9/19/2025

Parashat 1 Portion 3 Ber/Gen 5:1-6:8 Yesh/Is 30:8-15 Matt 23:1-29


Bless YHVH the blessed One; Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One for all eternity. 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.

זה ספר תולדת

Gen 5:1 This is the book of the genealogy of Aḏam.  Genesis 5:1 “Zeh sefer toledot Adam.”   In Rabbinic tradition, this book (sefer) includes every generation, Messiah included.

Mat 1:1  The book of the genealogy of יהושע Messiah - ספר תולדת ישוע

Both Gen 5:1 and Mat 1:1 contain the exact same phrase in Hebrew - זה ספר תולדת – in both scriptures ‘’toldot’’ or תולדת are presented without the second ‘’vav’’ see Parashat 1 Portion 2 Gen 2:4 אֵלֶּה תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם. Ruth 4:18

This is a hidden reference to the fact that YHVH continues to ‘’create’’ the ‘’toldot’’ of the first Adam and the second Adam until their perfect completion of ‘’one new man’’

YHVH’s plan is clear – Eph 2:15 …. so as to create in Himself one renewed man from the two, thus making peace, Eph 2:16  and to completely restore to favour both of them unto Elohim in one body through the stake, having destroyed the enmity by it. 

Act 17:26  “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having ordained beforehand the times and the boundaries of their dwelling, Act 17:27  to seek the Master, if at least they would reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. Act 17:28  “For in Him we live and move and are, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 

Gen 5:2 Male and female He created them, and He blessed them, and called their name Aḏam in the day they were created.

YHVH called them both “Adam” — the perfect image of YHVH will one day again be revealed in Adam when he and Eve - joined together in perfect harmony with one another and with YHVH.

Only Yahshua can make this possible.

Eph 5:31  “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Gen_2:24. Eph 5:32  This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly. 

Col 2:9  Because in Him (Yahshua) dwells all the completeness of Elohim-ness bodily, Col 2:10  and you (2nd person plural) have been made complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and authority.  (“already made complete by YHVH, and that completeness continues until perfect perfection.”)

Paul goes on to warn us that when partaking of the Passover, we should carefully examine ourselves to make sure that we are not hindering in any way YHVH’s goal of ‘’creating’’ the one new man in Messiah. The consequences of such a violation would bring sickness and even premature death for believers.

1Co 11:3 And I wish you to know that the head of every man is the Messiah,a and the head of woman is the man,b and the head of Messiah is Elohim.c Footnotes: a Eph_1:22, Eph_4:15, Eph_5:23. b Gen_3:16. c 1Co_3:23, Jhn_14:28

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, brings shame to his Head. (the government of YHVH has always been masculine)

1Co 11:5 And every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered brings shame to her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 

1Co 11:6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.d Footnote: d Num_5:18

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed should not cover his head, since he is the likeness and esteem of Elohim, but woman is the esteem of man. 

1Co 11:8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 

1Co 11:9 For man also was not created for the woman, but woman for the man. 

1Co 11:10 Because of this the woman ought to have authoritye on her head, because of the messengers. Footnote: eSome say “a symbol of authority.” 

1Co 11:11 However, man is not independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Master. 

1Co 11:12 For as the woman was from the man, even so the man also is through the woman. But all are from Elohim. 

1Co 11:13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to Elohim with her head uncovered? 

1Co 11:14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man indeed has long hair, it is a disrespect to him? 

1Co 11:15 And if a woman has long hair, it is an esteem to her, because the long hair has been given to her over against a veil. 

1Co 11:16 If, however, anyone seems to be contentious, we do not have such a habit, nor do the assemblies of Elohim. 

 

In certain streams of early Christian interpretation (and influenced by Second Temple Jewish lore), 1 Cor 11 was linked to Gen 6.

 

Gen 5:3 continues from Gen 2:4 describing ‘’toldot’’ (generations) without the second ‘’vav’’ (Torah) In other words ‘’the ‘’toldot’’ await a ‘’completion.’’

 

However, embedded within this ‘’incomplete toldot’’ is a secret, hidden from plain view, but critical for us to grasp and internalize to be part of the great restoration of all things in the last days. The secret lies in the meanings behind the names of the first 10 generation of Adam’s ‘’toldot’’ or generations found here in Gen 5.

 

 Gen 5:3 And Aḏam lived one hundred and thirty years, and brought forth a son in his own likeness, after his image, and called his name Shĕth.

Adam means ‘’man’’

One of the most common titles for Yashua was the “Son of Adam”. Yahshua is referred to as the Son of Man/Adam 88 times in the Apostolic scriptures and only 47 times as the Son of Elohim.

Yahshua is also referred to as the second man and the last Adam 1 Cor 15:45-48

 

Gen 5:4 And after he brought forth Shĕth, the days of Aḏam were eight hundred years. And he brought forth sons and daughters.

Seth is the “appointed one”, replacing Abel, the slain righteous son.

 Gen 5:5 So all the days that Aḏam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.

Gen 5:6 And Shĕth lived one hundred and five years and brought forth Enosh.

“Enosh” – Mortal man - desperate, incurable, desperately wicked – sorrowful or melancholic.

Now here comes the secret and without any question one of the greatest mysteries made known to man:

1Ti 3:16  And, beyond all question, the secret of reverence (set apartness) is great – who was revealed in the flesh, declared right in Spirit, was seen by messengers, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in esteem. 

Giving of the Torah (Sinai)

  • Shabbat 88b–89a (Talmud Bavli): The angels argued with God, asking why the Torah should be given to flesh and blood rather than to heavenly beings.
  • Moses responded: “Do you have a father and mother to honor? Do you suffer from evil inclination? … The Torah was meant for mankind.”
  • Here angels marvel that humans, with weakness, are chosen over them for covenantal intimacy with God.

Pesikta Rabbati 36: When Messiah is revealed, God shows him the sufferings of Israel and Messiah accepts them. Angels marvel that God’s redemption works through suffering and through a man of sorrows.

things into which angels long to look.” (1 Peter 1:10–12)

***What makes this mystery most profound is that if we walk in the light of this mystery now, we most probably won’t be deceived by the anti- Christ in the last days.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved ones, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of Elohim, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

1Jn 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of Elohim: Every spirit that confesses that יהושע Messiah has come in the flesh is of Elohim, 

1Jn 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that יהושע Messiah has come in the flesh is not of Elohim. And this is the spirit of the anti-messiah which you heard is coming and now is already in the world. Acts 17:30

 

It is about the ‘’humanity’’ of Yahshua. Yahshua was created by YHVH – Yahshua is not a self-existent Deity. I believe this will become one of the most critical issues facing YHVH’s people in these last days. Mankind is forbidden to worship and serve two Gods and before Yahshua returns this matter will have to be sorted out. The world is about to be introduced to the God of the Hebrews. (not the Gods of the Hebrews)

 

Why is the set apartness of the Messiah so great a ‘’mega mustrion’’?

And it’s hidden in this parasha:

“The Son of Man (Adam/Yahshua)

 ‘’is appointed’’ (Seth)

‘’to sorrow and sadness, even death’’ (Enosh)

‘’man lamented and longed for a safe refuge (Kingdom)’’ (Qeynan)

‘’then the praise of Elohim’’ Mahalal’ĕl

‘’came downward’’ ‘’Yered’’

‘’and was appointed and dedicated’’ ‘’Enoch’’

‘’and his death shall bring judgment’’ ‘’ Methushelaḥ’’

‘’and he became impoverished’’ ‘’ Lamech’’

‘’to bring comfort to man’’ ‘’Noah’’

2Co 4:12  so that death indeed is working in us, but the life in you. 

It is our death, our laying down our lives for others that will bring life to a lost mankind.

“The Elohim-Man is appointed, to sorrow! The Esteem of YHVH comes down from heaven lays down his life for others to bring comfort to those who mourn.”

This is the mirror of man – it is the mirror of Messiah.

Herein lies in my view the greatest challenge for believers:

YHVH is not a man and a man can never be YHVH. In other words, a man cannot be in covenant with two Deities.

Gen 5:7 And after he brought forth Enosh, Shĕth lived eight hundred and seven years, and brought forth sons and daughters. Gen 5:8 So all the days of Shĕth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.

Gen 5:9 And Enosh lived ninety years and brought forth Qĕynan.

Quote: “Qeynan” (S7018(not 7014) & S7064 & S7077) – possession – chamber or dwelling – to make a nest.

“Another possibility (and favored by us here at Abarim Publications) is that the name Kenan comes from the verb קין (qin), meaning to chant a dirge (Amos 8:10). This verb comes from the noun קינה (qina), meaning lamentation, or a sad poem which is sung (Jeremiah 7:19, Ezekiel 2:10). A strong clue that the name Kenan (with the troublesome double nun) indeed comes from this word group lies in the existence of a verb that HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament gracefully skips but which is well featured in BDB Theological Dictionary. It's the verb קונן (qwnn), meaning to chant a dirge (Ezekiel 27:32, 1 Samuel 1:17) – see also S7015&6969’’

That way the name Kenan means Lamenter.

Something went wrong with man and could only be repaired if YHVH could enter man’s life and restore him again.

Gen 5:10 And after he brought forth Qĕynan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years and brought forth sons and daughters. Gen 5:11 So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.

Gen 5:12 And Qĕynan lived seventy years and brought forth Mahalal’ĕl.

Mahal-El(S4111) – Praise of El – Yahshua was our only hope of becoming reconciled to YHVH.

Gen 5:13 After he brought forth Mahalal’ĕl, Qĕynan lived eight hundred and forty years, and brought forth sons and daughters. Gen 5:14 So all the days of Qĕynan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.

Gen 5:15 And Mahalal’ĕl lived sixty-five years and brought forth Yereḏ.Yared/Yered (S3382) to go downward.

Gen 5:16 And after he brought forth Yereḏ, Mahalal’ĕl lived eight hundred and thirty years, and brought forth sons and daughters. Gen 5:17 So all the days of Mahalal’ĕl were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.

Gen 5:18 And Yereḏ lived one hundred and sixty-two years and brought forth Ḥanoḵ.

“Chanok” S2585 – means dedicated.

Yahshua dedicated himself to deliver humanity from their frightful predicament.

Gen 5:19 And after he brought forth Ḥanoḵ, Yereḏ lived eight hundred years, and brought forth sons and daughters.

Gen 5:20 So all the days of Yereḏ were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

Gen 5:21 And Ḥanoḵ lived sixty-five years and brought forth Methushelaḥ.

Methushelach S4968 – “man of the dart” or literally “dying he shall send”

Meaning: “Man of the dart/weapon” or “when he dies, it shall be sent” (traditional interpretations).

“Methuselah (Hebrew: מְתוּשֶׁלַח / מְתוּשָׁלַח, Modern Metušélaħ / MetušálaħTiberian ûšéla / ûšāla ; "Man of the dart/spear", or alternatively "his death shall bring judgment") is the man reported to have lived the longest at the age of 969 in the Hebrew Bible. Extra-biblical tradition maintains that he died on the 11th of Cheshvan of the year 1656AM (Anno Mundi, after Creation), seven days before the beginning of the Great Flood.”

Gen 5:22 And after he brought forth Methushelaḥ, Ḥanoḵ walked with Elohim three hundred years, and brought forth sons and daughters. Gen 5:23 So all the days of Ḥanoḵ were three hundred and sixty-five years.

Gen 5:24 And Ḥanoḵ walked with Elohim. Then he was no more, for Elohim took him.

Enoch means – the dedicated one.

Gen 5:25 And Methushelaḥ lived one hundred and eighty-seven years and brought forth Lemeḵ.

Lamech” S3929 – Morfix – to become impoverished.

Etymology and meaning of the name Lamech

To a creative audience, the name Lamech may also be seen as a construct of the particle ל (le), meaning to or towards: ‘’מוך’’ The verb מוך (muk) is used to denote impoverished Israelites and occurs twice: Leviticus 25:47 and 27:8.

Gen 5:26 And after he brought forth Lemeḵ, Methushelaḥ lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and brought forth sons and daughters. Gen 5:27 So all the days of Methushelaḥ were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died.

Gen 5:28 And Lemeḵ lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and brought forth a son,

Gen 5:29 and called his name Noaḥ, saying, “This one does comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which יהוה has cursed.”

Noach” S5146 – Rest or comfort.

Gen 5:30 And after he brought forth Noaḥ, Lemeḵ lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and brought forth sons and daughters. Gen 5:31 So all the days of Lemeḵ were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.

Gen 5:32 And Noaḥ was five hundred years old, and Noaḥ brought forth Shĕm, Ḥam, and Yepheth.

Gen 6:1 And it came to be, when men began to increase on the face of the earth, and daughters (Heb ‘’Nashim’’) were born to them, (Nashim can mean simply “women” in general, but in biblical usage it often means “wives,” i.e. women already in marriage covenant.)

Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 26:5) – explains that the “sons of God” took both married and unmarried women, even coercing them, violating all boundaries.

Gen 6:2 that the sons of Elohim saw the daughters of men, that they were good. And they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. Gen 6:3 And יהוה said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever in his going astray. He is flesh, and his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, (Num 13:33) when the sons of Elohim came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, the men of name. Gen 6:5 And יהוה saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen 6:6 And יהוה was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Gen 6:7 And יהוה said, “I am going to wipe off man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping creature and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” Gen 6:8 But Noaḥ found favour in the eyes of יהוה.

From the fall of man in the garden until this present moment – man is faced with a ‘’covenantal crisis’’ ‘’Are you in a covenantal bond with the YHVH of Israel or are you in a covenantal bond with the spirit and religion of this age? Most of us we struggle with a loyalty mixture between these two covenants.

Only the real Messiah can show us the way back.

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous for you with a jealousy according to Elohim. For I gave you in marriage to one husband, (most Christians have two ‘’husbands’’) to present you as an innocent maiden to Messiah. 

2Co 11:3 But I am afraid, lest, as the serpent deceived awwah by his trickery, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah. 

2Co 11:4 For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע, a whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you put up with it well enough! Footnote: a Mat_24:5 and Mat_24:23-24, Jhn_5:43

 

“To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be equal?” (Isaiah 40:25).

 

Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan lanu Toraht-emet, v’chay-yeh o’lam nata-b’tochenu. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

Isa 30:8 And go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it on a scroll, that it is for a latter day, a witness forever:

Isa 30:9 that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who refuse to hear the Torah of יהוה,

Isa 30:10 who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right. Speak to us what is smooth, prophesy deceits. Isa 30:11 “Turn aside from the way, swerve from the path, cause the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl to cease from before us.” Isa 30:12 Therefore thus said the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, “Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on them, Isa 30:13 therefore this crookedness is to you like a breach ready to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, swiftly.” Isa 30:14 And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter’s vessel, which is broken in pieces, without sparing, so that there is not found among its fragments a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water from the cistern. (Jer 2:13) Isa 30:15  For thus said the Master יהוה (Adonai YHVH), the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, “In returning and rest you are saved, in stillness and trust is your strength.” But you would not,

 

Pesikta Rabbati 36: The Messiah existed before creation, hidden with God, to heal the wound of Adam’s sin.

In rabbinic culture, the greater the righteous person, the more deeply aware they became of sin.

Paul calls himself “the foremost (chief) of sinners” in 1 Timothy 1:15:

This is written near the end of his ministry (traditionally during his last imprisonment in Rome). Why would someone who also says “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7) call himself the chief of sinners?

Paul is speaking in this rabbinic tradition. The closer you are to YHVH’s light, (Messiah) the more clearly you see your own darkness.

 

9/14/2025

Parashat 1 Portion 2b ‘’Beresheet’’ Gen 3:22 – 4:26 Ezek 28:13-19 24-26

Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, Sovereign of the universe, who has chosen us from among the peoples, and given us the Torah. Blessed are you YHVH, who gives us the Torah – Ameyn

הֵן הָאָדָם

 Gen 3:22  And יהוה Elohim said, “See, the man (הן האדם) has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” 

Gen 3:23  so יהוה Elohim sent Adam out of the garden of Ěen to till the ground from which he was taken,

 Verse 22 is an incomplete sentence. This abrupt ending of a sentence in the Hebrew scriptures is found in a few other places as well – for example Ex 32:33 1 Samuel 3:14 Is 38:1. You need to read these ‘’abrupt ending’’ verses carefully to discern what kind of unspoken thoughts the author had in mind. So, this abrupt stop in vs 22 is intentional. It dramatizes YHVH’s urgent intervention to expel Adam, so he would not live forever in a fallen state.

 

This desire remains in YHVH’s heart to this day - 2Pe 3:9  יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 1Ti 2:4  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

Once again we have a very interesting opening verse of the 5th Aliyah of Parashat Beresheet, with the scribe highlighting the words ‘’see the man’’  הֵן הָאָדָם.

YHVH addresses the ‘’divine council’’ and says ‘’ look at what has happened to man, now he has become like one of Us, to know good and evil’’ This was never the purpose of our creation. We were created to live by every word that comes out of the mouth of our Creator. (Deut 8:3 and Mat 4:4

The tragic reality is that man still chooses to live by what others say instead of by what YHVH says. Mat 16:17  And יהושע answering, said to him, “Blessed are you, Shim‛on Bar-Yonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in the heavens. 

 

YHVH then lovingly protected Adam against himself by preventing him from eating from the tree of life and living forever in a ‘’lost state’’.

 

This is the destiny of fallen angels – they will never be able repent.

Their rebellion is total, final, and unrepentant. True repentance requires YHVH’s gift (2 Tim. 2:25) — but this gift is not extended to fallen angels. They are fixed in opposition; their will is bound in pride.

Angels sinned in the very presence of YHVH’s esteem, with full awareness of who He was but

Humans most often sin in ignorance and weakness (cf. Luke 23:34; 1 Tim 1:13).

 

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the wilful, hardened and ongoing rejection of the Spirit’s testimony about Yahshua. It is not a careless word or momentary doubt. It is a persistent, deliberate choice to call YHVH’s work evil, to resist His Spirit, and to shut oneself off from the only source of forgiveness. 2Cor 11:4 Most believers still cling to Satan’s deception regarding the identity of Yahshua; the proclamation of the Good news as well as rejecting the promptings and calling of YHVH’s Set Apart Spirit.

 

 Man has little to no idea of how far he has fallen. The proof of this blindness is evidenced by our lack of and shallowness of our repentance.

 

Midrash Rabbah states ‘’The way to the Tree of Life was not destroyed but guarded until the righteous return in the world to come.’’

 How does one address such a desperate condition?

 

The apostle Paul echoes a similar sentiment in Rom 7 where he clearly states that the Torah was given to show us the ‘’exceeding sinfulness of sin’’ Paul is saying that the Torah, though set apart and good, paradoxically makes sin appear even more sinful, because it exposes, magnifies, and condemns sin.

 

The Rabbis saw the Torah itself as the cure (through study and obedience).

Paul saw Torah as the revealer of man’s desperate condition, and Messiah as the cure – not by doing away with the Torah but highlighting and establishing the importance of every single word in the Torah – Mat 5:17-19

 

Israel's Failure to Hear and See

Isa 42:18  “Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, and see. 

Isa 42:19  “Who is blind but My servant, or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is at peace, and blind as servant of יהוה

Isa 42:20  “You see much, but do not guard; ears are open, but do not hear.” 

Isa 42:21  It has delighted יהוה, for the sake of His righteousness, to make the Torah great and esteemed. 

Isa 42:22  But this is a people robbed and plundered, all of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prison houses. They have become a prey, with no one to deliver – for plunder, and no one to say, “Restore!” (or repent)

Isa 42:23  Who among you gives ear to this, pays attention and hears for the time to come? 

Isa 42:24  Who gave Ya‛aqo for plunder, and Yisra’ěl to the robbers? Was it not יהוה, He against whom we sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, and they did not obey His Torah! 

Isa 42:25  So He has poured on him His burning displeasure and the strength of battle, and it set him on fire all around, yet he did not understand. And it burned against him, yet he did not take it to heart! 

 

Let us return to the parasha’s opening statement ‘’behold the man’’ this phrase occurs only twice in the Scriptures – Gen 3:22 and John 19:5

 

Joh 19:5  Then יהושע came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “See the Man!” 

 

The repetition is not coincidental —Its almost as if John echoes Gen 3:22 deliberately to highlight Messiah’s role in restoring what man lost in Eden.

 

Gen 3:23  so יהוה Elohim sent him out of the garden of Ěen to till the ground from which he was taken,

 וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ (vay’shalleechu) – “He sent him out” Same verb root as “to divorce” (שׁלח shalach). This is strong language; it is not just about leaving but being dismissed or expelled.

 

Gen 3:24  and He drove the man out. And He placed keruim at the east of the garden of Ěen, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. 

 

וַיְגָרֶשׁ’’ (vay’garesh) – “He drove out” Stronger than v.23’s “He sent out” (vay’shalleechu).

Here it carries more force -  expulsion and banishment.

 

The sages of old wrestled with this issue. Some stated for example in the “”Yoma 72b (Talmud Bavli) “If man is worthy, the Torah becomes a pathway to life. If he is not worthy, (the Torah) it becomes a poison of death.”

 

Rom 8:4  so that the righteousness of the Torah should be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This the true evidence of being filled with YHVH’s Spirit – the torah shows us the exceeding sinfulness of our sin (Rom 7) as well as the exceeding greatness of His mercy, love and forgiveness of those receive the gift of ‘’teshuvah’’ or repentance – returning again to the ancient paths of our fathers.

 

Cain and Abel

Gen 4:1  And Aam knew awwah his wife, and she conceived and bore Qayin, and said, “I have gained a man, יהוה.” 

 

The phrase , “I have gained a man, יהוה.”  קניתי אישׁ את־יהוה is unusual and needs to be unpacked carefully, since its not a common expression.

 

Targum Pseudo-Jonathan expands: “I have acquired a man, the angel of the LORD” — hinting at a messianic or eschatological figure.

 

It is amazing – it is like YHVH is leaving His ‘’little love letters’’ all over the Torah.

Isa 8:17  And I shall wait on יהוה, who hides His face from the house of Ya‛aqo. And I shall look for Him. 

 

Cain means “acquired or possession.” Abel means “vapor or breath.”

 

The midrash says their names foreshadow destinies: the one rooted in worldly acquisition falls; the one acknowledging life’s frailty is favoured.

 

Gen 4:2  And again, she gave birth to his brother Heel. And Heel became a keeper of sheep, but Qayin became a tiller of the ground. 

Gen 4:3  And it came to be, in the course of time, that Qayin brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to יהוה

Gen 4:4  And Heel also brought of the first-born  of his flock and of their fat. And יהוה looked to Heel and his offering,( Colossians 1:15: Messiah is called “the firstborn of all creation.”)

 

Gen 4:5  but He did not look to Qayin and his offering. And Qayin was very wroth, and his face fell. 

 

This the first recorded act of worship after the Fall — and it sets the tone for true vs. false worship.

Psa 51:16  For You do not desire slaughtering, or I would give it; You do not delight in ascending offering. Psa 51:17  The slaughterings of Elohim are a broken spirit, A heart broken and crushed, O Elohim, These You do not despise. 

 

I believe that is why Abel’s offering was more acceptable to YHVH. Abel was declaring to YHVH ‘’we are now broken beyond human repair and we are helpless to get ourselves out of this situation; but You alone YHVH    are able to repair us and bring us back into Your Gaden’’

 

Now when Cain saw this outpouring of truth and honesty of his brothers broken heart – he despised him even hated him enough to kill him. Why? Because Cain was exposed and unwilling and unable to do the same.

 

The “spirit of Cain” is not just an ancient story, but an ongoing pattern.

 

Jud 1:11  Woe to them! Because they have gone in the way of Qayin, and gave themselves to the delusion of Bil‛am for a reward, and perished in the rebellion of Qora.b Footnote: b Jud_1:7-11; compare with 2Pe_2:6-15

Jud 1:12  These are rocky reefs in your love feasts, feasting with you, feeding themselves without fear, waterless clouds borne about by the winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots, 

Jud 1:13  wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shame, straying stars for whom blackness of darkness is kept forever. 

 

Today these people are known as the ‘’CCC’’ or the ‘’Cancel Culture Clan’’

 

When we, like Abel come and worship before YHVH with this heart attitude. YHVH responds  by assuring us that He will do whatever is required to restore us and bring us back into His presence. And He does ….

 

Isa 57:15  For thus declares the high and exalted One who dwells (tabernacles) forever, whose Name is set-apart, “I dwell (אֶשְׁכּוֹן) in the high and set-apart place, with him who has a bruised and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of bruised ones.  אֶשְׁכּוֹן = “I will dwell” / “I will reside.”  It’s the  (future tense in Biblical Hebrew).

 

 

In fact the scripture tells us 1Co 2:6  Yet we speak wisdom among those who are perfect, (teleios) and not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age that are being brought to naught. 

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of Elohim, which was hidden in a secret, and which Elohim ordained before the ages for our esteem, 

1Co 2:8  which no one of the rulers of this age knew, for if they had known, they would not have impaled the Master of esteem.

 

Paul consistently uses teleios to mean spiritual maturity and readiness, not absolute completion.

 

1Ti 3:16  And, beyond all question, the secret of reverence is great – who was revealed in the flesh, declared right in Spirit, was seen by messengers, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in esteem. 

 

If they had realized that Yahshua’s’ death would unleash resurrection power, atone for sin, and break the power of death, they would never have crucified Him.

 

1Co 15:16  For if the dead are not raised, then neither Messiah has been raised. 

1Co 15:17  And if Messiah has not been raised, your belief is to no purpose, you are still in your sins! 

 

YHVH intentionally concealed His plan until the appointed time (Rom 16:25–26; Isa 53).

The mystery of salvation through a suffering Messiah was not obvious.

 

Man’s pride blinded him to the paradox of YHVH’s wisdom: apparent weakness achieves ultimate victory (1 Cor 1:18–25).

 

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

1Co 1:18  For the word of the stake is indeed foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of Elohim. 

1Co 1:19  For it has been written, “I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the learning of the learned ones.”a Isa_29:14. Footnote: aSee Mat_11:25, Rom_1:22

1Co 1:20  Where is the wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not Elohim made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

1Co 1:21  For since, in the wisdom of Elohim, the world through wisdom did not know Elohim, it pleased Elohim through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. 

 

And so a shallow gospel is preached to the spiritual hungry who are never satisfied. Is this what Yahshua meant - Joh 4:14  but whoever drinks of the water I give him shall certainly never thirst. And the water that I give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” ?

 

Gen 4:6  And יהוה said to Qayin, “Why is he wroth towards you? And why is your facea fallen? Footnote: aLit. faces. 

Gen 4:7  “Is it not if you do good, you are to be accepted? And if you do not do good, towards the door is a sin.b He is lyingc and towards you is his desire, and you must rule overd him.” Footnotes: bOr, sin-offering (feminine). cOr, reposing or crouching (masculine). dLit. in. 

Gen 4:8  And Qayin told Heel his brother. And it came to be when they were in the field, that Qayin rose up against Heel his brother and killed him. 

Gen 4:9  And יהוה said to Qayin, “Where is Heel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s guard?” 

Gen 4:10  And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 

 

Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 Quotes Gen 4:10 to emphasize the gravity of murder:

“Whoever destroys a single soul, it is as though he has destroyed an entire world.”

 

The phrase ‘’ “What have you done?’’ appears nine times in the Hebrew scriptures but only once in the Apostolic scriptures.

Joh 18:35  Pilate answered, (Yahshua)“Am I a Yehui? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What did You do?” 

 

In Gen 4:6, “What have you done?” unmasks human sin.

In John 18:35, “What have you done?” unmasks human blindness, for the true innocent Man is about to be condemned. Pontius Pilate asks Yahshua what he had done to deserve this condemnation from men.

 

Hebrews 12:24 — Yahshua’s blood vs. Abel’s blood. Abel’s blood cries for vengeance. Yahshua’s’ blood cries for forgiveness.

Rabbinic tradition: Cain’s sin destroyed worlds.

Messianic theology: Yahshua’s blood restores the world, healing what Cain destroyed.

 

Gen 4:11  “And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 

Gen 4:12  “If you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 

Gen 4:13  And Qayin said to יהוה, “My punishment עֲו‍ֹנִי  is too great to bear! 

 

Cain shows remorse for the punishment, not true repentance for the sin.

He does not say, “My sin against my brother is too great,” but “My punishment is too great.”

Contrast with David in Psalm 51:4 — “Against You, You only, have I sinned…”

 

Gen 4:14  “See, You have driven me from the face of the ground today, and I am hidden from Your face. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and it shall be that anyone who finds me kills me.” 

Gen 4:15  And יהוה said to him, “Well, if anyone kills Qayin, vengeance is taken on him sevenfold.” And יהוה set up a sign for Qayin, lest anyone finding him strikes him. 

 

‘’The mark of Cain was not a curse on his descendants, nor a specific race. In Jewish tradition it is a protective sign (possibly spiritual, possibly visible), reminding all that vengeance belongs to YHVH. Its meaning is both punishment and mercy: Cain must live with his sin, but he is not allowed to be destroyed by others.’’

 

Gen 4:16  So Qayin went out from the presence of יהוה and dwelt in the land of No on the east of Ěen. 

Gen 4:17  And Qayin knew his wife, and she conceived and bore ano. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, anoNot the same Enoch as in Seth’s line (Gen 5:18).

 

Cain’s descendants are associated with city-building, culture, and technology (Gen 4:20–22).

Seth’s line is associated with calling on the Name of YHWH (Gen 4:26).

This sets up the contrast between human self-reliance and godly dependence.

 

Midrash Rabbah (Gen. 22:8): Cain’s city may symbolize separation from God, beginning organized human society apart from divine guidance.

 

1 Enoch: Cain’s line introduces early civilization, but also violence and rebellion, contrasting with Seth’s righteous line.

 

Gen 4:18  And to ano was born Ira. And Ira brought forth Meuya’ěl, and Meuya’ěl brought forth Methusa’ěl, and Methusa’ěl brought forth Leme

Gen 4:19  And Leme took for himself two wives, the name of one was Aah, and the name of the second was Tsillah. 

Gen 4:20  And Aah bore Yaal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents, with livestock. 

Gen 4:21  And his brother’s name was Yual. He was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute. 

Gen 4:22  As for Tsillah, she also bore Tual-Qayin, a smith of all kinds of tools in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tual-Qayin was Na‛amah. 

Gen 4:23  And Leme said to his wives, “Aah and Tsillah, hear my voice! Wives of Leme, listen to my words! For I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me. 

Gen 4:24  “For Qayin is avenged sevenfold, and Leme seventy-sevenfold.” 

Gen 4:25  And Aam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Shěth, “For Elohim has appointed me another seed instead of Heel, because Qayin had killed him.” 

Gen 4:26  And to Shěth, to him also a son was born. And he called his name Enosh. Then it was begun to call on the Name of יהוה.e Footnote: eThe first record of “calling on the Name of יהוה.” 

 

Isa 25:7  And He shall swallow up on this mountain the surface (face) of the covering which covers all people, and the veil which is spread over all nations.

 

וּבִלַּע בָּהָר הַזֶּה, פְּנֵי-הַלּוֹט הַלּוֹט עַל-כָּל-הָעַמִּים;
וְהַמַּסֵּכָה, הַנְּסוּכָה עַל-כָּל-הַגּוֹיִם.

 

 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. Ameyn.

9/04/2025

Pararshat 1 Portion 2 – ‘’Bereheet’’ Gen 2:4-3:21 Is 51:6-16

 Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, Sovereign of the universe, who has chosen us from among the peoples, and given us the Torah. Blessed are you YHVH, who gives us the Torah – Ameyn

אֵלֶּה תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם ‘’these are the generations of the heavens’’

Gen 2:4 These are the births of the heavens and the earth when they were created, (be hibaram) in the day that יהוה Elohim made earth and heavens. 

 

Genesis Rabbah 12:1: “Wherever you find toledot, it refers to what came forth from them.”
Just as Adam’s toledot are his children, the heavens and earth’s toledot are what was produced from them: vegetation, creatures, humans, even angels (in some midrashim).

 

There three very interesting and remarkable truths hidden in this opening verse of our Torah portion: This is the first appearance in the Torah of the name of ‘’YHVH’’; and secondly this is the first and only appearance of a diminished ‘’hey’’ letter in the word בהבראם ‘’be hibaram’’ or ‘’ to create with them’’ Thirdly, in the more ancient manuscripts ‘’toldot’’ is incorrectly spelled – missing one ‘’vav’’.

 

Genesis Rabbah 12:6: Notes the defective spelling of toledot in Gen 2:4.

“In all the generations (toledot) of the world you find it written defectively, except in ‘These are the generations of Perez’ (Ruth 4:18), where it is full. Why? Because from him [Perez] comes King Messiah, who will make the generations complete.”

The idea: the missing vav symbolizes something lacking in creation after the fall (wholeness, perfection, immortality).

Only in Ruth 4:18 is it spelled fully → hinting to messianic restoration.

 

 These diminished or enlarged letters in the Torah scroll (sometimes enlarged, diminished, inverted, dotted, or suspended) are collectively called “Otiyot Meshunot” (אותיות משונות), meaning “irregular letters” or “special letters.” These special letters often hint at hidden meanings and cosmic mysteries and often point to the hidden Messiah waiting to be revealed.

 

The Hebrew word מָעוֹנוֹת (ma’onot) is the plural of מָעוֹן (ma’on), which means a dwelling, refuge or resting place. It is often used in the poetic or spiritual sense of a heavenly abode for YHVH.

 

Biblical Meaning of אוֹת  ‘’ot’’(singular) Sign / mark / symbol a Wonder / miracle a token of covenant (Gen 9:12 – rainbow as the ot of the covenant). The appointments or ‘’moedim’’ are also called ‘’otot’’ Gen 1:14.

 

There is a connection between this diminished ‘’hey’’ and an enlarged ‘’hey’’ also only found once in the Torah scroll in Deut 32:6

 

 הַ לְיְהוָה, תִּגְמְלוּ-זֹאת  עַם נָבָל, וְלֹא חָכָם:   הֲלוֹא-הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ  הוּא עָשְׂךָ וַיְכֹנְנֶךָ

 

Deu 32:6  “Do you do this to יהוה, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you, Who created you and established you? 

 

Context

 

Deut 32:5  He took moral corruptness upon himself – to take away the moral stains of his sons.

“God is not corrupt. The blemish belongs to His children.” שִׁחֵת לוֹ לֹא, בָּנָיו מוּמָם:

 

What is the possible connection between these two ‘’heys’’?

 

They represent the two covenants YHVH made with man. The first covenant with the descendants of the first Adam (toldot) represented by the small ‘’hey’’ and the ‘’Renewed’’ covenant represented by the enlarged ‘’hey’’ found in Deut 32:6. Which YHVH made with the second Adam and those who are in Messiah are included in this renewed covenant. This concept is beautifully explained by Paul in Rom 5:12-21.

 

Jer 31:31  “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall make a renewed covenant with the house of Yisra’ěl and with the house of Yehuah,a Footnote: a Heb_8:8-12, Heb_10:16-17

Jer 31:32  not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I strengthened their hand to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares יהוה.

Jer 31:33  “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ěl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. 

 

Gen 2:5 Now no shrub (שׂיח) of the field was yet on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for יהוה Elohim had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground, ( word  is very rare שִׂיחַ noun is a shrub and the verb means to talk or commune)

 

Gen 2:6 but a mist (אֵד) went up from the earth and watered the entire surface of the ground. 

 

‘’The אֵד” rising from the earth is not ordinary rain, but a divinely designed watering system. This word’s uniqueness underscores Eden’s primordial, unfallen state.’’

A kind of life-giving spirit rising from the earth before human life is formed.’’ (אֵד) Only one appearance in the Scriptures and disappears. Will it return one day? (yes)

 

Gen 2:7 And יהוה Elohim formed the man out of dust from the ground and breathed (neshâmâh) into his nostril’s breath of lives. And the man became a living being. (neshâmâh = puff or divine breath imparted to every newborn)

 

Pro 20:27  The spirit (neshâmâh) of a man is the lamp of יהוה, Searching all his inmost parts.

 

Gen 2:8 And יהוה Elohim planted a garden in Ěen, (pleasure and delight) to the east, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 

 

The garden was not just about food — it was a place where YHVH walked and talked with Adam and Eve. (Gen 3:8). It would be a kind of sanctuary just as the Tabernacle and Temple that were later built for YHVH’s presence and communion with man.

 

Gen 2:9 And out of the ground יהוה Elohim made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, with the tree of life in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

 

These two trees represent the destiny of every human that has lived or will live on planet earth.

From the garden to the grave YHVH has given each man and woman the free will to choose life or to choose death.

 

Manmade religious doctrines will oppose this view. Religion is designed to brainwash you to seek life from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Even modern-day evangelicals love to quote scriptures like Joh 15:16  “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit’’ Forgetting that man’s choices are based on YHVH’s foreknowledge of all things. In other words YHVH chooses those whom He knows will respond to His calling and prompting – to seek life from the tree of life.

 

Isa 46:10  declaring the end from the beginning, and from of old that which has not yet been done, saying, ‘My counsel does stand, and all My delight I do,’

 

When we choose the Tree of life we are choosing YHVH’s ways as He has revealed them to us in the Torah and confirmed by all His Word. The Torah is called a “Tree of Life” (Prov 3:18).

The Torah of YHVH is perfect Ps 19 James 1 – it provides council, purpose and direction for every aspect of human life in this age and in the coming age.

 

“Nothing is more contrary to the sinful nature of mankind than the acceptance of a position of dependency. Willing dependence is a profound testimony of a change in the natural bent of a sinner.” Tim Hegg.

The Tree of Life – Torah – is supremely the most powerful expression of a life dependent upon its Maker.

 

Gen 2:10 And a river went out of Ěen to water the garden, and from there it divided and became four heads. 

Gen 2:11 The name of the first is Pishon, it is the one surrounding the entire land of awilah, where there is gold. 

Gen 2:12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium is there, and the shoham stone. 

Gen 2:13 And the name of the second river is Gion, it is the one surrounding the entire land of Kush. 

Gen 2:14 And the name of the third river is iddeqel, it is the one which goes toward the east of Ashshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 

 

YHVH is going to create a renewed heaven and earth that will compare to what He created in Eden – only much better.

 

Hag 2:8  The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares יהוה of hosts. 

Hag 2:9  Let the esteem of this latter House be greater than the former,’ said יהוה of hosts. ‘And in this place I give peace,’ declares יהוה of hosts.” 

 

Gen 2:15 And יהוה Elohim took the man and put him in the garden of Ěen to work it and to guard it. 

Gen 2:16 And יהוה Elohim commanded the man, saying, “Eat of every tree of the garden, 

Gen 2:17 but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.” 

 

In the coming Messianic age and even beyond YHVH has created a beautiful space for His covenant children – 1000 generations multiplied by 70 years for a generation = 70 000 years.

 

Deu 7:9  “And you shall know that יהוה your Elohim, He is Elohim, the trustworthy Ěl guarding covenant and loving-commitment for a thousand generations with those who love Him, and those who guard His commands, 

 

Psa 105:8  He has remembered His covenant forever, The Word He commanded, for a thousand generations, 

 

Gen 2:18  And יהוה Elohim said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, I am going to make a helper for him, as his counterpart.” 

Gen 2:19  And from the ground יהוה Elohim formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called each living being, that was its name. 

Gen 2:20  So the man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field. But for the man there was not found a helper for him, as his counterpart. 

Gen 2:21  So יהוה Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 

 

The Hebrew word that is traditionally translated as “rib” is tsela‘. Ziony Zevit, Distinguished Professor of Biblical Literature and Northwest Semitic Languages at American Jewish University in Bel-Air, California, believes that this translation is wrong, as do many scholars. It was first translated as “rib” in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures from the mid-third century B.C.E. However, a more careful reading of the Hebrew word for “rib” in the Adam and Eve story suggests that Eve was created from another, very different, part of Adam’s anatomy—. However, a more careful reading of the Hebrew word for “rib” in the Adam and Eve story suggests that Eve was created from another, very different, part of Adam’s anatomy—his os baculum (penis bone).

 

‘’This idea was not new and had appeared in the ancient midrashic literature of Genesis Rabbah 18:2( Rabbi Samuel bar Naman) approximately 1700 years ago.

 

·        The perineal raphe is a line of tissue running from the anus through the scrotum and along the underside of the penis.

·        In embryology, it marks where the urogenital folds fused in development.

·        Some Jewish thinkers (especially medieval) connected this scar-like line with the “surgery” performed on Adam when God took the tselaʿ.

·        Thus, the raphe was seen as the “mark” left by God’s removal of the bone/side.

 

‘’Genesis Rabbah’’ is one of the earliest Midrashim on the Torah – dating from around the second century CE – ‘’

 

The Torah is like a divine marriage manual. The Song of Songs reveals details of the intimacy between a man and his wife. Many of the ancient and even modern sages considered this manual – “The Song of Songs” as the most set apart book in all of YHVH’s Word.

 

The highly esteemed and conservative Christian commentator, Adam Clarke, wrote:

‘There are many passages in it which should not be explained. ... the references being too delicate; and Eastern phraseology on such subjects is too vivid.... Let any sensible and pious medical man read over this book, (Song of Songs) and, if at all acquainted with Asiatic phraseology, say whether it would be proper, even in medical language, to explain all the descriptions and allusions in this poem.” – end quote.

 

Gen 2:23 And the man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one is called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of man.” 

Gen 2:24 For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, yet they were not ashamed. 

 

In rabbinic thought, before eating from the Tree of Knowledge, Adam and Chavah lived in a state of purity and harmony with each other and with all YHVH ‘s creation. The fall distorted this harmony, but redemption will restore this harmony, and sexual desire will be restored to its pure purpose — not selfish lust, but holy union. Human intimacy is viewed as a reflection of a divine mystery. Thus, sexuality is not just personal — it has cosmic and mystical significance.

 

Eph 5:31 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Gen_2:24

Eph 5:32 This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly. 

Eph 5:33 However, you too, everyone, let each one love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she fears her husband. 

 

The Fall

Gen 3:1  And the naasha was more crafty than all the lives of the field which יהוה Elohim had made, and he said to the woman, “Is it true that Elohim has said, ‘Do not eat of every tree of the garden’?” Footnote: aOr Naash. Traditionally rendered the “serpent”. See Explanatory Notes “Serpent” and “Naash”. 

Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the naash, “We are to eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, 

Gen 3:3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, Elohim has said, ‘Do not eat of it, nor touch it, lest you die.’ ” 

Gen 3:4 And the naash said to the woman, “You shall certainly not die. 

Gen 3:5 “For Elohim knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” 

Gen 3:6 And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, and she took of its fruit and ate. And she also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 

Gen 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made loin coverings for themselves. 

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of יהוה Elohim walking about in the garden in the cool of the day, and Aam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of יהוה Elohim among the trees of the garden. 

Gen 3:9 And יהוה Elohim called unto Aam and said to him, “Where are you?” 

Gen 3:10 And he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 

Gen 3:11 And He said, “Who made you know that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 

Gen 3:12 And the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 

 

“vaochel” “and I ate” “In an astounding interpretation, the sages note that the verb is in the future tense, as if Adam was saying, “I ate and will eat again!” the implication was that if Adam was faced with the same temptation he would succumb again and again – Stones Chumash.

 

Gen 3:13 And יהוה Elohim said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The naash deceived me, and I ate.” 

Gen 3:14 And יהוה Elohim said to the naash, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and more than every beast of the field. On your belly you are to go and eat dust all the days of your life. 

Gen 3:15 “And I put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed.b He shall crush your head, and you shall crush His heel.” Footnote: bFirst promise of the Messiah. 

Gen 3:16 To the woman He said, “I greatly increase your sorrow and your conception – bring forth children in pain. And your desire is for your husband, and he does rule over you.” 

Gen 3:17  And to the man He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘Do not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground because of you, in toil you are to eat of it all the days of your life, 

Gen 3:18 and the ground shall bring forth thorns and thistles for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. 

Gen 3:19 “By the sweat of your face you are to eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you return.” 

Gen 3:20 And the man called his wife’s name awwah, because she became the mother of all living. 

Gen 3:21 And

יהוה Elohim made coats of skin for the man and his wife and dressed them. 

 

Hos 2:14  “Therefore, see, I am alluring her, and shall lead her into the wilderness, and shall speak to her heart, 

Hos 2:15  and give to her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Aor as a door of expectation. And there she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Mitsrayim. 

Hos 2:16  “And it shall be, in that day,” declares יהוה, “that you call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Ba‛al.’ 

Hos 2:17  “And I shall remove the names of the Ba‛als from her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. 

Hos 2:18  “And in that day I shall make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping creatures of the ground, when bow, and sword, and battle I break from the earth. And I shall make them lie down in safety. 

Hos 2:19  “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me forever, and take you as a bride unto Me in righteousness, and in right-ruling, and loving-commitment and compassion. 

Hos 2:20  “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me in trustworthiness, and you shall know יהוה

Hos 2:21  “And it shall be in that day that I answer,” declares יהוה, “that I answer the heavens, and they answer the earth, 

Hos 2:22  and the earth answer the grain and the new wine and the oil, and they answer Yizre‛ěl. 

Hos 2:23  “And I shall sow her for Myself in the earth, and I shall have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion. And I shall say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people,’ while they say, ‘My Elohim!’ ” 

 

The apostle Paul gives us a most brilliant midrash on this Torah portion:

 

Future Glory

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the esteem that is to be revealed in us. 

Rom 8:19  For the intense longinga of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim. Footnote: aLit. anxiously looking with outstretched head

Rom 8:20  For the creation was subjected to futility, not from choice, but because of Him who subjected it, in anticipation, 

Rom 8:21  that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage to corruption into the esteemed freedom of the children of Elohim. 

Rom 8:22  For we know that all the creation groans together, and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 

Rom 8:23  And not only so, but even we ourselves who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we ourselves also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 

Rom 8:24  For in this expectation we were saved, but expectation that is seen is not expectation, for when anyone sees, does he expect it? 

Rom 8:25  And if we expect what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance. 

Rom 8:26  And in the same way the Spirit does help in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray, but the Spirit Himself pleads our case for us with groanings unutterable. 

Rom 8:27  And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the set-apart ones according to Elohim. 

Rom 8:28  And we know that all matters work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Rom 8:29  Because those whom He knew beforehand, He also ordained beforehand to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, for Him to be the first-born among many brothers. 

Rom 8:30  And whom He ordained beforehand, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also declared right. And whom He declared right, these He also esteemed. 

 

Conclusion – Only by being born again or being born from above can you move from the small ‘’hey’’ to the big ‘’hey’’.

 

Joh 3:3  יהושע answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he is unable to seea the reign of Elohim.” Footnote: aOr perceive. 

Joh 3:4  Nadimon said to Him, “How is a man able to be born when he is old? Is he able to enter into his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 

Joh 3:5  יהושע answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he is unable to enter into the reign of Elohim. 

Joh 3:6  “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 

 

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. Ameyn.

Additional Midrash on this Torah portion:

Ephesians 4:4–7 reflects themes deeply rooted in rabbinic thought — unity of YHVH, unity of people, ritual immersion, divine presence, and measured grace. Paul is speaking in a Jewish conceptual framework, while applying it to the Messianic body.

Eph 4:4  one body and one Spirit, 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, who is above all,a and through all, and in you all. Footnote: aSee Mrk_12:32, Mrk_12:34, 1Co_8:6, 1Ti_2:5, Mrk_12:29-34

Eph 4:7  But to each one of us favour was given according to the measure of the gift of Messiah. Rom 8:29 YHVH’s purpose for every person on earth.

 

Rabbinic marriage imagery:

Eph 5:24  But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every respect. Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it, Eph 5:26  in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,f Footnote: f Rev_19:8-9. Eph 5:27  in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might be set-apart and blameless. ‘blemish’’ σπίλος (spilos) and Line 7 of Dev 32:5    שִׁחֵת לוֹ לֹאבָּנָיו מוּמָם: morally corrupt – masc מוּמָם

Song of Songs 4:7כֻּלָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי וּמוּם אֵין בָּךְ – “You are altogether beautiful, my beloved, and there is no blemish מוּמָם in you.”

The rabbis also used marriage imagery for Israel as God’s bride, the Temple, and the Torah-observant community.

The NT context (Eph 5:25–27) compares Christ and the ekklesia to husband and wife.

Rabbinic parallel: Israel is called the Bride of YHVH at Sinai.

Exodus Rabbah 33:8 – YHVH gave Israel the Torah like a ketubah (marriage contract).

Pesikta Rabbati 21 – Israel will be presented to YHVH “as a bride adorned for her husband.”

The language of without blemish reflects Levitical language: sacrifices must be “without spot or blemish” (Lev 22:19–20). Rabbis applied this to Israel’s set apartness as YHVH’s offering in the world.

 

The first resurrection not the rapture.

 

Rabbinic literature envisions a mingling of the resurrected dead with those still alive when the redemption comes.

Talmud Sanhedrin 91b Rav states: “The righteous whom the Holy One will resurrect will never return to dust.” This suggests some alive when Messiah comes will not die, but be transformed into immortality.

Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer 34 - When Messiah comes, the dead will rise, but the righteous still alive will also rejoice with them. Emphasizes the “great banquet” with both groups present.

(Zohar II:108b) Talks about a generation that will not taste death but will be “clothed in garments of light” alongside the resurrected ones. Both groups united in God’s presence.

These are the verses that later interpreters (Christian & Jewish) associated with Petra/Sela as a place of refuge or judgment:

 Isaiah 16:1“Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of daughter Zion.”

  Isaiah 42:11 — mentions the inhabitants of Sela shouting for joy.

The Midrash and Talmud generally don’t name Petra/Sela as an eschatological refuge for Israel.

However, they do speak about a remnant escaping in the time of tribulation:

Midrash Tehillim 118: In the “great day of judgment,” Israel will be surrounded, but God will provide hidden places of escape.

Pesikta Rabbati 36: At the end of days, the nations will besiege Jerusalem, and a remnant of Israel will be saved and sheltered until Messiah’s deliverance.

Sela/Petra specifically isn’t highlighted, but the concept of a divinely protected refuge for the righteous remnant is there.

Zohar (III:212b) speaks of the “faithful remnant” fleeing into the “desert of the peoples” until the time of redemption.

1. Seven Things Created before the World -  Pesachim 54a; Nedarim 39b; Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer

1.        Torah

2.        Repentance (Teshuvah)

3.        Garden of Eden

4.        Gehenna (Hell)

5.        The Throne of Glory

6.        The Temple (Beit ha-Mikdash)

7.        The Name of the Messiah

 Pesachim 54a (variant list) also adds: The Righteous (Tzaddikim) themselves.

Genesis Rabbah 1:4: The Spirit of the Messiah was present before creation.

Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 16: Israel was in YHVH’s thought before the world.