10/24/2025

Parashat 2 Portion 8 Bereshhet 11:1-32 Zeph 3:9-17,20

 Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His commandments and commanded us to engross ourselves in the words of the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH, Giver of the Torah – Ameyn

In Jewish tradition, limmud Torah lishmah—studying Torah “for its own sake”—is one of the highest spiritual pursuits. It means engaging with Torah not for reward, prestige, or even personal insight alone, but out of pure love and reverence for divine wisdom. (לשמה “for its name” — that is, for its essence or for its own sake. In context, lishmah implies a pure intention, learning Torah not for external benefit (honour, reward, status), but out of devotion to the divine truth itself.)

ויהי כל־הארץ

 וַיְהִי (vayehi) — “and it was” — can mark a moment of sorrow or trial (as in the Flood or exile stories).

וְהָיָה (vehayah) — “and it shall be” — often introduces joy or redemption (as in prophetic promises).

It’s not a strict rule, but a poetic observation — showing how even a single word can carry emotional tone in Hebrew storytelling.

וְהָיָה (vehayah) — joy and hope:

וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל — “And it shall come to pass in that day that a great shofar shall be blown” (Isaiah 27:13) → redemption.

וְהָיָה יְהוָה לְמֶלֶךְ עַל־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ — “And YHVH shall be King over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9)

The Tower of Babel

Gen 11:1 And (ויהי) all the earth had one languagea and one speech. Footnote: aHeb. lip. ‘’Lashon HaKodesh’’

Gen 11:2 And it came to be (ויהי), as they set out from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shin‛ar,b and they dwelt there. Footnote: bEarlier name for Bael. 

  Quote from BOOK OF YASHER – The book of Yasher is also referred to in the Book of Yehoshua and Second Shamuel.   (Sefer HaYashar - “Book of the Upright’’ combination of various ancient Jewish writings – mentioned twice in Hebrew scriptures – Josh 10:13 & 2 Sam 1:18)

Yasher 11 - 1 And Nimrod son of Cush was still in the land of Shinar, and he reigned over it and dwelt there, and he built cities in the land of Shinar.

2 And these are the names of the four cities which he built, and he called their names after the occurrences that happened to them in the building of the tower.

3 And he called the first Babel, saying, Because YHVH there confounded the language of the whole earth; and the name of the second he called Erech, because from there YHVH dispersed them.

4 And the third he called Eched, saying there was a great battle at that place; and the fourth he called Calnah, because his princes and mighty men were consumed there, and they vexed YHVH, they rebelled and transgressed against him.

7 And notwithstanding this, Nimrod did not return to YHVH, and he continued in wickedness and teaching wickedness to the sons of men; and Mardon, his son, was worse than his father, and continued to add to the abominations of his father.

8 And he caused the sons of men to sin, therefore it is said, From the wicked goeth forth wickedness.

14 And Abram knew YHVH, and he went in his ways and instructions, and the YHVH his Elohim was with him.

15 And Terah his father was in those days, still captain of the host of king Nimrod, and he still followed strange gods – End quote.

 History records the following about Nimrod:

“Nimrod, the King, took a wife.  The wife Nimrod chose was his mother.  So, the “son” became both the husband and son of the mother.  In effect making this marriage a “trinity” union in as much as the “husband” was the same person as the “son” united as “one” with the wife/mother.  So, Nimrod married his mother, Semiramis, and she became the Queen of Babylon.  It was Semiramis from which the religion surrounding Nimrod and the planets (astrology) evolved.  Nimrod the mighty and ruthless murderer was killed for his crimes against humanity by the sons of Noach.  His body cut into pieces and distributed all over his kingdom by his enemies.  In the face of Nimrod’s death, Semiramis had to somehow maintain her grip and power over the people.  In order to solidify her power she “invented” a religion for the people that would keep Nimrod’s control over them even after his death.  She then gave birth to a son named Tammuz whom she claimed was the reincarnation of Nimrod.  So through the belief that Tammuz was "Nimrod in the flesh" the queen was able to subdue the people of Babylon.  So, Tammuz was “Nimrod in the flesh” and “one” with his father who was “one” with his wife/mother through marriage… the unholy concept of a Trinity is born.”

It is no coincidence that the events of the previous parashah portion and the present portion are defined by the wicked sin of ‘’incest’’.

 ‘’This is possibly the demonic source (“gate of the gods”) of the false trinitarian teaching that has motivated Christians to establish their own divine presence — (Babylon = Babel = “gate of God” 2 Cor 11:4; Jn3:36) This should serve as a warning to all believers in these last days - Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’’

In response, YHVH dispersed the nations and confused their communication – a condition that not only prevailed then but will be significantly amplified in the last days.

 Moses addresses this condition in his final song of farewell to the Israelites describing how this Babel event resulted in YHVH dividing the nations according to the sons of Elohim (not the sons of Israel – according to Dead Sea scrolls)

This Song of Moses is becoming increasingly popular amongst scholars as the ‘’Biblical World View’’ and is been closely linked to Ps 82.

 Heiser interprets these elohim not as human rulers, but as real spiritual beings who were assigned authority over the nations at Babel — and later corrupted their rule, leading their peoples into idolatry and injustice.

YHVH therefore condemns them in Psalm 82:6–7, declaring that they will “die like men.”

 This means YHVH allotted the nations to lesser divine beings — members of the Divine Council — while YHVH reserved Israel for Himself.

Psalm 82 portrays YHVH (Elohim) standing in the midst of the “divine council” and judging the other elohim:

 Psa 82:1  Elohim stands in the congregation of Ěl; He judges in the midst of the elohim. 

Psa 82:2  How long would you judge perversely, And show partiality to the wrong? Selah. 

Psa 82:3  Give right-ruling to the poor and fatherless, Do right to the afflicted and needy. 

Psa 82:4  Rescue the poor and needy; Deliver them from the hand of the wrong. 

Psa 82:5  They do not know, nor do they understand, They walk about in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. 

Psa 82:6  I, I said, “You are elohim, And all of you are sons of the Most High. 

Psa 82:7  “But as men you die, And fall as one of the heads.” 

Psa 82:8  Arise, O Elohim, judge the earth, For You shall possess all the nations. 

 Mat 25:41  “He shall then also say to those on the left hand, ‘Go away from Me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his messengers – 

Mat 25:42  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, 

Mat 25:43  I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, was naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 

Mat 25:44  “Then they also shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve You?’ 

Mat 25:45  “Then He shall answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 

Mat 25:46  “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.” 

 If your faith, your life, your Biblical world view is not about taking care and protecting the weak and the vulnerable, then ‘’ you have nothing worthwhile to say’’ Go read 1 Cor 13 again.

 Jas 1:27  Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 

 Gen 11:3 And they said to each other, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 

Gen 11:4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens, and make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over all the face of the earth.” 

Gen 11:5 Then יהוה came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 

Gen 11:6 And יהוה said, “Look, they are one people and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do! And now, they are not going to be withheld from doing whatever they plan to do. 

Gen 11:7 “Come, let Us go there and confuse their language, so that they do not understand one another’s speech.” 

Gen 11:8 And יהוה scattered them from there, over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 

Gen 11:9 That is why its name was called Bael,c because there יהוה confused the language of all the earth, and from there יהוה scattered them over the face of all the earth. Footnote: cBael is derived from a verb which means “to confuse.” 

 Shem's Descendants

Gen 11:10 This is the genealogy of Shěm: Shěm was a hundred years old and brought forth Arpasha, two years after the flood. 

Gen 11:11 And after he brought forth Arpasha, Shěm lived five hundred years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:12 And Arpasha lived thirty-five years, and brought forth Shela

Gen 11:13  And after he brought forth Shela, Arpasha lived four hundred and three years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:14 And Shela lived thirty years, and brought forth Ěer. 

Gen 11:15 And after he brought forth Ěer, Shela lived four hundred and three years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:16 And Ěer lived thirty-four years, and brought forth Pele

Gen 11:17 And after he brought forth Pele, Ěer lived four hundred and thirty years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:18 And Pele lived thirty years, and brought forth Re‛u. 

Gen 11:19 And after he brought forth Re‛u, Pele lived two hundred and nine years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:20 And Re‛u lived thirty-two years and brought forth Seru

Gen 11:21  And after he brought forth Seru, Re‛u lived two hundred and seven years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:22 And Seru lived thirty years, and brought forth Naor. 

Gen 11:23 And after he brought forth Naor, Seru lived two hundred years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:24 And Naor lived twenty-nine years and brought forth Tera

Gen 11:25 And after he brought forth Tera, Naor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and brought forth sons and daughters. 

Gen 11:26 And Tera lived seventy years, and brought forth Aram, Naor, and Haran. 

Terah's Descendants

Gen 11:27 And this is the genealogy of Tera: Tera brought forth Aram, Naor, and Haran. And Haran brought forth Lot. 

Gen 11:28 And Haran died before his father Tera in the land of his birth, in Ur-kasdim. 

Gen 11:29 And Aram and Naor took wives: the name of Aram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Naor’s wife, Milkah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milkah and the father of Yiskah. 

Gen 11:30 And Sarai was barren, she had no child. 

Gen 11:31 And Tera took his son Aram and his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Aram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur-kasdim to go to the land of Kena‛an. And they came to aran and dwelt there. 

Gen 11:32 And the days of Tera came to be two hundred and five years, and Tera died in aran. 

 The Problem at Babel (Genesis 11):

  • Humanity tried to unite apart from YHVH, building a tower to make their own name great. (This vain religious and social project continues to this day.
  • YHVH scattered them and confused their languages, dividing the world into nations.
  • According to Deuteronomy 32:8–9, when He “divided up the nations,” He allotted them to the sons of Elohim (lesser divine beings), while YHVH took Israel as His own.
     So the nations were disinherited and came under the authority of spiritual powers.

Paul’s “Powers and Principalities” Paul’s spiritual terminology isn’t abstract — it refers to those same divine beings.
Here are a few key passages:

  • Ephesians 6:12:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.”
 These “rulers” (archontes) and “powers” (exousiai) are spiritual authorities connected to the nations — the rebel elohim of Psalm 82.

Time Out!

Let us all be painfully honest. When the average man on the street is confronted with the reality of the truth of how things on earth have gone wrong and where the world is heading right now. Many would be forgiven to believe that ‘’we don’t have much hope of surviving the coming apocalypse.

See below the ‘’unfinished’’ Tower of Babel building that serves as the European Union’s Head Quarters.

 

What do the European parliament and the Tower of Babel have ...

 

 Colossians 2:15:

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
 The cross and resurrection mark the defeat of these spiritual powers.

The Tower of Babel in Midrash

The rabbis didn’t speak of “reclaiming Babel” The Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE) deeply shaped Jewish theology. The rabbis saw it as:

  • Punishment for Israel’s sins (idolatry, injustice), and
  • Preparation for renewal — a period of purification leading to restoration.

Jeremiah 29:7 became a guiding verse:

Jer 29:7  And seek the peace of the city where I have exiled you, and pray to יהוה for it, for in its peace you have peace.’ 

This verse inspired the rabbinic ethic of faithfulness in exile: even in Babylon, Jews could serve YHVH, sanctify His name, and bring light to the nations.

Thus, the “reclamation” of Babylon happens not through overthrow, but through holy presence — bringing Torah into exile. Midrashically, that’s the ultimate redemption of Babylon:

The very place of confusion (balal) becomes a place of revelation.

Some later commentators even said the Talmud Bavli fulfilled the prophecy that “light will go out from Babylon” — meaning that divine wisdom would shine from the diaspora.

 Eschatological (End-Time) Babylon

In apocalyptic and later mystical writings, “Babylon” symbolizes the power of evil and exile — sometimes equated with Edom or Rome.
In this view, the Messiah will bring about the ultimate “reclamation” of Babylon — not by redeeming the empire itself, but by liberating Israel and humanity from its influence.

“When Babylon falls, the exiles will return to Zion.”
Midrash Tehillim 137

Now, consider Paul’s language in letters like Ephesians and Colossians:

Eph 4:9  But what does “He went up” mean, except that He also first went down into the lower parts of the earth? Eph 4:10  He who went down is also the One who went up far above all the heavens, to fill all. 

Sheol: A Redemption Story | Ep 13 Book of Enoch Bible Study  (27min)

Original Hebrew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVPf8PVUFUI

Disclaimer: author of video seems to believe that Christians get special treatment (I disagree)

“For in Him all things were created… and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”
Colossians 1:16, 20

Paul envisions a cosmic restoration:

  • Creation has fallen into disunity through sin and the powers of darkness.
  • Messiah’s life, death, and resurrection gather the fragments of creation back into divine harmony.
  • The result is pleroma (πλήρωμα) — fullness, completion, the re-filling of creation with divine presence. This single word(πλήρωμα) carries vast significance in both biblical and mystical thought — it’s about fullness, completion, and the total expression of divine reality. So πλήρωμα literally means: “Fullness,” “that which fills,” or “the sum total of all that is filled.”

Hab 2:14  for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the esteem of יהוה, as the waters cover the sea!a Footnote: a Isa_11:9

Joh 1:16 And out of His completeness (plērōma) we all did receive, and favour upon favour, 

Joh 1:17 for the Torah was given through Mosheh – the favour and the truth came through יהושע Messiah. 

 John 1:16–17 can be paraphrased:

“From His overflowing fullness we have all received covenant love after covenant love — for the Torah (the first act of grace) was given through Moses, and the ultimate expression of that same grace and truth has come embodied through Yeshua the Messiah.”

Eph 1:22  And He put all under His feet, Psa_8:6 and gave Him to be head over all, to the assembly, Eph 1:23  which is His body, the completeness (plērōma)  of Him who fills all in all. 

 Eph 3:19  to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, in order that you might be filled to all the completeness (plērōma)   of Elohim. 

 Col 1:19  Because in Him all the completeness (plērōma)  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. 

 For Paul, πλήρωμα expresses YHVH’s goal in history: that all creation be filled, completed, and united in His divine presence through Messiah.

The goal is not escape from the world but its transformation and restoration.

 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

Additional Midrash:

Rom 5:20  And the Torah came in beside,( (pareiserchomai)) so that the trespass would increase. But where sin increased, favour increased still more, Rom 5:21  so that as sin did reign in death, even so favour might reign through righteousness to everlasting life through יהושע Messiah our Master. (pareiserchomai) - Paul is explaining that the Torah (Law) was not the source of sin but entered alongside the existing human condition to make sin evident or increase its awareness.

Zep 3:9  “For then I shall turn unto the peoples a clean lip,b so that they all call on the Name of יהוה, to serve Him with one shoulder. Footnote: bOr language.

Zephaniah 3:9 is a vision of the reversal of Babel and the healing of language and worship.
It will occur after divine judgment — in the Messianic era — when all nations are purified to call upon the Name of YHVH in unity and truth.

Zeph 3:8 contains all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Is this merely a co incidence?

Zep 3:8  “Therefore wait for Me,” declares יהוה, “until the day I rise up for plunder. For My judgment is to gather nations, to assemble reigns, to pour out on them My rage, all My burning wrath. For by the fire of My jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. 

ח  לָכֵן חַכּוּ-לִי נְאֻם-יְהוָה, לְיוֹם קוּמִי לְעַד:  כִּי מִשְׁפָּטִי לֶאֱסֹף גּוֹיִם לְקָבְצִי מַמְלָכוֹת, לִשְׁפֹּךְ עֲלֵיהֶם זַעְמִי כֹּל חֲרוֹן אַפִּי--כִּי בְּאֵשׁ קִנְאָתִי, תֵּאָכֵל כָּל-הָאָרֶץ.                    

Shavuot or ‘’Pentecost’’ is then perceived to be a spiritual reversal of the Tower of Babel in light of the Divine Council worldview.

People from all nations (Luke lists them in Acts 2:9–11 — Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Egyptians, etc.) hear the gospel in their own languages. this is not random — it mirrors the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, the list of nations scattered at Babel.

  • Ephesians 1:20–21:

“...when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion...”
Messiah is enthroned above every other divine being, reclaiming full sovereignty.

‘’ Paul’s worldview isn’t just moral or psychological — it’s cosmic. The gospel isn’t only about human salvation, but about Yahweh reclaiming the nations from hostile spiritual powers.’’

“The nations that were disinherited at Babel are now being repossessed through the spread of the good news.”

In Revelation 11:15, the final victory scene is clearly stated:

The Seventh Trumpet

Rev 11:15  And the seventh messenger sounded, and there came to be loud voices in the heaven, saying, “The reign of this world has become the reign of our Master, and of His Messiah, and He shall reign forever and ever!”a Footnote: aSee Rev_12:10, Psa_2:8, Psa_22:28, Dan_2:44, Dan_7:13-14, Oba_1:15-21, Hag_2:22, Zec_14:9

That is the culmination of the story that began at Babel — Yahweh’s total reclamation of all nations and the defeat of all rebellious powers.

the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) is not just a call to evangelize — it is a call to return to the righteous ancient paths of Torah – not to create converts – but disciplined ones who submit to righteous authority to walk as Yahshua walked on earth. This is our mission and calling to participate in YHVH’s cosmic reclamation plan, set in motion after the rebellion at Babel.

From then on, Yahweh’s direct relationship is limited to Israel, His chosen nation — His “portion.”
But His ultimate plan is always to reclaim the rest of the nations through Israel’s seed (Genesis 12:3).

Yahshua: The Seed of Abraham

Yahshua, the Messiah, is that promised descendant through whom “all nations of the earth will be blessed.”
Yahshua’s ministry targets the powers behind the nations, not just human sin.

  • The Cross and Resurrection are a cosmic victory over those spiritual rulers (Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 1:20–21).

So, through Yahshua, YHVH begins reclaiming what was lost at Babel.

The Final Redemption (Ge’ulah)

In mystical eschatology, when all sparks are finally gathered — even those buried deepest in “Babylon” — the divine light will be restored in full.
This corresponds to the coming of the Messiah, who completes the process of tikkun (rectification).

Thus, “reclaiming Babylon” isn’t about overthrowing a nation or empire; it’s about transforming exile itself into holiness, until nothing remains outside divine unity.

“Prayer isn’t about getting God to do something He doesn’t want to do.
It’s about joining Him in what He is doing.”
Heiser, “The Unseen Realm”

Heiser closes the circle of the Divine Council story with Revelation 22:5:

“They will reign forever and ever.”

The faithful are not just saved; they are restored to their original role — to rule and reign with YHVH as His council, both human and divine, united in purpose forever.

The daughters of Zelophehad could be compared to a type of end time bride of Messiah without husbands:

Num 27:1 Then came the daughters of Tselophḥaḏ, son of Ḥĕpher, son of Gilaḏ, son of Maḵir, son of Menashsheh, from the clans of Menashsheh, son of Yosĕph. And these were the names of his daughters: Maḥlah, Noʽah, and Choḡlah, and Milkah, and Tirtsah.

“Machla” means afflicted, “Noah” means "wandering", Milcah means "queen", Tirzah means "pleasing", Hoglah can possibly mean celebrating or dancing, because the first part of her name is “Chag.”

“The afflicted bride, weary from her wonderings will be crowned queen because she is pleasing to her king Messiah. She will dance and celebrate with her Messiah king at the marriage feast of the Lamb.”

1Co 11:3  And I wish you to know that the head of every man is the Messiah,a and the head of woman is the man,b and the head of Messiah is Elohim Eph_5:23.

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’ěl, until the completeness of the nationsa has come in. Footnote: a Gen_48:19

Rom 11:26  And so all Yisra’ěl shall be saved, as it has been written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Tsiyon, and He shall turn away wickedness from Ya‛aqo, 

Rom 11:27  and this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” Isa_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. 

Rom 11:33  Oh, the depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of Elohim! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! 

 Psa 19:7  The Torah of יהוה is perfect, bringing back  (restoring) the being; The witness of יהוה is trustworthy, making wise the simple; 

 Jas 1:25  But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.

 Until when YHVH, until when? Isa 6:10  “Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and shall turn and be healed.” 

Isa 6:11  Then I said, “יהוה, until when?” And He answered, “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, and the houses are without a man, and the land is laid waste, a ruin, 

Isa 6:12  and יהוה has removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land. 

Isa 6:13  “But still, there is a tenth part in it, and it shall again be for a burning, like a terebinth tree and like an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. The set-apart seed is its stump!”