Blessing for the Torah:
Bar’chu et YHVH ha-m’vorach, Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach l’O’lam va-ed!
Baruch ata YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam
asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim, v’na-tan lanu eht Torah-to.
Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Bless YHVH the blessed One; Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One for all
eternity.
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.)
The
introductory verses (vv. 1-5) of Deuteronomy is set out in the form of a
chiastic structure:
A. What-Where: Words of
Moshe; in the Desert (1:1)
B. When: Fortieth year,
first day, eleventh month (1:1-2)
C. Key theme: ALL YHVH
COMMANDED MOSHE (1:3b)
B'. When: After Og and
Sihon were defeated (1:4)
A'. Where-What: East of
the Jordan; this Torah (1:5)
“Chapter 1:6-46 also forms a classis chiastic pattern and
example in history for Israel's trajectory of failure, fuelled by her
incorrigible unbelief and rebellious ways.”
B. triumphs and
multiplication of Israel (vv. 9-12) Mat 6:33 & Rom 14:17
C. wise leaders chosen
(vv. 13-18)- Eph 4:11-13
D. go up and possess the
land (vv. 19-21a) – Mat 16:19
E. do not fear the peoples
(v. 21b) – Prov 29:25
F. request for spies (vv.
22-24) – I Cor 3:1-15; 2 Tim 4:3,4
G. good report of spies
(v. 25) – – Jer 17:5; Mat 16:24-26
H.“BUT
you would not go up and rebelled against the mouth of יהוה your Elohim –
26-28
G'. evil report of spies
(v. 28)
F'. rejection of the spies
(v. 28)
E'. expressed fear of the
peoples (v. 28) –
D'. land is withheld, and
given to others (vv. 34-40) –
C'. foolish choice by the
leaders (v. 41) –
B'. defeats and decrease
of Israel (vv. 42-44)
A'. do not go in and
possess the land (vv. 42, 45, 46)
This
chais may sadly be an end time scenario for most of YHVH’s people. Where there
will possibly be only a very small remnant that will eventually enter into the
millennium rule and reign of Messiah. This small remnant will however become a
great multitude - Isa 60:22
“The little shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation1.
I, יהוה, shall hasten
it in its time.” Footnote: 1See 41:14, Dan. 2:34-44.
Deu 1:1 These are the words which Mosheh spoke to all
Yisra’ĕl beyond the Yardĕn in the wilderness, in the desert plain opposite
Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laḇan,
and Ḥatsĕroth, and Di Zahaḇ,
The
first two words of the book of Devarim are “these are the words” or in Hebrew
“eleh ha devarim.”
We
assume at some future time when the restored tribes of Israel return to the
land that the same pattern will follow – before
the remnant of Israel can return to the land they too must hear and receive all
the words of Torah as it applies and as it is being fulfilled in the last days.
1Co 10:11 And all these came upon them as examples, and
they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come,
1Co 10:12 so that he who thinks he stands, let him take
heed lest he fall.
The prophecy from the haftarah may help us to better understand the
context of vs 1.
Jer 30:24 The burning displeasure
of יהוה shall not turn
back until He has done and established the purposes of His heart. In the latter
days you shall understand it1. Footnote: 1See 23:20.
Passuk Echad (vs 1) says these words were spoken to ALL
Yisrael – “el kol Yisrael” includes last day remnant.
Rashi and others teach that the place names in vs 1 and 2
are code words for sins.
“Wilderness” – The Yisraelites continually complained about the wilderness because this
was an uncomfortable place to be. Surely if YHVH saves us from Egypt we should
experience peace and happiness. Today few believers ever seem to accept the
fact that when we are delivered from sin and bondage, we are not delivered from
experiencing hard times. The Torah is
given and best understood in the wilderness.
The desert plain – Jewish commentators say this is where the
Yisraelite men were seduced by the Midianite woman. The Hebrew word for “desert
plain” is “aravah” (ayin,reish,veit) This Hebrew word has several different
meanings and can also mean “mixture.” When there is “mixture” in our covenant
with YHVH there will also be mixture in our covenants with one another. Nowhere
is this more evident than in our marriage relationships. Mixture always brings defilement. “Mixture” is the trademark of all
religion.
“Opposite the sea of reeds” when the Yisraelites
were hemmed in between the Egyptians and the sea, they complained “were there
no graves in Egypt” (Ex 14:11). Maybe this tells us that it’s better to die in
the desert embracing Torah than to die in Egypt embracing pagan mixture. It’s
better to be a “water walker” and almost
drown, than to be a “dry boat sitter” and not respond to the call of the Master
– Matt 14:22-33.
“Paran” – this was where the 10 spies were sent from. According
to the sages this was in the ninth of Av (the Fifth Hebrew /Scriptural Month) –
a day in Yisrael's history where both temples were destroyed and many other
tragedies occurred in history. “Paran” reminds us that ongoing disobedience can have devasting consequences. The sin of
the 10 spies was likely the last sin that “broke the camel’s back” – that
caused YHVH to act with extreme harshness to their ongoing rebellion and
disobedience. We all have an appointment with destiny – if we miss it we may
never get a second chance.
The
continual rejection and disobedience to Torah can have sudden catastrophic
consequences.
“Tophel and Laban” Rashi quotes R Yochanan – “We have reviewed all of
scripture but have not found any place named “Tophel or Laban” both words refer
to complaints about the manna (Num 10:12;11:6) Tophel can be rendered “calumny”
and “Laban” white, these refer to the nature and colour of the manna.
Manna has deep symbolic ties to the Torah and to Yahshua
– believers in YHVH have a very sad history of misrepresenting and displaying
contempt and deep lack of appreciation for YHVH’s provision for the redemption
of mankind – The Torah and the Messiah. Once again you can “miss it” and not
even know it.
“Chatzeroth” The sages quote Num 12:1-16 as the place
where Miryam and Korach rebelled against Moshe and as a result of Korach’s
rebellion resulted in many Yisraelites that also rebelling against YHVH.
History clearly portrays a long list of Korach’s and Miryam’s. When the messenger of Torah is rejected so
is the instruction of Torah rejected and the result is that many will be led
astray.
“Di Zahav” means an abundance of gold. YHVH blessed
Yisrael with an abundance of gold and they used it to make a golden calf and
worship it. YHVH wanted the gold to be used for the tabernacle. Yisrael wanted
the gold for a false religion. Wealth can either cause Torah to be established
or Torah to be rejected.
Deu 1:2
eleven days’ journey from Ḥorĕḇ by way of Mount Sĕʽir to Qaḏĕsh Barnĕa.
All of Yisrael's sins
can be linked to disobedience of YHVH’s Torah.
1Jn 3:4 Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and
sin is lawlessness.
The journey from Mitsrayim/Egypt
to the promised land was only an 11 day journey, yet it took the Yisraelites 40
years.
Deu 1:3 And
it came to be in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of
the month, that Mosheh spoke to the children of Yisra’ĕl according to all that יהוה had commanded
him concerning them,
Deu 1:4 after he
had smitten Siḥon sovereign of the Amorites, who dwelt in Ḥeshbon,
and Oḡ sovereign of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Eḏreʽi.
These were the then “Middle East Giants” and this was an
extremely important victory which enabled Yisrael to cross over the Yarden.
Will this happen again someday in the future?
Deu 1:5 Beyond the
Yardĕn, in the land of Mo’aḇ, Mosheh undertook to declare this Torah, saying,
The sages believe that five weeks later on the 7th of
the Twelfth Scriptural Month/Adar (after
or during Babylonian exile the 12th month was also called Adar) Moshe died. This means that the whole book of
Devarim took about five weeks to complete.
Deu 1:6 “יהוה our Elohim spoke to us in Ḥorĕḇ,
saying, ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.
Deu 1:7 ‘Turn and
set out on your way, and go into the mountains of the Amorites, and to all the
neighbouring places in the desert plain, in the mountains and in the low
country, and in the Negeḇ and on the seacoast, to the land of the Kenaʽanites
and to Leḇanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates.
Deu 1:8 ‘See, I
have set the land before you. Go in and possess the land which יהוה swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham,
to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, to
give to them and their seed after them.’
Deu 1:9 “And I
spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘I am unable to bear you by myself.
Deu 1:10 ‘יהוה your Elohim has increased you, and see,
you are today as numerous as the stars of the heavens.
Deu 1:11 ‘יהוה Elohim of your fathers is going to add to
you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you as He has spoken to you!
Deu 1:12 ‘How do I
bear your pressure and your burden and your strife, by myself?
It was a very difficult task for Moshe to lead a people
who continually rebelled and disobeyed Torah.
Heb 13:17 Obey those leading you, and be subject to
them, for they watch for your lives, as having to give account. Let them do
so with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Deu 1:13 ‘Choose
men, wise and understanding, and known to your tribes, and let me appoint them
as your heads.’
Deu 1:14 “And you
answered me and said, ‘The word which you have spoken to us to do is good.’
Deu 1:15 “And I
took the heads of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them heads over
you, leaders of thousands, and leaders of hundreds, and leaders of fifties, and
leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.
Deu 1:16 “And I
commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘When hearing between your
brothers, judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who
is with him.
Deu 1:17 ‘Do not
show partiality in right-ruling, hear the small as well as the great. Do not be
afraid of anyone’s face, for the right-ruling belongs to Elohim. And the case
which is too hard for you, bring it to me, and I shall hear it.’
Even the choice men of these leaders led Yisrael astray.
Deu 1:18 “And I
commanded you at that time all the words which you should do.
Deu 1:19 “Then we
set out from Ḥorĕḇ, and went through all that great and awesome wilderness
which you saw on the way to the mountains of the Amorites, as יהוה our Elohim had commanded us. And we came
to Qaḏĕsh Barnĕa.
Deu 1:20 “And I
said to you, ‘You have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which יהוה our Elohim is giving us.
Deu 1:21 ‘See, יהוה your Elohim has set the land before you.
Go up and possess it, as יהוה Elohim of your
fathers has spoken to you. Do not fear, nor be discouraged.’
Deu 1:22 “And all
of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them
search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we
should go up, and of the cities into which we would come.’
Deu 1:23 “And the
matter was good in my eyes, so I took twelve of your men, one man from each
tribe.
Deu 1:24 “And they
turned and went up into the mountains, and came to the wadi Eshkol, and spied
it out.
Deu 1:25 “And they
took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us.
And they brought back word to us, saying, ‘The land which יהוה our Elohim is giving us is good.’
Deu 1:26 “But you
would not go up and rebelled against the mouth of יהוה your Elohim,
Deu 1:27 and
grumbled in your tents, and said, ‘Because יהוה was hating us,
He has brought us out of the land of Mitsrayim to give us into the hand of the
Amorites, to destroy us.
Deu 1:28 ‘Where
are we going to? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people
are greater and taller than we, the cities are great and walled up to the
heavens, and we saw the sons of the Anaqim there too.” ’
Deu 1:29 “Then I
said to you, ‘Have no dread or fear of them.
Deu 1:30 ‘יהוה your Elohim, who is going before you, He
does fight for you, according to all He did for you in Mitsrayim before your
eyes,
Deu 1:31 and in
the wilderness, where you saw how יהוה your Elohim
has borne you, as a man bears his son, in all the way that you went until you
came to this place.’
Deu 1:32 “Yet in
this matter you are putting no trust in יהוה your Elohim,
Deu 1:33 who is
going before you in the way to seek out a place for you to pitch your tents, to
show you the way you should go, in fire by night and in a cloud by day.
Deu 1:34 “And יהוה heard the voice of your words, and was
wroth, and took an oath, saying,
Deu 1:35 ‘Not one
of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore
to give to your fathers,
Deu 1:36 except
Kalĕḇ son of Yephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and his
children I give the land on which he walked, because he followed יהוה completely.’
Deu 1:37 “And יהוה was enraged with me for your sakes,
saying, ‘You do not go in there, either.
Deu 1:38 ‘Yehoshua
the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Strengthen him,
for he shall cause Yisra’ĕl to inherit.
Deu 1:39 ‘And your
little ones and your children, who you say are for a prey, who today have no
knowledge of good and evil, they are going in there. And to them I give it, and
they are to possess it.
Deu 1:40 ‘But you,
turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Sea of Reeds.’
Deu 1:41 “Then you
answered and said to me, ‘We have sinned against יהוה. We ourselves
are going up, and we shall fight, as יהוה our Elohim
commanded us.’ And when each one of you had girded on his battle gear, you were
ready to go up into the mountain.
Deu 1:42 “And יהוה said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up
nor fight, for I am not in your midst, lest you be smitten before your
enemies.” ’
Deu 1:43 “So I
spoke to you, but you would not listen and rebelled against the mouth of יהוה, and acted proudly, and went up into the
mountain.
Deu 1:44 “Then the
Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees
do, and drove you back from Sĕʽir to Ḥormah.
Deu 1:45 “And you
returned and wept before יהוה, but יהוה would not listen to your voice nor give
ear to you.
Deu 1:46 “So you
dwelt in Qaḏĕsh many days, according to the days that you dwelt.
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