Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, You have set us apart by Your commandments and have commanded us to actively study Your Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Yisrael. May You open our eyes to see marvellous truths from Your Torah. Thank You for calling us who were once gentiles excluded from the citizenship of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no expectation and without Elohim- but now through the blood of Messiah we have gained access into the covenant and have obtained citizenship into the commonwealth of Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to His people Yisrael. Amein.
אז יבדיל-
A demonstrative adverb; at that time or place – he will divide
and make separate..
Deu 4:41 Then Mosheh separated
three cities beyond the Yarděn, toward the rising of the sun,
Deu 4:42 for a man-slayer to flee
there, he who unknowingly murdered his neighbour, without having hated him in
time past, and might flee to one of these cities and live:
Deu 4:43 Betser (gold ore) in the
wilderness in the level land for the Re’uḇěnites, and
Ramoth (high value) in Gil‛aḏ for the Gaḏites, and Golan in Bashan (fruitful) for the Menashshites.
Introduction to the Law (there is no
idle word in the Torah)
Deu 4:44 And this is the Torah
which Mosheh set before the children of Yisra’ěl.
Deu 4:45 These are the witnesses,
and the laws, and the right-rulings which Mosheh spoke to the children of
Yisra’ěl after they came out of Mitsrayim,
Deu 4:46 beyond the Yarděn, in the
valley opposite Běyth Pe‛or, in the land of Siḥon sovereign
of the Amorites, who dwelt at Ḥeshbon, whom Mosheh and the children of Yisra’ěl had stricken after
they came out of Mitsrayim.
Deu 4:47 And they took possession
of his land and the land of Oḡ sovereign of Bashan, two sovereigns of the Amorites, who were
beyond the Yarděn, toward the rising of the sun,
Deu 4:48 from Aro‛ěr, which is on
the bank of the wadi Arnon, even to Mount Siyon, which is Ḥermon,
Deu 4:49 and all the desert plain beyond the Yarděn as far as the Sea of the Araḇah, below the slopes of Pisgah.
And so, the stage has been set for us to enter into an everlasting covenant with YHVH.
For this covenant to be everlasting a ‘’seperation’’ needs to take place:
A separation from all other covenants – past present and future – The Torah and the Torah alone is the perfect law of freedom – Jas (Yakov) 1:25 But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom,[d] 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: dSee Jas_2:12.
So, Christians may say ‘’ but only the Lamb of God can take away the sins of the world and bring us perfect freedom Jn 1:29’’ This is true, but who created the Lamb? Don’t worship the ‘’Gift’’ worship the ‘’Giver of the Gift’’
Separation
is key to our covenant with YHVH – it is the key to eternal life - Heb
12:14 Pursue peace with all, and pursue apartness הקדשה without which no one shall see the Master.
Pursue ‘’kadosh’’ or separation without which no one shall see YHVH. THE Good News is that YHVH takes the initiative and leads us step by step for this separation to take place. (not always a pleasant experience)
And
so, it is not a co incidence that the rabbis teach that with 10 sayings YHVH
created the heavens and the earth and with 10 sayings YHVH established an
everlasting covenant with mankind. What does this tell
us? That the world was created for the sake of Torah.
Count for yourself how many sayings YHVH utters in the creation of the world (va yomer x10)and pay careful attention to how many time the word ‘’separation’’ is used – the title the scribes used for this Torah portion - אז יבדיל
In fact this is one of the central callings of a set apart priesthood:
י וּלְהַבְדִּיל, בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּבֵין הַחֹל, וּבֵין הַטָּמֵא, וּבֵין הַטָּהוֹר.
Lev
10:10 so as to make a distinction between the set-apart and the profane,
and between the unclean and the clean,
Lev 10:11 and to teach the children of Yisra’ěl all the laws which יהוה has spoken to them by the hand of Mosheh.”
Five times the Hebrew word ‘’badal’’ or ‘’separate’’ is used in the creation account. There were two tablets with 5 sayings on each tablet.
Let us take a closer look and midrash on the two sets of sayings or the 10 commandments – maybe these were too meant to be separated – one tablet for YHVH and one tablet for man’s response to YHVH’s covenant.
The
Ten Commandments
Deu
5:1 And
Mosheh called all Yisra’ěl, and said to them, “Hear, O Yisra’ěl, the laws and
right-rulings which I speak in your hearing today. And you shall learn them,
and guard to do them.
Deu
5:2 “יהוה our Elohim made a covenant
with us in Ḥorěḇ.
Deu
5:3 “יהוה did not make this covenant
with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are
alive.
Deu
5:4 “יהוה spoke with you face to face
on the mountain from the midst of the fire.
Deu
5:5 “I stood between יהוה and you at that time, to declare to you the Word of יהוה – for you were afraid
because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain – saying:
Deu
5:6 I am יהוה your Elohim who brought you
out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage.
Deu
5:7 You have no other mighty ones against My face.
Deu
5:8 You do not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of which is
in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the
waters under the earth,
Deu
5:9 you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה your Elohim, am a jealous
Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children to the third and
fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Deu
5:10 but showing loving-commitment to thousands, to those who love Me and
guard My commands.
Deu
5:11 You do not bring[a] the Name of יהוה your Elohim to naught, for יהוה does not leave him unpunished who brings His Name to naught.
Footnote: aOr lift up, or take.
Deu
5:12 Guard the Sabbath day, to set it apart, as יהוה your Elohim commanded you.
Deu
5:13 Six days you labour, and shall do all your work,
Deu
5:14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath[b] of יהוה your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor
your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor
your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your
gates, so that your male servant and your female servant rest as you do.
Footnote: bSee footnote at Exo_20:10.
Deu
5:15 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of
Mitsrayim, and that יהוה your Elohim brought you out
from there by a strong hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore יהוה your Elohim commanded you to
perform the Sabbath day.
Deu
5:16 Respect your father and your mother, as יהוה your Elohim has commanded you, so that
your days are prolonged, and so that it is well with you on the soil which יהוה your Elohim is giving
you.
Deu
5:17 You do not murder.
Deu
5:18 You do not commit adultery.
Deu
5:19 You do not steal.
Deu
5:20 You do not bear false witness against your neighbour.
Deu 5:21 You do not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor do you desire your neighbour’s house, his field, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, his ox, nor his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbour.’
1.
YHVH
– vs 6
6. Man – vs 17
YHVH introduces us to the very foundation of His covenant – He clearly and unequivocally states that there He is the only Being in the universe that has the power and ability to set us free from bondage and destruction. – YHVH doesn’t, didn’t or ever will need anyone’s help to bring us salvation. YHVH requires agreement not assistance.
The man responds – ‘’Yes YHVH to have any other view and understanding of who You are is like ‘’blotting out Your Name’’ it is like ‘’cancelling you out’’ it is like ‘’murder’’. When someone who YHVH has created is murdered, it is the same as destroying YHVH’s image in that human being.
1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we know
Him, if we guard His commands.a Footnote: aSee 1Jn_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 perfectedb in him. By this we know that we are in Him.c Footnotes b Gen_17:1, Psa_119:1, Mat_5:48. cSee 1Jn_3:24.
2.
YHVH
– vs 8-10
7. Man – vs 18
YHVH says He will know when we have
received the revelation of the understanding of who
He is when we are not trying to pursue any idolatrous way of understanding of who He is. Besides Him there is no other Saviour or Creator in the Heavens or and on the earth.
Isa 43:11 “I, I am יהוה, and besides Me there is no
saviour.
Isa 43:12 “I, I have declared and saved,
and made known, and there was no foreign mighty one among you. And you are My
witnesses,” declares יהוה, “that I am Ěl.
Isa 43:13 “Even from the day I am He, and no one delivers out of My hand. I work, and who turns it back?”
Isa 45:12 “I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, My hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded. Gen 1:1 Col 1:16 (in not by)
Man responds: Oh YHVH please forgive me, I have been like a faithless whore all of my life – I cannot seem to help myself - Jer 17:14 Heal me, O יהוה, so that I am healed. Save me, so that I am saved, for You are my praise. Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
Jer 3:8 “And I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Yisra’ěl had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Yehuḏah did not fear, but went and committed whoring too.
3.
YHVH
– vs 11
8. Man – vs 19
YHVH’s Name means something - Joh 17:6 “I have revealed Your Name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have guarded Your Word.[a] Footnote: aAlso see Psa_138:2.
The name ‘’YHVH’’ is related to the Hebrew hyphil verb ‘’hava’’ which in its future tense means ‘’I will cause to exist’’ whatever needs to exist for His purposes and plans to be fulfilled in your life. His Name simply means ‘’I will get the job done, I will finish and perfect that which I have started - righteousness will prevail’’
Psa 138:2 I bow myself toward Your set-apart Hěḵal, And give thanks to Your Name For Your loving-commitment and for Your truth; For You have made great Your Word, Your Name, above all.
When we embrace the meaning of His Name – We
come into harmony with His Nature Power and Abilities – (merachfet) If
so every word we speak will create life and peace. This is the evidence of
those who eat from the tree of life, those who meditate on His Torah day and
night.
His Name also means destruction.
4.
YHVH
– vs 11-15
9. Man – vs 20
YHVH simply states that His true witnesses are those who keep all the sabbaths. His Bride responds ‘’these we will embrace as if our very existence depended on them” Lev 23
5.
YHVH
– vs 16
10. Man – vs 21
Finally, YHVH says ‘’the evidence that you and I are in a covenant will be revealed by the way you treat your parents.
Eph 6:2 “Respect your father and
mother,” which is the first command with promise,
Eph 6:3 in order that it might be well with you, and you might live long on the earth.” Exo_20:12, Deu_5:16. (you wont covet if it is well with you)
1Jn 3:24 And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him.(evidence of covenant) And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us.[g] Footnote: g Joh_14:23-24, Act_5:32, Rom_8:7-11, 1Jn_2:5, 1Jn_4:13.
Deu
5:22 “These Words[c] יהוה spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of
the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a loud voice, and He
added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
Footnote: c“Word(s)" is very often used as a synonym for “command(s),” in
the Messianic Writings too.
Deu
5:23 “And it came to be, when you heard the voice from the midst of the
darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me,
all the heads of your tribes and your elders,
Deu
5:24 and said, ‘See, יהוה our Elohim has shown us His esteem and His greatness, and we
have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. Today we have seen that Elohim
speaks with man – and he lives!
Deu
5:25 And now why should we die? For this great fire is consuming us. If
we hear the voice of יהוה our Elohim any more, then we
shall die.
Deu
5:26 For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living
Elohim speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and does live?
Deu
5:27 You go near and hear all that יהוה our Elohim says, and speak to us all that יהוה our Elohim says to you, and we shall hear
and do it.’
Deu
5:28 “And יהוה heard the voice of your
words when you spoke to me, and יהוה said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people
which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have
spoken.
Deu
5:29 Oh, (“mi
yiten’’ who will give or allow them… to have a heart such as this heart?)
that they had such a heart in them, to fear Me and to guard all My
commands always, so that it might be well with them and with their children
forever!
Deu
5:30 Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.”
Deu
5:31 But you, stand here by Me, and let Me speak to you all the commands,
and the laws, and the right-rulings which you are to teach them. And they shall
do them in the land which I am giving them to possess.’
Deu
5:32 “And you shall guard to do as יהוה your Elohim has commanded you – do not turn aside, to the right
or to the left.
Deu
5:33 “Walk in all the ways which יהוה your Elohim has commanded you, so that you live and it be well
with you. And you shall prolong your days in the land which you possess.
The
Greatest Commandment
Deu
6:1 “And
this is the command, the laws and right-rulings which יהוה your Elohim has commanded,
to teach you to do in the land which you are passing over to possess,
Deu
6:2 so that you fear יהוה your Elohim, to guard all His laws and His
commands which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days
of your life, and that your days be prolonged.
Deu 6:3 “And you shall hear, O Yisra’ěl, and shall guard to do, that it might be well with you, and that you increase greatly as יהוה Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Mat
22:36 “Teacher, which is the great command in the Torah?”
Mat
22:37 And יהושע said to him, “ ‘You shall love יהוה your Elohim with all your
heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ Deu_6:5.
Mat
22:38 “This is the first and great command.
Mat
22:39 “And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as
yourself.’ Lev_19:18.
Mat 22:40 “On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.”
Blessed are you Yahweh, 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 – Amein.