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Esnoga Bet El 102 Broken Arrow Dr. Paris TN 38242 United States of America © 2022 E-Mail:waltoakley@charter.net |
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Triennial Cycle (Triennial Torah Cycle) / Septennial Cycle (Septennial Torah Cycle)
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Three- and 1/2-year Lectionary Readings |
Third Year of the Triennial Reading Cycle |
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Ab 23, 5782 / August 19-20, 2022 |
Seventh Year of the Shmita Cycle |
Candle Lighting and Habdalah Times: https://www.chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting.htm
Roll of Honor:
This Commentary comes out weekly and on the festivals thanks to the great generosity of:
His Eminence Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David and beloved wife HH Giberet Batsheva bat Sarah
His Eminence Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu ben Abraham and beloved wife HH Giberet Dr. Elisheba bat Sarah
His Honor Paqid Adon David ben Abraham
His Honor Paqid Adon Ezra ben Abraham and beloved wife HH Giberet Karmela bat Sarah
His Excellency Adon Luqas Nelson
His Honor Paqid Adon Tsuriel ben Abraham and beloved wife HH Giberet Gibora bat Sarah
Her Excellency Giberet Sarai bat Sarah & beloved family
His Excellency Adon Barth Lindemann & beloved family
His Excellency Adon John Batchelor & beloved wife
Her Excellency Giberet Leah bat Sarah & beloved mother
His Excellency Adon Yehoshua ben Abraham and beloved wife HE Giberet Rut bat Sarah
His Excellency Adon Michael ben Yosef and beloved wife HE Giberet Sheba bat Sarah
Her Excellency Giberet Prof. Dr. Emunah bat Sarah & beloved family
His Excellency Adon Robert Dick & beloved wife HE Giberet Cobena Dick
His Excellency Adon Aviner ben Abraham and beloved wife HE Giberet Chagit bat Sarah
His Excellency Adon Ovadya ben Abraham and beloved wife HE Giberet Mirit bat Sarah
His Excellency Adon Brad Gaskill and beloved wife Cynthia Gaskill
His Excellency Adon Shlomoh ben Abraham
His Excellency Adon Ya’aqob ben David
For their regular and sacrificial giving, providing the best oil for the lamps, we pray that GOD’s richest blessings be upon their lives and those of their loved ones, together with all Yisrael and her Torah Scholars, amen ve amen!
Also, a great thank you and great blessings be upon all who send comments to the list about the contents and commentary of the weekly Torah Seder and allied topics.
If you want to subscribe to our list and ensure that you never lose any of our commentaries or would like your friends also to receive this commentary, please do send me an E-Mail to chozenppl@gmail.com with your E-Mail or the E-Mail addresses of your friends. Toda Rabba!
Blessing Before Torah Study
Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us through Your commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah. Amen!
Please Ha-Shem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your delight. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Amen!
Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!
Ha-Shem spoke to Moses, explaining a Commandment. "Speak to Aaron and his sons and teach them the following Commandment: This is how you should bless the Children of Israel. Say to the Children of Israel:
May Ha-Shem bless you and keep watch over you; - Amen!
May Ha-Shem make His Presence enlighten you, and may He be kind to you; - Amen!
May Ha-Shem bestow favor on you and grant you peace. – Amen!
This way, the priests will link My Name with the Israelites, and I will bless them."
These are the Laws for which the Torah did not mandate specific amounts: How much growing produce must be left in the corner of the field for the poor; how much of the first fruits must be offered at the Holy Temple; how much one must bring as an offering when one visits the Holy Temple three times a year; how much one must do when doing acts of kindness; and there is no maximum amount of Torah that a person must study.
These are the Laws whose benefits a person can often enjoy even in this world, even though the primary reward is in the Next World: They are: Honoring one's father and mother; doing acts of kindness; early attendance at the place of Torah study -- morning and night; showing hospitality to guests; visiting the sick; providing for the financial needs of a bride; escorting the dead; being very engrossed in prayer; bringing peace between two people, and between husband and wife; but the study of Torah is as great as all of them together. Amen!
We pray for our beloved Hakham His Eminence Rabbi Dr. Yosef ben Haggai. Mi Sheberach…He who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David, and Solomon, may He bless and heal the sick person HE Rabbi Dr. Yosef ben Haggai, May the Holy One, Blessed is He, be filled with compassion for him to restore his health, to heal him, to strengthen him, and to revivify him. And may He send him speedily a complete recovery from heaven, among the other sick people of Yisrael, a recovery of the body and a recovery of the spirit, swiftly and soon, and we will say amen ve amen!
We pray for Her Honor Giberet Zahavah bat Sarah, the beloved wife of His Eminence Rabbi Dr. Haggai, who is struggling with health issues. She had surgery last week and is dealing with recovery. The tests came back and there were no cancer cells in her lymph nodes, and they believe they removed all cancer cells. Baruch HaShem. Mi Sheberach – He Who blessed our holy and pure Matriarchs, Sarah, Ribkah, Rachel and Leah, bless Her Honor Giberet Zahavah bat Sarah and send her a complete recovery and strengthening of body and soul. Please G-d heal her, please. Please G-d heal her, please. Please G-d heal her, please. Cure her, strengthen her, make her healthy and return her to her original strength, together with all the sick of Yisrael. And may it be so willed, and we will say, Amen ve Amen!
A Prayer for Israel
Lead them, swiftly and upright, to Your city Zion and to Jerusalem, the abode of Your Name, as is written in the Torah of Your servant Moses: “Even if your outcasts are at the ends of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather you, from there He will fetch you. And the Lord your God will bring you to the land that your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it, and He will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your fathers.” Draw our hearts together to revere and venerate Your name and to observe all the precepts of Your Torah, and send us quickly the Messiah son of David, agent of Your vindication, to redeem those who await Your deliverance.
“Shabbat “Atem Nitsavim” - ”You stand”
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Shabbat # 2 of Consolation/Strengthening
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Shabbat |
Torah Reading: |
Weekday Torah Reading: |
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אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים |
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Saturday Afternoon |
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Reader 1 – D’barim 29:9-11 |
Reader 1 - B’midbar 27:15-17 |
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Reader 2 – D’barim 29:12-14 |
Reader 2 - B’midbar 27:18-20 |
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“Vosotros todos estáis” |
Reader 3 – D’barim 29:15-28 |
Reader 3 - B’midbar 27:21-23 |
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D’barim (Deuteronomy) 29:9 – 30:10 |
Reader 4 – D’barim 30:1-3 |
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Psalms 140:1- 142:10 |
Reader 5 – D’barim 30:3-5 |
Monday & Thursday Mornings |
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Ashlamatah: Joshua 24:1-8, 12-13 |
Reader 6 – D’barim 30:5-7 |
Reader 1 - B’midbar 27:15-17 |
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Special Ashlamatah: Isaiah 49:14-51:3 |
Maftir – D’barim 30:8-10 Joshua 24:1-8, 12-13 |
Reader 2 - B’midbar 27:18-20 |
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N.C.: Mark 16:9-11; Luke 24:9-12 |
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Reader 3 - B’midbar 27:21-23 |
Summary of the Torah Seder – D’barim (Deut.) 29:9 – 30:10
· Introduction to Third Discourse of Moses– Deut. 29:9-12
· Israel: Past, Present & Future Is a Unity – Deut. 29:13-28
· Conclusion To Third Discourse: Deut. 30:1-20
· Omnipotence of Repentance: Return from Exile – Deut. 30:1-10
There are two admonitory (tochacha) sections in the Torah. One is in Leviticus (26:14) and the second is in Deuteronomy (29:18). Ezra declared that the curses in Vayikra be read before Shavuot and those in Debarim before Rosh HaShanna (megillah 31b).
Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan
for: D’barim (Deut.) 29:9 – 30:10
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RASHI |
TARGUM PSEUDO-JONATHAN |
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9. You are all standing this day before the Lord, your God the leaders of your tribes, your elders and your officers, every man of Israel, |
9. MOSHEH the prophet said: I have called you not in secret, but while standing this day all of you before the LORD your God; the princes of your Sanhedrin, the chiefs of your tribes, your elders and your officers, all men of Israel, |
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10. your young children, your women, and your convert who is within your camp both your woodcutters and your water drawers, |
10. your little ones, your wives, and your sojourners who are in your camps, from the hewer of your wood to the filler of your water, JERUSALEM: Your little ones, wives, and sojourners within your camps, from the hewer of your wood to the filler of your water, |
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11. that you may enter the covenant of the Lord, your God, and His oath, which the Lord, your God, is making with you this day, |
11. that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, and may have in remembrance the oath which the LORD your God does ratify with you this day: JERUSALEM: that you may not transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, nor the oath which He confirms with you this day, |
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12. in order to establish you this day as His people, and that He will be your God, as He spoke to you, and as He swore to your forefathers to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. |
12. that you may stand today before Him a purified people; and that He may be a God to you, as He has spoken to you, and as He did swear unto Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob. |
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13. But not only with you am I making this covenant and this oath, |
13. And not with you only do I ratify this covenant, and attest this adjuration; |
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14. but with those standing here with us today before the Lord, our God, and [also] with those who are not here with us, this day. |
14. but all the generations which have arisen from the days of old stand with us today before the LORD our God, and all the generations which are to arise unto the end of the world, all of them stand with us here this day. JERUSALEM: All the generations which have arisen from the days of old until now stand with you to-day before the LORD your God, and all the generations which are to arise after us stand also here with us to-day. |
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15. For you know how we dwelled in the land of Egypt, and how we passed among the nations through which you passed. |
15. For you know the number of the years that we dwelt in the land of Mizraim, and the mighty works which were wrought for us among the nations through which you have passed. |
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16. And you saw their abominations and their repugnant idols [of] wood and stone, silver and gold which were with them. |
16. You have seen their abominations, and their idols of wood and stone which they have set forth in the streets, and the idols of silver and gold that they have placed with themselves in the houses, shutting the doors after them lest they should be stolen. JERUSALEM: You have seen their hateful things and their abominations, the idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold; idols of wood and stone set forth in the streets, but those of silver and gold kept with themselves in the house because they were afraid, they would be stolen. |
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17. Perhaps there is among you a man, woman, family, or tribe, whose heart strays this day from the Lord, our God, to go and worship the deities of those nations. Perhaps there is among you a root that produces hemlock and wormwood. |
17. Beware, then, lest there be among you now or hereafter a man, woman, family, or tribe, whose heart may be turned away to wander any day from the service of the LORD our God to worship the idols of those nations; or lest there be among you the error which strikes root (in them) whose heart wanders after his sin; for the beginning of sin may be sweet, but its end is bitter as the deadly wormwood. JERUSALEM: Lest there be among you man or woman, family or tribe, whose heart is turned away this day from the LORD our God to go and worship the idols of these people, or there be a man among you whose heart ponders upon sin, which is like a root struck into the earth; for its beginning may be sweet as honey, but its end will be bitter as the deadly wormwood; |
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18. And it will be, when he [such a person] hears the words of this oath, that he will bless himself in his heart, saying, "I will have peace, even if I follow my heart's desires," in order to add the [punishment for the] unintentional sins [of this man] to that of [his] intentional sins. |
18. or it be that when he hears the words of this curse, he become reprobate in his heart, saying: I will have peace, though I go on in the strength of the evil desires of my heart: so that he will add presumption to the sins of ignorance. |
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19. The Lord will not be willing to forgive him; rather, then, the Lord's fury and His zeal will fume against that man, and the entire curse written in this book will rest upon him, and the Lord will obliterate his name from beneath the heavens. |
19. It will not be pleasing to the LORD to forgive him; for the LORD's anger and indignation will wax hot against that man, and all the words of the curses written in this book will rest upon him, and the LORD will blot out the memorial of his name from under the heavens. |
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20. And the Lord will separate him for evil, out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant, written in this Torah scroll. |
20. And the LORD will separate him unto evil, from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the maledictions of the covenant which are written in this book. |
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21. And a later generation, your descendants, who will rise after you, along with the foreigner who comes from a distant land, will say, upon seeing the plagues of that land and the diseases with which the Lord struck it: |
21. And the generations of your children who will arise after you, and the stranger who will come from a far-off land, when they see the plagues of that land, and the afflictions which the LORD will have sent upon it, |
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22. Sulphur and salt have burned up its entire land! It cannot be sown, nor can it grow [anything], not [even] any grass will sprout upon it. It is like the overturning of Sodom, Gemorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which the Lord overturned in His fury and in His rage. |
22. the whole land burnt with brimstone, salt, and fierce heat, no longer fit for sowing, nor productive of a blade of any springing herbage; ruined, as Sodom and Amorah, Admah and Zeboim, were overthrown by the Word of the LORD in His wrath and indignation; |
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23. And all the nations will say, Why did the Lord do so to this land? What [is the reason] for this great rage of fury? |
23. then all people will say, Why has the LORD done so unto this land? What means the strength of this great anger? |
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24. Then they will say, It is because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord, God of their fathers, [the covenant] which He made with them when He took them out of the land of Egypt, |
24. And they will say, Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Mizraim. |
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25. For they went and served other deities, prostrating themselves to them deities which they had not known, and which He had not apportioned to them. |
25. But they went after their evil desires, and served the gods of the Gentiles, and worshipped gods which they had not known nor had any part with. |
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26. And the Lord's fury raged against that land, bringing upon it the entire curse written in this book. |
26. And the anger of the LORD waxed strong against this land, to bring upon it all the curses written in this book. |
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27. And the Lord uprooted them from upon their land, with fury, anger and great wrath, and He cast them to another land, as it is this day. |
27. And the LORD has made them to wander forth from their country with anger, indignation, and wrath, and has cast them into captivity in another land until this day. |
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28. The hidden things belong to the Lord, our God, but the revealed things apply to us and to our children forever: that we must fulfill all the words of this Torah. |
28. The secret things are manifest before the LORD our God, and He will take vengeance for them; but the things that are revealed are delivered unto us and to our children for ever, to perform by them the thing that is right, for the confirmation of all the words of this Law. |
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1. And it will be, when all these things come upon you the blessing and the curse which I have set before you that you will consider in your heart, among all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you, |
1. And it will be, when all these words of blessings, or their contraries, which I have set in order before you will have come upon you, you will be converted in your hearts to return unto My fear, in all the dispersions (among) the nations where the LORD will have scattered you. |
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2. and you will return to the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and you will listen to His voice according to all that I am commanding you this day you and your children, |
2. The upright of you will be favoured with a blessed repentance; and though you have sinned, yet will your repentance come up unto the glorious throne of the LORD your God, if you will hearken to His Word according to all that I have commanded you this day, you, and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul. |
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3. then, the Lord, your God, will bring back your exiles, and He will have mercy upon you. He will once again gather you from all the nations, where the Lord, your God, had dispersed you. |
3. And His Word will accept your repentance with favor, and will have mercy upon you, and He will gather you again from all the nations whither the LORD your God had scattered you. |
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4. Even if your exiles are at the end of the heavens, the Lord, your God, will gather you from there, and He will take you from there. |
4. Though you may be dispersed unto the ends of the heavens, from thence will the Word of the LORD gather you together by the hand of Elijah the great priest, and from thence will He bring you by the hand of the King Messiah. |
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5. And the Lord, your God, will bring you to the land which your forefathers possessed, and you [too] will take possession of it, and He will do good to you, and He will make you more numerous than your forefathers. |
5. And the Word of the LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed by inheritance, and you will possess it, and He will bless you and increase you more than your fathers. |
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6. And the Lord, your God, will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, [so that you may] love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, for the sake of your life. |
6. And the LORD your God will take away the foolishness of your heart, and of your children's heart; for He will abolish evil desire from the world, and create good desire, which will give you the dictate to love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul, that your lives may flow on for evermore. |
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7. And the Lord, your God, will place all these curses upon your enemies and upon your adversaries, who pursued you. |
7. And the Word of the LORD your God will send these curses upon your enemies who have oppressed you in your captivities, and such as have hated and persecuted, to destroy you. |
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8. And you will return and listen to the voice of the Lord, and fulfill all His commandments, which I command you this day. |
8. But you will return, and be obedient to the Word of the LORD, and do all His commandments that I command you this day. |
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9. And the Lord, your God, will make you abundant for good in all the work of your hands, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord will once again rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your forefathers, |
9. And the LORD your God will make you to abound in good; for you will prosper in all the works of your hands, in the offspring of your womb, the increase of your cattle, and the produce of your land, for good; for the Word of the LORD will return, to rejoice over you, to bless you, as He rejoiced over your fathers, |
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10. when you obey the Lord, your God, to observe His commandments and His statutes written in this Torah scroll, [and] when you return to the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul. |
10. if you will hearken to the Word of the LORD your God in keeping His commandments and statutes which are written in the book of this Law, when you have returned to the fear of the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. |
Reading Assignment:
The Torah Anthology: Yalkut Me’Am Lo’Ez - Vol 19: Deuteronomy – V – Repentance and Blessing
By: Rabbi Shmuel Yerushalmi, Translated by: Rabbi Eliyahu Touger
Published by: Moznaim Publishing Corp. (New York, 1991)
Vol 19: Deuteronomy – V – Repentance and Blessing pp. 3 - 31
Welcome to the World of P’shat Exegesis
In order to understand the finished work of the P’shat mode of interpretation of the Torah, one needs to take into account that the P’shat is intended to produce a catechetical output, whereby a question/s is/are raised, and an answer/a is/are given using the seven Hermeneutic Laws of R. Hillel and as well as the laws of Hebrew Grammar and Hebrew expression.
The Seven Hermeneutic Laws of R. Hillel are as follows
[cf. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=472&letter=R]:
1. Ḳal va-ḥomer: "Argumentum a minori ad majus" or "a majori ad minus"; corresponding to the scholastic proof a fortiori.
2. Gezerah shavah: Argument from analogy. Biblical passages containing synonyms or homonyms are subject, however much they differ in other respects, to identical definitions and applications.
3. Binyan ab mi-katub eḥad: Application of a provision found in one passage only to passages which are related to the first in content but do not contain the provision in question.
4. Binyan ab mi-shene ketubim: The same as the preceding, except that the provision is generalized from two Biblical passages.
5. Kelal u-Peraṭ and Peraṭ u-kelal: Definition of the general by the particular, and of the particular by the general.
6. Ka-yoẓe bo mi-maḳom aḥer: Similarity in content to another Scriptural passage.
7. Dabar ha-lamed me-'inyano: Interpretation deduced from the context.
Rashi’s Commentary on D’barim (Deut.) 29:9 – 30:10
9 You are all standing [The verse says, “this day,” which] teaches us that on the day of his death, Moses assembled Israel in the presence of the Holy One, Blessed is He, to bring them into [His] covenant.
the leaders of your tribes Heb. רָאשֵׁיכֶם שִׁבְטֵיכֶם , [lit., “your leaders, your tribes,” referring to two separate entities, which does not make sense here because “your tribes” includes the leaders. Rather, this means here:] “The leaders of your tribes.”
your elders and your officers [We learn from the order in this verse that] the more distinguished ones were mentioned first, and after this: “every man of Israel.”
10 both your woodcutters [and your water drawers] [The mention of these people separate to the main community of Israel] teaches us that in the days of Moses, Canaanites came to convert [to Judaism], just as the Gibeonites came [to convert] in the days of Joshua. This is the meaning of the verse regarding the Gibeonites, “And they also acted cunningly...” (Josh. 9:4), [i.e., pretending that they had come from a faraway country. When they were discovered, Joshua made them woodcutters and water drawers for Israel (see Josh. 9:3-27). Likewise, here, the Canaanites attempted to deceive Moses, but they did not succeed, and Moses did not accept them to be Jews. Rather,] Moses made them woodcutters and water drawers [i.e., slaves for Israel].-[Tanchuma 2; Yev. 79a; see Rashi Gittin 23b]
that you may enter Heb. לְעָבְרְךָ [Meaning,] “That you may pass through [i.e., enter] the covenant.” One should not understand this verb [to be in the causative conjugation,] to mean “to cause you to pass through,” [but rather, the verb is in the simple conjugation, and means that you yourselves will pass through]. This is similar to the expression, לַעֲשׂתְכֶם , “that you [yourselves] should do them” (Deut. 4:14).
that you may enter into the covenant [lit.] “that you may pass through the covenant.” This was the method of those who made covenants: They would set up a demarcation on one side and a demarcation on the other, and [the respective parties of the covenant] “passed through” between [these partitions], as the verse says, “[when] they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts” (Jer. 34:18).
12 in order to establish you this day as His people [Why does God here warn Israel against idolatry by making such grave oaths and severe curses, unlike other commandments where He would simply make a warning and attach a punishment if the commandment was transgressed?] He goes to so much trouble here, for the purpose of keeping you as His people. [Since He promised not to exchange you for another people (see the following Rashi), He must ensure your faithfulness to Him.
and that He will be your God Since God has given you His word and [also] sworn to your forefathers not to exchange their offspring for another nation, therefore, He [ensures your faithfulness to Him by] binding you through these oaths, so as not to provoke Him to anger, because He cannot separate Himself from you. Until here, I have explained this passage according to its simple sense. The homiletic explanation is as follows: Why is parashath נִצָּבִים juxtaposed to the curses [in parashath כִּי תָבֽא ]? Because when Israel heard these ninety-eight curses [delineated in כִּי תָבֽא , besides the forty-nine [curses] stated in Leviticus (26:14- 38), they turned pale, and said, “Who can possibly endure these?” [Thereupon,] Moses began to appease them [as follows]:
You are... standing this day You have provoked the Omnipresent to anger many times, yet He has not made an end to you. Indeed, you still exist before Him ["standing... before the Lord"].-[Tanchuma 1]
this day [You exist now] Just as this day exists. For [although] it becomes dark [for a period, nevertheless] it shines [again]. So too, here, God has made light for you, and He will again make light for you in the future. And the curses and sufferings preserve you and enable you to stand before Him [the curses, by preventing you to stray from serving Him, and the sufferings, by cleansing you of your sins]. Similarly, in the previous parashah [of כִּי תָבֽא , Moses spoke] words of conciliation, [e.g.,] “You have seen all that the Lord did...” (Deut. 29:1). Another explanation of "You are... standing": Because the Israelites were now passing from one leader to the next—i.e., from [the leadership of] Moses to [that of] Joshua. Therefore, Moses made them stand [in assembled ranks], in order to encourage them. Joshua did the same [when he was about to die (Josh. 24:1)]. Also, Samuel [did likewise], when Israel passed from his leadership to that of Saul, [as the verse says,] “Stand now, and I will reason with you before the Lord...” (I Sam. 12: 7). -[Tanchuma 1]
14 and [also] with those who are not here also with future generations.-[Tanchuma 3]
15 For you know [Verses 15-17 are understood as follows:] Since you saw the idolatrous nations, perhaps one of you was enticed to follow their ways, and “perhaps there is among you...” (verse 17), therefore, I must place you under an oath [because you are in this position of extra susceptibility].
16 you saw their abominations Heb. שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם . [Their idols are so termed] because they are disgusting, like creeping, crawling insects (שְׁקָצִים) .
their repugnant idols Heb. גִּלֻּלֵיהֶם . -[Their idols, thus termed] because they are putrid and disgusting like dung (גָּלָל) .
wood and stone You saw those [idols] made of wood and stone out in the open, because the heathen [who owned them, did not mind leaving them outside, since he] did not fear that they would be stolen. [Thus, regarding these idols, the verse says, "And you saw their... idols... (of) wood and stone."] However, [regarding the idols made] of “silver and gold,” they “were with them,” in the [confines of their private] treasure chambers, because [their heathen owners] were afraid that these [expensive idols] might be stolen.-[Tanchuma 3]
17 Perhaps there is among you - פֶּן־יֵשׁ בָּכֶם [This phrase, meaning,] “Perhaps there is among you,” [is repeated twice in this verse. Rashi explains here that there might be two levels of disobeying God. A person might serve other deities, or he is one...]
whose heart strays this day from accepting upon himself the covenant.
a root that produces hemlock and wormwood [This refers to] a root that produces a bitter herb, like giddin, which are bitter [see Targum Jonathan on Lam. 3:19]. Here, then, the verse means: “[Someone who] produces and increases evil among you.”
18 that he will bless himself in his heart Heb. וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ בִּלְבָבוֹ [the word וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ stems from] the word for “blessing” (בָּרֵךְ) . [The verse means:] “In his heart, [this man] will imagine a blessing of peace for himself, saying: These curses will not come upon me. I will have only peace!" וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ Bendira soy in Old French [i.e., the verb is in the reflexive conjugation], like ” וְהִתְגַּלָּח , And he shall shave himself" (Lev. 13:33), “ וְהִתְפַּלֵּל , and he will pray” (I Kings, 8:42), [which employs the reflexive form of the root פלל ].
I follow my heart’s desires Heb. בִּשְׁרִירוּת לִבִּי אֵלֵךְ [Meaning, “If I follow] what my heart beholds,” as in [the verse], “I behold it (אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ) , but it is not near” (Num. 24:17). That is to say [the verse means]: “[Even if I go in the way] that my heart sees [fit] to do.”
in order to add the [punishment for the] unintentional sins [of this man] - לְמַעַן סְפוֹת הָרָוָה - Because I will add to him the punishment for what he heretofore committed unintentionally, which I would have overlooked, but now, he has caused that I combine them with the intentional sins and punish him for everything. Similarly, Onkelos renders [the verse here as]: בְּדִיל לְאוֹסָפָא לֵיהּ חֶטְאֵי שָׁלוּתָא עַל זְדָנוּתָא , [meaning,] That I shall add for him the [punishment incurred for the] unintentional sins to [that of] the intentional sins. הָרָוָה [lit., “drunk.” Here, as explained, the word] refers to unintentional [sins], which [a man] commits as if in a drunken state, that is, unknowingly. הַצְּמֵאָה [lit., “thirsty.” Here, as explained, the word refers to intentional sins, that is] when [a man] commits [a sin] knowingly and out of lust.
19 The Lord’s fury... will fume [The image is as follows:] Through anger, the body [of a person] becomes heated up, and fumes are emitted from the nose. Similarly, [referring to God,] the verse says, “Smoke rose up in His nose” (II Sam. 22:9). Now, although this is inappropriate for the Omnipresent [since He has no physical form; nevertheless], Scripture describes [this concept] to the human ear in the manner to which it is accustomed and able to understand, according to the [natural] ways of the world. [Thus, the verse here is figuratively denoting God’s fuming anger.]
and His zeal Heb. וְקִנְאָתוֹ [This is] a term denoting [burning] fury, enprenemant [in Old French, zealous anger], firmly keeping hold of the trait of vengeance, without giving in whatsoever.
20 that is written in this book Heb. בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה , “written in this Torah scroll.” [Here, the word for “this” (הַזֶּה) is in the masculine form. However,] earlier, the verse says, “And also every sickness and plague... in this Torah scroll בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזּאֽת ” (Deut. 28:61), [where the word for “this” (הַזּאֽת) , appearing in the identical phrase, is in the feminine form. How do we explain the difference of gender for the same word, appearing in an identical phrase in Scripture? The answer is that there in Deut. 28:61,] the הַזּאֽת , which is in the feminine form, qualifies the word הַתּוֹרָה , “Torah” [which is in the feminine form]. And [here in our verse,] the word הַזֶּה , which is in the masculine form, qualifies the word סֵפֶר , “scroll” [which is in the masculine form. How do we know that each respective mention of the word “this” is qualifying the particular word described, and not otherwise? Because in these two verses,] the cantillation symbols punctuate the words [of the phrase “this Torah scroll”] in two different ways, [as follows]: In the passage [describing] the curses [i.e., in Deut. 28:61], the [cantillation symbol called] tipcha is placed under the word בְּסֵפֶר , [thus separating it from the next words הַתּוֹרָה הַזּאֽת ,] while [the words], הַזּאֽת הַתּוֹרָה are attached to each other [also by virtue of the cantillation symbols]. Hence, [the verse] employs the הַזּאֽת [for the word “this,” because it clearly is qualifying the word “Torah,” which is in the feminine form]. However, here [in our verse], the tipcha is placed under the word הַתּוֹרָה [Thus, together with its previous conjunctive symbol, the meircha placed under the word בְּסֵפֶר , it] joins these two words, בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה , into one attached [expression]. Accordingly, the word ["this"] qualifies the [first word in the expression, namely,] "scroll,"[the direct object in the expression" Torah scroll," and since the word “scroll”] is in the masculine form [thus, the qualifying word הָזֶה takes on the masculine form here].
25 which they had not known In which they had never recognized any divine power.
and which He had not apportioned to them Heb. וְלֹא חָלַק לָהֶם [Meaning, “God] had not allotted them” [these deities] to be their [Israel’s] portion. Onkelos, however, renders: “and which did not grant them any good.” [Here,] the expression וְלֹא חָלַק is [understood to mean]: “that deity which they would choose for themselves did not apportion to them any inheritance or any portion.”
27 And the Lord uprooted them Heb. וַיִּתְּשֵׁם ה' , as rendered by the Targum: וְטַלְטְלִינוּן , “and He drove them out.” Similarly, “Behold, I uproot them (נוֹתְשָׁם) from upon their land” (Jer. 12:14).
28 The hidden things belong to the Lord, our God Now, you might object [to God, saying]: "But what can we do? You punish the entire community because of the sinful thoughts of an individual, as Scripture says, ‘Perhaps there is among you a man...’ (verse 17 above), and after this, Scripture continues, ‘Seeing the plagues of that land [and the diseases with which the Lord struck it]’ (verse 21) [which seems to indicate that for the sinful thought of even one individual, the whole land would be struck down with plagues and diseases]. But surely no man can know the secret thoughts of his fellow [that we could somehow prevent this collective punishment!" In answer to this, God says:] “I will not punish you for the hidden things!” [I.e.,] because “[The hidden things] belong to the Lord, our God,” and He will exact punishment upon that particular individual [who sins in secret]. However, “the revealed things apply to us and to our children ” [that is, we are responsible for detecting the sins committed openly in our community, and] to eradicate any evil among us. And if we do not execute judgment upon these [open transgressions, over which we do have control,], then the whole community will be punished [because they would be remiss in their responsibility]. There is a dot placed over [each letter of] the words לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ here, to teach us homiletically that even for open sins [which were not brought to judgment, God] did not punish the whole community—until Israel crossed the Jordan. For then, they accepted upon themselves the oath at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, and thereby [formally] became responsible for one another (Sanh. 43b). [When dots are placed over letters of the Torah, this denotes an exclusion of some sort. In our context, our Rabbis teach us that the exclusion refers to the period prior to the crossing of the Jordan.]
Chapter 30
3 The Lord, your God, will bring back your exiles Heb. וְשָׁב , lit., The Lord, your God, will (Himself) return (with) your exiles. [That is, the verb שָׁב is in the simple conjugation. Now, since we understand the verse to mean:" The Lord your God will bring back your exiles,"] Scripture should have written, וְהֵשִׁיב ה' אֶתשְׁבוּתְךָ [with the verb וְהֵשִׁיב being in the causative conjugation, meaning “to bring back”]. But [although the meaning of the verse is indeed, “The Lord, your God, will bring back your exiles,”] our Rabbis learned from [the simple conjugation of the verb] here [which alludes to God Himself returning], that the Shechinah resides among Israel, as it were, in all the misery of their exile, and when the Jews are redeemed [from their exile], God writes [in Scripture an expression of] redemption for Himself [to allude to the fact that He has also been redeemed, as it were,] so that He Himself returns along with Israel’s exiles (Meg. 29a). A further [lesson] may be learned [from the unusual form of the verb which expresses “to bring back the exiles”]: The day on which Israel’s exiles will be gathered is so monumental and [this ingathering] will be such a difficult [procedure, as it were], that it is as though God Himself must literally take each individual Jew with His very hands, [taking him] out of his place [in exile. We see] the same concept [brought up in Scripture,] when the verse says, “And you will be gathered up, one by one, O children of Israel” (Isa. 27:12). [That verse refers to the ingathering of Israel’s exiles from Babylon. However,] we find this [idea] also regarding the [ingathering of] exiles from the other nations, as the verse says, “And I shall bring back the exiles of Egypt (וְשַׁבְתִּי שְׁבוּת מִצְרַיִם) ” (Ezek. 29: 14).
Ketubim: Tehillim (Psalms) 140:1-14; 141:1-10; 142:1-8.
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RASHI |
TARGUM |
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140:1. For the conductor, a song of David. |
1. For praise; a psalm composed by David. |
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2. Rescue me, O Lord, from an evil man from a man of robbery You shall guard me. |
2. Deliver me, O LORD, from an evil son of man; protect me from the man of rapacity. |
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3. Who plotted evil things in their heart; every day they gather to wage war. |
3. Who have plotted evil things in the heart; all the day they incite wars. |
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4. They whetted their tongue like a serpent; the venom of a spider is under their lips forever. |
4. They teach with their tongue like a snake; the venom of the spider is under their lips forever. |
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5. Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of a wicked man; from a man of robbery, You shall watch me, who plotted to cause my steps to slip. |
5. Protect me, O LORD, from the hand of wicked men; protect me from the man of rapacity; who have plotted to attack my steps. |
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6. Haughty men have concealed a snare for me, and [with] ropes they spread a net beside [my] path; they laid traps for me constantly. |
6. The proud have hidden a trap for me, and they spread out ropes as a net beside the path; they have placed snares for me always. |
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7. I said to the Lord, "You are my God." Hearken, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications. |
7. I said to the LORD, "You are my God." Hear, O LORD, the sound of my petition. |
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8. God, O Lord, the might of my salvation; You shall protect my head on the day of battle. |
8. God, the LORD, is the strength of my redemption; You have covered my head in the day of battle. |
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9. O Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked; do not let his thoughts succeed, for they are constantly haughty. |
9. Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of Doeg the wicked; do not support his thoughts; let them be removed forever. |
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10. The numbers of those who surround me, may the lies of their lips cover them. |
10. Ahithophel, head of the Sanhedrin of disciples-- may the toil of the slander of their lips cover them. |
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11. Let fiery coals descend on them; He will cast them into fire, in wars, so that they will not rise. |
11. May coals from heaven come upon them; may He make them fall into the fire of Gehenna, in sparks that glow, lest they rise to eternal life. |
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12. A slanderer will not be established on earth; a man of violence, the evil will trap him with thrust upon thrust. |
12. The man who speaks with deceitful tongue they cannot dwell in the land of life; the angel of death will hunt down the men of evil rapacity, he will smite them in Gehenna. |
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13. I know that the Lord will perform the judgment of a poor man, the cause of the needy. |
13. Then it is manifest before Me; for the LORD will work justice for the poor, justice for the needy. |
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14. But the righteous will thank Your name; the upright will sit before You. |
14. Truly the righteous/generous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will sit to pray before You. |
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141:1. A song of David. O Lord, I called You; hasten to me, give ear to my voice when I call out to You. |
1. A psalm of David. O LORD, I have called You; be concerned for me, hear my voice when I call to You. |
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2. My prayer shall be established like incense before You, the lifting of my hands as the evening offering. |
2. Let my prayer be directed before You like incense of spices, the upraising of my hands in prayer like a fragrant gift offered at evening. |
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3. O Lord, place a guard for my mouth; watch the portal of my lips. |
3. Place, O LORD, a guard on my mouth, a keeper on the portal of my lips. |
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4. Do not incline my heart to an evil thing, to perform deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity, and may I not partake of their feasts. |
4. Do not incline my heart to anything evil, to think thoughts in wickedness to join with men who practice deceit, and I will not dine at the revels of their banquets. |
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5. May a righteous man strike me with kindness and reprove me; may the oil of the anointment of my head not turn my head away, for as long as [I am] at my prayer, [it is] about their evils. |
5. The righteous/generous man will strike me because of kindness and rebuke me; the oil of holy anointing will not cease from my head, for still my prayer is marshaled against their evil. |
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6. Their judges were led astray by [their hearts of] stone, although they heard my words, which are pleasant. |
6. They have withdrawn from the academy because of their harsh judgments; they turn and hear my words, for they are pleasant. |
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7. As one who chops and splits [wood] on the ground, our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave. |
7. For like a man who labors and cleaves when plowing the earth, so are our limbs scattered on the mouth of the grave. |
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8. For to You, O God the Lord, are my eyes; I took shelter in You; do not cast out my soul. |
8. Therefore unto You, God, the LORD, do my eyes look; I have hoped in Your Word, do not empty out my soul. |
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9. Guard me from the snare that they have laid for me, and the traps of the workers of iniquity. |
9. Protect me from the power of the trap they have hidden for me, and the snares of those who practice deceit. |
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10. May the wicked fall together, [each] into his nets, until I pass by. |
10. May the wicked men fall into their nets together, until the time that I pass by. |
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142:1. A maskil of David, when he was in the cave, a prayer. |
1. A good lesson, composed by David when he was in the cave; a prayer. |
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2. [With] my voice, I cry out to the Lord; [with] my voice, I supplicate the Lord. |
2. With my voice I will cry out in the presence of the LORD; with my voice I will pray in the presence of the LORD. |
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3. I pour out before Him my speech; my distress I recite before Him. |
3. I will pour out my speech in His presence; I will tell of my trouble in His presence. |
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4. When my spirit enwraps itself upon me, and You know my path. In whichever way I go, they have hidden a snare for me. |
4. When my spirit grows weary against me, You know my path; on this road that I will walk, they have hidden a trap for me. |
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5. Looking to the right, I see that no one recognizes me; escape is lost from me; no one seeks my soul. |
5. I looked to the right and saw, and there was no-one acknowledging me; deliverance has vanished from me, and there is none who avenges my soul. |
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6. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, "You are my refuge, my lot in the land of the living." |
6. I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, "You are my deliverer, my portion in the land of the living." |
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7. Hearken to my cry for I have become very low; save me from my pursuers for they have overpowered me. |
7. Hear my prayer, for I have become very poor; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. |
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8. Take my soul out of confinement to give thanks to Your name; because of me the righteous will crown You, because You will recompense me. |
8. Deliver my soul from prison, to confess Your name; for my sake the righteous/generous will make for You a glorious crown, for You will repay me with goodness. |
Rashi’s Commentary on Tehillim (Psalms) 140:1-14; 141:1-10; 142:1-8.
Chapter 140
3 every day they gather to wage war There will be wars in their dwellings and in their settlements.
4 the venom of a spider Heb. חמתעכשוב . חמת is an expression of venom, as (Deut. 32:33): “the venom of (חמת) dragons is their wine,” for if you interpret it as an expression of wrath, does an expression of wrath fit with wine? Rather, it is an expression of venom, venimos in Old French. Similarly, here the term venom relates to “under the lips.”
a spider Heb. עכשוב , a spider, araignee in French.
6 and [with] ropes they spread a net It is customary to tie a long rope to the end of a net, and when the hunter sees the birds resting under the net, he draws the rope, and the net falls on the birds. beside [my] path Beside my paths and my steps.
beside Heb. ליד , like (II Sam. 14:30): “See, Joab’s field is near mine (ידי) .”
9 the desires of the wicked The wicked Esau.
for they are constantly haughty Heb. ירומו סלה , because they are arrogant always. Our Rabbis, however (Gen. Rabbah 75:9) explained זממוֹ as an expression of a bit that muzzles the camel, and it is a mishnaic expression.
do not take out Heb. אל תפק , Do not take it out of his jaws.
10 The numbers of those who surround me Armies of the number of the troops of Esau who plan to surround me, may the lies of their lips cover them. (I found.)
11 descend May the coals descend on them. Let them lie upon them until they sink and become extinguished by themselves. The body will thus disintegrate and disappear.
He will cast them into fire He Who casts and avenges [will cast them] into the fire of Gehinnom.
in wars He will cast them so that they will no longer rise.
in wars Heb. במהמרות , in wars and strife, an expression of (Deut. 9:4): “You have been rebellious (ממרים) .”
12 A slanderer Esau, who would trap with his mouth.
will trap him The evil that he does will trap him.
13 I know that ultimately the Lord will perform the judgment of a poor man, and He will avenge the vengeance of His servants.
14 But May he hasten and do it so that the righteous will thank His name.
Chapter 141
2 the lifting of my hands What I lift up my hands to You.
3 O Lord, place a guard for my mouth when I pray before You, that I should speak poetically, that it should be acceptable.
the portal of my lips That is the upper lip (like portals of my lips).
4 Do not incline my heart May my heart not be inclined toward evil.
and may I not partake of their feasts And I shall not sit at their feasts.
5 May a righteous man strike me with kindness and reprove me It is better that a true and righteous prophet reprove me and chastise me, for all his blows and his reproof are kindness.
may the oil of the anointment of my head not turn my head away The royal oil that was poured onto my head, as it is said (above 23:5): “You anointed my head with oil,” should not turn my head away from the reproof of the righteous man, to go and eat bread with the workers of iniquity. for as long as For as long as my prayer is in my mouth, it is about the evils of the workers of iniquity, that I should not stumble on them.
6 Their judges were led astray by [their hearts of] stone For the judges and leaders of these [people] have been led astray from the good way by the evil inclination and the heart of stone, and it is as hard as a rock.
although they heard my words [my] pleasant [words], which I speak of the commandments, and they do not repent of their evil way. Our Rabbis in the Baraitha of Sifrei (Deut. 3:23) interpreted it concerning Moses and Aaron, but I cannot reconcile the end of the verse with its beginning. I can perhaps reconcile it and say that in stubbornness, these people equal the stubbornness of those through whom Moses and Aaron died through the rock, for these too heard the pleasant words but do not repent.
7 As one who chops wood.
and splits on the ground So were our bones scattered to reach the entrance of death because of the evils of the transgressors.
Chops Heb. פלח , an expression of splitting, as (Job 16:13): “He splits my kidneys.”
8 For to You, etc., are my eyes This goes back to the above verses (3f.): Place a guard for my mouth...Do not incline...for to You...are my eyes, etc.
do not cast out my soul Heb. אל תער . Do not cast me from before You, like (Gen. 24:20): “and emptied (ותער) her pitcher into the watering trough.”
10 May the wicked fall...into his nets May the wicked man himself fall into his nets that he spreads at my feet.
Chapter 142
1 in the cave where he severed the skirt of Saul’s robe.
4 and You know my path how many snares are in it.
5 no one recognizes me Among all of Saul’s servants, there is no one who protests against him.
8 because of me the righteous will crown You Because of me, the righteous will crown You and give thanks to Your name, for You support those who fear You.
Meditation from the Psalms
Psalms 140:1-14; 141:1-10; 142:1-8.
By H. Em. Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David
Psalms chapter 140 reflects David’s dark and lonely feelings in the bitter period of his life when he was a fugitive from King Saul and other malicious enemies.[1] Had David merely been a commoner the situation would have been difficult enough, but he had already been anointed for monarchy by the prophet Samuel. Thus, David knew that he was HaShem’s chosen leader and that his pursuer, King Saul, had been rejected. David knew that all who opposed him were in effect opposed to HaShem Who chose him. How difficult this period was for David! He was so close to leading the people of HaShem, yet the Jewish people refused to recognize him.
Sforno comments that this difficult period in David’s life will be repeated on a larger scale at the advent of David’s scion, the Messiah.[2] The Messiah, a descendant of the House of David, will be Divinely chosen, and the scattered Jews will gather around his banner. Yet the enemies of Israel will ignore him and defy HaShem’s will. They will attack Israel in the awesome War of Gog and Magog in which they will meet their final defeat. At that time, the prophetic words of the Psalmist will be fulfilled: For I know that HaShem will act on the poor man’s claim, the judgment of the destitute. None but the righteous will thank Your Name, the upright will dwell in Your Presence.[3]
In this psalm, David asks that HaShem hear the sound of his petition, using the phrase ‘give ear’.[4] This is in contrast to our Torah portion where we are commanded to hear the word of HaShem. In this psalm, we hear David’s prayer that evil will come upon those who speak Lashon HaRa. In the next psalm, we will see that the ketoret is the atonement for those who speak Lashon HaRa that they may sit before HaShem in the land of the living.
This psalm concludes with the first glimmer of the ultimate good that the righteous will see, as explained by the Targum:
Tehillim (Psalm) 140:13 Then it is manifest before Me; for HaShem will work justice for the poor, justice for the needy. 14. Truly the righteous/generous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will sit to pray before You.
David composed Psalms chapter 141 as he fled from King Saul. David realized that לשון הרע, evil speech, had aroused Saul’s terrible jealousy and provoked him to violence. Here David pleads for Divine protection by virtue of his personal effort to guard his own lips from evil and slander.[5]
This psalm describes David’s experiences when, during his flight,[6] Saul fell into his grip, and he prayed that he should not be confronted by an urge to kill him.[7]
Thus, David’s prayers resemble ketoret - קטרת, incense,[8] for the Talmud[9] teaches that the offering of incense is an atonement for slander. Incense is offered in relative privacy, on the golden altar, which is accessible only to the priests, therefore it atones for slander whispered in secrecy.[10]
Exodus 30:34-36, 7-8 HaShem said to Moses: Take yourself spices — balsam, onycha, and galbanum — spices and pure frankincense; they are all to be of equal weight. You are to make it into Ketoret (incense), a spice-compound, the handiwork of an expert spice-compounder, thoroughly mixed, pure, and holy. You are to grind some of it finely and place some of it before the Testimony in the Tent of Appointment, where I shall designate a time to meet you; it shall be a holy of holies for you.
The ketoret consisted of eleven spices. Ten of the spices were sweet smelling and very pleasant. The eleventh spice, the galbanum, was very foul smelling. Since the ketoret represented the prayers of Israel, the galbanum reminds us that Israel is not complete unless we include the sinner into our minyan. The ketoret teaches us how our community to function. We are not to be looking to exclude the sinner, but rather to be inclusive in order to present the sweet savor that HaShem desires from our minyan. Our goal is to seek the lost and bring them into our midst in order that our prayers should be acceptable to HaShem.
The ketoret, as we explained earlier, is the atonement for Lashon HaRa. In this psalm, King David is seeking HaShem’s help in restraining his lips from Lashon HaRa, even as he strives to guard his own lips. He begs HaShem to hear his prayer as though it were ketoret.
Slander is a form of self-righteous arrogance, for the slanderer deems himself worthier than his victim. Incense, which is made of crushed spices and fragrances, is a symbol of self-effacement and humility.[11] Furthermore, the incense offering was composed of eleven ingredients, one of them of foul odor. The inclusion of a foul-smelling spice alludes to the idea that all Jews must unite together in prayer, righteous and sinner alike.[12] We should not allow haughtiness to erect barriers that divide us.
The root of Ketoret, קטרת, is קטר, the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew קשר, binding, knot. When Jews cease to be divided by slander, they will be bound together by a knot of love, which will link them with HaShem. The wicked that refuse to join this bond will fall into their own nets, and the righteous will pass through safely.[13]
Psalms chapter 142
This psalm tells us that it was written by King David. At the conclusion of Psalms chapter 141, David prayed, Protect me from the snare they laid for me and from the traps of those who practice iniquity.[14] None of David’s enemies had come as close to trapping him as did King Saul, who pursued David to his remote mountain hideaway. Surrounded on all sides, David and his tiny band retreated to their last hideout, deep in a dark cave.[15] At that terrible moment of despair, David saw himself on the brink of death. He composed this prayer to HaShem, pleading for a last-minute reprieve.[16]
Ibn Yachya comments that David’s hazardous situation was a precursor of the desperate plight which the Jews will face during their exile among the nations. There, too, the tiny nation will be surrounded by hostile enemies and the Jews will eventually come to realize that their only path of escape is prayer to HaShem and that they will gain their freedom only by rededicating themselves to HaShem. As the Psalmist concludes, Release my soul from confinement to thank Your Name.[17]
Again, in this psalm, David asks that HaShem hear his prayer for deliverance, using the phrase, ‘give ear’.
Tehillim (Psalms) 140:7 I have said unto HaShem: ‘Thou art my God’; give ear (הַאֲזִינָה), HaShem, unto the voice of my supplications.
Let’s take some time to examine ‘hearing’ and its relationship with the ear.
Ears hear things inside of oneself. The way we hear is one sound at a time. By the time we hear the second sound, the first sound is just a memory. And so, it goes with each subsequent sound. We then combine the sounds to make syllables inside our head. Our brain then assembles the syllables into words and the words into sentences, the sentences are assembled into paragraphs and the paragraphs are assembled into the final picture. By the time we have assembled the whole picture, there is no more sound. All of the sounds are just a memory. Since sounds must be assembled by the hearer, hearing is very much a subjective art. Hearing depends on the person and his background. No two persons build the same picture from the words of a speaker. We hear in the darkness. Sound characterizes this world, the world of movement.
In this world we struggle to develop the art of hearing. Those who wrestle with the Gemara are trying to reconstruct the fractured pieces of this world. For this reason, the Gemara often says, “Come and hear”. The Gemara wants us to take the broken pieces and reconstruct them in the same way that we reconstruct another person’s speech.
This world is all hearing. We do not see things as they are, we merely “hear” small pieces. If we pay attention and work diligently to make sense out of the “sounds”, then we can assemble a fractured picture.
The Olam HaBa, the next world, is a world of seeing. We will see things as they are. Everything will be apparent all at once. We will not have to struggle to reassemble the pieces.
Now we can understand what the Torah meant when it said:
Shemot (Exodus) 19:19-20 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And HaShem came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and HaShem called Moses [up] to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
When HaShem came down to Mt. Sinai, it means that shamayim, there, intersected, here, with this world. The world of sight intersected with the world of hearing. When this happened, we read of something very unusual:
Shemot (Exodus) 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off.
Now we can understand why the Torah says that we saw the thunder. We perceived the Olam HaBa. We were endowed with the modality of the next world. We no longer heard; we saw. We were a part of the Olam HaBa.
No wonder we had no movement. We had entered another dimension where we perceived that we had arrived at a place where there were no more needs. We lacked nothing, therefore there was no movement. Eretz (earth) became shamayim (heaven). Here became there! We had arrived at the place we had been moving towards, when we arrived where we were supposed to be, we no longer moved, we had arrived!
It should be obvious now why the Sages said that HaShem had suspended Mt. Sinai over our heads and told us to accept Torah or be buried:
Shemot (Exodus) 19:17 “They stood on the bottom of [lit. under] the mountain.”
Shabbath 88a And they stood under the mount: R. Abdimi b. Hama b. Hasa said: This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, overturned the mountain upon them like an [inverted] cask, and said to them, ‘If ye accept the Torah, ‘tis well; if not, there shall be your burial.’ R. Aha b. Jacob observed: This furnishes a strong protest against the Torah. Said Raba, Yet even so, they re-accepted it in the days of Ahasuerus, for it is written, [the Jews] confirmed, and took upon them [etc.]: [i.e.,] they confirmed what they had accepted long before.
This midrash means we had no free choice. We were seeing and seeing is believing! This is the coercion implied by suspending the mountain over our heads.
When shamayim intersected Eretz for a brief time, the nature of things changed. That brief moment was a foretaste of the Olam HaBa. The Sages discussed thin in:
Sukkah 5a and it has been taught, R. Jose stated, Neither did the Shechinah ever descend to earth, nor did Moses or Elijah ever ascend to Heaven, as it is written, ‘The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth hath He given to the sons of men’. But did not the Shechinah descend to earth? Is it not in fact written, And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai? — That was above ten handbreadths [from the summit]. But is it not written, And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives? — That will be above ten handbreadths. But did not Moses and Elijah ascend to Heaven? Is it not in fact written, And Moses went up unto God.? — [That was] to a level lower than ten [handbreadths from heaven]. But is it not written, And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.? -[That was] to a level lower than ten handbreadths. But is it not written, He seizeth hold of the face of His throne, and He spreadeth His cloud upon him, and R. Tanhum said: This teaches that the Almighty spread some of the radiance of his Shechinah and his cloud upon him? — That was at a level lower than ten handbreadths. But in any case, is it not written, ‘He seizeth hold of the face of His throne’? — The throne was well lowered for his sake until [it reached a level] lower than ten handbreadths [from Heaven] and then hell seized hold of it.
The “ear, אוזן - ozen”, is an organ with two intrinsic functions: Hearing and “balance, איזן – izun”. Since Hebrew is a Holy Language, every word is self-descriptive. The word “ear-אוזן” is of the same root as “balance-איזן”. Now, Chazal teach us that if we have a single organ with multiple functions, then all of its functions must, at its root, be a single function. The linguistic parallels merely reinforce this idea. What do you suppose is the connection between balance and hearing? Balance is taking two legs and bonding them into oneness, just as hearing bonds multiple words into one thought or idea. Balance is an absolutely stupendous feat that robots have had great difficulty achieving.
As an aside, in law, a hearing is a proceeding before a court which uses a set of balances as its symbol. The Hebrew word Moznayim represents “the scales”. Moznayim (מאזנים), from the word oznayim (ears), implies equilibrium and balance (the inner and outer sense of the ears).
Rav Yitzchak Hutner[18] begins, his explanation of the putting an awl through the servant’s ear, by quoting the Rabbenu Yonah who says that the ear is unique among the senses/organs because it is the only one that receives but does not emit. Seeing/the eyes receive visual stimuli but also “look”, convey emotion. The nose/smelling accepts scents and also acts, through blowing the nose, breathing, ...; so too for touch/hands, and taste/tongue. The ear is the quintessential receiver. Similarly, the servant’s identity is completely subsumed by hearing instructions from his master. This understanding is supported by a halakhah in the laws of evaluating worth. In ancient times, when damage was done to an organ of the body, financial compensation was required. How was damage assessed? The beit din would take the person to the slave market and determine how much he would be worth without that limb. The incredible idea is that for damage to the ear, the perpetrator must pay the full worth of the individual! The ear is worth more than any other sense organ. This notion is incredible for it contradicts the Talmudic reference which suggests that blindness is the worst curse a person could bear. The ear is essential for a servant for it represents his entire personality. The servant must listen to his master at all times. That is why the servant is exempt from positive time bound commandments.
What does shema - שמע – ‘hear’ mean? The word Shema means to hear, but it can also mean to gather.[19] Our Sages teach us that shema literally means the gathering of many and making them into one (inside of us).[20] The appropriateness of this definition is brought into sharp distinction when we see that the goal of the shema is that HaShem should be one and His name One. A more mystical way of putting it is to gather the scattered dimensions of our soul and unify them with HaShem such that we ‘know’ that HaShem is one and there is nothing else besides him.[21]
When we “hear”, we are really assembling syllables of sound coming from the speaker, into words. In turn, we assemble the words into sentences and paragraphs, and finally we assemble the paragraphs into a ‘picture’ of the idea of the speaker. The result of this long process, of hearing, is that we have hopefully formed a ‘picture’, in our own mind, of the speaker’s ‘picture’ in his own mind. Since the Tower of Bavel,[22] the ‘picture’ heard never matches the speaker’s picture. The goal, of course, is to have the ‘pictures’ match. This is not an easy task. The ultimate goal is to make one ‘picture’ and to share that one picture between the speaker and the ones hearing the speaker.
The reason that The Shema begins with this word is to remind us that our ultimate goal in ‘oneness’. Our Torah portion and our psalms are focused on having Israel assemble the pieces into a cohesive understanding, and then use that understanding as ‘marching orders’ to go and DO the work of HaShem in the world. Whether we are diligently assembling to the blessings and curses of our Torah portion into an action plan or assembling the troubles of King David into a model for our own lives, both portions are calling for us to make a cohesive picture that describes the will of HaShem for our lives.
The human body has a mashal, an analogy, about HaShem’s oneness. This mashal is based on our observation of the world. Our observation is that this world is composed of differentiated parts. We observe this same differentiation when we observe other human beings. They seem to be composed of parts: Head, hands, legs, etc. This is analogous to this world which seems to be composed of parts. Further, as we saw in our last mashal, HaShem seems to be composed of parts. Yet, we know that HaShem is ONE. That is our declaration in the Shema: HaShem is one! To understand this paradox, HaShem gives us a mashal in our own bodies that will help us understand this paradox.
When others observe us, they see parts. When we observe ourselves externally, we see parts. However, when we grasp ourselves internally, we see only the totality. We do not grasp ourselves, internally, as a collection of parts. We see only… ourselves! When we use our intellect, or our creativity, we do not have the sensation of moving to another part. We have only the sensation of ourselves as a unity. Our awareness of ourselves is always in totality. We grasp ourselves as a unity, not a collection of parts.
From this mashal we learn how to view HaShem as one. Since the whole world is nothing more than a manifestation of HaShem, we learn that despite the appearance of parts, this world is one as HaShem is one. Thus, we can begin to understand a bit about the unity of HaShem by observing how we are unified to ourselves.
Malchut - Kingship
One of the important functions of the Shema is to make HaShem our King. The Rambam taught this concept:
“The Second Mitzva is the commandment in which we are commanded regarding knowledge of the Oneness [of G-d], namely, that we should know that the Creator of Existence and its Primary Cause is One, as He stated, “Understand, O Israel, HaShem is our G-d, HaShem is One”.[23] In many midrashim you will find the Sages saying, “Al menas le’yached es Shemi” (“for the purpose of unifying My Name”) and “Al menas le’yachdeini” (literally, “for the purpose of unifying Me” - obviously, we cannot take this literally), and the like. Their intent in this statement is that the only reason He took us out of slavery and acted kindly and benevolently with us was in order that we should be a state of knowledge of [His] Oneness, for we are obligated in this. In many places this mitzva is referred to as “the mitzva of Oneness.” This mitzva is also called “Malchut”, as the Sages say, “To accept upon oneself the yoke of the Malchut Shamayim”, which means recognition and knowledge of [His] Oneness”.
Thus, we see that according to Chazal, the idea of “Malchut HaShem” (Kingship of HaShem) is the same as the idea of “Yichud HaShem”, the seclusion of HaShem. With this idea, the Adon Olam prayer makes sense. To say that HaShem was Melech (King) before any form was created is to say that He was One before He created the universe. Likewise, to say that HaShem will be Melech (King) after everything ceases to exist is to say that His Oneness will not be affected in any way when the universe ends. Lastly, we can understand the tenth pasuk of Malchiyot (Kingship). Even though the Shema doesn’t mention any form of the word “Melech” (King) it is nevertheless the perfect expression of Malchut HaShem (Kingship of HaShem), for it explicitly states that HaShem is One.
There is one more question we must answer: How is Malchut (Kingship) a metaphor for Oneness? The Rambam may have supported his statement from the words of Chazal, but what were Chazal thinking when they decided to refer to the idea of Yichud HaShem (the seclusion of HaShem) by the analogy of Malchut?
Before we answer this question, let us briefly review the idea of HaShem’s Existence and HaShem’s Oneness. The Rambam writes:
“The First Fundamental Principle is the Existence of the Creator, praised is He. Namely, that there Exists an Existence which is perfect in all manners of existence, and this Existence is the cause of the existence of all other existences, and through Him their existence is established, and their existence stems from Him. And if one could entertain the thought of the removal of His Existence, the existence of every other existence would be nullified, and they would not remain in existence. And if one could entertain the thought of the removal of all existence besides Him, then His Existence, may He be exalted, would not be nullified, and would not lack, for He, may He be exalted, does not need the existence of any other . . . all of them are dependent on His Existence. And this first fundamental principle is that which is indicated by the statement, “I am HaShem your G-d.”
HaShem refers to Himself as “Eheyeh Asher Eheyeh”, the Existing Being Who Is the Existing Being, or the Inherently Existent Being. In other words, our existence is a contingent and accidental existence; at one point in time, we did not exist, and sooner or later, we shall cease to exist; we do not have to exist, but rather, we exist because HaShem wills it. HaShem’s existence, on the other hand, is independent and essential; He always existed, exists now, and will always exist; unlike us, HaShem must exist. To suggest that HaShem could cease to exist is as absurd as the notion that water could cease to be wet. It is the nature of water to be wet, and it is the Nature of HaShem to Exist, as it were.
“The Second Fundamental Principle is His Oneness; may He be exalted. Namely, that this Cause of everything is One, not like the oneness of a species and not like the oneness of a class, and not like one unified composite, which can be divided into many unities, and not one like a simple body, which is one in number but is subject to division and subdivision ad infinitum, but He, may He be exalted, is One – a Oneness unlike any other oneness in any way.”
HaShem is One, and Only One. If our conception of G-d’s oneness contains any plurality whatsoever, then it must be incorrect. If our conception of G-d’s oneness is comparable in any way whatsoever to the oneness of anything else, it must be incorrect. G-d’s oneness is absolute, unshared by and incomparable to any other oneness. Oneness means that there is nothing else except HaShem! (Ein Od Milvado - אין עוד מלבדו)[24]
Thus, Malchut HaShem is not a metaphor for HaShem’s rulership over His creations. Rather, it is a metaphor for His Absolute Uniqueness - Oneness which is unlike any other. He is one and there is nothing besides HaShem. To say that HaShem is Melech (King) is to say that HaShem’s existence and oneness are completely superior and utterly different than the existence and oneness of any of His subjects.
Rebbi formulated the idea in an eloquent, easy-to-remember expression: Malchut does not refer to HaShem’s KingSHIP, but HaShem’s KingNESS. It is not a metaphor for His rulership over His creations, for HaShem was King before the universe existed. Rather, Malchut is a metaphor for His uniqueness, distinctness, and utter superiority of existence to all other beings.
In the shema, HaShem commands us to love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. If you will search the Tanach,[25] diligently, you will find only one individual who ever loved HaShem with all his might. This amazing individual could have been Mashiach except the people were not yet ready. King Yoshiyahu (Josiah) was the last righteous king before the captivity in Babylon. Note what the Tanach says about this great man:
II Melachim (Kings) 23:24-25 Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of HaShem. 25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to HaShem with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
When we begin looking for the Mashiach, what should we be looking for? How will we recognize this individual? I believe that we should study the life of King Yoshiyahu to find the traits of the Mashiach.
Now that we understand hearing and how the ear processes both words and balance, we can begin to understand what David is asking when he beseeches HaShem to hear his prayer for deliverance, using the phrase, ‘give ear’.
Tehillim (Psalms) 140:7 I have said unto HaShem: ‘Thou art my God’; give ear (הַאֲזִינָה), HaShem, unto the voice of my supplications.
Tehillim (Psalms) 141:1 A Psalm of David. HaShem, I have called Thee; make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I call unto Thee.
In Psalms chapter 140, David has multiple ‘supplications’ which HaShem is to assemble into a single, balanced response, which is to bring retribution to the wicked.
In Psalms chapter 141, David is asking that HaShem hear his ‘voice’, not his words. Voice cannot deceive. A voice contains the raw message of the heart. And yet again, David wants HaShem to assemble to sounds of his voice and restore balance to the world.
Ashlamatah: Joshua 24:1-8 + 12-13
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1. ¶ And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and he called the elders of Israel, and their heads, and their judges, and their officers; and they presented themselves before God. |
1. ¶ And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and he called to the elders of Israel and to its heads and to its judges and to its leaders, and they presented themselves before the LORD. |
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2. And Joshua said to the whole nation, "Thus said the Lord God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the river from earliest time, Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor; and they served other gods. |
2. And Joshua said to all the people: "Thus said the LORD the God of Israel: 'Your fathers dwelt across the Euphrates from of old - Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor; and they worshipped the idols of the Gentiles.' |
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3. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. |
3. And I took your father Abraham from across the Jordan. and I led him into all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his sons, and I gave to him Isaac. |
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4. And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau; and I gave to Esau Mount Seir to inherit it; and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. |
4. And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau, and I gave to Esau Mount Seir to inherit it, and Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. |
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5. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued the Egyptians, according to that which I did in their midst; and afterward I brought you out. |
5. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck down the Egyptians as I did in their midst, and afterward I brought you out. |
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6. And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. |
6. And I brought out your fathers from Egypt, and you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea. |
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7. And they cried to the Lord, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon him, and it covered him. And your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt. And you sojourned in the wilderness many days. |
7. And they cried out before the LORD, and He put darkness between you and between the Egyptians, and He made the sea come over them and covered them. And your eyes saw what I did among the Egyptians, and you dwelt in the wilderness for many days. |
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8. And I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and they waged war with you; and I delivered them into your hand, and you inherited their land; and I destroyed them from before you. |
8. And I brought you into the land of the Amorite who dwells across the Jordan, and they waged battle with you, and I gave them in your hand, and you took possession of their land and finished them off from before you. |
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9. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. |
9. And Balak the son of Zippor the king of Moab arose and waged battle against Israel. And he sent and called to Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. |
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10. And I did not want to hearken to Balaam, and he blessed you; so, I delivered you out of his hand. |
10. And I was not willing to listen to Balaam, and he blessed you with a blessing, and I saved you from his hand. |
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11. And you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the inhabitants of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. |
11. And you crossed the Jordan, and you came to Jericho, and they waged battle against you - the inhabitants of Jericho, the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Girgashites, the Hivvites and the Jebusites; and I gave them in your hand. |
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12. And I sent the hornet before you, and it drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your bow. |
12. And I sent before you the hornet, and I drove them out from before you - the two kings of the Amorites, not by your sword and not by your bow. |
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13. And I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you have settled in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which you did not plant, you eat. |
13. And I gave to you the land in which you did not toil; and the cities which you did not build, you dwell in them; and the vineyards and the olive groves that you did not plant, you are eating. |
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14. And now fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; and remove the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. |
14. And now fear from before the LORD, and worship before Him in integrity and in truth. And put away the idols that your fathers worshipped across the Euphrates and in Egypt, and worship before the LORD, |
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15. And if it displeases you to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell, but as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord." {P} |
15. And if it is evil in your eyes to worship before the LORD, choose for yourselves this day before whom you will worship - if it be the idols which your fathers who were across the Euphrates worshipped, or the idols of the Amorites in whose land you are dwelling. But I and the men of my house we will worship before the LORD." {P} |
Rashi’s Commentary on Joshua 24:1-8 + 12-13
3 and multiplied his seed Heb. וְאַרְבֶּה . defective הא (וְאַרְבּ) [from the root ריב to quarrel] How many quarrels and tests did I cause him to endure before I gave him seed.
7 and brought the sea upon him i.e., upon each individual among them, for if one escaped entering into the sea, a wave of the sea would pursue him and overtake him.
11 and the inhabitants of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, etc. All seven nations are mentioned here, since Jericho is situated on the border, and it was the bolt and lock [i.e., the fortification] of Eretz Israel, and the heroic soldiers of all the seven nations assembled therein.
In The School of the Prophets
Joshua 24:1-8 + 12-13
By: Hakham Dr. Yosef ben Haggai
As usual, our Prophetic Lesson for this Sabbath in the Hebrew text extends along one large Petucha (Closed Paragraph) – starting in Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:1 and concluding at Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:15. However, our Sages full of compassion for the congregation stipulated that for public reading from the Teba (pulpit) we should only read from the Prophets ten verses (Yehoshua - Joshua 24:1-8, 12-13). This of course, does not limit the preacher to refer or use in the course of his homily (sermon) from Joshua 24:1 – 24:15.
The verbal tally between our Torah Seder and Ashlamatah (Lesson from the Prophets) is as follows:
Deuteronomy 29:9 –
ט אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם: רָאשֵׁיכֶם שִׁבְטֵיכֶם, זִקְנֵיכֶם וְשֹׁטְרֵיכֶם, כֹּל, אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
9 You are standing this day all of you before the LORD your God: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel,
Joshua 24:1
א וַיֶּאֱסֹף יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶת-כָּל-שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, שְׁכֶמָה; וַיִּקְרָא לְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְרָאשָׁיו, וּלְשֹׁפְטָיו וּלְשֹׁטְרָיו, וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ, לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים.
1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
Therefore, the verbal tally consists of the terms:
· Tribes – Shivtei – שִׁבְטֵי -
· Elders – Zeqanim – זקן – these were the Sages
· Heads – Roshei – ראשׁ – these were the heads of each tribe
· Officers – Shoterim – שׁטר – these were the leaders of every community among the tribes
o Judges – Shofetim (Joshua)
o All the men of Israel – Kol Ish Yisrael (Torah)
In both cases i.e., in the Torah Seder and in the Ashlamatah the leadership is addressed first as is also the case in the pericopes of Mark, Luke, and Romans connected with our Torah Seder.
The environment of our Torah Seder, Ashlamatah, and readings from the Nazarean Talmud all address the leadership of the people of Israel at very special transition points in the history of both Israel and mankind. These transition points, have therefore serious implications and consequences for the leadership of the priestly nation of Israel.
Interestingly, among the Gentiles momentous changes come as the consequence of the people rebelling against the established authority via a revolution, whilst in Israel change comes because G-d awakens the conscience of a new leadership which replaces the previous one. For example, the passing of the leadership from the First-Born to the Levitical Priesthood, and the consequent passing of the leadership back again to the First-Born.
What is important here to acknowledge is that G-d does not work through mobs that rise up in their presumptuousness to do “the LORD’s work.” G-d, most blessed be He, is a G-d of order, and He works through institutions designed by Him and revealed to man in the Torah. Any institution that does not confirm to the pattern revealed by G-d in His Torah (Written and Oral) stands obviously for hidden purposes that are consequent with Divine Revelation.
Verse 15 of our Ashlamatah is perhaps one of the most famous challenging statements of Scripture:
“And if it is evil in your eyes to worship before the LORD, choose for yourselves this day before whom you will worship - if it be the idols which your fathers who were across the Euphrates worshipped, or the idols of the Amorites in whose land you are dwelling. But I and the men of my house we will worship before the LORD."
Please note that the terms “worship” and “serve” in Hebrew are synonymous. Today when people no longer worship or serve crude idols as was once the case, we have now new and more insidious forms of idolatry such as materialism, the ego-cult, etc. etc.
Primarily, there is a hidden idolatry that needs to be dealt with. This hidden idolatry is easily uncovered when we ask the question “For what purpose has G-d placed me one earth?” If the answer is like: “to have and build a good family,” or, “to pursue and enjoy my vocation,” or, “to live a good and decent life,” or any like arguments, we can easily detect that there is a personal idolatry within us. If the answer however is “to serve G-d faithfully” in whatever tasks he sets me to perform, whether it be raising a family, fulfilling a vocation, etc.” then we know that we are pleasing to G-d and fellowman. For, our common vocation is to serve G-d and enjoy Him forever in whatever area of service he has placed us, as it is said: “But I and the men of my house we will SERVE before the LORD."
Special Ashlamatah: Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 49:14 - 51:3
Shabbat # 2 of Consolation/Strengthening
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Targum |
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14. And Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me." |
14. Because Zion said, “The LORD has taken up His Shekhinah from me, the LORD has rejected me.” |
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15. Shall a woman forget her sucking child, from having mercy on the child of her womb? These too shall forget, but I will not forget you. |
15. “Is it possible that a woman can forget her son, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even if these may forget, My Memra will not reject you. |
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16. Behold on [My] hands have I engraved you; your walls are before Me always. |
16. Behold, as on hands you are portrayed before Me, your walls are continually before Me. |
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17. Your sons have hastened; those who destroy you and those who lay you waste shall go forth from you. |
17. They hasten, they build your ruins, those who razed you and those who laid you waste go away from you into exile.” |
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18. Lift your eyes around and see, all of them have gathered, have come to you; as I live, says the Lord, that you shall wear all of them as jewelry, and you shall tie them as a bride. |
18. “Lift up your eyes round about, O Jerusalem, and see all the sons of the people of your exiles: they gather, they come into your midst. As I live, says the LORD, all of them will be to you as a garment of glory, their deeds in your midst will be as the bride’s ornament. |
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19. For your ruins and your desolate places and your land that has been destroyed, for now you shall be crowded by the inhabitants, and those who would destroy you shall be far away. |
19. Surely your waste and desolate places and your devastated land – surely now you will be too pressed for inhabitants, and those who annihilated you will be rejected. |
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20. Your children of whom you were bereaved shall yet say in your ears, "The place is too narrow for me; move over for me so that I will dwell." |
20. From now on the sons of the people of your exiles will say, each one in your midst, ‘The place is too narrow for me; make room for me to dwell in.’ |
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21. And you shall say to yourself, "Who begot these for me, seeing that I am bereaved and solitary, exiled and rejected, and who raised these? Behold I was left alone; these-[from] where are they?" {P} |
21. Then you will say in your heart: ‘Who has brought me up these? I was bereaved and alone, exiled and cast out, but who has brought up these? Behold I was left alone, whence are these?’ |
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22. So said the Lord God, "Behold I will raise My hand to the nations, and to the peoples will I raise My standard, and they shall bring your sons in their armpits, and your daughters shall be borne on their shoulder[s]. |
22. Thus says the LORD God: “Behold I will disclose My might among the peoples, and raise my signal over the kingdoms; and your sons will come in litters and your daughters will be carried on couches. |
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23. And kings shall be your nursing fathers and their princesses your wet nurses; they shall prostrate themselves to you with their face on the ground, and they shall lick the dust of your feet, and you shall know that I am the Lord, for those who wait for Me shall not be ashamed. {S} |
23. Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens will minister to you. Upon their faces, upon the ground they will spread out to beseech from you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD, the righteous/generous who wait for My salvation will not be put to shame.” |
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24. Shall prey be taken from a mighty warrior, or shall the captives of the righteous escape?" {S} |
24. Is it possible that booty can be taken from the mighty, or that which virtuous men capture be rescued? |
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25. For so said the Lord, "Even the captives of a mighty warrior can be taken and the prey of a tyrant shall escape, and with your contender will I contend, and your sons I will save. |
25. Surely, thus says the LORD: “Even that which mighty men capture I will restore, and that which strong men take away, I will rescue, for I will avenge your retribution and save your sons. |
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26. And those who taunt you-I will feed their flesh, and as with sweet wine they shall become drunk [from] their blood; and all flesh shall know that I am the Lord Who saves you, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. {S} |
26. I will make the flesh of those who are your oppressors food for every bird of the heavens, and just as they are drunk with sweet wine, so will beasts of the field be drunk from their blood, Then all the sons of flesh will know that I am the LORD your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Strong One of Jacob.” |
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1. So said the Lord, "Where is your mother's bill of divorce that I sent her away? Or, who is it of My creditors to whom I sold you? Behold for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. |
1. Thus says the LORD: “Where is the bill of divorce which I gave your congregation, that it is rejected? Or who had a debt against Me, to whom have I sold you? Behold for your sins you were sold, and for your apostasies your congregation was rejected. |
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2. Why have I come and there is no man? [Why] have I called and no one answers? Is My hand too short to redeem, or do I have no strength to save? Behold, with My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make rivers into a desert; their fish become foul because there is no water and die because of thirst. |
2. Why, when I sent My prophets, did they not repent? When they prophesied, did they not listen? Is My might shrunk, that it cannot redeem? Or is there before Me no power to deliver? Behold, by My rebuke I will dry up the sea, I will make rivers a dessert; their fish will stink for lack of water, and die of thirst. |
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3. I clothe the heavens with darkness, and I make sackcloth their raiment. {P} |
3. I will cover the heavens as with darkness, and make as sackcloth their covering.” |
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4. The Lord God gave me a tongue for teaching, to know to establish times for the faint [for His] word; He awakens me every morning, He awakens My ear, to hear according to the teachings. |
4. The LORD God has given me the tongue of those who teach, to make [me] know [how] to teach with wisdom the righteous/generous who faint for the words of His Law. Therefore morning by morning He rises early to send His prophets so perhaps the sinners' ears might be opened and they might listen to teaching. |
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5. The Lord God opened my ear, and I did not rebel; I did not turn away backwards. |
5. The LORD God has sent me to prophesy. and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. |
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6. I gave my back to smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I did not hide my face from embarrassments and spitting. |
6. I gave my back to smiters, and my cheeks to them that pluck out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. |
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7. But the Lord God helps me, therefore, I was not embarrassed; therefore, I made my face like flint, and I knew that I would not be ashamed. |
7. For the LORD God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face strong like rock, and I know that I will not be put to shame; |
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8. He Who vindicates me is near, whoever wishes to quarrel with me-let us stand together; whoever is my contender shall approach me. |
8. my innocence is near. Who will go to judgment with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my enemy? Let him come near to me. |
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9. Behold, the Lord God shall help he that will condemn me, behold all of them shall wear out like a garment, a moth shall consume them. {S} |
9. Behold, the LORD God helps me; who will declare me a sinner? Behold, all of them are like the garment that wears out. that the moth eats. |
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10. Who among you is God-fearing, who hearkens to the voice of His servant, who went in darkness and who has no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord and lean on his God. {S} |
10. Who among you of those who fear the LORD obeys the voice of His servants the prophets, who performs the Law in distress as a man who walks in the darkness and has no light, trusts in the name of the LORD and relies upon the salvation of his God? |
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11. Behold all of you who kindle fire, who give power to flames; go in the flame of your fire, and in the flames you have kindled; from My hand has this come to you, in grief you shall lie down. {S} |
11. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who grasp a sword! Go, fall in the fire which you kindled and on the sword which you grasped! This you have from My Memra: you shall return to your stumbling. |
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1. Hearken to Me, you pursuers of righteousness, you seekers of the Lord; look at the rock whence you were hewn and at the hole of the pit whence you were dug. |
1. "Attend to My Memra, you who pursue the truth, you who seek teaching from the LORD; consider that as the hewn stone from the rock you were hewn and as the rubble from an empty pit you were hacked. |
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2. Look at Abraham your father and at Sarah who bore you, for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him and made him many. |
2. Consider Abraham your father and Sarah who was pregnant with you; for when Abraham was but one, single in the world. I brought him near to My service, and I blessed him and made him many. |
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3. For the Lord shall console Zion, He shall console all its ruins, and He shall make its desert like a paradise and its wasteland like the garden of the Lord; joy and happiness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and a voice of song. {S} |
3. For the LORD is about to comfort Zion and to comfort all her waste places, and He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, those offering thanksgiving and the voice of those singing. |
Rashi’s Commentary on Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 49:14 - 51:3
14 And Zion said She thought that I had forgotten her.
15 Shall a woman forget her sucking child Heb. עוּלָהּ, similar to עוֹלֵל.
from having mercy on the child of her womb Heb. מֵרֶחֶם בֶּן־בִּטְנָהּ.
These too shall forget Even if these forget, I will not forget you.
16 Behold on [My] hands Heb. עַל־כַּפַּיִם [lit. on hands]. I see you as though you are engraved on My hands, to see you and always to remember you. Another explanation is: עַל־כַּפַּיִם “from upon the clouds of glory.” Comp. (Job 36:32) “On the clouds (כַּפַּיִם) He covered the rain.”
17 Your sons have hastened to return.
19 you shall be crowded by the inhabitants You shall be crowded by the multitude of inhabitants that shall come into your midst. The place shall be too narrow for them to build houses for themselves.
20 Your children of whom you were bereaved [lit. the children of your bereavements.] The children of whom you were bereaved.
move over for me [lit. approach for me.] Draw closer to another side for me, and I will dwell.
21 and solitary solede in O.F.
rejected Rejected by everyone. All say about me, “Turn away from her.”
22 My hand...My standard A signal to bring the exiles.
a standard Perka in O.F., [perche in modern French,] a pole. Comp. (supra 30:17) “And like a flagpole (וְכַנֵּס) on a hill.” It is a signal for gathering, and they place a cloth [a flag] on the end of it.
in their armpits Ajjsela [aisela] in O.F., [aisselle in modern French]. Comp. Ezra (Neh. 5:13): “Also I shook out my armpit (חָצְנִי).”
24 Shall prey be taken from a mighty warrior You think that it is impossible to take from Esau those captured from Jacob the righteous one.
25 and with your contender Heb. יְרִיבֵךְ. And with your contender I will contend.
26 And those who taunt you I will feed their flesh to the beasts of the field. The word מוֹנַיִךְ is an expression akin to (Lev. 25:14) “You shall not taunt (אַל תּוֹנוּ).” This denotes taunting with words, those who anger you with their revilings.
and as with sweet wine Heb. וְכֶעָסִיס. The sweetness of wine.
they shall become drunk [from] their blood So shall those accustomed to drink blood become drunk from their blood. Now who are they? These are the fowl of the heavens. So did Jonathan render this.
Chapter 50
2 Why have I come to draw near to you, and none of you turns to Me?
3 I clothe the heavens The host of the heavens, the princes of the heathens (nations [Mss. and K’li Paz]), when I come to mete out retribution upon the nations.
4 gave me a tongue for teaching Isaiah was saying, The Lord sent me and gave me a tongue fit to teach, in order to know to establish a time for the faint and thirsty to hear the words of the Holy One, blessed be He.
to establish times Heb. לָעוּת. Menahem classified it in the group of (Ps. 119:126) “It is time (עֵת) to do for the Lord.” To establish times for them.
He awakens my ear He awakens my ear with His Holy Spirit.
to hear according to the teachings According to the custom of the teachings, the truth and that which is proper.
5 opened my ear and let me hear (supra 6:8), “Whom shall I send?” I sent Amos, and they called him ‘pesilus.’ I sent Micah, etc., as is stated in Pesikta of ‘Nachamu nachamu.’
and I did not rebel going on His mission, neither did I turn away backwards, but I said, “Here I am; send me” (ibid.).
6 I gave my back to smiters He said to me, Isaiah, My children are obstinate; My children are bothersome. [You may go] on the condition that you do not become angry with them. I said to Him, On that condition.
7 But the Lord God helps me if they rise up against me.
8 He Who vindicates me is near The Holy One, blessed be He, is near to me to vindicate me in judgment.
9 a moth Heb. עָשׁ, the worm of the clothing.
10 to the voice of His servant To the voice of the prophets.
who went in darkness Even if trouble comes upon him, let him trust in the name of the Lord, for He shall save him.
11 Behold all of you who do not hearken to the voice of His prophets.
who kindle fire of His wrath upon yourselves.
and give power to flames Who strengthen the flames; they are sparks and burning coals that are cast up with a slingshot. It has a cognate in the Aramaic tongue, זִיקוּקִין דְּנוּר, flames of fire (Ber. 58b), so many slingers (זִיקָתָא) are
go in the flame of your fire According to your way, you will be punished.
from My hand shall this retribution come to you.
Chapter 51
1 look at the rock whence you were hewn from it.
and at the hole of the pit Heb. מַקֶּבֶת. With which they penetrate (נוֹקְבִין) and hew the pits.
you were dug with which you were dug.
you were dug Heb. נֻקַּרְתֶּם, an expression similar to (Ex. 33.22) “The cleft (נִקְרַת) of the rock”; (Prov. 30: 17) “The ravens of the brook shall pick it (יִקְּרוּהָ).” And who is the rock? He is Abraham your forefather. And who is the hole? She is Sarah who bore you. [תְּחוֹלֶלְכֶם means] ‘who bore you,’ an expression similar to (infra 66:8) “For Zion experienced pangs (חָלָה) and also bore.”
2 who bore you Heb. תְּחוֹלֶלְכֶם [lit. shall bear you.]
for when he was but one I called him For he was one single person in the land of Canaan where I exiled him from his land and from his birthplace. I called him, meaning that I raised him and exalted him. An expression [similar to] (Num. 1:16) “Those called of (קְרִיאֵי) the congregation.” And just as he was a single person and I exalted him, so will I exalt you, who are singled out to Me.
3 and its wasteland Heb. וְעַרְבָתָהּ. This too is an expression of a desert. Comp. (Jer. 2:6) “In a wasteland (עֲרָבָה) and a land of pits,” but the wasteland once had a settlement and it was destroyed.
thanksgiving A voice of thanks.
Abarbanel on Pirqe Abot
Pereq 1, Mishnah 7
Nitai of Arbel said: Distance yourself from an evil neighbor and do not associate with the wicked and do not abandon the belief in retribution.
Along the same lines that Yehoshua ben Perahyah clarified the exposition of his teacher Yosi ben Yoezer, so does Nitai of Arbel come to explain the teachings of Yosi ben Yohanan of the earlier Mishnah in which he advocates, "Let your house be wide open and let the poor be members of your household." According to Abarbanel, Nitai came to qualify Yosi ben Yohanan's dictum and to say that it is untenable that a mail 'should entertain all persons in his home, saints and scoundrels. One must be selective and discriminating in choosing companions and associates.
Abarbanel becomes exacting in the meaning and significance of the dictum, "Do not abandon the belief in retribution." What does the word PURA’ANUT refer to? There are two possible interpretations. Firstly, Abarbanel suggests that the word PURA’ANUT refers to the evil and the wicked from whom Nitai warns us to distance ourselves. One cannot say, "I have no fears; I have very strong convictions; even if I associate with transgressors, I will not be infected with their disease and I will not become a sinner." It is in this light that the Mishnah (Nega'im 12:6) admonishes, "Woe is to the wicked and woe is to his neighbor." Thus, "Do not abandon your belief in retribution" means to tell us that in due time you too will be infected. Secondly, Abarbanel cites Rambam's opinion that the word PURA’ANUT relates to the punishment the wicked will receive. Nitai was cautioning us not to abandon our belief in retribution because eventually everyone is repaid for his good and evil deeds. Punishment may not come as quickly and decisively as one would expect; but come it will.
Miscellaneous Interpretations
Rabbenu Yonah: The sage of this Mishnah cautions us in three matters: Remove yourself from a bad neighbor, do not associate with the wicked and do not abandon your belief in retribution. The first is to advise us that when a person goes to buy a home his criterion should not be only beauty and spaciousness. He should also inquire concerning the social environment of the area and if there is anyone with a bad reputation in the neighborhood, he should avoid settling there.
Concerning the second matter not to associate with the wicked, Rabbenu Yonah is persuaded that there is something to the concept of guilt by association. One cannot be accused of having committed a crime simply on the basis of being a friend of the criminal, but one can be accused and indicted for the moral support one gives to the transgressor by virtue of one's friendship with him.
Rabbenu Yonah interprets the "belief in retribution" in the following manner: A person may be tempted to contemplate association with a wrongdoer because he is successful in his enterprises and will be able to give advice on how to succeed. However, the moment the sinner fails to succeed, he will distance himself from him. This line of reasoning is dubious because one never knows when retribution will come into play and the sudden downfall of the wicked will occur. The righteous entrepreneur will find himself unexpectedly swept away by the catastrophe which will befall the wicked.
Rashi claims that "Do not abandon your belief in retribution" is an individual and separate statement. If a man is wealthy, he must not rely on his wealth because calamity can strike at any time. To constantly live in this psychological bind is beneficial because it helps one to appreciate the omnipotence of God. It is also true that if one is a victim of unpleasant circumstances, he should not abandon his hope for better times.
Rabbi Mattityahu ba-Yitzhari shows a great deal of compassion when he explains his thoughts on, "Do not abandon your belief in retribution." Although Nitai admonishes us on the importance of distancing ourselves from a bad neighbor and not associating with the wicked, he strongly urges us that when a crisis does hit a wicked person, we must come to his assistance and help him extricate himself from his difficulties. There is always the possibility that by observing the correct conduct of the righteous, the wrongdoer will mend his ways and return to
the fold.
Rabbi Yosef lbn Shoshan: Often people become frustrated and disheartened when they see the unrighteous succeed and are prompted to cry out that there is no justice in the world and that God has forsaken mankind. This attitude must be eliminated because we must not abandon our belief in retribution. God in His own good time will do what is necessary to correct all injustices.
Midrash Sbemuel is disturbed by the phraseology in our Mishnah. Logically, one would assume that a wicked person is worse than a bad neighbor. One is incorrigible; the other only moderately bad. Yet, Nitai applies the word distance yourself - far, far away - from the bad neighbor, and advises merely not to associate with the wicked.
Sociologically speaking, there is no great need to warn someone to distance himself from a person who is reputed to be nefarious and disorderly. It sufficed Nitai to call for a simple dissociation from the wicked; their evil and malevolence themselves will bring about the desired effect. On the other band, in the case of a moderately erring person who may be putting up a smoke screen around his true characteristic - for that type of a person we must be fully alert and remove. ourselves from his vicinity altogether. A person who hides behind a facade can be dreadfully dangerous.
Commenting on, "Do not abandon your belief in retribution, Midrash Shemuel is innovative in his proposal that PURA’ANUT is a synonym for sins. According to him, the thrust of Nitai's maxim is the following: After you have taken my advice to stay away from bad neighbors and wicked people, do not say to yourself that the causes for sinfulness are gone and that you are no longer vulnerable to sin. Be prudent and always beware of the evil inclination which can surreptitiously and unexpectedly trap you into waywardness. Do not trust yourself and do not abandon your belief in the power of transgression.
But who is totally immune to the evil inclination? What human being can defy the overpowering nature of sin. According to Midrash Shemuel, the sage of our Mishnah spells it out: There is no question that the evil inclination will eventually grasp you in its talons. What is important is that you should not take the initiative in selecting this bad neighbor and associating with this devilish companion. Moreover, if in the end you do succumb to the evil inclination, do not assume that the world has come to an end; with proper repentance Almighty God will forgive you.
Midrash Shemuet continues with another interpretation of this Mishnah, we sometimes have a neighbor who is observant and righteous in his religious commitment but is nevertheless a detriment to the well-being of the community. At the slightest provocation he initiates arguments, he is not ashamed of exhibiting his jealousy and unwarranted hatred of others, and he cannot tolerate the success of others. Nitai recommends that you distance yourself from such a person. But the opposite side of the coin is also true. Community wise, your neighbor may be charitable, amiable and sympathetic, but his religious behavior is wanting. From him, too, you must distance yourself. A man should not say that he will associate himself only with the good aspects of his neighbor; he will definitely be influenced by the bad ones too.
Verbal Tallies
By: HH Rosh Paqid Adon Hillel ben David
& HH Giberet Dr. Elisheba bat Sarah
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 29:9 – 30:10
Tehillim (Psalms) 140 – 142
Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:1-8, 12-13
Mk 16:9-11, Lk 24:9-12
The verbal tallies between the Torah and the Psalm are:
Keep - שמר, Strong’s number 08104.
Words / Things - דבר, Strong’s number 01697.
Do / Did / Done / Maintain - עשה, Strong’s number 06213.
Day / Season / Continually - יום, Strong’s number 03117.
Before / Presence - פנים, Strong’s number 06440.
LORD - יהוה, Strong’s number 03068.
Captains / Heads - ראש, Strong’s number 07218.
Man - איש, Strong’s number 0376.
The verbal tallies between the Torah and the Ashlamata are:
Do / Did / Done / Maintain - עשה, Strong’s number 06213.
Day / Season / Continually - יום, Strong’s number 03117.
Before / Presence - פנים, Strong’s number 06440.
LORD - יהוה, Strong’s number 03068.
God - אלהים, Strong’s number 0430.
Captains / Heads - ראש, Strong’s number 07218.
Tribes - שבט, Strong’s number 07626.
Elders - זקן, Strong’s number 02205.
Officers - שטר, Strong’s number 07860.
Israel - ישראל, Strong’s number 03478.
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 29:9 Keep <08104> (8804) therefore the words <01697> of this covenant, and do <06213> (8804) them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do <06213> (8799).
10 ¶ Ye stand this day <03117> all of you before <06440> the LORD <03068> your God <0430>; your captains <07218> of your tribes <07626>, your elders <02205>, and your officers <07860> (8802), with all the men <0376> of Israel <03478>,
Tehillim (Psalms) 140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually <03117> are they gathered together for war.
Tehillim (Psalms) 140:4 Keep <08104> (8798) me, O LORD <03068>, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man <0376>; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
Tehillim (Psalms) 140:7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head <07218> in the day <03117> of battle.
Tehillim (Psalms) 140:12 I know that the LORD <03068> will maintain <06213> (8799) the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
Tehillim (Psalms) 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence <06440>.
Tehillim (Psalms) 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing <01697>, to practice wicked works with men <0376> that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes <07626> of Israel <03478> to Shechem and called for the elders <02205> of Israel <03478>, and for their heads <07218>, and for their judges, and for their officers <07860> (8802); and they presented themselves before <06440> God <0430>.
Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did <06213> (8804) among them: and afterward I brought you out.
Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:7 And when they cried unto the LORD <03068>, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done <06213> (8804) in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season <03117>.
Hebrew:
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Hebrew |
English |
Torah Reading Deut. 29:9 – 30:10 |
Psalms 140:1- 142:7 |
Ashlamatah Jos 24:1-8, 12-13 |
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ba' |
father |
Deut.
29:13 |
Jos.
24:2 |
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~h'r'b.a; |
Abraham |
Deut. 29:13 |
Jos.
24:2 |
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rx;a; |
after |
Deut. 29:22 |
Jos.
24:5 |
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rxea; |
other, another |
Deut.
29:26 |
Jos. 24:2 |
|
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vyai |
men, man |
Deut.
29:10 |
Ps.
140:1 |
|
|
~yhil{a/ |
God |
Deut.
29:10 |
Jos.
24:1 |
|
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rm;a' |
saying |
Deut.
29:19 |
Ps.
140:6 |
Jos. 24:2 |
|
#r,a, |
land, earth, ground, country |
Deut.
29:16 |
Ps.
140:11 |
Jos.
24:3 |
|
aAB |
comes, goes |
Deut.
29:22 |
Jos.
24:6 |
|
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!Be |
children, sons |
Deut.
29:22 |
Jos. 24:4 |
|
|
rb'D' |
words |
Deut.
29:9 |
Ps. 141:4 |
|
|
!qez" |
elders |
Deut. 29:10 |
Jos. 24:1 |
|
|
[r;z< |
descendents, seed |
Deut. 30:6 |
Jos. 24:3 |
|
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yx; |
live |
Deut. 30:6 |
Ps. 142:5 |
|
|
hm'xe |
wrath |
Deut.
29:23 |
Ps. 140:3 |
|
|
dy" |
hand |
Deut. 30:9 |
Ps.
140:4 |
Jos. 24:8 |
|
[dy |
know, known |
Deut.
29:16 |
Ps.
140:12 |
|
|
hw"hoy> |
LORD |
Deut.
29:10 |
Ps.
140:1 |
Jos.
24:2 |
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~Ay |
day, today |
Deut.
29:10 |
Ps.
140:2 |
Jos. 24:7 |
|
$l;y" |
go, walk |
Deut.
29:18 |
Jos. 24:3 |
|
|
bqo[]y: |
Jacob |
Deut. 29:13 |
Jos. 24:4 |
|
|
ac'y" |
brought out |
Deut. 29:25 |
Ps. 142:7 |
Jos.
24:5 |
|
qx'c.yI |
Isaac |
Deut. 29:13 |
Jos.
24:3 |
|
|
vr;y" |
possessed |
Deut. 30:5 |
Jos.
24:4 |
|
|
bv;y" |
dwelt, dwell |
Deut. 29:16 |
Ps. 140:13 |
Jos.
24:2 |
|
laer'f.yI |
Israel |
Deut.
29:10 |
Jos.
24:1 |
|
|
hs'K' |
covered |
Ps. 140:9 |
Jos. 24:7 |
|
|
ble |
heart |
Deut. 29:19 |
Ps.
140:2 |
|
|
~x;l' |
fought, fight |
Ps. 141:4 |
Jos. 24:8 |
|
|
xq;l' |
bring,take |
Deut. 30:4 |
Jos. 24:3 |
|
|
~yIr;c.mi |
Egypt |
Deut.
29:16 |
Jos.
24:4 |
|
|
vp,n< |
soul |
Deut.
30:2 |
Ps.
141:8 |
|
|
!t;n" |
set, give, given, gave |
Deut.
30:1 |
Ps. 140:8 |
Jos.
24:3 |
|
db;[' |
serve, work |
Deut.
29:18 |
Jos. 24:2 |
|
|
rb;[' |
enter |
Deut.
29:12 |
Ps. 141:10 |
|
|
~l'A[ |
forever |
Deut. 29:29 |
Jos. 24:2 |
|
|
!yI[; |
eyes |
Ps. 141:8 |
Jos. 24:7 |
|
|
~[; |
people |
Deut.
29:13 |
Jos. 24:2 |
|
|
hf'[' |
do, did, done, make, made |
Deut.
29:9 |
Ps. 140:12 |
Jos.
24:5 |
|
~ynIP' |
before, face |
Deut.
29:10 |
Ps.
140:13 |
Jos.
24:1 |
|
lAq |
voice |
Deut.
30:2 |
Ps.
140:6 |
|
|
~Wq |
establish, rise |
Deut.
29:13 |
Ps. 140:10 |
|
|
ar'q' |
called |
Ps. 141:1 |
Jos. 24:1 |
|
|
br,q, |
who is in, midst |
Deut.
29:11 |
Jos. 24:5 |
|
|
ha'r' |
see, saw lpreceive |
Deut.
29:17 |
Ps. 142:4 |
Jos. 24:7 |
|
varo |
leaders, head |
Deut. 29:10 |
Ps.
140:7 |
Jos. 24:1 |
|
hb'r' |
great, multiply |
Deut. 30:5 |
Jos. 24:3 |
|
|
@d;r' |
persecuted, pursued |
Deut. 30:7 |
Ps. 142:6 |
Jos. 24:6 |
|
[r; |
adversity, bad, evil |
Deut. 29:21 |
Ps.
140:1 |
|
|
jb,ve |
tribes |
Deut.
29:10 |
Jos. 24:1 |
|
|
rjevo |
officers |
Deut. 29:10 |
Jos. 24:1 |
|
|
~ve |
name |
Deut. 29:20 |
Ps.
140:13 |
|
|
[m;v' |
hear, heard |
Deut.
29:19 |
Ps. 141:6 |
|
|
rm;v' |
keep guard |
Deut.
29:9 |
Ps.
140:4 |
|
|
jp;v' |
judge |
Ps. 141:6 |
Jos. 24:1 |
Greek:
|
Greek |
English |
Torah Deut. 29:9 – 30:10 |
Psalms 140:1- 142:7 |
Ashlamatah Jos 24:1-8, 12-13 |
Peshat of Mark, 1-2 Peter & Jude Mk 16:9-11 |
Tosefta of Luke Lk 24:9-12 |
|
ἀκούω |
hear, heard |
Deut.
29:19 |
Ps. 141:6 |
Mk. 16:11 |
||
|
ἀνίστημι |
rise up |
Deu 29:22 |
Mk. 16:9 |
Lk. 24:12 |
||
|
ἀπαγγέλλω |
report, told |
Psa 142:2 |
Mk. 16:10 |
Lk. 24:9 |
||
|
εἰσέρχομαι |
entered |
Jos 24:6 |
||||
|
ἐκβάλλω |
cast out |
Deu 29:28 |
Jos 24:12 |
Mk. 16:9 |
||
|
ἐνώπιον |
before |
Psa
141:2 |
Lk. 24:11 |
|||
|
ζάω |
live |
Deut. 30:6 |
Ps. 142:5 |
Mk. 16:11 |
||
|
λέγω |
saying |
Deut.
29:19 |
Jos. 24:2 |
Lk. 24:10 |
||
|
μόνος |
alone |
Deu 29:14 |
Psa141:10 |
Lk. 24:12 |
||
|
πορεύομαι |
went, gone, going |
Deu
29:18 |
Psa 142:3 |
Mk. 16:10 |
||
|
πῦρ |
fire |
Psa140:10 |
||||
|
ῥῆμα |
words |
Deut.
29:9 |
Ps. 141:4 |
Lk. 24:11 |
Nazarean Talmud
Sidra of “D’barim (Deut.) 29:9 - 30.10”
“Atem Nitsavim” - ”You stand”
By: H. Em Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu ben Abraham
|
School of Hakham Shaul’s Tosefta Luqas (LK) |
School of Hakham Tsefet’s Peshat Mordechai (Mk) |
|
When they returned from the tomb, they announced all these details to the eleven (talmidim[26]) and to all the others. The women were Miriam Migdalah, Yochannah, Miriam the mother of Ya’aqov, and the others who were with them. They reported their experiences to the apostles. The women's account seemed illogical to them, and they did not believe them. But Tsefet got up and ran to the tomb. He bent over and saw only the linen wrapping and left amazed (at) what had happened. |
Having risen at beginning of the week (as Havdalah was being conducted), Yeshua appeared first to Miriam[27] Migdalah, from whom he had expelled seven demons. She went and declared to those (who had) been with him (his talmidimb) the events that had happened. They were mourning and weeping.[28] When they heard he was alive and she (had) seen him, they did not believe her.
|
Nazarean Codicil to be read in conjunction with the following Torah Seder
|
Deuteronomy 29:9 – 30:10 |
Psalms 140:1 - 142:10 |
Joshua 24:1-8, 12-13 |
Mark 16:9-11 |
Luke 24:9-12 |
Commentary to Hakham Tsefet’s School of Peshat
Resurrection of Yeshua
In a previous pericope, we discussed the appropriate Halakhah for the “Kingdom” (governance) of G-d through Hakhamim and Bate Din as one world under “One G-d” in accordance with the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim U'Milchamoteihem - THE LAWS OF KINGS AND THEIR WARS)[29] chapter 10.
The Rambam’s eleventh Halakhah for this chapter is as follows…
The Jewish court is obligated to appoint judges for these resident aliens to judge them according to these statutes so that the world will not become decadent. If the court sees fit to appoint the judges from the resident aliens themselves, they may. If it sees fit to appoint them from among the Jews, they may.
The courts mentioned above deal with the Gentile in the land of Yisrael. However, in dealing with the Diaspora we must believe that similar laws exist for the sake of global tikun.
Gen 2:7 the Lord God formed man (Adam) from the dust of the earth. (adamah) He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.[30]
Hakham Shaul derives the following principle from the above-cited passage.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Hakham Shaul notes a logical order to the life of man. Man is created from the dust (adamah) of the earth; therefore his name is Adam. Only when G-d breathes into the adamah (dust) does man becomes a living creature. Therefore, we have an order of the “natural” coming before the spiritual. This perspective is from the temporal and limited perspective of man’s viewpoint.
From the vantage point of man’s view on earth the natural body came first. From the vantage point of G-d, the reverse is true. Furthermore, Hakham Shaul’s address to the Congregation in Corinth addresses a Gentile perspective.
As Sholomo (Solomon) wisely notes, the body, which G-d generated from dust must be given back to the dust.
Koheleth (Ecc)12:7 And the dust returns to the ground as it was, And the life-breath returns to God Who bestowed it.[31]
The “life-breath,” as the Jewish Publication Society version of Tanakh translates the Hebrew word “Ruach,” is that piece of the enlivening force, which must return to G-d upon the completion of our present mission. This corresponds with the words of Ya’akov (James) when he says the body without the spirit is dead.[32]
D’barim 28:1. And it will be, if you will diligently hearken to the Word of the LORD your God, to observe and perform all the commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high, and exalt you above all the nations of the earth; (Targum pseudo-Jonathan)
The contiguity of our Torah portion to Deuteronomy 28:1–29:8 “V’Haya Im Shamoa” (“And will be if carefully”) discusses material resources requisite for natural life. This Torah Seder demonstrates that natural resources are directly related to spiritual conduct.
Hakham Tsefet looks at the Torah portion and illustrates Yeshua’s resurrection as the reward for his (Yeshua’s) righteous/generosity. Furthermore, it names Miriam for her acts of righteous/generosity towards Yeshua her Rabbi/Hakham. Hakham Tsefet does not try to defend the resurrection of Yeshua, as Hakham Shaul must do when speaking to Gentiles. We must realize that the audience Hakham Tsefet is speaking to is primarily the P’rushim (Pharisees).[33] The P’rushim (Pharisees) readily accepted the resurrection from the dead.[34] While we realize that the materials concerning El’azar’s (Lazarus) being raised from the dead by Yeshua are written in the Sod hermeneutic, we can find literal truth in Yeshua’s actions. Yeshua, on more than one occasion raises someone from the dead. Yeshua’s talmidim (disciples) have seen these things firsthand. On the other hand, seeing the Master accomplish these things and the Master himself being raised is all-together another subject. To “believe” something as a “tenet of faith” is one thing, to see it with your own eyes is quite another matter. Certainly, Yeshua’s talmidim (disciples) believed what Yeshua said about his resurrection.
Hakham Shaul’s related Tosefta demonstrates the attitude of Hakham Tsefet. I cannot accept that Hakham Tsefet was entirely skeptical of Miriam’s assertion.
But Tsefet got up and ran to the tomb. He bent over and saw only the linen wrapping and left amazed at what had happened.
We cannot look at these details with smug conceit. To see someone who has been resurrected would overwhelm the senses. History is replete with stories of “near death” experiences. Even these “near death” stories are barely believable. Hakham Tsefet and Hakham Shaul will produce in their accounts as many as five-hundred people who claimed to have seen the resurrected Yeshua at one time.[35] The present materials of Hakham Tsefet cause us to remember the words of the Sage Rambam, of blessed memory in his declaration of the Ani Ma’amin (I believe in perfect faithfulness). Maimonides, in his commentary on the Mishnah, compiles what he refers to as the Shloshah-Asar Ikkarim, the Thirteen Fundamentals of Faith, compiled from the Torah’s 613 mitzvot (commandments). I have included the final two principles of the Ani Ma’amin, which illustrate our point.
12. I believe with complete faith in the coming of Mashiach, and although he may tarry, nevertheless, I wait every day wait for him to come.
13. I believe with complete faith that there will be resurrection of the dead at the time when it will be the will of the Creator, blessed be His name and exalted be His remembrance forever and ever.
The Rambam’s articles look forward to the coming of Messiah as do Nazarean Jews. However, Hakham Shlomo (Solomon the wise) teaches us that the past reveals the future, and the future reveals the past.[36]
Yeshua’s Resurrection & G-d’s promise to the Patriarch Abraham
The resurrection of Yeshua is complex and raises a plethora of questions. I will not try to address all these questions here. Yet, by placing this section of Mordechai (Mark) with all the weekly readings, we will address issues of preeminence. Yeshua’s resurrection is directly linked to the “salvation” of the Gentiles.
Why is the redemption of the gentiles associated with Abraham?
Rom 4:17 as it is written, "And you will no longer be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I make you the father of a multitude of gentiles” (Gen. 17:5). Abraham is also the father of the Gentiles in the sight of God whom he (Abraham) believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.[37]
The words of Hakham Shaul from our previous pericope further illustrate my point.
Romans 15:8 For I declare that Messiah became a servant of circumcision following the Jewish halakhah, both written and Oral on behalf of God's truth (Torah, written and Oral). His task was to establish that which was promised (to) the patriarchs,[38] in order to be merciful to the gentiles for God's glory…
Note here that resurrection is associated with G-d’s promise to Abraham. Why do we find the resurrection associated with Abraham? And what does this have to do with the Gentiles? In essence, we find that Abraham was from the lineage of pagan idol worshipers. Yet Abraham logically deduced that there was ONE G-d! Furthermore, Abraham demonstrated that the path of halakhah was not too hard for men of honesty and integrity to follow. Therefore, we learn from this association of Abraham with the Gentiles and the resurrection that the observance of the Torah is neither difficult nor laborious for any man.
Peroration
b. Berachot 34b For Shemuel said: "There will be no difference between the current age and the Messianic era except the emancipation from our subjugation to the gentile kingdoms."[39]
The “redemption and salvation” of the Gentiles has only been partially realized in the present Diaspora. Furthermore, the truth of Gentile redemption through the death, burial and resurrection of the Master has only been superficially explored. This area needs some real exploration and in-depth research. When scholars realize that the Gentile has a place in the community through acceptance of Torah and Yeshua, the Gentile “kingdoms” will take their rightful place. That rightful place is looking to the Jewish people for their spiritual resources and nourishment.
Only when the completed and final redemption has occulted will we have respite in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Yisrael) free from the subjugation of Gentile Kings.
אמן ואמן סלה
Blessing After Torah Study
Barúch Atáh Adonai, Elohénu Meléch HaOlám,
Ashér Natán Lánu Torát Emét, V'Chayéi Olám Natá B'Tochénu.
Barúch Atáh Adonái, Notén HaToráh. Amen!
Blessed is Ha-Shem our God, King of the universe,
Who has given us a teaching of truth, implanting within us eternal life.
Blessed is Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!
“Now unto Him who is able to preserve you faultless, and spotless, and to establish you without a blemish,
before His majesty, with joy, [namely,] the only one God, our Deliverer, by means of Yeshua the Messiah our Master, be praise, and dominion, and honor, and majesty, both now and in all ages. Amen!”
1. From all the readings for this week, which particular verse or passage caught your attention and fired your heart and imagination?
2. In your opinion, and taking into consideration all of the above readings for this Sabbath, what is the prophetic message (the idea that encapsulates all the Scripture passages read) for this week
Next Sabbath:
“Shabbat “HaChodesh” - ” The New Moon”
&
Shabbat # 3 of Consolation/Strengthening
|
Shabbat |
Torah Reading: |
Weekday Torah Reading: |
|
וּבְרָאשֵׁי חָדְשֵׁיכֶם |
Saturday Afternoon |
|
|
“Shabbat Rosh Chodesh” |
Reader 1 – B’midbar 27:15-17 |
Reader1 – Deuteronomy 30:11-13 |
|
“Sabbath of the New Moon” |
Reader 2 – B’midbar 27:18-20 |
Reader2 – Deuteronomy 30:14-16 |
|
“Sábado del Novilunio” |
Reader 3 – B’midbar 27:21-23 |
Reader3 – Deuteronomy 30:17-19 |
|
B’Midbar (Num.) 27:15 – 28:25 |
Reader 4 – B’midbar 28:1-9 |
|
|
Ashlamatah: Isaiah 66:1-24 |
Reader 5 – B’midbar 28:10-14 |
Monday and Thursday Mornings |
|
Special Ashlamatah: Isaiah 54:11–55:5 |
Reader 6 – B’midbar 28:15-18 |
Reader1 – Deuteronomy 30:11-13 |
|
Tehillim (Psalms) 77 |
Reader 7 – B’midbar 28:19-25 |
Reader2 – Deuteronomy 30:14-16 |
|
N.C.: Colossians 2:16-23 |
Maftir : B’midbar 28:23-25 Isaiah 66:1-24 |
Reader3 – Deuteronomy 30:17-19 |
Hakham Dr. Yosef ben Haggai
Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David
Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu ben Abraham
Edited by Adon Ovadyah ben Abraham and Adon Aviner ben Abraham
Please e-mail any comments to chozenppl@gmail.com