Parashat 7 - Vayetze - ויצא : "And he went out"
Torah : Bereshiet/Genesis 28:10-32:3
Haftarah : Hosea 12:12-14:10
Torah : Bereshiet/Genesis 28:10-32:3
Haftarah : Hosea 12:12-14:10
Devarim/Deu 12:5 but seek the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His Name there, for His Dwelling Place, and there you shall enter.
Deu 12:6 “And there you shall take your burnt offerings, and your offerings, and your tithes, and the contributions of your hand, and your vowed offerings, and your voluntary offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock.
Deu 12:7 “And there you shall eat before יהוה your Elohim, and shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which יהוה your Elohim has blessed you.
Deu 12:8 “Do not do as we are doing here today – each one doing whatever is right in his own eyes1. Footnote: 1See Jud. 17:6 & 21:25.
Deu 12:9 “Because you have not yet entered the rest and the inheritance which יהוה your Elohim is giving you.
Below: A satellite photograph revealing Hebrew letters engraved in the landscape around Yerushalayim.
This could be a Messianic prophecy which reveals that when Ephraim or the fullness of the gentiles or nations return to the land of Yisrael, the Messiah will return.
These Torah portions contain a prophetic parable of the path the children of Yisrael will travel as they leave and return to the land of Yisrael. This journey can be recognized as we observe the history of His chosen people. This Torah portion also prepares us to know when we must return to the land. Those who are of the true Yisrael will receive revelation in these last days to recognize the journey of going out (va yetze) and the journey of return (va yishlach) when YHVH sends messengers to prepare our way of return.
The sages wisely teach that to live outside the land is like living in idolatry. “May He redeem us soon from the slavery of sin and gather in our dispersed from the four corners of the earth; the whole House of Yisrael, becoming brothers.” Ameyn.
It is important to note the following - Throughout the ages the life and person of Yakov has been used as fuel for anti-Semitism. People have judged Yakov the guilty party, the manipulator and schemer, the liar. Based on the initial reading, this sentiment seems justified. However, one should keep in mind that Yakov is never accused by YHVH one time throughout all of the narrative. YHVH had after all confirmed to Rivkah (Rebeccah) that Yakov (Jacob) would be the promised son. It was Yitzchak's (Izak’s) job, as head of the home, to see to YHVH's will being done. He had failed to transmit YHVH's wishes to his children regarding the birthright. Yakov and Rivkah thus felt impelled to take matters into their own hands. Perhaps, Yakov's sin lie in that he was not faithful to allow YHVH to work things out.
Job 1:8 And יהוה said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Iyoḇ, (Job) that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect (tam) and straight man, one who fears Elohim and turns aside from evil?”
The same word is used to describe Yakov:Gen 25:27 Ya’aqov was a complete (tam) man, dwelling in tents.
“Let us cease from the sin of lashon ha ra” (Lashon ha ra =the evil tongue)The Number Seven:
The Hebrew word sheva' means seven in English.
The root means to complete or finish and is used many times as in to complete a cycle, rather than to finish something entirely. This is the word used in Hebrew to express a week or a cycle of seven days, or any cycle of seven.
From the beginning, the number 7 has represented YHVH’s completed acts. The celebrations of His Redemption are given in 7 feasts.
Priests were set apart (consecrated) seven whole days before entering the priesthood (Lev/Vayikra 8:31-36). Blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat 7 times to show the complete redemption of the coming Messiah (Lev/Vayikra 16:14, Hebrews/Ivrim 9:12).
Seven agrees with the theme of this parasha; it speaks about how Yakov went out (vayetzi) and one day will return with his 12 sons the twelve tribes of Israel, and the Messiah will bring to perfection the redeemed and so will end the 7000 year cycle of man’s redemptive cycle on this earth.
Blessing for the Torah:
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,
(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.)
Torah Readings:
1. 28:10-22
2. 29:1-17
3. 29:18 – 30:13
4. 30:14-27
5. 30:28 – 31:16
6. 31:17-42
7. 31:43-54
8. Maftir: 31:55(32:1 Heb.) – 32:2(3 Heb.)
Haftarah : Hosea 12:12-14:10
Aliyah Rishon 28:10-22
Gen 28:10 And Ya’aqov went out from Be’ĕrsheḇa and went toward Ḥaran.
Once again the opening words of the parasha (portion) capture the essence of its teaching- The Hebrew reads Yakov went out from the well of seven or of completeness – Bersheva - and walked towards a parched place – Charan. Gen 28:11 And he came upon a place and stopped over for the night, for the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep.
Three times in this one verse the Hebrew word “ha makom” or “the place” is used. This possibly points to the significance of this place which the sages believe to be the same place where Avraham (Abraham) offered Yitzchak (Izak) and where the two temples would be built and destroyed. In the future Messianic kingdom we believe Messiah will rule and reign from this mountain where a new temple will be built and all nations will come to this place “makom” to be taught the Torah of YHVH.
Gen 28:12 And he dreamed and saw a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to the heavens, and saw messengers of Elohim going up and coming down on it.
“ladder” in Hebrew is “sulam” this is the only place in scripture where this word is used. The gematria for “sulam” and “Sinai” are the same – 130.
The events and message that come from these two locations reveal YHVH’s complete redemptive purpose for mankind and has influenced the life of man on this planet more than any other place or event in history.
The same message Moshe received on Sinai, Yahshua will proclaim (has proclaimed) from the temple mount or Mount Zion (mount Moriah)
Yahshua refers to the event of this parasha in Yochanan/Joh 1:51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, from now on you shall see the heaven opened, and the messengers of Elohim ascending and descending upon the Son of Adam.”
The significance of this event points us to fact that YHVH was assuring Yakov that he and his seed would be inseparably linked to Him from Yerushalayim through Yahshua and His promise and Covenant with Yisrael through Yahshua, the mediator, for ever and ever.
Rom 11:25 For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this secret, brothers, lest you should be wise in your own estimation, that hardening in part has come over Yisra’ĕl, until the completeness of the gentiles1 has come in. Footnote: 1Gen. 48:19.
Rom 11:26 And so all Yisra’ĕl shall be saved, as it has been written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Tsiyon, and He shall turn away wickedness from Ya’aqov,
Rom 11:27 and this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”1 Footnote: 1Isa. 59:20-21.
Rom 11:28 Truly, as regards the Good News they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of Elohim are not to be repented of.
Rom 11:30 For as you also at one time disobeyed Elohim, but now have obtained compassion through their disobedience,
Rom 11:31 so also these have now disobeyed, that through the compassion shown you they also might obtain compassion.
Rom 11:32 For Elohim has shut them all up to disobedience, in order to have compassion on all.
Rom 11:33 Oh, the depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of Elohim! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!
Rom 11:34 “For who has known the mind of יהוה? Or who has become His counsellor?”
Gen 28:13 And see, יהוה stood above it and said, “I am יהוה Elohim of Aḇraham your father and the Elohim of Yitsḥaq. The land on which you are lying, I give it to you and your seed.
Gen 28:14 “And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall break forth to the west and to the east, to the north and the south. And all the clans of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your seed.
Gen 28:15 “And see, I am with you and shall guard you wherever you go, and shall bring you back to this land. For I am not going to leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”
Gen 28:16 And Ya’aqov awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly, יהוה is in this place, and I did not know it.”
Gen 28:17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of Elohim, and this is the gate of the heavens!”
Gen 28:18 And Ya’aqov rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a standing column, and poured oil on top of it.
Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bĕyth Ěl, however, the name of that city had been Luz previously.
Gen 28:20 And Ya’aqov made a vow, saying, “Seeing Elohim is with me, and has kept me in this way that I am going, and has given me bread to eat and a garment to put on –
Gen 28:21 when I have returned to my father’s house in peace, and יהוה has been my Elohim,
Gen 28:22 then this stone which I have set as a standing column shall be Elohim’s house, and of all that You give me, I shall certainly give a tenth to You.”