Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, You have set us apart by Your commandments and have commanded us to actively study Your Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May You open our eyes to see marvellous truths from Your Torah. Thank You for calling us who were once gentiles excluded from the citizenship of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no expectation and without Elohim- but now through the blood of Messiah we have gained access into the covenant and have obtained citizenship into the commonwealth of Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Amein
ראשׁי המטות Before the Messiah returns there will be a restoration of a righteous patriarchy - Mal 4:6 “And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with utter destruction.[a] Footnote: aSee also Ex 3:6
Aliyah Rishon 30:1-31:12
Num 30:1 And Mosheh spoke to the heads of the tribes ראשׁי המטות concerning the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “This is the word which יהוה has commanded:
Num 30:2 “When a man vows a vow to יהוה, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he does not break his word, he does according to all that comes out of his mouth.
Making vows and taking oaths is very much part of the human experience and were never meant to be taken lightly. Of all the vows humans make with one another the marriage vows are considered the most important. The message of this Torah portion is that we will be held accountable for every word that comes out of our mouths. The most important vow that can be made is the vow that YHVH has made with humans and humans make with YHVH.
Exo 19:3 And Mosheh went up to Elohim, and יהוה called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you are to say to the house of Ya‛aqoḇ, and declare to the children of Yisra’ěl:
Exo 19:4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Mitsrites, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
Exo 19:5 ‘And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine –
Exo 19:6 ‘and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra’ěl.”
Exo 19:7 And Mosheh came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which יהוה commanded him.
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together and said, “All that יהוה has spoken we shall do.” So Mosheh brought back the words of the people to יהוה.
In the following chapter (20) YHVH gives us the ‘’ketubah’’ or 10 sayings that we agree upon to be in a covenant with YHVH.
When we put on the ‘’tefillin’’ we recite Hos 2:19 “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me forever, and take you as a bride unto Me in righteousness, and in right-ruling, and loving-commitment and compassion.
Hos 2:20 “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me in trustworthiness, and you shall know יהוה.
Words are very powerful.
Heb 11:3 By belief, we understand that the ages (Gk – ‘’worlds’’) were prepared by the word of Elohim, so that what is seen was not made of what is visible. (not just this world but the world to come)
Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Unknown to most the word “Abracadabra” is actually a Hebrew phrase, which means “I create (A’bra) what (ca) I speak (dab’ra).”
Many of us have ignorantly used the expression ‘’hip hip hoerah’’ it was also used by German citizens during the Holocaust as a rallying cry when they would hunt down Jewish citizens living in segregated neighbourhoods.” - "hip" stems from a medieval Latin acronym, "Hierosolyma Est Perdita", meaning "Jerusalem is lost and ruined"
Sadly, rabbinic liturgy has introduced a mechanism called the ‘’Kol Nidrei’’ to cancel out vows that one could not keep. This practice has been frowned upon in times past by various Jewish leaders.
“Kol Nidrei has had an eventful history, both in itself and in its influence on the legal status of the Jews. Introduced into the liturgy despite the opposition of some rabbinic authorities, it was attacked in the course of time by some rabbis and in the 19th century expunged from the prayer book by many communities of western Europe. The term Kol Nidrei refers not only to the actual declaration, but is also popularly used as a name for the entire Yom Kippur evening service. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kol_Nidre
Kol Nidrei – ‘All vows’, it begins and goes on to nullify the vows each person will make and not keep from this Yom Kippur to the next, and by implication those made and unkept during the past year. The vows annulled are not those contracted with another person; in Jewish law, abrogating such oaths requires the consent of both parties.’’ This is a violation of the Torah.
Num 30:3 “Or if a woman vows a vow to יהוה, and binds herself by some agreement while in her father’s house in her youth, (Hebrew Israelite woman were always meant to be under a caring and loving protection)…
We need to consider however a deeper implication to the above verse and possibly the key to understanding YHVH’s purpose for vows in this parashah - Eph 5:31 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Gen_2:24.
Eph 5:32 This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.
Herein lies the problem – man was never able to keep his side of the covenant with YHVH – his Maker. So YHVH chose His Son Messiah to enter into a covenant with Himself on our behalf – see Gen/Ber 15 –
YHVH put Avraham to sleep when He was about to make a covenant with him and symbolically made a covenant with the future coming Messiah (burning oven – vs 17) that He knew would be able to keep the terms and conditions of that covenant and so secure an eternal relationship between Himself and His Creation.
The church and any other person who calls themselves a believer is NOT in a covenant with YHVH if they reject the terms and conditions of YHVH’s covenant – His Torah.
Israelites who enter into marriage or other covenants with each other are also bound by the terms and conditions of YHVH’s covenant – His Torah – the very theme of this week’s parashah.
Some Christians may object and claim that their faith in ‘’Jesus’’ is all that is required and enables them to be in a covenant with YHVH.
The Torah clearly outlines the terms and conditions of being in a covenant with YHVH and with one another.
A covenant requires compliance to certain terms and conditions – and these will not change as long as the present heaven and earth remain.
‘’The Law (Torah) requires much, but offers no help in carrying out its requirements. Yahshua requires just as much, yea even more – Mat 5:21-40. But what he requires of us, He Himself carries out in us. The Law makes demands on us and leaves us helpless to fulfil them. Yahshua makes (the same) demands on us but He Himself fulfils in us the very demands (and consequences) He makes.
Watchman Nee – The Normal Christian Life.’’
Could the Bride of Messiah also be the “woman” spoken of in vs 3 of this parashah? However, in Messiah we are now more able than ever to keep the covenant. However, there are times when we still break covenant with YHVH and with men. Even in our covenant unfaithfulness YHVH continues to cover this transgression. All human religion in reality is a ‘’covenant with death’’
Num 30:4 and her father hears her vow and the agreement by which she has bound herself, and her father has kept silent towards her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement with which she has bound herself stands. (the fathers blessing, and approval was required)
Num 30:5 “But if her father forbids her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows nor her agreements by which she has bound herself stand. And יהוה pardons her, because her father has forbidden her
Num 30:6 “But if she at all belongs to a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself,
Num 30:7 and her husband hears it, and he has kept silent towards her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself do stand.
Num 30:8 “But if her husband forbids her on the day that he hears it, then he has nullified her vow which she vowed, and the rash utterance of her lips by which she bound herself, and יהוה pardons her.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am laying in Tsiyon a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a settled foundation. He who trusts shall not hasten away.
Isa 28:17 And I shall make right-ruling the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet. And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lying, and the waters overflow the hiding place.
Isa 28:18 And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your vision with the grave not stand. When an overflowing scourge passes through, then you shall be trampled down by it. (An end time cleansing)
Num 30:9 “But any vow of a widow or a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, stands against her.
(She doesn’t have protection because she is unwilling or unable to submit to righteous authority)
Num 30:10 “And if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound herself by an agreement with an oath,
Num 30:11 and her husband heard it, and has kept silent towards her and did not forbid her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement by which she bound herself stands.
Num 30:12 “But if her husband clearly nullified them on the day he heard them, then whatever came from her lips concerning her vows or concerning the agreement binding her, it does not stand – her husband has nullified them, and יהוה pardons her. (it appears that even though she is divorced her husband still has authority over her)
Num 30:13 “Every vow and every binding oath to afflict her being, let her husband confirm it, or let her husband nullify it.
Num 30:14 “But if her husband is altogether silent at her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all the agreements that bind her – he confirms them, because he kept silent towards her on the day that he heard.
Yahshua ‘’nullified’’ our covenant with death by bearing our ‘’crookedness’’
Eph 5:22 Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Master.
Eph 5:23 Because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Messiah is head of the assembly, and He is Saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every respect. (we read this but most don’t take it very seriously)
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it,
Eph 5:26 in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,[f] Footnote: f Rev_19:8-9.
Eph 5:27 in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might be set-apart and blameless.
Eph 5:28 In this way husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Eph 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but feeds and cherishes it, as also the Master does the assembly.
Eph 5:30 Because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
Eph 5:31 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Gen_2:24.
Eph 5:32 This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.
Eph 5:33 However, you too, everyone, let each one love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she fears her husband.
Why fear your husband? Because he has the authority and responsibility to nullify harmful vows you may have entered into as well as bearing your iniquity if you break covenant with him.
Most people will reject this reality – but not all – a remnant of faithful men and women will realize the cost of such righteous relationships in the last days.
Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We shall eat our own food and wear our own clothes; only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.”
Jer 31:22 “Till when would you turn here and there, O backsliding daughter? For יהוה has created what is new on earth: a woman encompasses a man!” (context of the renewed covenant – Jer 31:31-33.
Jer 31:31 “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall make a renewed covenant with the house of Yisra’ěl and with the house of Yehuḏah,[a] Footnote: a Heb_8:8-12, Heb_10:16-17.
Jer 31:32 not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I strengthened[b] their hand to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares יהוה. Footnote: bCommonly understood as “take hold of.”
Jer 31:33 “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ěl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Num 30:16 These are the laws which יהוה commanded Mosheh, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her father’s house.
In chapter 31 we get a sense of what will happen to a people who cause any form of covenantal unfaithfulness for the nation of Israel.
Num 31:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 31:2 “Take vengeance for the children of Yisra’ĕl on the Miḏyanites. After that you are to be gathered to your people.”
Num 31:3 And Mosheh spoke to the people, saying, “Arm some of yourselves for the campaign, and let them go against the Miḏyanites to take vengeance for יהוה on Miḏyan.
Num 31:4 “Send a thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Yisra’ĕl for the campaign.”
Num 31:5 So there were supplied from the tribes of Yisra’ĕl one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed ones for the campaign.
Num 31:6 And Mosheh sent them on the campaign, one thousand from each tribe, them and Pineḥas son of Elʽazar the priest on the campaign, with the set-apart utensils and the trumpets for sounding in his hand.
Num 31:7 And they fought against the Miḏyanites, as יהוה commanded Mosheh, and slew all the males.
Num 31:8 And they slew the sovereigns of Miḏyan with the rest of those who were pierced: Ewi, and Reqem, and Tsur, and Ḥur, and Reḇa, the five sovereigns of Miḏyan. And they slew Bilʽam son of Beʽor with the sword.
There is a connection between Parashat ‘’Mattot’’ and Parashat ‘’Pinchas’’ and the 144000 end time witnesses
Rev 14:4 They are those who were not defiled with women, for they are maidens.(2 Cor 11:2) They are those following the Lamb wherever He leads them on. They were redeemed from among men, being first-fruits to Elohim and to the Lamb.
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 – Amein,