1/10/2015

Parashat 38 Portion 112 – “Korach” B’Midbar/Numbers 16:1-50 1 Sam 11:1-15 Jude 1


This Torah portion is about how 
rebellion against the Torah of YHVH 
brings destruction and death.

The number 38 speaks of bondage and slavery which leads to death.
      Yochanan/Joh 5:5 And a certain man was there who had a sickness thirty-eight years.
This man was in bondage to his condition for 38 years.

Debarim/Deu 2:14 “And the time we took to come from Qaḏĕsh Barnĕa until we passed over the wadi Zereḏ was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of battle was consumed from the midst of the camp, as יהוה had sworn to them.

The Yisraelites had been in the wilderness more than a year when the spies brought the negative report. Thirty eight years followed the negative report before Israel could once again enter into the land.

Definition of bondage: The condition of being controlled by something or someone that limits or takes away your freedom.

Jas 2:12  So speak and so do as those who are to be judged by a Torah of freedom.1 Footnote: 1See 1:25, and John 8:32-36.

Jas 1:25  But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom,1 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. Footnote: 1See 2:12.

Joh 8:36  “If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

The spirit of Korach and his followers is still alive and well in our world. You can kill Korach and his followers but you cannot kill the spirit of rebellion that inspired him. This spirit has always had many willing followers.
If we are possibly the people of the “second exodus” – those who could return to the land of Israel in this generation, then maybe we can assume that spiritual conditions prior to the first exodus will be similar to the spiritual condition of Yisrael prior to the second exodus.
The sages tell us that the spiritual state of Yisrael had reached such a low level, that they refer to it as the 49th level of spiritual degradation. One more level of degradation would have caused a complete assimilation into the pagan culture of Egypt.
Is it not possible that due to the ongoing rebellion that is been witnessed against YHVH’s Torah and His Messiah that we once again face this same dangerous position as our forefathers?

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.

Listen to how King David describes the prevailing spiritual condition when the spiritual pillars of YHVH are pulled down and destroyed:

Psa 11:3  When the foundations are destroyed, What shall the righteous do?
Literally - When the pillars of truth are being pulled down, what effect do the righteous still have?

ג  כִּי הַשָּׁתוֹת, יֵהָרֵסוּן--    צַדִּיק, מַה-פָּעָל.

When the settled things are being pulled down, what kind of actions can the righteous take?

Amo 5:13  Therefore the wise keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.

The following prophecy will be a very specific message for those who will return to Tzion before the great and terrible day of YHVH.

Joe 2:1  Blow a ram’s horn in Tsiyon, and sound an alarm in My set-apart mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble, for the day of יהוה is coming, for it is near:
Joe 2:2  a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains – a people many and strong, the like of whom has never been, nor shall there ever be again after them, to the years of many generations.
Joe 2:3  Ahead of them a fire has consumed, and behind them a flame burns. Before them the land is like the Garden of Ěḏen, and behind them a desert waste. And from them there is no escape.
       
Joe 2:11  And יהוה shall give forth His voice before His army, for His camp is very great, for mighty is the doer of His word.(Torah) For the day of יהוה is great and very awesome, and who does bear it?
Joe 2:12  “Yet even now,” declares יהוה, “turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
Joe 2:13  And tear your heart and not your garments, and turn back to יהוה your Elohim, for He shows favour and is compassionate, patient, and of great kindness, and He shall relent concerning the evil.
Joe 2:14  Who knows – He might turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him, a grain offering and a drink offering for יהוה your Elohim?
Joe 2:15  Blow a ram’s horn in Tsiyon, set apart a fast, call an assembly.
Joe 2:17  Let the priests, servants of יהוה, weep between the porch and the altar. And let them say, “Spare Your people, O יהוה, and do not give Your inheritance to reproach, for the gentiles to rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their Elohim?’ ”
Joe 2:18  And let יהוה be jealous for His land, and spare His people.
Joe 2:19  And let יהוה answer and say to His people, “See, I am sending you the grain and the new wine and the oil, and you shall be satisfied by them. And no longer do I make you a reproach among the gentiles.
Joe 2:23  And you children of Tsiyon, be glad and rejoice in יהוה your Elohim, for He shall give you the Teacher of Righteousness, and cause the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.
Joe 2:24  And the threshing-floors shall be filled with grain, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
Joe 2:25  “Then I shall repay you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, and the consuming locust, and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.
Joe 2:26  “Then you shall eat – eat and be satisfied – and shall praise the Name of יהוה your Elohim, who has done with you so wondrously. And My people shall never be put to shame.
Joe 2:27  “And you shall know that I am in the midst of Yisra’ĕl1, and that I am יהוה your Elohim and there is no one else. And My people shall never be put to shame. Footnote: 1See Isa. 24:23.
Joe 2:28  “And after this it shall be that I pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men dream dreams, your young men see visions.
Joe 2:29  “And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out My Spirit in those days.
Joe 2:30  “And I shall give signs in the heavens and upon the earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke,
Joe 2:31  the sun is turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה.
Joe 2:32  “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה shall be delivered1. For on Mount Tsiyon and in Yerushalayim there shall be an escape2 as יהוה has said, and among the survivors whom יהוה calls. Footnotes: 1Acts 2:21, Rom. 10:13. 2Isa. 4:2-3, Obad. v. 17, Rev. 14:1.

We may return in “one’s” but after we have humbled ourselves before YHVH, we shall gather as the congregation of the righteous when the shofar sounds.
Isa 27:12  And in that day it shall be that יהוה threshes, from the channel of the River to the wadi of Mitsrayim. And you shall be gathered one by one1, O children of Yisra’ĕl. Footnote: 1Jer. 3:14-15.
Isa 27:13  And in that day it shall be that a great horn is blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Ashshur and the outcasts in the land of Mitsrayim shall come, and shall worship יהוה on the set-apart mountain, in Yerushalayim.

Aliyah Rishon 16:1-13
Num 16:1  And Qoraḥ (Korach), son of Yitshar, son of Qehath, son of Lĕwi, took both Dathan and Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, and On, son of Peleth, sons of Re’uḇĕn,

The Torah reading starts with a verb  “vayikach Korach”- ‘Korach took’ what did not belong to him. “Vayikach comes from the root Hebrew word “lakach” which means to take. Note it was something taken and not given.
א  וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח, בֶּן-יִצְהָר בֶּן-קְהָת בֶּן-לֵוִי; וְדָתָן.....

Rebels are always “taking” YHVH’s true servants are always giving.

The Talmud states “Yakov had prayed not to be listed amongst Korah's ancestors in Genesis 49:6, where it is written, “Let my soul not come into their council; unto their assembly let my glory not be united.” “Let my soul not come into their council” referred to the spies, and “unto their assembly let my esteem not to be united” referred to Korah’s assembly. As the name Dathan in Numbers 16:1 derived from the same Hebrew root as the word “law” (dath), the Gemara deduced from Dathan’s name that he violated YHVH’s law. The Gemara related the name Abiram in Numbers 16:1 to the Hebrew word for “strengthened” (iber) and deduced from Abiram’s name that he stoutly refused to repent. The Gemara related the name On in Numbers 16:1 to the Hebrew word for “mourning” (aninut) and deduced from On’s name that he sat in lamentations. The Gemara related the name Peleth in Numbers 16:1 to the Hebrew word for “miracles” (pelaot) and deduced from Peleth’s name that YHVH performed wonders for him. And as the name Reuben derived from the Hebrew words “see” (reu) and “understand” (mavin), the Gemara deduced from the reference to On as a “son of Reuben” in Numbers 16:1 that On was a son who saw and understood. (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 109b.)’

The breeding ground for Korach’s rebellion was due to his jealousy over his younger cousin (Mosheh) who was appointed leader over him. How important it is to make sure that jealousy is banished from our hearts!
Levi had three sons – Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Kohath had four sons – Amram, Yitzhar, Chevron and Uziel.  Amram was the father of Moshe and Yitzar was the father of Korach. They were therefore cousins.
Num 16:2  and they rose up before Mosheh with some of the children of Yisra’ĕl, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, called ones of the meeting, men of name.

The gematria for the Hebrew word “rebellious” Strongs 4805 “meriy” (mem, reish,yud) equals 250.

מוֹעֵד, אַנְשֵׁי-שֵׁם

“Appointed men of name” These were not just ordinary men, they were well known and respected men that people looked up to.

Num 16:3  And they assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, and said to them, “Enough of you! (rav lachem) For all the congregation is set-apart, all of them, and יהוה is in their midst. Why then do you lift up yourselves above the assembly of יהוה?”

The rebellion of Korach was not just some sudden impulse, it had being coming  a long time , thus the words “rav lechem” or in other words “Moshe we have had enough of you…”

Korach knew that this kind of talk would be very appealing to some of the people of YHVH – sadly to this day this kind of talk still finds much appeal among many believers.
Many in Yisrael believed they did not need to be under Moshe’s authority. Today is no different.
Korach and his followers introduced a spirit of defiance to the obedience to the Torah and to Moshe that exists until this day.

The message of this Torah portion is a very somber reminder that no one dares exalts him or herself above the authority of Moshe. When we stubbornly hold views that are contrary to Torah we chip away and erode the very pillars of truth that keep us and this entire world in one piece.
Not even Yahshua the Messiah contradicted a word that Moshe received from YHVH.

Mat 5:17  “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete. Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures.
Mat 5:18  “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 16:17.
Mat 5:19  “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.

Heb 10:28  Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. (disregarded – aorist tense – implies past action with ongoing influence*)
Heb 10:29  How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour?

“It is not accurate to say the Aorist Participle properly denotes past time.” See http://www.ntgreek.net/lesson33.htm

It is in the Torah that we find the detailed teaching of the blood covenant and system of offerings. Yahshua did not come to do away with any of these teachings but came to fulfil them.
These blood covenant teachings form the very basis of our understanding of how our redemption is being made perfect in us through Yahshua.
When Yahshua returns all these offering will be restored and as we partake in them in the right spirit, our identification and life in Messiah will grow deeper and deeper until we are perfectly conformed into his image.
When you trample underfoot the blood of the covenant you treat lightly or ignore the significance of a restored Temple Service and insult the very way of redemption and restoration that YHVH has given to mankind to come into a right relationship with Himself again. See Ps 11:3

We need to pay very careful attention to everything Moshe taught us. If we don’t believe Moshe we deceive ourselves if we say we believe in Yahshua.

Joh 5:45  “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Mosheh, in whom you have set your expectation.
Joh 5:46  “For if you believed Mosheh, you would have believed Me, since he wrote about Me.
Joh 5:47  “But if you do not believe his writings,1 how shall you believe My words?” Footnote: 1Lk. 9:33, Lk. 16:31, Mal. 4:4-5.

Today this applies to both Jews and Gentiles/Christians.

Moshe was given a position of spiritual authority that no other sinful man has ever been given on earth - …

A lot of people are saying stuff about YHVH and Messiah that Moshe never said – that is rebellion.
Rebellion is the highest form of idolatry. Therefore many who are His servants are rebels and idolaters.

Num 16:4  And when Mosheh heard, he fell on his face, (he must have realized how very, very serious this situation was going to become)
Num 16:5  and spoke to Qoraḥ and all his company,(“kol adato” - all of his congregation, including future generations) saying, “Tomorrow morning (in the dawning of a new day) יהוה shall make known who is His and who is set-apart, and bring him near to Him. And let Him bring near to Him the one whom He chooses. (Moshe was implying that only one of the parties was  going to survive)

Apparently, the original meaning of the root – “bakar” בקר  is "to cleave, to split" (and is related to the similar בקע). Boker meaning morning derives, according to Klein, from "the breaking through of daylight".
This is possibly pointing prophetically to a future day in the last days prior to Yahshua’s return – the dawning of the day – where this age will be finally separated “split” from the age to come or the millennial reign of Messiah.
There is coming another “boker” or day where there once again will be a separation between sheep and sheep.

Eze 34:17  ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am judging between sheep and sheep

Perhaps this issue of whose worship and service is acceptable to YHVH will be finally determined in the last days. Perhaps many will repent and change their ways before that great terrible day of YHVH –see Joel 2

We need to clearly understand that the Torah is trying to tell us very, very clearly that a CHALLENGE to the authority of the Torah and its importance for mankind WILL NOT GO UNSETTLED.

Yeshayahu/Isa 24:1  See, יהוה is making the earth empty and making it waste, and shall overturn its surface, and shall scatter abroad its inhabitants.
Isa 24:3  the earth is completely emptied and utterly plundered, for יהוה has spoken this word.
Isa 24:5  For the earth has been defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the Torot1, changed2 the law, broken the everlasting covenant3. Footnotes: 1Torot - plural of Torah, teaching. 2Jer. 23:36. 3This is the only reason, according to all Scriptures, why the earth shall be burned in the day of judgment – see also 13:9, 13:11, 26:21, 66:24, Mic. 5:15, Zeph. 1:2-18.

Bemidbar/Num 16:6  “Do this: Take fire holders, Qoraḥ and all your company,

Is it possible that this verse speaks of the fire of an end time judgment?  This seems to coincide with the prophecy of Joel 2 – the final outpouring of the Ruach is given to bring us back to the restoration of Torah. Torah was given on Shavuot before – Torah may be given one last time on Shavuot in the last days.

The Hebrew word for “fire holder” is Strongs 4288 “machtah” this word is very closely related to Strongs 4289 “mechitah” which means destruction.

He who has an ear to listen let them hear what the Ruach (Spirit) is saying here. All of us have been created with a desire to WORSHIP. WHAT AND HOW WE WORSHIP CAN EITHER BRING US LIFE OR DESTRUCTION.

What and how you worship can cause your destruction.

Yahshua himself very clearly taught that the honour and worship were to go to his Father – YHVH (Yahveh).

Yahshua said: Yochanan/Joh 4:23  “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him.

Listen carefully what the prophet says:

Yirmeyahu/Jer 2:13  “For My people have done two evils: they have forsaken Me, (YHVH) the fountain of living waters1, to hew out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns, which do not hold water. Footnote: 1See 17:13.

Jer 5:30  “An astounding and horrible matter has come to be in the land:
Jer 5:31  The prophets have prophesied falsely1, and the priests rule by their own hand, and My people have loved it so.2 And what are you going to do at the end of it? Footnotes: 1See 27:14,15. 2Isa. 30:10, 2 Tim. 4:3.

Num 16:7  and put fire in them and put incense in them before יהוה tomorrow. And it shall be that the one whom יהוה chooses is the set-apart one. Enough of you, sons of Lĕwi!” (rav lachem)
Num 16:8  And Mosheh said to Qoraḥ, “Hear now, you sons of Lĕwi:
Num 16:9  “Is it little to you that the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl has separated you from the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, to bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the Dwelling Place of יהוה, and to stand before the congregation to serve them,
Num 16:10  and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brothers, the sons of Lĕwi, with you? Yet you seek the priesthood as well?
Num 16:11  “Therefore you and all your company are set against יהוה. And Aharon, what is he that you grumble against him?”
Num 16:12  And Mosheh sent to call Dathan and Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, but they said, “We are not coming up!
Num 16:13  “Is it little that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you would also seize total rule over us?

Take note of the tragic downward spiral of those who become rebellious to YHVH’s authority. They become ungrateful and become devoid of reasoning in a sensible fashion.

Rom 1:20  For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse,
Rom 1:21  because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22  Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Tragically today many Christians and Messianics claim that Yahshua created the earth and that Yahshua is a pre existent, self existent deity like his Father YHVH.
When we look up at the starry heavens and night and begin to praise and worship Yahshua as their creator and our creator – we have become blasphemers and the truth is not in us.
All of creation was made for Yahshua but not by Yahshua.

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.

Take note of the mistranslation of the KJV of the same verse.

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

This kind of talking is inspired by the spirit of Korach. It is saying we will present the true picture of who Yahshua is. We will not allow Moshe to prescribe to us how and who we may worship.

Aliyah Sheni 16:14-19
Num 16:14  “Also, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you bore out the eyes of these men? We are not coming up!”

Maybe similar words will be once again uttered by disgruntled returnees to Israel in the last days.

Num 16:15  And Mosheh became very displeased, and said to יהוה, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I done harm to any of them.”
Num 16:16  Then Mosheh said to Qoraḥ, “Tomorrow, you and all your company shall be there before יהוה, you and they and Aharon.

“tomorrow” Hebrew “machar” can also mean at a “future time.”

Num 16:17  “And take each one his fire holder, and you shall put incense in it. And let each one bring his fire holder before יהוה, two hundred and fifty fire holders, and you and Aharon, each one with his fire holder.”
Num 16:18  So each one took his fire holder, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Mosheh and Aharon.
Num 16:19  And Qoraḥ assembled all the congregation against them at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Then the esteem of יהוה appeared to all the congregation.

Aliyah Shlishi 16:20-43
Num 16:20  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, and to Aharon, saying,
Num 16:21  “Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.”
Num 16:22  But they fell on their faces, and said, “O Ěl, Elohim of the spirits of all flesh! When one man sins, are You wroth with all the congregation?”

We are to separate ourselves from those who are determined to undermine the authority of the Torah.

Num 16:23  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 16:24  “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Move away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram.’ ”
Num 16:25  So Mosheh rose up and went to Dathan and Aḇiram, and the elders of Yisra’ĕl followed him.
Num 16:26  And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Please turn away from the tents of these wrong men! Do not touch whatever belongs to them, lest you be consumed in all their sins.”
Num 16:27  Then they moved away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram. And Dathan and Aḇiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

Dathan in Hebrew means “law” and Abiram means “strength” combined in the context of this narrative, we assume that that there was a strength or stubbornness to resist the law of YHVH.
We see this idea supported by the use of the word “stood” in vs 27 “natzav” which can also mean to “stand erect” in defiance.
We must assume that there are times when people have so hardened their hearts against the Torah of YHVH, and they refuse to change their minds. There is a danger of this phenomenon in the so called “grace only movements” of our day.

Num 16:28  And Mosheh said, “By this you know that יהוה has sent me to do all these works, that they are not from my own heart.
Num 16:29  “If these die as all men do, or if they are visited as all men are visited, then יהוה has not sent me.

We must recognize that YHVH could not allow this kind of rebellion to go unchallenged, if He did it would have given the message that the exodus out of Mitrayim/Egypt, the giving of the Torah and the journey to the Promised Land, were all because of the initiative of Moshe and not YHVH’s direct instruction and involvement.

Num 16:30  “But if יהוה creates what is unheard of, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you shall know that these men have scorned יהוה.”
Num 16:31  And it came to be, as he ended speaking all these words, that the ground under them split apart,
Num 16:32  and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Qoraḥ, with all their goods.
Num 16:33  So they and all those with them went down alive into the grave, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Num 16:34  And all Yisra’ĕl who were round about them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
Num 16:35  And a fire came out from יהוה and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.
Num 16:36  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 16:37  “Say to Elʽazar, son of Aharon the priest, to pick up the fire holders out of the blaze, for they are set-apart, and scatter the fire some distance away.
Num 16:38  “The fire holders of these men who sinned against their own lives, let them be made into beaten plates as a covering for the altar. Because they brought them before יהוה, therefore they are set-apart. And let them become a sign to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
Num 16:39  And Elʽazar the priest took the bronze fire holders, which those who were burned up had brought, and they were beaten out as a covering on the altar –

These fire holders were set apart, because the original intention was to bring worship. However we know that it was not in spirit and in truth (Jn4:23).

This should be a serious warning that worship is one of the set apart activities we can participate in.
Our worship can be compared to building an altar in the spiritual realm. All altars point to the life and ministry of Yahshua. Our worship and altars should therefore reflect the same value and purpose that Yahshua came to show us – bringing us into harmony and oneness with YHVH.
Our worship and the altars we build in our lives will therefore bring blessing or judgment upon our lives.

Num 16:40  a remembrance to the children of Yisra’ĕl that no stranger who is not of the seed of Aharon, should come near to offer incense before יהוה, and not be like Qoraḥ and his company – as יהוה had said to him through Mosheh.
Num 16:41  But all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl grumbled against Mosheh and against Aharon on the next day, saying, “You, you have killed the people of יהוה.”
Num 16:42  And it came to be, when the congregation assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, that they turned toward the Tent of Meeting. And see, the cloud covered it, and the esteem of יהוה appeared.
Num 16:43  And Mosheh and Aharon came before the Tent of Meeting.

Aliyah Reviee 16:44-50
Num 16:44  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 16:45  “Arise from amidst this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
Num 16:46  So Mosheh said to Aharon, “Take the fire holder and put fire in it from the altar, and lay incense on, and go, hurry to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from יהוה, the plague has begun.”
Num 16:47  And Aharon took it as Mosheh commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly, and saw that the plague had begun among the people. And he laid on the incense and made atonement for the people,
Num 16:48  and stood between the dead and the living. And the plague was stopped.
Num 16:49  And those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died on account of Qoraḥ.
Num 16:50  Then Aharon returned to Mosheh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped.

Our response to our brother’s rebellion and refusal to submit to YHVH’s Torah should also be one of falling on our faces and interceding for our rebellious brothers. May we who are discovering our Hebraic roots also become serious intercessors for our brothers before it becomes too late.


Additional information on the blood moons. 


There were 2 Blood moons in 2014 (on Pesach and on Sukkot)


There will soon be a solar eclipse (20 March 2015)


Two Blood moons to come with Pesach and Sukkot again.


(There are many different sites on the Blood moons)

1/02/2015

Parashat 37 Portion 111 B’Midbar/Numbers 15:1-41 Yesh/Isaiah 56:1-8 Gal 3:24-29


Isa 56:1  Thus said יהוה, “Guard right-ruling, and do righteousness, for near is My deliverance to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Isa 56:2  “Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it,guarding the Sabbath lest he profane it, and guarding his hand from doing any evil.

Isa 56:6  “Also the sons of the foreigner who join Themselves  to יהוה, to serve Him, and to love the Name of יהוה, to be His servants, all who guard the Sabbath, and not profane it, and hold fast to My covenant – Isa 56:7 them I shall bring to My set-apart mountain, and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their slaughterings are accepted on My altar, for My house is called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

Gal 3:24  Therefore the Torah became our trainer(pedagogos) unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by belief. Gal 3:25 And after belief has come, we are no longer under a trainer.

The “pedagogos” was a Greek term used for a boy who brought a student to school to be taught by the teacher.
If we are not brought to the Torah to be taught an understanding of the foundation of Messiah and the righteousness which YHVH provides through our complete identification with Messiah; then we will always remain spiritually immature and ignorant of YHVH and His ways. Many in the church have been allowed a partial glimpse of Messiah without the Torah, through the mercy of YHVH. However this ignorance will no longer be overlooked in the last days.  See Acts 17:30 and Rom 10:4

This week’s Torah portion is laid out in a very systematic way:

1Offerings made when one enters the land – vs 1-12
2. Responsibilities and duties regarding Converts – 13-16
3. Separation of the bread or challah offering as a permanent practice – 17-21
4. Delineation between intentional and unintentional transgressions, both corporately and 
 individually and the manner in which restitution may be made, or the penalty of “karat” 
being cut off and when the death penalty is applied – 22 -31.
5.An example of a specific case of how the death penalty is applied for intentional sin – 32-36.
6. Mitzvah or commandment of Tzit – tzit or fringes is  to be kept – 37-41

1.    Offerings made when one enters the land – vs 1-12

Num 15:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 15:2  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When you have come into the land of your dwellings(moshavim), which I am giving you,
Num 15:3  and you make an offering by fire to יהוה, a burnt offering or a slaughtering, to accomplish a vow or as a voluntary offering or in your appointed times, to make a sweet fragrance to יהוה, from the herd or the flock,

Before you can make an offering you need to build an altar – So one of the first things the Israelites do when they enter into the land is build altars to make offerings.
Now the Israelites could not just build altars where and how they felt like it.

Deu 12:11  “And it shall be, that unto the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell there, there you are to bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your offerings, and your tithes, and the contributions of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to יהוה.

Altars were often built when YHVH confirmed His covenant and made His presence known to His people. However if an Israelite stayed too far from Yerushalayim or the place designated by YHVH for an offering, they could then build altars within their gates.

           Deu 12:21  “When the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to put His Name is too far from you, then you shall slaughter from your herd and from your flock which יהוה  has given you, as I have commanded you, and you shall eat within your gates as much as your being desires.

Israelites had a rich heritage of building altars, pitching tents and digging wells.

Gen 26:24  And יהוה appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the Elohim of your father Aḇraham. Do not fear, for I am with you, and shall bless you and increase your seed for My servant Aḇraham’s sake.” Gen 26:25  And he built an altar there, and called on the Name of יהוה, and he pitched his tent there, and the servants of Yitsḥaq dug a well there.

The second writings describe true believers as stones from which altars are built.

1Pe 2:4  Drawing near to Him, a living Stone(lithos) – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious
1Pe 2:5  you also, as living stones,(lithos) are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.

Note in the above verse that believers are compared to the living stones of an altar as well – a life so yielded to YHVH that spiritual offerings could be made,

Peter goes on to describe that these stones(Gk – lithos) would be like stumbling stones and rocks of offense.

1Pe 2:8  and “A stone(lithos) of stumbling and a rock that makes for falling,” (stumbling or an occasion for apostacy)who stumble because they are disobedient2 to the Word, to which they also were appointed. Footnotes: 1Isa. 8:14. 2See John 3:36, Heb. 3:18.

Examine the prophetic words that inspired Peter to write the above quoted words.

Isa 8:14  “And He shall be for a set-apart place, but a stone of stumbling and a rock that makes for falling to both the houses of Yisra’ĕl, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. Isa 8:15  “And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken and snared and taken.”
Isa 8:16  Bind up the witness, seal the Torah among my taught ones. Isa 8:17  And I shall wait on יהוה, who hides His face from the house of Yaʽaqoḇ. And I shall look for Him.

Yisrael, Messiah, offerings, altars the Torah are all connected, if we fail to see their connectedness we fail to enter into the righteousness ordained for us by YHVH.

Joh 3:36  “He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim remains on him.” (You cannot believe without obeying)

Heb 3:18  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest, but to those who did not obey?

These kinds of living stones cannot be fashioned by man – no tool was allowed to fashion them. They were not to look alike like men and woman fashioned to be the same by manmade religion.

Exo 20:25  ‘And if you make Me an altar of stone, do not build it of cut stone, for if you use your chisel (cherev)on it, you have profaned it.

“Hebrew חרב(cherev) which most literaly means 'sword'.
Rashi here explains that a sword is designed to shorten life, while an altar is designed to lengthen life by being used to achieve atonement. It makes sense, therefore, that one should not be used in the formation of the other.”

Pagans built altars out of bricks – manmade religion creates these bricks to force as many as they can to conform to their idolatrous understanding of YHVH and His Word.

Let us examine the kinds of offering presented on these altars:

ג  וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה, עֹלָה אוֹ-זֶבַח, לְפַלֵּא-נֶדֶר אוֹ בִנְדָבָה, אוֹ בְּמֹעֲדֵיכֶם--לַעֲשׂוֹת רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ, לַיהוָה, מִן-הַבָּקָר, אוֹ מִן-הַצֹּאן.
3 and will make an offering by fire unto  YHVH, a burnt-offering(ascent offering), or a slaughter offering, in fulfilment of a vow – “neder” beyond your ability (“pala”), or as a freewill-offering, or in your appointed seasons, to make a tranquilizing (“nichoach”) fragrance (“reiach”)unto YHVH, of the herd, or of the flock;
  1. First of all the offerings were to be burned by fire. The very nature of true spirituality is the willingness to be totally consumed for the honour and esteem of YHVH and His Truth.

Rom 12:1  I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. Rom 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim

  1.  The “olah” was an ascent offering – This seems to always be the first kind of slaughter offering mentioned in the Torah and the other offerings flow from this burnt offering. While the burnt offering was been totally consumed on the flames the worshipper bringing the offering must have had an opportunity to deeply reflect on the presence and greatness of YHVH. This must have made him aware of his desire to be closer to YHVH but also the great distance that still needed to be overcome between himself and his Creator. This realization could give rise to the next kind of offering – the vow offering.

  1.  The vow offering – appears at least 6 times in the Torah and is referred to as the “lephale neder” or “the promise you make to YHVH that you do not have the ability to keep.”  The very nature of this promise or vow that we make is that when we make it we confidently assume that He has promised us that He will enable and empower us to keep it. So for example we vow to YHVH that we will be right before Him because in Yahshua this will happen. We will not always make excuses for our disobedience because we are confident that as we find our true identity and restoration in Messiah we will be enabled to keep all His commandments and walk in a perfect manner before Him.

 We are not saved by our perfect obedience –  we have been saved by the favour or grace of YHVH through the blood of Messiah, to be enabled to walk perfectly before Him.

Jud 1:24  Now to Him being able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you before His esteem without blemish, with unspeakable joy..

YHVH has promised us this so when we make a “lepahle neder” to Him – We also promise YHVH that we believe He will make our “lepahle neder” or vow to be perfect before Him, good.
This does not mean that YHVH just turns His eye away from our sin – He enables us in Messiah never to sin again. By the end of the Millenium we will be so infused with Messianic life and fragrance that we will be incapable of sinning before YHVH and one another. On the “Eighth Day” we will once again enter into the perfect state of original creation.
Churchman have tried to deceive us by believing this state actually exists in the present time and have built an entire theological doctrine of bondage around this idea. This state does exist in the present time for YHVH but it is becoming a progressive reality for us.

  1. A slaughter offering that was made as a free will offering – “nidavah”. This kind of offering was more a kind of offering that we could make that was not beyond our ability to make. To promise to be righteous before YHVH is an offering beyond our ability. However a promise or vow to be obedient to the commandments and to be kind and generous to others and to serve YHVH faithfully is not beyond our ability.

Deu 30:11  “For this command which I am commanding you today, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far off. Deu 30:12 “It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ Deu 30:13  “Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ Deu 30:14  “For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it. Deu 30:15  “See, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil, Deu 30:16  in that I am commanding you today to love יהוה your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands, and His laws, and His right-rulings. And you shall live and increase, and יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in the land which you go to possess.

  1. Offerings  were also made at the Appointed Times – Moedim. See Lev/Vayikra 23. Once again these were not optional offerings, they were commanded to all generations. Sadly while there is no temple and we are not in the land of Yisrael – we will not be able to do the offerings. However we can and must still keep the Appointed Times without the offerings (the Feasts (Chaggim) of YHVH).

Lev 23:2  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘The appointed times of יהוה, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times, are these….. – a law forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

Specific offerings were given for each Appointment – Moed. See Numbers/B’Midbar 28.

Num 28:2  “Command the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them, ‘Take heed to bring My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet fragrance to Me, at their appointed time (moed).’

Num 15:4  then he who brings near his offering to יהוה shall bring near a grain offering of one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil,
Num 15:5  and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering you prepare with the burnt offering or the slaughtering, for each lamb.
Num 15:6  ‘Or for a ram you prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with one-third of a hin of oil,
Num 15:7  and as a drink offering you bring one-third of a hin of wine as a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num 15:8  ‘And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering, or as a slaughtering to accomplish a vow, or as a peace offering to יהוה,
Num 15:9  then shall be brought with the young bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil,
Num 15:10  and bring as the drink offering half a hin of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num 15:11  ‘This is what is done for each young bull, for each ram, or for each lamb or young goat.
Num 15:12  ‘According to the number that you prepare, so you do for each one according to their number.

Listen to the heart of Paul:

Php 2:17  In fact, even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the offering and service of your belief, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

2Ti 4:6  For I am already being poured out, and the time of my departure has arrived.

2. Responsibilities and duties regarding Converts – 13-16

Num 15:13  ‘Let all who are native do so with them, in bringing near an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num 15:14  ‘And when a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would make an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה, as you do, so he does.
Num 15:15  ‘One law is for you of the assembly and for the stranger who sojourns with you – a law forever throughout your generations. As you are, so is the stranger before יהוה.
Num 15:16  ‘One Torah and one right-ruling is for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.’

 3.   Separation of the bread or challah offering as a permanent practice – 17-21

Num 15:17  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 15:18  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When you come into the land to which I bring you,
Num 15:19  then it shall be, when you eat of the bread of the land, that you present a contribution to יהוה.
Num 15:20  ‘Present a cake of the first of your dough as a contribution – as a contribution of the threshing-floor you present it.

This first cake is called a “challa” in Hebrew and means a pierced bread. The Hebrew word “chalal” means to pierce and is also found in Yeshayahu 53:5 ” he was pierced (chalal) for our transgressions and crushed for our depravities” This makes us continually mindful of our Messiah who is the only one who can lead us and establish us in the Kingdom of YHVH.

Num 15:21  ‘Of the first of your dough you are to give to יהוה a contribution throughout your generations.

4.    Delineation between intentional and unintentional transgressions, both corporately and individually and the manner in which restitution may be made, or the penalty of “karat” being cut off, or the death penalty is applied – 22 -31.

Num 15:22  ‘And when you sin by mistake, and do not do all these commands which יהוה has spoken to Mosheh,
Num 15:23  all that יהוה has commanded you by the hand of Mosheh, from the day יהוה gave command and onward throughout your generations,
Num 15:27  ‘And if a being sins by mistake, then he shall bring a female goat a year old as a sin offering.
Num 15:28  ‘And the priest shall make atonement for the being who strays by mistake, when he sins by mistake before יהוה, to make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
Num 15:29  ‘For him who does whatever by mistake there is one Torah, both for him who is native among the children of Yisra’ĕl and for the stranger who sojourns in their midst.
Num 15:30  ‘But the being who does whatever defiantly,(“beyad rama”- with a high hand) whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles יהוה, and that being shall be cut off from among his people. (Heb 10:28)
Num 15:31  ‘Because he has despised the word of יהוה, and has broken His command, that being shall certainly be cut off, his crookedness is upon him.’ ”

“Beyad rama” or sinning intentionally implies sinning without remorse or repentance. To continue with
something you know is wrong with no willingness to turn from the transgression as well as a determination to
continue in that transgression. There is no forgiveness from such rebellion except deep repentance if YHVH so chooses to grant such repentance. Remember repentance is a gift.

“Beyad rama” reminds us of the uplifted arm with a clenched fist which has become the international symbol of defiance and resistance to real or perceived injustice.
The greatest freedom fighter of all time bears the scars of a nail pierced hand.

5.       An example of a specific case of how the death penalty is applied for intentional sin – 32-36.

Num 15:32  And while the children of Yisra’ĕl were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.
Num 15:33  And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Mosheh and to Aharon, and to all the congregation.
Num 15:34  And they put him in under guard, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.
Num 15:35  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “The man shall certainly be put to death, all the congregation stoning him with stones outside the camp.”
Num 15:36  And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, as יהוה commanded Mosheh, and he died.

Continual rebellion against the commandments including the Sabbath proves that a person has chosen to remain outside the covenant YHVH  and has no right to be part of the covenant community of YHVH.

Maybe one of the worst forms of defiance and rebellion is lifting up your hands to worship
YHVH every Sunday year after year believing that YHVH is impressed or even accepts
such worship.

Open and continual rebellion and defiance against YHVH and His Torah defiles more and more people every day – YHVH will soon severely judge such rebellion.

6.    Mitzvah or commandment of Tzit – tzit or fringes is to be kept – 37-41

Num 15:37  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 15:38  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them to make tzitziyot1 on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit1 of the corners. Footnote: 1See Explanatory notes - “Tzitzit” - plural Tzitziyot.
Num 15:39  “And it shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of יהוה and shall do them, and not search after your own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring,
Num 15:40  so that you remember, and shall do all My commands, and be set-apart unto your Elohim.
Num 15:41  “I am יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. I am יהוה your Elohim.”


When looking at the fringes we remember all the commandments and refrain from following the temptations of the heart. (See our article on Tzitzit (Tzitziyot-plural) under the “Pages” on the right hand side of this BLOG)