Beresheet/Genesis 2:4-3:24
Our congregation has decided to follow the Triennial Torah Cycle (three
year cycle of Torah study). Note: If you who are reading this Blog prefers to
follow the one year Torah cycle then you can find notes for the one year cycle
in the Archives of this Blog).
Below is a brief description of the triennial cycle.
“The Triennial cycle
of Torah reading may refer to the historical practice in ancient Israel by
which the entire Torah was read in serial fashion over a three year period, or
to the practice adopted by many congregations in which the traditional weekly
Torah portions were divided into thirds, and in which one third of each weekly “parasha”
of the annual system is read during the appropriate week of the calendar.
According to the Jewish
Encyclopedia, the triennial cycle "was the practice in Palestine, whereas
in Babylonia the entire Pentateuch was read in the synagogue in the course of a
single year," As late as 1170 Benjamin of Tudela mentioned Egyptians
congregations that took three years to read the Torah”. (Wikipedia)
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,
you
have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah.
Blessed
are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
This week we will concentrate on “Aliyah Reviee”
(2:4-3:21). The truth found in this section is foundational for us to begin to
understand the reason why we exist and what our purpose is on this earth.
Beresheet/Gen 2:4 These are the births (“ele toldot”) of the
heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that יהוה Elohim made
earth and heavens.
“Ele toldot” could
be paraphrased: “this is what became of the heavens and the earth”
“what follows is not
another account of creation but a tracing of events from creation through the
fall and judgment (the section extends from 2:4 through 4:26 ).”
https://net.bible.org/#!bible/Genesis+2:4
It is critical that we see a distinction between the
events of the previous chapter and the events of this chapter. We can compare
this to the lighting of the two Shabbat candles every “Erev” Shabbat –one for
creation (YHVH our Father is the Creator) and one for salvation (Yahshua, the
light of the world).
The study we are doing this week gives us insight into
YHVH’s redemptive plan for our lives.
We see some vital clues that help us to understand this.
First of all verse 4 contains a “yut or tittel” in the word “created” in Hebrew
“behiberam” the “hey” in this word is diminished.
This verb appears in the “hiphyl” form which describes an
action that was caused to come upon an object. In other words this creation
comes upon vessels that are yielded to the Master Potter.
We see here in this verse the word “Yahveh” (yud, hey,
vav, hey- transliterated as YHVH) used the very first time as well. The name of
Yahveh is similar to the hiphyl
imperfect verb – which means “he will cause to exist” The root word here
is “havah” – yud, vav, hey – If you conjugate this verb to the masculine third
person imperfect, you get the same spelling as the name of YHVH - in verb charts that could be pronounced “Yahoveh.”
I understand that there is much debate and controversy over this issue, I offer
you one possible explanation for the origin of the name of YHVH.
If you cause something to be created, you cause something
to come into existence that previously did not exist.
The diminished “hey” could possibly refer to a state of
perfection that YHVH will cause to exist in those who allow Him to mold and
fashion their lives into the image of Yahshua.
The diminished “hey” could possibly refer to a “lesser”
kind of life compared to the life we would one day receive on the “Eighth Day”
which is called “Shemini Atzaret in Hebrew”, the last Appointment/Feast after
the seven days of Sukkot.
Rom 8:29 Because those whom He knew beforehand, He
also ordained beforehand to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, for Him to
be the first-born among many brothers.
We must assume that in this world perfection will not be
reached and we anticipate with frustration a perfect future.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worth comparing with the esteem that is to be revealed in
us.
Rom 8:19 For the intense longing1 of the
creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim. Footnote: 1Lit.
anxiously looking with outstretched head.
Rom 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility,
not from choice, but because of Him who subjected it, in anticipation,
Rom 8:21 that the creation itself also shall be
delivered from the bondage to corruption into the esteemed freedom of the
children of Elohim.
Rom 8:22 For we know that all the creation groans
together, and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
Note also how the order of heaven and earth is changed in
verse 4 -
Gen 2:4 These are the births (ele toldot) of the
heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that יהוה Elohim made
earth and heavens.
The order of creation is a perfection that starts from
heaven to earth and then from earth back to a new heaven and a new earth to
reach complete perfection.
The use of the causative verbs implies that we have a
choice to yield to His Creative purposes.