News Letter 5846-061
6th day of the 13th month 5846 years after creation
The 13th Month in the first year of the third Sabbatical Year
The Third Sabbatical Year of the 119th Jubilee Cycle

March 12, 2011

Shabbat Shalom Brethren,

I have now for a while been asking you all to contribute money towards this farm in Israel. And a number of you have found that my suggestion makes sense as we look forward and see the food crisis growing and also as we understand that we will not be able to buy or sell unless we have the mark of the beast.

Having a farm with growing crops and a water supply during the 3 ½ years when the two witnesses say that there will be no rain also makes sense to many of you. Hundreds of you agree with the logic of this and many of you have said so.

Many of you have watched the Sabbatical and Jubilee years video at Prophesies of Abraham which you can now buy from me at the web site and again many of you have bought and read The Prophecies of Abraham. You have become convicted by the scriptures that you have read in your own bibles. And many of you can see the world events and cannot believe that we may actually be in the last days.

Some have promised to send money and then do not. Most of the money sent comes from widows or those on a pension. And many of these have said they may not get to go but they want to help in order to have it ready for when the rest of the Saints do come. These widows are thinking beyond themselves; May Yehovah protect them and keep them throughout all that is coming. They send in on a regular basis $15 or $20 and some $150, and they encourage me not to give up and to keep going.

If you want to help us raise the funds to purchase a farm in Israel you can send a cheque or Money Order made out to

Joseph F Dumond
14 Willow Cres.
Orangeville Ontario
Canada L9V 1A5

This farm in Israel is looking better all the time as the US dollar becomes less and less valuable with each passing week as we see commodities going through the roof. We have to buy this farm first and then get it operational before we can have others come and live there. That means we need to plant and prepare to harvest and then prepare to market our produce. Once we have the farm in place we will then need people. We already have some. But the numbers that want to come tells us we need more than one farm. Yet in all of this only a few dozen have contributed. King David would not take the land from Arunah unless King David paid something for it. So many want this farm but are not willing to contribute to it, are unwilling to help make it happen.

So let me tell you what has happened in regards to the farm thus far.

We have raised thousands since I first began to ask you for your help. If you look on the map on my web site you will see which countries are the biggest users of the web site. That is where the most readers of the News Letter live.

We have the number one country as USA with over 29,000 hits since August 2010. Next is Canada with just over 3400 and then the UK with over 2300 and then Australia with 2200 and South Africa with 1600 and then Israel with almost 500.

And with this Newsletter we will have our one Millionth visitor to the web sites sightedmoon.com One million hits since I started this web site in July of 2006. It is all by the power and to the glory of Yehovah. And it all revolves around the Understanding of the Sabbatical and Jubilee cycles. Please tell everyone you can about this site.

By looking at the above stats, you would expect certain results. But the facts do not match.

We currently have as the largest donor country giving 47% of what we have received for the farm is Canada. The next largest donor is United Arab Emirates with over 17%, then Australia with over 10% and then the USA with 8% and Little Sri Lanka with 1%. The rest is made up of a few people who did not tell me what country they are from and the proceeds from my book and DVD sales.

We have not had anything from Europe or the UK or South Africa, of which both have had a lot of interaction.

I am not showing you this to embarrass any one, but I am showing you this so you know that it is the widows and pensioners who are carrying this weight. Many who do not contribute feel they have the right to sit back and criticize everything we are trying to do. They betray the Spirit they work for. I feel it is better to have tried and failed a thousand times and never to have tried and been successful at having done nothing.

Each person can find some amount to contribute. Do not say it is not worth sending. I do not need to remind you of the widow’s mite. Yet it is the widows who have been sending in $1500. I have had many promises. But they do not add up to anything we can use and those who promise usually never keep the promises. You are not promising me but you are making a vow to Yehovah so be mindful of this. I can change any currency into Shekels, do not worry about your currency nor the value of it. One man who is about to loose his house sent in $20. Why did he do this? Because the future he is investing in is much better than the current crisis.

So in this News Letter I am going to explain why I feel we need to have a farm in Israel. Some of you have questioned this logic as Jerusalem is about to be destroyed. For those who have contributed, their names are on another email list and it is to them that I wrote this a while back to answer this question.

Just this week I have received this teaching from Yair Davidiy who is an Orthodox Jew.

http://www.britam.org/EzekielReturn2.html#Sequence He shows you the sequence of the return and how Judah is going to react taken from Ezekiel. Please do read it and watch the video. Then read the rest of this News Letter and I pray you will help us to make this farm and this return come about.

After this I am going to explain some other things we are working on.

I suggested that Abraham had 318 men that went with him to rescue Lot, and the price of a farm divided by 318 would mean that each of us would need to give $1500. But most of the money sent has been the 20 and 50 dollars that many on pensions have contributed.

Almost all of you agree with what we have been sharing here since 2007 in our weekly News Letter about the Sabbatical years and then this past year about The Prophecies of Abraham. You struggle to understand at times but over all you agree, and you have seen the economy crash after I showed you in the Sabbatical cycles how recessions come during the Sabbatical year. You have witnessed Terror events and how they have escalated into wars with Afghanistan and Iraq and how terror is now a daily part of our lives which was foretold to you in the first curse of the Sabbatical cycles. You have witnessed the many severe weather related disasters that have come as a result of the second curse of Lev 26 and the second Sabbatical cycle and especially this year in Australia where the curses of weather and crop loss has been so prevalent.

You all now see the headlines on the news and you all see the food crisis growing more and more with each passing week. You see how the earth quakes now are coming more often and you all know a pestilence is about to break out, just as we are told in the third Sabbatical cycle of Lev 26. And now with The Prophecies of Abraham we see how this crisis in Egypt is spreading across the Middle East and is going to escalate until they all come against Jerusalem in the next few years. You all have read in The Prophecies of Abraham how this will be the event to bring the King of the North down to settle a civil war in Egypt and to rescue Jerusalem. And you all have read how these events will combine to Unite the Muslim Middle East also known as the King of the South with a German led United Europe; the King of the North.

You all see this happening; you may not like it or want it to happen but still you do see it happening. You are being forced to realize that those events in the bible are coming true and that this is real and not just something you do on Sunday when we used to spend an hour at some church and then go back to our normal way of life. You are beginning to realize that you are not going to be raptured out and that you are going to have to go through much of the hard times that are coming. Reality is taking hold of you.

You are also realizing that none of the other leading teachers are talking about these things until weeks or months after. And yet here in these newsletters and in the DVD and in the book you have been shown by Yehovah these things that are now on the nightly news, months and years before they happened.

You are seeing these things come true right before your very eyes and like me you can’t believe it.

Many of you have asked me the same question, ‘If Jerusalem is going to be destroyed then why on earth would I want to go there?’ or ‘Why invest in a Farm in Israel when it is going to be attacked as I am saying?’ And these are reasonable questions.
When you hear a siren coming closer you know that you need to get out of the way. When you hear a train whistle blowing you know to get off the tracks. When you see danger coming you know to take defensive measures. This is the job of the watcher as we are told in Ezekiel, that he is to warn you of danger. If he does and you do nothing then your own blood is on your head. But if he does not warn you then you will still die but your blood will be required of him.

You need to do something once you have been warned or you will die. If after you have heard the warning you do nothing then it is no one’s fault but your own if you then die, you were warned.

When the angels came to Lot they told Lot to get the rest of his family and go. Lot went to the others and they thought he was nuts and laughed at him. All of Lots children died except the two daughters who left; All of his grandchildren, and relatives. Lots wife looked back with longing for those of her family who were being killed and she was turned to stone. All of Lots children were warned yet they choose not to do anything and said they would not change their position. They would not get up and leave.
Rahab was told to have all her family in that one room. They could have protested that the city was going to be destroyed and that they should flee to some other place. And only those who were in that one room were saved. How did Yehovah do that?
They were not even believers. They were pagans. Yet they obeyed and lived and Rahab became the ancestor of Yehshua.

Obedience is the key to all of scriptures.

Now you’re all saying yes we hear the warning but what are we to do? And I have been saying to go to Israel. And your all saying Yes but they do not want us there and there are wars and and and and…. on you go.

We have been reading for some time all that is about to come. We have been reading about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years and their curses. This past year we have been reading about The Prophecies of Abraham which follow the Sabbatical cycles but are more geopolitical in their explanations. And you have been watching world events take place which are showing these teachings true. And yet you still do not want to leave your homes.

I understand; I have family and I have roots and I have jobs and all the same things you do. But we must leave. So let us now look to the scriptures to see if we can find some support of this. And this ties into the torah portion in Luke we did a couple of weeks ago.

But first let us look at the remnants and see if we can learn something from them. Study what is said about the remnant as we look at a commentary on Isaiah. In Isaiah 10 we read; the point I am showing you is that there are two remnants and you need to know which one you will be in.

http://www.britam.org/isaiah/Isaiah6to10.html

Chapter 10: Authorities make evil decrees and “experts” write books and articles to justify them (10:1-2). The experts will not be there to help you in time of trouble when you have to crouch down amongst the corpses and pretend to be dead in order to save your life (10:3-4).

Assyria is a tool of punishment employed by the Almighty (10:5). Assyria will be sent against Israel who are described as a “godless” nation (10:6). It is the nature of Assyria to destroy other nations even though the Assyrians themselves may not be consciously aware of it (10:7). Assyria considers Samaria (the Ten Tribes) with its idols to be no different from other pagan nations that it has destroyed (10:9-11) and will think to treat Jerusalem in the same way (10:11). Assyria attributes its success to its own merits and for such arrogance will be punished with sickness and burning fire out of Israel (10:12-19). In that time instead of masochistically looking to Assyria, their tormentor, for help, the Remnant of Israel and the Survivors of the House of Jacob will genuinely turn to God (10:20-21). Israel will have been as numerous as the sands of the sea but only a remnant will survive the decreed destruction (10:22). The People of God are called upon not to fear Assyria who is doomed to destruction and his yoke of oppression will be broken (10:24-26).

Isaiah then begins to describe the passage of the Assyrian host through the countryside of Judah, from Rimmon, to Aiath, through Migron, Michmash, etc., until reaching Jerusalem (10:26-32). Assyria cuts down the cedars of Lebanon to prepare his siege against Jerusalem (10:34). We pointed out that the name “Lebanon” is cognate with “Albion” which is another name for Britain.
You need to read all of Isaiah Chapter 10
[Isaiah 10:17] THE LIGHT OF ISRAEL WILL BECOME A FIRE, AND HIS HOLY ONE A FLAME; AND IT WILL BURN AND DEVOUR HIS THORNS AND BRIERS IN ONE DAY.
In the future the Light of Israel will go out like a flame from the Eternal Throne (Yalkut Shimeoni Isaiah 893).

[Isaiah 10:19] THE REMNANT OF THE TREES OF HIS FOREST WILL BE SO FEW THAT A CHILD CAN WRITE THEM DOWN.

[Isaiah 10:20] IN THAT DAY THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL AND THE SURVIVORS OF THE HOUSE OF JACOB WILL NO MORE LEAN UPON HIM THAT SMOTE THEM, BUT WILL LEAN UPON THE LORD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, IN TRUTH.

“NO MORE LEAN UPON HIM THAT SMOTE THEM”: People often have a masochistic pull to revere and tolerate those who oppress them. Notice how some leftwing Israelis sympathize with Arabs or how the Movies in the USA glorify Mafia men and other criminals who spend their lives doing evil and exploiting the weak and vulnerable.

SO right here you have one remnant. These are those who survive from the attack on Jerusalem. They are in the land of Israel when the Assyrians, when the Germans destroy them. The remnants that are mentioned next are those that have survived that remained in the rest of the world.

“THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL AND THE SURVIVORS OF THE HOUSE OF JACOB”: They will be one people.

[Isaiah 10:21] A REMNANT WILL RETURN, THE REMNANT OF JACOB, TO THE MIGHTY GOD.
They shall return to the True one God of Israel.
These are Blessings for the End Times that will remain for Israel (Zohar, Toldot 146;2).

These ones return. Above we read how a remnant survived the war in Jerusalem.

[Isaiah 10:22] FOR THOUGH YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, ONLY A REMNANT OF THEM WILL RETURN. DESTRUCTION IS DECREED, OVERFLOWING WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS.
“BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA”: They will be exceedingly numerous towards the end times.
DESTRUCTION- a great calamity is take place; it is decreed. Only 10% will survive. Our survival or the survival of our descendants independent on our deeds and intentions. We should endeavour to improve ourselves and influence for good those we can.

The Radak (1160-1235 CE) says it is referring to King Hezekiah who reigned over Judah when what was left of the Ten Tribes were exiled by Assyria. The Assyrians under Senncherib then besieged Jerusalem but God sent an angel that smote the Assyrians slaying 185,000 of them and causing the rest to retreat (2-Kings 19:35). The Remnant who will return, says Radak, are the Tribes of Judah who will return to the true path i.e. they will repent and be saved. On the other hand destruction came upon the Ten Tribes.

Targum Yehonatan (ca. 100 CE): If your people Israel will be as numerous as the sand of the sea, the remnant who did not sin and those who repented of their sins will have awesome deeds done for them. They will be enabled to overcome and will be spoken of as virtuous.

[Isaiah 10:23] FOR THE LORD, THE LORD OF HOSTS, WILL MAKE A FULL END, AS DECREED, IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE EARTH.

[Isaiah 10:24] THEREFORE THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LORD OF HOSTS: “O MY PEOPLE, WHO DWELL IN ZION, BE NOT AFRAID OF THE ASSYRIANS WHEN THEY SMITE WITH THE ROD AND LIFT UP THEIR STAFF AGAINST YOU AS THE EGYPTIANS DID.
Some identify the Assyrians with Germany. Craig White has written well on this. There was a tradition that the Assyrians settled in West Germany. Assyrians or Assyrian agents also settled in Bavaria and Austria.
The Sages said that this Prophecy against Assyria was in part fulfilled when the Almighty smote the Assyrian Host of Sancherib in the time of King Hezekiah.

[Isaiah 10:25] FOR IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE MY INDIGNATION WILL COME TO AN END, AND MY ANGER WILL BE DIRECTED TO THEIR DESTRUCTION.
In Ancient Times it was the Scythian-Israelites who finally brought about the destruction of the Assyrian Empire. This was after the Assyrians had destroyed the Northern Kingdom and exiled all its inhabitants.
The Malbim and Survivors from the Lost Ten Tribes in the Future

There is a principle that even Prophecies that we fulfilled close to the time of their announcement very often have an additional application for the End Times.
The verses Isaiah 10:20-23 were explained above as mainly being applicable to shortly after the time of Isaiah himself though having additional application to the future.

Below we have quoted from the Commentary of the Malbim (1809-1879, Poland, Eastern Europe) who applies these verses entirely to the future and to the destiny of the House of Ephraim and the Lost Ten Tribes.

[Isaiah 10:20] IN THAT DAY THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL AND THE SURVIVORS OF THE HOUSE OF JACOB WILL NO MORE LEAN UPON HIM THAT SMOTE THEM, BUT WILL LEAN UPON THE LORD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, IN TRUTH.
They will no more seek assistance from Assyria or any other nation. It was not enough that they did not help them but they even stroke them…BUT WILL LEAN UPON THE LORD. The Almighty will be their supporter since they will rely on Him IN TRUTH and not in falsehood. This is despite the fact that at present, the house of Jacob, meaning the House of Ephraim and the Ten Tribes are idol worshippers, even so:
[Isaiah 10:21] A REMNANT WILL RETURN. Those who remain from them who are survivors from death by the sword will return to the Almighty [i.e. repent]. Do not think that this means that only a portion of those who remain will return but rather all THE REMNANT OF JACOB, all of them will return to TO THE MIGHTY GOD. They will see the might of the Almighty and his Strength [Hebrew: Ezuzo].
[Isaiah 10:22] FOR THOUGH YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, ONLY A REMNANT OF THEM WILL RETURN. DESTRUCTION IS DECREED: This means ISRAEL YOUR PEOPLE who at present and multitudinous AS THE SAND OF THE SEA may after the Exile by Assyria have left ONLY A REMNANT OF THEM, meaning that the remnant who will remain and return out of this great nation will be only [relatively] few in number. Even so, their virtues will increase so much that their RIGHTEOUSNESS and the Uprighteousness of their deeds will overflow [i.e. overwhelm] the utter DESTRUCTION that may otherwise have been DECREED and decided upon against them. The Almighty will have mercy on his people.
[Isaiah 10:23] FOR THE LORD, THE LORD OF HOSTS, WILL MAKE A FULL END. This means that even though the Almighty had decreed utter destruction, and the decree was decisive and final so that it must come about even so the Almighty will put Other People in their place [to be destroyed] instead of them. The heathens, blasphemers against the Almighty will be completely extirpated AS DECREED from THE MIDST OF ALL THE EARTH.
[Brit-Am Note: The word we have translated above as “blasphemers” in Hebrew is “MeNatsi” from the root “NATS” pronounced similarly to Nazi and indicates the Nazi-like inclinations of the heathen nations against Judah and Israel.]
The People of God will be saved and mercy will be shown unto them.

[Isaiah 10:26] AND THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL WIELD AGAINST THEM A SCOURGE, AS WHEN HE SMOTE MIDIAN AT THE ROCK OF OREB; AND HIS ROD WILL BE OVER THE SEA, AND HE WILL LIFT IT AS HE DID IN EGYPT.

[Isaiah 10:27] AND IN THAT DAY HIS BURDEN WILL DEPART FROM YOUR SHOULDER, AND HIS YOKE WILL BE DESTROYED FROM YOUR NECK.” HE HAS GONE UP FROM RIMMON,

[Isaiah 10:28] HE HAS COME TO AIATH; HE HAS PASSED THROUGH MIGRON, AT MICHMASH HE STORES HIS BAGGAGE;

[Isaiah 10:29] THEY HAVE CROSSED OVER THE PASS, AT GEBA THEY LODGE FOR THE NIGHT; RAMAH TREMBLES, GIBE-AH OF SAUL HAS FLED.

[Isaiah 10:30] CRY ALOUD, O DAUGHTER OF GALLIM! HEARKEN, O LAISHAH! ANSWER HER, O ANATHOTH!

[Isaiah 10:31] MADMENAH IS IN FLIGHT, THE INHABITANTS OF GEBIM FLEE FOR SAFETY.

[Isaiah 10:32] THIS VERY DAY HE WILL HALT AT NOB, HE WILL SHAKE HIS FIST AT THE MOUNT OF THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, THE HILL OF JERUSALEM.

[Isaiah 10:33] BEHOLD, THE LORD, THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL LOP THE BOUGHS WITH TERRIFYING POWER; THE GREAT IN HEIGHT WILL BE HEWN DOWN, AND THE LOFTY WILL BE BROUGHT LOW.

[Isaiah 10:34] HE WILL CUT DOWN THE THICKETS OF THE FOREST WITH AN AXE, AND LEBANON WITH ITS MAJESTIC TREES WILL FALL.
Albion is a name for Britain. It is derived from the name Lebanon.

As we now go into the Isaiah 11, keep in mind that you have just read of a remnant in the land of Israel. What you are about to read are those who are not in the land of Israel. This is what has come to be known as the second Exodus. Although these chapters are talking about a remnant, it is in fact talking about two. An early one who are there during the time when Germany comes and dominates them and the second remnant who are brought back from around the world.

http://www.britam.org/isaiah/Isaiah11to15.html

Isaiah 11 to 15

The Future Messiah; Re-Union of Judah and the Ten Tribes and Return of the Exiles. The God of Israel is amongst us. Babylon will be destroyed. The End of the Future Great Universal Tyrant along with that of Assyria, the Palestinians and their allies.

Summary of Individual Chapters:
Chapter 11: The future Messiah will be descended from Jesse the father of David (11:1).
He shall be Divinely Inspired and have outstanding personal qualities including especially the fear of the Almighty (11:2-3).
His ability to judge matters will verge on the supernatural (11:4).
In the Messianic Era there will be peace and the strong shall not victimize the weak (11:6-8).
The entire world will have an awareness of God (11:9).
All peoples of the earth will wish to be ruled by the Messiah son of David (11:10).
The exiles of Israel will be brought back from Assyria, Mitsraim (Egypt or Russia?), Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the Isles (misleadingly translated in the KJ as “coastlands”) of the Sea (11:11).
The “Outcast” Ten Tribes and the Dispersed of Judah will be gathered from all over the earth (11:12). The extremism of Ephraim will depart and the jealousy of Ephraim by others will end:
The expression translated as “THE JEALOUSY OF EPHRAIM” (11:13) in Hebrew is “Kinath Ephraim” which means both his own extremism and the jealousy against him of others.
The Persecutors and harassers of Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah and Judah will cease to perturb and compete with (Hebrew: “Tsor” translated as “vex”) Ephraim. This indicates that right up to the very end some friction will remain between Judah and Ephraim (11:13). Ephraim and Judah together will transfer the Palestinians by airflight to some place in the west. They shall plunder people of the east; put their hand on Edom and Moab (in the west?) and bring Ammon into subjection (11:14).
The Sea of Mitsraim (Egypt, Bosphorus?) will split into seven dry channels allowing the Israelites from the Ten Tribes who remain after the Exile of Assyria to pass through (11:15-16).
The Jewish Sages had a tradition that the Lost Ten Tribes crossed the Bosporus into Europe and that they would return by the same path.
See
Zechariah 10:11

There will also be a special pathway from Assyria for the remnant of Israel to return (11:16).

[Isaiah 11:10] IN THAT DAY THE ROOT OF JESSE SHALL STAND AS AN ENSIGN TO THE PEOPLES; HIM SHALL THE NATIONS SEEK, AND HIS DWELLINGS SHALL BE GLORIOUS.
Take note now of where and when this Remnant comes from; All the lands to where they are sent in captivity. This Exodus will be so great it will casue the first one in Exodus to be forgotten.
[Isaiah 11:11] IN THAT DAY THE LORD WILL EXTEND HIS HAND YET A SECOND TIME TO RECOVER THE REMNANT WHICH IS LEFT OF HIS PEOPLE, FROM ASSYRIA, FROM EGYPT, FROM PATHROS, FROM ETHIOPIA, FROM ELAM, FROM SHINAR, FROM HAMATH, AND FROM THE COASTLANDS OF THE SEA.
These are the exiles of Judah and Israel: The places spoken of are areas to which exiles were taken and from there went elsewhere. They are not necessarily places from which the exiles will return.
ASSYRIA: The Lost Ten Tribes who were exiled by Assyria. Some equate Assyria WITH GERMANY.
EGYPT in Hebrew “Mitsrayim”. Some of the Lost Tribes were exiled via Egypt and so too were many of the Jews. The Celts of Britain and Ireland had early contacts with Egypt. Egypt in some contexts can also equal Russia.
PATHROS: A place in Egypt though some place it on the Turkish border.
“ETHIOPIA” in Hebrew “Cush”. Cush could mean Africa in general, Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, India, Central Asia. In connection with the Lost Ten tribes we believe in most cases that “Cush” applies to Central Asia.
ELAM: An area in southwest Persia. Elam was once an important country. The bulk of the Ancient Persians were probably of Elamite origin. Elamite was the most common spoken language amongst the Persians. Archeological findings reveal a connection between Elam and the Sacae of Central Asia who became the Anglo-Saxons. Elam was descended from Sem.
Craig White and others trace people of Yugoslavia and other parts of Europe to Elam.
SHINAR meaning Babylon but also applied to the northern shores of the Black Sea. Babylon was an important dispersion point for the Jews of Judah.
COASTLANDS OF THE SEA: In Hebrew “”Iyai HaYam”” or Isles of the Sea and referring to the British Isles. Over the years we have encountered a lot of problems with these Israelite Identifications of ours. Even so the overall conclusions have been confirmed and the justification for our direction of enquiry has been strengthened.

[Isaiah 11:12] HE WILL RAISE AN ENSIGN FOR THE NATIONS, AND WILL ASSEMBLE THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, AND GATHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH.
OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, = The Lost Ten Tribes who will be found gathered together in specific areas.
THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH i.e. the Jews who are scattered all over the world.

[Isaiah 11:13] THE JEALOUSY OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THOSE WHO HARASS JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF; EPHRAIM SHALL NOT BE JEALOUS OF JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT HARASS EPHRAIM.
Currently Ephraim is envious of Judah being in the land and Judah vexes him by not allowing him to come freely back to the land.

“EPHRAIM” represents all the Ten Tribes.
“WHO HARASS JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF”: Anti-Semites will be punished.
“EPHRAIM SHALL NOT BE JEALOUS OF JUDAH”: A lot of anti-Semitism is due to jealousy.
“JUDAH SHALL NOT HARASS EPHRAIM”: Jewish do-gooders and hyper-active individuals etc sometimes antagonize other people.
This verse speaks of “Ephraim” (the Ten Tribes) and “Judah” (the Jews) as remaining separate entities sometimes antagonistic to each other right up to the end times.

This Jealousy between the two groups of Israel and Judah does not unify until just before the Tribulation which begins in 2030. And then once that comes about the unified brothers go out and plunder those nations around them. Also read Psalm 149 in this regard.

[Isaiah 11:14] BUT THEY SHALL SWOOP DOWN UPON THE SHOULDER OF THE PHILISTINES IN THE WEST, AND TOGETHER THEY SHALL PLUNDER THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST. THEY SHALL PUT FORTH THEIR HAND AGAINST EDOM AND MOAB, AND THE AMMONITES SHALL OBEY THEM.
The above verse (Isaiah 11;14) concerning the Philistines as it has been translated (in the KJ and Orthodox Jewish “Koren” translation) is consistent with the simple Hebrew and with the context. Nevertheless, one of the intricacies of Biblical Hebrew is that often words and expressions may intentionally have more than one meaning. In this case the Hebrew may also be understood as saying,

“THEY SHALL FLY THE PHILISTINES AWAY WESTWARD”
The Hebrew says: “VeAFU BeCeTeF PLiSHTIM YaMaH..”, i.e. word for word:
“[veafu] And they will fly ((or cause to be flown)) [becetef] by wing [Plishtim] Phillistines [yama] towards the Sea ((or Towards the west)) “:

This may be interpreted to mean anyone of the following:
1.That the Phillistines in the west are being flown against, OR
2. ALTERNATELY (and more consistently with the Literal Hebrew) that they will be flown out westward, OR
3.BOTH EXPLANATIONS MAY PROVE CORRECT!
It is interesting to note that the word for westward is the Hebrew “Yamah” meaning literally “to the sea”, and the sea was in the west. The Palestinians used to repeatedly declare their intention of driving the Jews “into the sea” though now they use more openly that they want to kill all the Jews. On some subconscious mystical level the Palestinians may have been trying to redirect what is literally prophesied concerning their own destiny i.e. The Palestinians shall be transported elsewhere by air flight “towards the sea”, to somewhere in the west, perhaps to North Africa or to South America.
Not only does Scripture and its connected tradition identify modern nations with their ancestral counterparts, the Bible also indicates the final outcome of ancestral struggles that were begun long ago.

[NUMBERS 33:51] SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND SAY UNTO THEM, WHEN YE ARE PASSED OVER JORDAN INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN;

[NUMBERS 33:52] THEN YE SHALL DRIVE OUT ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND FROM BEFORE YOU, AND DESTROY ALL THEIR PICTURES, AND DESTROY ALL THEIR MOLTEN IMAGES, AND QUITE PLUCK DOWN ALL THEIR HIGH PLACES:

[NUMBERS 33:53] AND YE SHALL DISPOSSESS THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND, AND DWELL THEREIN: FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE LAND TO POSSESS IT.

Isaiah 11;14 continues:
TOGETHER THEY SHALL PLUNDER THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST. THEY SHALL PUT FORTH THEIR HAND AGAINST EDOM AND MOAB, AND THE AMMONITES SHALL OBEY THEM.
Ephraim and Judah will work together. They shall be united. They shall subdue the eastern peoples,
Edom (Europe especially Germany and Italy) will be taken care of. So will Moab (in Eastern Europe”).
And the Ammonites will obey them.

[Isaiah 11:15] AND THE LORD WILL UTTERLY DESTROY THE TONGUE OF THE SEA OF EGYPT; AND WILL WAVE HIS HAND OVER THE RIVER WITH HIS SCORCHING WIND, AND SMITE IT INTO SEVEN CHANNELS THAT MEN MAY CROSS DRYSHOD.
“DESTROY THE TONGUE OF THE SEA OF EGYPT”: Some say this is the region of Suez. The Bosporus (connecting Asian Turkey to Europe) is also a possibility in the light of other commentaries.
“IT INTO SEVEN CHANNELS”: 7 channels against the 7 areas of exile (Commentary in Me Am Loaz) mentioned earlier in Isaiah 11;11 from Assyria, Mitsrayim, Patros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, Isles of the Sea.

[Isaiah 11:16] AND THERE WILL BE A HIGHWAY FROM ASSYRIA FOR THE REMNANT WHICH IS LEFT OF HIS PEOPLE, AS THERE WAS FOR ISRAEL WHEN THEY CAME UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT.
(Commentary in Me Am Loaz) FROM ASSYRIA: For those of the Lost Ten tribes exiled by Assyria.

So Brethren you can see that there are two times spoken of here. The Remnant that is subdued by Germany and then once Germany is destroyed the remnant that is scattered around the world.

[Ezekiel 14:14] THOUGH THESE THREE MEN, NOAH, DANIEL, AND JOB, WERE IN IT, THEY SHOULD DELIVER BUT THEIR OWN SOULS BY THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS, SAITH THE LORD GOD.

[Ezekiel 14:15] IF I CAUSE NOISOME BEASTS TO PASS THROUGH THE LAND, AND THEY SPOIL IT, SO THAT IT BE DESOLATE, THAT NO MAN MAY PASS THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE BEASTS:

[Ezekiel 14:16] THOUGH THESE THREE MEN WERE IN IT, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THEY SHALL DELIVER NEITHER SONS NOR DAUGHTERS; THEY ONLY SHALL BE DELIVERED, BUT THE LAND SHALL BE DESOLATE.
It says that do to the beasts that would come on the land, no-one could pass through it apart from Noah, Daniel, and Job who would save ONLY themselves. What was so special about these three men in the present context” They were all associated with animals.
Noah took representatives of all the animals into the ark.
Daniel was thrown into the lions” den and was not harmed.
Job said that if one was good then he would not be harmed by animals. Job presumably had experience with wild beasts since he lived in a wild frontier area and had vast herds of cattle and camels traversing great distances: Job declared:

[Ezekiel 14:17] OR IF I BRING A SWORD UPON THAT LAND, AND SAY, SWORD, GO THROUGH THE LAND; SO THAT I CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM IT:

[Ezekiel 14:18] THOUGH THESE THREE MEN WERE IN IT, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THEY SHALL DELIVER NEITHER SONS NOR DAUGHTERS, BUT THEY ONLY SHALL BE DELIVERED THEMSELVES.
The three men in question had apparently saved others as well as themselves.
Noah saved his family and through them all the beasts.
Daniel saved all the wise men of Babylon from being massacred.
Job saved the widow and orphan and indigent and probably many others. Through their own virtue these people had saved others. The verse is saying that things had become so bad that if these men were now present they would not be able to save others but only themselves. From the negative point of this verse we can learn positive ones:
1. Usually, if you do good, your virtue helps not only yourself but other people as well.
2. We are expected to do what we can to help our fellow man.

[Ezekiel 14:19] OR IF I SEND A PESTILENCE INTO THAT LAND, AND POUR OUT MY FURY UPON IT IN BLOOD, TO CUT OFF FROM IT MAN AND BEAST:

[Ezekiel 14:20] THOUGH NOAH, DANIEL, AND JOB WERE IN IT, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THEY SHALL DELIVER NEITHER SON NOR DAUGHTER; THEY SHALL BUT DELIVER THEIR OWN SOULS BY THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

[Ezekiel 14:21] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; HOW MUCH MORE WHEN I SEND MY FOUR SORE JUDGMENTS UPON JERUSALEM, THE SWORD, AND THE FAMINE, AND THE NOISOME BEAST, AND THE PESTILENCE, TO CUT OFF FROM IT MAN AND BEAST?

[Ezekiel 14:22] YET, BEHOLD, THEREIN SHALL BE LEFT A REMNANT THAT SHALL BE BROUGHT FORTH, BOTH SONS AND DAUGHTERS: BEHOLD, THEY SHALL COME FORTH UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL SEE THEIR WAY AND THEIR DOINGS: AND YE SHALL BE COMFORTED CONCERNING THE EVIL THAT I HAVE BROUGHT UPON JERUSALEM, EVEN CONCERNING ALL THAT I HAVE BROUGHT UPON IT.

[Ezekiel 14:23] AND THEY SHALL COMFORT YOU, WHEN YE SEE THEIR WAYS AND THEIR DOINGS: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I HAVE NOT DONE WITHOUT CAUSE ALL THAT I HAVE DONE IN IT, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
The above verse can be understood several ways. Let us consider one of the plain meanings:
Despite everything God will save a remnant of sons and daughters.
When the actions and mannerisms of those saved are observed it will be understood why all the others were destroyed. This implies that they will still be bad after being saved: Even so, from this remnant the stock of the people is to grow and expand and their descendants will repent and be righteous.

That remnant that is saved is saved in Jerusalem. Luke 20:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls. 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

It is actually quite simple. Scriptures say when you see Jerusalem surrounded you are to flee into Jordan. How can you flee into Jordan when you are holed up in South Africa or in Australia or the USA or UK or Canada? You can’t. Our instructions as to what to do when certain events takes place are for us when we are in the land of Israel, our homeland.

We have read in Isaiah 10 and Ezekiel 14 of a remnant in the land of Israel, after Jerusalem is destroyed. Then we read in Isaiah 11 of another remnant who are gathered from around the earth once the German army is destroyed. This is two separate groups separated by Germany. One is ruled over and then once the Germans are destroyed the second comes.

Now I want you to also notice another thing. In Luke you just read how you will be hated and betrayed. These things are to take place before Jerusalem is surrounded. Make note of this. You are going to be tried and tested and persecuted before Jerusalem is surrounded. Now let us go to Mathew 22 and learn more about this time.

Mathew 22: And Yehshua answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,

This is what we have been called to attend; this is what the Feast of Sukkot is all about; the wedding supper and ceremony. Know and understand this is what we are called to get ready for. To make ourselves white, and remove spot and wringle.
3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ‘ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

We have the prophets and the saints who have written the invitation and passed it down to us. We are hearing that calling now with the great amount of understanding we are gaining now in these last days as we get ready. But far too many have all kinds of excuses not to get ready. Some have just built a house; others a new addition; others have just had a baby or grandchild; you got a promotion at work and have no time for this religious junk. But whatever it is that you use not to study and learn what you need to learn in order to change your life is the excuse you are using not to except the invitation to this wedding. It is the same as what Lot’s children did; they made light of it as do many of you.

6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

So there it is! The same thing as we just read in Luke 20. Those who are doing the inviting and those who come will be betrayed and abused and imprisoned. Abraham was imprisoned; Paul and many of the apostles were imprisoned, And killed.

7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Now we read how the king Yehovah was furious and sent out his armies. To understand this and to get the context of when this happen, or the chronological order of events when this takes place we now must go to Lev 26 and read that curse when Yehovah sends out His armies. Keep in mind here this truth; the invitation to this wedding right now is going out to Israel. In Lev 26 the curses for disobeying Yehovah are being applied to Israel.

Lev 26: 23 ‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, 24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied. 27 ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, 28 then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you. 31 I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas. 32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. 34 Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths.

Once again this 4th curse of the sword comes in the fourth Sabbatical cycle. We are now about to begin the second year of the third Sabbatical cycle. This means that this fourth curse begins in just 6 years time. Those who have refused the invitation to the wedding will be killed by the armies that are coming; The Germanic and Muslim hordes that will not show mercy to men or women or children pregnant or otherwise.

8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’

According to the Sabbatical and Jubilee cycles and you need to look at your charts for this, the wedding year is to take place in 2038. We need to be getting ready now and stay unspotted during all this severe time of trials that have now begun to take shape in the world. But because the seats are not full we go into the Gentile world and we teach and invite as many as are willing to come and we fill those seats.

10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

What is it that we are to be clothed in? We are to put on Righteousness. This is what we are to wear to the wedding supper.
• Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.

• Isaiah 59:17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.

• Ephesians 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

• Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

And what is this righteousness we are to put on? The answer to that is found in Psalm 119:172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.

13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

If you do not have on this righteousness then you are not going to be allowed to stay.

We read of a similar situation in Luke 14: The great feast that this is talking about is the Feast of Tabernacles or in other words the Wedding super which is what this section of Luke 14 is all about.

Yehshua is talking about this invitation in both Luke 14 and Mathew 22, and it is an invitation to all of Israel to come home to take part in the wedding supper. Most of them do not come and in fact they turn on those who bring this message and kill them. So what happens to those who accept the invitation? Does an army go and attack these guests? No, only those who refused the invitation to the wedding and those who turned on those of us who were doing the inviting.

We read in Mathew 25 of the 10 virgins who wait for the bride groom to come and 5 of them do not have lamps nor their vessels filled with oil. And when the call comes they find out they do not have enough of the Holy Spirit to last through the darkest of the night that we are about to go into.

Luke 14 then goes on to tell us to count the cost of obeying. Many of us never do and are so excited to just come. It is later that we find out how much our families and relatives and those we love, it is later when we find out how much they hate us because we choose to obey the Torah which is the wedding covenant that was agreed to at Sinai.

And here in Luke 14:26 we are warned how hard this way of life and striving to be at this wedding supper is going to be. We have to be willing to give up all things. And some of us if not many of us will be called upon to do exactly this. It is very hard.

What is it that is holding you back from obeying and from doing our Fathers will? These are the weeds, the tares that hinder your growth as a stock of wheat.

We are then told how much the Father is going to rejoice over us in the story of the prodigal son when we return to him. It does not say that the Father found the son waiting for him to come and rescue him. No the son had to return to the land of the Father and the Father was waiting and so excited when the son came.

You too brethren must go back to our ancestral lands of Israel. We must return whether native born or grafted in. We cannot let the things that have ensnared us keep us in our present Diaspora. We cannot sit here and think how good it is, because as I have been shouting out to you, it is all about to change. Begin to think how you can go back and begin to plan it. Pray about it and then pray some more. Read all of the chapters I have referred to here, in this one little study. We are to go home to our Father.

In Ezekiel 5 when we read it we need to compare it again to what we have just read and then to Lev 26 again.

1 “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. 4 Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel. 5 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. 6 She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’ 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you’– 8 therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. 9 And I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again, because of all your abominations. 10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments among you, and all of you who remain I will scatter to all the winds.

The remnant of hair in Ezekiel’s tallit are us at the time Jerusalem is attacked. This is before all the rest of Israel is destroyed by sword and pestilence and famine. Then some of those of us who are there at the start will be sacrificed. And from this a fire will be lit into all the world. I am not sure what this means at this time but I do have some thoughts.

IN closing I have been shown a few more scriptures for you to consider.

Jer 3:12 “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, O backsliding Yisra’?l,’ declares ????, ‘I shall not look on you in displeasure, for I am kind,’ declares ????, ‘and I do not bear a grudge forever.
Jer 3:13 ‘Only, acknowledge your crookedness, because you have transgressed against ???? your Elohim, and have scattered your ways to strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares ????.
Jer 3:14 “Return, O backsliding children,” declares ????, “for I shall rule over you, and shall take you, one from a city and two from a clan1, and shall bring you to Tsiyon. Footnote: 1See Isa. 27:12.
Jer 3:15 “And I shall give you shepherds according to My heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jer 3:16 “And it shall be, when you have increased, and shall bear fruit in the land in those days,” declares ????, “that they no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of ????.’ Neither would it come to heart, nor would they remember it, nor would they visit it, nor would it be made again.

Read all of Jeremiah 3 and 4 and count how many times you are commanded to return home to the Land of Israel. Return oh backsliding Israel and acknowledge your sins, and return, before the sword comes to avenge.

Now go and read Jeremiah 31.

Jer 31:1 “At that time,” declares ????, “I shall be the Elohim of all the clans of Yisra’?l, and they shall be My people.”
Jer 31:2 Thus said ????, “A people escaped from the sword found favour in the wilderness, Yisra’?l, when it went to find rest.”
Jer 31:3 ???? appeared to me from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I shall draw you with kindness.
Jer 31:4 “I am going to build you again. And you shall be rebuilt, O maiden of Yisra’?l! Again you shall take up your tambourines, and go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
Jer 31:5 “Again you shall plant vines on the mountains of Shomeron. The planters shall plant and treat them as common.
Jer 31:6 “For there shall be a day when the watchmen cry on Mount Ephrayim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Tsiyon, to ???? our Elohim.’ ”
Jer 31:7 For thus said ????, “Sing with gladness for Ya?aqob?, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise, and say, ‘O ????, save Your people, the remnant of Yisra’?l!’
Jer 31:8 “See, I am bringing them from the land of the north, and shall gather them from the ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labour, together – a great assembly returning here.
Jer 31:9 “With weeping they shall come, and with their prayers I bring them. I shall make them walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they do not stumble. For I shall be a Father to Yisra’?l, and Ephrayim – he is My first-born.
Jer 31:10 “Hear the word of ????, O gentiles, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Yisra’?l gathers him, and shall guard him as a shepherd his flock.’
Jer 31:11 “For ???? shall ransom Ya?aqob?, and redeem him from the hand of one stronger than he.
Jer 31:12 “And they shall come in and shall sing on the height of Tsiyon, and stream to the goodness of ????, for grain and for new wine and for oil, and for the young of the flock and the herd. And their being shall be like a well-watered garden, and never languish again.
Jer 31:13 “Then shall a maiden rejoice in a dance, and young men and old, together. And I shall turn their mourning to joy, and shall comfort them, and shall make them rejoice from their sorrow,
Jer 31:14 and shall fill the being of the priests with fatness. And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness,” declares ????.
Jer 31:15 Thus said ????, “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing, bitter weeping, Rah??l weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”

I want you to take special note of verse 5-7.

Jer 31:5 “Again you shall plant vines on the mountains of Shomeron. The planters shall plant and treat them as common.
Jer 31:6 “For there shall be a day when the watchmen cry on Mount Ephrayim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Tsiyon, to ???? our Elohim.’ ”
Jer 31:7 For thus said ????, “Sing with gladness for Ya?aqob?, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise, and say, ‘O ????, save Your people, the remnant of Yisra’?l!’

Notice that it is on the Mountains of the Shomeron. And also note that the word watchmen is H5341
??? na?tsar naw-tsar’
A primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.): – besieged, hidden thing, keep (-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve (-r), subtil, watcher (-man).

This is why we are called Natsarenes and not Christians. We guard the Torah.

It is my hope that this study will help to answer why we need to go to Israel now before it is destroyed. Almost all of us will be protected through all that is coming. It is not going to be easy, and I do not have all the answers. I am just sharing with you what I have come to see and understand. There is more understanding coming from you and others as we study these things and see those events unfold as we are now watching in Egypt.

May Yehovah bless your understanding and growth as you keep His words.

Now having shared this I also have another announcement to share.

In the Mountains of the Shomron last year we advertised to you all about a school at Ariel University which you could sign up for and learn Hebrew. You would live and learn in the mountains of the Shomron. We had just enough people sign up to make this work last year. They went on many a day tour to historical places around the Land and met the people who now live in the land. And Judah got to see Ephraim keeping Torah. Not being preached at as I told you about last week.

Here is a You tube video about the Shomron for you to consider. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dACXsFW407w

I also want you to know we are now planning the L’Chiam Ephriam Feast in Jerusalem for the third year. Part of this tour will be to the Shomron as well as other place in Israel and walking tours around the Old City of Jerusalem. It will change your life so make your plans now to come.

Triennial Torah Cycle

We now return to our 3 1/2 year Torah studies which you can follow online.

Ex 4      1 Kings 8       Ps 108      Luke 19

Ex 4

I find amazing that as we approach the Passover season with an Adar Bet month, a 13th month, that we will be reading during this 3 ½ year study of torah the events of Exodus at the same time as Passover.

The three miracles that Yehovah had Moses perform would be a great witness to the Egyptians—and to the Israelites, who were by now quite influenced by Egyptian religion. The snake was one of the gods of Egypt. Leprosy was an incurable disease that would have any physician of the time believing in a “god” had there been a cure. Last, but not least, the Nile was also worshiped, and defiling its waters with blood would draw the attention of everyone!

When we come to Exodus 4:24, it is shocking to read that Yehovah sought to kill Moses! Why? Notice the account in chapter 4 of the confrontation between Moses and his wife. Part of Yehovah’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the acknowledgment of that covenant through the act of circumcision. Whoever was not circumcised among the males of Yehovah’s people would be “cut off,” or destroyed, from among them. When we review to whom the covenant promises were made, we can see that they did not extend through the lineage born to Abraham and Keturah. The Midianites were the descendants of Abraham and Keturah through Midian. And while Midian himself may have been circumcised, as Ishmael was, it is apparent that after the children of Keturah were sent away (Genesis 25:5), they did not continue the practice of circumcising their children. Rather, “the Midianites practiced circumcision on a groom right before his marriage instead of circumcising male infants…. Many of Israel’s neighboring peoples practiced circumcision, but none except Israel circumcised infants” (Nelson Study Bible, note on verse 24).
Now let’s put together verses 24 through 26. It is apparent that Yehovah was holding Moses responsible for circumcising his son, but Moses had delegated that to his wife, Zipporah, who was objecting to doing it. She finally did it, but with reluctance and resentment, calling Moses a “bloody man.” We might wonder why only one son was at issue when Moses had two sons (verse 20; 18:4). One suggestion is that, “most likely, Moses had kept one of his sons uncircumcised, despite what Yehovah had commanded” (same note). Perhaps Zipporah was so upset by the circumcision of one son that she demanded her next son not be circumcised. In any event, Moses was not following Yehovah’s instructions. And this involved the very sign of the covenant people—being violated by the one who was to be the national leader. Moses’ disobedience in light of these factors made it a capital offense. So we find this brief insert—the recording of an incident that, no doubt, had a great impact on Moses.

These two verse troubles me so I then found the following explanation of what is going on here.

http://jbq.jewishbible.org/assets/Uploads/332/332_Chatan1.pdf
HATAN DAMIM – THE BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD
JEFFREY M. COHEN
Exodus 4:24-26 has been justifiably described as “arguably the single most bizarre and baffling passage in all of the Hebrew Bible.”

1 Moses has just been given the charge to journey to Egypt, there to commence the most audacious, awesome and dangerous mission of demanding that the great Pharaoh release his vast cadre of Israelite slaves.

According to the text, these were not the usual motley group of slaves, dragged back in bonds as the booty of a victorious battle. They had been resident in Egypt for generations, albeit ethnically alien, and consciously singled out and enslaved because they were deemed to constitute a direct threat to the security of the realm (Ex. 1:9-10). Without God’s assured promise of protection, providence and ultimate victory, such a mission was a recipe for disaster, spelling suicide for its instigator and bitter consequences for those it had intended to benefit.

The relationship between God and the leader chosen to undertake such a mission must have been exceptionally close, and the spiritual credentials of the latter so impeccable as to justify the trust placed in him by God. And yet, no sooner has he set out on the journey, disaster strikes:

And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. The Zipporah took a flint and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said:’Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me.’ So He let him alone. Then she said: ‘A bridegroom of blood in regard of the circumcision’ (Ex. 4:24-26).

What it was that caused God to launch that fearsome attack on His chosen leader is mystifying in the extreme. Moses had hardly had time – or opportunity, given that he was escorting his wife and young children – to do anything to offend his God so heinously during the few days that had elapsed from the time he left Midian to the time he arrived at the inn in the desert.

HATAN DAMIM – THE BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD
Vol. 33, No. 2, 2005
If, as the text seems to suggest, Moses’ sin was neglect of the circumcision of his son, then we also need to understand why, at that critical moment, with Moses’ momentous mission about to be launched, it was just circumcision that loomed so large in the scheme of Divine priorities.

Was God prepared to abort His great plan for Israel’s deliverance through the taking of the life of the leader He had chosen to carry it out? If circumcision was, indeed, the issue, then one might also question why Moses deserved the death penalty and why it was being administered without any prior warning (even Pharaoh was forewarned, time and again, before the punishment of the plagues was administered!) and why mitigating circumstances were not taken into consideration.

After all, Moses was reared and lived until this time in total isolation from the traditions of his Hebrew brethren, and may well have been completely ignorant of that precept, its significance and the precise time in the life of the infant that it had to be performed.

The precise meaning of Zipporah’s outburst, ‘A bridegroom of blood art thou to me,’ also needs to be clarified. Why “bridegroom” and not “husband?”

Also, what additional point, if any, did she mean to convey by unnecessarily repeating that pejorative description, ‘a bridegroom of blood in relation to the circumcision’?

The whole episode is complicated even further by the absence of subjects for the verbs employed. We are told that God met him and sought to kill him, but we are not told to whom this refers. Yes, we have assumed above that it was Moses who was the object of the attack, but it might also have been one of the two sons that accompanied him, presumably the one who was peremptorily circumcised by Zipporah in order to save his life. But which son was that? Again, that fact is suppressed. The reference is merely to “her son,” so it could have been either Gershom, the firstborn, or the second son named in 18:4 as Eliezer.

We are also told that Zipporah cast the foreskin “at his feet,” though we know not whether this means the feet of the circumcised son or of Moses.

Indeed, there is also the possibility that her outburst was addressed to the former, and that he is the one being referred to by the phrase bridegroom of blood. And, as if we were not short of problems, there is that of the strange formulation that God “sought to kill him” – as if this were some difficult and protracted challenge in which God was engaged.

For an elucidation of this most enigmatic episode we would instinctively turn to the wisdom, insights and tradition of our classical commentators.

Quite surprisingly, most of the above issues are ignored. Nachmanides allows the episode to pass without a single observation, almost like an angel fearing to tread where others might readily rush in.

Rashi, quoting the Talmud, 2 views Moses as the victim of the Divine attack because of his failure to circumcise his younger son, Eliezer. (Rashi clearly follows the Midrash in its identification of the son, 3 whereas Targum Yonatan identifies him as Gershom, the firstborn
4 ). The Talmud excuses Moses’ delay in performing that mitzvah on the grounds that he considered his first priority to be responding to the Divine summons mandating him to set out immediately into the desert, rather than to circumcise his son first. Although the act of circumcision only took a few minutes, Moses was cognizant that he could be jeopardizing the life of a weak, circumcised child by subjecting him to a journey through the desert.

Rashi explains that the foreskin was cast at the feet of Moses, but that Zipporah was addressing her son Eliezer when she made her subsequent outburst.

Rashi therefore renders Hatan damim attah li as, “You [attah] were (almost) the cause [gorem] of Moses, my beloved’s [hatan li] blood [damim] being shed.” The repetition of that outburst, according to Rashi, took the form of an act of realization, when the heavenly attacker withdrew [Vayiref mimmenu], that the attack had indeed been occasioned by the failure to circumcise
[la-mulot].

A bracketed gloss on Rashi’s last point reveals that Zipporah was confused as to the precise offense that her husband had perpetrated against his God to evoke this terrible retribution. It was only when, subsequent to her circumcision of Eliezer, the heavenly attacker withdraws, that she realizes [az amrah] that it was the failure to circumcise, and not any other sin, that had been the cause of the attack.

The text implies that Zipporah did not know that the cause of the heavenly attack was the lack of circumcision until after she had performed that emergency operation. This begs the question of what it was that alerted her to just that course of action as a means of saving her son.

A commentator 5 offers the suggestion that Zipporah was always troubled by Moses’ rmarriage with her, the daughter of an idolatrous priest, and feared HATAN DAMIM – THE BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD Vol. 33, No. 2, 2005 some retribution. At this moment she instinctively assumed that this might well have been the real reason for the attack on Moses, and that he could not presume to become Israel’s liberator if he retained her as his wife. When she saw the attack subside immediately after her act of circumcision, she breathed a sigh of relief and cried out, A bridegroom of blood on account of the circumcision – and not for the other reason!

This purely speculative explanation does have the benefit of offering a reason for Zipporah’s use of the otherwise abstruse nomenclature “bridegroom” to describe Moses. Psychologically, she is returning to, and articulating, her long-standing apprehension; namely, that Moses, her bridegroom, had chosen a bride from a family of idolators, rather than from his own monotheistic people.

The usually incisive and original Ibn Ezra is of little help in unraveling the mystery of this episode, and in offering a solution to all the difficulties which we have enumerated. He is unusually expansive, and merely reiterates the talmudic presentation of Moses’ dilemma over taking a circumcised child on a journey. He quotes R. Samuel ben Hofni, who could not bear the thought [chalilah!] that God would attack Moses, the agent of His mission on behalf of Israel. According to him, the attack could only have been leveled, therefore, at Eliezer.

6 It is most perplexing, however, that neither R. Samuel nor Ibn Ezra was troubled by the terrible injustice that would have been perpetrated, if they were right, on an innocent babe.

I believe that the key to resolving all the problems we have raised above lies in the relation of this episode to the verses that precede and, I believe, introduce it. It is important in this context to note that our “bloody bridegroom” episode runs on from the previous verses, with none of the usual textual indicators that would demarcate it as a separate episode.

In those introductory verses, Moses is commanded to tell Pharaoh: ‘Israel is my firstborn son, and I tell you to let my son go and serve Me [v’ya’avdeni]; and if you refuse to do so, I shall kill your firstborn son. Service of God is emphasized here as being so vital that its prevention is a capital offense.

It is against that background that the very next episode is set. Moses cannot deliver that religious message to Pharaoh because he himself is guilty of that identical act of prevention of religious practice through his failure to circumcise his own firstborn son, Gershom.

7 The latter is being prevented from serving his God in the prescribed manner through the failure of his father to initiate him into the sacred covenant of circumcision.

It stands to reason, therefore, that Moses is on course to suffer the prescribed consequences of that sin. That is, his own firstborn, Gershom, should have his life forfeited. It is him that God encounters and seeks to slay.

Zipporah rescues her son’s life, literally in the nick of time. Her thrusting of the foreskin at the feet [vatagga’ leraglav] of her husband is indicative of the fearful haste she felt impelled to employ and her profound anger at Moses for having endangered their son’s life. She verbalizes this anger in the problematic cry, ‘ki hatan damim attah li [literally: For a bridegroom of blood you are/were for me].’

I offer here two possible explanations of this most puzzling condemnation.

The first takes account of the fact that, in the cognate early Semitic languages, one of the nuances of the basic meaning of the verbal root underlying the word “hatan [son-in-law]” is “to circumcise.” This is was retained in classical Arabic where “hatana” has the meaning “to circumcise” and “hitun” means “circumcision” or “circumcision feast.” The lexicons elucidate the relatedness of these two meanings by explaining that “circumcision [is] performed on young men just prior to marriage.”

8 Hence, the particular nuance of Zipporah’s condemnatory cry hatan damim attah li: You should have been the circumciser for me! You should have done it, not me!

A second possible interpretation takes account of the usage of the word “damim” in the sense of “guilt,” or “responsibility.” Hence, in the legislation providing for the establishment of cities of refuge, where the manslayer can escape the revenge of the near relative, the Torah states that [it is] so that no innocent blood be shed in the midst of thy land [v’hayah alekha damim] – nor shall any blood be upon you (Deut. 19:10). Damim here is clearly a synonym for “guilt,” “responsibility” for the taking of innocent life.

And this may well be the condemnation that Zipporah was levelling against her husband, hatan damim attah li: A guilty groom you’ve proved to me! You have let me down by jeopardizing the life of our child! She may well have employed the term hatan here pejoratively and idiomatically, underlying the fact that, through his neglect of the circumcision, Moses had behaved more like an inexperienced groom than a mature and responsible husband.

The Targum Yonatan on Exodus 4:24 says that “Gershom was not circumcised, on account of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, who would not permit Moses to do so, though Eliezer was circumcised, according to the agreement made between them.” This is an allusion to the tradition contained in the Mekhilta, that Jethro’s condition for giving his daughter in marriage to Moses was that the first son should be brought up in the idol-worshipping tradition of Midian, whereas the second son could be reared according to Israelite tradition.

9 Now, circumcision was already practiced among the ancient Egyptians as early as 4000 BCE, as well as in many other Middle-Eastern societies. “Wherever the operation is performed as a traditional rite it is done either before or at puberty, and sometimes, as among some Arabian peoples, immediately before marriage.”

10 We may assume, therefore, that the delay in circumcising his firstborn son was, as the Midrash suggests, prompted by Jethro’s insistence that Midianite practice be observed, and that Gershom would eventually have been circumcised at puberty or as a prelude to marriage. Thus, Zipporah’s oblique reference to Moses as a hatan [son-in-law] who had concocted an unseemly – and clearly dangerous – pact with his father-in-law.

Hence, once the immediate threat had passed, she breathed an audible sigh of relief [az amrah], reflecting, a little more calmly, though also more specifically, on the precise issue wherein her husband had let her down: hatan damim la-mulot [a bridegroom guilty (of dereliction) in relation to circumcision.]

Ironically, it is Zipporah who stands out here as the one brimming with righteous indignation, and Moses, the future law-giver, is cast as the religious compromiser!

As to the difficulty of God’s attack on an innocent child, I believe that the inclusion of the word “vayyevakesh [And He attempted (to slay him)], is highly significant. It clearly betokens a role-play, a symbolic and harmless acting-out of the slaying of a firstborn. It was a charade with a double purpose: to reassure Moses that every threat he was to aim at Pharaoh would be carried out, even to the extent of the slaying of Pharaoh’s firstborn, as referred to in God’s most recent communication to Moses. This was calculated to embolden Moses so that he would undertake his most hazardous mission without any reservations or fears for his own safety. At the same time, it was a not-so-subtle reminder to Moses that he had to put his own house in order and circumcise his firstborn without a moment’s delay.
NOTES
1. J. Kirsch, Moses: A Life (New York: Ballantine Books, 1998) p.130.
2. Talmud Nedarim 31b.
3. See Midrash Shemot Rabbah 5 (8).
4. See Targum Yonatan on Exodus 4:25.
5. See the eclectic commentary contained in Mikra’ot Gedolot Rav Peninim (Jerusalem, Brothers
Levin-Epstein, 1955) vol. II, Sefer Shemot. Essay entitled, “Inyan pegishat ha-mal’akh,” on
Exodus 4:24.
6. See Ibn Ezra, Commentary on Exodus 4:24.
7. Brown, Driver Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 1907) p.368.
8. See Targum Yonatan on Exodus 4:24
9. Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Masekhta d’Amalek, ed. Jacob Z.Lauterbach, (Philadelphia: Jewish
Publication Society, 1976) p.168, ll. 96-101.
10. “Circumcision” in Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1970 ed., Vol. 5, p. 799.

1 Kings 8

The Dedication of the Temple and the Prayer of Solomon

[1-Kings 8:1] THEN SOLOMON ASSEMBLED THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL, AND ALL THE HEADS OF THE TRIBES, THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, UNTO KING SOLOMON IN JERUSALEM, THAT THEY MIGHT BRING UP THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD OUT OF THE CITY OF DAVID, WHICH IS ZION.
THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL. In Hebrew “Ziknei Yisrael”. “Elder” is “zaken” or in plural “zakenim”. This can also apply to anyone who is learned and from whom advice is taken no matter what their age. The expression THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL usually applies to the Sanhedrin or its equivalent.
THE HEADS OF THE TRIBES. Each Tribes had its own “Prince” and Princely House.
THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS. Hebrew “Nasii Ha-Avot”. This should perhaps be rendered “Those who were the most exalted out of the Patrilineal Family Groupings”.

[1-Kings 8:2] AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL ASSEMBLED THEMSELVES UNTO KING SOLOMON AT THE FEAST IN THE MONTH ETHANIM, WHICH IS THE SEVENTH MONTH.
ETHANIM (Modern Hebrew “Aitanim”) means “Strong Ones” or “Might Men”. According to tradition all the Patriarchs (i.e. the Mighty Men) were born in this month.
This is the month of Tishrei which overlaps September-October. In this month fall the Festivals of Rosh HaShanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Tabernacles (Succot).

[1-Kings 8:3] AND ALL THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL CAME, AND THE PRIESTS TOOK UP THE ARK.

[1-Kings 8:4] AND THEY BROUGHT UP THE ARK OF THE LORD, AND THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, AND ALL THE HOLY VESSELS THAT WERE IN THE TABERNACLE, EVEN THOSE DID THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES BRING UP.
The Tabernacle had previously been in Gibeon just outside of Jerusalem. Daat Mikra understands these verses to say that they brought up the ark from the City of David and different appurtenances that still remained from the Tabernacle in Gibeon.

[1-Kings 8:5] AND KING SOLOMON, AND ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL, THAT WERE ASSEMBLED UNTO HIM, WERE WITH HIM BEFORE THE ARK, SACRIFICING SHEEP AND OXEN, THAT COULD NOT BE TOLD NOR NUMBERED FOR MULTITUDE.

[1-Kings 8:6] AND THE PRIESTS BROUGHT IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD UNTO HIS PLACE, INTO THE ORACLE OF THE HOUSE, TO THE MOST HOLY PLACE, EVEN UNDER THE WINGS OF THE CHERUBIMS.
See 1-Kings 6:27

http://www.britam.org/Kings/1Kings6.html
And the illustration just below it.

[1-Kings 8:7] FOR THE CHERUBIMS SPREAD FORTH THEIR TWO WINGS OVER THE PLACE OF THE ARK, AND THE CHERUBIMS COVERED THE ARK AND THE STAVES THEREOF ABOVE.

[1-Kings 8:8] AND THEY DREW OUT THE STAVES, THAT THE ENDS OF THE STAVES WERE SEEN OUT IN THE HOLY PLACE BEFORE THE ORACLE, AND THEY WERE NOT SEEN WITHOUT: AND THERE THEY ARE UNTO THIS DAY.

[1-Kings 8:9] THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ARK SAVE THE TWO TABLES OF STONE, WHICH MOSES PUT THERE AT HOREB, WHEN THE LORD MADE A COVENANT WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WHEN THEY CAME OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT.
HOREB is another name for Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1) where the Israelites received the Law.

[1-Kings 8:10] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THE PRIESTS WERE COME OUT OF THE HOLY PLACE, THAT THE CLOUD FILLED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,

[1-Kings 8:11] SO THAT THE PRIESTS COULD NOT STAND TO MINISTER BECAUSE OF THE CLOUD: FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAD FILLED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.

[1-Kings 8:12] THEN SPAKE SOLOMON, THE LORD SAID THAT HE WOULD DWELL IN THE THICK DARKNESS.
God was with them and had made HIS presence felt amongst them. Nethertheless HE chose to dwell in a place that could not be seen, IN THE THICK DARKNESS.

[1-Kings 8:13] I HAVE SURELY BUILT THEE AN HOUSE TO DWELL IN, A SETTLED PLACE FOR THEE TO ABIDE IN FOR EVER.

[1-Kings 8:14] AND THE KING TURNED HIS FACE ABOUT, AND BLESSED ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL: (AND ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL STOOD;)
King Solomon blessed all the People of Israel. Solomon was the King and a King is like a father to his subjects and can bless them as a father blesses his children.

[1-Kings 8:15] AND HE SAID, BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, WHICH SPAKE WITH HIS MOUTH UNTO DAVID MY FATHER, AND HATH WITH HIS HAND FULFILLED IT, SAYING,
The Almighty had promised David that his son would build the Temple (2-Samuel 7:13).

[1-Kings 8:16] SINCE THE DAY THAT I BROUGHT FORTH MY PEOPLE ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT, I CHOSE NO CITY OUT OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL TO BUILD AN HOUSE, THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE THEREIN; BUT I CHOSE DAVID TO BE OVER MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.
God chose David to be the King of Israel. David is the chosen monarch. This is the will of the Almighty. The rightful ruler of all Israel should be from the family of David. If it so happens that someone from another family has to be in charge then their rulership should be considered as temporary. If however the non-Davidic rulers merit it their reign could last for several generations. In principle it could last indefinitely with the non-Davidic rulers eventually becoming deputies of the descendants of David. This was the eventuality that Yehonatan (son of Saul) hoped would fall to the lost of his denscendants under those of David.

[1-Kings 8:17] AND IT WAS IN THE HEART OF DAVID MY FATHER TO BUILD AN HOUSE FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL.

[1-Kings 8:18] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO DAVID MY FATHER, WHEREAS IT WAS IN THINE HEART TO BUILD AN HOUSE UNTO MY NAME, THOU DIDST WELL THAT IT WAS IN THINE HEART.

[1-Kings 8:19] NEVERTHELESS THOU SHALT NOT BUILD THE HOUSE; BUT THY SON THAT SHALL COME FORTH OUT OF THY LOINS, HE SHALL BUILD THE HOUSE UNTO MY NAME.
We are told (2-Samuel ch.7) how David wished to build the Temple but was told by the Almighty through the Prophet Nathan that his son would do it.

[1-Kings 8:20] AND THE LORD HATH PERFORMED HIS WORD THAT HE SPAKE, AND I AM RISEN UP IN THE ROOM OF DAVID MY FATHER, AND SIT ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL, AS THE LORD PROMISED, AND HAVE BUILT AN HOUSE FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL.
The Temple was a glorification of the Name of the God of Israel throughout the world.

[1-Kings 8:21] AND I HAVE SET THERE A PLACE FOR THE ARK, WHEREIN IS THE COVENANT OF THE LORD, WHICH HE MADE WITH OUR FATHERS, WHEN HE BROUGHT THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT.
The Covenant of God with Israel involves the Commandments that were placed in the Ark.

[1-Kings 8:22] AND SOLOMON STOOD BEFORE THE ALTAR OF THE LORD IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL, AND SPREAD FORTH HIS HANDS TOWARD HEAVEN:

[1-Kings 8:23] AND HE SAID, LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, THERE IS NO GOD LIKE THEE, IN HEAVEN ABOVE, OR ON EARTH BENEATH, WHO KEEPEST COVENANT AND MERCY WITH THY SERVANTS THAT WALK BEFORE THEE WITH ALL THEIR HEART:

[1-Kings 8:24] WHO HAST KEPT WITH THY SERVANT DAVID MY FATHER THAT THOU PROMISEDST HIM: THOU SPAKEST ALSO WITH THY MOUTH, AND HAST FULFILLED IT WITH THINE HAND, AS IT IS THIS DAY.

[1-Kings 8:25] THEREFORE NOW, LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, KEEP WITH THY SERVANT DAVID MY FATHER THAT THOU PROMISEDST HIM, SAYING, THERE SHALL NOT FAIL THEE A MAN IN MY SIGHT TO SIT ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL; SO THAT THY CHILDREN TAKE HEED TO THEIR WAY, THAT THEY WALK BEFORE ME AS THOU HAST WALKED BEFORE ME.
We have discussed this several times.
See:
Sons of David as Rulers
http://www.britam.org/Proof/Attributes/roleDavid.html

The Divine Promises to David:
Were they Unconditional?
http://www.britam.org/Kings/1Kings2.html#Divine
In short there would always be rulers from the seed of David over a significant section of the descendants of Israel though the REAL fulfillment of the Promise will only be actualized in the Messianic Age.

[1-Kings 8:26] AND NOW, O GOD OF ISRAEL, LET THY WORD, I PRAY THEE, BE VERIFIED, WHICH THOU SPAKEST UNTO THY SERVANT DAVID MY FATHER.

[1-Kings 8:27] BUT WILL GOD INDEED DWELL ON THE EARTH? BEHOLD, THE HEAVEN AND HEAVEN OF HEAVENS CANNOT CONTAIN THEE; HOW MUCH LESS THIS HOUSE THAT I HAVE BUILDED?

[1-Kings 8:28] YET HAVE THOU RESPECT UNTO THE PRAYER OF THY SERVANT, AND TO HIS SUPPLICATION, O LORD MY GOD, TO HEARKEN UNTO THE CRY AND TO THE PRAYER, WHICH THY SERVANT PRAYETH BEFORE THEE TO DAY:

[1-Kings 8:29] THAT THINE EYES MAY BE OPEN TOWARD THIS HOUSE NIGHT AND DAY, EVEN TOWARD THE PLACE OF WHICH THOU HAST SAID, MY NAME SHALL BE THERE: THAT THOU MAYEST HEARKEN UNTO THE PRAYER WHICH THY SERVANT SHALL MAKE TOWARD THIS PLACE.

[1-Kings 8:30] AND HEARKEN THOU TO THE SUPPLICATION OF THY SERVANT, AND OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, WHEN THEY SHALL PRAY TOWARD THIS PLACE: AND HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE: AND WHEN THOU HEAREST, FORGIVE.
The site of the Temple Mount is always sacred even when there is Temple there.
When praying one should preferably face in the direction of the Temple.
WHEN THOU HEAREST, FORGIVE. We can always be forgiven. We just have to repent and atone. This is easier said than done but it can be done. The first and most important step is simply to make the request for forgivingness.

[1-Kings 8:31] IF ANY MAN TRESPASS AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND AN OATH BE LAID UPON HIM TO CAUSE HIM TO SWEAR, AND THE OATH COME BEFORE THINE ALTAR IN THIS HOUSE:

[1-Kings 8:32] THEN HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN, AND DO, AND JUDGE THY SERVANTS, CONDEMNING THE WICKED, TO BRING HIS WAY UPON HIS HEAD; AND JUSTIFYING THE RIGHTEOUS, TO GIVE HIM ACCORDING TO HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

[1-Kings 8:33] WHEN THY PEOPLE ISRAEL BE SMITTEN DOWN BEFORE THE ENEMY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THEE, AND SHALL TURN AGAIN TO THEE, AND CONFESS THY NAME, AND PRAY, AND MAKE SUPPLICATION UNTO THEE IN THIS HOUSE:
If our enemies defeat us it is because we have sinned. We must repent and God will forgive us.
One should however avoid going into battle or any form of confrontation and thinking that because of your superior virtues the Almighty will grant you victory.
Simply ask God to help you and trust in HIM.
Do not rely on yourself.

[1-Kings 8:34] THEN HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN, AND FORGIVE THE SIN OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, AND BRING THEM AGAIN UNTO THE LAND WHICH THOU GAVEST UNTO THEIR FATHERS.
This is a rpomise that the ALMIGHTY will bring the Exiles of Israel back to their Land.

[1-Kings 8:35] WHEN HEAVEN IS SHUT UP, AND THERE IS NO RAIN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THEE; IF THEY PRAY TOWARD THIS PLACE, AND CONFESS THY NAME, AND TURN FROM THEIR SIN, WHEN THOU AFFLICTEST THEM:

[1-Kings 8:36] THEN HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN, AND FORGIVE THE SIN OF THY SERVANTS, AND OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, THAT THOU TEACH THEM THE GOOD WAY WHEREIN THEY SHOULD WALK, AND GIVE RAIN UPON THY LAND, WHICH THOU HAST GIVEN TO THY PEOPLE FOR AN INHERITANCE.

[1-Kings 8:37] IF THERE BE IN THE LAND FAMINE, IF THERE BE PESTILENCE, BLASTING, MILDEW, LOCUST, OR IF THERE BE CATERPILLER; IF THEIR ENEMY BESIEGE THEM IN THE LAND OF THEIR CITIES; WHATSOEVER PLAGUE, WHATSOEVER SICKNESS THERE BE;

[1-Kings 8:38] WHAT PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION SOEVER BE MADE BY ANY MAN, OR BY ALL THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, WHICH SHALL KNOW EVERY MAN THE PLAGUE OF HIS OWN HEART, AND SPREAD FORTH HIS HANDS TOWARD THIS HOUSE:
Whatever happens outside of you may reflect something inside your own being. Rectify yourselves
And your surroundings may well be corrected as it says EVERY MAN THE PLAGUE OF HIS OWN HEART. The plagues that will come upon them will be because of the sickness in their own souls.

[1-Kings 8:39] THEN HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE, AND FORGIVE, AND DO, AND GIVE TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, WHOSE HEART THOU KNOWEST; (FOR THOU, EVEN THOU ONLY, KNOWEST THE HEARTS OF ALL THE CHILDREN OF MEN;)

[1-Kings 8:40] THAT THEY MAY FEAR THEE ALL THE DAYS THAT THEY LIVE IN THE LAND WHICH THOU GAVEST UNTO OUR FATHERS.

[1-Kings 8:41] MOREOVER CONCERNING A STRANGER, THAT IS NOT OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, BUT COMETH OUT OF A FAR COUNTRY FOR THY NAME’S SAKE;

[1-Kings 8:42] (FOR THEY SHALL HEAR OF THY GREAT NAME, AND OF THY STRONG HAND, AND OF THY STRETCHED OUT ARM;) WHEN HE SHALL COME AND PRAY TOWARD THIS HOUSE;

[1-Kings 8:43] HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE, AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE STRANGER CALLETH TO THEE FOR: THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW THY NAME, TO FEAR THEE, AS DO THY PEOPLE ISRAEL; AND THAT THEY MAY KNOW THAT THIS HOUSE, WHICH I HAVE BUILDED, IS CALLED BY THY NAME.
The non-Israelite foreigner who acknowledges the God of Israel will be saved if he sincerely asks for help.

[1-Kings 8:44] IF THY PEOPLE GO OUT TO BATTLE AGAINST THEIR ENEMY, WHITHERSOEVER THOU SHALT SEND THEM, AND SHALL PRAY UNTO THE LORD TOWARD THE CITY WHICH THOU HAST CHOSEN, AND TOWARD THE HOUSE THAT I HAVE BUILT FOR THY NAME:

[1-Kings 8:45] THEN HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THEIR PRAYER AND THEIR SUPPLICATION, AND MAINTAIN THEIR CAUSE.
If we pray God will help us.

[1-Kings 8:46] IF THEY SIN AGAINST THEE, (FOR THERE IS NO MAN THAT SINNETH NOT,) AND THOU BE ANGRY WITH THEM, AND DELIVER THEM TO THE ENEMY, SO THAT THEY CARRY THEM AWAY CAPTIVES UNTO THE LAND OF THE ENEMY, FAR OR NEAR;

[1-Kings 8:47] YET IF THEY SHALL BETHINK THEMSELVES IN THE LAND WHITHER THEY WERE CARRIED CAPTIVES, AND REPENT, AND MAKE SUPPLICATION UNTO THEE IN THE LAND OF THEM THAT CARRIED THEM CAPTIVES, SAYING, WE HAVE SINNED, AND HAVE DONE PERVERSELY, WE HAVE COMMITTED WICKEDNESS;

[1-Kings 8:48] AND SO RETURN UNTO THEE WITH ALL THEIR HEART, AND WITH ALL THEIR SOUL, IN THE LAND OF THEIR ENEMIES, WHICH LED THEM AWAY CAPTIVE, AND PRAY UNTO THEE TOWARD THEIR LAND, WHICH THOU GAVEST UNTO THEIR FATHERS, THE CITY WHICH THOU HAST CHOSEN, AND THE HOUSE WHICH I HAVE BUILT FOR THY NAME:

[1-Kings 8:49] THEN HEAR THOU THEIR PRAYER AND THEIR SUPPLICATION IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE, AND MAINTAIN THEIR CAUSE,

[1-Kings 8:50] AND FORGIVE THY PEOPLE THAT HAVE SINNED AGAINST THEE, AND ALL THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS WHEREIN THEY HAVE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THEE, AND GIVE THEM COMPASSION BEFORE THEM WHO CARRIED THEM CAPTIVE, THAT THEY MAY HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM:
When the Northern Ten Tribes were taken into Exile by the Assyrians some of them were treated as slaves and subjected to hard labor. Others were treated relatively well and soon reached important positions in the Assyrian administration. A portion of them due to external events were enabled to assert their independence at an early date. For the rest it took a little longer but eventually they were released.
So too, on innumerable occasions the Jews who descended from inhabitants of the southern Kingdom of Judah were persecuted and driven from one place to another. Despite the persecutions of the Jews by their Gentile neighbors it often happened that rulers and princes would have mercy on them. There were times and areas where the Jews were relatively well off by contemporary standards. In fact from an historical perspective the Jews may well have had it better than most other peoples. They usually had a good family life, relative health, and prosperity. They learned the Law which gave them an intellectual enlightenment that other peoples did not have.

[1-Kings 8:51] FOR THEY BE THY PEOPLE, AND THINE INHERITANCE, WHICH THOU BROUGHTEST FORTH OUT OF EGYPT, FROM THE MIDST OF THE FURNACE OF IRON:

[1-Kings 8:52] THAT THINE EYES MAY BE OPEN UNTO THE SUPPLICATION OF THY SERVANT, AND UNTO THE SUPPLICATION OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, TO HEARKEN UNTO THEM IN ALL THAT THEY CALL FOR UNTO THEE.

[1-Kings 8:53] FOR THOU DIDST SEPARATE THEM FROM AMONG ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH, TO BE THINE INHERITANCE, AS THOU SPAKEST BY THE HAND OF MOSES THY SERVANT, WHEN THOU BROUGHTEST OUR FATHERS OUT OF EGYPT, O LORD GOD.
This is recalled in the Book of Exodus.
The People of Israel had just sinned by committing idolatry and worshipping the golden bull calf. The Almighty had almost destroyed them but Moses interceded and God had mercy.
Moses then asked God to forgive them and also to distinguish then from all other peoples, that only they would be the special people of God through whom the Almighty could be known.
And God agreed.

[Exodus 33:16] FOR WHEREIN SHALL IT BE KNOWN HERE THAT I AND THY PEOPLE HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THY SIGHT? IS IT NOT IN THAT THOU GOEST WITH US? SO SHALL WE BE SEPARATED, I AND THY PEOPLE, FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

[Exodus 33:17] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, I WILL DO THIS THING ALSO THAT THOU HAST SPOKEN: FOR THOU HAST FOUND GRACE IN MY SIGHT, AND I KNOW THEE BY NAME.

We spoke of this matter in our talk on Parshat “KiTisa”.
See:
Ki Tisa
http://www.britam.org/Broadcasts/NewBambi.html#GC

The Golden Calf and the God of Israel and the Choseness of Israel
Exodus 30:11-34:35 (44 minutes)

[1-Kings 8:54] AND IT WAS SO, THAT WHEN SOLOMON HAD MADE AN END OF PRAYING ALL THIS PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION UNTO THE LORD, HE AROSE FROM BEFORE THE ALTAR OF THE LORD, FROM KNEELING ON HIS KNEES WITH HIS HANDS SPREAD UP TO HEAVEN.

[1-Kings 8:55] AND HE STOOD, AND BLESSED ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING,

[1-Kings 8:56] BLESSED BE THE LORD, THAT HATH GIVEN REST UNTO HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL, ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HE PROMISED: THERE HATH NOT FAILED ONE WORD OF ALL HIS GOOD PROMISE, WHICH HE PROMISED BY THE HAND OF MOSES HIS SERVANT.
When we pray we should end or begin our prayers with a request that God bless the People of Israel and Judah.

[1-Kings 8:57] THE LORD OUR GOD BE WITH US, AS HE WAS WITH OUR FATHERS: LET HIM NOT LEAVE US, NOR FORSAKE US:
One should bless others in order to bring a blessing on oneself and those whom one holds dear.

[1-Kings 8:58] THAT HE MAY INCLINE OUR HEARTS UNTO HIM, TO WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS, AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND HIS STATUTES, AND HIS JUDGMENTS, WHICH HE COMMANDED OUR FATHERS.
We should all want to do the will of the Almighty and keep HIS commandments.
This is not easy.
It may be especially hard for “Ephraimites” who technically speaking are not obliged to keep the Law. Nevertheless many Ephraimite descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes are being aroused by Divine Providence to Keep the Law.
Some of them want to but lack the strength to do so.
Others want to, probably are strong enough to do so but they do not know how.
Pray to God, remind HIM of HIS promises and of this prayer of Solomon and the Almighty will help.
This Prayer of Solomon is not only a request. It is a promise of Prophetic significance.

[1-Kings 8:59] AND LET THESE MY WORDS, WHEREWITH I HAVE MADE SUPPLICATION BEFORE THE LORD, BE NIGH UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT, THAT HE MAINTAIN THE CAUSE OF HIS SERVANT, AND THE CAUSE OF HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL AT ALL TIMES, AS THE MATTER SHALL REQUIRE:

[1-Kings 8:60] THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GOD, AND THAT THERE IS NONE ELSE.
We need to succeed not only for our own sakes but also for the sake of the Almighty.
The God of Israel in some way is judged by what we are.

[1-Kings 8:61] LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE PERFECT WITH THE LORD OUR GOD, TO WALK IN HIS STATUTES, AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AS AT THIS DAY.

[1-Kings 8:62] AND THE KING, AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM, OFFERED SACRIFICE BEFORE THE LORD.

[1-Kings 8:63] AND SOLOMON OFFERED A SACRIFICE OF PEACE OFFERINGS, WHICH HE OFFERED UNTO THE LORD, TWO AND TWENTY THOUSAND OXEN, AND AN HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND SHEEP. SO THE KING AND ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DEDICATED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
Solomon offered up on behalf of Israel 22,000 head of cattle and 120, 000 sheep.

[1-Kings 8:64] THE SAME DAY DID THE KING HALLOW THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT THAT WAS BEFORE THE HOUSE OF THE LORD: FOR THERE HE OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS, AND MEAT OFFERINGS, AND THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS: BECAUSE THE BRASEN ALTAR THAT WAS BEFORE THE LORD WAS TOO LITTLE TO RECEIVE THE BURNT OFFERINGS, AND MEAT OFFERINGS, AND THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS.

[1-Kings 8:65] AND AT THAT TIME SOLOMON HELD A FEAST, AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM, A GREAT CONGREGATION, FROM THE ENTERING IN OF HAMATH UNTO THE RIVER OF EGYPT, BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD, SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN DAYS, EVEN FOURTEEN DAYS.
Solomon ruled over the Greater Land of Israel stretching from the area of south-east Turkey up unto the western branches of the Nile River.
See:
What Are the Boundaries of the Promised Land According to the Bible?
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesLand.html#Boundaries

[1-Kings 8:66] ON THE EIGHTH DAY HE SENT THE PEOPLE AWAY: AND THEY BLESSED THE KING, AND WENT UNTO THEIR TENTS JOYFUL AND GLAD OF HEART FOR ALL THE GOODNESS THAT THE LORD HAD DONE FOR DAVID HIS SERVANT, AND FOR ISRAEL HIS PEOPLE.

Ps 108

“Save With Your Right Hand”

Psalm 108 is titled a psalm of David, being a combination, with slight modifications, of parts of two other psalms of David, Psalms 57 and 60 (compare 57:7-11 with 108:1-5 and 60:5-12 with 108:6-13). As their superscriptions attest, Psalm 57 was written when David and his men hid from Saul in the cave near the desert oasis of En Gedi, and Psalm 60 was written when David fought against the forces of Mesopotamia and Syria. We earlier read Psalm 108 in the Bible Reading Program in conjunction with the account of the latter episode (see the Bible Reading Program comments on 2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 19; Psalm 60; Psalm 108; Psalm 83). It would be helpful here to review the Bible Reading Program’s Psalms section comments on Psalm 57 and Psalm 60.
The first part of Psalm 108 (verses 1-5), the part also found in Psalm 57:7-11, praises the extensiveness of God’s hesed-His steadfast covenant love and mercy. In fact, where Psalm 57:10 said it reaches to the heavens, Psalm 108:4, slightly reworded, says it is great above the heavens. Based on this pervasiveness of God’s covenant faithfulness, the latter part of Psalm 108 (verses 6-13), the part taken from Psalm 60:5-12, is a prayer for deliverance from and help against Israel’s national enemies. While the later song could have been composed shortly after the former, so that the circumstances described still existed, it may be that the later composition was much later-so that circumstances were completely different yet the same general need for God’s intervention was present (evidently after a period of things not going so well). As in Psalm 60, the song is adamant in proclaiming that only through God can we attain ultimate victory.

Luke 19

This again is amazing to me as we do the 3 ½ year Torah Study how it lines up with the season we are no entering into; the Passover Season.

Yehshua is on His way to Jerusalem and again He meets with those who are known as sinners and this time Zacchaeus repents and restores what may have been stolen.

Immediately after this incident Yehshua tells the parable of the king who left in charge three servants with various amounts of money. But did you catch what was said in verse 14.

Luk 19:14 “But his subjects were hating him, and sent a delegation after him, to say, ‘We do not wish this one to reign over us.’

As you all know this is speaking of Yehshua who presently has gone away and is about to return. Currently many in the Christian faith believe Jesus to be a god of love. And all you have to do is love and it will be OK. The trouble with this stinken thinken is that it just ain’t so.

Read what Yehshua says in Luk 19:27 ‘But those enemies of mine who did not wish me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.’ ”

Not much Christian love going on here, is there?

Yehshua said is you love me you will keep the commandments. Yet many Christians will not keep the commandments and as such refuse to be ruled over by Yehshua. We are told right here they will be brought forward and slain in front of Him. He will tell them He never knew them.

We have covered the 4th commandment the past few weeks and shown you where it says you shall keep the Sabbath and the Holy Day all shown to you in Lev 23 and it also includes the Sabbatical years as shown to you in Lev 25-26.

http://www.shema.com/commentaries/Luke/Luke_19_28-46.php
Verse 28

After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
He’s just told a very pointed and troubling parable to an audience of Jewish people who had a serious flaw in their view about when and how the Kingdom of God was coming. Messiah Yeshua never sought to widen His audience by soft-pedaling the truth. Unlike those who seek to gain a huge following, the Master often taught very difficult truths, knowing full well it would turn some people off. But He was okay with that. Yeshua knew that some people are unwilling to repent and are unfit for His Kingdom. So as He leaves Jericho for Jerusalem, we can imagine there might have been fewer people following Him than when He arrived there. Of course, those who are truly His loyal subjects will endure to the end.

Verses 29-31
When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

Messiah Yeshua approached the villages whose names mean “House of unripe figs” and “House of Affliction” or “House of Poverty”. There is some question about the proper translation of Bethany, as its root is probably either Syriac or Aramaic. In any case, the village of Bethany still exists today, but by the Arabic name Al-Eizariya (from the name Lazarus, Yeshua’s very good friend whose family lived there).

More significant than the names of the two villages is the fact that Yeshua is approaching Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is very important real estate. It was the very last place His feet touched before ascending to Heaven, and likewise the very first place His feet will touch again upon His glorious and powerful return to Earth.

Let’s talk about the colt – the young male donkey Yeshua sent for. What did He want with a young donkey? It’s really quite straightforward: The Son of David was about to ride into the City of David, and offer Himself as the rightful King, the One who will sit on the throne of David. About that very day the prophet Zechariah (9:9) had announced over 500 years earlier:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

We have come to refer to this incident as “The Triumphal Entry” but many regard it as a misnomer, and I’m inclined to agree. First of all, the acclaim that surrounded Him that day was short-lived. Messiah Yeshua knew He would soon be rejected by His own nation, handed over to the Gentiles and put to death in a most horrible fashion. How is that triumphal? Neither did the righteous young rabbi presume to ride in on a white stallion.

What this does represent is the selecting of the lamb for Passover which was to be done on the 10th day of the month of Aviv. Yehshua is now going to be examined for the next 4 days before He is sacrificed.

Riding in on a donkey sent a certain message. Donkeys are humble animals. To most people they are, to put it mildly, unimpressive. But humility and outward simplicity was the hallmark of Yeshua’s entire ministry on Earth. Read through the Gospels and you will see He made no particular effort to engage the scholarly elite, nor the aristocracy, nor the politically powerful and well-connected. For that matter, He didn’t even hobnob with the pious rabbis. In fact, most of His time was spent outside of Jerusalem, including in some places nobody else would set foot – such as in Samaria and throughout Galilee, and in the company of those that society either considered complete losers (such as Bartimaeus the blind beggar); traitors (such as Zaccheus the tax-collector), or just plain people of ill-repute.

His riding in on a young donkey was unexpected to those who were looking for a warrior-messiah. You see, in the ancient world, when a new king rode into a capitol city on a horse, it was a signal that he intended to rule with an iron fist. Horses were animals of war. But to ride in on a donkey signaled the intention to rule peaceably.

Why did Yeshua specify a young donkey upon which no one had ever sat? I believe it is because He is not to be compared with any other human being. In fact, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 2:5) stipulates that no one else may ride an animal on which the king has ridden. This sheds a little light on the ultimate irony of Mordecai the Jew being led in procession around the city on the king’s horse, wearing one of the king’s robes, and heralded by the king’s highest official. It is my opinion that that young colt, tied there next to its mother (as Matthew tells us), had been created for that very day and hour. Imagine the honor of that little colt – an otherwise humble, despised animal!

Verses 32-35
So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord has need of it.” They brought it to Yeshua, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Yeshua on it.

In his own account, Mark fills in the details a little, indicating that the owners, upon hearing the simple words, “the Lord has need of it” gave their permission. Perhaps Yeshua had worked this out in advance with the family, who wouldn’t have recognized the two disciples, but who knew Yeshua. Or perhaps they were just godly folks who sensed the sincerity of the request. Matthew indicates that they untied the colt and its mother donkey, which makes sense – the young one would have been reluctant to go anywhere without its mother, much less with men who were completely unfamiliar.

Verses 36-38
As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!”

Matthew, Mark and John tell us in their accounts that not only were people spreading their coats on the ground, but others were cutting branches from leafy trees and palms and spreading them in the road. Why did they do this? What was the meaning of this grand procession? Those of you who have been at Shema for awhile might already have guessed. What biblical festival includes the taking of branches of leafy trees and palms? Sukkot – the Feast of Tabernacles! If only for a fleeting moment, the enormous crowd around Him got it; He was declaring Himself the King Messiah – Immanu-El, God among us, making His tabernacle in our midst.

Throngs of worshippers followed Him from Bethany, and the noise of it all must have caught the attention of people inside the city, because they came out in droves to join the procession. They were praising God with reckless abandon! And why not – it was the right time, and they were overjoyed, many of them having witnessed His miracles, not least of which was the raising of His friend Eliezer (Lazarus) from the dead in nearby Bethany!

Again, don’t miss the fact that this is taking place at the descent of the Mt. of Olives, toward Jerusalem. The Mt. of Olives, where our Lord and King and Messiah will return to Earth! And it is through that Eastern Gate facing the Mt. of Olives that Israel’s King is to come to Jerusalem. During the reign of the Muslim leader Suleiman, the Ottoman Turks cemented that gate closed in the 1600’s, thinking to prevent any such Jewish expectation from being realized. Right… as if cement is going to stop God from accomplishing what He has already declared will take place!!

[Actually that eastern or Golden gate being spoken of is part of the Temple mount complex and is no where near to where the Temple of Yehovah once stood. Jehovah’s Temple was 600 Meters South over the Gihon Spring.]

And the people shouted “Baruch Melech HaBa b’shem Adonai – Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” Words similar to those shouted out at Jewish weddings when the Groom makes his appearance, but even grander, since our Bridegroom-to-come is also our Sovereign King. And the crowd there got it! He really was and is the King of the Jews. They also shouted, “Shalom baShamayim u’kavod b’elyon – Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!” Can you just imagine the joy and exhilaration in those moments? Wouldn’t you love to have seen that?

But meanwhile, not everyone there was joyful and exuberant.

Verses 39-40
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Yeshua answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

I still get a kick of out people who reject Yeshua’s claim to be the King Messiah, but insist He was a good man. Here the religious leaders are urging Him to restrain His followers, because as far as they are concerned, the crowd is very nearly blaspheming – hailing Yeshua as King and Messiah. Instead of rebuking His disciples, Yeshua rebukes the Pharisees, saying that the very creation itself was on the verge of crying out in praise of Him! Those are not the words of merely a “good man”. They are either the words of the God of the Universe or they are the words of a madman.

Years back some of us on the Jews For Jesus staff in New York used to go into the subways with our guitars and sing. One of the songs we loved most started this way: “Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy name.” You see, we were created to give God praise. And if we won’t do it, the rocks and the trees will be more than happy to stand in for us; but not if I can help it. And make no mistake about it, one day the creation itself will be set free and offer praise to the Father and the Son. For now the creation groans from the effects of the Fall, waiting and yearning for that coming Day (Romans 8:22).

But as Yeshua came near the city; the City of David; Jerusalem; the Holy City; the Spiritual Center of Planet Earth; the joy gave way to bewildered quiet, as Messiah began to weep. They were not tears of joy.

Verses 41-44
When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

This was no triumphal entry. It stopped short. The multitudes shouting and praising God as they approached Jerusalem, the palm branches and the songs of worship – it would only be a faint glimmer – a brief glimpse at what might have been. That generation would not see it, in the same way that the generation that came out of Egypt, having witnessed God’s miracles through Moses, both in Egypt and in the wilderness, were doomed to die in the wilderness because of their unbelief. They rejected Moses and they rejected God who had delivered them. Now, 1,400 years, many prophets and many warnings later, the people of Jerusalem, especially the leaders of our people, rejected the very One of whom all the prophets foretold, and in so doing, invited God’s judgment.

That judgment would come 40 years later in the form of Rome’s legions under the General Vespasian and later his son Titus. Yeshua foretold that the city of Jerusalem would be besieged and destroyed, along with the Temple and all its ornate gold inlay. His words were literally fulfilled; the soldiers who sacked the Temple broke it apart stone by stone, plundering all the gold they could retrieve – even from between the stones.

And why? In Yeshua’s words, “…because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Please take notice that Yeshua did not say that all the suffering our Jewish people have endured across the world in all the generations since then was because we rejected Him. Yeshua said specifically that Jerusalem would be destroyed. We need to be careful not to say what the Scriptures don’t say.

But we do need to be clear about this: it was on account of rejecting the true and righteous Messiah when He presented Himself to Israel that Jerusalem was destroyed.

In the aftermath of the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, the rabbis asked themselves why this catastrophe happened. Here is what they wrote: “Why was the first Holy Temple destroyed? Because of three wicked things: idol worship, adultery, and murder. But in the second Temple in which time the Jewish people were occupied studying the Torah and doing good deeds and acts of charity why was it then destroyed? The answer is: It was because of hatred without a cause to teach you, that hate without a cause is equal to these sins and that it is as serious a crime as the three great transgressions of idol worship, adultery, and murder” [Yoma 9].

They never specified who it was they hated without a cause, but Yeshua cited Psalm 35 (and Psalm 69) in demonstrating that He was the One they hated without a cause.

Considering that Yeshua wept deeply over Jerusalem, we should examine whether Jerusalem has priority in our own thoughts and occupies a place of prominence in our prayer life. Psalm 137:5-6 reads, If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy. Psalm 122:6 enjoins us: pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you.

Unfortunately most people, to this day, fail to understand that this planet has been “visited” – most human beings, including most Jewish people, continue to reject Messiah Yeshua. But that will change – soon.

Verses 45-46
Yeshua entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robber’s den.”

In Malachi 3:1-3 the prophet warned Israel that the Lord Himself would come to His Temple, but that His coming would be difficult to endure; that He would chasten and purify the sons of Levi. Messiah Yeshua entered the Temple and drove out all the profiteers – for the second time. This was a clear claim to be the Messiah. It also was long overdue.

The Temple had been for many years monopolized by the priests and Saduccees, who controlled what animals were deemed “acceptable” for sacrifice. If you wanted to be sure no defect was found, you could always purchase one of their “pre-approved” animals – but at an enormously inflated price. Or you could take your chances with one of your own animals. Despite people bringing their best, these wicked priests managed to find defects on animals that were not purchased by their hand-picked merchants. And the priests and Sadducees all got a kick-back on the profit from the sales. Most Israelis were poor to begin with, and this made festivals like Passover a time of grief, as families realized they couldn’t afford the going prices at the Temple. It was wickedness, and Messiah would not have it. They really had made it “a robber’s den”.

It is a reminder that those who serve in the House of God will incur a stricter judgment. But we should also bear in mind that Yeshua was quoting from Isaiah 56:6-7, and the context is that God’s House will be a house of prayer for all the peoples. There is absolutely no room for ethnic exclusivity in God’s program. Messiah is for all people.

The 613 Mitzvot

We now continue to study the 613 laws of Torah which we can read at http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm
We are doing 7 laws each week. We shall study laws 360-366 We also have commentary, with editing from me, again from http://theownersmanual.net/The_Owners_Manual_02_The_Law_of_Love.Torah

(360) Do not eat the fruit of a tree for three years from the time it was planted. “When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to Yahweh. And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am Yahweh your God.” (Leviticus 19:23-25) Beyond the plain obedience of the command, this is a hard one to figure out. Why did Yahweh declare the fruit of a newly planted tree ceremonially forbidden for the first three years? As an enthusiastic arborist, I can tell you that it takes that long for a tree’s root structure to become established.

The “tree maxim” is: the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. Perhaps Yahweh is teaching us about patience—not to expect a new believer to bear edifying fruit for a few years, no matter how promising he or she might appear. If ever there was a “convert” who might have wanted to jump immediately into the fray, it was Paul. But as he testifies in his preface to the Galatians (1:18), he waited for a full three years before he even conferred with the leaders of the Ekklesia at Jerusalem. Three years. Paul was an acknowledged expert in the Torah. Perhaps he realized that he was a newly planted tree and none of his fruit would be usable for the first three years. So he sidelined himself until, as he himself put it (v. 15), “it pleased God….”

(361) The fruit of fruit-bearing trees in the fourth year of their planting shall be sacred like the second tithe and eaten in Jerusalem. “When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to Yahweh. And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am Yahweh your God.” (Leviticus 19:23-25) Orthodox Jews today have, as usual, turned what they don’t understand into a maze of mindless rules. They even have a special “New Year’s day” for trees—not the first day of Nisan, as Yahweh decreed, nor the first of Tishri (erroneously called Rosh Hashanah—head of the year—a phony New Year they picked up in Babylon), but Tu B’Shevat, or the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat, which falls in January or February. So presumably, if you get that peach tree into the ground by the middle of January, you can cut the better part of a year off the “three-year” rule. Good grief.

What’s really going on is that the fourth-year fruit is set apart to Yahweh. It is “a praise to Yahweh,” hilulim—offerings of praise similar to the Firstfruits offering. Hilulim is linguistically related to the usual word for praise, halal, which actually means to radiate light (Yahweh’s, in this case). I take all this to mean that the first thing a new believer should do upon getting himself grounded and rooted in the Word is to praise Yahweh.

(362) Do not sow grain or herbs in a vineyard. “You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.” (Deuteronomy 22:9) Again, “different kinds of seed” represent different approaches to God. Yahweh has ordained one way to reach Him: grace through faith in Yahshua—literally meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” Since the “vineyard” here is metaphorical of the world we live in, mixing our “seed,” is indicative of blending paganism with true reverence for Yahweh. In a word it is unholiness.

(363) Do not eat the produce of diverse seeds sown in a vineyard. “You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.” (Deuteronomy 22:9) A continuation of the thought of the previous mitzvah: holiness requires us to be set apart from the world, set apart to God for His purposes, for that is what the word means. Yahweh was instructing the Israelites not to mix the worship of Ba’al with that of Himself. In our age the names have changed, but the principle hasn’t. The early church was warned against the inroads of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6, 15), a group who advocated compromise between Yahshua’s Ekklesia and the pagan religions of the surrounding peoples. But Yahweh had spoken: “You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed.”

(364) Do not work with beasts of different species yoked together. “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.” (Deuteronomy 22:10) The lesson here is exactly the same as the previous two mitzvot, though Maimonides refuses to see beyond the agricultural ramifications. It’s a plea for holiness, separateness. Not surprisingly, Paul saw exactly what was going on. He wrote: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says Yahweh. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says Yahweh Almighty.” (II Corinthians 6:14-18) If you yoke Yahweh’s ox with Satan’s ass, you’ll be plowing in circles.

CLOTHING

(365) A man shall not wear women’s clothing. “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to Yahweh your God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5) Now you know why Satan works so hard trying to blur the gender lines in our society: its because Yahweh, who created the sexes, likes to keep them separate and distinct. The question we should be asking ourselves is “Why?” Why is Yahweh so intent on preserving the family? Why does He want men to look like men, women to look like women, and marriages between them to last for a lifetime, fruitful and secure? It’s because the human family is designed to be a picture of Yahweh and how He relates to us. Yahweh our “Father” is our provider, our strong protector, the ultimate authority. The more intimate, tender, and personal side of God’s revelation to us comes through the Holy Spirit—Ruach Qodesh in Hebrew, a feminine term in that language. Yes, God’s Spirit is quite literally our Heavenly Mother. And as anyone who grew up close to a brother or sister can attest, there is a special bond between siblings—a oneness that can’t be achieved with a parent, no matter how warm the relationship. So Yahweh also manifested Himself as the “Son,” God existing in the form of a man—whose brothers and sisters we are if we have been adopted into the family of God. The family, then, is a metaphor for Yahweh’s self-expression on our behalf. He created us, in fact, to reflect that expression in who and what we were: men and women whose lifelong love brings children into being—families.

So from Satan’s point of view, one of the best ways to destroy this picture is to confuse the roles of the family members. He encourages men to be effeminate, women authoritative, and children rebellious. Step number one in achieving his goal of the breakdown of the family is to make men and women look the same, and the easiest way to achieve that is with clothing.

(366) A woman should not wear men’s clothing. “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to Yahweh your God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5) What, exactly, are “women’s clothes” or “men’s clothes”? Since modes of dress are regional, and since fashion norms shift with time, the answers defy any hard and fast definition (which is probably why Yahweh worded His Torah so carefully). I’ve got no problem with ladies in pants, for the simple reason that most women still look unmistakably like women dressed that way. As with so many of these instructions, I’d have to say that intent is the key. We shouldn’t be trying to look like the opposite sex, or trying to disguise what we are by adopting an androgynous look. Men should look like men, and women, women, in the context of their own regional customs.