The Law of Niddah Part 1 & Under the Shadow of YHWH’s Wings: The Tallit

Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Jan 7, 2011

News Letter 5846-049
3rd day of the 11th month 5846 years after creation
The 11th Month in the first year of the third Sabbatical Year
The Third Sabbatical Year of the 119th Jubilee Cycle

January 7, 2011

Shabbat Shalom Brethren,
At last it is time to share this study on the Law of Niddah and I am very excited to do so.

After I sent out last week’s Study on saturnalia Steven Collins wrote and told me about an interview he had done recently on www.trunews.com which you can listen to directly at http://www.trunews.com/Audio/m3u/12_29_10_Wednesday_trunews2.m3uThe Part you should pay attention to is the part where Steven is describing the Carthaginians and where they come from as this was a major point in last week’s news letter as I showed you how the Israelites continued to worship Molech as you do to this day. But there are many other topics which he mentions that are sure to enlighten you as you listen to this talk. And if you have not yet read his books then I urge you to do so ASAP. You can do so at http://stevenmcollins.com/homepage.php

New Moon Report
January 2011
Eleventh Month

On Wednesday January 5, 2010 the new moon was sighted from Israel.

The moon was sighted by three observers from the Mount of Olives beginning at 17:13. The moon was also sighted by an observer from Samaria at 17:24 and another observer from Aqaba, Jordan.

Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel

I have also now been hearing of the many problems with the United Church of God and Global about how many people are looking for something, after being disillusioned once again. Once again they are sitting at home waiting for the dust to settle. If you know of anyone in these groups, now would be a good time to approach them and share some of the things you have come to learn at www.sightedmoon.com with them. They need to know that there are other teachers besides those at United that they can learn from and not just me. Share with them the many other Messianic teachers you know of. Don’t let them just wonder off to sit by themselves as many of you and I did after we all left our former churches; as you know there is so little time left. Tell them to watch the DVD at https://sightedmoon.com/sightedmoon_2015/?page_id=251 and tell them about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years which they do not yet know about. And not just these groups but go and tell everyone else you know. In just over 6 years the USA and UK will be entering into the 7 years of war. Tell them so they too can get ready. The Sabbatical and Jubilee years prove this; The Prophecies of Abraham also confirm this, and as you will soon see the Law of Niddah will also prove this to be true. It too is a prophecy which no one teaches. You are about to find out. That will be in part three of this series.

I am also pleased to announce that The Prophecies of Abraham is #4 on the Top Ten books for Author House sales this year. Please if you have not yet read it, order it tonight. Everyone who does read it has their minds stretched about biblical prophecy and is learning more each time they read it. If you have read it tell others to get it. You have just over 6 years until the Sabbatical Cycle of War begins. Warn your family and friends while you have time.
http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/BestSellers.aspx?SortBy=POP

I have been asked many times about living in Israel. I have the following letter from those who live there and how it is possible for each of us to go. Look and see where you qualify and no matter what go and visit the land soon.

Shalom Joseph,
I know that many are wondering how it is legally possible to stay in Israel if they aren’t Jewish. If someone cannot make citizenship based on their Jewish Lineage/religion, according to the Law of Return, then there are some other options.

Once we’ve acquired the farm, we can apply for 5 year foreign worker visas. This would be based on agriculture. If we have experts in a field that isn’t available here, a specialty, then we can also apply for work visas. Now these visas are very rare and hard to get but with YHWH anything can be accomplished. We can also apply for volunteer visas. The important thing is that we show the bureaucratic system that we are bringing people here to benefit Israel, rather than take away jobs, and that we are doing things legally. We need to have people fill roles here that aren’t being filled.

For those who long to be here but can only afford to support themselves short term, they can possibly consider applying for the following visas:
Student visas
Journalist visas
Work visas
etc

Here are some of the ways we know of, that people have been allowed to stay in the land:
1.residency based on relatives on Yad Vshem wall of Righteous Gentiles (if your family members helped Jews during the Holocaust, you might be allowed residency)
2. Residency based on unique businesses, especially favored are export businesses
3. Residency based on children living in the land (illegally) for more than 5 years, and are in public schools and fluent in Hebrew (not encouraging anyone to live here illegally)
4. We know of a non Jewish family given residency because the father was an engineer who helped develop something in Israel
5. Residency to a bible scholar, based on their ability to teach at the University

We also know of some who travel internationally a lot. They come in and out of the country, renewing their 3 month tourist visas continually. However this is becoming more and more difficult and likely not a good idea to stay in Israel long term on this status.

We know of many doing full conversions to Judaism. Yes you have to deny Yeshua in an orthodox conversion.

We know of some who live in Jordan and visit Israel often but again, this is becoming frowned on, and there are no guarantees you will be allowed to cross back over the border into Israel.

We have heard of some volunteering for the IDF/army, but have not learned how to do this yet. This is likely something very difficult to do as we know someone who tried unsuccessfully to do this.

We know of people coming here out of desperation, and staying as Asylum Seekers or Refugees under the International Asylum Seeker law (must be able to prove your life was in danger due to civil war, etc)

So as you can see, there are a lot of people here in the land legally, and He will make a way if it’s His will for someone to be here.

Some things to keep in mind is that Israel is expensive. You have to be independent in all ways and especially financially. You have to be prepared for battle. Israel is not for the weak and whiney. Cry-babies stay home! If you are offended by such a statement, stay home. Israel isn’t a country known for being polite. Merciful and generous yes, polite, no. If you think you can come here to teach someone something, stay home. Israel will change you, challenge you, humble you, strengthen you, stretch you, and teach you. You might need to come for awhile, return to where you came from, regroup, refresh, and jump back in again. Seasons in and seasons out are not uncommon. Don’t come with any expectations. Yes there are giants in the land but your God is bigger , and this is HIS land.

Some of the good things about living in Israel are that this land comes closest to any other nation, of walking in God’s will. It is the only nation that takes national holidays off for the Holy Days in the torah. It is the only place you can find the torah woven into its laws, culture, schools, government. The very rocks cry out that the Bible is true, with every archaeological and historical proof, screaming God’s fingerprint is HERE! Eating kosher is effortless here. This is the most fought over piece of real estate in history! To be here is a privilege to say the least. Its worth fighting for. Its worth working for. Its worth sacrificing for.

I was also shown this video of how the local farmers are being harassed off the land by the arabs. Listen to the what this young soldier has to say and think of what we could do. Pray about this. Pray and Fast about this. Myself and some others will be fasting this weekend. Feel free to join us as we draw nearer to Yehovah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGfc2oRYyxA&feature=related

The Law of Niddah

Part #1 of a 3 part series.

Being raised Catholic I was taught that Sex was dirty and not compatible to being Holy. To say the least I was not a good practicing Catholic and yet some of the prudish teachings of the Nuns have had an effect on many of our marriages.

I am sure there are many out there reading this who will admit to the same Victorian or Catholic teachings and not realize that they carry them with them to this day.

Rather than sex being a wonderful communion between a husband and a wife to fulfill the sexual desire, The Roman Catholic view, if anyone actually listened to it, would make married partners feel guilty and dirty for having sex, for the sole purpose of a “good romp in the hay”.

This week and the following two we are going to look at one of those things that some consider dirty and a subject not to be spoken about. That is a woman’s period or the Law of Niddah as shown to us in the Torah. As we all come out of the pagan false teaching we were raised on, it is important that we approach each new subject without bringing all our former baggage with us; And at the same time to be careful not to trade those old bags of false traditions for new ones with other false teachings. We seek the truth and it alone.

The subject matter in this News Letter is for those who are mature. Not old in age but are mature in spirit.

Sex is defined in Judaism 101 at http://www.jewfaq.org/sex.htm
In Jewish law, sex is not considered shameful, sinful or obscene. Sex is not thought of as a necessary evil for the sole purpose of procreation. Although sexual desire comes from the yetzer ra (the evil impulse), it is no more evil than hunger or thirst, which also come from the yetzer ra. Like hunger, thirst or other basic instincts, sexual desire must be controlled and channeled, satisfied at the proper time, place and manner. But when sexual desire is satisfied between a husband and wife at the proper time, out of mutual love and desire, sex is a mitzvah.

Sex is permissible only within the context of a marriage. In Judaism, sex is not merely a way of experiencing physical pleasure. It is an act of immense significance, which requires commitment and responsibility. The requirement of marriage before sex ensures that sense of commitment and responsibility. Jewish law also forbids sexual contact short of intercourse outside of the context of marriage, recognizing that such contact will inevitably lead to intercourse.

In the Torah, the word used for sex between husband and wife comes from the root Yod-Dalet-Ayin, meaning “to know,” which vividly illustrates that proper Jewish sexuality involves both the heart and mind, not merely the body.

Niddah: The Laws of Separation

One of the most mysterious areas of Jewish sexual practices is the law of niddah, separation of husband and wife during the woman’s menstrual period. These laws are also known as taharat ha-mishpachah, family purity. Few people outside of the Orthodox community are even aware that these laws exist, which is unfortunate, because these laws provide many undeniable benefits. The laws of niddah are not deliberately kept secret; they are simply unknown because most non-Orthodox Jews do not continue their religious education beyond bar mitzvah, and these laws address subjects that are not really suitable for discussion with children under the age of 13.

According to the Torah, a man is forbidden from having sexual intercourse with a niddah, that is, a menstruating woman. This is part of the extensive laws of ritual purity described in the Torah. At one time, a large portion of Jewish law revolved around questions of ritual purity and impurity. The law of niddah is the only law of ritual purity that continues to be observed today; all of the other laws applied only when the Temple was in existence, but are not applicable today.

(Please note what this last paragraph has just said.)

The time of separation begins at the first sign of blood and ends in the evening of the woman’s seventh “clean day.” This separation lasts a minimum of 12 days. The Torah prohibits only sexual intercourse, but the rabbis broadened this prohibition, maintaining that a man may not even touch his wife or sleep in the same bed as her during this time. Weddings must be scheduled carefully, so that the woman is not in a state of niddah on her wedding night.

At the end of the period of niddah, as soon as possible after nightfall after the seventh clean day, the woman must immerse herself in a kosher mikvah, a ritual pool. The mikvah was traditionally used to cleanse a person of various forms of ritual impurity. Today, it is used primarily for this purpose and as part of the ritual of conversion, though in some communities observant men periodically immerse themselves for reasons of ritual purity.

It is important to note that the mikvah provides only ritual purification, not physical cleanliness; in fact, immersion in the mikvah is not valid unless the woman is thoroughly bathed before immersion. The mikvah is such an important part of traditional Jewish ritual life that traditionally a new community would build a mikvah before they would build a synagogue.

The Torah does not specify the reason for the laws of niddah, but this period of abstention has both physical and psychological benefits.

The fertility benefits of this practice are obvious and undeniable. In fact, it is remarkable how closely these laws parallel the advice given by medical professionals today. When couples are having trouble conceiving, modern medical professionals routinely advise them to abstain from sex during the two weeks around a woman’s period (to increase the man’s sperm count at a time when conception is not possible), and to have sex on alternate nights during the remaining two weeks. When you combine this basic physical benefit with the psychological benefit of believing that you are fulfilling G-d’s will, it is absolutely shocking that more couples with fertility problems do not attempt this practice. The rejection of this practice by the liberal movements of Judaism is not a matter of “informed choice,” but simply a matter of ignorance or blind prejudice.

In addition, women who have sexual intercourse during their menstrual period are more vulnerable to a variety of vaginal infections, as well as increased risk of cervical cancer.

But the benefits that the rabbis have always emphasized are the psychological ones, not the physical ones. The rabbis noted that a two-week period of abstention every month forces a couple to build a non-sexual bond as well as a sexual one. It helps to build the couple’s desire for one another, making intercourse in the remaining two weeks more special. It also gives both partners a chance to rest, without feeling sexually inadequate. They also emphasized the value of self-discipline in a drive as fundamental as the sexual drive.

When I told my wife what I was studying she thought I was absolutely nuts and she was disgusted with me. At her work she has over heard a Jewish lady talking about menstruation and how she would be “Unclean” during this time.

This made my wife mad. She was thinking that during this time she was dirty or bad. Brethren this is not what we are talking about. Some of you may be Victorian in your attitude towards sex and the different functions of men and women. Some of you may be way too liberal. Whichever you are you do need to discuss this with your mate, as there are some very serious consequences of ignoring this subject.

We have just read what the Orthodox teaching is on Niddah. And we are going to explore some things here in search of the truth. I really do appreciate this teaching from an Orthodox point of view. I do want to point out two things before I move on though.
1) The law of Niddah is the only law of ritual purity that continues to be observed today; all of the other laws applied only when the Temple was in existence, but are not applicable today.

All the other laws of purity is what the above line is referring to and were strictly observed when the Temple existed and men and women were going up to the Temple. They still do need to be observed today.

2) This separation lasts a minimum of 12 days. The Torah prohibits only sexual intercourse, but the rabbis broadened this prohibition, maintaining that a man may not even touch his wife or sleep in the same bed as her during this time.

The article was kind enough to point out that the separation of men and women during this time period was added by the Rabbis. It is this rule that has some upset as they needed to have another room to sleep in and even some to have a whole other kitchen so as not to touch anything that the woman with her menstruation might have touched. It is my hope that by doing this series of articles a complete and rounded understanding might come from this study.

http://fixedreference.org/en/20040424/wikipedia/Niddah
Being niddah might mean “exclusion” (or, according to one commentator: “obstruction of normal function”), it is certainly not regarded as “negative” in any other way. Although there is no physical contact between the partners, the time can serve to develop a more emotional relationship that extends beyond sexuality.

In religious philosophy, the laws of Niddah are referred to as “a hedge of roses” (Song of Songs 7:3 as interpreted by Midrash Shir ha-Shirim Rabba 7:7). There is certainly a separation (hedge) but it is of a pleasant nature, and the reunification after the mikvah can (and should be) romantic.

After reading this I am wondering how many men have read the Song of Solomon to their wives lately. All of you, who are of the Victorian mindset or even of the Baptist mindset, should not read the following, for these bible verses are talking about the fondling of breast and the drinking of wine. And I did check the strong’s and it says H3196 ??? yayin yah’-yin

From an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication intoxication: – banqueting, wine, wine [-bibber].
Her mouth is like the best fermented wine and is intoxicating. Strange that Yehshua would talk like this. Like I warned you, this section is not for Baptist or Victorian era prunes.

Song of Solomon 7:1 How fair are your feet in sandals, O daughter of a noble! The curves of your thighs are like ornaments, The work of a craftsman’s hands. Your navel is a rounded bowl Let it not lack mixed wine. Your body is a heap of wheat, Hedged about with lilies.

Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. Your neck is like an ivory tower, Your eyes pools in H?eshbon By the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Leb?anon looking to Damascus.

Your head upon you is like Mount Karmel, And the hair of your head like purple; The sovereign is held captive by the ringlets. How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, in delights! This stature of yours compares to a palm tree, And your breasts to clusters. I said, “Let me go up to the palm tree, Let me take hold of its tips.” And please, let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, And the fragrance of your breath like apples, And your palate like the best wine, Going down smoothly for my beloved, Flowing gently, slumbering lips.

I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth to the field; Let us stay in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine has budded, The grape blossoms have opened, The pomegranates have bloomed. There I give you my loves. The love-apples have given fragrance, And at our gates are all pleasant fruit, New and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved.

I do hope all you men have fun reading this and caressing your wife as you read this to her.

We have now read what Judaism 101 says and I have found it most beneficial on many things. Let’s now go to the source and see what Yehovah actually says. Let’s not read into this anything that is not there. Do Not add to Torah.

Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

And before I get to far, let me say up front I have learned a great deal about this in the recent weeks which is why I am sharing this study with you. But I do not claim to know it all. So this week we will read what Torah says, and then next week we shall get the input of a number of women. Then the third week we shall look at it from a very different point of view which I am sure you will find as amazing as I do.

For the record there is no biblical account of women going into the Red Tent at this time of the month. That was a fictitious novel by the same name written in 1997 by Anita Diamant. My daughter read this book and loved it. She thought it was true.

The Laws of Niddah can be found in Leviticus 15:19-24, 18:19, 20:18

We get the Hebrew word Niddah from the expression in Lev 15:19 she shall be put apart or as quoted below, she has to be in her separation;
5079 niddah nid-daw’ from 5074; properly, rejection; by implication, impurity, especially personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest):–X far, filthiness, X flowers, menstruous (woman), put apart, X removed (woman), separation, set apart, unclean(-ness, thing, with filthiness). see HEBREW for 05074

We also read in verse 19 of the word unclean. It is defined as;
2930 tame’ taw-may’ a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremonial or moral sense (contaminated):–defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, X utterly.

Leviticus 15:19 ‘And when a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her flesh is blood, she has to be in her separation for seven days. And whoever touches her is unclean until evening. 20 ‘And whatever she lies on during her separation is unclean. And whatever she sits on is unclean. 21 ‘And anyone who touches her bed has to wash his garments, and shall bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 22 ‘And whoever touches any object that she sat on has to wash his garments, and shall bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 23 ‘And if it is on the bed or on any object on which she sits, when he touches it, he is unclean until evening. 24 ‘And if any man lies with her at all, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days. And any bed he lies on is unclean. 25 ‘And when a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her monthly separation, or when she discharges beyond her usual time of monthly separation, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her monthly separation. She is unclean. 26 ‘Any bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge is to her as the bed of her monthly separation. And whatever she sits on is unclean, as the uncleanness of her monthly separation. 27 ‘And anyone who touches them is unclean, and shall wash his garments, and shall bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 28 ‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she is clean. 29 ‘And on the eighth day she takes for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and shall bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 30 ‘And the priest shall prepare the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for her before ???? for the discharge of her uncleanness. 31 ‘Thus you shall separate the children of Yisra’?l from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My Dwelling Place which is in their midst. 32 ‘This is the Torah for one who has a discharge, and for him who emits semen and is unclean thereby, 33 and for her who is sick in her monthly separation, and for one who has a discharge, either man or woman, and for him who lies with an unclean woman.’ ”

Why are we told that a woman is impure during her time of menstruation?

Why are we told this information? What is the importance of it?

http://fixedreference.org/en/20040424/wikipedia/Niddah

Why does Judaism have niddah?

The traditional view has been that these are “Laws of Holiness”, and serve to elevate the physical to the highest spiritual level. It takes a physical aspect and adds holiness to it, using the physical for spiritual gain. As society has rediscovered the importance of spirituality, these laws are being rediscovered, and are even being adopted, to varying extents, by the progressive movements in Judaism.

There you have it. We are given these laws of Niddah to raise us to a higher level of Holiness. Keep this in mind as we continue our study. But this is not the only reason.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cycle
Menstruation is also called menstrual bleeding, menses, catamenia or a period. The flow of menses normally serves as a sign that a woman has not become pregnant. The Woman has her period of on average 7 days normally once every 28 days. The word “menstruation” is etymologically related to “moon”. The terms “menstruation” and “menses” are derived from the Latin mensis (month), which in turn relates to the Greek mene (moon) and to the roots of the English words month and moon— reflecting the fact that the moon’s period of revolution around the earth (27.32 days) is similar to that of the human menstrual cycle. The synodical lunar month, the period between two new moons (or full moons), is 29.53 days long.

During these seven days she discharges blood. Before ovulation (the release of the egg), there is a lot of mucous produced, up to 30 times more than after ovulation. Most menstruations are between 2 and 7 days for normal women.

It is during those 7 days she is impure or unclean as Lev 15 shows us and everything she touches is unclean until evening. Then anyone who touches those things she touched is also unclean until evening.

Because some no longer know when evening is here is what Webster’s Dictionary says about Evening.
Evening \E”ven*ing\, n. [AS. [=ae]fnung. See even, n., and cf. Eve.]

1. The latter part and close of the day, and the beginning of darkness or night; properly, the decline of the day, or of the sun. [1913 Webster]

In the ascending scale Of heaven, the stars that usher evening rose. –Milton. [1913 Webster]

Note: Sometimes, especially in the Southern parts of the United States, the afternoon is called evening. –Bartlett. [1913 Webster]

2. The latter portion, as of life; the declining period, as of strength or glory. [1913 Webster]

Note: Sometimes used adjectively; as, evening gun. “Evening Prayer.” –Shak. [1913 Webster]

The evening star, the bright star of early evening in the western sky, soon passing below the horizon; specifically, the planet Venus; — called also Vesper and Hesperus. During portions of the year, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are also evening stars. See Morning Star. [1913 Webster]

The person who is unclean is unclean until the going down of the sun or sunset at evening time. After this the new day begins.
We are also told in Lev 18: 19 ‘And do not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness in her monthly separation of uncleanness. And then in chapter 20 we read 18 ‘And a man who lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness: he has laid bare her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood, both of them shall be cut off from the midst of their people.

If you go into a woman during her Menstrual cycle knowingly you will be cut off.

This is a serious thing to be cut off from Israel. Yet in Chapter 15 we are told . 24 ‘And if any man lies with her at all, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days. And any bed he lies on is unclean. This is talking about those who have sex with a woman and it was not known by her or him that she was in her time of the month.

Lev 20:18 And ifH834 a manH376 shall lieH7901 withH854 a womanH802 having her sickness,H1739 and shall uncoverH1540 (H853) her nakedness;H6172 he hath discoveredH6168 (H853) her fountain,H4726 and sheH1931 hath uncoveredH1540 (H853) the fountainH4726 of her blood:H1818 and bothH8147 of them shall be cut offH3772 from amongH4480 H7130 their people.H5971

Before we move on we must examine this one verse so that we do understand what it is saying. The expression ‘having her sickness’ is H1739 ???? da?veh daw-veh’
From H1738; sick (especially in menstruation): – faint, menstruous cloth, she that is sick, having sickness.

The expression ‘shall uncover’ is H1540 ???? ga?la?h gaw-law’
A primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively to reveal: – + advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, X plainly, publish, remove, reveal, X shamelessly, shew, X surely, tell, uncover.

‘He hath discovered’ H6168 ??? ?a?ra?h aw-raw’
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) bare; hence to empty, pour out, demolish: – leave destitute, discover, empty, make naked, pour (out), rase, spread self, uncover.

‘The fountain’ H4726 ??? ???? ma?qo?r ma?qo?r maw-kore’, maw-kore’
From H6979; properly something dug, that is, a (generally) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism of the female pudenda); figuratively of happiness, wisdom, progeny): – fountain, issue, spring, well (-spring).
And just so you know exactly what we are talking about here, the word Pudenda which is what her fountain is referring to is according to Websters;
Pudenda \Pu*den”da\, n. pl. [L., from pudendus that of which one ought to be ashamed, fr. pudere to be ashamed.]

(Anat.) The external organs of generation. [1913 Webster]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

47 Moby Thesaurus words for “pudenda”: bag, ballocks, balls, basket, beard, breasts, cervix, clitoris, cod, cods, cullions, family jewels, female organs, genitalia, genitals, gonads, labia, labia majora, labia minora, lingam, lips, male organs, meat, nuts, nymphae, ovary, parts, penis, phallus, private parts, privates, privy parts, pubic hair, reproductive organs, rocks, scrotum, secondary sex characteristic, secrets, sex organs, spermary, testes, testicles, uterus, vagina, vulva, womb, yoni
Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
pudendum
noun

human external genital organs collectively especially of a female [also: pudenda (pl)]
In short the Pudenda is all the parts that make up the sexual organs and in this case as we talk about the Niddah the word Pudenda is referring to the female sexual organs.

‘of her blood’ H1818 ??? da?m dawm
From H1826 (compare H119); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (that is, drops of blood): – blood (-y, -guiltiness, [-thirsty]), + innocent.

‘of them shall be cut off’ H3772 ???? ka?rath kaw-rath’
A primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication to destroy or consume; specifically to covenant (that is, make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces): – be chewed, be con- [feder-] ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ([covenant]), X lose, perish, X utterly, X want.

As we dig deeper into the Lev 20:18 we can easily see just how serious this offence is to have sex with a women during her menstrual cycle.

We have just read both the laws of Niddah according to the Orthodox teachings on it and according to Lev 15. Here they both are once again;
From the Orthodox we read; The time of separation begins at the first sign of blood and ends in the evening of the woman’s seventh “clean day.” This separation lasts a minimum of 12 days.

Leviticus 15:19 ‘And when a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her flesh is blood, she has to be in her separation for seven days.

Lev 12: 5 ‘But if she gives birth to a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her monthly separation,
The rabbis have added that once her period is over then she must count another seven days of being clean before she is finished. Are they including the Lev 12:5 verse to mean that it is for two weeks? I will let you decide. Read them for yourself.
I am now going to point out how we become unclean, other than by touching a woman in her menstruation cycle.

In Lev 5 we read of how men can become unclean by other means.

2 ‘Or when a being touches any unclean matter, or the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping creatures, and it has been hidden from him, he is unclean and guilty. 3 ‘Or when he touches uncleanness of man, any of his uncleanness by which he is unclean, and it has been hidden from him, when he shall know it, then he shall be guilty.

If you have a cat or dog or horse and you pet them then you have become unclean.

If you do not eat all of the Peace offering, and then do so after the third day then you become unclean and as we read you can be cut off from Israel for doing this.

Lev 7:15 ‘As for the flesh of the slaughtering of his peace offering for thanksgiving, it is eaten the same day it is offered, he does not leave any of it until morning. 16 ‘And if the offering he brings is a vow or a voluntary offering, it is eaten the same day that he brings his slaughtering, and what is left of it is eaten the next day, 17 but whatever is left of the flesh of the slaughtering on the third day is burned with fire. 18 ‘However, if any of the flesh of his peace offering is eaten at all on the third day, it is not accepted. It is not reckoned to him who brings it, it is unclean to him, and the being who eats of it bears his crookedness. 19 ‘And the flesh that touches that which is unclean is not eaten, it is burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean eat of it. 20 ‘But the being who eats the flesh of the peace offering that belongs to ????, while he is unclean, that being shall be cut off from his people. 21 ‘And when a being who touches that which is unclean, of the uncleanness of man, or of the uncleanness of beast, or of any unclean swarming creature, and shall eat the flesh of the peace offering that belongs to ????, that being shall be cut off from his people.’ ”

Drinking wine or strong drink made the Cohen profane. Wine and strong drink was not a sin if anyone else took part in them, but only the Cohen were told not to take part in them when they were to serve in the Temple. Why? Because they served at the Temple.

Lev 10: 8 And ???? spoke to Aharon, saying, 9 “Do not drink wine or strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, lest you die – a law forever throughout your generations, 10 so as to make a distinction between the set-apart and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and to teach the children of Yisra’?l all the laws which ???? has spoken to them by the hand of Mosheh.”

In Lev 11 we are told that even if we touch an unclean insect or animal we are unclean.

24 ‘And by these you are made unclean, anyone touching the carcass of any of them is unclean until evening, 25 and anyone picking up part of the carcass of any of them has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening.

In Lev 12 we are told that if a woman bares a male child she is unclean for 7 days plus 33 more days after this; and if she bares a female she is unclean for 66 days plus her 14 days for her separation.

When my Grand Daughter was born on Nov 25, was I worried about being unclean at this time? No I kissed my New Born Granddaughter and I kissed my Daughter-in-law and told her how proud I was of her. In fact I did this a couple of times. 80 days later would mean I could not hold my Granddaughter or hug my Daughter-in-law until Feb 14 of 2011.

Are you as a Father of a New Born child and the husband of your wife who has just given birth not going to touch them for 40 days if it is a male and for 80 days if it is a female? Do not be absurd. That is not what this law is telling you. It is for the service in the Temple that you would separate.

1 And ???? spoke to Mosheh, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’?l, saying, ‘When a woman has conceived, and has given birth to a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days, as in the days of her monthly separation she is unclean. 3 ‘And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin is circumcised. 4 ‘And she remains in the blood of her cleansing thirty-three days. She does not touch whatever is set-apart, and she does not come into the set-apart place until the days of her cleansing are completed. 5 ‘But if she gives birth to a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her monthly separation, and she remains in the blood of her cleansing for sixty-six days. 6 ‘And when the days of her cleansing are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she brings to the priest a lamb a year old, as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 7 ‘And he shall bring it before ????, and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the Torah for her who has given birth to a male or a female. 8 ‘And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’ ”

In chapter 13 of Leviticus we are told how Leprosy makes us unclean.

In Leviticus 14 we can read how a house can become unclean and if you go in it you too are unclean.

In Leviticus 17 we read how a person who eats an animal that has died is unclean.

15 “And any being who eats a carcass or what was torn by a beast, be he a native or a stranger, he shall wash his garments and bathe in water, and shall be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean. 16 “And if he does not wash or bathe his body, then he shall bear his crookedness.”

In chapter 20 we read 21 ‘And a man who takes his brother’s wife: it is uncleanness, he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness, they are childless.

In chapter 22 we learn more of how you can be unclean and that when you touch the dead person you are unclean.

4 ‘Any man of the offspring of Aharon, who is a leper or has a discharge, does not eat the set-apart offerings until he is clean. And whoever touches what is rendered unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had an emission of semen, 5 or a man who touches any creeping creature by which he would be made unclean, or any being by whom he would become unclean, even any of his uncleanness; 6 the being who has touched it shall be unclean until evening, and does not eat the set-apart offerings, but shall bathe his body in water. 7 ‘And when the sun goes down he shall be clean, and afterward eat the set-apart offerings, because it is his food. 8 ‘He does not eat that which dies or is torn by beasts, becoming unclean by it. I am ????. 9 ‘And they shall guard My Charge, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby, when they profane it. I ???? set them apart

If you touch a dead person you are unclean 7 days just the same as when someone is in Niddah. Numbers 19:11’He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days.

Now I want you to notice that right after we read about the uncleanness of the woman during Niddah we read in chapter 16 of how Aaron was to go into the Holy Place on the Day of Atonement.

In all of these cases the law of Uncleanness is made in order to keep those who are going up to the temple to worship. They are to be Clean and pure when they enter the Temple area. Because we do not have a Temple now we have to look at these laws with this in mind.

A few weeks ago I was on Jono’s show and we talked about the Laws of Niddah and I wanted to explain the prophecies I had found. Jono wanted to explain the laws of Niddah to clear up the confusion about this subject.

You can listen to it at http://www.truth2u.org/2010/12/joe-dumond-considering-prophetic-implications-in-the-torah-of-niddah.html Later Jono had my Friend Nehemiah Gordon on his show and asked him the same question and Nehemiah did have a great deal to say on this. I urge you all to listen to it to come to an understanding of the importance of this subject of Niddah. You can do so at http://www.truth2u.org/2010/12/nehemia-gordon-that-aztec-festival-with-all-the-skulls-christmas-the-torah-of-niddah-from-leviticus-15.html

So let us now put this into practice today. None of you are going up to the Temple to serve and worship Yehovah this month. There is no Temple. So once you have mikvehed and made yourself clean, you come home and are greeted by your family Dog; an unclean animal which runs to greet you and rubs its head under your hand. As you walk to the door of your house a mosquito lands on you and you kill it. Again you have become unclean first by touching an unclean insect and then by touching a dead creature. You sit down in your favorite chair and do not know that Aunt Milly was visiting and her time of the month started 3 days early, that very day she was at your home and she was sitting right in this very chair. You are now unclean and did not know it. After entering your house the family cat jumps on your lap and begins to purr, another unclean animal. Your son comes in from the neighbors and they were riding the big sow that they have and he gives you a kiss. You are not eating the pig but your son was touching it and now you are unclean.

Or after you ride your horse which is an unclean animal or you clean the cow manure, the cow is clean but the manure is unclean; and what about the kitty litter or the poop and scoop?

You get my point. We all become unclean many times during the day and none of this has anything to do with the menstruation cycle of those women around us. You are not serving in the Temple and the Mikveh was at the very gates to the Temple so that when you come out of it you went straight up to the Temple area, to avoid any thing that could make you unclean. Before you went to the Temple you would have prepared at least a week in advance so that you were ready by the time you got to the Temple.

There are some people who have taken these purity laws to the extreme. While this is admirable, they have caused undue hardship to their families. Yes we are to be clean and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. But use some common sense here. The Torah is to make us free. It is not to be a burden upon us. Keep yourself clean and remove those things that are not clean and that can make you sick and kill you. It was by practicing these laws of cleanliness and the washing of the hands that kept many of the Jews from catching the Bubonic plague during the middle ages.

Let us get back to the law of Niddah. And not add what it does not say. Men are not to have relations with their wife when she in her menstruation. If they do unknowingly they are unclean 7 days. If he lies in bed with her or sits on the chair she has sat on then he is unclean until evening the same as touching an unclean animal or insect. He is just unclean until evening once he has mikvehed.

There are those men I know who have thrown their hands in the air trying to do this law and become completely frustrated because they do not know what woman sat on the subway before they got to the same seat and if she was clean or not; or they sit on a chair in the waiting room. If they are at a Doctor’s office then you can bet that those who sat there before them were unclean. Or they walked down the street and brushed by a woman who was in her cycle and they have no idea.

I know of some men who are going to ban women from attending their services if she in her time of the month. Other men will not shake hands with women for fear they may be unclean and then this will make them unclean.

Stop and think what you are doing. Not one of you is serving in the Temple. And I would bet not one of you has a mikveh bath at your home where you can completely submerge yourself all at one time to make yourself clean. A shower is not a mikveh. A normal bathtub is not big enough. And by the time you went to the local pond and made yourself naked and mikvehed, you would most likely be bitten by the mosquitoes as you changed into you clean clothes and you would then be unclean again with the dead flesh on you once you killed it. I can’t see you running to the pond naked in the middle of winter.

Because none of you serve in the Temple it is not necessary for your wife to go and sleep in a separate bed for two weeks each month. It is not necessary for you to have two sets of dishes, one for her during her time of impurity and one for you. It is not necessary for you to assign certain chairs for her to sit on and not to touch others. Or to do the same for female guest who come to your house. Are you really going to ask them when they come in the door if they are menstruating at this time?

Read Numbers 19:22 Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the person who touches it shall be unclean until evening.’ ”

How do you know what is clean and not clean as you go about your daily business at work or while you are shopping? The Door handle or the shopping cart is going to be unclean. You do not know what is and is not clean and just by touching these other things you will without a doubt make yourself unclean.

Even the very words that come out of your mouth can make you unclean as we read of in Isaiah 6: 5 And I said, “Woe to me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips – for my eyes have seen the Sovereign, ???? of hosts.”

We are told in Isaiah 64: 6 And all of us have become as one unclean, and all our righteousness’s are as soiled rags. And all of us fade like a leaf, and our crookednesses, like the wind, have taken us away.

Our Righteousness is as a Menstruation pad or rag. So no matter how holy you think you are, it is nothing but pride and you have puffed yourself up. You are as all of us are, unclean in all that we do. Humble yourself and know how detestable you are in the sight of Yehovah.

We are told in Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Brethren do a word search on the word unclean in your own bible and read all of these things for yourself. Do not remain ignorant any longer on these subjects.

It is very important that we do our utmost to be pure and to stay as much as possible from those things that will make us unclean. We do this now for hygiene and not for Temple service as there is no temple and most of you are not Cohen Priests. Do not make your wives second class citizens. In this area we could learn much from the Orthodox if we would study.
We shall continue with part two next week.

I found this article in last week’s www.thetrumpet.com
‘The Year the Earth Struck Back’Joel Hilliker
More than a quarter million people perished in earthquakes, heat waves, floods and other natural disasters in 2010. “This was the year the Earth struck back,” wrote the Associated Press. Natural
disasters claimed more lives in 2010 than terrorism has in the last 40 years combined.

The vast majority of deaths came in the devastating Haiti earthquake last January.

Deadly quakes also hit China, Indonesia, Chile and Turkey. A typical year sees 16 earthquakes of at least magnitude 7.0. This year—one of the most seismically violent in decades—saw 22. A weather system in Asia brought a killer heat wave to Russia and caused epic flooding in Pakistan, killing nearly 17,000 people. In the U.S., the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared more disasters this year than ever—nearly 2½ times the annual average.

Most people glean no wisdom from such calamities. They dig themselves out, curse the random cruelty of nature, and move on. But after the deadliest year of natural disasters in a generation, scientists are looking for lessons. Some blame population growth in high-risk areas, or poor-quality construction. Others point to man-made global warming.

The fact is, catastrophes should challenge our thinking. In our modern world, we have done everything possible to insulate ourselves from the elements. We have abandoned our farms in favor of climate controlled homes, offices and malls. Concrete, steel and glass shield us from routine rain, hail, sleet, snow, heat, chill.

It’s only when nature gets really nasty that we even think to acknowledge the power it still holds over us. Impressive as our Tower of Babel society is, it remains awkwardly vulnerable to the sheer elemental power of the planet in its fury.

It is for our own good that it is so. It is, in fact, a tool that the Creator has reserved for Himself in order to communicate with us.

After all, we don’t tend to listen very well.

But the Bible reveals that sometimes God uses severe natural phenomena to correct people—and not for poor urban planning or carbon emissions. It is by breaking His spiritual laws that we have angered the Being who has power over these phenomena.

Not until we learn that lesson will the disasters subside and the Earth be at peace.

I have written to and talked to the editors at The Trumpet.com and shared with them the Sabbatical and Jubilee teachings and The Prophecies of Abraham. They were not interested.

So although they can see all these things as they have just written, they do not get it nor understand exactly how all these events line up exactly with the curses of Lev 26:14-39.

The first curse of Terrorism and the second one of drought and severe weather. The third one which we are now in is about Earthquakes and Pestilences and famines. Do you think the State of Israel gets any of this yet, or England, or the USA or Australia. Are all the terrorist attacks and weather disasters just another day on planet earth?

But those who have read The Prophecies of Abraham and watched the DVD on the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, they all understand what is happening and why. They also know what is coming next and they watch for it.

Here is what two others have said in recent weeks.

Well, Joe, I have to say I hope you are wrong! Watched your Jubilee video at least 3 times and it is amazing. You do a phenomenal job or researching things. I just hope you are wrong! Problem is, it makes sense to me. Where is it you discuss Daniel’s Timeline? When I listen to that it makes sense too. I would like to know what you see as disputable. My husband watched your videos as well and has been thinking deeply ever since. I sent them on to friends as well. One friend had issue with the counting of the Jubilees in that when compared to the omer it is not quite the same in that the omer is done only once, not requiring a doubling up of the fiftieth/first year, if that makes any sense. I am just so amazed at how things line up.

As a nurse too, I have considered many times what it would be like if there are these major plagues/curses. Currently I am not working. My last 10 years were with a hospice organization and I saw so many people die of things that just shouldn’t be. Now to think of this…….it makes my heart sad, to say the least. Is obedience/repentance the answer to being protected? There has to be a way! The Children of Israel, although not living Torah observant lives in bondage, were protected just b/c of the covenant Yehovah made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the way I understand it. Please correct me if I am wrong. So much to learn. The more I learn the less I know.

PLEASE keep posting! I see there is something else on your Facebook site (I think) to read or watch. We are remodeling our kitchen this week so it’s a challenge to do anything besides want to leave! Will try to keep current.

Thanks again so much. Blessings to you and I hope you let your brother know what a blessing he is as well. I am anxious to meet you both one day and shake your hands!

Shalom, Bev

Another sister writes about The Prophecies of Abraham;

Hi Joe. we have been thinking about you lots with all this snow out east, and looking at our pictures from israel,etc. jonah keeps laughing and saying `why did he say “mommmmm, i`m finnnnissssheed. mommmmm, i`m finished. “
praying you are well.

I am a third through prophecies of Abraham. wow, joe my head is turning and twisting and hurting but growing!!!!! Rob finished, so he is waiting for me to catch up so we can sit and discuss

I wanted to ask you to tell me again- we were at the special place and you were talking about messiah being stoned and linked it to the event in scripture where a man blasphemes and himself and his family are all stoned to death. I can`t locate the incident and hope you can tell me the blasphemers name again and which scroll. thanks joe,
You are a blessing to us now as much as you were in Israel
Shalom
Teresa

You can watch the video here: The prophesies of Abraham, and you can order the book by following the link at http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=286642

Brethren we continue to ask you to consider making a donation towards the purchasing of a farm and or farms in Israel.

One brother wrote to me the following with my response.

Shabbat Shalom my brother. is there a way that i can help with this project “Farm” of yours. i sooooo desire to be there and work on it for you. please let me know if there is a way that is possible. thank you

Shalom,
There will be a way for all of us to work on it. That is the plan. We are looking at farms right now. But we must first raise the money. You can pray about this and fast. There have been many things happen that have confirmed Yehovah’s hand in this, but I am not at liberty just yet to share those details. We will need the money in order to purchase the farm. We will then need money to purchase the trees and seeds, and material for the buildings. Once we have this then we can have the brethren come and live and build and work the land together.

So the very first thing or next thing is to have the money on hand so we can buy the farm. There is great interest in this but we have very little money to move forward and do this right now. With so many readers it should not cost very much to each person to help. If the 7000 readers were to take 1 Million and divide it, it would be $143 each. But in most places only 10% of the people donate, so that would mean that of those who donate it would be $1430 each to raise 1 Million which is 119 a month for one year. So I look in the mail to see if indeed the brethren want this to happen or if they are just giving lip service. We shall see.

But those on the ground in Israel are actively looking and have great ideas and support this. You can share this if you like to help raise the funds. You can mail you donations to;
Joseph F Dumond
14 Willow Cres.
Orangeville Ontario
Canada L9V 1A5

The Brother wrote back and said;
alright bud, i don’t usually give money because i live check to check and still have a day or 2 that i have to duck for cover on. lol. however it is a heart desire to work with you on this and to be there to help work the farms. that is my thing. i am just a simple servant and i am the one who does the physical work. i will go and step out and send you what i can. at least 500. that is a amount that is based on what i think i can do if YAH providers in his next couple months. lol. thank you for who you are and for what you do.

If there are more of you who have read why we are doing this and understand how short the time is, then please do send along what you can.

Watch again this video of how the local farmers are being harassed off the land by the Arabs. Listen to what this young soldier has to say and think of what we could do. Pray about this. Pray and Fast about this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGfc2oRYyxA&feature=related

This is something we could do, if the desire is there and enough are willing. Many of the young families with no funds have asked how they could go. Again watch the Video and consider how you could help.

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

Gen 45       2 Sam 19        Ps 89        Luke 8:1-48

Genesis 45

Here in this chapter we read of how Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. For me this is all prophetic.

This takes place in the second year of the famine according to verse 6. Joseph wanted to bring his father and his brothers families to Egypt.

In verse 16 we read of how Pharaoh heard of these events and told Joseph to bring his whole family to Goshen as it pleased Pharaoh.

When we look at the Sabbatical and Jubilee year charts we see that the second year of the famine matches our present date of 2028. At this time all 12 tribes will be in captivity and well be very hungry. They will even be eating their own flesh as Lev 26 warns us.

This famine will have started in 2027, which is the end of the seven year of plenty for the European and Muslim Empire who had defeated the USA and UK in 2020.

But because of the severe famine in the whole world ¼ of all mankind will die. Revelation 6:8

At this same time the whole world will be hearing the two witnesses telling the Emperor to let the Israelites, all 12 tribes return to the land of Israel. This will please him just as it did Pharaoh as we read in Genesis 45:16, but it will be just as the Pharaoh in Exodus who only lets the people go after relenting to the severe plagues.

The Second and greater Exodus will begin and the people will return to the land of Palestine and they will be brought by everyone from around the world as quickly as possible in order to appease the two witnesses and to have the rains start again which have caused such a severe famine.

The Israelites will arrive and all of them will be in the land for Passover 2030, the year of Shabbat Shuva; the year of return. But there will still be a dispute about the proper way to keep the calendar. One group will keep Passover early and the rest one month later. We have been commanded to eat the Passover in a certain way.

Exodus 12:11 ‘And this is how you eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Passover of ????.

We eat it in haste because it is a rehearsal of this time we are now talking about.

We know that Satan is locked away at the Day of Atonement and the 3 ½ year tribulation ends at this time. This tribulation begins when the two witnesses have been killed in Revelation 11:8 which means that this is the Passover season.

We have shown you before about the Prophetic life of Jacob when he was deceived by Laban. This deception that Laban did of giving Jacob Leah after 7 years of service matches this same Sabbatical cycle; the fifth one.

At the end of this 5th Sabbatical cycle Jacob was tricked by Laban, and in the same way Israel will be tricked when they come back to the land of Israel shortly after they come to know they are all Israelites and will have been rushed back to the land because of the demands of the Two Witnesses.

It will please Satan to have them all brought back. His Temple will then begin to be built by the Israelites . A Statute to his glory will be erected and will speak. Fire will come down from heaven by the false prophet.

Rev 13:11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

And he does great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from the heaven on the earth before men. And he leads astray those dwelling on the earth because of those signs which he was given to do before the beast, saying to those dwelling on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword, yet lived.

And there was given to him to give spirit to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause to be killed as many as would not worship the image of the beast.

This should take place between the first Passover of the sighted moon and the second Passover.

Why do we have a second Passover and not a second Sukkot or second Trumpets? Have you thought of this?
At this second Passover the Martyrdom of the Saints will take place; all those who had not fled before hand. This is the deception that is revealed to us by Laban which occurs at this very same time.

Then what does Laban do when Jacob fled, he pursued him just as Satan will pursue those who have fled Jerusalem. Now Laban only chased Jacob after the second 7 years had expired. Does this mean that those who flee will have at least an seven day head start as the Beast Power musters up his forces? Do not count on it but it is a possibility.

2 Sam 19

Again we read of the greatest story ever told. Joab the great advisor warns King David he is about to lose all of Israel if he does not act immediately and stop morning over Absalom when so many men risked their lives for King David.

David the ever thinking King does something in verse13 which I thought strange. He awarded to Amasa to be commander of the army. We will read more of this in the next chapter.

Read the rest of this chapter as though King David was the Messiah and was coming back to Jerusalem from the East, just as Prophecy says the Messiah will come from. Judah was first to return to Him. Then those who had cursed Him Shimei and then Mephiboseth who it seemed had switched sides to Absalom.

Now in verse 40 we read how all of Judah escorted the King to Gilgal. This was the first place that Israel rested at when they crossed the Jordan with Joshua. This was the place they were all circumcised and this was the place where Yehovah said to Joshua “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.”

This is the place where Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship.”

Then we read of the beginning of what is about to be a civil war in verse 41 And see, all the men of Yisra’?l were coming to the sovereign! And they said to the sovereign, “Why have our brothers, the men of Yehud?ah, stolen you away and brought the sovereign, and his household, and all Dawid?’s men with him over the Yard?n?”

42 And all the men of Yehud?ah answered the men of Yisra’?l, “Because the sovereign is our relative. And why are you displeased over this matter? Have we at all eaten at the sovereign’s cost? Or has he given us any gift?”

(When you read this go and read what the elder brother says when the prodigal son comes home. Luk 15:29 And answering he said to his father, Lo, these many years I have served you, neither did I transgress your commandment at any time. And yet you never gave me a kid so that I might make merry with my friends.)

43 And the men of Yisra’?l answered the men of Yehud?ah, and said, “We have ten parts in the sovereign, and in Dawid? too, we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Was it not our advice first to bring back our sovereign?” But the words of the men of Yehud?ah were harsher than the words of the men of Yisra’?l.

Ephraimites will ask why Judah has taken the Messiah, and Judah will answer because He is a relative which Yehshua is. They go on to say has He given us any gifts? I read this as the bounty which Ephraim has enjoyed but not Judah. And as I read verse 43 I can see the same animosity today between the two brothers.

What does all this mean? I do not know. It is just an observation I am sharing.

Ps 89

http://www.ucg.org/bible-commentary/Psalms/default.aspx

Psalm 89 begins as a psalm of praise for God’s covenant with David, the Lord here seen sharing His dominion over creation with His earthly regent (verses 1-37), but ends as a lament over the apparent downfall of the Davidic dynasty (verses 38-51)—with a doxology (expression of praise) appended at the end to close Book III of the Psalter (verse 52).

This maskil—instructive psalm or “contemplation”—was composed by Ethan the Ezrahite. As mentioned above, his identity is disputed. Some believe this refers to David’s Levitical choir leader Ethan (also apparently known as Jeduthun), but it more likely seems to refer to the Ethan the Ezrahite of 1 Kings 4:30-31, a descendant of Judah’s son Zerah (compare 1 Chronicles 2:6). It should be observed that the earliest time that could conceivably fit with the latter section of this psalm is that of Pharaoh Shishak’s invasion during the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam. Perhaps David’s choir leader Ethan could have lived until this time, as was postulated in the Bible Reading Program’s comments on Psalms 73-74 with regard to Asaph and his psalms about national invasion—though it seems unlikely that both choir leaders would have lived into their early 100s. (Of course, whether Asaph lived that long is not known. His psalms could have been exclusively prophecies—as could the conclusion of this psalm.) Ethan the Ezrahite in 1 Kings 4 appears to have lived at the time of or prior to Solomon—though it could be that he lived long afterward and that the comparison here between Solomon and him (and the other noted Zerahites) could have been a much later addition to the account of Solomon in the book of Kings.

One possibility worth considering is that Ethan the Ezrahite wrote only the first part of Psalm 89 (verses 1-37) as a positive psalm during the time of David or Solomon and that another author added the downturn of the final section (verses 38-51) at a much later time—perhaps even as late as the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to Babylon. Most, however, take the psalm as a unified composition—with a long setup to give the background for the lament of the final section. Of course, regardless of how the psalm came together, it is presented to us as a unified whole in the Psalter.

Ethan begins with a celebration of God’s mercy (hesed or covenant love) and faithfulness, which he will sing of “forever…to all generations” (verses 1). God’s merciful love stands firm forever, having been established “in the very heavens” (verse 2). This evidently is all aimed toward the covenant with David in verses 3-4 of a perpetual dynasty, which the prophet Nathan had revealed to David (see 2 Samuel 7:12-17). Evidently much more was said to David than is recorded in 2 Samuel 7. The establishment of the promise in the heavens is explained in more detail in verses 29 and 36-37 of Psalm 89, where it is said that David’s dynasty will persist as long as heaven, sun and moon. This is related to God’s statement through Jeremiah that His covenant with David was as unbreakable as the pattern of day and night and as the ordinances of heaven and earth (see Jeremiah 33:19-21, 25-26). God, moreover, explicitly swore to David that His dynasty would rule in all generations (Psalm 89:3-4). This creates a problem for many modern interpreters, as we will later consider.

Verses 5-17, concerning God’s might and power, may appear to be a digression in the psalm. Yet this description of the Almighty Sovereign of heaven and earth is central to the psalm for a number of reasons. First of all, it illustrates His capacity to keep His promises—to fulfill the terms of the covenant He has made. Secondly, we are made to understand that God, on His throne of righteousness and justice (verse 14), is the true and ultimate King. He was actually Israel’s King to start with (1 Samuel 12:12). The human king of Israel belongs to Him (Psalm 89:18)—serving as His viceroy, governing for Him on His throne. Note 1 Chronicles 29:23: “Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father.” Furthermore, we should bear in mind that the One known to the Israelites as God in the Old Testament was in fact the preincarnate Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 10:4). He would later be born as a human being of David’s lineage and, later still, come in glory to take back His throne to Himself as Israel’s King forever—in ultimate fulfillment of the promise of the Anointed King, the Messiah.

The Nelson Study Bible notes on Psalm 89:9-10: “Rahab [pictured elsewhere as a river- or sea-monster] is a title for Egypt (87:4 [compare Isaiah 30:7]). The sea and Rahab [here] refer to God’s great victories: in the beginning, His control of His creation; in the historic past, His victory over Egypt; and in the future, His complete triumph over Satan, sin, and death (Is. 27:1; 51:9). The psalmists regularly assert God’s complete control of creation (see 24:1). Nothing can challenge God’s majestic rule over the entire universe.” Compare also Psalm 93:2-4. (And for more on the term Rahab, see the Bible Reading Program comments on Job 25-26.)
In Psalm 89:12, Mount Hermon is the snow-covered, 10,000-foot peak on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Mount Tabor here, though only 1,800 feet, nevertheless rises grandly above the flatter land around it in the Galilee region. The majesty of these mountains serves but to praise the great God who made them. His arm and hand, symbolizing His strength and authority, is strong and high (verse 13).

The words “joyful sound” in verse 15 are translated from the Hebrew word teruah, the same word translated “blowing of trumpets” with respect to the Feast of Trumpets (see Leviticus 23:24). It refers to a great awakening blast on the shofar or ram’s horn—like a shout or alarm. Perhaps the idea in Psalm 89:15 is that, in a figurative sense, all creation blares the majesty and power of God—and that those who perceive this are blessed. Responding to God, these people experience His favor, righteousness, empowerment and exaltation (verses 15-17). The horn in verse 17 is a symbol of strength (see verse 24; 75:10; 92:10-11; 132:17).

Verse 18 of Psalm 89 returns to the subject of the human king, who serves God as the people’s defensive “shield” (see 84:9). This provides a transition back into a discussion of the Davidic covenant.

In Psalm 89:19, the Masoretic Text says God spoke in vision to a plurality of “holy ones” rather than the singular “holy one.” This does not necessarily mean that multiple people received the vision, especially as the vision itself is singular. The statement more likely means that the one receiving the vision, presumably Nathan, communicated what he received to all of God’s people.
With God’s mighty arm and hand mentioned earlier, He now establishes and strengthens David as His anointed king (verses 20-21). He and those who follow Him to the throne would prevail against enemies (verses 22-24). As God ruled the sea (verse 9), He would now bestow sovereignty over the seas and rivers to the Davidic dynasty (verse 25). During the reigns of David and Solomon, Israel’s borders were extended from the River Euphrates in the north to the River or Brook of Egypt in the south. And in alliance with Hiram of Tyre and later Egypt, Israel came to exercise dominion over maritime commerce in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In the future, the Davidic dynasty’s dominion over the seas would be even greater, as we will see.

The king of Israel would experience a special Father-son relationship with God (verse 26)—being as God’s firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth (verse 27). David and Solomon did become the greatest kings of their time. Yet there was still more in store for the Davidic dynasty, which was to go on forever (verse 29).

Verses 30-34 show that God’s promise to David was not ultimately contingent on the faithfulness of his descendants. If they disobeyed God, He would punish them but would not bring David’s dynasty to an end. Verses 35-37 make it certain that God’s promise is absolute and irrevocable.

All of this serves to introduce the shocking contrast of the final section. Things looked bleak for the royal descendant of David—whoever he was at the time described here. He was evidently guilty of sin for which God was angry (verse 38). And it appeared that God, despite His promises, had renounced His covenant to uphold the dynasty (verse 39). Broken defenses, ruined strongholds, plunder by enemies who are exalted, turning back the edge of the king’s sword and not sustaining him in the battle (verses 40-43)—all of this point to a time of national invasion and the suffering of crushing military defeat. As mentioned earlier, the earliest time that would fit such circumstances was the invasion of Pharaoh Shishak during the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam. Yet this could refer to a later invasion and defeat—perhaps even the final cessation of the Davidic dynasty in Judah at the time of the Babylonian invasion. Note the dreadful scale of the events. The psalm says the Davidic crown and throne have been cast down to the ground (verses 39, 44). The dynasty appeared doomed.

How could this be? Had not God utterly sworn that such a thing could never happen? Yet it looked like God was flouting every promise He had made to David regarding his throne and dynasty. How long will God let this horrible situation continue, the psalmist asks (verse 46). Life is so short—will he live to see the end of this situation? (verses 47-48). Where is the lovingkindness (the hesed) sworn to David, as noted at the beginning of the psalm? (verse 49; compare verses 1-3). The psalmist concludes by praying that God will think on the heavy burden of shameful reproach—the terrible mocking—that all His people, including His anointed king, are now being made to suffer from enemies (verses 50-51).

As hopeless as the end of the psalm may seem, it is not utterly so. For implicit in the question of how long this situation will go on is the thought that God may yet intervene. Indeed, why bother praying if there is no hope that He will act? Moreover, as much as the psalm ends in lament and confusion, we should recall that most of the psalm—the first part—speaks in glowing terms of God and His faithfulness. Looking back at the first verse gives us the real focus of the psalm—God’s merciful love and faithfulness is eternal and will be extolled forever. This is the lens through which the difficult circumstances at the end of the psalm are to be viewed.

How, then, do we reconcile this? An important clue is found in verse 4. God said David’s throne would be built up to all generations—that is, one of his dynastic descendants would rule in all generations. Yet nowhere is it promised that there would be no breaks in the reigns of David’s descendants. In fact, the punishing of the kings for transgression (see verse 32) could evidently include the temporary cessation of the Davidic throne—as long as a generation did not pass without David’s throne being reestablished.

Yet what of the Davidic dynasty seemingly terminating with Zedekiah at the time of Babylon’s invasion? Most Bible commentators today would be hard pressed to explain this in light of the Davidic covenant. Some think the throne was reestablished with the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. But Jesus was born more than 500 years later—after which many generations had passed, despite God’s promise that David’s throne would rule in all generations. Moreover, Jesus did not come to reign on David’s throne at His first coming. He will do that when He later returns. So, have more than 2,500 years now gone by without a descendant of David ruling on his throne? Has God voided His covenant with David and broken His promises after all?

The answer is no. The Davidic throne was in fact transferred from Judah to Israel at the time of Babylon’s invasion (compare Ezekiel 17). This entailed planting David’s lineage in the British Isles—as Israelite tribes were in the process of migrating there (see our free booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy). Shocking though it may seem, the royal dynasty of Great Britain today is the continuation of the line of David. Britain’s monarchs have been the highest of the earth (see Psalm 89:27)—with historical dominion over the sea (see verse 25). To trace this amazing story, be sure to read our online publication The Throne of Britain: Its Biblical Origin and Future at www.ucg.org/brp/materials/.

Finally, we should realize that, as previously mentioned, David’s descendant Jesus Christ is going to come back and reassume His rightful place as King over Israel as well as all nations. Through Him, the ultimate Anointed One (Messiah) and firstborn of God who will rule supreme over all the earth’s kings, the sublime promises to David will come to fullest fruition—and His omnipotent reign will last for all eternity to come.

With the compilation of the Psalter, Psalm 89 in its final form concludes with the grateful praise of verse 52, bringing Book III to a positive ending.

Luke 8:1-48

Once again the Torah study ties into the main subject of the article at the beginning of the News letter.

We read about the seed in the first part of this chapter and Yehshua explains it starting in verse 9

9 And His taught ones were asking Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the reign of Elohim, but to the rest in parables, that ‘Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not understand.’
11 “And this is the parable: The seed is the word of Elohim.1 12 “And those by the wayside are the ones who hear, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, lest having believed, they should be saved. 13 “And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. And these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of trial fall away. 14 “And that which fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with worries, and riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 “And that on the good soil are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, retain it, and bear fruit with endurance.
16 “And no one having lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those coming in see the light. 17 “For whatever is hidden shall be revealed, and whatever is secret shall be known and come to light. 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever possesses, to him [more] shall be given; and whoever does not possess, even what he thinks he possesses shall be taken from him.”

You brethren have been given this seed; the word of Yehovah. What is it that you are doing with that word? Was it good at first and then you went back to the holidays of the world and just blended back into society so no one would know you thought a little different, to avoid the arguments and troubles with the families.

Were you too busy paying the bills and earning a living just to get by and you have let the studies slide? Have you turned on the TV and turned off the study time? The question you must ask is what is the fruit you have produced from the word that you received from Yehovah? You do not need to tell me, but you do need to do a check on your progress or regress whichever it is. But there is no neutral ground here. You either produce fruit or whether and die.

You do not hide a light once you have lit it. It does shine out in this dark world and it cannot be helped. But do take note that a noisy light bulb is one that is about to go out. A light is an example and not some noisy band going down the street.

The other point in Luke I would like to share as if you could not know is the one about the woman with an issue of blood. She was in Niddah.

Under the Shadow of YHWH’s Wings: The Tallit
(The Jewish Prayer Shawl) And, The Biblical Feasts

by
Stephen W. Kraner

“1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1.
“8. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,” Psalm 17:8.
“7. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.” Psalm 63:7.
“2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” Malachi 4:2.
“37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37.

Introduction.
What does it mean to “abide under the shadow of the Almighty”? What does it mean to “hide under the shadow of [His] wings”? In this paper, two Biblical definitions shall be presented. First, the broad definition will be shown. Then, a Biblically narrower definition will be shown.

The Wings of the Talit.
In Numbers 15 there is an account of a man that broke the Sabbath by picking up sticks on the Sabbath:

“32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
35 And the LORD [YHWH]* said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as YHWH [the LORD] commanded Moses.” Numbers 15:32-36.

Immediately, in the context of this event is the following command:

“37. And YHWH spake unto Moses, saying, 38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes [Strong’s H6734, tsiytsith] in the BORDERS [Strong’s H3671, kanaph] of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe [Strong’s H6734] of the BORDERS [Strong’s H3671] a ribband of blue: 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe [Strong’s H6734], that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of YHWH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your Elohim. 41 I [am] YHWH your Elohim, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: I [am] YHWH your Elohim.” Numbers 15:37-41.
This command is further described in Deuteronomy 22:12:
“12 Thou shalt make thee fringes [Strong’s H6734, tsiytsith] upon the four QUARTERS [Strong’s H3671, kanaph] of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest [thyself].” Deuteronomy 22:12.

Please note that the word, “fringes(s)” is translated from the Hebrew word, “tsiytsith”:
Strong’s H6734, tsiytsith {tsee-tseeth’} feminine of H6731; a floral or wing-like projection, i.e. a forelock of hair, a tassel: – fringe, lock.

Strong’s H6731, tsiyts {tseets} or tsits {tseets}; from H6692; properly glistening, i.e. a burnished plate; also a flower (as a bright color); a wing (as gleaming in the air): – blossom, flower, plate, wing.

Please note the words, “borders” and “quarters” are translated from the Hebrew word, “kanaph”:
Strong’s H3671, kanaph, and edge or extremity; specifically, A WING, a quarter, border, corner, overspreading, feather[ed]…
Here is the source for the concept of coming under the wings of the Almighty. In Judaism, men, (and a growing custom for women, too), wear a prayer shawl during their worship. The prayer shawl is called a tallit. In the corners of the prayer shawl are knotted fringes [Strong’s H6734, tsit tsit {tseet tseet}]. The knots total 613 knots, representing all the 613 commands in the Torah.

Taking Hold of the Hem of His Garment.
Being Jews and observant of the Torah, our Savior and the disciples wore clothing with four corners and the “tsit tsit,” fringes, in the corners (wings). In several texts of the New Testament we read of a custom (that shall shortly be supported from Scripture) of “taking hold of the hem/border of another’s garment.”

“34. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the HEM [Strong’s G2899] of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Matthew 14:34-36.

“53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the BORDER [Strong’s G2899] of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.” Mark 6:53-56.

“43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the BORDER [Strong’s G2899] of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” Luke 8:43, 44. See also Matthew 9:20.

Strong’s Concordance states the following regarding Strong’s G2899:
“Strong’s G2899, kraspedon, the extremity of a thing, edge, skirt, margin; the fringe of a garment; in the NT a little appendage hanging down from the edge of the mantle or cloak, made of twisted wool, a tassel,..: The Jews had such appendages attached to their mantles to remind them of the law.”

From this definition it is clear that the various persons were reaching and grasping a hold of the Tsit Tsit, the tassle(s), on the corners of the Savior’s mantel. And, in doing so, they were being healed! What prompted such a curious behavior?
Taking Hold of the Covenant.

We now turn to the Scripture evidence for the behavior recorded in the Gospel passages above of taking hold of the fringe, the tassels of the Savior’s mantle. Above, I have explained that “fringes,” tassels, with a “ribband,” thread, of blue were to be put into the corners, wings, of the garments that Israel wore FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMEMBERING ALL THE COMMANDS, STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS THAT YHWH HAS COMMANDED ISRAEL TO DO. In Exodus 15:26 we read that obedience to YHWH’s commands would place the believer in the place where YHWH would not lay upon Israel any of the diseases that Egypt suffered:

“26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of YHWH thy Elohim, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] YHWH that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26

YHWH is the One that “healeth thee.” But, the condition is based upon obedience to YHWH’s commandments, and statutes.
In the story of Ruth we read an interesting insight:

“11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and [how] thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 12 YHWH recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of YHWH Elohim of Israel, under whose WINGS [Strong’s H3671, kanaph] thou art come to trust.” Ruth 2:11-12.

Ruth had abandoned the paganism of her family. She had adopted the laws and customs of Israel. But, more than this, she had come to trust in YHWH Elohim of Israel. Boaz spoke of her as having come under His wings. The evidence of Ruth’s faith and relationship with YHWH was shown in her practice of Torah. In the book of Ruth, chapter 2, verses 2 and 3, Ruth gleans from Boaz’ field.

According to the Torah, the gleaning was to be done from the corners (edges) of the fields:

“9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners [Strong’s H6285, pe>ah {pay-aw’}] of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.”

“22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners [Strong’s H6285, pe>ah] of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I [am] YHWH your Elohim.” Leviticus 19:9; 23:22.

While the Torah does not use the word, kanaph, regarding gleaning from the corners of a field, Boaz makes the association of the Hebrew word, peah to the Hebrew word, kanaph, when Boaz spoke of Ruth’s practice of Torah by linking Ruth’s observance of Torah in gleaning from the corners of Boaz’ fields to the commanded remembrance of YHWH’s laws in the Tsit Tsits (fringes) in the wings (corners) of Israel’s garments to the concept that this meant that Ruth had come under the wings of YHWH Himself. Below, I shall present how this concept is the idea of the “protective care” of the Almighty. Boaz goes on to marry Ruth. In a Hebrew marriage ceremony a special “mantle” called a “hoopah” is used. The bride comes under her husband’s “covering” which is also understood as “his tent.” She comes under his headship and rule and tent, as her husband is under the headship and rule of YHWH and under “His Tent.” Isaiah 61:10 describes this covering and its association to the marriage ceremony.

“10. I will greatly rejoice in YHWH, my soul shall be joyful in my Elohim; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10

Our Savior’s name in Hebrew is “Yahushua,” meaning “in YHWH is salvation,” or, “YHWH saves.” In Hebrew (Strong’s H3442), in Nehemiah 8:17, Joshua’s name is rendered, “Yeshuwa” {yay-shoo-ah’}. (Or, legitimately abbreviated, “Y’shua.”) Being clothed with the “garments of salvation,” is to be clothed with the garments of Y’shua. This becomes significant when the Messiah comes bearing the name, in part, “salvation.”

To this point we have discussed the idea of coming under the garment of salvation and the idea of coming under the shadow of YHWH’s wings. In the following texts we learn of the concept of “taking hold of the covenant.”

“4 For thus saith YHWH unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YHWH, to serve him, and to love the name of YHWH, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:4-7.

Remember how the command to wear frings on the corners of one’s garments came immediately after a man was caught picking up sticks on the Sabbath. The knotted fringe, tassel, had its immediate, contextual role of “keeping the Sabbath from polluting it.” In Isaiah 56:6, just as Ruth spiritually came under YHWH’s “wings” when she trustingly ordered her life after YHWH’s laws, so in Isaiah 56, the strangers, and “anyone,” that join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him (obey Him) are described as “taking hold of my covenant.” This metaphorical, or spiritual concept has its literal symbolism in being able to physically take hold of the border of one’s garment and hold the tsit tsit; taking hold of the symbol of YHWH’s laws represented taking hold of YHWH’s covenant. This concept is confirmed in the following passage:

“23 Thus saith YHWH of hosts; In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the SKIRT [Strong’s H3671, kanaph, wing, corner] of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard [that] Elohim [is] with you.” Zechariah 8:23.

Taking hold of the “kanaph” of the Jew is to take hold of YHWH’s covenant. Taking hold of the “kanaph” of the Jew is symbolic of the trusting willingness to come under the shadow of the Almighty in obedience to all His commandments, statutes and judgments.
“7 How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O Elohim! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” Psalm 36:7.

When we combine the insights found in Ruth 2:11, 12, with Psalm 36:7 we learn that the commandments, statutes and judgments of YHWH are associated to His “excellent kindness.” In trusting obedience, we come under the shadow and protection, the loving kindness of His wings.

This protection concept is also taught in Psalm 17:8:
“8. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,” Psalm 17:8.

In Exodus 15:26, we read that covenantal relationship with YHWH included deliverance from the diseases that were laid upon Egypt. In Malachi 4:2, the concept of the care of YHWH’s wings and healing are combined:

“2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” Malachi 4:2.

Combining the concepts that the four cornered garment with the “tsit tsits,” fringes, in the corners, wings and the willing obedience of YHWH’s commands is to take shelter under the protective care of the Almighty, with the concept of “taking hold of My covenant” and taking hold of the wing, corner of a Jew’s garment, and with the concept that there is healing in YHWH’s wings–combining these concepts is why the people took hold of the fringe of Y’shua’s garment. This was the Messiah. His name was Y’shua, meaning YHWH saves, or YHWH’s salvation. They took hold of the tassel on the “wing” of the garment of the man whose name meant “salvation.” They took hold of the wings of that garment for the Messianic promise was that there would be “healing in his wings.”

The Tallit (Prayer Shawl) and Healing AFTER the Crucifixion.

Some might think that the commands in Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12 have been abolished and not to be observed, especially by Gentile believers. But, the following study shows that the four cornered garment, especially the kind used in formal worship, was involved with miraculous healings years after the crucifixion of our Savior. In John 11:44 we learn of a Hebrew custom to wrap the face of the deceased with his prayer shawl, his tallit, with its fringes in its wings, corners:

“43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a NAPKIN [Strong’s G4676]. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:44.

This practice was also observed in the burial wrapping of our Savior:

“3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. 5 And he stooping down, [and looking in], saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the NAPKIN [Strong’s G4676], that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.” John 20:3-7.

Notice the sanctity that the Savior gives to the “napkin” that had been wrapped around His face and head. The fact that He separated the “napkin” from the regular linen burial clothes shows that it was “holy” for the priests were to teach the people the difference and the setting apart of those things that were “holy” from those things that were common.** I cannot emphasize enough that this is AFTER the crucifixion, that the Savior is setting apart this “napkin.” The reason why the Israelites wrapped their heads in their prayer shawls was because of their belief in the resurrection and respect for the Shekinah glory of YHWH. In veiling their faces even in death, the Hebrew believer showed respect for the resurrecting glory of YHWH. Moses had veiled his face because of the glory of YHWH radiating upon it.* Further, to be wrapped in one’s prayer shawl, tallit, was to show that even in death, the believer was “hiding under the shadow of the Almighty’s wings.” The Strong’s Concordance number for “napkin” in the above texts is Strong’s G4676, soudarion. This word shows up, translated as “handkerchief,” in Acts 19:11, 12:

“11 And G-d wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick HANDKERCHIEFS [Strong’s G4676] or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11, 12.

“And the diseases departed from them”[!!!] This is years after the crucifixion of our Savior! Yet, the Holy Spirit continues to heal the sick, just as the sick had been healed when they took the hem of the Savior’s garment prior to His death. The commanded symbol of being under the healing wings of YHWH and corresponding willingness to obey all YHWH’s commandments, statutes, and judgments was still binding. The blessing of healing that came by yielding in faith to the care, protection, and healing of being “under the wings” of the Almighty continued.

Observing the Biblical Feasts:

The Special Sense of Being Under the Shadow of the Wings of YHWH.

Having established the continuing, binding obligation of the commands in Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12 to wear the four cornered garment with the tassel and the thread of blue in the corners, we now turn to the special relationship of the observance of the Biblical Feasts as being under the shadow of YHWH’s wings.

“16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday [feastday], or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; …” Colossians 2:16, 17.

Colossians 2:16, 17 informs us that “feast days, new moons and Sabbaths” are a “shadows of things to come.” This text alone does not make the feasts to be associated to the concept of being under the shadow of YHWH’s wings. But, the following information makes Passover to be the beginning of the overshadowing of YHWH over Israel.

“In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb,…a lamb for an house,…and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and …kill it… And …take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses. For I will pass through the land of Egypt …and I will smite all the firstborn. …And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses,…and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you.” Exodus 12:3-7, 12-13.

“The verb “pass over” has a deeper meaning here than the idea of stepping or leaping over something to avoid contact. It is not the common Hebrew verb, a-bhar, or ga-bhar, which is frequently used in that sense. The word used here is pasah, from which comes the noun pesah, which is translated Passover. These words have no connection with any other Hebrew word, but they do resemble the Egyptian word pesh, which means “to spread wings over” in order to protect. Arthur W. Pink, in his book Gleanings in Exodus, sheds light on this. Quoting from Urquhart, he states:

“The word is used…in this sense in Isa. 31:5: ‘As birds flying, so will YHWH of Hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over (pasoach, participle of pasach) He will preserve it’. The word has, consequently, the very meaning of the Egyptian term for ’spreading the wings over’, and ‘protecting’; and pesach, the L-rd’s Passover, means such sheltering and protection as is found under the outstretched wings of the Almighty. Does this not give a fulness to those words …”O Jerusalem! Jerusalem….How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings.’ (Luke 13:34)?…this term pesach is applied (1) to the ceremony… and (2) to the lamb…The slain lamb, the sheltering behind its blood and eating of its flesh, constituted the pesach, the protection of G-d’s chosen people beneath the sheltering wings of the Almighty”

….It was not merely that the L-rd passed by the houses of the Israelites, but that He stood on guard, protecting each blood-sprinkled door! [”YHWH…will not suffer the destroyer to come in.” Exodus 12:23b.”] Ceil and Moishe Rosen, Christ in the Passover, Why Is This Night Different?, Copyright 1978 by Moody Press, Chicago, pages 21-23.

All the rest of the Biblical Feasts follow Passover. With Passover begins the shelter of the blood of the covenant. With Passover follows the rest of YHWH’s Feasts. Following the Passover, YHWH in the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, overshadowed Israel for forty years. At the baptism of Y’shua the Holy Spirit “overshadowed” the Savior. The baptism occurred at the Feast of Tabernacles. It is in relation to the observance of the Feasts that the Torah is taught and learned. The Feasts serve as a servant for the education of Israel of the terms of the covenant. The various “coverings” of the Mosaic Tabernacle are symbols of aspects of YHWH’s covering(s). Winged angels are on the Mercy Seat. Winged angels are embroidered in the curtains of the Sanctuary. The whole system of the Hebrew Economy is about the winged protection of YHWH. In 1Corinthians 5, we read:

“7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast [of unleavened bread], not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.” 1Corinthians 5:7-8.

Here is the feast of the New Covenant. “Christ our Passover” is the beginning of the overshadowed protection of YHWH for those who have faith in the substitutionary blood of the Messiah.

Is it no wonder that the circumstances of the command to wear the Tsit Tsits (tassels) on the corners, wings, of the four cornered garment, was made for the purpose of guarding the transgression of the Seventh-day Sabbath, the first of YHWH’s Feasts?!! Here is the link to the Fourth Commandment and to the concept that YHWH’s Word, “Debar” (the Hebrew word translated as “commandment” in the phrase, Ten Commandments) is a “covering” and a “place” of protection for those who will seek YHWH’s sheltering care.

“16 And I have put my words [Strong’s H1697, debar] in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou [art] my people.” Isaiah 51:16.

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 297-303 We also have commentary, with editing from me, again from http://theownersmanual.net/The_Owners_Manual_02_The_Law_of_Love.Torah

297 Not to plow nor sow the rough valley (in which a heifer’s neck was broken) (Deut. 21:4) (negative).

(297) Do not plow nor sow the rough valley (in which a heifer’s neck was broken). “The elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with flowing water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and they shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley. Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for Yahweh your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of Yahweh; by their word every controversy and every assault shall be settled. And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. Then they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it. Provide atonement, O Yahweh, for Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, and do not lay innocent blood to the charge of Your people Israel.’ And atonement shall be provided on their behalf for the blood. So you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you do what is right in the sight of Yahweh. (Deuteronomy 21:4-9) The lesson of Mitzvah #296 continues. On behalf of their citizens, the elders of the town nearest the unsolved murder, in addition to providing the heifer, are to swear that they had nothing to do with the crime (presuming, of course, that this was actually true. If they knew who was responsible, this would have been the time to come forward, or be guilty of “bearing false witness”). The whole process is supervised not by the Sanhedrin, but by the priests and Levites—whose positions were strictly hereditary (so one could not aspire to a position of power in this context). The whole point of the exercise was to “put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you.” In the same way, our sins can only be “put away” from us through the shedding of innocent blood—that of Yahshua.

298 To adjudge a thief to pay compensation or (in certain cases) suffer death (Ex. 21:16; Ex. 21:37; Ex. 22:1) (affirmative).

(298)Adjudge a thief to pay compensation or (in certain cases) suffer death. “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep…. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.” (Exodus 22:1, 3-4) “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.” (Exodus 21:16) Contrast should be drawn between God’s system of criminal justice and man’s. If you’re a thief, western nations generally send you to prison, which takes you out of polite society for a while, but does no practical good for your victim. Prisons are expensive—a wasteful and inefficient use of public funds. Worse, they often serve as trade schools for criminals. But other systems are even worse: Islamic sharia law says that the thief’s hand is to be chopped off. This might be an effective deterrent, I suppose. But it hardly fits the crime, and again, it’s a punishment that does nothing to relieve the victim’s plight.
Only Yahweh’s law makes sense for everybody concerned—thief, victim, and tax-paying bystander. If you steal something and it’s found in your possession, you are to give it back to your victim, plus another just like it. But if you’ve already disposed of it, you must repay him four times its value. And that’s if it’s value is only intrinsic (money or jewelry, for example). If the stolen item also has functional value—if its owner used it to earn his livelihood or function in society (today that would be one’s car, tools, or computer) you’d have to repay five times the booty’s value. Repayment begins by selling what you own—your own home, car, or possessions. But what if you don’t have enough to pay the victim back? Obviously, you’re not allowed to steal to make restitution. Under the Mosaic Law, you yourself would be sold into slavery, the proceeds going to the victim. I guess in today’s world that might translate into prison time, but with a twist on our flawed system. We allow inmates to work in prison industries and earn themselves a small income, because we’re fixated on rehabilitation for criminals, not restitution for their victims. Under God’s economy, whatever the thief earned would be returned to his victim, until the entire debt was paid. If you’ve stolen a $50,000 Mercedes Benz, you’re on the hook for a cool quarter mil. Let’s see. At six bucks an hour…. Gee, looks like crime really doesn’t pay.

Not all crimes are financial, of course. We should point out that if you steal a person, there is no restitution—whether or not your abductee is ever released unharmed. In God’s consistent metaphor of what kidnapping and murder really mean, it is your intention to prevent people from having a relationship with Yahweh that determines your guilt, not your success in pulling it off. Try it and your life is forfeit.

299 That he who inflicts a bodily injury shall pay monetary compensation (Ex. 21:18-19) (affirmative).

(299)He who inflicts a bodily injury shall pay monetary compensation. “If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed. (Exodus 21:18-19) Again, the spirit of restitution—as opposed to punishment—drives this precept. It’s a little misleading to translate this as saying the attacker shall be “acquitted.” The Hebrew word naqah doesn’t so much mean “found to be innocent” as it does “pardoned,” or “left unpunished.” There are still consequences. The “winner” of the fight has to see to it that his adversary is not financially disadvantaged. He must pay the “loser’s” salary and medical expenses until the man is fully recovered. The worse you hurt him, the more expensive it’s going to be.

Yahweh doesn’t seem to care who started it, or why. He wants us to love each other, not get into fistfights. So He arranged it so that even if you win, you lose. This is not a call for mindless pacifism, however. There are times when fighting is necessary and appropriate. (For example, see Exodus 32:26-28.) But don’t get into it with your brother-in-law over who’s the best shortstop in the National League. Just smile, turn the other cheek, and remember Psalm 116:6—“Yahweh preserves the simple.”

300 To impose a penalty of fifty shekels upon the seducer (of an unbetrothed virgin) and enforce the other rules in connection with the case (Ex. 22:15-16) (affirmative).

(300)Impose a penalty of fifty shekels upon the seducer of an unbetrothed virgin and enforce the other rules in connection with the case. “If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins. (Exodus 22:16-17) The case of pre-marital sex between a man and an unbetrothed virgin is covered here and in the next two mitzvot. There doesn’t seem to be much of a distinction drawn between seduction and statutory rape in this case, presumably because the Inventor of hormones knows how it all works. As far as Yahweh is concerned, sex consummates a marriage; the physical union completes the spiritual union that betrothal initiates. So in the case described, though the beautiful picture a wedding presents has been goofed up, life goes on.

Though Maimonides calls it a “penalty,” the fifty shekels (specified in Deuteronomy 22) is actually a “bride-price,” in other words, a dowry. Any prospective husband would pay this sum to his father-in-law-to-be. However, in this case, the girl’s father has the option of forbidding the marriage, while keeping the dowry. This provision allows him to save his daughter from marriage to a total loser, or, of course, to an actual rapist. But normally, he would be prone to let mere sexual imprudence between his infatuated daughter and her amorous boyfriend—a rash and impulsive love match—proceed into marriage, for finding a mate for a daughter who wasn’t a virgin was difficult in that culture.

301 That the violator (of an unbetrothed virgin) shall marry her (Deut. 22:28-29) (affirmative).

(301)The violator of an unbetrothed virgin shall marry her. “If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are found out, then the man who lay with her shall give to the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her.” (Deuteronomy 22:28-29) There was no option on the part of the young man, however. If the girl’s father allowed it to proceed, he would have to marry the young woman—it’s the prototypical shotgun wedding. This provision would have tended to keep casual or experimental sex to a minimum. Under the Torah, there was no such thing as I’m not ready to make a commitment, but you’re pretty hot, so let’s get it on. No, it’s either chastity or marriage (or stoning, if either lover were already betrothed).

We should note the radically different consequences Yahweh delineated for what to some might seem almost identical offenses—the case of sexual contact (whether presumed rape or consensual) with a betrothed virgin (as in Mitzvah #288) as opposed to with an unbetrothed virgin—death versus marriage. This makes it clear to me that it isn’t sex per se that Yahweh objects to, but rather betrayal. Sex within marriage is right and good; outside of marriage, it is treachery, treason, and deceit.

302 That one who has raped a damsel and has then (in accordance with the law) married her, may not divorce her (Deut. 22:29) (negative).

(302)One who has raped a damsel and has then, in accordance with the law, married her, may not divorce her. “…and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her; he shall not be permitted to divorce her all his days.” (Deuteronomy 22:28-29) It gets even better, in a divine retribution sort of way. Not only must the young man pay the dowry and marry the young lady he has slept with, it’s what you might call a no-cut contract. If it “doesn’t work out,” tough toenails. There’s no divorce for you—ever. As one who has been married for over forty years, I can vouch for the concept of choosing your mate carefully.

Beyond the obvious practical implications of this precept, there is a far more serious side to this. There is a reason Israel, the Ekklesia, is called the “Bride of Christ,” and Israel was once characterized as Yahweh’s unfaithful wife. It is God’s pattern that a husband and wife are to be “one flesh”—they are not to be “put asunder.” When we become betrothed to Yahweh, we are His forever. But in the same way, those who foolishly jump into bed with Satan are doomed to share his fate forever—you can’t change your mind and divorce him. Like I said, choose your mate carefully.

303 Not to inflict punishment on Shabbat (Ex. 35:3) (because some punishments were inflicted by fire) (negative). See Shabbat.

(303)Do not inflict punishment on Shabbat (because some punishments were inflicted by fire). “Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” (Exodus 35:2-3) In Mitzvah #109 (in Chapter 4) we discussed the Sabbath at length. It is a Torah-mandated rest from our labors, indicative of the fact that we cannot, in the end, work for our salvation. We must, rather, accept Yahweh’s provision. So no one’s regular work was to be done on the seventh day of the week. That, of course, included food preparation, which was admittedly a much more laborious endeavor in Moses’ time than it is today. We have also seen (in #287 above) how punishment inflicted by fire was (in rare and extreme instances) authorized in the Torah. Can you see where Maimonides is going with this? It’s legalism gone stark raving haywire: he’s saying that you can’t burn people at the stake on the Sabbath day—because it’s cooking! I honestly don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

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