Parashat 48 Portion 160 ‘’Shoftim’’Deut 17:14-18:19 Is 33:22-34:8

Baruch atah, YHVH Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu laasok b’divrei Torah.

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 – Amein

אשׂימה עלי מלך – I will recruit over me a king

Deu 17:14  “When you come to the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, and shall possess (יָרֵשׁ) it and shall dwell in it, and you shall say, ‘Let me set a sovereign over me like all the nations that are around me,’ יָרֵשׁ A primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin: - cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess.

 

Note the irony and tragedy of this opening verse – YHVH blesses His people with an inheritance by driving out a people that don’t belong there. Then YHVH’s people have the cheek to thank Him by telling Him ‘’we prefer to be ruled by a king of our own choosing’’.

 

1Sa 8:5  and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a sovereign to rule us like all the nations.” 

1Sa 8:6  But the word was evil in the eyes of Shemu’ěl when they said, “Give us a sovereign to rule us.” So Shemu’ěl prayed to יהוה. 

1Sa 8:7  And יהוה said to Shemu’ěl, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them. 

1Sa 8:8  “According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Mitsrayim, even to this day – forsaking Me and serving other mighty ones – so they are doing to you too. 

1Sa 8:9  “And now, listen to their voice, but you shall certainly warn them, and shall make known to them the ruling of the sovereign who does reign over them.” (he will tax you and send your sons to war. Force you to work on his farms and manufacture weapons - 1 Sam 8:10-13)

 

Deu 17:15  you shall certainly set a sovereign over you whom יהוה your Elohim shall choose. Set a sovereign over you from among your brothers, you are not allowed to set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 

 

Jer 33:20  “Thus said יהוה, ‘If you could break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there be not day and night in their season, 

Jer 33:21  then My covenant could also be broken with Dawiḏ My servant – so that he shall not have a son (singular) to reign upon his throne – and with the Lěwites, the priests, My attendants. 

Jer 33:22  As the host of the heavens is not counted, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I increase the descendants of Dawiḏ My servant and the Lěwites who attend upon Me.’ ” 

 

Yahshua was the son of David – the King Messiah who lives forever and ever –

Rev 17:14  “They shall fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Master of masters  and Sovereign of sovereigns. And those with Him are called, and chosen, and trustworthy.” 

 

Php 2:5  For, let this mind be in you which was also in Messiah יהושע, 

Php 2:6  who, being in the form of Elohim, did not regard equality with Elohim a matter to be grasped, 

Php 2:7  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and came to be in the likeness of men. 

Php 2:8  And having been found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, death even of a stake. 

Php 2:9  Elohim, therefore, has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, 

Php 2:10  that at the Name of יהושע every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 

Php 2:11  and every tongue should confess Isa_45:23 that יהושע Messiah is Master, to the esteem of Elohim the Father. 

 

Isa 33:22  for יהוה is our Judge, יהוה is our Inscriber,  מחקקנו יהוה is our Sovereign, He saves us – 

 

Isa 49:16  “See, I have inscribed  מרחוק  you on the palms of My hands; your walls are always before Me. 

 

The haftarah portion is added to clearly state that no other mighty one has the right to ‘’inscribe’’ you in the palm of their hands – we only have ONE legal owner.

 

‘’The idea of the Messiah's name being inscribed in the palm of God's hand is represented by the phrase "Behold, I have engraved you (singular) on the palms of my hands,"

 

Judgment on the Nations

Isa 34:1  Come near, you nations, to hear. And listen, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world and all its offspring. 

Isa 34:2  For the displeasure of יהוה is against all the nations,a and His wrath against all their divisions. He shall put them under the ban, He shall give them over to the slaughter, Footnote: aSee footnote Jer_30:11. 

Isa 34:3  and their slain be thrown out, and their stench rise from their corpses. And mountains shall be melted with their blood. 

Isa 34:4  And all the host of the heavens shall rot away. And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll, and all their host fade like a leaf fading on the vine, and like the fading one of a fig tree. 

Isa 34:5  “For My sword shall be drenched in the heavens. Look, it comes down on Eḏom, and on the people of My curse, for judgment. 

Isa 34:6  “The sword of יהוה shall be filled with blood, it shall be made overflowing with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For יהוה has a slaughtering in Botsrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Eḏom. 

Isa 34:7  “And wild oxen shall come down with them, and young bulls with bulls. And their land shall be drenched with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.” 

Isa 34:8  For it is the day of the vengeance of יהוה, the year of recompense for the cause of Tsiyon. 

 

Therefore no king or ruler must get ‘’too big for his boots’’ look at the tragic commentary of all the kings and Judges of Israel.

 

Deu 17:16  “Only, he is not to increase horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Mitsrayim to increase horses, for יהוה has said to you, ‘Do not return that way again.’ 

Deu 17:17  “And he is not to increase wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor is he to greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 

Deu 17:18  “And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his reign, that he shall write for himself a copy of this Torah in a book, from the one before the priests, the Lěwites. 

Deu 17:19  “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he learns to fear יהוה his Elohim and guard all the Words of this Torah and these laws, to do them, 

Deu 17:20  so that his heart is not lifted up above his brothers, and so as not to turn aside from the command, right or left, so that he prolongs his days in his reign, he and his children, in the midst of Yisra’ěl. 

 

Provision for Priests and Levites

 

When the only true and legitimate king of kings – Yahshua – son of David returns – He shall put in order His Master’s Kingdom – YHVH’s Kingdom to whom alone all things belong.

 

Deu 10:14  “See, the heavens and the heaven of heavens belong to יהוה your Elohim, also the earth with all that is in it. 

Deu 10:15  “יהוה delighted only in your fathers, to love them. And He chose their seed after them, you above all peoples,[a] as it is today. Footnote: aSee also Deu_7:6, Deu_14:2, Deu_26:18, Psa_135:4 and Amo 1:1-9:15. 

Deu 10:16  “And you shall circumcise the foreskin of your heart,[b] and harden your neck no more. Footnote: bSee also Deu_30:6-8, Rom_2:26-29 and 1Co_7:19. 

Deu 10:17  “For יהוה your Elohim is Elohim of mighty ones and Master of masters, the great Ěl, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 

Deu 10:18  “He executes right-ruling for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and a garment. 

 

According to the Torah YHVH has chosen the Levites (‘’Levi “joined to”) to join His people to Himself and bring restoration to mankind. When Yahshua returns He will make sure that every word and command in the Torah regarding YHVH’s chosen Levitical priesthood are carried out with no exception and no opposition. (Is 66:21; 1 Pet 2:9) ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש ועם סגלה

 

1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen race,b Deu_10:15 a royal priesthood,c Isa_61:6 a set-apart nation,d Exo_19:6 a people for a possession,e Isa_43:2 that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light, Footnotes: bAlso see Isa_43:20. cAlso see Isa_66:21. dAlso see Deu_7:6. eAlso see Exo_19:5, Tit_2:14.

 

Deu 18:1  “The priests, the Lěwites, all the tribe of Lěwi, have no part nor inheritance with Yisra’ěl. They are to eat the offerings of יהוה made by fire, and His inheritance. 

Deu 18:2  “But among his brothers Lěwi has no inheritance. יהוה is his inheritance, as He has spoken to him. Lev 25:32

Deu 18:3  “And this is the priest’s (Kohen) right from the people, from those who slaughter a slaughtering, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the stomach; 

Deu 18:4  the first-fruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you give to him. 

Deu 18:5  “For יהוה your Elohim has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to serve in the Name of יהוה, him and his sons forever. 

 

Jer 33:20  “Thus said יהוה, ‘If you could break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there be not day and night in their season, 

Jer 33:21  then My covenant could also be broken with Dawiḏ My servant – so that he shall not have a son to reign upon his throne – and with the Lěwites, the priests, My attendants. 

Jer 33:22  As the host of the heavens is not counted, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I increase the descendants of Dawiḏ My servant and the Lěwites who attend upon Me.’ ” 

 

Deu 18:6  “And when the Lěwite comes from one of your gates, from where he has sojourned among all Yisra’ěl, and shall come with all the desire of his being to the place which יהוה chooses, 

Deu 18:7  then he shall serve in the Name of יהוה his Elohim, like all his brothers the Lěwites, who are standing there before יהוה. 

Deu 18:8  “They are to have portion for portion to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance. (Levites were not like monks who had taken a vow of poverty)

Abominable Practices

Deu 18:9  “When you come into the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, do not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations.a Footnote: aSee footnote at Deu_12:30. 

Deu 18:10  “Let no one be found among you who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practises divination, or a user of magic, or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer, 

Deu 18:11  or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 

Deu 18:12  “For whoever does these is an abomination to יהוה, and because of these abominations יהוה your Elohim drives them out from before you. 

Deu 18:13  “Be perfect before יהוה your Elohim, 

Deu 18:14  for these nations whom you are possessing do listen to those using magic and to diviners. But as for you, יהוה your Elohim has not appointed such for you. 

A New Prophet like Mosheh

Deu 18:15  “יהוה your Elohim shall raise up for you a Prophetb like me from your midst, from your brothers. Listen to Him, Footnote: bSee footnote at Deu_18:18. 

Deu 18:16  according to all you asked of יהוה your Elohim in Ḥorěḇ in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of יהוה my Elohim, nor let me see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 

Deu 18:17  “And יהוה said to me, ‘What they have spoken is good. 

Deu 18:18  I shall raise up for them a Prophetc like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. Footnote: cSee also Act_3:22-26, and Act_7:37. 

Deu 18:19  And it shall be, the man who does not listen to My Words which He speaks in My Name, I require it of him. 

 

Act 3:23  ‘And it shall be that every being who does not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ Deu_18:15-19. 

Act 3:24  “And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Shemu’ěl and those following, have also announced these days. 

Act 3:25  “You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which Elohim made with our fathers, saying to Aḇraham, ‘And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.’ Gen_12:3, Gen_22:18, Gen_26:4.

 

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.

 

Parashat 48 Portion 159 ‘’Shoftim’’ Deut 16:18-17:17

 Baruch atah, YHVH Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu laasok b’divrei Torah.

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 – Amein.

שׁפטים ושׁטרים

Deu 16:18  “Appoint (תתן־לך) judges and officers within all your gates, which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, according to your tribes. And they shall judge the people with righteous right-ruling. 

Deu 16:19  “Do not distort right-ruling. Do not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 

Deu 16:20  “Follow righteousness, righteousness alone, צדק צדק  so that you live and inherit the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you. (no Robin Hoods)

 

The pursuit of righteousness must always follow the path He has prescribed, and none other.

 In modern Hebrew a magistrate is called a “shofet shalom” (justice of the peace) and a policeman is called a “shoter’’

“Even in the millennial kingdom of YHVH people will need guidance and correction and not always do what you expect but what you inspect.”  Why? His people will always have the responsibility to choose between right and wrong – always always always.

 

Forbidden Forms of Worship

Deu 16:21  “Do not plant for yourself any tree as an Ashěrah near the slaughter-place of יהוה your Elohim that you make for yourself. 

Deu 16:22  “And do not set up a pillar, which יהוה your Elohim hates.

 

‘’To plant an Asherah tree/pole beside the altar of YHVH meant that pagan worship was going to be combined with the worship of YHVH. This was tantamount to associating pagan fertility symbols with the worship of the one true Elohim. This was strictly prohibited, and if the priests failed to prevent this type of syncretism (mixing of religions), the judges and officials were tasked to enforce the law. Paganism often promoted through religious rituals and philosophies sought to establish an accompanying spiritual and moral authority to ‘’assist’’ YHVH – it often served as an alternative way of obtaining power, pleasure and prosperity in violation of YHVH’s instructions – often at the expense of others.

By setting this provision in this location, Moses seems to underscore the fundamental incompatibility between paganism and YHVH's governing system. This is likely because of the underlying goal of each system. Paganism fundamentally revolves around each person seeking to have their appetites and desires fulfilled at the expense of another. The deities' purpose is to provide a moral authority for human manipulation and exploitation. For example, the extreme sexual exploitation listed in Leviticus 18 was, in many cases, an integral part of pagan worship.’’

 

Some rabbis believe corrupt judges and police can be compared to ‘’Asherah or phallic” symbols.

This is a rather interesting association and deserves further consideration.

If one considers the history and evolution of religion and politics – there can be no doubt as to how corruption and evil have infiltrated and even dominated these two domains. The resultant destruction and defilement are clearly evident in societies and communities all over the world – promoted by secret societies and patronage networks.

 

To gain a deeper understanding to the context and application of this Torah portion we will quote an edited description by a Christian theologian of what life will be like during the millennium:

 

‘’During the Millennium, the glorified saints, with immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53), will rule and reign over the nations with an iron scepter (Revelation 2:26,27), along with Jesus (Yeh (Psalm 2:9), after they return with Him from heaven back to earth. (rapture)

Just prior to the onset of the Millennium, during God's day of vengeance, there will be a considerable reduction of the world's population, mainly due to the terrible Judgments found in the book of Revelation. But  people who enter the Millennium will reproduce just as people do now. Without the wars and continual deaths of people that take place now, the population of the earth will increase rapidly and substantially.

Many believe that there will be no sin during the Millennium. I completely disagree. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and death will be the final enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26). Not until the end of the Millennium will death be eliminated (Revelation 20:14).

During the Millennium, all rebellion and evil will be exposed and punished by Jesus and the glorified saints. Therefore, at that time, there will be much less motivation to sin—and, as a result, much less death—than there is in the world now.

Generally, the world will be a utopia. People all over the earth will go to the millennial Temple and Holy Mountain in Jerusalem to worship Jesus, and His Law will go out from Jerusalem throughout the whole world (Isaiah 2:2,3). All who acknowledge and embrace the rule of Jesus on His throne as King over the earth (Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 14:9), and who accept and obey His commandments, will be greatly blessed and prosperous. They will get along with each other just as the animals will (Isaiah 11:6-9). Throughout the earth, there will be great love for Jesus and for His wonderful compassion and benevolence.

Not everyone will love Him, though. Many will continue to have prideful hearts and will hate the Law and Word of the Lord that will go out from Zion/Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). It is people like these who will be deceived by Satan when he is released at the end of the Millennium; they will engage in a great rebellion but will be destroyed with fire from heaven (Revelation 20:7-9).’’ End quote.

 

NOTE: I personally do not agree with all that is stated in this article - but I think it is noteworthy that Christians display some amazing insight into last days events.

 

https://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/emails/Millennium2.html

 

So, where did things start going wrong?

 

To better understand where human beings went wrong and lost their way in this world – we need to go back to the beginning of time.

 

Gen 3:15  “And I put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed.

 

Note YHVH states the Eve’s seed and not Adam’s seed – scholars believe this is a clear indication of the virgin birth of Messiah. (not Adams seed, but Eve’s seed)

The same verse then also implies that Satan would also have ‘’seed’’ or offspring that will clash and even try to destroy Eve’s offspring. See Gen 6:1-8

 

A more important question would be – why did things go wrong?

 

Adam and Eve were given a choice to either be in a covenant with Life or a covenant with death.

This covenant with death persists to this day and is clearly evident in the world around us.

Adam and Eve did not have to enter into a covenant of death – but they did – and so did we.

 

Even after mans tragic fall YHVH still offers man a way back into His presence.

 

Mat 7:13  “Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it. 

Mat 7:14  “Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed[a] which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Footnote: aOr the way is afflicted. 

 

Why? – see the teaching of this Torah portion.

 

You cannot mix truth with lies and at  some time you will have to come out of religion.

 

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.[a\ Footnote: a Jer_51:6, Jer_51:9, Jer_51:45. Also see Jer_50:8, Jer_50:13, Jer_50:28. 

 

Deu 17:1  “Do not slaughter to יהוה your Elohim a bull or sheep which has any blemish, any evil matter, for that is an abomination to יהוה your Elohim. (give YHVH only your best)

Deu 17:2  “When there is found in your midst, in any of your cities which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the eyes of יהוה your Elohim, in transgressing His covenant, 

Deu 17:3  and has gone and served other mighty ones and bowed down to them, or to the sun or to the moon or to any of the host of the heavens, which I have not commanded, 

Deu 17:4  and it has been made known to you and you have heard, and have searched diligently. Then see, if true: the matter is confirmed that such an abomination has been done in Yisra’ěl, 

Deu 17:5  then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil matter, and you shall stone to death that man or woman with stones. 

Deu 17:6  “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he that is to die be put to death. He is not put to death by the mouth of one witness. 

Deu 17:7  “The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and the hand of all the people last. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 

Legal Decisions by Priests and Judges

Deu 17:8  “When any matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, or between stroke and stroke – matters of strife within your gates – then you shall rise and go up to the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses, 

Deu 17:9  and shall come to the priests, the Lěwites, and to the judge who is in those days, and shall inquire. And they shall declare to you the word of right-ruling, 

Deu 17:10  and you shall do according to the word which they declare to you from that place which יהוה chooses. And you shall guard to do according to all that they instruct you. 

Deu 17:11  “Do according to the Torah in which they teach you, according to the right-ruling which they say to you. You do not turn to the right or to the left from the word which they declare to you. 

Deu 17:12  “And the man who acts arrogantly, so as not to listen to the priest who stands to serve there before יהוה your Elohim, or to the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Yisra’ěl. 

Deu 17:13  “And let all the people hear and fear, and no longer do arrogantly. 

Laws Concerning Israel's Kings

Deu 17:14  “When you come to the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, and shall possess it and shall dwell in it, and you shall say, ‘Let me set a sovereign over me like all the nations that are around me,’ 

Deu 17:15  you shall certainly set a sovereign over you whom יהוה your Elohim shall choose. Set a sovereign over you from among your brothers, you are not allowed to set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 

Deu 17:16  “Only, he is not to increase horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Mitsrayim to increase horses, for יהוה has said to you, ‘Do not return that way again.’ 

Deu 17:17  “And he is not to increase wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor is he to greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 

 

When YHVH’s leaders fail to obey His instructions evil prevails over His people and over His Land.

 

Jos 11:22  There were none of the giants left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod there remained some. 

 

‘’The territorial spirit has never been deposed in that area.” In other words, while much of the ancient world was cleansed of these beings, Gaza stayed under the influence of what he calls a “demonic Nephilim spirit.”

This helps explain why forces have been at war with Israel since the nation’s reestablishment in 1948.’’ End quite (Even Yoshua/Joshua failed to obey YHVH)

 

We need a scriptural world view to escape the insanity and devastation that is about to come upon all mankind in these last days. We also need to understand and repent of our involvement in this coming destruction – no one is innocent. Where did it all go wrong?

An evil and perverse spirit accompanied by man’s desire to determine his own destiny in life is at the core of mankind’s downfall. HaSatan successfully convinced man that he could live a blessed life on earth without being in a dedicated covenant with YHVH alone. In fact, man has always been encouraged to seek ‘’additional’’ sources of blessings, pleasure and prosperity outside of a single devoted covenant with YHVH. Human religion and alignment with false teachers and evil spirits have always provided a rich supply of such opportunities – which all of mankind have eagerly and enthusiastically embraced – you and I included.

Jer 2:4  Hear the word of יהוה, O house of Ya‛aqoḇ and all the clans of the house of Yisra’ěl. 

Jer 2:5  Thus said יהוה, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? 

Jer 2:13  “For My people have done two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,[c] to hew out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns, which do not hold water. Footnote: cSee Jer_17:13. 

Jer 5:30  “An astounding and horrible matter has come to be in the land: 

Jer 5:31  The prophets have prophesied falsely, and the priests rule by their own hand, and My people have loved it so. And what are you going to do at the end of it?  

 

שׁפטים ושׁטרים

Deu 16:18  “Appoint judges and officers within all your gates, which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, according to your tribes. And they shall judge the people with righteous right-ruling. 

Deu 16:19  “Do not distort right-ruling. Do not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 

Deu 16:20  “Follow righteousness, righteousness alone, צדק צדק  so that you live and inherit the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you. 

 

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.

Parashat 47 Portion 158 ‘’Re eh’’ Deut 15:7-16:17 Mat 23:23

 Baruch atah, YHVH Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu laasok b’divrei Torah.

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

Some believers refer to this Torah portion as ‘’dealing with the “weightier matters of the Torah’’

Mat 23:23  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint and the anise and the cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah: the (right-ruling – Heb. ‘’mishpatim’’) and the compassion and the belief.d These need to have been done, without neglecting the others. Footnote: dThe wording in Luk_11:42 is somewhat different. 

כי־יהיה בך אביון when there is with you a needy person….

15:7  In case there should be among you a needy אביוןperson, one of your brothers within one of your gates in your land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving to you, you shall neither make your heart rigid nor shut your hand from your needy  אביון brother. 8 Rather you shall open, yea open your hand to him and let him give security, yea security מַחְסוֹר sufficient for his lack that is lacking to him. (not a free handout – מַחְסוֹר – to pawn until the shmittah)

Deu 15:8  כי־פתח תפתח את־ידך לו והעבט תעביטנו די מחסרו אשׁר יחסר לו׃

Deu 15:9  “Be on guard lest there be a thought of Beliya‛al in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is near,’ and your eye is evil against your poor brother and you give him naught. And he shall cry out to יהוה against you, and it shall be a sin in you. 

‘’Beliyaal’’ also means to “seek profit through wickedness” revealing the true condition of our hearts.

Sadly, to this day most believers fail to embrace and obey YHVH’s laws.

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/sabbatical-year-to-commence-with-start-of-new-year-with-involvement-of-thousands-of-farmers-376064

https://www.gov.il/en/pages/pigs-health

Rom 2:24  For “The Name of Elohim is blasphemed among the nations because of you,” Isa_52:5 as it has been written. 

Deu 15:10  “You shall certainly give to him, נתון תתן and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, בתתך because for this reason יהוה your Elohim does bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 

Deu 15:11  “Because the poor one does not cease from the land. Therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall certainly open your hand to your brother, to your poor and to your needy one, in your land.’ 

11 Since the needy אביון shall not leave off from being within the land, therefore I am instructing you, saying:You shall open, yea open your hand פתח תפתח to your brother, to your humble and to your needy in your land. 12 In case your brother should be sold to you, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, who has served you six years, then in the seventh year you shall dismiss him from you free. 13 And when you dismiss him from you free you shall not send him away empty-handed. 14 העניק תעניק ,(richly supply him) You shall furnish, yea furnish him some from your flock from your threshing site and from your wine vat; just as Yahweh your Elohim has blessed you shall you give to him. 15 Remember that you had become a servant in the country of Egypt, and Yahweh your Elohim ransomed you. Therefore I am instructing you to obey this word today. 

16 But it may be that he says to you:I shall not go forth from you, since he loves you and your household because it was well for him with you. 17 Then you take an awl and put it through his ear and into the door, and he will come to be your servant forever; and so you shall do to your maidservant too. 

It appears that some people are better off been under some form of supervision over their lives forever – see vs 17 – There seem to different aspects to this instruction found in Shemot 21 and Vayikra 25. Hebrew slaves were encouraged to return to their family inheritance in the year of Jubilee. Hebrew slaves were not meant to be slaves forever. Woman slaves were to be treated differently- with great respect. see Shemot 21.

Exo 21:1  “These are the right-rulings which you are to set before them: 

Exo 21:2  “When you buy a Hebrew servant, he serves six years, and in the seventh he goes out free, for naught. 

Exo 21:3  “If he comes in by himself, he goes out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 

Exo 21:4  “If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children are her master’s, and he goes out by himself. 

Exo 21:5  “And if the servant truly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children, let me not go out free,’ 

Exo 21:6  then his master shall bring him before Elohim, and shall bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl. And he shall serve him forever. 

Exo 21:7  “And when a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she does not go out as the male servants do. 

Exo 21:8  “If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who has engaged her to himself, then he shall let her be ransomed. He shall have no authority to sell her to a foreign people, because of him deceiving her. 

Exo 21:9  “And if he has engaged her to his son, he is to do to her as is the right of daughters. 

Exo 21:10  “If he takes another wife, her food, her covering, and her marriage rights are not to be diminished. 

Exo 21:11  “And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out for naught, without silver

 

Even Messiah submitted Himself to His Master for ever and ever.

Messiah himself is prophetically spoken of as submitting to His Master in a similar way.

Isa 50:5  The Master יהוה has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. Isa 50:6  I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard, I did not hide My face from humiliation and spitting. 

18 It should not seem hard in your eyes when you dismiss him from you free because he was worth double the hire of a hireling when he served you six years. So Yahweh your Elohim will bless you in all that you shall do.

Deu 15:19  “Set apart to יהוה your Elohim all the first-born males that come from your herd and your flock. Do no work with the first-born of your herd, nor shear the first-born of your flock. 

Col 1:15  who is the likeness of the invisible Elohim, the first-born of all creation

Heb 1:6  And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, “Let all the messengers of Elohim do reverence to Him.

20 You shall eat it before Yahweh your Elohim year by year in the place that Yahweh shall choose, you and your household. 21 Yet in case there should be a blemish in it, lame or blind, any bad blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your Elohim. 22 Within your gates you may eat it, the unclean among you and the clean together, as you would of the gazelle and of the stag. 23 But its blood you shall not eat. On the earth shall you pour it out like water.

16: 1 You are to observe the month of Aviv and prepare a passover to Yahweh your Elohim, for in the month of Aviv Yahweh your Elohim brought you forth from Egypt by night. 2 So you will sacrifice the passover to Yahweh your Elohim from the flock and the herd in the place where Yahweh your Elohim shall choose to tabernacle His name. 3 You shall not eat anything leavened with it. Seven days shall you eat unleavened cakes with it, the bread of humiliation חפּזון for in nervous haste and trepidation חפּזון you went forth from the country of Egypt, that you may remember the day of your going forth from the country of Egypt all the days of your life.

Isa 52:12  For you shall not come out in haste, חפּזון nor go in flight מנוּסה. For יהוה is going before you, and the Elohim of Yisra’ěl is your rear guard. Jer 23:7-8 (future prophecy)

 4 Let no yeast be seen with you in all your territory seven days. And let none of the flesh that you shall sacrifice in the evening on the first day lodge until morning. 5 You cannot sacrifice the passover within any one of your gates which Yahweh your Elohim is giving to you, 6 but rather only in the place that Yahweh your Elohim shall choose to tabernacle His name. There shall you sacrifice the passover in the evening as the sun sets, the appointed time of your going forth from Egypt. 7 Then you will cook and eat in the place that Yahweh your Elohim shall choose, and you may turn around in the morning and go to your tents. 8 Six days shall you eat unleavened cakes, and on the seventh day, a day of restraint עצרת (solemn assembly) to Yahweh your Elohim, you shall do no occupational work at all. 9 You shall count off seven weeks for yourself. From the start of the scythe in the raised grain shall you start to count off seven weeks. 10 Then you will observe the celebration of weeks to Yahweh your Elohim with a tribute of a voluntary offering from your hand which you shall give, just as Yahweh your Elohim may have blessed you. 11 You will rejoice before Yahweh your Elohim, you, your son and your daughter, your servant and your maidservant, the Levite who is within your gates, the sojourner, the orphan and the widow who are among you, in the place where Yahweh your Elohim shall choose to tabernacle His name. 12 Remember that you had become a servant in the country of Egypt; hence observe and obey these statutes. 13 As for the celebration of booths, you shall observe it for yourself seven days when you gather in the yield from your threshing site and from your wine vat. 14 You will rejoice in your celebration, you, your son and your daughter, your servant and your maidservant, the Levite, the sojourner, the orphan and the widow who are within your gates. 15 Seven days shall you celebrate to Yahweh your Elohim in the place that Yahweh your Elohim shall choose, for Yahweh your Elohim shall bless you in all your yield and in every work of your hands, so that you will indeed be rejoicing. 16 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before Yahweh your Elohim in the place that He shall choose:at the celebration of unleavened cakes, at the celebration of weeks and at the celebration of booths. And none shall appear before Yahweh empty-handed, 17 but each according to the gift of his hand, according to the blessing which Yahweh your Elohim will give to you.

Summary and Midrash on the ‘’Moedim’’:

One of the keys in understanding these appointments has to do with the first and second coming of Messiah. The Torah has a very interesting way of ‘’highlighting these two events in the ‘’appointments’’ Lev 23 – with the special addition of the ‘’shabbaton’’ instructions with the ‘’appointments’’. (10 verses)

Basically ‘’shabbat’’ means to rest from your labour. ‘’Shabbaton’’ basically a very special rest from your labour.

The following scriptures are the only scriptures that contain the word ‘’shabbaton’’ why?

Ex 16:23; Ex 31:15; Ex 35:2; Lev 16:31; Lev 23:3; Lev 23:24; Lev 23:32; Lev 23:39 (x2); Lev25:4; Lev 25:5

Heb 4:1  Therefore, since a promise remains of entering into His rest, (special sabbath) let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 

Heb 4:2  For indeed the Good News was brought to us as well as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them, not having been mixed with belief in those who heard it. 

Heb 4:3  For we who have believed do enter into that rest, as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest...” Psa_95:11 And yet His works have come into being from the foundation of the world. 

Heb 4:4  For somewhere He has said thus about the seventh day, “And Elohim rested on the seventh day from all His works,” Gen_2:2. 

Heb 4:5  and in this again, “If they shall enter into My rest...” Psa_95:11. 

Heb 4:6  Since then it remains for some to enter into it, and those who formerly received the Good News did not enter in because of disobedience, 

Heb 4:7  He again defines a certain day, “Today,” saying through Dawiḏ so much later, as it has been said, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Psa_95:7-8. 

Heb 4:8  For if Yehoshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 

Heb 4:9  So there remains a Sabbath-keepinga for the people of Elohim. Footnote: aThe Greek word is sabattismos, which means Sabbath-keeping. 

Heb 4:10  For the one, having entered into His rest, has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim rested from His own. 

Heb 4:11  Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. (future, not present rest)

 

Vs 9 is the only place where the Greek word ‘’sabbatismos’’ 4520 is found – defined as a kind of heaven.

 

Not everyone will enter this 7^th day of rest – in fact it may only be a very tiny remnant. Why? To receive this kindness we need to show this kindness – from our hearts.

 

If we examine the verses in the Torah where it speaks about the ‘’shabbaton” I believe we can gain some valuable and amazing insight.

 

The ‘’shabbatons’’ of the Torah have to do with ‘’exclusive invitations into the millennium’’ given by YHVH to those whom He deems worthy to receive them.

The ‘’shabbatons’’ are about having an attitude of gratitude – and an attitude that we are entitled to nothing and ever good thing we receive is by His choice and His kindness – the central theme of this Torah portion.

 

For example the weekly sabbath – this is described as a ‘’shabbaton’’ because it is a prophetic reminder of the millennial reign of Messiah. Only those invited or chosen by YHVH will enter into this final 1000 year reign of Messiah. The same can be said about the other ‘’shabbatons’’

 

Joh 15:16  “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He might give you. 

 

Mat 22:14  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”a Footnote: aSee Mat_20:16.

 

We don’t need to understand everything that YHVH has said, but we need to obey everything He has said.

 

"This is the chukka (law) of the Torah" – the Satan and the nations ridicule the Jewish people, saying, "What is the meaning of this mitzva?  What sense does it make?"

Therefore, the Torah defines it as a chukka:  "It is an absolute decree from Me, and you have no right to challenge it."

(Rashi, 19:2)

 

When any individual changes or refuses to obey from the heart YHVH’s sabbaths and appointed times – they are in danger of excluding themselves from the millennial rule of Messiah.

 

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.” 

 

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.

5min video on kindness –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S48fSAekDY&t=12s

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