Blessing of Torah.
Hebrew:
Baruch atah YHVH eloheinu melech
ha-olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu la'asok b'divrei Torah.
V'ha'arev na YHVH eloheinu et divrei toratecha befinu uvfi amecha beit Yisrael.
V'niyeh anachnu v'tze'etze'einu v'tze'etza'ei amecha beit Yisrael kullanu yodei
sh'mecha v'lomdei toratecha lishmah. Baruch atah YHVH hamelamed Torah le'amo
Yisrael. Baruch atah YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher bachar banu mikol
ha'amim venatan lanu et torato. Baruch atah YHVH, notein haTorah.
English
translation: Blessed are You, YHVH
our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His
commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim,
sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your
people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the
House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for
the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to
His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, ,
Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH,
Giver of the Torah.
Joh 15:5 I am the Vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing.
The Greek word for “nothing” G3762 οὐδεί From G3761 and G1520;
not even one.
The implication is that we cannot even do ONE thing
that is worth doing without Yahshua.
Col 1:13 who has delivered us from the authority of
darkness1 and transferred us into the reign of the Son of His love,
Footnote: 1Lk. 11:35, John 8:12, John 12:46-50, Acts 26:18, Eph.
5:8.
Col 1:14 in whom (Yahshua) we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
Col 1:15 who is the likeness of the invisible Elohim,
the first-born of all creation.1 Footnote: 1Heb. 1:6,
Rev. 3:14.
Col 1:16 Because in Him were created all that are in
the heavens and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
rulerships or principalities or authorities – all have been created through Him
and for Him.
Col 1:17 And He is before all, and in Him all hold
together.
Col 1:18 And He is the Head of the body, the assembly,
who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that He might become the
One who is first in all.
Col 1:19 Because in Him all the completeness was well
pleased to dwell,
Col 1:20 and through Him to completely restore to
favour all unto Himself, whether on earth or in the heavens, having made peace
through the blood of His stake.
Col 1:21 And you, who once were estranged and enemies
in the mind by wicked works, but now He has completely restored to favour
Col 1:22 in the body of His flesh through death, to
present you set-apart, and blameless, and unreprovable before Him,
Col 1:23 if indeed you continue
in the belief, founded and steadfast, and are not moved
away from the expectation of the Good News which you heard, which was
proclaimed to every creature under the heaven, of which I, Sha’ul, became a
servant,
Col 1:24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and
fill up in my flesh what is lacking in Messiah’s afflictions, for the sake of
His Body, which is the assembly,
Joh 1:3 All came to be through Him,1 and
without Him not even one came to be that came to be. Footnote: 1Eph.
3:9, Col. 1:16, Heb. 1:2, Heb. 11:3, 2 Peter 3:5, Ps. 33:6.
Joh 15:6 “If anyone does not stay in Me, he is thrown
away as a branch and dries up. And they gather them and throw them into the
fire, and they are burned.
Why must we stay in Yahshua if he has completed a perfect redemption for
us?
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YASHUA HAS DONE
A COMPLETE WORK OF REDEMPTION FOR US THIS COMPLETE WORK IS NOT YET
COMPLETED IN US. THIS TORAH PORTION TEACHES THAT WE MUST NOT MURMUR IN THE
WILDERNESS WHICH WE MUST PASS THROUGH IN THIS LIFE THAT LEADS TO THE NEXT LIFE.
When we murmur we are expressing our unbelief that YHVH does not fully
know what we need to bring us to perfection.
Everything in the Torah points us to the reality of Messiah Yahshua. If
we don’t abide under his teaching and guidance we will burn like the Yisraelites
burned in the wilderness.
For us to have a deeper understanding of this Torah portion we need to
understand that our status in this life is that of “desert wonderers.” YHVH has
a good track record for providing for “desert wanderers.”
Act 14:22 strengthening the beings of the taught ones,
encouraging them to continue in the
belief, and that through many pressures we have to enter the reign of Elohim.
Heb 11:13 In belief all these died, not having received
the promises,[ 1] but seeing them from a distance, welcomed and embraced them,
and confessed that they were aliens and strangers on the earth. Footnote: 1See
v. 39.
Heb 11:14 For those who speak this way make it clear
that they seek a fatherland.
If
the “manna” Messianic Torah reality - does not continually sustain you and
satisfy you, you like some Yisraelites will begin to complain and long for the
life you had in Mitsrayim/ Egypt.
Our Torah Portion Begins:
Num 11:1 And it came to be, when the people were as
complainers,
א וַיְהִי הָעָם
כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים
The root for “complain” in Hebrew is “anan” and can also mean “to be
sorry.” The verb form used above is in the hitpael form (reflexive verb) and
can also mean “to feel sorry for oneself.”
The English definition for “complain” is: “to express discontent or
unhappiness about a situation.”
This does not mean we cannot express feelings of discontent and
unhappiness about our situations in this life. We need to discern what kind of
expressions of discontent are acceptable before YHVH and what kind of
expressions are not acceptable. Clearly we see in the same verse that it was
evil in the Ears of YHVH.
it was evil in the
ears of יהוה. And יהוה heard it, and His displeasure burned. And
the fire of יהוה burned among
them, and consumed those in the outskirts of the camp.
This kind of complaining was so unacceptable to YHVH that
He destroyed those in the outskirts of the camp.
Let us midrash on this kind of unacceptable behavior:
רַע בְּאָזְנֵי יְהוָה; וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוָה, וַיִּחַר אַפּוֹ, וַתִּבְעַר-בָּם
אֵשׁ יְהוָה, וַתֹּאכַל בִּקְצֵה הַמַּחֲנֶה.
First of all we see in the
passuk (verse) that YHVH “heard.” This may imply that the people were being
very vocal amongst each other about their discontent. Maybe it’s a better idea
to first remain silent about our discontent and wait on YHVH as to what He is
trying to say to us in the situation and how we ought to respond to the
situation.
Then we begin to see a
progression of YHVH’s anger. First He becomes “hot” “charah” in Hebrew can mean
“hot or furious.” “Ohf” in Hebrew means “nose or nostril” it also implies
someone who is breathing hard and is angry. Get the picture someone is turning
red with anger starts breathing hard and is about to “explode” If this was a
man it can be very scary, imagine if this is YHVH?
If we have been filled with
the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Set Apart Spirit) we ought to display some kind of
discernment in our own spirits when YHVH is displeased and even furious. Sadly
this is often not the case. The consequences are none the less extremely
detrimental to those who have caused such anger.
“Vativar” comes from the root
“ba ar” which means to kindle implying to “consume or destroy.” The Fire of
YHVH is kindled and it brings severe destruction.
“Vatochal” comes from the root “ohchal” which means
to eat, devour, burn up or feed. Get the picture: the fire of YHVH “eats
up” the complaining people.
These “eaten up people” were on the
outskirts (bikitsah) of the camp. In other words they were possibly distancing
themselves from obeying and submitting to Moshe and YHVH’s Torah. They were
displaying an “independent spirit.”
This
should cause us to fear and not to judge. The coming fiery judgment of YHVH may
first fall on those who are part of His Camp or His House.
1Pe 4:17 Because it is time for judgment to begin from
the House of Elohim. And if firstly from us, what is the end of those who do
not obey the Good News(Torah) of Elohim?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous one is scarcely saved,
where shall the wicked and the sinner appear?
The presence of YHVH
can only dwell in a people set apart by
His commandments. These set apart people will have an intense desire to
follow and walk in all the commandments of YHVH. Baruch ata YHVH melech ha olam asher
kidishanu bimitzvotah vitzivanu la asok bediverei Torah. (see opening prayer
for Torah blessing)
Num 11:2 And the
people cried out to Mosheh, and Mosheh prayed to יהוה, and the fire
died down.
The Hebrew word root “shaka” is used and means “to drown”
– the fire of YHVH “drowned” the fire.
Num 11:3 Then he
called the name of the place Taḇʽĕrah, because the fire of יהוה had burned
among them.
Num 11:4 And the
mixed multitude who were in their midst lusted greatly, so the children of
Yisra’ĕl also wept again and said, “Who
is giving us meat to eat?
There was plenty of meat to be eaten. Reuben and Gad had
large flocks of animals (32:1). Rashi states that this was merely a pretext to
complain about the manna. (YHVH’s way of bringing us to perfection)
The “mixed multitude” in Hebrew “aspesuf” or “gathered
gathering” seen as a kind of trouble making group within a group who gathered
for the wrong reasons. Note the Hebrew word “erev rav” or mixed multitude is
not used in this verse. This implies that it was not the sojourners who were to
be singled out for the cause of this disturbance.
This is very dangerous because it implies that some were
gathering with those inside of Yisrael in such a way as to distinguish
themselves from the rest of Yisrael. Those with independent spirits found each
other. An independent spirited person believes that they know what they need to
reach the goal of their faith.
Num 11:5 “We
remember the fish which we ate without cost in Mitsrayim, the cucumbers, and
the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic,
Num 11:6 but now
our throat is dried up. There is naught to look at but this manna!”
Hebrew literally reads “our souls are dried up. “Dried
up” comes from an ancient Hebrew root form meaning “ashamed, confused and
disappointed.
We see herein the danger of not being content in the
circumstances we have been placed in. Some of the Yisraelites felt that unbelieving
Egyptians had it better than them and they were going to change that by
protesting until they got what they wanted.
Php 4:11 Not that I speak concerning need, for I have
learned to be content in whatever state I am.
Php 4:12 I know what it is to be humbled, and I know
what it is to have in excess. In any and every situation I have learned
both to be filled, and to be hungry, both to have in excess, and to be in need.
Php 4:13 I have strength to do all, through Messiah1
who empowers me.
Num 11:7 Now the
manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like the appearance of
bdellium.
Num 11:8 The
people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the
mortar, and cooked it in a pot, and made cakes of it. And its taste was as the
taste of cakes baked with oil.
Num 11:9 And when
the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna fell on it.
Num 11:10 And
Mosheh heard the people weeping throughout their clans, each man at the door of
his tent. And the displeasure of יהוה burned
exceedingly. And in the eyes of Mosheh it was evil,
Num 11:11 so
Mosheh said to יהוה, “Why have You
done evil to Your servant? And why have I not found favour in Your eyes, to put
the burden of all these people on me?
Num 11:12 “Was it
I who conceived all these people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You
should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as the foster father carries a
nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers?
Num 11:13 “Where
am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep before me, saying,
‘Give us meat to eat.’
Num 11:14 “I am
unable to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.
Num 11:15 “And if
You are doing this to me, please slay me altogether, if I have found favour in
Your eyes, and let me not see my evil!”
Num 11:16 Then יהוה said to Mosheh, “Gather to Me seventy men
of the elders of Yisra’ĕl, whom you know to be the elders of the people and
officers over them. And bring them to the Tent of Meeting, and let them stand
there with you.
Num 11:17 “And I
shall come down and speak with you there, and shall take of the Spirit that is
on you, and put on them. And they shall bear the burden of the people with you,
so that you do not bear it yourself alone.
Num 11:18 “And say
to the people, ‘Set yourselves apart for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat,
because you have wept in the hearing of יהוה, saying, “Who
is giving us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Mitsrayim.” And יהוה shall give you
meat, and you shall eat.
Num 11:19 ‘You are
going to eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor
twenty days,
Num 11:20 but for
a month of days, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes an abomination
to you, because you have rejected יהוה who is among
you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we come up out of Mitsrayim?” ’
”
Num 11:21 And
Mosheh said, “The people in whose midst I am are six hundred thousand men on
foot, and You, You have said, ‘I give them meat to eat for a month of days.’
Num 11:22 “Could
flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Or could
all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for
them?”
Num 11:23 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Is the arm of יהוה too short? Now see whether My word meets
you or not!”
Num 11:24 And
Mosheh went out and spoke to the people the words of יהוה, and he gathered the seventy men of the
elders of the people and placed them around the Tent.
Num 11:25 And יהוה came down in the cloud, and spoke to him,
and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy
elders. And it came to be, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they
prophesied, but did not continue.
Num 11:26 However,
two men had remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldaḏ, and
the name of the other Mĕyḏaḏ. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among
those listed, but did not go out to the Tent. And they prophesied in the camp.
Num 11:27 And a
young man ran and informed Mosheh, and said, “Eldaḏ (Elohim has loved) and Mĕyḏaḏ(love) are prophesying in the camp.”
Let us do the loving and let YHVH do the judging.
1Co 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of
messengers, but do not have love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging
cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And if I have prophecy, and know all secrets
and all knowledge, and if I have all belief, so as to remove mountains, but do
not have love, I am none at all.
1Co 13:3 And if I give out all my possessions to feed
the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I am not
profited at all.
1Co 13:4 Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy,
love does not boast, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 does not behave indecently, does not seek its
own, is not provoked, reckons not the evil,
1Co 13:6 does not rejoice over the unrighteousness,
but rejoices in the truth,
1Co 13:7 it covers all, believes all, expects all,
endures all.
1Co 13:8 Love never fails…
Num 11:28 And
Yehoshua son of Nun, Mosheh’s assistant from his youth, answered and said,
“Mosheh my master, forbid them!”
Num 11:29 Then
Mosheh said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Oh, that all the people of יהוה were prophets, that יהוה would put His Spirit upon them!”
Num 11:30 And
Mosheh returned to the camp, both he and the elders of Yisra’ĕl.
Num 11:31 And a
wind went forth from יהוה, and it
brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s
journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around
the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground.
Num 11:32 And the
people were up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and
gathered the quail. He who has least gathered ten ḥomers.
And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.
Num 11:33 The meat
was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, and the wrath of יהוה burned against the people, and יהוה smote the people with an exceeding great
plague.
Be careful what you pray for and set your heart on!
Num 11:34 Then he
called the name of that place Qiḇroth Hatta’awah,(the
graves of lust) because there they buried the people who had lusted.
Num 11:35 From Qiḇroth
Hatta’awah the people set out for Ḥatsĕroth
– and they were at Ḥatsĕroth.
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 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 – Ameyn
Please
note these notes are under construction and are subject to correction and are
in no way a final authority on any subject.