Seven: This is parashat seven.
The Hebrew word sheva' means seven in English.
Its 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 is given in 7 feasts (Omer Resheet counted with the Pesach
Week)
Priests were
consecrated seven whole days before entering the priesthood (Vayikra/Lev
8:31-36). Blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat 7 times to show the complete
redemption of the coming Messiah (Vayikra 16:14, Ivrim/Heb 9:12).
Seven agrees with the theme of this parasha, it speaks about how Yakov went out (vayetzi) and one day he will return with his 12 sons the twelve tribes of Israel, and with the Messiah the redeemed will be brought to perfection and so will end the 7000 year cycle of ‘ existence on this earth. (The Seventh thousand’s year is the Millennium – the Thousand year reign of Moschiach on behalf of His Father).
Our Torah
Portion:
Gen 29:31 And יהוה saw that Lĕ’ah
was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Raḥĕl was
barren.
The Torah
describes Rachel as having beautiful features
and a beautiful complexion, and Leah as having
tender eyes – Ber 29:17.
Ber/Gen 29:30 translates in the English that Yakov
loved Rachel more than Leah. The word “more” is not used in the original
Hebrew. The word “gam” is used and generally means “also”.
וַיָּבֹא
גַּם אֶל-רָחֵל, וַיֶּאֱהַב גַּם-אֶת-רָחֵל מִלֵּאָה; וַיַּעֲבֹד עִמּוֹ, עוֹד
שֶׁבַע-שָׁנִים אֲחֵרוֹת.
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30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he
loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
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לא וַיַּרְא
יְהוָה כִּי-שְׂנוּאָה לֵאָה, וַיִּפְתַּח אֶת-רַחְמָהּ; וְרָחֵל, עֲקָרָה.
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31 And YHVH saw that Leah was hated, and he
opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
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Note – it does not say
that Yakov hated her. It states through a passive verb that she was hated. The
Torah states the Yakov was an upright man and we can safely assume that he
would not have hated Leah.
The Torah and history
shows us that there was a great rivalry between these two sisters and their
offspring.
Gen 25:27 And the boys grew up. And Ěsaw became a man
knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, while Yaʽaqoḇ was a complete man,
dwelling in tents.
The Midrash Tanhuma
says that Leah’s eyes were weak because of all the tears she shed. The
midrash claims that Leah was promised to Esav
as a wife she heard how evil he was. Lavan her father saved her from this
evil person the best way he knew how – he deceived Yakov in taking her for a
wife.
It appears that there was a reconciliation between these
two sister wives of Yakov before Rachel died.
We note Yermeyahu’s prophecy of Rachel.
Jer 31:15 Thus said יהוה, “A voice was
heard in Ramah, wailing, bitter weeping, Raḥĕl
weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because
they are no more.” (see also Matt 2:18)
Which children is Rachel weeping for?
According to the events of Matt 2:18 Rachel is weeping
mainly for Leah’s children. The events of this prophecy are fulfilled in the
days of Yahshua. In those days it was mainly the Jews from the tribe of Judah –
one of Leah’s children living in Bethlehem that were killed by Herod. Rachel’s
children had been taken into captivity about 700 years before the events
described in Mattitiyahu chapter 2.
Ramah is possibly close to where the modern day Bethlehem
is.
It is significant to understand that although the scriptures were written
as a witness for all mankind only a remnant would truly take its teachings and
message to heart. Sadly the scriptures have been continuously tampered with and
misrepresented to make them more acceptable to the religious masses.
Isa 10:20 And in that day it shall be that the remnant
of Yisra’ĕl, and those who have escaped of the house of Yaʽaqoḇ, never again lean
upon him who defeated them, but shall lean upon יהוה, the Set-apart
One of Yisra’ĕl, in truth.
Isa 10:21 A
remnant shall return, the remnant of Yaʽaqoḇ, to
the Mighty Ěl.
Isa 10:22 For
though your people, O Yisra’ĕl, be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of
them shall return – a decisive end, overflowing with righteousness.
Isa 10:23 For the
Master יהוה of hosts is making a complete end, as
decided, in the midst of all the earth.
Very few in the church show a true understanding of the
following scripture in Romans.
Rom 11:24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree
which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive
tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted
into their own olive tree?
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.
Gen 48:19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my
son, I know. He also becomes a people, and he also is great. And yet, his
younger brother is greater than he, and his seed is to become the completeness
of the nations.”
The fullness of the
nations – “melo ha goyim” possibly refers to that time when there will be no
more increase of gentiles in the nations. Their population growth will come to
an end in this age. Their opportunity to be grafted into the olive tree may
also have come to an end. This could come about through the final great
judgment that is coming to the world in the last days. It is clear from
scriptures that during the millennium, every person that is born in the nations
will have to submit to the rule of Yahshua and bring honour and wealth to the
nation of Yisrael – consider the parable of the 10 virgins – Matt 25.
Speaking of the New
Yerushalayim - Rev 21:23 And the city
had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the esteem of
Elohim lightened it, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Rev 21:24 And the gentiles, of those who are saved,
shall walk in its light,1 and the sovereigns of the earth bring
their esteem into it. Footnote: 1See Isa. 60:3.
Rev 21:25 And its gates shall not be shut at all by
day, for night shall not be there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the esteem and the
appreciation of the gentiles into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall by no means enter into it
whatever is unclean, neither anyone doing abomination and falsehood,1
but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Footnote: 1See
22:15, and 2 Thess. 2:11.
Isa 13:9 See, the day of יהוה is coming,
fierce, with wrath and heat of displeasure, to lay the earth waste, and destroy
its sinners from it.
Isa 13:10 For the
stars of the heavens and their constellations do not give off their light. The
sun shall be dark at its rising, and the moon not send out its light.
Isa 13:11 “And I
shall punish the world for its evil, and the wrong for their crookedness, and
shall put an end to the arrogance of the proud, and lay low the pride of the
ruthless.
Isa 13:12 “I shall
make mortal man scarcer than fine gold, and mankind scarcer than the
gold of Ophir.
Rom 11:26 And so all(those who were called to be saved)
Yisra’ĕl shall be saved, as it has been written, “The Deliverer shall come out
of Tsiyon, and He shall turn away wickedness from Yaʽaqoḇ,
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.
Gen 29:32 And
Lĕ’ah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Re’uḇĕn,
for she said, “For יהוה has looked on
my affliction, because now my husband is going to love me.”
Gen 29:33 And she
conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because יהוה has heard that I am unloved, He gave me
this son too.” And she called his name Shimʽon.
Gen 29:34 And she
conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband is joined
to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So his name was called Lĕwi.
Gen 29:35 And she
conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I praise יהוה.” So she called his name Yehuḏah.
And she ceased bearing.
Gen 30:1 And when
Raḥĕl saw that she bore
Yaʽaqoḇ no children, Raḥĕl envied her sister,
and said to Yaʽaqoḇ, “Give me children,
or else I am going to die!”
Gen 30:2 And
Yaʽaqoḇ’s displeasure burned
against Raḥĕl, and he said, “Am I
in the place of Elohim, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
Gen 30:3 And
she said, “See, my female servant Bilhah; go in to her, and let her bear for
me, and let me be built up from her as well.”
Gen 30:4 So
she gave him Bilhah her female servant as wife, and Yaʽaqoḇ went in to her.
Gen 30:5 And
Bilhah conceived and bore Yaʽaqoḇ a son.
Gen 30:6 And
Raḥĕl said, “Elohim has
rightly ruled my case, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” So she
called his name Dan.
Gen 30:7 And
Raḥĕl’s female servant
Bilhah conceived again and bore Yaʽaqoḇ a second son.
Gen 30:8 And
Raḥĕl said, “With great
wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have overcome.” So she called
his name Naphtali.
Gen 30:9 And
Lĕ’ah saw that she had ceased bearing, and she took Zilpah her female servant
and gave her to Yaʽaqoḇ as wife.
Gen 30:10
And Lĕ’ah’s female servant Zilpah bore Yaʽaqoḇ a son.
Gen 30:11
And Lĕ’ah said, “With Gaḏ!”
So she called his name Gaḏ.
Gen 30:12
And Lĕ’ah’s female servant Zilpah bore Yaʽaqoḇ a second son.
Gen 30:13
And Lĕ’ah said, “I am blessed, for the daughters shall call me blessed.”
So she called his name Ashĕr.
Leah
– means weary. She was weary trying to love someone who didn’t love her as much
as she desired to be loved.
She
has a son – Reuben – see a son – now surely Yacov will love me.
Then
she has a second son – Simeon – heard – the Father heard how hated I was and He
gave me another son.
Then
Levi – means joined or loved – surely now Yacov will love me and join himself
to me.
Then
came Judah – praise the Father surely now he will love me
By this time Rachel got desperate and give
Billah her maid to Yacov – Dan is born means He has judged in my favour and
given me a son.Billah bore another son called Naphtali – I have prevailed against my sister and still have the affection of Yacov
Leah saw that she was having no more children so she gave Zilpha her maid to Yacov and Gad was born – means how fortunate I am to give Yacov another son.
Then Zilpha bore another son called Asher – happy look I have another son.
Then Reuben brings mandrakes – Dudaim – to his mother. Rachel sees and wants them because it was believed to make you fertile etc etc.. So Leah trades them for a night with Yacov.
Leah gives birth fifth son – Isaccar – you are my wages.
Those who have been called by YHVH and have obediently responded to and followed THE FAITH will once again in the last days be joined to and become part of the 12 tribes of Yisrael.
This has always been and will always be YHVH’s PLAN A – The church is not and never will be PLAN A – Yisrael is and always will be PLAN A and all those grafted into Yisrael – see Rom 11. When Yahshua returns he will bring together both houses of Yisrael together in unity and there will be harmony between the sons of Yakov.
The prophet speaking of when Yashua returns and rules and reigns over the earth:
Eze 47:21 “And you shall divide this land among
yourselves according to the tribes of Yisra’ĕl.
Eze 47:22 “And it shall be that you divide it by lot as
an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who sojourn in your midst and
who bear children among you. And they shall be to you as native-born among the
children of Yisra’ĕl – with you they have an inheritance in the midst of the
tribes of Yisra’ĕl1. Footnote: 1Isa. 14:1, Isa. 56:6-8,
Rom. 11:17-26, Eph. 2:19, Eph. 3:6, Rev. 21:12.
Eze 47:23 “And it shall be that in whatever tribe the
stranger sojourns, there you give him his inheritance,” declares the Master יהוה.
Our Haftarah portion for this week:
Isa 60:10 “And the sons of foreigners shall build your
walls, and their sovereigns serve you. For in My wrath I have smitten you, but
in My delight I shall have compassion on you.
Isa 60:11 “And your gates shall be open continually,
they are not shut day or night, to bring to you the wealth of the gentiles, and
their sovereigns in procession.
Isa 60:12 “For the nation and the reign that do not
serve you shall perish, and those gentiles shall be utterly laid waste.
Isa 60:13 “The esteem of Leḇanon shall come to
you, cypress, pine, and the box tree together, to embellish the place of My
set-apart place. And I shall make the place of My feet esteemed.
Isa 60:14
“And the sons of those who afflicted you come bowing to you, and all
those who despised you shall bow themselves at the soles of your feet. And they
shall call you: City of יהוה, Tsiyon of the
Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.
Isa 60:15 “Instead
of you being forsaken and hated, so that no one passes through you, I shall
make you an everlasting excellence, a joy of many generations.
Isa 60:16 “And you
shall drink dry the milk of the gentiles, and shall milk the breast of
sovereigns. And you shall know that I, יהוה, your Saviour
and your Redeemer, am the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ.
Isa 60:17 “Instead
of bronze I bring gold, and instead of iron I bring silver, and bronze instead
of wood, and iron instead of stones. And I shall make your officers peace, and
your magistrates righteousness.
Isa
60:18 “Violence shall no longer be heard
in your land, neither wasting nor ruin within your borders. And you shall call
your walls Deliverance, and your gates Praise.