Bemidbar/Numbers 22:2 – 25:9
Balak - means “destroyer”
“Balaam’s personality is
an old enigma, which has baffled the skill of commentators. It seems probable
that he had from the first learned some elements of pure and true religion in
his home in Mesopotamia, the cradle of the ancestors of Israel. He thus
belongs, with Melchizedek, Job and Jethro, to the scattered worshippers of the
true Elohim of Israel, at the same time he is represented in scripture as a
heathen sorcerer, true prophet and the perverter who suggested a peculiarly
abhorrent means of bringing about the ruin of Israel”
Is it not possible that
this enigma still exists in our time?
Shaul warned the first
assembly of called out ones with the following words:
2Co 11:3 But I am afraid, lest, as the serpent
deceived Chawwah by his trickery,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah.
2Co 11:4
For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע,1(Yashua)
whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you
have not received, or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you
put up with it well enough! Footnote: 1Mt. 24:5 & 23-24, John
5:43.
Today we see that there are many gifted individuals who
have a great spiritual influence over people’s lives, however there are many of
these people who can testify that after years of being under such
influence they remain empty frustrated and unfulfilled.
Pro 25:14 - One who
boasts of his gift to deceive is like clouds and wind without rain
Yehudah/Jude 1:11 Woe to them! Because they have gone in the
way of Qayin, and gave themselves to the delusion of Bil’am for a reward, and
perished in the rebellion of Qoraḥ.
Yeh/Jud 1:12
These are rocky reefs in your love feasts, feasting with you, feeding
themselves without fear, waterless clouds borne about by the winds, late autumn
trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots,
Yeh/Jud 1:13
wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shame, straying stars for
whom blackness of darkness is kept forever.
The common goal of all these deceivers is
for you to cast off the restraint that comes from seeking to bear the yoke of
the Torah (Matt 11:27) and to follow YHVH in ways contrary to His Torah. These
deceivers will say that you only need grace and to be led by the Holy Spirit,
you must strive to relieve yourself from all bondage of the law (Torah) and
listen, obey and support a set of gifted leaders who have great powers of
persuasion to motivate you and convince you that “you are okay and have nothing
to fear and no harm or judgment will come upon you if you live contrary to YHVH’s
Torah”.
Number 40 has to do with testing –
- Rained 40 days flood
– judgment on the world
- Yeshua 40 days of fasting wilderness after baptism, tempted by
hasatan
- Yisrael 40 years in
the wilderness
- Yonah/Jonah preaches
40 days
- Yisrael under the
Philistines 40 years
- Mosheh in Mitsrayim/Egypt
40 years
- Mosheh in Midian 40
years
- Mosheh at Mt. Sinai
40 days
- Goliath defied Yisrael
40 days
- It is also
understood that a woman's gestation period is forty weeks. If that is not
a trial, I don't know what is. (Brad Scot)
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:
- 22:2-12
- 22:13-20
- 22:21-38
- 22:39 – 23:12
- 23:13-26
- 23:27 – 24:14
- 24:15 – 25:6
- Maftir: 25:7-9
Haftarah: Micah 5:6 – 6:8
Aliyah Rishon 22:2-12
Num
22:2 And Balaq son of Tsippor saw all
that Yisra’ĕl had done to the Amorites.
Num
22:3 And Mo’av was exceedingly afraid of the people because they
were many, and Mo’av
was in dread because of the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Num 22:4 And Mo’av said to the elders
of Miḏyan,
“Now this company is licking up all that is around us, as an ox licks up the
grass of the field.” Now Balaq son of Tsippor was sovereign of the Mo’avites at
that time,
Num 22:5 and he sent messengers to Bil’am son of Beʽor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his
people, to call him, saying, “See, a people has come from Mitsrayim. See, they
have covered the surface of the land, and are settling next to me!
Num 22:6 “And now, please come at once, curse this
people for me, for they are too strong for me. It might be that I smite them
and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed,
and he whom you curse is cursed.”
From the historic writings
of the sages we know that both Balak and Bilaam were exceptionally evil people.
Both of these men were steeped in the art of the occult and witchcraft. Bilaam
was Balak’s secret weapon because in Bilaam was both good and evil, Bilaam
mixed the righteousness of YHVH with the unrighteousness of ha satan. Balak saw
something that caused Moav to become exceedingly afraid. The Hebrew word for
Balak means “destroyer or annihilator” The Hebrew word for “exceedingly afraid”
is to cause an exceeding sickening dread to come upon” What was it that caused
the annihilator and the people of Moav to become paralyzed with fear and dread?
From our narrative we know that it was not the mighty deeds that were done in
their deliverance from Mitsrayim/Egypt and their wanderings through the
wilderness. They saw something else!
There is a saying today
that possibly highlights this reality. “People who know very little have
generally got a lot to say and people who know a great deal say very little” We
see this reality in our world today. We cannot help but wonder that there is a
whole lot going on behind the scenes that we know little or nothing of. I
believe we must assume that the enemies of Yisrael had come to the realization
that all their evil occultic curses that worked on other enemies was simply not
working on YHVH’s chosen people and so desperate times call for desperate
measures. Modern day religion has no antidote to stop YHVH from fulfilling His
purposes.
So what did Balak and
Bilaam see that so totally overwhelmed and terrified them that they could not
even speak about?
The
return of Ysrael to the land, the ingathering of the twelve tribes, the
rebuilding of the Temple and the return of the temple service AND THE RETURN OF
THE MESSIAH. To add insult to injury the proclamation and
obedience of Torah to all nations.
We see
this deep fear revealed in the blessings that came from Bilaam.
- These people see and act as a set apart
people. The enemy hates this but YHVH has called a set apart people called
Yisrael to Himself.
Num 23:9 “For from the top of the
rocks I see him, and from the hills I observe him. Look, a people dwelling
alone, not reckoning itself among the nations.
Num 23:10 “Who shall count the dust
of Ya’aqov, and the number of one-fourth of Yisra’ĕl? Let me die the death of
the upright, and let my end be like his!”
These were a people that would
not conform themselves to the pattern of this world.
Rom 12:2 And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire
of Elohim.
2Co 6:17 Therefore, “Come out from among them and be
separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean,
and I shall receive you.
2Co 6:18 “And I
shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says יהוה the Almighty.”
2.
YHVH
will completely remove Yisrael’s sin and iniquity and will give them victory
over their enemies. (sacrificial system that included the death of Messiah)
Bemidbar/Num
23:21 “He has not looked upon wickedness
in Ya’aqov, nor has He seen trouble in Yisra’ĕl. יהוה his Elohim is with him, and the shout of a Sovereign is in him
Num 23:24 “Look, a
people rises like a lioness, and lifts itself up like a lion; it lies not down
until it devours the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”
This battle belongs to YHVH and His only brought forth
Son, the victory brings blessing to His people.
- The tents of Yakov are the most pleasant
dwelling places on earth and this is where the Bride of Messiah will
dwell.
Num 24:5 “How good
are your tents, O Ya’aqov, your dwellings, O Yisra’ĕl!
Num 24:6 “Like
wadis that stretch out, like gardens by a river, like aloes planted by יהוה, like cedars beside waters.
Num 24:7 “He makes
water flow from his buckets, and his seed is in many waters. His sovereign is
higher than Aḡaḡ, and his reign is exalted.
Num 24:8 “Ěl who
brought him out of Mitsrayim is for them like the horns of a wild ox; he
devours nations, his enemies; and he breaks their bones, and with his arrows he
smites.
Num 24:9 “He bowed
down, he lay down like a lion. And, like a lion, who would rouse him? Blessed
is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.”
- Bilaam finally declares that the Messiah will appear in the latter days.
Num 24:14 "And now see, i am going to my people. Come, let me advise you what this people is going to do to your people in the latter days."
Num 24:16
the saying of him who hears the words of Ěl, and knows the knowledge of
the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes
opened wide:
Num 24:17 “I see Him, but not now; I observe Him, but
not near. A Star shall come out of Ya’aqov, and a Sceptre shall rise out of
Yisra’ĕl, and shall smite the corners of Mo’av, and shall destroy all the sons
of Shĕth. (confusion)
Ha satan knows that
this will be his final undoing, he will try everything he can to try and stop
this.
Will he like Balak
call upon a church who willingly loves to mix the set apart with the profane to
come against YHVH’s set apart ones in the last days.????????
Torah portion
continued -
Num 22:7 And
the elders of Mo’av and the elders of Miḏyan left with the fees for
divination in their hand, and they came to Bil’am and spoke the words of Balaq
to him.
Num 22:8 And
he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I shall bring back word to you, as יהוה speaks to me.” So the heads of Mo’av
stayed with Bil’am.
Num 22:9 And
Elohim came to Bil’am and said, “Who are these men with you?”
Num 22:10 And Bil’am
said to Elohim, “Balaq, son of Tsippor, sovereign of Mo’av, has sent to me,
saying,
Num 22:11 ‘See, a
people has come out of Mitsrayim and cover the surface of the land. Come now,
curse them for me. It might be that I am able to fight against them and drive
them out.’ ”
Num 22:12 And
Elohim said to Bil’am, “Do not go with them. You do not curse the people, for
they are blessed.”
Aliyah Sheni 22:13-20
Num 22:13 And Bil’am rose in the morning and said to the heads of
Balaq, “Go back to your land, for יהוה has
refused to allow me to go with you.”
Num 22:14 And the
heads of Mo’av arose and went to Balaq, and said, “Bil’am refuses to come with
us.”
Num 22:15 Then
Balaq again sent heads, more numerous and more esteemed than they.
Num 22:16 And they
came to Bil’am and said to him, “This is what Balaq son of Tsippor said: ‘Do
not be withheld from coming to me, please,
Num 22:17 for I
esteem you very greatly, and whatever you say to me, I do. Therefore please
come, curse this people for me.’ ”
Num 22:18 And Bil’am
answered and said to the servants of Balaq, “Though Balaq were to give me his
house filled with silver and gold, I am unable to go beyond the word of יהוה my Elohim, to do less or more.
Num 22:19 “And
now, please, you also stay here tonight, and let me find out what more יהוה says to me.”
Num 22:20 And
Elohim came to Bil’am at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you,
rise and go with them, but only the word which I speak to you that you do.”
We must learn a very important lesson here: if our hearts
are not right before YHVH He will “set us up” to do that which is not right.
Aliyah Shlishi 22:21-38
Num 22:21 And Bil’am rose in the morning and saddled his donkey, and
went with the heads of Mo’av.
Num 22:22
But the displeasure of Elohim burned because he went, and the Messenger
of יהוה stationed Himself in the way as an
adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants
were with him.
Num 22:23 And the
donkey saw the Messenger of יהוה standing
in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of
the way and went into the field. So Bil’am beat the donkey to turn her back
onto the way. (Some of the sages say
that this was Messiah’s donkey)
Num 22:24 Then the
Messenger of יהוה stood in
a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on
that side.
Num 22:25 And when
the donkey saw the Messenger of יהוה, she
pushed herself against the wall and crushed Bil’am’s foot against the wall, so
he beat her again.
Num 22:26 And the
Messenger of יהוה went
further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn aside,
right or left.
Num 22:27 And when
the donkey saw the Messenger of יהוה, she lay
down under Bil’am. So Bil’am’s displeasure burned, and he beat the donkey with
his staff.
Num 22:28 Then יהוה opened the mouth of the donkey, and
she said to Bil’am, “What have I done to you, that you have beaten me these
three times?”
Num 22:29 And Bil’am
said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me. I wish there were a sword in
my hand, for I would have killed you by now!”
Num 22:30 And the
donkey said to Bil’am, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever
since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever known to do so to you?” And he
said, “No.”
Num 22:31 Then יהוה opened Bil’am’s eyes, and he saw
the Messenger of יהוה standing
in the way with His drawn sword in His hand. And he bowed his head and fell on
his face.
Num 22:32 And the
Messenger of יהוה said to him, “Why have you beaten
your donkey these three times? See, I have come out to stand against you,
because your way is reckless before Me.
Num 22:33 “And the
donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned
aside from Me, I certainly would have killed you by now, and let her live.”
Num 22:34 And Bil’am
said to the Messenger of יהוה, “I have
sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. And now, if evil is
in Your eyes, let me turn back.”
Num 22:35 And the
Messenger of יהוה said to Bil’am, “Go with the men,
but only the word that I speak to you, that you speak.” Bil’am then went with
the heads of Balaq. (at this point Bilaam is undone, no matter what he does
now, he has passed the point of no return – he is doomed and judged)
Num 22:36 And when
Balaq heard that Bil’am was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Mo’av,
which is on the border at the Arnon, which was in the extremity of the border.
Num 22:37 And
Balaq said to Bil’am, “Did I not urgently send to you, calling for you? Why did
you not come to me? Am I not able to esteem you?”
Num 22:38 And Bil’am
said to Balaq, “See, I have come to you! Now, am I at all able to say somewhat?
The word that Elohim puts in my mouth, that I speak.”
Once we begin to understand the instruction and the
warnings of this portion, it seems almost insane that people especially
believers would try to hinder or hide this stated purpose that YHVH has for His
people.
It becomes more and more disturbing that the majority of
all those who call themselves believers ignore the seriousness of YHVH’s Torah.
Aliyah Reviee 22:39-23:12
Num 22:39 And Bil’am went with Balaq, and they came to Qiryath Ḥutsoth. (a “Place outside the
will of YHVH”)
Num 22:40
And Balaq slaughtered cattle and sheep, and he sent some to Bil’am and
to the heads who were with him.
Num 22:41
And it came to be the next day, that Balaq took Bil’am and brought him
up to the high places of Ba’al, and from there he saw the extremity of the
camp.
Num 23:1 And
Bil’am said to Balaq, “Build seven altars for me
here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
Num 23:2 And
Balaq did as Bil’am had spoken, and Balaq and Bil’am offered a bull and a ram
on each altar.
Num 23:3 Bil’am
then said to Balaq, “Stand by your burnt offering, and let me go on. It might
be that יהוה does come to meet me, and whatever
He shows me I shall declare to you.” And he went to a bare height.
Num 23:4 And
Elohim came to Bil’am, and he said to Him, “I have prepared the seven altars,
and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.”
Num 23:5 And יהוה put a word in the mouth of Bil’am,
and said, “Return to Balaq, and this is what you say.”
Num 23:6 And he
returned to him and saw him standing by his burnt offering, he and all the
heads of Mo’av.
Num 23:7 And he
took up his proverb and said, “Balaq the sovereign of Mo’av has brought me from
Aram, from the mountains of the east. ‘Come, curse Ya’aqov for me, and come,
rage at Yisra’ĕl!’
Num 23:8 “How do I
curse whom Ěl has not cursed? And how do I rage at whom יהוה has not raged?
Num 23:9 “For from
the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I observe him. Look, a
people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations.
Num 23:10 “Who
shall count the dust of Ya’aqov, and the number
of one-fourth of Yisra’ĕl? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my
end be like his!” (Four camps)
Num 23:11 And
Balaq said to Bil’am, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my
enemies, and look, you have kept on blessing!”
Num 23:12 And he
answered and said, “Should I not take heed to speak what יהוה has put in my mouth?”
This is possibly a hidden revelation of replacement
theology. See how Bilaam tries to copy the fathers.
It doesn't say, "I have prepared seven altars," but "I
have prepared the seven altars." Balaam said to YHVH: The ancestors
of this people built You seven altars, and I have prepared the equivalent of
them all. Abraham built four (Genesis 12:7, 12:8, 13:18 and at Mount Moriah
[22:9]); Isaac built one (ibid. 26:25); and Jacob built two--on at Shechem
(ibid. 33:20) and one at Beth-El (ibid. 35:7).
Aliyah Chamishi 23:13-26
Num 23:13 And Balaq said to him, “Please come with me
to another place from where you see them. You only see the extremity but not
all of them. Curse them for me from there.” (“katzeh”you are not seeing the whole picture)
Num 23:14 And he took him to the field of Tsophim, (“watchers” see Book of Enoch) to the top of Pisgah,(cast of restraint) and
built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Num 23:15 And he said to Balaq, “Stand here by your
burnt offering while I meet over there.”
Num 23:16 And יהוה came to Bil’am,
and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Go back to Balaq, and say this.”
Num 23:17 So he
went to him and saw him standing by his burnt offering, and the heads of Mo’av
with him. And Balaq asked him, “What did יהוה say?”
Num 23:18 And he
took up his proverb and said, “Rise up, Balaq, and hear! Listen to me, son of
Tsippor!
Num 23:19 “Ěl is
not a man, to lie; nor a son of man, to repent! Has He said, and would He not
do it; or spoken, and would not confirm it?
Num 23:20 “See, I
have received, to bless. And He has blessed, and I do not reverse it.
Num 23:21 “He has
not looked upon wickedness in Ya’aqov, nor has He seen trouble in Yisra’ĕl. יהוה his Elohim is with him, and the
shout of a Sovereign is in him.
Num 23:22 “Ěl who
brought them out of Mitsrayim, is for them like the horns of a wild ox.
Num 23:23 “For
there is no sorcery against Ya’aqov, nor is there any divination against
Yisra’ĕl. Now it is said to Ya’aqov and to Yisra’ĕl, ‘What has Ěl done!’
Num 23:24 “Look, a
people rises like a lioness, and lifts itself up like a lion; it lies not down
until it devours the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”
Num 23:25 And
Balaq said to Bil’am, “Do not curse them at all, nor bless them at all!”
Num 23:26 And Bil’am
answered and said to Balaq, “Have I not spoken to you, saying, ‘All that יהוה speaks, that I do’?”
Aliyah Shishi 23:27-24:14
Num 23:27 And Balaq said to Bil’am, “Please come, let me
take you to another place. It might be right in the eyes of Elohim that you
curse them for me from there.”
Num 23:28
And Balaq took Bil’am to the top of Pe’or, that overlooks the wasteland.
Num 23:29 And Bil’am said to Balaq, “Build seven alters
for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
Num 23:30
And Balaq did as Bil’am had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each
altar.
Num 24:1 And when Bil’am saw that it pleased יהוה to bless
Yisra’ĕl, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set
his face toward the wilderness.
Num 24:2 And Bil’am
lifted up his eyes and saw Yisra’ĕl encamped according to their tribes. And the
Spirit of Elohim came upon him.
Num 24:3 And he
took up his proverb and said, “The saying of Bil’am, son of Be’or, and the
saying of the man whose eyes are opened,
Num 24:4 the
saying of him who hears the words of Ěl, who sees the vision of the Almighty,
who falls down, with eyes opened wide:
Num 24:5 “How good
are your tents, O Ya’aqov, your dwellings, O Yisra’ĕl!
Num 24:6 “Like
wadis that stretch out, like gardens by a river, like aloes planted by יהוה, like cedars beside waters.
Num 24:7 “He makes
water flow from his buckets, and his seed is in many waters. His sovereign is
higher than Aḡaḡ, and his reign is exalted.
Num 24:8 “Ěl who
brought him out of Mitsrayim is for them like the horns of a wild ox; he
devours nations, his enemies; and he breaks their bones, and with his arrows he
smites.
Num 24:9 “He bowed
down, he lay down like a lion. And, like a lion, who would rouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed
is he who curses you.”
Num 24:10 Then the
displeasure of Balaq burned against Bil’am, and he struck his hands together.
Balaq then said to Bil’am, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, and see, you
have kept on blessing, these three times!
Num 24:11 “And now
flee to your place. I said I would greatly esteem you, and see, יהוה has kept you back from esteem.”
Num 24:12 And Bil’am
said to Balaq, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me,
saying,
Num 24:13 ‘If Balaq
should give me his house filled with silver and gold, I am unable to go beyond
the word of יהוה, to do
either good or evil of my own heart. What יהוה speaks, that I speak’?
Num 24:14 “And
now, see, I am going to my people. Come, let me advise you what this people is
going to do to your people in the latter days.” (now he is adding insult to
injury to Balak. Bilaam is now going to give the knock- out blow. Balak was
having a very bad day and it was about to get worse)
Aliyah Sheviee 24:15 – 25:9
Num 24:15 And he took up his proverb and said, “The saying of Bil’am,
son of Be’or, and the saying of the man whose eyes are opened,
Num 24:16
the saying of him who hears the words of Ěl, and knows the knowledge of
the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes
opened wide:
Num 24:17 “I see Him, but not now; I observe Him, but
not near. A Star shall come out of Ya’aqov, and a Sceptre shall rise out of
Yisra’ĕl, and shall smite the corners of Mo’av, and shall destroy all the sons
of Shĕth. (confusion)
Num 24:18
“And Eḏom shall be a possession; and Sĕ’ir shall be a possession –
enemies – and Yisra’ĕl is doing mightily.
Num 24:19
“And out of Ya’aqov One shall rule and destroy the remnant from
Ar.” (‘ma ir” from the city)
Num 24:20 He
then looked on Amalĕq, and he took up his proverb and said, “Amalĕq was first
among the nations, but his latter end is to perish forever.”
Num 24:21 He
then looked on the Qĕynites, and he took up his proverb and said, “Firm is your
dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock,
Num 24:22
but Qayin is to be burned. Till when does Asshur keep you captive?”
Num 24:23
And he took up his proverb and said, “Oh, who does live when Ěl does
this?
Num 24:24
And ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict
Asshur and afflict Ěver, and so shall Amalĕq, and he also perishes.”
Num 24:25
And Bil’am arose and left, and returned to his place. And Balaq also
went his way.
Num 25:1 And
Yisra’ĕl dwelt in Shittim, and the people began to whore with the daughters of Mo’av,
Num 25:2 and they invited the people to the
slaughterings of their mighty ones, and the people ate and bowed down to their
mighty ones.
Num 25:3
Thus Yisra’ĕl was joined to Ba’al
Pe’or, and the displeasure of יהוה burned against Yisra’ĕl.
Num 25:4 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Take all the
leaders of the people and hang them up before יהוה, before the sun, so that the
burning displeasure of יהוה turns
away from Yisra’ĕl.”
Baal-peor
= “master of the gap”- the deity worshipped at Peor with probable licentious
rites.
Num 25:5 And
Mosheh said to the judges of Yisra’ĕl, “Each one of you slay his men who were
joined to Baʽal Pe’or.”
Num 25:6 And see,
one of the children of Yisra’ĕl came and brought to his brothers a Miḏyanite
woman before the eyes of Mosheh and before the eyes of all the congregation of
the children of Yisra’ĕl, who were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 25:7 And when
Pineḥas, son of El’azar, son of Aharon the priest, saw it, he rose up from
among the congregation and took a spear in his hand,
Num 25:8 and he
went after the man of Yisra’ĕl into the tent and thrust both of them through,
the man of Yisra’ĕl, and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague among the
children of Yisra’ĕl came to a stop.
Num 25:9 And those
who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
Bilaam seems to have
succeeded in his mission to bring a curse over Yisrael. He knows YHVH will not
curse them, but he also knows that the people themselves can bring destruction
upon themselves. This would happen when they chose to follow their own lusts
and follow the pagan ways of the Midyanites. It is possible that the act was
committed in the tabernacle itself – mixture of worship can be our downfall.
This was an ancient problem in
Yisrael and according to Patai:
“Thus the worship of Asherah was opposed by a
faction of kings and prophets who were devoted exclusively to Yahweh, and
during those periods when they held power, they attempted to abolish the
worship of other deities, including Asherah. Over the course of several hundred
years, the statue of Asherah was repeatedly removed and reinstalled in the
Solomonic temple. Despite the sometimes violent opposition, her statue stood in
the temple for 236 years, nearly two-thirds of the time that the temple stood
in Jerusalem. According to Patai...
...her worship was a part of the legitimate
religion approved and led by the king, the court, and the priesthood and
opposed by only a few prophetic voices crying out against it at relatively long
intervals.
...this elusive yet tenacious goddess to whom considerable segments of the Hebrew nation remained devoted from the days of the conquest of Canaan down to the Babylonian exile, a period of roughly six centuries. In the eyes of the Yahwists, to whom belonged a few of the kings and all of the prophets, the worship of Asherah was an abomination. It had to be, because it was a cult accepted by the Hebrews from their Canaanite neighbors, and any and all manifestations of Canaanite religion were for them anathema”.
How are we to explain the extraordinary hold Asherah exercised over the people of Yisrael …….?
...this elusive yet tenacious goddess to whom considerable segments of the Hebrew nation remained devoted from the days of the conquest of Canaan down to the Babylonian exile, a period of roughly six centuries. In the eyes of the Yahwists, to whom belonged a few of the kings and all of the prophets, the worship of Asherah was an abomination. It had to be, because it was a cult accepted by the Hebrews from their Canaanite neighbors, and any and all manifestations of Canaanite religion were for them anathema”.
How are we to explain the extraordinary hold Asherah exercised over the people of Yisrael …….?
Rev 2:14 “But I hold a few matters against you,
because you have there those who adhere to the teaching of Bil’am, who taught Balaq to
put a stumbling-block before the children of Yisra’ĕl, to eat food
offered to idols, and to commit whoring.
Rev 2:15 “So
you also have those who adhere to the teaching of the Nikolaites, which teaching
I hate.
Rev 2:16
“Repent, or else I shall come to you speedily and fight against them
with the sword of My mouth.
Rev 2:17 “He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who
overcomes I shall give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I shall give him a
white stone, and on the stone a renewed Name written which no one knows except
him who receives it.” ’
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 YHVH, 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.)
Please note these notes
are under construction and are subject to correction and are in no way a final
authority on any subject.