Bar’chu et YHVH ha-m’vorach,
Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach
l’O’lam va-ed!
Baruch ata YHVH Eloheinu
melech ha-olam
asher bachar banu
m’kol ha-amim,
v’na-tan lanu eht
Torah-to.
Baruch atah YHVH,
noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Bless YHVH the blessed One;
Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One
for all eternity.
Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One
for all eternity.
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.)
given us your Torah.)
Some rabbis compare
Pinchas to Eliyahu (Elijah) the prophet.
Mal 4:4 “Remember the Torah of Mosheh, My servant,
which I commanded him in Ḥorĕḇ
for all Yisra’ĕl – laws and right-rulings.
Mal 4:5
“See, I am sending you Ěliyah1 the prophet before the coming
of the great and awesome day of יהוה. Footnote: 1Lk.
1:17.
Mal 4:6 “And he
shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with utter
destruction1.” Footnote: 1Zech. 14:11.
“Pinchas”
means “bronze mouth” or
“serpent’s mouth.” The two mean essentially the same thing. The episode of the
bronze serpent raised up in the wilderness for Yisrael’s repentance and healing
demonstrates a strong spiritual link between the metal and the creature. They
are both symbols of judgment. In this incident, Pinchas acted as the teeth of
the serpent, carrying out judgment against the worst perpetrators of rebellion
in the camp, by publicly and violently punishing those who violate YHVH’s
standards of sexual and spiritual purity.
Pinchas temporarily halted the defilement of the nation of Israel as
well as securing YHVH’s blessing of peace on himself for generations.
The two perpetrators Kozbi and Zimri that were
executed by Pinchas were most probably committing the most unspeakable of all
crimes - fornicating in the most set
apart place of the tabernacle (this
is a conclusion that some scholars come to).
Why snake mouth? – The Father is bringing a restoration of a
prophetic priesthood in these days, the kind of restoration that will be hard
to hear. They may even accuse such an unpopular “priesthood” of “speaking like
the devil” – “Snake mouth”
“The
true greatness of Pinchas lay in that he acted in complete opposition to his
nature, transcending his inborn instincts to bring peace between YHVH and
Israel.”(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)
Pinchas had a passion for truth and
righteousness that would not allow him to stand by and simply watch and grieve
the wickedness of his people. His actions brought redemption and a personal
promise of an everlasting covenant of peace.
The plague that came upon Yisrael was stopped because of his actions.
This may once again be the case in the last days that a “Pinchas” people will
save many from the plague and destruction of the coming great tribulation by
acting in complete opposition to the way they would normally have acted.
This ministry of Pincahas also points to the ministry of
Yochanan the immerser – John the bapist – his message was that people must
repent and prepare their hearts for the coming Messiah.
Joh 3:23 And Yoḥanan
was also immersing in Ayin near Salim, because there was plenty of water there.
And they were coming and were being immersed,
The commentaries tell us that the place of “Ayin” was
close to Shechem – the entry point of the Yisraelites when the entered the land
of Yisrael. This is near the very place the events of this parashah occurred.
Joh 3:27 Yoḥanan
answered and said, “No man is able to receive(get-active verb) any matter
unless it is given(passive verb) to him from the heaven.
Joh 3:33 “He who receives(one getting – ongoing verb
action) His witness has set his seal that Elohim is true.
Joh 3:34
“For He whom Elohim has sent speaks the Words of Elohim, for Elohim does
not give the Spirit by measure.
Aliyah Rishon 25:10-26:4
Bemidbar/Num
25:10 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 25:11 “Pineḥas, son of El’azar, son of Aharon
the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Yisra’ĕl, because he
was ardent with My ardour in their midst, so that I did not consume the
children of Yisra’ĕl in My ardour
Num 25:12
“Therefore say, ‘See, I am giving him My covenant of peace,
Num 25:13 and it
shall be to him and to his seed after him a covenant of an everlasting
priesthood, because he was ardent for his Elohim, and made atonement for the
children of Yisra’ĕl.’ ”
Num 25:14 And the
name of the Yisra’ĕlite who was killed, who was killed with the Miḏyanite
woman, was Zimri, son of Salu, a leader of a father’s house among the
Shim’onites.
Num 25:15 And the
name of the Miḏyanite woman who was killed was Kozbi the daughter of Tsur. He
was head of the people of a father’s house in Miḏyan.
There are two jots or tittles in the opening verses of
this parasha (Mat 5:18.). In verse 11 there is a tittle over the “yud” in
“Pinchas” – which is unusually placed and there is a broken “vav” in the word
“shalom” in verse 12. What do they mean?
There is much speculation as to the meaning of these
marked words. Obviously Moshe was attempting to draw our attention to some
important hidden truth in the text.
Perhaps by the hand (yud) of Pinchas would come an
imperfect but much needed peace –( broken vav in shalom)
I believe these tittles always have some reference to the
Messiah. Pinchas and his actions were a type of Messianic restoration. I
believe this could be referring to an end time group of believers who have
embraced a Torah observant Jewish Messiah that will bring a prophetic message
of warning against many who have been proclaiming a false or broken peace
(broken vav). This small remnant has
always existed. The broken vav could also refer to the fact that these faithful
end time witness in themselves could not bring perfect peace into the world
because there is only one who can do that – Yahshua Ha Mashiach.
Num 25:16 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, saying,
Num 25:17
“Distress the Miḏyanites! And you shall smite them,
Num 25:18 for they
distressed you with their tricks with which they deceived you in the matter of
Pe’or and in the matter of Kozbi, the daughter of a leader of Miḏyan, their
sister, who was killed in the day of the plague because of Pe’or.”
Num 26:1 And it came
to be, after the plague, that יהוה spoke to
Mosheh and El’azar, son of Aharon the priest, saying,
Num 26:2 “Take a
census of all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl from twenty years
old and above, by their fathers’ houses, everyone going out to the army in Yisra’ĕl.”
Num 26:3 So Mosheh
and El’azar the priest spoke with them in the desert plains of Mo’aḇ by the
Yardĕn of Yeriḥo, saying,
Num 26:4 “Take
a census of the people from twenty years old and above, as יהוה commanded
Mosheh and the children of Yisra’ĕl who came out of the land of Mitsrayim.”
Why
did YHVH command a census at this time? (v. 1ff.)
Rashi:
This
could be compared to a shepherd whose flock was attacked by wolves and some
sheep were killed, so he counted them to know how many were left. Earlier, at
the end of Parshat Balak, we read how the Jewish people were punished for the
sin of Ba'al Pe'or in two ways: i.) There was a plague which killed 24,000
people (25:9). ii.) "Moshe said to the judges of Israel, 'Each of you
should kill men who became attached to Ba'al Pe'or'" (v. 5 ibid.). Rashi
explains: "Each one of the Jewish judges executed two men, and there were
88,000 Jewish judges." From this it follows that 166,000 people were
executed by the judges, a much greater loss than that which occurred through
the plague.”
The
term used for the first counting Yisraelites (census) that took place was
“gulgoleth” or skull, the same word that comes from “Golgotha” This second
counting of Yisrealites, the word “adat” or congregation. The first time they
counted the skulls and this second time they counted the congregation. Could
this possibly refer to the possibility that not all those who are “saved” or
“born again” will be included in the final count of the Assembly of YHVH (the
bride of Messiah) that are to enter into the promised land? (see vs 26:63-65)
Num 26:63 These are the ones registered by Mosheh and
Elʽazar the priest, who
registered the sons of Yisra’ĕl in the desert plains of Mo’aḇ by the Yardĕn of
Yeriḥo.
Num 26:64
But among these there was not a man of those registered by Mosheh and
Aharon the priest when they registered the sons of Yisra’ĕl in the Wilderness
of Sinai.
Num 26:65
For יהוה had said of
them, “They shall certainly die in the wilderness.” And not a man was left of
them, except Kalĕḇ son of Yephunneh, and Yehoshua son of Nun.
Aliyah Sheni 26:5-51
The Israelites are counted, and the totals are
given for each of the twelve tribes. The grand total of all the tribes combined
is 601,730. The tribe of Levi is not included in this census. The census total
given in vs 51 is almost identical to the census taken shortly after the exodus
(Num 1:46) Here it is 1820 fewer which is surprising given the amazing
fertility of the nation in Egypt. Statisticians claim from the number of families
given by the number of first borns, it is evident that most men must have had several
wives - (do the maths, if there are approximately 22 000 families and the
census yields more than 600 000 men over 20 years old, the only conclusion
is that the families must have been very large).
Is this perhaps a prophetic picture of an end
time counting before Messiah returns and all of Israel returns to the land?
This parashah like all others contain profound
and deep lessons concerning the Messiah.
The teaching and life of Messiah may prove
contradictory and confusing to those who don’t know YHVH.
Scholars believe the name of YHVH contains the
Hebrew verb “havah – hey, vav, hey” This root is the verb which means to exist,
to form, to cause to be, when this verb appears in a future tense third person
masculine form it contains the letter – yud, hey, vav, hey – which means “He
will cause to exist.”
Heh, vav, hey is also a feminine noun meaning
destruction, ruin and calamity.
We know that YHVH creates and destroys – this
appears to be a great an inexplicable paradox.
Jer 45:4 “Say this to him, ‘Thus said יהוה, “See, what I
have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up, that
is, the entire land.
Jer 45:5 “And do you seek great matters for
yourself? Do not seek them, for look, I am bringing evil on all flesh,”
declares יהוה. “But I shall give your life to you as a
prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”
Isa 54:16 “See, I Myself have created the blacksmith
who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work.
And I have created the waster to destroy.
Isa 54:17 “No weapon(kol kli – every instrument) formed
against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment
you shall prove wrong. This is the inheritance of the servants of יהוה, and their
righteousness from Me,” declares יהוה.
YHVH has given us weapons to pull down enemy
strongholds.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not
fight according to the flesh.
2Co 10:4 For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly
but mighty in Elohim for overthrowing strongholds,
2Co 10:5 overthrowing reasonings and every high matter
that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, taking captive every
thought to make it obedient to the Messiah,
2Co 10:6 and being ready to punish all disobedience,
when your obedience is complete.1 Footnote: 1John 3:36.
Perhaps in the last days the only hope many
believers will have from the death and plague of the great tribulation, will be
a small remnant “Pichas people” The time is coming where there should be a
serious call for those who are called by YHVH to leave all forms of mixture and
false immoral doctrines.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from the heaven
saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you
receive of her plagues.1 Footnote: 1Jer. 51:6 & 45.
Joh 3:32 “And what He has seen and heard, that He
witnesses. And no one(or very few) receives His witness. (or no one can receive
this revelation it can only be given by YHVH)
Joh 3:33 “He who receives His witness has set his seal
that Elohim is true.
Joh 3:34 “For He whom Elohim has sent speaks the Words
of Elohim, for Elohim does not give the Spirit by measure.
Joh 3:35 “The Father loves the Son, and has given all
into His hand.
Joh 3:36 “He who believes in the Son possesses
everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the
wrath of Elohim remains on him
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu,
Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan lanu Toraht-emet, v’chay-yeh o’lam nata-b’tochenu.
Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you Yahveh, our Elohim, King of the
Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life
within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Ameyn