Haftarah (Conclusion) 1 Shmuel (God hears) Samuel 11
Torah – Haftarah Connection
In the Torah reading we see that the LORD’s appointed leader for the Israelites, Moshe, was not only greatly underappreciated by the People, but there was even resentment of Moshe’s role by those in leadership. In the time of Shmuel the Prophet, the People wanted a king over them as the Nations had; rather than recognizing that the LORD was their King!
RCS (Renewed Covenant Scriptures) Connections with the Torah
There are 11 citations from this week’s Torah reading in the RCS. Notably, Paul cites two verses, Num.16:5 & 16:26, in 2 Tim. 2:19. 2 Timothy is Paul’s last Letter. Those who unfortunately teach that Paul abandoned the ‘Law’, are very very mistaken! Paul still – very much – cites from the Torah after 16 or 17 years of ministry! So much for the supposed ‘first Calvinist’! (Which is a post-Biblical anachronistic Western revision of Paul. Cf. esp. Acts 23:6; cf. also Acts 22:1-3, 24:16-17; cf. 2 Cor.11:22 etc).
For here; 2 Timothy 2:19 is in the context of Paul addressing two men who were spreading false teaching that was negatively impacting followers! (They claimed that the resurrection had already taken place). Paul begins 2 Timothy 2:19 in Greek with an emphasis and specific identification of the subject named, that being the firm foundation of God. Paul goes on to say that the LORD knows those who are His. As we repeatedly point out in our teaching; know in Hebrew means by experience, intimacy, personal relationship. Though Paul of course has to use a form of the Greek word gnosis ‘know’, in Paul’s Hebrew heart (cf. Acts 22:1-3; esp. 24:16-17!), Paul is thinking that the LORD knows those who are His, on the basis of the Hebrew for ‘know’.
Gnosis ‘know’ in Greek, has the idea of knowing by the mind, intellectually knowing; this is not at all what Paul is thinking of!
According to Greek text sources, Paul cites from the Hebrew Bible in the RCS between190 to 195 times. Please note: these are direct citations; it does not include Paul’s numerous allusions to the Hebrew Bible.
Summary of the Chapters
Chapter 16
Rebellion by the Israelites in the Wilderness continues. It is now directed against Moshe by the Levite Korach and a group in Hebrew called ‘lifted up’ and ‘men of name’. This is Hebrew’s way of saying men of distinction.
Korach claims that since all of Israel is holy, Moshe and Aharon have lifted themselves up over Israel.
NOTE: being in a position of leadership or being seen as having distinction in a group, calls for those in that position to have even more humility than the ordinary person. Moshe most certainly did! In Bamidbar 12, Moshe was called the man with the most humility on Earth.
Moshe summons Dathan and Abiram, two of the leaders among this rebellious crew after Moshe is unable to convince Korach that Korach is wrong. The two men are critical of Moshe.
Moshe is greatly distressed; he’s done nothing whatsoever to materially benefit from his position.
The LORD responds. He is outraged – the literal Hebrew text when someone becomes angry is often literally ‘anger flared in his nostrils’. The LORD is outraged at the treatment of those He very Personally called. In the ancient Middle East and in the Hebrew Bible – as well as with Yeshua – someone who is sent is an exact representation of the one who sends them.
To be critical of Moshe and Aaron was to impune the One who called in sent them to Israel! The LORD tells Moshe and Aaron to separate themselves from this assembly and He will destroy them in an instant.
Moshe and Aaron appeal to God as the God of the spirits of all flesh, not to destroy the whole assembly over the sin of one man. We see once again the godly humility of Moshe and Aaron, men who were true servants of the LORD. The greats of the Bible – and this is very key – are concerned for the Jewish People – not themselves.
A Deeper Taste of Hebrew
In Num. 16:21, ‘separate’ in Hebrew is used in a form which indicates a response to something and the LORD also gave this as an imperative! The word ‘separate’ used here means to separate voluntarily for a positive purpose. It is first used in Genesis 1:3 in which God separates between light and dark. It is also used in Genesis 13 of the separation between Abraham and Lot.
God creates an extraordinary response to those who rebelled. In Hebrew, the Earth opened its mouth and swallowed them. This is a classic Hebraic expression; not just that the ground swallowed them up but that the Earth opened its mouth. This is typical of Hebrew’s very vivid and very concrete way of expressing things.
Those who rebelled are swallowed by the Earth alive. The Israelites fully fear the same thing will happen to them.
Fire is used in the process of drawing near to the LORD and in this instance, determining who was right. Fire came down and in Hebrew very literally ate (translated ‘consumed’) the 250 men.
We should note exactly the same thing – in Hebrew literally being eaten by fire – happened in the beginning of Leviticus 10. Two of Aharon’s sons brought what is called in Hebrew ‘strange fire’. Meaning, fire they were not commanded to bring before the LORD. It also demonstrates a key Torah principle known in Hebrew as measure like before a measure, i.e., measure for measure. Fire very inappropriately was brought before the LORD. So, fire was used to consume those brought it.
This Torah-based principle of measure for measure is used by both Yeshua and Paul. Cf. Mt. 7:1-2, 2 Cor. 9:6 respectively.
Chapter 17
The entire assembly of the children of Israel complain once again against Moshe and Aharon. They blame Moshe and Aharon for the death of the leaders.
For a second time, the Lord tells Moshe and Aaron to remove themselves from the assembly and He will literally ‘eat’, i.e., ‘consume’ the assembly.
Moshe and Aaron fall on their faces and intervene once again on behalf of their brethren. Moshe tells Aaron to take a fire pan and place incense on it and that this would provide atonement for the members of the assembly, who had begun dying.
A Deeper Taste of the Hebrew
The point of incense is most certainly not because the LORD needs something that smells nice! Incense was something aromatic, very finely ground up. As one of the great rabbinic commentators astutely points out, those very fine particles waft in the air over a distance. It is symbolic of someone or the community seeking to draw near to the LORD.
Aharon stands between the dead and the living and the plague stops. Commentators point out this once again proves Aharon’s greatness.
The Israelites fear that they will all die, Including, those who draw closer to the, more deeply in Hebrew, Source Place of the Presence that Dwells like a Neighbor; in English, Tabernacle.
Chapter 18
The LORD tells Aharon what his service will be in the Source Place. Part of what the People bring before the LORD will be given to Aharon and his sons in order to provide for them. This is spelled out in great detail.
This reminds us; God is concerned about every single detail! We learn this from the Hebrew Bible. Details matter! Details count! God overlooks or forgets nothing! We remember that in the middle of Luke 12, Yeshua assures his fellow Jewish Brothers that God knows their need and will provide for them. He tells them every hair on their head is numbered!
Tithes are given to the Levi’im. The word Levite comes from the Hebrew verb meaning ‘to fasten or attach’. That was the mission function purpose of the Levi’m; to help the individual Israelite or Community attach themselves to the LORD.
Paul, who very much frequented the Temple when he was in Jerusalem, saw his ministry to the Gentiles very very much as that of a Levi; cf. esp. Rom.15:16.
Tithing
This is a key topic and one that has been of great concern to my dear Christian brethren. We have teaching on tithing in the window immediately below the Torah window, The Hebrew and Jewish Basis of the Bible from A to Z. You’ll find teaching under T Tithe.
Since I actually have over 325 pages handwritten on the subject that I hope to turn into a book one day, let’s just sum up the key points of tithing here.
Christians 1000% in no way shape or form are obligated whatsoever to tithe – period!
If the first Jewish Brothers don’t tithe to their assemblies, then how can Gentiles 2,000 years later possibly be obligated to tithe to theirs?
Tithing very unfortunately is taught to my dear Christian Brothers backwards – because it’s taught from English; not Hebrew, as it should be.
Tithing in Hebrew does not mean 10% or 1/10. There’s a separate related Hebrew word for that. We cannot stress enough in our teaching; the Biblical model is of things being whole. When you take something that is whole and remove 10% of that, the actual Biblical model of wholeness is diminished!
In Vayikra 27 (‘Vayikra’, ‘And Called’ is the Hebrew name of ‘Leviticus’, ‘Pertaining to the Priests’. Leviticus comes from the Greek ‘pertaining to the priests’. The instruction the LORD gives is take say a whole herd and start counting the animals 1 2 3 4 etc. The 10th one – the one that makes a whole unit – Is the one designated for the LORD. Ten is considered the first number that makes a whole unit, because it is the first number that is not a single number.
The actual Biblical model of tithing again, is not taking something that is whole and removing a tenth of it; but rather, counting up to make something that is a whole unit!
The spiritual ramifications of Christians tithing to Gentile assemblies and the spiritual diminishing that is done in the process, because funds are not flowing to where they’re supposed to, is outside of our scope here.
Mussar – Moral Instruction
If Korach truly thought Moshe was doing something wrong, there was a right way to rebuke him. Cf. Lev. 19:17-18. Korach should have taken Moshe aside; not criticized him in public! Cf. Lev.19:17-18. As we’ve pointed out in other teaching, cf. Mk. 8:30-35 regarding Shimon Peter taking Yeshua aside in private, and Yeshua then taking Shimon Peter aside.
If you have an issue with someone, don’t talk to others about them, go to them directly!
Strengthening & Encouragement
When unfairly treated or accused by others, take the example of Moshe to heart. Appeal to the LORD. Be more concerned for your brethren than yourself. Ask the LORD to enlighten them about what’s right and the situation. Ask the LORD that He not judge them harshly if they are part of the Kingdom. Have steadfast trustworthiness that LORD knows you as it means in Hebrew. We are known by experience, intimacy, and personal relationship with the LORD, through placing our steadfastness in His Son Yeshua. Wow!