not scorched, and a flame
does not burn you.
Isa 43:3 “For I am
יהוה your Elohim, the Set-apart One of
Yisra’ĕl, your Saviour; I gave Mitsrayim for your ransom, Kush and Seḇa in
your place.
Isa 43:4 “Since
you were precious in My eyes, you have been esteemed, and I have loved you. And
I give men in your place, and peoples for your life.
Isa 43:5 “Do not
fear, for I am with you. I shall bring your seed from the east, and gather you
from the west.
Isa 43:6 “I shall
say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth –
Isa 43:7 all those
who are called by My Name, whom I have created, formed, even made for My
esteem.”
Isa 43:8 He shall
bring out a blind people who have eyes, and deaf ones who have ears.
Our Torah
Portion:
Gen 35:9 And Elohim appeared to Yaʽaqoḇ again, when he came
from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.
Gen 35:10
And Elohim said to him, “Your name is Yaʽaqoḇ, your name is no
longer called Yaʽaqoḇ, but Yisra’ĕl is your
name.” So He called his name Yisra’ĕl.
Gen 35:11
And Elohim said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai. Bear fruit and increase, a
nation and a company of nations shall be from you, and sovereigns come from
your body.
Gen 35:12
“And the land which I gave Aḇraham
and Yitsḥaq I give to you. And
to your seed after you I give this land.”
Gen 35:13
And Elohim went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him.
Gen 35:14
And Yaʽaqoḇ set up a standing
column in the place where He had spoken with him, a monument of stone. And he
poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.
Gen 35:15
And Yaʽaqoḇ called the name of
the place where Elohim spoke with him, Bĕyth Ěl.
In his introduction to this parasha/portion Tim
Hegg makes the following comments:
YHVH’S covenant promise to Avraham and Yitzchak, is
here passed on to Yakov. And as we have come to expect, the renewal and maintenance
of the covenant is initiated by YHVH, not man. YHVH speaks to Yakov, then YHVH
appears to him (Ber 35:1,9). YHVH is the One seeking man, and not vica versa.
Yet clearly Yakov responds. YHVH calls and Yakov obeys. Avraham Heshell put it
this way:
“Faith comes out of awe, out of awareness that we
are exposed to His presence, out of anxiety to answer the challenge of YHVH,
out of an awareness of our being called upon… unless YHVH asks the question,
all our enquiries are in vain”
There is an order in the Kingdom – YHVH initiates,
man responds. We see again and again in the Torah and even in our own lives a
pattern of man seeking to initiate and expecting YHVH to respond – midrash!
Examples – Yakov seeking to assist YHVH in
obtaining the birth right. Sarah seeking
to assist YHVH in producing the child of promise and many others. What about
our own lives?
YHVH decides when He shall appear and reveal
Himself to man.
Joh 6:44 “No one is able to come to Me unless the
Father who sent Me draws him. And I shall raise him up in the last day.
Joh 6:45 “It has been written in the prophets, ‘And
they shall all be taught by יהוה.’ Everyone,
then, who has heard from the Father, and learned, comes to Me. (Yesh 54:13;
Yerm 16:21; 31:34)
Isa 54:13 and all your children taught by יהוה, and the peace
of your children great.
Do our children have great peace?
This Torah portion is meant to lead us to a place where
we know without doubt, that without YHVH we can do nothing.
Yahshua understood this well. Why is that we modern day
believers struggle to come to terms with this reality?
Joh 5:19 Therefore יהושע responded and
said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by
Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He
does, the Son also likewise does.
Joh 5:30 “Of Myself I am unable to do any matter.
As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own
desire, but the desire of the Father who sent Me.
Joh 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who
stays in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit. Because without Me you are able
to do naught!
As one old Chinese believer responded when asked what
impressed him the most about the western church. He answered and said he was
amazed at what they have achieved without the help of YHVH, he couldn’t imagine
how much they could achieve with His help.
Many may say “but YHVH has helped us” look around and you
can see the evidence of His work and favour in our midst”
If this was true why is the world the church and society
in such a mess?
Where is the peace; the joy and the righteousness on
earth today?
Rom 14:17 For the reign of Elohim is ….. righteousness
and peace and joy in the Set-apart Spirit.
Yahshua said I have
come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond
measure.” Jn 10:10
Here follows a quote
from the second president of USA - John Adams – 1825 to 1829.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious, or less avaricious(greedy) than aristocracy or monarchy. It is not true, in fact, and nowhere appears in history. Those passions are the same in all men, under all forms of simple government, and when unchecked, produce the same effects of fraud, violence, and cruelty.”
No political, educational, social or economic system has produced the abundant life promised by YHVH. All of mankind’s efforts have only produced wars, destruction and corruption. Yet in spite of this, man continues to attempt to create a better life and society for himself and those around him
So then how does one possess this life without measure?
Only a very small remnant will, and it may only happen when this small remnant comes to a complete end of themselves and to any idea or attempt where they might think they can possess this life without completely and utterly abandoning themselves to YHVH, His Messiah and His Torah.
In the last days a very small remnant of Yakov’s sheep will usher in a Theocracy (rule of YHVH) and a constitution for governance based entirely on the Torah of Moshe rabbeinu – Moshr our rabbi as followed and taught by Yahshua the Messiah – see Matt 5:17-19.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious, or less avaricious(greedy) than aristocracy or monarchy. It is not true, in fact, and nowhere appears in history. Those passions are the same in all men, under all forms of simple government, and when unchecked, produce the same effects of fraud, violence, and cruelty.”
No political, educational, social or economic system has produced the abundant life promised by YHVH. All of mankind’s efforts have only produced wars, destruction and corruption. Yet in spite of this, man continues to attempt to create a better life and society for himself and those around him
So then how does one possess this life without measure?
Only a very small remnant will, and it may only happen when this small remnant comes to a complete end of themselves and to any idea or attempt where they might think they can possess this life without completely and utterly abandoning themselves to YHVH, His Messiah and His Torah.
In the last days a very small remnant of Yakov’s sheep will usher in a Theocracy (rule of YHVH) and a constitution for governance based entirely on the Torah of Moshe rabbeinu – Moshr our rabbi as followed and taught by Yahshua the Messiah – see Matt 5:17-19.
Act 3:19 “Repent therefore and turn back, for the
blotting out of your sins, in order that times of refreshing might come from
the presence of the Master,
Act 3:20 and that He sends יהושע Messiah,
pre-appointed for you,
Act 3:21 whom
heaven needs to receive until the times of restoration of all matters,
of which Elohim spoke through the mouth of all His set-apart prophets since of
old.
Act 3:22 “For
Mosheh truly said to the fathers, ‘יהוה your Elohim
shall raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers. Him you shall hear
according to all matters, whatever He says to you.
Act 3:23 ‘And it
shall be that every being who does not hear that Prophet1 shall be
utterly destroyed from among the people.’ Footnote: 1Deut. 18:18-20.
Gen 35:16
Then they set out from Bĕyth Ěl. And it came to be, when there was but a
little distance to go to Ephrath, that Raḥĕl
began to give birth, and had great difficulty giving birth.
Gen 35:17 And
it came to be, as she was having great difficulty giving birth, that the
midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for it is another son for you.”
Gen 35:18
And it came to be, as her life was going out – for she died – that she
called his name Ben-Oni. But his father called him Binyamin.
Note Rachel like Leah gave names to all the sons of
Yisrael. Yet in the birth of this last son – Yakov steps in and changes the
name. In the Hebrew mind, the name of a child often reflects the destiny of the
child. Should not the fathers be taking more initiative in giving their
children names?
Gen 35:19 So
Raḥĕl died and was buried
on the way to Ephrath, that is Bĕyth Leḥem.
Gen 35:20
And Yaʽaqoḇ set a standing column
on her grave, which is the monument of Raḥĕl’s
grave to this day.
Gen 35:21
And Yisra’ĕl set out and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Ěḏer.
Gen 35:22 And it came to be, when Yisra’ĕl dwelt in
that land, that Re’uḇĕn
went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Yisra’ĕl heard
about it.
Book of Jubilees chapter 33
2 And Reuben saw Bilhah,
Rachel's maid, the concubine of his father, bathing in water in a secret place,
and he loved her.
3 And he hid himself at
night, and he entered the house of Bilhah [at night], and he found her sleeping
alone on a bed in her house.
4 And he lay with her,
and she awoke and saw, and behold Reuben was lying with her in the bed, and she
uncovered the border of her covering and seized him, and cried out, and
discovered that it was Reuben.
5 And she was ashamed
because of him, and released her hand from him, and he fled.
6 And she lamented
because of this thing exceedingly, and did not tell it to any one.
7 And when Yacob
returned and sought her, she said to him: 'I am not clean for you, for I have
been defiled as regards you; for Reuben has defiled me, and has lain with me in
the night, and I was asleep, and did not discover until he uncovered my skirt
and slept with me.'
8 And Yacob was
exceedingly wroth with Reuben because he had lain with Bilhah, because he had
uncovered his father's skirt.
9 And Yacob did not
approach her again because Reuben had defiled her. And as for any man who
uncovers his father's skirt his deed is wicked exceedingly, for he is
abominable before YAHWEH.
Now the sons of Yaʽaqoḇ were twelve:
Gen 35:23
the sons of Lĕ’ah were Re’uḇĕn,
Yaʽaqoḇ’s first-born, and
Shimʽon, and Lĕwi, and
Yehuḏah, and Yissasḵar, and Zeḇulun;
Gen 35:24
the sons of Raḥĕl were Yosĕph and
Binyamin;
Gen 35:25
the sons of Bilhah, Raḥĕl’s female servant,
were Dan and Naphtali;
Gen 35:26
and the sons of Zilpah, Lĕ’ah’s female servant, were Gaḏ and Ashĕr. These were
the sons of Yaʽaqoḇ who were born to him
in Paddan Aram.
Gen 35:27
And Yaʽaqoḇ came to his father
Yitsḥaq at Mamrĕ, or
Qiryath Arba, that is Ḥeḇron, where Aḇraham and Yitsḥaq had dwelt.
Gen 35:28
And the days of Yitsḥaq were one hundred
and eighty years.
Gen 35:29 So
Yitsḥaq breathed his last
and died, and was gathered to his people, aged and satisfied of days. And his
sons Ěsaw and Yaʽaqoḇ buried him.
Gen 36:1 And this is the genealogy of Ěsaw, who is Eḏom.
Gen 36:2
Ěsaw took his wives from the daughters of Kenaʽan: Aḏah the daughter of
Ělon the Ḥittite, and Oholiḇamah the daughter of
Anah, the daughter of Tsiḇʽon the Ḥiwwite;
Gen 36:3 and
Basemath, Yishmaʽĕl’s daughter, sister
of Neḇayoth.
Gen 36:4 And
Aḏah bore Eliphaz to
Ěsaw, and Basemath bore Reʽuw’ĕl.
Gen 36:5 And
Oholiḇamah bore Yeʽush, and Yaʽlam, and Qoraḥ. These were the sons
of Ěsaw who were born to him in the land of Kenaʽan.
Gen 36:6 And
Ěsaw took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the beings of his
household, and his herds and all his beasts, and all his possessions which he
had gained in the land of Kenaʽan, and went to a land
away from the presence of his brother Yaʽaqoḇ.
Gen 36:7 For
their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land of
their sojournings could not support them because of their herds.
Gen 36:8 So
Ěsaw dwelt in Mount Sĕʽir. Ěsaw is Eḏom.
Gen 36:9 And
this is the genealogy of Ěsaw the father of the Eḏomites in Mount Sĕʽir.
Gen 36:10
These were the names of Ěsaw’s sons: Eliphaz son of Aḏah, wife of Ěsaw, and
Reʽuw’ĕl son of Basemath,
wife of Ěsaw.
Gen 36:11
And the sons of Eliphaz were Tĕman, Omar, Tsepho, and Gatam, and Qenaz.
Gen 36:12
And Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Ěsaw’s son, and she bore Amalĕq
to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Aḏah,
Ěsaw’s wife.
Gen 36:13
These were the sons of Reʽuw’ĕl:
Naḥath and Zeraḥ, Shammah and Mizzah.
These were the sons of Basemath, Ěsaw’s wife.
Gen 36:14
These were the sons of Oholiḇamah,
Ěsaw’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Tsiḇʽon. And she bore to
Ěsaw: Yeʽush, and Yaʽlam, and Qoraḥ.
Gen 36:15
These were the chiefs of the sons of Ěsaw. The sons of Eliphaz, the
first-born son of Ěsaw, were Chief Tĕman, Chief Omar, Chief Tsepho, Chief
Qenaz,
Gen 36:16
Chief Qoraḥ, Chief Gatam, Chief
Amalĕq. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Eḏom. They were the sons
of Aḏah.
Gen 36:17
And these were the sons of Reʽuw’ĕl,
Ěsaw’s son: Chief Naḥath, Chief Zeraḥ, Chief Shammah, and
Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reʽuw’ĕl
in the land of Eḏom. These were the
sons of Basemath, Ěsaw’s wife.
Gen 36:18
And these were the sons of Oholiḇamah,
Ěsaw’s wife: Chief Yeʽush, Chief Yaʽlam, and Chief Qoraḥ. These were the
chiefs descending from Oholiḇamah,
Ěsaw’s wife, the daughter of Anah.
Gen 36:19
These were the sons of Ěsaw, who is Eḏom, and these were
their chiefs.
Gen 36:20
These were the sons of Sĕʽir
the Ḥorite who inhabited
the land: Lotan, and Shoḇal, and Tsiḇʽon, and Anah,
Gen 36:21
and Dishon, and Ětser, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Ḥorites, the sons of Sĕʽir, in the land of Eḏom.
Gen 36:22
And the sons of Lotan were Ḥori
and Hĕmam. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
Gen 36:23
And these were the sons of Shoḇal:
Alwan, and Manaḥath, and Ěyḇal, Shepho, and Onam.
Gen 36:24
And these were the sons of Tsiḇʽon:
both Ayah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as
he fed the donkeys of his father Tsiḇʽon.
Gen 36:25
And these were the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholiḇamah the daughter of
Anah.
Gen 36:26
And these were the sons of Dishon: Ḥemdan,
and Eshban, and Yithran, and Keran.
Gen 36:27
These were the sons of Ětser: Bilhan, and Zaʽawan, and Aqan.
Gen 36:28
These were the sons of Dishan: Uts and Aran.
Gen 36:29
These were the chiefs of the Ḥorites:
Chief Lotan, Chief Shoḇal, Chief Tsiḇʽon, Chief Anah,
Gen 36:30
Chief Dishon, Chief Ětser, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of
the Ḥorites, according to
their chiefs in the land of Sĕʽir.
Gen 36:31
And these were the sovereigns who reigned in the land of Eḏom before any
sovereign reigned over the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Gen 36:32
And Bela the son of Beʽor reigned in Eḏom, and the name of
his city was Dinhaḇah.
Gen 36:33
And Bela died, and Yoḇaḇ son of Zeraḥ of Botsrah reigned in
his place.
Gen 36:34 And Yoḇaḇ died, and Ḥusham of the land of
the Tĕmanites reigned in his place.
Gen 36:35
And Ḥusham died, and Haḏaḏ son of Beḏaḏ, who smote Miḏyan in the field of
Mo’aḇ, reigned in his
place. And the name of his city was Awith.
Gen 36:36
And Haḏaḏ died, and Samlah of
Masrĕqah reigned in his place.
Gen 36:37
And Samlah died, and Sha’ul of Reḥoḇoth by the River
reigned in his place.
Gen 36:38
And Sha’ul died, and Baʽal-Ḥanan son of Aḵbor reigned in his
place.
Gen 36:39
And Baʽal-Ḥanan son of Aḵbor died, and Haḏar reigned in his
place. And the name of his city was Paʽu.
And his wife’s name was Mehĕtab’ĕl, the daughter of Matrĕḏ, the daughter of
Mĕyzahaḇ.
Gen 36:40
And these were the names of the chiefs of Ěsaw, according to their clans
and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alwah, Chief Yethĕth,
Gen 36:41
Chief Oholiḇamah, Chief Ělah,
Chief Pinon,
Gen 36:42
Chief Qenaz, Chief Tĕman, Chief Miḇtsar,
Gen 36:43
Chief Maḡdi’ĕl, Chief Iram.
These were the chiefs of Eḏom, according to their
dwelling places in the land of their possession. Ěsaw was the father of the Eḏomites.
See Book of Jubilees chapters 36-38 - http://www.yahwehsword.org/book_of_jubilees/book_of_jubilees_chapter_36.htm
According to the Stones Chumash commentary
page 193 vs 2 there appear to many allusions to incest in Esav descendants.
However the Torah does not omit to mention
the incestuous relationship between Reuben and Billah – vs 35:22
The fact that the two genealogy’s of both
Yakov and Esav and placed side by side in the Torah can lead one to believe
that even though the covenant was renewed through Yakov, both the descendants
of Yakov and Esav were both transgressing the Torah.
The sad reality is that amongst those who
call themselves believers there is often a doing what is right in their own
eyes.
That is why YHVH will one day give His
people a new heart to follow Him and please Him.
Jer 31:33 “For this is the covenant I shall make with
the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put
My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be
their Elohim, and they shall be My people.