Blessing for the Torah:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol
ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples,
and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you,
YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
This
Torah portion addresses another extremely critical issue on our journey in
embracing the Torah and being conformed to the image of Messiah – the issue
being – community.
The
Torah/Covenant of YHVH can only be fulfilled in a community of set apart
believers called and enabled by the Ruach of YHVH. Such a community is also
known as the Kehelah, Yisrael, the assembly of called out ones – not the church
in any of its current forms. The only way to become part of the true Yisrael of
YHVH is to come out of the church and out of any form of manmade religion
including various expressions of the Messianic movement that contradict the
true essence of the called out community.
Covenant
Community Adapted from Don Basham
The first Kehelah of Messiah was a community of people who were totally devoted to YHVH and His Torah. Their life together was charged with the “Ruach’s power”. They loved each other with a radical kind of love. They took off their masks and shared their lives with one another. They laughed, cried, prayed, sang, and served together in real Messianic fellowship. Those who had plenty shared freely with those who lacked. Social and economic barriers melted away. People related together in ways that bridged gender and racial chasms. They celebrated cultural differences. Acts 2 tells us that this “kehelah” (assembly) offered unbelievers a vision of life. A vision that was so beautiful that it took their breath away. It was so bold, so creative, and so dynamic that they couldn’t resist it. Verse 47 tells us that, “the Master added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.”
The first Kehelah of Messiah was a community of people who were totally devoted to YHVH and His Torah. Their life together was charged with the “Ruach’s power”. They loved each other with a radical kind of love. They took off their masks and shared their lives with one another. They laughed, cried, prayed, sang, and served together in real Messianic fellowship. Those who had plenty shared freely with those who lacked. Social and economic barriers melted away. People related together in ways that bridged gender and racial chasms. They celebrated cultural differences. Acts 2 tells us that this “kehelah” (assembly) offered unbelievers a vision of life. A vision that was so beautiful that it took their breath away. It was so bold, so creative, and so dynamic that they couldn’t resist it. Verse 47 tells us that, “the Master added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.”
Definition of a Covenant Community
A community of YHVH’s redeemed people:
·
bound
together in the covenant love and truth of the Torah
·
submitted
to compassionate authority
·
manifesting
peace and set apartness
·
supporting
family fidelity (expressed in revered fatherhood and manhood, cherished
motherhood and womanhood, secure and obedient children)
A community
where:
·
loving
correction and instruction produce healthy growth and maturity
·
dedication
to excellence produces the finest in crafts, trades, and commerce
·
prosperity
and abundance for all its members is provided
A community of:
·
faith
(The Faith)
·
worship
·
praise
·
selfless
ministry
·
manifestation,
individually and corporately, of the gifts of the Ruach of YHVH.
A covenant
community – Yisrael - is the place YHVH has chosen to conform us into the image
of His Son Yahshua Ha Mashiach and in so doing bringing the light of His
Redemption to the nations.
There was always meant to be ONLY ONE true
expression of GENUINE SAVING BELIEF.
Eph 4:1 I
call upon you therefore, I the prisoner of the Master, to walk worthily of the
calling with which you were called,
Eph 4:2
with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another
in love,
Eph 4:3
being eager to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace –
Eph
4:4 one body and one Spirit(Ruach), as
you also were called in one expectation of your calling,
Eph
4:5 one Master, one belief, one
immersion,
Eph 4:6
one Elohim and Father of all,1 who is above all, and through
all, and in you all. Footnote: 1Mk. 12:32,34, 1 Cor. 8:6, 1 Tim.
2:5, Mk. 12:29-34.
Our Torah portion begins:
Gen 33:18 And Yaʽaqoḇ came safely to the city of Sheḵem, which is in the land of Kenaʽan, when he came from Paddan Aram. And he
pitched his tent before the city.
The Hebrew
word for “safely” is “shalem” (8003) BDB Definition:
1) complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, whole, full, at peace
1a) complete
1a1) full, perfect
1a2) finished
1b) safe, unharmed
1c) peace (of covenant of peace, mind)
1c1) perfect, complete (of keeping covenant relation)
As
Yisrael enters into the land YHVH is showing them how He intends them to live
with Him and one another – in completeness and harmony.
Tragically this “shalem” was shortlived –
see Eph 4:1-6 - the time is coming when this community will come together again
forever.
Gen 33:19 And he bought the portion of the field where
he had pitched his tent, from the children of Ḥamor, Sheḵem’s father, for one hundred qesitah.
This is one of
the three places which the nations of the world cannot accuse Israel and say,
"You have stolen them." The three places are: the Cave of Machpelah,
the site of the Set Apart Temple, and the tomb of Yosef/Joseph at Shechem. The
cave of Machpelah, as it is written (Genesis 23:16): "And Avraham weighed
to Ephron the silver." The Temple: "So David gave to Ornan for the
place six hundred shekels of gold" (I Chronicles 21:25). And Yosef’s/
Joseph's tomb: "And [Yakov/Jacob] bought the piece of land for a hundred kesitah."
(Midrash
Rabbah)
These
are some of the most important pieces of real estate in the world because they
are the gateways for Yisrael to once again legally and eternally possess the
land of Yisrael. These three places will play a crucial role in the coming
together of Yisrael from the nations. Our fathers will rise from the dead to
take a position of authority in the age to come - cave of Machpelah. Shechem
will serve as an extremely important entry point for the return of all
the exiles. The purchase of the temple mount by David serves as the place where
the temple will be rebuilt and the temple service restored when Messiah
returns.
Gen 33:20 And he set up an altar there and called it Ěl
Elohĕ Yisra’ĕl.
Gen 34:1 And
Dinah, the daughter of Lĕ’ah, whom she had borne to Yaʽaqoḇ, went out to see the
daughters of the land.
Here
the trouble starts – why was Dinah seeking fellowship with those who held pagan
beliefs and were outside her community of faith?
Is
it possible that one of the reasons she went out to “see” is that those in her
community of faith were not meeting her needs and so she had to look elsewhere
to try and meet her needs?
The
early Messianic community is described in the following way:
Act 2:42 And they were continuing steadfastly in the
teaching of the emissaries,(Torah) and in the fellowship, and in the breaking
of bread, and in the prayers. (Note the use of the definite article “the” three
times)
Act 2:43
And fear came upon every being, and many wonders and signs were being
done through the emissaries.
Act 2:44
And all those who believed were together, and had all in common,
Act 2:45
and sold their possessions and property, and divided them among all, as
anyone might have need.
Act 2:46
And day by day, continuing with one mind in the Set-apart Place, and
breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and
simplicity of heart,
Act 2:47
praising Elohim and having favour with all the people. And the Master
added to the assembly those who were being saved, day by day.
(The
author of this study is not suggesting that those who are Messianic sell their
possessions and distribute them among those who have need. The author
recognizes that there was a context in which these words were written –
Yerushalayim was about to be destroyed by the Romans.)
Gen 34:2 And Sheḵem, son of Ḥamor the Ḥiwwite, prince of the
land, saw her and took her and lay with her, and humbled her.
The Torah says the following concerning
such a situation:
Deu 22:28
If a man finds a girl, a virgin not engaged, and lays hold on her, and
lies with her, and they are found,
Deu 22:29
then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl's father fifty shekels
of silver, and she shall be his wife. Because he has humbled her, he may not
put her away all his days.
Why
would Dinah wonder out among the Canaanites who were notoriously immoral?
Why was a suitable partner for Dinah not
found within the community of faith?
Many young believers struggle to find
suitable faith partners for marriage today.
Dinah’s brothers response was not Torah.
Gen 34:3 And his being clung to Dinah the daughter of
Yaʽaqoḇ, and he loved the
girl and spoke kindly to the girl.
There is no record of Dinah not wanting to
be with Shekem. This most probably enraged her brothers even more.
Gen
34:4 And Sheḵem spoke to his father Ḥamor, saying, “Take this girl for me for a
wife.”
Gen
34:5 And Yaʽaqoḇ heard that he had
defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field,
so Yaʽaqoḇ kept silent until
they came.
Gen 34:6
And Ḥamor, the father of
Sheḵem, went out to Yaʽaqoḇ to speak with him.
Gen
34:7 And the sons of Yaʽaqoḇ came in from the
field when they heard it. And the men were grieved and very wroth, because he
had done a senseless deed in Yisra’ĕl by lying with Yaʽaqoḇ’s daughter, which should not be done.
Intermarriage with Canaanites was strongly
condemned by Yisrael. It still is.
2Co 6:14
Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have
righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15
And what agreement has Messiah with Beliyaʽal? Or what part does
a believer have with an unbeliever?
2Co
6:16 And what union has the Dwelling
Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim,
as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be
their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”
2Co
6:17 Therefore, “Come out from among
them and be separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you.
2Co 6:18 “And I shall be a Father to
you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says יהוה the Almighty.”
Gen
34:8 But Ḥamor spoke with them,
saying, “My son Sheḵem’s being longs for your daughter. Please
give her to him for a wife.
Gen
34:9 “And intermarry with us, give us
your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves,
Gen
34:10 and dwell with us, and let the
land be before you. Dwell and move about in it, and have possessions in it.”
Gen
34:11 And Sheḵem said to her father and her brothers,
“Let me find favour in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I give.
Gen 34:12
“Ask of me a bride price and gift ever so high, and I give according to
what you say to me, but give me the girl for a wife.”
Gen
34:13 But the sons of Yaʽaqoḇ answered Sheḵem and Ḥamor his father, and
spoke with deceit, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
Gen
34:14 And they said to them, “We are not
able to do this matter, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for
that would be a reproach to us.
Gen
34:15 “Only on this condition
would we agree to you: If you become as we are, to have every male of you
circumcised,
Gen
34:16 then we shall give our daughters
to you, and take your daughters to us. And we shall dwell with you, and shall
become one people.
Gen
34:17 “But if you do not listen to us
and be circumcised, we shall take our daughter and go.”
Gen
34:18 And their words pleased Ḥamor and Sheḵem, Ḥamor’s son.
Note circumcision was a sign of the
covenant faith of Avraham. This outward ceremony was seen as an act of
conversion to the faith of Yisrael.
Sadly the same spirit prevails today where
emphasis is laid on a conversion process that focuses on outward appearance
only and not on the inner transformation of people’s hearts.
Gen
34:19 And the young man did not delay to
do this because he delighted in Yaʽaqoḇ’s daughter. Now he was more respected than
all the household of his father.
Gen
34:20 And Ḥamor and Sheḵem his son came to the
gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying,
Gen
34:21 “These men are at peace with us,
so let them dwell in the land and move about in it. And see, the land is large
enough for them. Let us take their daughters for us for wives, and let us give
them our daughters.
Gen 34:22
“Only on this condition would the men agree to dwell with us, to
be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
Gen
34:23 “Their herds and their
possessions, and all their beasts, should they not be ours? Only let us agree
with them, and let them dwell with us.”
Gen
34:24 And all who went out of the gate
of his city listened to Ḥamor and Sheḵem his son; every male
was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
Gen
34:25 And it came to be on the third
day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Yaʽaqoḇ, Shimʽon and Lĕwi, Dinah’s brothers, each took
his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
Gen
34:26 And they killed Ḥamor and Sheḵem his son with the
edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Sheḵem’s house, and went
out.
Gen
34:27 The sons of Yaʽaqoḇ came upon the slain,
and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Gen
34:28 They took their flocks and their
herds, and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in
the field,
Gen
34:29 and all their wealth. And all
their little ones and their wives they took captive, and they plundered all
that was in the houses.
Gen
34:30 And Yaʽaqoḇ said to Shimʽon and Lĕwi, “You have troubled me by
making me a stench among the inhabitants of the land, among the Kenaʽanites and the Perizzites. And I am few in
number, they shall gather themselves against me and shall smite me, and I shall
be destroyed, my household and I.”
Gen
34:31 But they said, “Should he treat
our sister like a whore?”
Gen 35:1 And
Elohim said to Yaʽaqoḇ, “Arise, go up to
Bĕyth Ěl and dwell there. And make an altar there to Ěl who appeared to you
when you fled from the face of Ěsaw your brother.”
Gen
35:2 And Yaʽaqoḇ said to his household
and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign mighty ones that are among
you, and cleanse yourselves, and change your garments.
Gen
35:3 “And let us arise and go up to
Bĕyth Ěl, and let me make there an altar to Ěl, who answered me in the day of
my distress, and has been with me in the way which I have gone.”
Gen
35:4 So they gave Yaʽaqoḇ all the foreign
mighty ones which were in their hands, and all their earrings which were in
their ears. And Yaʽaqoḇ hid them under the
terebinth tree which was near Sheḵem.
Gen
35:5 And they departed, and the fear of
Elohim was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue
the sons of Yaʽaqoḇ.
Gen
35:6 And Yaʽaqoḇ came to Luz, that is
Bĕyth Ěl, which is in the land of Kenaʽan, he and all the
people who were with him.
Gen
35:7 And he built there an altar and
called the place El Bĕyth Ěl, because there Elohim appeared to him when he fled
from the face of his brother.
This is perhaps a prophetic reference to
the fact that as long as Yisrael are not connected to Yerushalayim and the Temple
they will be vulnerable to idolatry. It will only be when the temple is rebuilt
and the Messiah returns that we will be able to be completely transformed into
the image of the Master and the Torah of YHVH.
Zec 6:12
and shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, saying, “See, the Man
whose name is the Branch1!(Messiah) And from His place He shall
branch out, and He shall build the Hĕḵal (Temple) of יהוה. Footnote 1See 3:8.
Gen 35:8 And Deḇorah, Riḇqah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below
Bĕyth Ěl under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Baḵuth.
