This is essentially saying that those in question invented their own nonsensical chants and psalms and attributed them to or gave them equal status to the Psalms of king David... Once again this is a chilling indictment on modern Christian worship music which so often claims to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and yet is worded in such a way as to express the nonsensical emotion of the fallen nature. Amos 6 (Author’s translation)
1 Oiy, woe, alas to those who are at ease feeling secure in Zion, and to those who trust in the mountain of Samaria, and the appointed heads of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes. 2 Pass over to Chalneh from there to Chamat then go down to the great Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than these kingdoms, with greater territory than your territory? 3 Do you put away the day of evil, and draw near a seat of cruelty? 4 Those who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of the fattened cattle, 5 Who make up nonsensical chants upon the face of the pitcher (jug), for David they esteem, and they invent of themselves songs, 6 Who drink in bowls of wine and anoint their heads with oils—yet they have not grieved over the shattering of Joseph. 7 Therefore, they will now go into captivity at the head of the exiles, and the feasting cry of those who stretch out (lounge) will depart. 8 The Lord YHVH has sworn by His soul, YHVH the God/Judge Who goes warring has declared: “I abhor the majesty of Yaakov, and his palaces I hate; and I will deliver up a city and all that is in it.” 9 And it will come to pass, if ten men are left in one house, they will die. 10 And a man’s uncle will lift him up and burn him, and bring out bone substance from the house, and say to the one who is at the sides of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” And that one will say, “None.” Then he will answer, “Hold your tongue!” For the name of YHVH the Lord is not remembered. 11 For behold, now, pay attention YHVH the Lord has commanded and will smite the great house into fragments and the little house to rubble. 12 Do horses run on rocks? Or does one yoke them with oxen for ploughing? Yet you have turned judgement into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (bitterness), 13 You who rejoice in Lodebar (nothing), and say, “By our strength have we not taken Karnayim?” 14 “For behold, now, pay attention, I am going to raise up upon you, house of Israel,” declares YHVH (Mercy) the Lord God/Judge the One Who goes warring, “A nation, and they will oppress you from the entrance of Chamat to the wadi (river bed) of the wilderness.” Amos 6 (Line Upon Line) 1 Ho Oiy, woe, alas hasha’ananiym to those who are at ease feeling secure betziyon in Zion (parched place), vehabotechiym and to those who trust behar in the mountain of Shomeron Samaria (guardians), and nekuveiy the appointed (to pierce) reishiyt heads of hagoyim the nations, uvau lahem beiyt Yisrael to whom the house of Israel comes. 1 Oiy, woe, alas to those who are at ease feeling secure in Zion, and to those who trust in the mountain of Samaria, and the appointed heads of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes. Both Judah (Zion being the seat of king David’s power) and Israel (the northern tribes whose kings held court in Samaria) are being warned concerning their idolatrous faith in their own strength. Zion is used in Scripture to describe both the mountain located in Jerusalem and the entire land and or, people of Israel. Therefore, it is possible that Zion is used here as being synonymous with Israel, however, given that Amos is of Judah and that while the focus of his prophecy has been on the northern kingdoms there has nonetheless been earlier rebuke of Judah, it is most likely that both kingdoms and therefore all twelve tribes are being called out for their idolatrous behaviour, and the sin of trusting in their own strength rather than trusting in God. Regardless, the latter clause “those who trust in the mountain of Samaria, and the appointed heads of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes.” Is specifically addressed to the northern tribes who gather at the mountain city of Samaria under the northern king and in order to practice apostate worship in an intentional act of defiance against the appointed place of worship, Mt Zion in Jerusalem. The phrase “appointed heads of the nations” is a reference to the fact that the northern tribes had made agreements with the nations they perceived to be strong and thus trusted not only in their own strength but also in the added strength of alliances with godless nations. The Targum understands the phrase “appointed heads of the nations” somewhat differently, paraphrasing the text to read: "put the name of their children, as the name of the children of the nations;'' While this seems an unlikely interpretation, it does nonetheless point to the coming exile by inferring that Israelis will give their children foreign names during the future captivity in order to make their lives easier as strangers in a land not their own. 2 Ivru Pass over to Chalneh (fortress of Anu: Assyrian/Babylonian) misham from there to Chamat (fortress, upper Syria) rabah uredu then go down to the great Gat-Pelishtiym (wine vat of immigrants) Gath of the Philistines. Hatoviym min-hamamlachot haeileh Are they better than these kingdoms, im-rav with greater gevulam territory migevulchem than your territory? 2 Pass over to Chalneh from there to Chamat then go down to the great Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than these kingdoms, with greater territory than your territory? In short, “Go and take a tour around the region, as far east as Chalneh in Babylon, north to the great city of Chamat located between Damascus and the Mediterranean sea, and finally south to Gath, the pride of the Philistines. Do Chalneh, Chamat, and Gath, exceed the grandeur, wealth and strength that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah have been given?” The answer is of course “No”. God had given Israel a land rich with produce and grandeur and yet she had looked elsewhere, not satisfied with the gift of YHVH. 3 Hamnadiym Do you put away leyom the day of ra evil, vatagiyshun and draw near shevet a seat of chamas cruelty? 3 Do you put away the day of evil, and draw near a seat of cruelty? “Do you put away the day of evil” means, “Based on your belief that you are strong of yourselves and the delusional view that the day of the LORD will be one of light for you, you have put the day of the LORD out of your thoughts, a day that for you will be a day of evil in the sense of darkness, torment and destruction.” “and draw near a seat of cruelty” means, having rejected the warning of the prophets and having chosen to turn their backs on God, they have instead entered into an intimate relationship with vile acts of cruelty, the oppression of the poor, the rape of women, the murder of those who threaten their worldly ambitions and so on. The translation “seat of violence” is not accurate, given that in and of itself violence is neither good nor evil but is informed by good or evil. Therefore, “cruelty” better conveys the Hebrew “chamas”. A prophetic and poignant translation given the modern terrorist organisation Hamas, whose modus operandi is cruelty even in the treatment of those they claim to be freeing from the so called tyranny of the modern state of Israel. 4 Hashocheviym Those who lie al-mitot on beds shein of ivory, useruchiym and stretch out al-arsotam on their couches, ve’ocheliym and eat kariym lambs mitzon from the flock, va’agaliym and calves mitoch from the midst marbek of the fattened cattle, 4 Those who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of the fattened cattle, Once again the imagery depicts the rulers, uber rich and uncaring aristocracy of the northern tribes. Ivory was a valuable commodity and the act of lounging on beds made from it accentuates the palpable disregard for matters of justice and right action. This is coupled with gluttony, the consumption of the best of Israel’s cattle, some of which should have been offered in Jerusalem according to Torah, but was nonetheless being eaten by the upper class, who had decided that they themselves were the deities who deserved these offerings. The phrase “eat the lambs from the flock” contains a remez (hint) at deeper meaning. Israel is the flock of HaShem and the wicked among the rich upper class were devouring the innocent lambs of Israel, both physically and metaphorically as the analogy applies to apostasy and the leading astray of the vulnerable young. 5 Haporetiym Who make up nonsensical chants al-piy upon the face hanavel of the pitcher (jug), kedaviyd for David chashevu they esteem, invent lehem of themselves shiyr songs, 5 Who make up nonsensical chants upon the face of the pitcher (jug), for David they esteem, and they invent of themselves songs, This is essentially saying that those in question invented their own nonsensical chants and psalms and attributed them to or gave them equal status to the Psalms of king David. This is utterly abhorrent because it not only misappropriates David’s name but more importantly makes the false inference that their words are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Once again this is a chilling indictment on modern Christian worship music which so often claims to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and yet is worded in such a way as to express the nonsensical emotion of the fallen nature. 6 Hashotiym Who drink bemizrekei in bowls yayin of wine vereishiyt shemaniym yimshachu and anoint their heads with oils— velo yet they have not nechlu grieved al-sheiver over the shattering Yosef (Yah adds) of Joseph. 6 Who drink in bowls of wine and anoint their heads with oils—yet they have not grieved over the shattering of Joseph (Yah adds). The wine drunk in sacred bowls is an allusion to the worship of deities accredited with the grape harvest, and the oils, in part made from the life sustaining olive oil of the land, are perfumed and hoarded at the expense of the poor. Thus, oil that might have feed the poor is used to adorn the rich for no other reason than to make them smell nice. We do the same today when we use perfume made in the sweatshops of foreign countries where the poor are kept under a cycle of oppression in order to sustain western demand for perfumed commodities. “yet they have not grieved over the shattering of Joseph (Yah adds).” The plain meaning regards the sin of the brothers of Joseph in selling him into slavery, this ancient sin being committed in another form against the destitute of the northern kingdom during the time of Amos. The rulers and wealthy elite have shown a lack of care for the well-being of all Israel, indulgence having given birth to complacency, and a hardening of heart. Joseph (Yah adds) is used here as a synonym for Israel and hints (remez) at the disregard shown for the fact that YHVH has added blessing to Israel. 7 Lachein Therefore, atah they will now yiglu go into captivity berosh at the head goliym of the exiles, vesar mirzach seruchiym and the feasting cry of those who stretch out (lounge) will depart. 7 Therefore, they will now go into captivity at the head of the exiles, and the feasting cry of those who stretch out (lounge) will depart. Those who have been guilty of the aforementioned oppression of the weak and vulnerable will be the first to go into exile. Just as they share in the guilt of selling Joseph into slavery so too they will be punished by being made slaves. The text is a type of Hebrew word play which places the roshiym (heads) of Israel at the rosh (head) of the line leading into captivity. This is an ironic twist on the “first shall be last”. Here the “first shall be last by being first”. 8 Nishba Adonay The Lord (Master) YHVH (Mercy) has sworn benafsho by His soul, neum YHVH (Mercy) Eloheiy the God/Judge tzevaot Who goes warring has declared: “Metaeiv anochiy I abhor et-ge’on the majesty of Yaakov (follower), ve’armenotayv and his palaces saneitiy I hate; vehisgartiy and I will deliver up iyr a city umeloh and all that is in it.” 8 The Lord YHVH has sworn by His soul, YHVH the God/Judge Who goes warring has declared: “I abhor the majesty of Yaakov, and his palaces I hate; and I will deliver up a city and all that is in it.” HaShem swears by Himself, His soul, character, essence, being, because there is none greater than He. He swears these things in mercy, which proceeds from His holiness. He swears as God and Judge, and as He Who goes warring to save His people from a fate worse than death, that is the second death (eternal punishment). To YHVH belongs all majesty, therefore, the majesty which Yaakov (Israel) has manufactured for herself He despises. The Hebrew text does not say “the city” as many wrongly translate but “a city”. Thus, for the purpose of disciplining His beloved children in order to return them to life everlasting, He will deliver up each and every city of Israel into the hands of the Assyrians, and subsequently into the hands of the Babylonians. 9 Vehayah And it will come to pass, im-yivateru asarah anashiym if ten men are left bevayit echad in one house, vametu they will die. 9 And it will come to pass, if ten men are left in one house, they will die. Those who are left of the northern kingdom, who are not taken into captivity, will die. 10 Unesa’o dodo umesarefo And a man’s uncle, will lift him up and burn him, lehotziy and bring out atzamiym bone substance min-habayit from the house, veamar and say la’asher beyarketeiy habayit to the one who is at the sides of the house, “ha’od imach Is anyone else with you?” veamar And that one will say, “Afes Zero, none.” Veamar Then he will answer, “Has Hold your tongue!” Kiy lo lehazkiyr besheim YHVH For the name of the Lord is not remembered. 10 And a man’s uncle, will lift him up and burn him, and bring out bone substance from the house, and say to the one who is at the sides of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” And that one will say, “None.” Then he will answer, “Hold your tongue!” For the name of YHVH the Lord is not remembered. The bodies of Israel’s dead are to be interred in order to await the physical resurrection and Yom haDin (the Day of Judgement: Day of the LORD). The burning of an Israeli body is an abhorrent violation, but it will be the only option for those who remain, because the dead and rotting corpses of Israel will be so prolific and the remnant so few that they will not be able to bury them, thus leaving burning as the only means of preventing the spread of diseases associated with corpses. This is why the “uncle” asks “is anyone else with you?” The answer is “No one”. There is no one to help. The Targum says “they have all perished”. “Then he will answer, “Hold your tongue!” For the name of YHVH the Lord is not remembered.” This is interpreted in a number of ways. Here are three possibilities: a.“Be silent, because while the one we are burying was alive he never called on the Name of YHVH.” b.“Why bother calling on the Name YHVH, He has brought this upon us, He has firmly established this.” c.“They say ‘Don’t bother crying out to the gods we thought would save us, they can’t save’. They say this because they have long since neglected to remember the One True God YHVH Who is able and willing to save those who repent and call on Him.” The Targum reads: "he shall say, remove (the dead), since while they lived they did not pray in the name of the Lord.'' 11 Kiy For hineih behold, now, pay attention YHVH (Mercy) the Lord metzaveh has commanded vehikah and will smite habayit hagadol the great house, resiysiym into fragments vehabayit hakaton and the little house beki’iym to rubble. 11 For behold, now, pay attention YHVH the Lord has commanded and will smite the great house into fragments and the little house to rubble. The judgement of God that will enact justice has been firmly established against the perpetual sin of the northern tribes. The great house can be understood to refer to the king of the northern tribes and the little house to the common people. It may also be a reference to two distinct houses of apostate worship in the north. Alternatively, if the Targum’s rendering is correct, it refers to the northern kingdom as the great house (having the majority of tribes) and the southern kingdom of Judah as being the little house (Judah & Benjamin). “he will smite the great kingdom with a mighty stroke, and the little kingdom with a weak stroke.” – Targum Yonatan (2nd Century C.E. Aramaic) 12 Hayrutzun basela susiym Do horses run on rocks? Im yacharush babekariym Or does one yoke them with oxen for ploughing? Kiy hafachtem lerosh mishpat Yet you have turned judgement into poison, uferiy and the fruit tzedakah of righteousness lela’anah into wormwood (bitterness), 12 Do horses run on rocks? Or does one yoke them with oxen for ploughing? Yet you have turned judgement into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (bitterness), These are of course rhetorical questions. These examples expose the immoral practice of swapping good for evil and vice versa. Israel had made poison of her judicial practices and had polluted the fruit of the righteous with vile acts of debauchery. 13 Hasemeichiym lelo davar You who rejoice in Lodebar (no word, thing), haomeriym and say, “Halo vechazekeinu By our strength have we not lakachnu lanu taken Karnayim (horn, a town of the region of Bashan)?” 13 You who rejoice in Lodebar (nothing), and say, “By our strength have we not taken Karnayim?” Lo debar was a city southeast of the Kinneret (Galilee) in Gilead not far from Mahanaim, north of the Jabbok river (2 Samuel 9:4–5). Karnayim, also in the territory of Gilead, was directly east of the Kinneret (Galilee). It had been taken by Manasseh and was at the time a badge of honour reflecting their perceived strength. The meanings of the names of these two locations speaks of how God will turn Israel’s strength into weakness, just as they have sought to turn morality on its head. Lo Debar literally translates as “No thing (word)” and Karnayim “Horns (strength)”, the message being “There will be no strength in your words”, and “You will reap nothing from your strength!” 14 “Kiy For hin’niy behold, now, pay attention, I am going to meikiym raise up aleiychem upon you, beiyt Yisrael house of Israel,” neum declares YHVH (Mercy) the Lord Eloheiy God/Judge Hatzevaot the One Who goes warring, “Goy A nation velachatzu And they will oppress etchem you milevo from the entrance of Chamat (fortress, upper Syria) ad-nachal to the wadi (river bed) ha’aravah of the wilderness.” 14 “For behold, now, pay attention, I am going to raise up upon you, house of Israel,” declares YHVH the Lord God/Judge the One Who goes warring, “A nation, and they will oppress you from the entrance of Chamat to the wadi (river bed) of the wilderness.” This is prophetic of the Assyrians and subsequently the Babylonians. Yet again Mercy the Judge goes warring to save His children. He will do so through discipline, sending the invading armies through the entire land of Israel from Chamat (part of the northern border of the land (Numbers 34.1–9), all the way down to the desert stream bed in the south that borders the wilderness of Sinai. This links the coming exile to the ancient captivity of Egypt. It will be a return to bondage which reflects Israel’s turning away from God and His life giving instruction (Torah), and toward the bondage of idolatry, sin and death. However, there is hope of redemption ahead. Copyright 2022 Yaakov Brown For the child of Light approval should not be confused with the false desire to earn it. In Messiah Yeshua we have (past tense) been approved. Therefore, we should live from that approval and not for it. Introduction:
Yeshua speaks what follows in Jerusalem prior to (Pesach) Passover. He is among the disciples, and many other devote Jews are overhearing Him. This follows His triumphal entry into the city to the Messianic shouting of tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers and some Greek God fearers. He has just used the mashal (figure) of the wheat falling to the ground in order to produce fruit as a prophetic image pointing to His death and resurrection. Now He expounds on the imagery by explaining that those who follow Him will also suffer with Him, that is, as He has suffered and will be with Him (in a transcendent way) where He is, both in death and in resurrection. 26 If anyone serves, attends, waits on, ministers to (diakoneo[G]) Me, that one must follow Me, become My disciple (akoloutheo[G]); and where I am, in that place (ekei[G]) My servant (diakonos[G]) will also be; if anyone serves (diakoneo[G]) Me (in the future), My Father (Pater[G], Aviy[H]) will fix value upon, revere, venerate, honour (timao[G]), y’chab’denu[H]) that one. If one is determined to attend to Yeshua, serve Him, minister to Him, that one must take a step further, beyond mental assent and into discipleship. Discipleship in this context means sitting at the Rabbi’s feet, staying so close so as to be near Him at all times, and thus the essence of the Rabbi is absorbed by the disciple, talmid shel Yeshua. If one truly enters into this relationship with Yeshua, he or she will, by nature of this relationship, be where Yeshua is. Therefore, given the inseparable nature of God, the Father will honour the true disciple of Yeshua as a son or daughter. 27 “Now, at this present time (nun[G]) My breath/soul (psuche[G], nafshiy[H]) has become agitated, disquieted, anxious, distressed, troubled (tarasso[G]); and what shall I say, ‘My Father (Pater[G], Aviy[H]), save Me, keep Me safe, rescue Me (sozo[G]) from the (ho[G]) certain definite time, fixed season, hour (hora[G])’? Nevertheless, through, by, for (dia[G]) this which is to come (erchomai[G]) I came to the certain definite time, fixed season, hour (hora[G]). Yeshua’s words here are similar to those of His prayer in Gat Sh’maniym (Gethsemane) [Matt. 26:38-39; Mark. 14:34-36; Luke. 22:41-43]. The enormity of the task before Him overwhelms His humanity. He has suffered and been tried in every way as we have and yet remains sinless (Heb. 4:15). There is great comfort here for those suffering mental distress and emotional turmoil. The suffering Messiah walks with us in our suffering, not as a Job’s comforter but as One Who has suffered as we suffer. We note that it is “through, by, for” His coming death and resurrection that Yeshua has come. It is through His death and resurrection that He brings glory to the Father, and by His death and resurrection that He brings freedom to those imprisoned by sin, and it is for the purpose of reconciling the creation to the Creator that He refuses to give in to distress and anxiety. 28 My Father (Pater[G], Aviy[H]), glorify, extol, magnify, celebrate, convey the thoughts of, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour (doxazo[G]) Your Name (sh’mecha[H]).” Then a voice came from the heavens (kol min-hashamayim[H], Bat Kol [daughter voice]): “I have glorified, extoled, magnified, celebrated, conveyed the thoughts of, adorned with lustre, clothed with splendour (doxazo[G]) My Name (it), and will glorify, extol, magnify, celebrate, convey the thoughts of, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour (doxazo[G]) My Name (it) again.” Notice that Yeshua does not ask the Father to glorify Yeshua’s Name but to glorify the Father’s Name. Many a human being throughout history has relied on the remembrance of their name and its veneration in the temporal world in order to gain some solace at the point of their martyrdom, but Yeshua thinks not of Himself but of the Father and His eternal redemptive purposes. The primary flaw in much of our fallen human thinking is our inability to see beyond the boundaries of time and space, our inability to perceive of something outside of the temporal created universe. We ask for evidence and proof of intangible things, and when none is given we presume that the intangible simply does not exist. Yeshua shows us that even in our most desperate circumstances we can look to the Father our Creator and be certain that there is a truer reality than the one we perceive with our limited intellect. “Then a voice from the heavens…” In rabbinic tradition this “voice” is known as “Bat Kol” literally “Daughters voice” and is a title given to the voice of an angelic messenger of God. Following the last prophet of the Tanakh it is said that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) did not manifest Himself among the people of Israel but that instead the voice of an angelic messenger would from time to time speak from the heavens. “After the death of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, the last of the prophets, the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) ceased from Israel; nevertheless they received communications from God through the medium of the Bat Kol.” -Tosefta Sotah 13:2 The rabbis also say that the Bat Kol is: "a voice that comes out of heaven proceeding from the midst of another voice,'' -Piske Tosefot in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, art. 30. One of the rabbis of the Talmud R. Yochanan ben Zaccai, was said to be well versed in the language and speech of angelic beings (Talmud Bavliy Sukkah, fol. 28. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 134. 1.). It is impossible to narrow down the many ways God had glorified His Name prior to these words into just one instance. In reality, the Father is referring to all that has gone before that has brought glory to His Name, and to all that is to proceed from the redemptive work of Yeshua, bringing perpetual glory to the Name of YHVH the God of Israel and of all creation. 29 Therefore, the crowd (ochlos[G]) who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “A messenger/angel (aggelos[G], malakh[H]) has spoken to Him.” The first clause emulates the response of Israel to the thundering of God at Sinai (Exodus 19:18-19). The second clause reflects the rabbinic understanding of the Bat Kol (as explained in the previous notation). 30 Yeshua[H A] (YHVH Saves, Joshua) answered and said, “The voice (ha-kol[H]) has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Yeshua was aware of the tradition among the teachers of Israel who taught that no man (no would be prophet, Messiah etc.) was to be listened to or received, even if he were to do as many great signs and wonders as Moses, unless the people of Israel were to hear the Lord speaking audibly to him as He did to Moses (R. Mosis Kotsensis praefat. ad Mitzvot Torah). 31 Now a separating, judgement, decision (krisis[G], nidin[H]) is upon this world (kosmos[G], ha-olam[H]); the present ruler, first in rank, a prince (archon[G], sar[H]) of this world (kosmos[G], ha-olam[H]) will be violently driven out (ekballo[G]). The driving out of the “ruler of this world” is a reference to the removal of the keys to death and hades from the one who had been given temporal control over them. That one being Satan the adversary and accuser of humanity. Thus, we see Yeshua pictured in the Revelation of John holding the keys to death and Hades as the living One Who was dead but is now alive forever perpetually and is victor over death (Revelation 1:18). The text is not saying that Satan will no longer have any influence in the fallen creation but that he has had the temporal control over death (the fruit of sin) removed from Him even while the present world order remains within the domain of death, which is within time and space. Therefore, Satan’s influence is reduced and He no longer has the ability to hold death over the heads of those who Yeshua will redeem through His death and resurrection. The reference to Satan being violently driven out is intentionally ambiguous. It means that Yeshua’s violent death will result in Satan being violently driven out of his temporal place of rule. One sees here that Satan has never been on equal footing in the battle between good and evil. In fact, as a created being he is subject to the Creator and is nothing more than a footnote in the eternal purposes of God for His creation. Satan has been allowed certain temporal power in order to facilitate the decision required in order to validate love. The so called “problem of evil” is only a problem to those whose vision is limited to time and space (the present world). From the point of view of Yeshua, even when present within time and space, Satan and the problem of evil have already been solved, overcome, done away with, through the sacrificial act of vicarious love that Yeshua has committed Himself to from before the creation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8). It’s interesting to note that our rabbis use the title “Sar haolam” Prince of the world in reference to the angel of death (Talmud Bavliy Yebamot, fol. 16. 2. & Sanhedrin, fol. 94. 1. & Cholin, fol. 60. 1.). 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the land (ho ge[G], ha-aretz[H]), will draw all individually (pas[G]) near to Myself.” 33 Moreover He was saying this to give a sign (semaino[G]) of the nature of death (thanatos[G]) by which He was to die. In describing the type of death He would die Yeshua also reveals the intrinsic link between glory (being lifted up in exaltation) and sacrifice (being lifted up on a Roman cross of execution). In fact, Yeshua’s vicarious sacrifice is evidence of God’s incomparable love and is therefore a manifestation of His glory. The Talmud Bavliy says that in the Olam Haba (world to come), the days of the Messiah (Messianic age), all the proselytes shall be g’ruriym גרורים, "drawn" to the sign or banner raised up by the Messiah, and will freely join the people of Israel (Talmud Bavliy Avoda Zara, fol. 24. 1. & Gloss. in ib.). 34 The crowd (ochlos[G]) then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Torah (ho nomos[G], ha-Torah[H]) that the Messiah (Christos[G], Mashiyach[H]) is to remain forever in an unbroken age (aion[G]); and how can You say, ‘The Son of Humanity (uihos ho Anthropos[G], Ben ha-Adam[H]) must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Humanity (uihos ho Anthropos[G], Ben ha-Adam[H])?” “the Messiah is to remain forever in an unbroken age” In this context Torah/Law (nomos[G]) refers to the entirety of Hebrew Scripture (Tanakh). The reference that the crowd makes to the eternal reign of the Messiah can be linked to a number of Scriptures from the Tanakh (OT). “The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” -Psalm 110:4 ESV Our rabbis say the following concerning Zechariah 4:14, relating the two anointed ones, Aaron and the Messiah: "These are Aaron and the Messiah; and it would not be known which of them is (most) beloved, but that he says, Psalm 110:4, ‘the Lord has sworn, and will not repent, you are a priest for ever’; from whence it is manifest that the Messiah is more beloved than Aaron the righteous priest.'' - Avot R. Natan, c. 34. Rabbi Moshe Hadarsan writes: Psalm 45:1-2 is also understood by our ancient writers to be an allusion to the King Messiah. “My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.” -Psalm 45:1-2 ESV The Targum (2nd Century Aramaic paraphrase) renders: "thy beauty, O King Messiah, is more excellent than the children of men.'' Psalm 72:17 is interpreted by numerous rabbinical commentators as referring to the perpetual nature of the Messiah (T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 54. 1. Nedarim, fol. 39. 2. Bereshit Rabba, fol. 1, 2. Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 32.): “May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!” -Psalm 72:17 ESV “how can You say, ‘The Son of Humanity (Ben ha-Adam) must be lifted up’?” They are not saying that they don’t know what the Messianic title “Son of Man” (taken from the prophet Daniel 7:13) means, rather they are asking to whom it applies. We know this because they link the title “Son of Man” to their question regarding the Torah, showing that they see the Messiah and the Son of Man as being synonymous titles. Both ancient and modern Jewish scholars alike agree that Daniel 7:13 is a reference to the Messiah (Zohar in Gen. fol. 85. 4. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 13. fol. 209. 4. Yarchi & Sandiah Gaon in Dan. vii. 13. & R. Yeshua in Iben Ezra in ib.). 35 Therefore, Yeshua[H A] (YHVH Saves, Joshua) said to them, “For a little while longer the all existing Light [not created] (ho phos[G], ha-Or[H]) is among you. Walk halachically (hit’hal’chu[H]) while you have the all existing Light [not created] (ho phos[G], ha-Or[H]), so that darkness [created] (skotia[G], choshekh[H]) will not take hold of (katalambano[G]) you; he who walks his halacha (ha-holeich[H]) in the darkness [created] (bachoshekh[H]) does not see, perceive (eido[G]) where he goes. Messiah Yeshua is the all existing Light that walks among them and will soon ascend to the Father. Therefore, while He is among them they are to “walk”, that is practice faith according to the Light of the King Messiah. Their halakhah (applied faith) must reflect Yeshua’s teaching and practice. The counterpoint to this is the consequence of darkness taking hold of those who fail to walk according to the Light of Yeshua. We note that the Light of Yeshua is not created but all existing, while the darkness is a created thing that is subject to the Creator, to Yeshua. Thus, the one who “walks” practices faith in darkness, practices vain faith and is unable to see (perceive) even the direction he is heading in. 36 While you have the all existing Light [not created] (ho phos[G], ha-Or[H]), believe, be persuaded, trust (pisteuo[G], ha-amiynu[H]) in the all existing Light [not created] (ho phos[G], ha-Or[H]), so that you may become children of the all existing Light (b’neiy ha-Or[H]).” These things Yeshua[H A] (YHVH Saves, Joshua) spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. We note that only those who trust in the all existing Light of Yeshua will become children of Light. All human beings are children of creation and therefore in one sense children of God. However, throughout Scripture a distinction is made between B’nai ha-Adam (children of fallen humanity) and B’nai Elohiym (children of God). Therefore, in another sense only those who receive the Light of God are truly children of God. “Children of Light” is synonymous with “B’nai Elohiym” children of God. “Children of Light” is not as some suppose an allusion to Essene theology. In fact, Yeshua’s teaching could not have been further from the esoteric teaching of the Essenes. So much so that Yeshua never addressed the Essenes or acknowledged them as part of God’s continued plan for the ethnic, religious, empirical, chosen people of Israel. Far too much conjecture has been entered into by so called “Messianic” Bible teachers, who make erroneous claims concerning the Essene sect, linking Yeshua to the cult using nothing more than conjecture and supposition. In fact the teaching of the Essenes has more in common with the false belief of Gnosticism than it does with Judeo-Messianic thought. 37 But though He had made (asah[H]) so many miraculous signs (otot[H]) before them, they were not believing, being persuaded, trusting (pisteuo[G], he’emiynu[H]) in Him. In spite of the many signs Yeshua performed and the audible voice from the heavens, there were still many who didn’t trust in Him as the promised King Messiah. 38 Fully filling the word, essence, substance (ho logos[G], ha-Davar[H]) of Yishayahu[H] (Isaiah: Salvation He is YHVH[H]) the prophet (ha-naviy[H]) which he spoke: “Lord (YHVH[H]: Mercy), who has trusted (he’emiyn[H]) our report? And upon whom has the arm (zeroah[H]) of the Lord been uncovered, revealed, made naked (nig’latah[H])?[Isaiah 53:1]” The author of John’s Gospel quotes the prophet Isaiah intending the full context of Isaiah 53:1-12 to be considered. We note that a connection is made between the present verse and the beginning of the Gospel linking the Davar, word essence of God to both Yeshua and the words of Isaiah made manifest. This tragic indictment observes the public revelation of Messiah to the people of Israel and our inability to comprehend Him. So obvious is His person among us that it is as if He were made naked before us. And yet, we failed to receive Him corporately at His first coming, though many believed individually. 39 For this reason they could not believe, trust (pisteuo[G], l’ha’amiyn[H]), for Yishayahu[H] (Isaiah: Salvation He is YHVH[H]) said again, 40 “He has shut (hasha[H]) their eyes and He made their heart (leiv[H]) fat (hash’mein[H]), otherwise they would not see (yir’eh[H]) with their eyes and understand, consider, discern (yaviyn[H]) with their heart (leiv[H]), and return (vashav[H]) and I heal (v’rafa[H]) them. [Isaiah 6:10]” Once again the context of Isaiah 6 is intended. The reality was that we had allowed ourselves to become numb to God’s voice and under Roman oppression had become preoccupied with the temporal goal of freedom from servitude to a foreign power rather than concerning ourselves with our nation’s need for freedom from idolatry and godlessness. The poetic imagery of the prophet Isaiah likens the clogging of the arteries to the spiritual condition of the inner being. We note that our return as a people needs to begin in our willingness to be discerning with our vision: only then can we return to be healed, made whole. This is a poignant reminder for the present age where the media seeks to cloud our vision with false reports and immoral agendas. We are challenged as followers of Messiah to be discerning, listening to the voice of the Ruach HaKodesh rather than the voice (spirit) of the air (Satan). Sadly, many so called “believers” today have fallen victim to spiritual fatness of heart (core being) and have been taken hold of by the darkness of the age. 41 These things Yishayahu[H] (Isaiah: Salvation He is YHVH[H]) said because he saw His (Yeshua/YHVH[H]) opinion, judgement, view, glory and he spoke of Him (Yeshua/YHVH[H]). Yochanan the author once more makes the connection between Yeshua and Deity. The glory Yeshua spoke of in the previous verses was that of the Father, now the author of the Gospel notes that Isaiah said these things as a result of seeing the glory of the Son. It seems likely that Yochanan is referring to Isaiah 6:1-3: “In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw Adonai sitting on a throne, high and lifted up,[a] and the train of His robe filled the Temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above Him. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 One called out to another, and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy, is Adonai-Tzva’ot! The whole earth is full of His glory.’” -Isaiah 6:1-3 TLV Therefore, John’s Gospel makes the glory of God the Father and the glory of God the Son echad (One, a complex unity). Keep in mind that part of Yeshua’s glory is His death and the resulting resurrection and assent. We need also understand that this means that Isaiah saw and received the Messiah Yeshua some 700 years before Yeshua was born into time and space. So much for “progressive revelation”. 42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers, princes, leaders [both religious and secular] (archon[G], ha-shariym[H]) believed, trusted (he’emiynu[H]) in Him (Yeshua), but because of the P’rushiym[H] (Pharisees, chaste ones) they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue (aposunagogos[G]); “many even of the rulers, princes, leaders [both religious and secular] (archon[G], ha-shariym[H]) believed, trusted (he’emiynu[H]) in Him (Yeshua)” Many among the ruling religious class believed. This means Pharisees, Priests, secular rulers, and yes, even some Sadducees. “but because of the P’rushiym[H] (Pharisees, chaste ones) they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue (aposunagogos[G]);” Retrospectively the author of the Gospel would have loved for his fellow Jews to step up and have the godly chutzpah to profess their faith at this time, but having lived to see the outworking of God’s redemptive purpose he also knew that Yeshua had to enter death and resurrection as the King Messiah. Therefore, we should not stand passing judgement against those among the rulers who believed. They were in an extremely difficult position and would later become emboldened following Shavuot (Pentecost), spreading the Good News by the Spirit of God in them. “put out of the synagogue (aposunagogos[G])” [John 9:22] In the first century it was more common to refer to being cast out of the “Congregation of Israel” when referring to full excommunication from the people and religion of Judaism. The rabbinical equivalent exercised against the messianic Jewish community of the early body of believers was called “cherem” (lit. devote to destruction) The threat of the present text does not necessarily refer to cherem, a form of complete excommunication from the congregation of Israel, meaning they would shunned by the community but not refused entry to the Temple precinct (there was no Great Synagogue at the time because the Temple was the central place of Jewish Worship until 70 CE). However, regardless of the specific intent, it was a significant threat, given that the local synagogue acted as a type of community centre, as well as a subsidiary place of worship and Torah study, and that those who were “cherem” (if this was the implied threat) were only to enter through the mourners (and the excommunicated) gate of the Temple and move to the left contrary to the practice of others, proclaiming the state of their excommunication. "all that go into the temple, go in, in the right hand way, and go round, and come out in the left, except such an one to whom anything has befallen him, and he goes about to the left; (and when asked) why dost thou go to the left? (he answers) because I am a mourner; (to whom it is replied) he that dwells in this house comfort thee: (or) שאני מנודה, "because I am excommunicated"; (to whom they say) he that dwells in this house put it into thy heart (that thou mayest hearken to the words of thy friends, as it is afterwards explained) and they may receive thee.'' -Mishnah. Middot, c. 2. sect. 2. 43 for they loved the glory, judgement, approval, opinion, view (doxa[G], kevod[H]) of human beings (agappao[G], anashiym[H]) rather than the glory, approval (doxa[G], kevod[H]) of the God (ho-Theos[G], ha-Elohiym[H]). This is a sad indictment on us all. It is not that we don’t love the glory and approval of God, rather it is that we have compromised ourselves in order to receive the glory and approval of human beings. In doing so we show that we do not properly understand the fruit of either. The glory and approval of human beings may reap temporal comfort but it will inevitably reap eternal destruction whereas the glory and approval of God may reap temporary discomfort but will ultimately reap eternal life. For the child of Light approval should not be confused with the false desire to earn it. In Messiah Yeshua we have (past tense) been approved. Therefore, we should live from that approval and not for it. 44 And Yeshua[H A] (YHVH Saves, Joshua) cried out like a raven (krazo[G]) and said, “He who believes, trusts (pisteuo[G], hama’amiyn[H]) in Me, does not believe, trust (pisteuo[G], ma’amiyn[H]) in Me but in Him who sent Me. Yeshua screams this truth above the crowd of Passover worshippers. Ref. “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father” (John 14:7, 9). “Seen” meaning, “perceived, received, understood, accepted etc.” 45 He who sees Me observes, looks attentively to (theoreo[G]) the One who sent Me. 46 I have come, all existing Light [not created] (ho phos[G], ha-Or[H]) into the world (kosmos[G], ha-olam[H]), so that everyone who believes, trusts ((pisteuo[G], hamamiyn[H]) in Me will not remain in darkness [created] (ba-choshekh[H]). The Greek theoreo further affirms the depth of sight (spiritual) required in a person’s seeking out God the Father. “I have come, all existing Light [not created] (ho phos[G], ha-Or[H]) into the world” This statement makes a clear distinction between the created light of the fallen world (Sun, moon etc.) and the all existing Light of the King Messiah. The Light of Messiah has entered the world and has eclipsed the created light of the sin affected days of the present creation. Therefore, the created darkness is removed from those who receive Yeshua’s all existing Light. 47 If anyone hears (akouo[G], v’hashomeia[H]) My spoken words (rhema[G], d’variy[H]) and does not keep, guard (phulasso[G], yish’mereim[H]) them, I do not separate, pronounce judgement on (krino[G]) him; for I did not come to separate, pronounce judgement on (krino[G], eshpot[H]) the world (kosmos[G], ha-olam[H]), but to save (sozo[G], l’hoshiya[H]) the world (kosmos[G], ha-olam[H]). The Greek rhema refers to spoken word, whereas the Hebrew davar is the sum of all aspects of word, substance. Yeshua is calling attention to His public teaching, after all, who can hear that which they haven’t had the opportunity to listen to. “for I did not come to separate, pronounce judgement on the world, but to save the world…” This applies to Yeshua’s first coming. He has come the first time in order to give Himself as the substitutionary sacrifice that enables others to come to salvation. However, He will return to Judge (Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:22, 27; 2 Cor. 5:10; ). In fact the following verse tells us that the very word that issues from the mouth of Yeshua will judge humanity in the last day, that being Yom HaDin (Day of the Judgement). 48 He who disregards, rejects, does away with (atheteo[G]) Me and does not receive, take hold of (lambano[G]) My spoken words (rhema[G], d’variy[H]) has one who separates, pronounces judgement on (krino[G], yadiyn[H]) him; the word, essence, substance (ho logos[G], ha-Davar[H]) I spoke is what will separate, pronounce judgement on (krino[G], yadiyn[H]) him at the extreme last day (eschatos hemera[G], bayom ha’achron[H]). The “One” Who passes judgement on the last day is both the Father and the word of Yeshua. 49 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but My Father (ho Pater[G], Aviy[H]) Himself who sent Me has given Me a command, charge, injunction (entole[G]) to be spoken (epo[G]) and to be uttered (laleo[G]). The commandment given to Yeshua is not, as some foolish so called Messianics’ teach, the Torah. Those who insist that the Torah is the centre of faith are idolaters and false guides. Rather the commandment given of the Father specifically to and through Yeshua is the sum of the Torah and the eternal application of that part of the Torah which remains (not all of the Torah is necessary in the Olam Haba. There will be no need for “Thou shalt not…” in a world devoid of sin). The “command, charge, injunction” given to Yeshua by the Father concerns the freeing of those made captive to sin and its fruit death. The resulting command, injunction, bearing the fruit of eternal life. 50 And I see, perceive (eido[G], yodatiy[H]) that His command, charge, injunction (entole[G], mitzvato[H]) is eternal life (zoe aionios[G], chayeiy olam[H]); therefore the things I speak, I speak in the same manner as My Father (ho Pater[G], Aviy[H]) has told Me.” The Greek word entole is best translated “injunction” here. In the usual English sense and within the limitations of time and space eternal life is not a command but an injunction that puts an end to the fruit of sin and is an ongoing charge to those who are being sanctified within time and space until that point in time when eternity and the temporal world converge at the second coming of the resurrected King Messiah Yeshua. The manner of the Father is manifest in the Son as the outworking of His redemptive purpose for humanity. © Yaakov Brown 2020 Both darkness and evil are subject to creation but light and peace are uncreated emanations of the Creator. Isa 45:1 Thus says Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) limshiychu (from Moshiach: Messiah) to His anointed, le-Choresh to Cyrus (You possess the furnace), whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loosen the loins of melachiym kings, to open le-fanav before his face delatayim many doors; u-sheariym and the gates will not be shut;
“Thus says Mercy to His Messiah, to You who possess the furnace, whose right hand has received strength from Me, in order to subdue nations before him; and I loosen the belts that carry the weapons of kings, to open before his face many doors, and the gates will not be shut against him.” -Author’s paraphrase This is the only time in Scripture where a Gentile ruler is referred to as Mashiach (Messiah, literally Anointed one). This title is otherwise only reserved for the kings and high priests of Israel, and primarily for the ultimate Saviour of Israel, Yeshua the King/Priest Messiah (Daniel 7:14). Cyrus is called by this title in his role as God’s agent for delivering Israel from bondage and exile in Babylon. It’s interesting to note that the Hebrew name Koresh (Cyrus) means “You who possess the furnace”. While the furnace was sometimes used as a means of execution, the figurative meaning denotes judgement in fire. Thus, God has assigned Cyrus a role in dispensing His judgement against the nations. The furnace of Cyrus will destroy the nations while refining Israel, who through the furnace will become purified as gold and glory in her King Creator HaShem. We note also that any strength Cyrus has to do these things is from God, Who has taken hold of the right hand of Cyrus in order to impart power to him for fulfilling God’s purposes. The weapons belts of the kings that Cyrus comes against will be loosed, leaving them undefended against him. The many doors to the nations will be opened to him and the strongest gates will not be able to withhold him. In comparison to the cruelty of the Assyrians and Babylonians, Cyrus and his dynasty were humane rulers. Following his capture of Babylon in 539 BCE (BC) Cyrus encouraged both Jews and other captives from the nations to return to their home lands. He also contributed generously to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 36:22-23; Ezra 1:2, 5:13, 6:3-4). The Cyrus Cylinder excavated at the site of ancient Babylon in 1882 further illuminates the outworking of Isaiah’s prophecy: “Marduk… looked through all the countries searching for a righteous ruler… He pronounced the name Cyrus… and declared him to be ruler of the world.” Isa 45:2 I will go le-faneiycha before your face, va-haduriym and the adorned high places I will a-yasheir level: daltot doors of nechushah brass ashabeir I will break in pieces, and bars of iron I will cut down: There is some irony here. God will go before the idolater Cyrus to level the idolatrous high places. The reference to doors of bronze is most likely a reference to the gates of Babylon. The historian Herodotus travelled to Babylon and said “There are a hundred gates to the circuit of the wall, all of bronze, with bronze uprights and lintels.” (Herodotus History pg.85 Penguin edition). Isa 45:3 And I will give you the treasures of choshech darkness, and concealed riches of secret places, that you may know that I, Hashem (YHVH: Mercy), who calls you by your name, am the Eloheiy Yisrael (God of Israel). Babylon was known for her commerce and her hording and storing of wealth. Her treasures were stored in secret vaults, and in the rooms of her many famous temples. Private citizens were also able to deposit their wealth in temple vaults for a fee. The Babylonian temples were some of the forerunners to our modern day banks. The doublets of the Hebrew poetic form correlate darkness and secrecy, giving emphasis to the fact that those things kept hidden are most often the ill-gotten spoils of sinful action. “For nothing is secret, that will not be revealed; neither anything hidden, that will not be known and brought out into the open.” -Luke 8:17 Cyrus will be given all these horded and hidden riches for one purpose, that he might “know that I HaShem Who calls you by name, am the God of Israel.” Isa 45:4 For the sake of avdiy my servant Yaakov (follower), and Yisrael (overcomes in God, Israel) my chosen, I have even called you by your name: I have achanecha yet titled you, though you have not known Me. Once again HaShem affirms that it is for the sake of His servant Jacob, His chosen people Israel, ethnic, religious, that He has called Cyrus to perform these things. These words were spoken some 150 years prior to the birth of Cyrus. He did not exist and therefore, could not possibly have known God’s plan for his life, and yet, God had already allocated a role and title to Koresh (Cyrus: you possess the furnace). Isa 45:5 I am Hashem (YHVH: Mercy), and there is no other, beside Me there is no Elohiym God (Judge): I encompassed you, though you have not known Me: The phrases, “There is no other” and “Beside Me there is no God” are together used 10 times in this short chapter. There is a strong theme concerning the uniqueness of God, His omnipotence and omniscience. The Holy Name YHVH, first used in verse 1, is used a total of 14 times in this chapter. Thus, both the unique unity of God and the Divine attribute of Mercy are primary themes in this discourse. The beautiful language “I encompassed you” denotes fidelity. This poetic language is usually reserved for Israel but is here offered to a ruler of the nations. God’s redemptive purpose for humanity overflows from His redemptive purpose for Israel. Isa 45:6 That they may know mi-mizrach from the eastern shemesh sun, and from the west, there is none beside Me. I am Hashem (YHVH: Mercy), and there is no other. From the first sunrise to the last sunset HaShem is Mercy, and there is no other. Isa 45:7 I yotzer fashion or light, u-vorei (from borei) and create choshech darkness: I oseh accomplish shalom peace, u-vorei (from borei) and create ra evil, (bad, the opposite of good): I Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) accomplish all these things. We note that the Or (uncreated light) is not said to be u-vorei (created, from that which didn’t exist), rather it is yotzer (fashioned) from God’s essence (Davar: Word). Thus, choshech (darkness), which will become a metaphor for evil, is not yotzer (fashioned) but is rather the result of u-vorei (creation). We know that God did not create anything evil from the inception of creation because the days of creation are complete when the text says, “God saw everything that He made, and behold it was very good.”(Gen. 1:31). Therefore, at the beginning of all things even the darkness (which would later become a metaphor for evil) was good, in fact, it was very good. Thus, the meaning of “I accomplish peace (uncreated) and create (because evil didn’t pre-exist God, but fashioned itself from that which was created) evil” is that God created the substance and environment that made evil a possibility, in order to also make possible the free will necessary for love relationship. Therefore, the uncreated attributes (emanations) of God, or (light) and shalom (peace) [which are also titles of our Messiah Yeshua], are fashioned to accomplish His purposes, whereas the work of darkness and evil are only possible based on the created order: meaning that Satan and his minions have no power except that which they have been allowed to have based on the fact that they are created beings subject to the King of Creation, the God of Israel, and to Yeshua, the Light (or) of the World, and Prince of Peace (shalom). Thus, both darkness and evil are subject to creation but light and peace are uncreated emanations of the Creator. Isa 45:8 Hariyfu Rain down shamayim heavens, mi-ma’al from above, and let the skies stream forth tzedek righteousness, justice: open the land, and let them bring forth yesha salvation, and let righteousness (justice) spring up yachad together; I Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) be’ratiyv have created it. Righteousness and justice are yachad (one), and are created by God. They are watered from the heavens and grow in the earth, springing up together and relying on one another. There is no right action without justice, and no justice without right action. Isa 45:9 Hoy Ah, alas, woe to him who contends with his Yotzero Maker! A pottery shard among pottery shards of adamah the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, “What have you made?” or “Your work has no hands”? This passage appears to be addressing the complaints of some of Israel’s exiles, who may have taken issue with HaShem’s choice of a goy deliverer (Cyrus). It is the height of hubris for a human being to accuse God of ill planning: it is so foolish as to be likened to a piece of pottery debating the plans of the potter. The Hebrew idiom “Your work has no hands”, is still used today in some Jewish communities to describe something that makes no sense. Isa 45:10 Hoy Ah, alas, woe to him that says to his father, “What have you begotten?” u-leishah and to the woman, “What have you given birth to?” So great is the foolishness of one who questions God’s work of redemption, that he is compared to a child questioning why his parents conceived him, or why his mother gave birth to him. The “Woes” of these two verses are an incredulous rebuke that is to be heeded, lest the pottery shard be turned to dust, or the child given over to the fruit of his own foolish thinking. Isa 45:11 Thus says Hashem (YHVH: Mercy), Kedosh Yisrael Holy One of Israel, ve’yotzero and his Maker, “Ask Me of things to come concerning banay My sons, and concerning the po’al work of yaday My hands, command Me.” HaShem pre-exited Israel and is therefore the Holy One over her. He made Israel and knows the end from the beginning. Therefore, He responds to the complaints of His people by challenging them to ask Him what is to become of them (My sons), and as a counterpoint to “Your work has no hands” (v.9), “Command the work of My hands”… if you dare! Isa 45:12 “I asiytiy have fashioned, accomplished, formed, made eretz the land (earth), ve’adam and humanity upon it: I, even yaday My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all tzeva’am their armies, hosts, I tzeveitiy I have commanded.” HaShem formed the earth so that it might receive humanity and provide the perfect environment in which humanity might prosper and grow. He alone created the heavens and is King of all the heavenly host. Isa 45:13 “I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he will build My city, and he will let My captives go, without price or reward,” says Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) Tzeva’ot Who goes warring (of heavens hosts, armies). The focus now returns to the goy ruler whom HaShem has raised up to bring about the deliverance of Israel from her captivity. It is Cyrus who will rebuild Jerusalem (My city) and let the Jews return there. HaShem Who goes warring (of Hosts) will accomplish this. Isa 45:14 Thus says Hashem (YHVH: Mercy), “The labour of Mitzrayim Egypt (double distress), and merchandise of Cush Ethiopia (black) u-sevaliym and of the Sabeans (drunkards), men of stature, will come over to you, and they will be yours: they will come after you; in chains they will come over, and they will fall down before you, they will make supplication to you, saying, ‘Surely bach in you is El God; ve’eiyn and there is none other od (perpetually going round): efes zero, ceasing finally elohiym the gods. Some think this passage is addressed to Israel, however, Israel never waged war against Egypt or Ethiopia, although Egypt did wage war against Israel in more recent times. It may also be addressed to Cyrus, although it was not Cyrus himself but Cambyses the son of Cyrus who conquered Egypt and Ethiopia. Another possibility is that this passage refers to the end of days. At which time those repentant among the nations will submit to the King Messiah and the God of Israel. If so, then verse 14 corresponds to Isaiah 2:2-4. Isa 45:15 Truly you are a El God that conceals yourself, Eloheiy Yisrael God of Israel, Moshiya Saviour. God is concealed only from the perspective of those who do not walk with Him. The gods of the surrounding nations were promoted with spectacles and lavish rites and yet offered nothing but a deaf ear to their petitioners. The God of Israel on the other hand, revealed Himself to His people in true power and sought intimate relationship, offering an everlasting conversation, responding to Israel’s cries in a timely fashion. He is a true Saviour and a certain hope. However, He is discernible only through the eyes of faith. Therefore, when compared to the vain gods of the nations the God of Israel is mysterious and hidden, a stark contradistinction to the fact that even the hidden things of other gods will be brought into the light by HaShem. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this Torah.” -Deuteronomy 29:29 Isa 45:16 They will be ashamed, and also humiliated, all together: they will go to confusion together those makers of idols. Confusion and shame are all that awaits those who make and worship idols. Isa 45:17 Yisrael Israel will be nosha saved be’YHVH in Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) te’shuat with a salvation olamiym everlasting: not ashamed nor humiliated ad-olmeiy ad as far as a world without end (perpetual). Israel, whom God has chosen, need not end in confusion and shame because her God is One, Alone. Therefore, Israel will be saved be’YHVH in HaShem. There is no other means for her salvation outside of God alone. With an immutable and everlasting salvation God will deliver Israel (through His Mashiach Yeshua), and she will neither be ashamed or humiliated in the world that is without end, that is, the Olam Haba (World to come). Isa 45:18 For thus says Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) Who borei (from bara, created from nothing) created ha-shamayim the heavens; Hu He is ha-Elohiym the God yotzeir that formed ha-aretz the land (earth) ve’osah and made it; Hu He has chonah established it (made it firm), He didn’t vera’ah create it in vain, la’shevet for habitation He yetzarah formed it: “I am Hashem (YHVH: Mercy); and there is none other.” The purpose of God was always to have the earth be inhabited by humanity. He alone created and established our habitation. He alone is God. Isa 45:19 “lo vaseter dibartiy I have not spoken in secret, bimkum in the place eretz of land (earth), choshech dark, obscure, hidden: I did not say to the seed of Yaakov (follower, Jacob), ‘You seek Me in vain’: I Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) doveir speak tzedek righteousness, magiyd I make known meishariym equitable things.” Unlike the demonic deities, witchcraft practitioners and secret religions of the heathen world, God does not keep secret the path to freedom. He has communicated clearly and in the open to Jacob, through His Torah, His prophets and His miraculous works. He is not like those false gods that offer redemption only to a select few, to the contrary, He offers redemption to all, and those that receive His offer become chosen. Though Israel may have become disillusioned in her sufferings and exile, falsely concluding that to seek God was of no consequence, God reminds her that He has always been with her and has always had a plan in place for her redemption. He has made known publicly and frequently that righteousness is found in Him alone and that the fruit of that righteousness will be equity for all who receive it. Isa 45:20 “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from among ha-goyim the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray to a el god that cannot yoshiya save.” Now God turns to the nations with an offer of redemption. It is God’s will that none should perish. Therefore, He invites the idolatrous nations to come and draw near to Him, and to admit that they worship idols that cannot save. Isa 45:21 “You make known, and bring them near; indeed, let them take counsel together: Who has declared this mikedem from ancient time? who has told it from that time? have not I Hashem (YHVH: Mercy)? and there is no El God beside Me; a El God of tzadik justice u-moshiya and a Saviour; there is none beside Me.” HaShem challenges the idolaters to admit that their idols and false prophets are unable to properly predict future events or expound on past events. It is God alone Who is just and able to save. There is none like Him, nor is there any besides Him. Isa 45:22 “Penu Look (turn) to Me, and you will be saved, col-afseiy all the ends of aretz the land (earth): for I am El God (Judge), and there is none other.” This is a simple Gospel message. “Turn to face Me and you will be saved”. It’s spoken to all the nations of the earth. Why should they heed Him? Because He is “the Judge, and there is none other!” Isa 45:23 “I have sworn by Myself, yatza it has gone out mipiy from My mouth tzedakah righteousness davar a word, and will not yashuv return, Ciy For liy to Me tichra will bow col-berech every knee, tishava col-lashon every tongue will swear.” There is none higher than HaShem, and there is no god besides Him. Therefore, He must swear by Himself. The Davar (Word, King Messiah) has gone out in redemptive power and will not return void. “For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” -Romans 14:11-12 "That at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of things in the heavens, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Yeshua Ha-Mashiach Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” -Philippians 2:10-12 Isa 45:24 Indeed, ba’YHVH in Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) liy with me amar say “Tzedakot righteousness va’oz and strength:” adav up to him yavo men have come; col all ha-necheriym the incensed against him will be ashamed. Only in HaShem is there righteousness and strength, and those who have defied Him and who have been filled with anger toward Him, will come to Him in shame. Isa 45:25 Ba’YHVH In Hashem (YHVH: Mercy) yitzdeku will be justified ve’yithallu and shine (be praised, glory) col-zera all the seed of Yisrael Israel (overcome in God). The fruit of HaShem’s redemptive work through Cyrus and ultimately through His King Messiah Yeshua of Israel, will be the physical and spiritual deliverance of Israel, ethnic, religious. In God she will be justified (through His Mashiach) and her generations will shine as those who have overcome in God. “I say then, Has God cast away His people? A curse on that! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” -Rav Shaul (Paul) Letter to the Roman Ecclesia 11:1 © 2018 Yaakov Brown |
Yaakov BrownFounder of the Beth Melekh International Messiah Following Jewish Community, Archives
February 2024
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