Haftarah – Conclusion – Yirmayahu (‘The LORD casts’, ‘Jeremiah’) 1:1- 2:23
The Prophet Yirmayahu speaks on Israel’s disloyalty and sinfulness after the LORD saved Israel from Constraint (the meaning of the Hebrew name for Egypt); as well as giving Israel the Torah and the land of Israel.
Israel turns from the LORD and seems to have forsaken the LORD. The LORD uses Nations to chastise Israel. Nonetheless – the LORD recalls the great kindness of Israel’s youth and then Israel’s bridal-like love in following after Him in the Wilderness. These are very unique and truly remarkable words of the LORD about Israel!
Despite the gloom that will befall Israel for straying from the LORD, there is always at the end, optimism.
One of the best-known verses of the Bible and one of great encouragement and certainty of Yirmayahu is 1:5. “… before I formed you in the belly I had experience, intimacy, personal relationship with you before you came forth”…. As we repeatedly repeat in our teaching: ‘know’ in Hebrew means to know by experience, intimacy, and personal relationship. Thus, we rendered accordingly.
irmayahu like all of the greats of the Bible – our ultimate model of course being a wonderful Mashiach Yeshua – cf .Mk.14:34- 36, cf. Philippians 2:5 -11 etc. – display great humility. Those Prophets Personally called by the LORD, never feel they are adequate for the task. On humility, which in part means a holding back of power, cf. most esp. Paul’s Hebraic type hymn Phpns. 2:5-11
RCS (Renewed Covenant Scriptures) Connections
Num. 30:2. Mt. 5:33
Num. 31:16. Judah (not ‘Jude’) v. 11, Rev. 2:14
Mt. 5:33, citing Num. 30:2, should be particularly noted. Yeshua, in the context of Illuminating the true essence and substance of the Torah in the Teaching on the Hill (a more accurate name than Sermon on the Mount) Mt. 5:21-7:28, teaches about Vows & Oaths. Words have power and it is extremely important that we say what we mean, mean what we say, and do what we say we will do! If not, we should say nothing.
Summary and Outline of the Chapters
Chapter 30 v. 2 & On
Moshe tells the Israelites what the LORD commands, i.e., as we repeatedly repeat in our teaching ‘command’/’commandment’ more deeply in Hebrew meaning in part ‘fulfilling of which leads to fullness of life’, regarding Vows & Oaths.
Jacob (not ‘James’) 3 speaks about the power of something so small yet so impacting, that being the tongue.
The LORD’s very specific instructions regarding a woman and her vows and the circumstances they are made in.
Chapter 31
The chapter opens with the LORD telling Moshe that, in Hebrew, the Israelites are to take not vengeance but rather; a retributive justice against the Midianites. This was for the Midianites earlier having misled the Israelites and getting the men to indulge in the gross conduct and behavior that typified pagans.
The battle against the Midianites is described.
Moshe takes the officers of the Israelite Army to task, because they let the Midianite females live – and it was they who badly mislead the Israelite men.
Laws on koshering the various metal utensils seized by the Israelites in their war on the Midianites. Kosher in Hebrew means ‘fit’.
Detailed teaching on the division of the spoils of war on the Midianites.
A Deeper Taste
The chapter ends with captured gold being taken from Israel’s officers (Hebrew, ‘princes’) and brought to the Appointed Tent. What is translated ‘remembrance’, this gold being from the Israelites, more deeply means in part ‘call to mind with affection leading to action’. This is exactly exactly what Yeshua speaks of at the Last Passover Seder in Lk. 22:19-20.
What my dear Christian brethren know as Communion, Yeshua said to his beloved Taught Ones ‘to do; call to mind, call to mind with affection, call to mind with affection leading to action’.
What are known in Hebrew as the holy vessels for the Source Place of the Presence that Dwells like a Neighbor, the deeper meaning of one of the names of what Christians call the Tabernacle, came from the following. The LORD did not have silver and gold fall from the Heavens nor did He supernaturally cause it to appear for the Israelites – which of course He could have!
In Exodus 11, we learn that more deeply in Hebrew that the Israelites were found worthy by the Egyptians; the LORD led the Egyptians to do so. The Egyptians then gave their silver and gold to the Israelites as they were asked to. These items were then elevated for a holy and a spiritual purpose by being recast as what are called in Hebrew (the) holy vessels of the Source Place!
At the end of Numbers 31 the same thing happens. Precious objects are taken from pagans. They are then elevated for a holy and spiritual purpose in the Source Place. This would call to mind with affection leading to action, that the Israelites had previously received gold and gave it for use in the Source Place. In this instance, the gold comes from the defeated Midianites.
Chapter 32
Reuven (‘Behold a son’, ‘Rubin’) and Gad (‘a troop’) request to stay on the east side of the Yarden (‘Descender'(?) ‘Jordan’) River and not actually enter into the Land of Israel. They have large numbers of flocks and it seems the land on the east side of the river was particularly good for their flocks.
Moshe objects; he says to those two tribes; how can you stay behind while your brothers fight for the Land? The two tribes clarify that they are not going to leave their brothers to do the fighting, but rather they will also fight with them. Afterward, they wish to return to their homes on the east side of the Yarden.
Moshe very forthrightly lays out the conditions for the two tribes request.
The Torah once again in detail delineates what the tribes of Reuven & Gad do.
Mussar – Ethics, Morals, Discipline, Commitment
We learn how very very truly important it is to keep to our word.
This is especially so when it comes to the aid of our brethren! As followers of Yeshua, it is most especially important that we do what we say and keep our word; whether others do or not!
We point out in our teaching: as the rabbis very astutely and correctly point out; Man is the only creature that God gives the gift of articulated speech to. Thus, if Man does not keep his word, he misuses a most precious gift of God. We become more like Him and Mashiach, when we do what we say! Cf. 2 Pet. 1:3-4.
Orthodox Judaism has a particular focus and teaching on avoiding what is called in Hebrew literally an evil tongue. It includes the idea of not only avoiding gossip; but also, not speaking badly of others, and, recognizing that we have to give an account for our words. So then – be cautious and weigh out, so to speak. like gold coins, what we say and what we vow or take an oath to do! This focus and practice – unlike certain other things regarding my dear Christian brethren – would also – very much so (!) – be something to spend time learning about, focusing on, and practicing.
No matter what the intention – can a dear Christian brother or sister who is truly looking for the real Hebrew & Jewish Roots – and what the Torah more deeply is about for Christians – pursue things like the Festivals and Judaica – yet give little or no thought to doing what they say or what they promise to do? Especially, when it comes to their Jewish Brothers?
Yeshua prohibits prayer that in the original language is ‘inarticulate speech lacking thought’, Mt. 6:7. This and verse 8 are the prelude to the Lord’s Prayer that follows beginning with verse 9.
Yeshua also warns: by your words, you’ll be condemned Mt. 12:37. In the original there’s an intensity to this.
My very dear wife Rachel has said to me many many times over the years, “I say what I mean and I mean what I say”. Praise God she does so! (Rachel would say it’s because of the LORD, not her).
Strengthening & Encouragement
Our words have power; it is not of course our own power but rather the gift of articulated speech that the LORD gives us, if we have been blessed to receive it. In our everyday lives and everything we say – and everything we are allowed to do or not to – we have the opportunity to exercise the unique gift that God gives us!
When we use it thoughtfully, carefully, – and wisely – and of course guided by the gift of the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) using it to praise and thank not only Him, but also His Son Yeshua – and lift up and encourage others, we honor the gift God gives us. We honor and glorify Him by doing so! This also honors what we have, in Greek; a deep sharing in the divine nature 2 Pet.1:3-4! If you are familiar with the word koinonia, it includes the meaning ‘a deep sharing in’.
In context this has to do with a deep sharing in the ethical and moral nature of God. Only Man can choose to be moral or immoral. Man made in God’s image and likeness has to do with God’s ethical and moral nature. The Hebrew in Genesis 1 does not refer to physical likeness
(Note – Peter is NOT talking about sharing in power, signs or wonders etc. In context – which is always extremely important for properly understanding and applying Scripture – Peter writes about escaping the morally decaying world of the first Roman Empire, that the Jewish & Gentile followers of Yeshua that Peter writes to in Asia Minor, find themselves in Cf. 2 Pet. 1:3-12)!