“for the Torah[H] made nothing perfect” Because the purpose of Torah is to point to the perfector Yeshua the King Messiah. The Torah indicts against sin, Messiah delivers from sin. The Torah continues to serve its purpose until the end of the age, and Messiah continues to purpose salvation unto everlasting life. The Torah is not eternal, how could it be? There will be no need for an indictment against sin in the sinless Olam Haba (world to come). Only the knowledge of good will remain, we will therefore, have no need of instruction against evil. If there is an eternal Torah, it is devoid of the confines of mitzvot (commands). Freedom has no need of fences. One who knows only to do good need not be told to do it, everything he does is good. Introduction:
Before continuing to study the writer’s exposition of Psalms 110, and the comparative teaching concerning the priesthood of Melkiy Tzedek as it reflects the type of priesthood ordered by the Messiah, which is over all peoples regardless of ethnicity, we first need to understand that many of the Jewish Messiah followers of the latter first century still found the idea that Gentiles could be collectively saved or atoned for before the God of Israel, untenable. While they held that the righteous among the nations could be part of the Olam Haba (world to come), they did not necessarily believe that the redemptive purposes of God for the nations were equivalent to His purposes for Israel, and in part they were correct, but only in part. The writer of the Book to the Hebrews knows that many of those who would receive his Holy Spirit inspired words still considered Messiah Yeshua relevant predominantly and or only to Jews (descendants of Jacob). Therefore, he is writing (inspired by the Holy Spirit) in such a way as to shake them loose from their spiritual bigotry. He is most certainly not writing in order to rob them of their unique ethno-religious identity as Jews chosen by God. Nor is he at any point suggesting that because Messiah Yeshua’s priesthood is in the order or type of that of Melkiy Tzedek (the mortal priest and king of Salem), that the priesthood of Aaron is redundant (this is clearly not the case given that the very acts of Messiah’s life and sacrificial practice, along with the function of intercession before God in the heavenly holy of holies as Kohen Gadol, reflect the Levitical priesthood which unlike Melkiy Tzedek’s priesthood, had the Mishkan [Tent of Meeting] and the Temple as shadows of the heavenlies, in which to approach God according to the order of the universe as He has set it in place). Therefore, Messiah’s Priesthood is reflected in both the priesthood of Melkiy Tzedek and the priesthood of Aaron (Levitical), and, without the sacrificial death of Messiah, foreshadowed in the Pesach of Israel and the Yom Kippur sacrifice of the Aaronic priesthood, there would be no possibility of another priest like Melkiy Tzedek arising. Additionally, Messiah’s Priesthood, which is like Melkiy Tzedek’s priesthood, is not Melkiy Tzedek’s priesthood. It is Yeshua’s priesthood. It is of fundamental importance that this is understood. The writer makes this clear but the interpretation of numerous theologians through the centuries has muddied the waters for many. As is the case with all Scripture (scrolls of the original texts), there are no chapter breaks or verse markers (or punctuation for that matter) in the scroll of the Book to the Hebrews. It’s important to see the text of this chapter as a continuation of the previous chapter, the last verses of chapter 6 being: 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both certain, loyal and forceful, reliable and one which enters into the house (Temple), the inner veil parochet[H] [the veil hung before the holy of holies], 20 where Yeshua has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the word, order, type, style, arrangement of Melkiy Tzedek. BOOK TO THE HEBREWS Chapter 7 (Author’s translation) 1For this Melkiy Tzedek[H], king of Shalem[H], priest of El Elyon[H] God Most High, who met Avraham[H] (Father of many peoples) as he was returning from the slaughter, cutting to pieces of the kings and blessed [spoke blessing over] him, [Gen. 14:18-20] 2 to whom also Avraham[H] apportioned a tenth of all, was first of all, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Shalem[H], which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but was a copy, a model passed off as, a facsimile, a foreshadow of the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Avraham[H], the patriarch, founder of the tribe, progenitor, head of the fathers gave a tenth of the spoils, off the top of the heap. 5 And indeed those of the sons of Leviy[H] (joined to) who receive the office of priest have a commandment, precept to collect a tenth from the people according to the Torah[H] (Instruction), that is, from their brothers/people, although they come from the loins Avraham[H]. 6 But he whose genealogy, family is not counted from them, collected a tenth from Avraham[H] and spoke a blessing over him who has been given the promises. 7 And beyond all dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but there he of whom it is recorded that he lives. 9 And, so I could say, through Avraham[H] even Leviy[H], who received tithes, has paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melkiy Tzedek[H] met him. 11 If therefore, perfecting, completing, fulfilling was through the Levitical priesthood, [for on the basis of it the people received the Torah[H]], what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order, arrangement, type, style of Melkiy Tzedek[H], and not be designated according to the order, arrangement, type, style of Aharon[H]? 12 For when the priesthood is translated, it is necessary that there takes place a translation of Torah[H] also. 13 For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord is descended from Yehudah[H], a tribe with reference to which Moshe[H] said nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melkiy Tzedek[H], 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of physical (ethnic) requirement, but according to the miraculous power of an indestructible, endless, insoluble life. 17 For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever According to the order, arrangement, fashion, style of Melkiy-tzedek[H].” [Ps. 110:4 (109:4 LXX)] 18 For, on the one hand, there is putting away of a former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness 19 (for the Torah[H] made nothing perfect); but the introducing of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And accordingly not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”; 22 by the same extent Yeshua[H] also has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 24 Yeshua[H], on the other hand, because He continues, abides, dwells, remains forever, has an immutable, unchanging priesthood. 25 Therefore, He is also able to save to the full end, perfectly, forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need to offer sacrifices daily, like those high priests, first for His own sins [missing the mark set by God’s holiness] and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all when He offered up His soul. 28 For the Torah[H] appoints men as high priests who are infirm, weak, but the word, essence, substance of the oath, which came after the Torah[H], appoints a Son, who has been made consecrated forever. HEBREWS 7 (line upon line) 1For this Melkiy Tzedek[H] (My king of Righteousness), king of Shalem[H] (Peace, wholeness, well-being), priest of El Elyon[H] God Most High, who met Avraham[H] (Father of many peoples) as he was returning from the slaughter, cutting to pieces (kopē[G]) of the kings, (basileus[G], hamelakhiym[H]) and blessed [spoke blessing over] (eulogeō[G], yivar’cheihu[H]) him, [Gen. 14:18-20] 2 to whom also Avraham[H] apportioned a tenth (dekatē[G]) of all, was first (prōton[G]) of all, by interpretation (hermēneuō[G]), king of righteousness (basileus dikaiosunē[G]), and then also king of Shalem[H], which is king of peace (basileus eirēnē[G], melekh hashalom[H]). 1For this Melkiy Tzedek[H], king of Shalem[H], priest of El Elyon[H] God Most High, who met Avraham[H] (Father of many peoples) as he was returning from the slaughter, cutting to pieces of the kings, and blessed [spoke blessing over] him, [Gen. 14:18-20] This is a paraphrase of the historical narrative recorded in Genesis 14. The writer of the Book to the Hebrews touches on the elements of the story that best convey his drash (comparative teaching). He is by no means expounding the finer details of the historical narrative. This is a drash on, and not a literal interpretation of Genesis 14. We note that Melkiy Tzedek was both a king and a priest, roles that were distinct and separate in Israelite history, and that he did not know God as YHVH but as El Elyon (God above all Gods, Supreme God). Additionally Melkiy Tzedek approached Avraham, and not the other way around. All of this is a picture or foreshadow, a prefigure of Messiah and His ministry, but does not mean Melkiy Tzedek the mortal king-priest was Yeshua. To the contrary, it means that he was not. Shalem (Jerusalem), from which Melkiy Tzedek had come was most likely named for the Canaanite deity Shalim. Shalim (evening star deity) and Shahar (morning star deity) were Canaanite mountain gods of dusk and dawn. This is one of the reasons it is important that Melkiy Tzedek is clearly identified as worshipping El Elyon (God most high), Whom the Canaanites would have understood as the Supreme God of their pantheon. Once again, with these things in mind, it is blasphemous to say that Melkiy Tzedek and Yeshua are one in the same. The nature of Melkiy Tzedek’s religious environment make the idea abhorrent. Melkiy Tzedek is a mortal type, used as a foreshadow, nothing more. NB: Regarding the Genesis 14 account, it’s worth noting for the purpose of context, that the plunder of the five defeated kings and the plunder of the four previously defeated kings made up a total spoil gleaned from nine kings, Avraham being the tenth king/ruler. We note that Avraham (then Avram) returned the captive people of Sodom and took nothing of the spoils of Sodom except that which was rightfully owed to his men for the work they had performed on behalf of the defeated king of Sodom. Avraham, as the tenth king (king of fullness) then offered a tithe (10) of fullness to the then priestly representative of El Elyon (God most high). A tenth of his personal wealth. 2 to whom also Avraham[H] apportioned a tenth of all, was first of all, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Shalem[H], which is king of peace. The writer explains the interpretation of the Hebrew name of the ancient kingly priest Melkiy Tzedek as part of the midrashic process and not in order to explain the Hebrew language to the believing Jewish recipients or because he is addressing non-Jews who lack Hebrew understanding. Given that the recipients of the work are believing Jews, we should understand the pretext to these words as being “You know this story, you know Melkiy Tzedek’s name means ‘King of Righteousness’ and that Shalem is an old name for Jerusalem the city where peace is outpoured”. The writer is using the meaning of Melkiy Tzedek’s name to teach a remez (hint) at an allegory/comparison. This was common rabbinical practice from prior to the first century C.E. and beyond, Yeshua Himself employed this type of teaching method, known as PaRDeS (p’shat [plain], remez [hint], drash [comparative], sod [mystery]). Knowing this (alongside numerous other textual and historical indicators) puts death to the foolish idea that the writer of the Book to the Hebrews is saying that Melkiy Tzedek and Yeshua are one in the same. They are not. It saddens me greatly that this has to be emphasised so emphatically due to the proliferation of false interpretation at the present time. An explanation of Yeshua’s use of the teaching method PaRDeS: Is there any implicit support for the rabbinical method PaRDeS within the texts of the Bible? The P’shat or plain meaning is self-explanatory. There is no need to explain to a reader that the book means what it says. Therefore, there is no need to show evidence from the Bible that God intends for us to take it at face value relative to context: linguistic, cultural, historical, geographical, figurative, poetic and metaphorical. The first mention of the practice of examining the Scriptures in an exegetical way is in the book of Ezra the scribe. “For Ezra had set his heart to l’drosh inquire of the Torah of Adonai, to observe and to teach its statues and ordinances in Israel.” –Ezra 7:10 The root “darash (drash)” is used specifically in relation to the Torah and therefore describes a practice of interpretation and an intention to walk according to that interpretation and teach it to others. This is the perfect example of what it means to make a drash, or comparative teaching. As Jews who follow Yeshua, we should look to Him and His disciples for evidence of the use of rabbinical interpretive method. If He doesn’t teach using the PaRDeS method, then why would we? Let’s take a look at just a few of the many Brit HaChadashah (New Testament) examples of PaRDeS found in the book of Matthew. As stated earlier, every part of Scripture has a plain meaning, therefore P’shat (the plain interpretation) is the basis for the subsequent methods of interpretation. Remez (Hint) Matthew 2:15 - "Out of Egypt I called my son." This is a quote from Hosea 11:1 and is being applied to Yeshua by Matthew. If we read it to refer to the p’shat (plain meaning) of Hosea 11:1, we must interpret it to refer to Israel (collectively). However, Matthew, the disciple of Yeshua, divinely inspired by God, interprets it as a remez (hint) which is alluding to the Messiah King as God’s Son. This is just one of many examples of Matthew’s use of remez. D'rash (Inquire) Matthew 18:18 - "... Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This verse taken literally and out of context is often used by Christians to demand that spiritual powers submit to them. However, within the context of Matthew 18:14-18 the p’shat (plain meaning) refers to the practical application of principals concerning those who are sinning within the body of believers. Thus the plain meaning indicates a d'rash (comparative teaching) concerning the binding and loosing of our own actions according to Halakhah the way we walk (Yet another rabbinical method of teaching practice that Yeshua and His disciples applied to daily life). Sod (Mystery) Matthew 26:28 - "Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them saying, ‘Drink from it all of you, This is my blood’ ..." If the figurative language here were taken literally it would not only violate the Torah commandment against consuming blood, but along with other verses concerning the eating of Yeshua's flesh (John 6:51-56), could be understood as teaching cannibalism. Yeshua explains to His disciples that it is the Spirit that produces the deeper understanding (John 6:63), and that His words are spirit and life. This is evidence of a sod (mystery) that cannot be gleaned from the p’shat (plain meaning) of the text. A concept that is illuminated through spiritual revelation alone and by no other means. This particular sod (Mystery) would be fully revealed following His death and resurrection. So what can we conclude? a. There is no explicit schematic for Bible interpretation within Scripture. b. PaRDeS is implicit in Scripture. Both Messiah and His disciples employ it. c. It is arrogant and even misleading to use Greco-Roman techniques and post enlightenment textual criticism as tools for Scriptural interpretation while excluding the rabbinical interpretive tradition based on the hypocritical assumption that it is not divinely appointed. Therefore, with regard to Hebrews 7, the point of the writer’s drash is not to show how mystical and awesome Melkiy Tzedek is but how Superior and all existing Yeshua is. Focussing on Melkiy Tzedek (the mortal) misses the point entirely and worse, becomes soil for a seed of idolatry. 3 Without father (apator[G], belo-av[H]), without mother (ametor[G], belo-eim[H]), without genealogy, having neither beginning (archē[G]) of days nor end (telos[G]) of life (zoe[G], hachayiym[H]), but was a copy, a model passed off as, a facsimile, a foreshadow (aphomoioō[G]) of the Son of God (uihos Theos[G], Le-ven ha-Elohiym[H]), he remains (menō[G]) a priest perpetually (diēnekes[G], kohen leolam[H]). 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Avraham[H] (Father of many peoples), the patriarch, founder of the tribe, progenitor, head of the fathers (patriarchēs[G], rosh ha’avot[H]) gave (didōmi[G], natan[H]) a tenth (dekatē[G]) of the spoils, off the top of the heap (akrothinion[G]). 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but was a copy, a model passed off as, a facsimile, a foreshadow of the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. “Without father…” His father is not recorded in the genealogies because the genealogies concern the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the focus of the Torah being to point to God’s redemptive work through the choosing of a certain people set apart unto Himself (the descendants of Jacob/Israel, the Jews). Melkiy Tzedek had a human father, his father is simply not recorded. Jews of the first century understood this to be a fact. At no time were they confused over the identity of Melkiy Tzedek. Nor did they believe that Melkiy Tzedek was in any way an eternal being. This is affirmed by the qualifying phrase “without genealogy” which is understood by those who received this work as “his genealogy is not recorded” and not to mean “he had no genealogy”. We know this because verse 6 of this same chapter says “But he whose genealogy, family is not counted from them...” Meaning, he had a genealogy but it’s neither counted according to Leviy nor recorded in the Torah. The Syriac version of the New Testament Book to the Hebrews reads "whose father and mother are not written in the genealogies". “he remains a priest perpetually” In the mind of the reader of the Torah, the man Melkiy Tzedek remains a priest because his genealogy is not recorded, nor is his appointment or any record of succession to his priesthood. This does not mean he wasn’t appointed or that there was not another priest of El Elyon who succeeded Melkiy Tzedek as priest in the then predominantly pagan city of Shalem, rather it simply means that the Torah was not concerned with keeping genealogical records of Gentiles. NB: Jewish tradition teaches that Melkiy Tzedek and Shem the son of Noach (Noah) are one in the same [Nedarim 32b]. However, this is not tenable given the generational gap between Abraham and Shem, and that Abraham himself is a descendant of Shem and of Ur of Chaldee, which bears no geographical correlation to Salem (Jerusalem). “Rabbi Zekharya said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael: The Holy One, Blessed be He, wanted the priesthood to emerge from Shem, so that his children would be priests, as it is stated: “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was priest of God the Most High” (Gen. 14:18). Once Melchizedek, traditionally identified as Shem, placed the blessing of Abraham before the blessing of the Omnipresent, He had the priesthood emerge from Abraham in particular, and not from any other descendant of Shem.” -Nedarim 32b In later rabbinic literature Melkiy Tzedek bestows the priesthood on Avraham, who then becomes priest forever (Talmud Bavliy Ned. 32b; Lev. Rab. 25:6). This seems most likely to be a polemic written against the teaching of the Book to the Hebrews. The point being that both pre and post Messianic rabbinic thought understood Melkiy Tzedek to be a mortal king and not a transcendent being. The apocryphal book (mythos) 2 Chanoch (Enoch) 71-72 (71.29, 32), which claims that Melkiy Tzedek was miraculously born of his dead mother Nir, the wife of Noah’s brother and was kept safe through the flood (contrary to what the Torah teaches), in order to be a priest in the post flood generation, may well be one of many reasons for the increasing misteaching among pseudo learned Christians, that he is Yeshua preincarnate. It is sickening to think that non-inspired books full of occult ideology and syncretised Hellenistic mythos such as the books of Enoch, are being used as source material for the spread of pseudo Christian lies throughout the modern Christian community. Rav Shaul warns against Jewish mythos and vain genealogical arguments. We do well to heed his warning: “3 As I urged you, when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay in Ephesus to direct certain people not to pass on different instruction, 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These give rise to useless speculations rather than God’s training which is in faithfulness. 5 Now the goal of this command is love from of a pure heart and a clear conscience and a genuine faith. 6 Some, having missed the mark, have turned away to fruitless discussion— 7 wanting to be teachers of Torah, even though they do not understand what they keep saying or what they so dogmatically assert. 8 But we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately, 9 knowing that the Torah is not given for a tzaddik but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave-traders, liars, perjurers, and for anything else that opposes sound teaching— 11 in keeping with what was entrusted to me, the glorious Good News of the blessed God.” -1 Timothy 1:3-11 TLV 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Avraham[H], the patriarch, founder of the tribe, progenitor, head of the fathers gave a tenth of the spoils, off the top of the heap. The writer is using Melkiy Tzedek’s greatness as an example of the Superiority of Yeshua’s priesthood over that of Aaron (Levitical). The Superiority of Yeshua being one of the primary themes of the Book to the Hebrews. Hebrews 7:4-11 allude to five ways that Melkiy Tzedek is great: 1. He received a tithe of the plunder of battle from Avraham, even though Avraham was the Progenitor, father of all the Jews and what’s more, is the father of faith to all who believe. Nor did Melkiy Tzedek have a family connection to Avraham (despite the false assertions of certain Jewish traditions), and therefore, did not have the right that the Levitical priests had to receive tithes from their own brothers. In fact Melkiy Tzedek is not recorded by the Torah as being entitled to receive tithes from anyone, whereas the Levitical priests are commanded recieve a tenth of the income of the people of Israel (Heb. 7:4-6). 2. Melkiy Tzedek blessed Avraham, implying that Melkiy Tzedek was greater than Avraham (Heb. 7:6-7). 3. The Levitical priests receive tithes even though they die, whereas Melkiy Tzedek is recorded without genealogy and from a Midrashic view considered to be living, because the Tanakh doesn’t record his death (Heb. 7:8). 4. In order of greatness Melkiy Tzedek is placed above Avraham from whom he received a tenth and Avraham above Leviy, his progeny, who received a tenth from the people of Israel through the Levitical priesthood. This order seen as being subject to the fact that Avraham presented his tenth to Melkiy Tzedek while Leviy was still in his seed as a great grandson (Heb. 7:9-10). 5. The Jewish people were given the Torah in which contained a sacrificial system that required mediation via the priesthood of Leviy. But this system was temporary and could not facilitate eternal atonement. This indicates the need for another, different kind of priest, who is compared with Melkiy Tzedek, a priest, who according to the writer’s drash (comparative teaching) is superior to the greatest of the Levitical high priests, Aharon. The Tenth, Tithe, and Godly Giving (A Supplementary Teaching) Many within the community of faith see the giving of a tenth of their income as an obligation. Or worse, are encouraged to give money they don’t have to fund building projects and programmes that have little eternal value. This is an unfortunate consequence of a theological view point that seeks to utilize the financial elements of Israel’s priesthood to generate income for extra-biblical projects, while ignoring the far greater obligations of Israel’s commonwealth and her Temple centric worship system. It seems ludicrous that a community which so fervently professes the faith of Avraham through Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) [that is the Body of Believers, Church, Ecclesia of Messiah], should completely neglect the actions of Avraham in the matter of tithing/giving. The first person to present a tenth to HaShem is Avram that is Avraham before he became Avraham. This tenth is of great figurative significance to us as Jews. It is not merely an obligation, it is a symbol of all that is complete in us. To separate our financial wealth from our spirituality is as alien a concept to the observant Jew as the idea of separating soul and spirit. We cannot separate the inseparable. We are not spirits in a material world, we are souls (Nefesh), physical, mental, spiritual, emotional: we are complex and unified beings. We are Souls living in God. It is Hashem in Whom we dwell, He Who has made us echad (one). Therefore, if we are obligated to give a tenth we are also obligated to practise all of the instructions of the priesthood. However, if we are free to give, we have a High Priest Yeshua, Who, devoid of sin, is able to complete and perfect in us the fullness of all that His priesthood requires. Even ten (fullness) by ten (fullness) by ten (fullness) l’olam va’ed (for worlds eternal). Gen. 14:18 And Melkiy Tzedek (My King of righteousness) king of Shalem (Peace, wholeness, well-being) brought forth bread (lechem) and wine (yayin); and he was priest of El-Elyon (God the most high). Gen. 14:19 And He blessed him (Avram), and said: “Blessed be Avram (Father of a people) of El-Elyon (God the most high), Maker of heaven and earth; Gen. 14:20 and blessed be El-Elyon (God the most high), Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he (Avram) gave him (Melkiy Tzedek) a tenth of all (Hebrews 7:4). –Berieshit (Genesis) 14:18-20 Figuratively speaking, the King of righteousness, Who is also the King of peace and the Great High Priest on behalf of all peoples brought bread and wine to the father of trust, which is faith. As High Priest of the Highest God, He spoke the blessing of God over the father of trust saying, “All blessing has come to you from God, father of a nation: the God above all gods has delivered your enemies and their wealth into your hands.” After the King had spoken these words the father of a nation responded to the King of righteousness, the King of Peace and Wholeness, the Great High Priest, by giving to him a tenth of all that he possessed, both that which had always been his and that which he had plundered from the nations. This tenth symbolized everything that the father of a nation was, and everything that belonged to him. Ten is a symbol of wholeness and completion, of a promise fulfilled and sustained. Therefore, Avram, father of a great people, prior to becoming Avraham, the father of many peoples, offered a symbol of all that he was and was to become, all that he possessed and was to possess. He offered this from the riches of his own household and from the households of the nations he had plundered. Therefore, it is a practice that can be entered into by both Israel and the nations. He offered the tenth freely to a Priest Who held position before the priesthood of Aaron, and Who was a type, a facsimile, a foreshadow for the Messiah, Who is the Kohen Ha-Gadol Rabah (Great High Priest). Therefore, this free-will tithe holds authority over the obligatory tithe of the temple service and the priesthood of Aaron. All the tithes and offerings of Israel are presented to God through the mediation of the priesthood of Aaron. Thus, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) becomes the symbolic head of that priesthood. These tithes and offerings are intended to feed and clothe the priests of God and provide for the service of worship which is to be perpetuated generationally. Messiah did not cancel out the less effective priesthood of Aaron, rather He perfected it, translated it (as the Greek text of Hebrews renders) because He was before it. The Great High Priest Yeshua is now the mediator of the tithes and offerings of HaShem, only rather than making them an obligation He has turned them into an opportunity to respond to the freedom He has purchased on our behalf. This is why Melkiy Tzedek brings bread and wine to Avram. They’re symbols of both provision and redemption. Redemption through the sacrificial blood of Messiah’s death and provision through the life giving blood of His resurrection. Therefore, our tithing and giving are to be offered as a response to this freedom, in the same way that Avram offered his tenth in order to acknowledge the freedom and provision of God. The giving of our tenth, like Avram’s tenth, is a symbolic gesture which acknowledges that everything we are and all that we have belongs to God through Messiah Yeshua. Mark 12:41 He (Yeshua) sat down opposite the treasury and began watching how the people were putting money into the offering box. Many rich people were putting in a lot. Mark 12:42 Then a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a 50 cents. Mark 12:43 Calling His disciples over, He said to them, “Amen, it is certain, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those contributing to the box! Mark 12:44 For they all put in from their surplus; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had, her whole living.” –Mark 12:41-44 In this historical account, Yeshua observes a poor widow and illuminates her actions as being the actions of someone who has decided to offer all to God in the practice of worshipping Him. Avram’s tenth was also a foreshadowing of the widow’s offering. He did not give it to cover a debt or as an obligatory tithe but as a symbolic gesture which said, “All that I have and am belong to you HaShem”. This teaches us that the value of that which we give is measured by the intention of the heart of the giver. A believer may never tithe to an organized community of faith, instead, he may open his home to strangers, spending more than a tenth on providing for them and caring for their wellbeing. He may be in the practice of giving to fellow believers when they’re in need or lending his possessions to be used by others in the community. By doing this he shows that all that he has belongs to HaShem. Thus, he gives to God in all circumstances, surpassing the requirement of the Torah. The number ten is a symbol of all that we are and all that we have. “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.” -2 Corinthians 9:6 When we look at tithing and giving as loosing, or sacrificing something we are missing the point. A wise farmer keeps aside a portion of the grain in order to seed the soil for the next season’s crop. He doesn’t consider this to be a loss or a sacrifice, rather he considers it a necessary part of the process of sowing and reaping. If he fails to plant enough seed he will also fail to reap a good crop. However, when he practices effective sowing he also reaps the benefit. The giving Rav Shaul is describing in 2 Corinthians is one or reciprocity. God owns all, therefore, He supplies us with all things and allows us to manage that supply. Additionally, rather than keeping the harvest for Himself and hoarding its benefits like a human land owner would do, God gives the fruit of the harvest back to the grower and leaves the grower to decide what he will offer as a token of his gratefulness to God. Today, there are those who misuse the principal of sowing and reaping to illicit funds from people who have nothing more to give. They encourage believers to mortgage houses and take out loans in order to, “reap” a greater reward. In doing so they bring poverty to the community of believers while they build worthless icons in memory of their so called ministries. This is a grievous sin against the body of Messiah that should not be tolerated. God does not ask us to give from what we don’t have but from what we have. The Scripture says, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches and glory” not, “I shall supply God’s needs according to my loans and lack of finances.” Those wolves among us, who steal from the poor in order to prosper themselves, may well have turned to the widow whom Yeshua spoke of and said, “If you’ve got a house you should mortgage it, two little coins will not reap the harvest God desires for your life, if you keep sowing so sparingly you’ll become even more accursed by God.” These liars, despicable leeches, false teachers, are condemned men. “2 Co. 9:7 Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Co. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that by always having enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work. 2 Co. 9:9 As it is written, “He scattered widely, He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 2Co 9:10 Now the One who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” -2 Corinthians 9:7-10 Rav Shaul (Paul) explains that it is the heart (leiv) intention (the intention of the core being, not the intention of the emotion) that determines the value of the gift. Remember, it already belongs to God. He is a debtor to no one. If we give grudgingly it is as if we hadn’t given at all. Of course, due to the nature of sowing and reaping, we will also fail to benefit from an abundant crop. This is not a punitive action on God’s part, rather it is the natural result of our own actions. “2 Co. 9:11 You will be enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us brings about thanksgiving to God. 2 Co. 9:12 For this service of giving is not only supplying the needs of the kedoshiym (holy, set apart ones), but is also overflowing with many thanksgivings to God.” -2 Corinthians 9:11-12 When we give from an understanding of God’s goodness toward us we see God’s provision in all things and are grateful. This in turn inspires us to give to others from the overflow of our own spiritual and physical wealth. Rav Shaul calls this act a “service”, meaning an act of temple worship, a service of the priesthood of all believers. Thus, in Messiah, the Great High Priest, we act as priests under His authority. The result is not only blessing and thanks giving among the holy ones (believers), but also an overflow to those around us. This overflow draws people to Messiah, Who reconciles them to God. Thus giving is one of the ways that the Gospel is perpetuated. “Because of the evidence of this service, they praise God for the obedience of your affirmation of the Good News of Messiah and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to everyone.” -2 Corinthians 9:13 As a result of our giving other believers praise God and give Him the glory due His Name. Our giving affirms our certain hope in the Gospel of the Messiah. “2 Co. 9:14 And in their prayer for you, they long for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 2 Co. 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” -2 Corinthians 9:14-15 TLV Our giving is the fruit of the surpassing chesed (practical love) of God which is upon us. It is an act of worship that gives voice to the eternal truth that God’s greatest gift, the gift of His Son, has produced a great harvest of souls. Thus, we praise Him and give thanks to Him. Conclusion: 1. The number ten (Tithe) reminds us that all that we are and all that we have, belong to God in Messiah Yeshua. 2. The free-will tithe of Avram holds authority over the obligatory tithe of the temple service and the priesthood of Aaron. 3. God asks us to give of what we have, not from what we don’t have. Anyone who suggests that the widow in the story of the widow’s offering should mortgage her home because she didn’t give enough in order to reap abundantly, is misunderstanding the principal of sowing and reaping and worse, is committing a grievous sin against the body of Yeshua 4. We are not obligated to give, nor are we free not to give. Like trust and action (faith and works) freedom and giving go hand in hand, they are intrinsically linked, a complex unity 5. The purpose of our giving is to facilitate the perpetuation of the worship of God in our generation and to seed the Gospel work of God's people, so that others will be redeemed into His kingdom and enjoy the prosperity of God, which is both within and beyond the material world 6. Godly giving transforms the seed of temporary wealth into the fruit of eternal peace. 5 And indeed (amein[H]) those of the sons (uihos[G], b’naiy[H]) of Leviy[H] (joined to) who receive (lambanō[G]) the office of priest (hierateia[G], hakehunah[H]) have a commandment, precept (entolē[G]) to collect a tenth (apodekatoō[G], ma’aseir[H]) from the people according to the Torah[H] (Instruction), that is, from their brothers/people (adelphos[G], ha’am[H]), although they come from the loins (osphus[G]) of Avraham[H]. 6 But he whose genealogy, family (genealogeō[G], lemishpechotam[H]) is not counted from them, collected a tenth (apodekatoō[G], ma’aseir[H]) from Avraham[H] and spoke a blessing (eulogeō[G], beirakh[H]) over him who has been given (echō[G], netunah[H]) the promises (ho epaggelia[G], hahavtachah[H]). 5 And indeed those of the sons of Leviy[H] (joined to) who receive the office of priest have a commandment, precept to collect a tenth from the people according to the Torah[H] (Instruction), that is, from their brothers/people, although they come from the loins of Avraham[H]. “The office of priest” refers specifically to the office of High Priest. Although all Levites are considered priests, different subgroups played different roles. There was one priesthood but many facets. “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:” -Ezekiel 44:15 KJV “have a commandment, precept to collect a tenth from the people according to the Torah…” “20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. 21 “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting… 26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.” -Numbers 18:20-21, 26 NIV 6 But he whose genealogy, family is not counted from them, collected a tenth from Avraham[H] and spoke a blessing over him who has been given the promises. “He whose genealogy is not counted from them collected the tenth” Shows clearly that the one being spoken of has a genealogy, albeit unrecorded in the Torah. Avraham is the one who has been given the promises, and Melkiy Tzedek spoke a blessing over Avraham. All blessing having its origin in God. 7 And beyond all dispute (antilogia[G], vedavar yadua[H]) the lesser (katan[H]) is blessed (eulogeō[G], yevorakh[H]) by the greater (hagadol[H]). 8 In this case mortal men (anthrōpos[G], anashiym b’naiy temutah[H]) receive tithes (dekatē[G], ma’aseir[H]), but there (ekei[G]) he of whom it is recorded (martureō[G]) that he lives (zaō[G]). 9 And, so I could say (hos epos epos[G]), through Avraham[H] even Leviy[H], who received tithes (dekatē[G], ma’aseir[H]), has paid tithes (dekatē[G], ma’aseir[H]), 10 for he was still in the loins (osphus[G]) of his forefather (patēr[G], aviyo[H]) when Melkiy Tzedek[H] met him. 7 And beyond all dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. It’s not true as some Jewish commentators suggest, that the greater does not always bless the lesser. Their reasoning is that Melkiy Tzedek blessed God, but at the same time, those who make this claim understand that all blessing comes from God and that as Jews when we say “Barukh Atah Adonay” We understand “All blessing is of You Adonay”. Therefore, Melkiy Tzedek “blessed God” (acknowledged that all blessing) comes from God. This is an example of God (the Greater) bestowing the ability to bless on Melkiy Tzedek (the lesser), and Melkiy Tzedek offering that blessing back to God so that it might be imparted to Avraham. This is “beyond all dispute” because all blessing comes from God, Who is the Creator of all and in Whom all things exist and have their being. Therefore, the idea that any created thing could bless anyone without that blessing being first supplied by God is ludicrous. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but there he of whom it is recorded that he lives. The priests of Leviy all die, but through the remez hinted at in the historical record of Melkiy Tzedek we see that the Greatest High Priest Yeshua continues forever (Psalms 110:4; Heb. 7:24). 9 And, so I could say, through Avraham[H] even Leviy[H], who received tithes, has paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melkiy Tzedek[H] met him. “So I could say” follows the style of Midrashic rabbinical rhetoric. It indicates an allegorical or comparative use of the plain meaning of the text but does not seek to make a claim that the comparison is the literal meaning. Therefore, the fact that Melkiy Tzedek’s genealogy is not recorded is used as a figure foreshadowing a living priesthood that doesn’t die, is not mortal. The writer is not saying that Melkiy Tzedek is immortal. This teaching is based on a historical figure but is literary, not literal. 11 If therefore, perfecting, completing, fulfilling (teleiōsis[G]) was through the Levitical (Leuitikos[G], bikunat b’naiy leviy[H]) priesthood (hierōsunē[G]), [for on (epi[G]) the basis of it the people received the Torah[H] (nomotheteō[G])], what further (eti[G]) need was there for another priest (hiereus[G], kohen[H]) to arise according to the order, arrangement, type (taxis[G]) of Melkiy Tzedek[H], and not be designated according to the order, arrangement, type (taxis[G]) of Aharon[H]? 12 For when the priesthood (hierōsunē[G], hakehunah[H]) is translated (metatithēmi[G]), it is necessary that there takes place a translation (metatithēmi[G]) of Torah[H] also. 11 If therefore, perfecting, completing, fulfilling was through the Levitical priesthood, [for on the basis of it the people received the Torah[H]], what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order, arrangement, type of Melkiy Tzedek[H], and not be designated according to the order, arrangement, type of Aharon[H]? “If therefore, perfecting, completing, fulfilling was through the Levitical priesthood, [for on the basis of it the people received the Torah[H]]…” The priesthood which the Torah instructs as mediator of temporal sacrificial symbols offered in the blood of animals, could not perfect sin affected people because the indictment of Torah served to point out humanity’s inability to keep its instruction. Therefore, neither the Torah nor the Levitical priesthood it commanded could bring humanity into a perfect relationship with our Creator, Whom we have sinned against. Our sin separating us from Him. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” -Isaiah 59:2 NKJV “what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order, arrangement, type of Melkiy Tzedek?” This indicates that Yeshua is not Melkiy Tzedek, rather He is “another priest to arise according to the type of Melkiy Tzedek”. Where the Torah was made weak in application by our sinfulness, Messiah Yeshua overcame in sinless perfection, arising as the perfector and finisher of faith. The Superior High Priest. 12 For when the priesthood is translated, it is necessary that there takes place a translation of Torah[H] also. “When the priesthood is translated, it is necessary that there takes place a translation of the Torah also.” The immutable aspects of Torah never change, while the aspects of Torah governing indictment against sin will pass away in the Olam Haba (world to come) where there will be no sin and therefore, no need for indictment. Thus, the priesthood of Messiah Yeshua which is like the priesthood of Melkiy Tzedek, translates the Torah into the language of eternity, making an end to temporal things and imparting everlasting things. As I explained in my commentary on chapter 5 the Aaronic priesthood was conferred onto Yeshua by Yochanan the Immerser. Another way of saying this is that through the immersion of Yeshua the priesthood of Aaron is translated into the priesthood of Yeshua, which is like that of Melkiy Tzedek. We note that there is a convergent nature to the priesthood of Yeshua. He unifies the two priesthoods of Melkiy Tzedek and Aaron, which are both in fact everlasting in Him. Given that Pinchas the grandson of Aaron was promised an everlasting priesthood: “And he (Pinchas) shall have it (the priesthood), and his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.” -Numbers 25:13 KJV This is why we must understand “change” metatithēmi[G] in the sense of translation from one form to another rather than an end to the one by the other. 13 For the one about whom these things are said belongs (metechō[G]) to another tribe (phulē[G]), from which no one has officiated at the altar (thusiastērion[G], hamizbeakh[H]). 14 For it is evident that our Lord (kurios[G], Adoneiynu[H]) is descended from Yehudah[H] (praise), a tribe with reference to which Moshe[H] (drawn our one) said nothing concerning priesthood (hierōsunē[G], hakehunah[H]). 13 For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord is descended from Yehudah[H], a tribe with reference to which Moshe[H] said nothing concerning priesthood. “The one about whom these things are said” refers to Yeshua, Who is the One that the writer’s drash (comparative teaching) is pointing to. The nearest subject in relation to perpetual priesthood is “another priest to arise” (v.11), a reference to Yeshua. “Belongs to another tribe” Is not a Levite. Yeshua is descended of Judah, of David (Gen. 49:10). There is nothing explicitly commanded by Moses concerning anyone from Judah serving as a priest. However, as explained in my commentary on Hebrews 5, Yochanan the Immerser does confer the priesthood of Aaron upon Yeshua at His immersion (baptism). 15 And this is clearer still (katadēlos[G]), if another priest (hiereus[G] kohen[H]) arises according to the likeness (homoiotēs[G]) of Melkiy Tzedek[H], 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law (nomos[G]) of physical (ethnic) requirement (sarkikos[G]), but according to the miraculous power (dunamis[G]) of an indestructible, endless, insoluble life (akatalutos zoe[G], lechayeiy eiyn sof[H]). 17 For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest (hiereus[G], Kohen[H]) forever (eis aion [G], leolam[H]) According (kata[G]) to the order, arrangement, fashion, style (taxis[G]) of Melkiy-tzedek[H] (My king of righteousness).” [Ps. 110:4 (109:4 LXX)] 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melkiy Tzedek[H], 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of physical (ethnic) requirement, but according to the miraculous power of an indestructible, endless, insoluble life. 17 For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever According to the order, arrangement, fashion, style of Melkiy-tzedek[H].” [Ps. 110:4 (109:4 LXX)] The subject is Yeshua, Who is “another priest” (like but not Melkiy Tzedek). Yeshua has become priest not on the basis of the Torah requirement of Levitical lineage but based on the fact that He is all existing, of God, affirmed by oath (and His miraculous indestructible life as the Father with us). Thus, “a Priest forever”. 18 For, on the one hand, there is putting away (athetēsis[G]) of a former commandment (entolē[G]) because of its weakness (asthenēs[G]) and unprofitableness (anōpheles[G]) 19 (for the Torah[H] [namusa[A]: instruction] made nothing perfect [teleioō[G]]); but the introducing of a better (kreittōn[G]) hope, Good news (elpis[G], tikvah[H], sebar[A]), through which we draw near (eggizō[G]) to God. (Theos[G], HaElohiym[H]) 20 And accordingly not without an oath 18 For, on the one hand, there is putting away of a former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness 19 (for the Torah[H] made nothing perfect); but the introducing of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And accordingly not without an oath “there is putting away of a former commandment because of its weakness…” The commandment concerning the mortal priesthood and its symbolic sacrificial system is made weak by the evil inclination of humanity. In short, our inability to perfect it makes it weak. The commandment itself serves its purpose by exposing our sinful weakness. “for the Torah[H] made nothing perfect” Because the purpose of Torah is to point to the perfector Yeshua the King Messiah. The Torah indicts against sin, Messiah delivers from sin. The Torah continues to serve its purpose until the end of the age, and Messiah continues to purpose salvation unto everlasting life. The Torah is not eternal, how could it be? There will be no need for an indictment against sin in the sinless Olam Haba (world to come). Only the knowledge of good will remain, we will therefore, have no need of instruction against evil. If there is an eternal Torah, it is devoid of the confines of mitzvot (commands). Freedom has no need of fences. One who knows only to do good need not be told to do it, everything he does is good. “For what the Torah was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,” -Romans 8:3 It’s important to affirm the goodness and holiness of Torah. The Brit HaChadashah (New Testament) writers honour the place of Torah as that which is (not was) holy and good and points to the King Messiah, its goal. “So then, the Torah is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” -Romans 7:12 TLV “For Messiah is the goal of the Torah, the means of righteousness for all who believe.” -Romans 10:4 (YBYP) Ultimately, it is a mistake to focus on Torah observance. Torah is a sign pointing to Messiah, Who authored it, and is the goal of it [Rom. 10:4]. If Messiah lives in you, then His work is manifest in your actions by the power of God's Spirit. One who lives by the Spirit need not debate the keeping of Torah, because “the Torah of the Spirit of life has set you free in Messiah Yeshua from the Torah of sin and death.” [Rav Shaul's letter to the Roman Believers 8:2] 21 for they indeed became priests (hiereus[G], lekoheniym[H]) without an oath (horkōmosia[G]), but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest (Kohen[H]) forever (leolam[H])’”; 22 by the same extent Yeshua[H] also has become the guarantee (egguos[G]) of a better covenant (diathēkē[G], labrit hatovah[H]), . 23 The former priests (hiereus[G], koheniym[H]), on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death (thanatos[G], hamavet[H]) from continuing; 24 Yeshua[H], on the other hand, because He continues, abides, dwells, remains (menō[G]) forever, has an immutable, unchanging (aparabatos[G]) priesthood (hierōsunē[G], kehunato[H]). 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”); The priesthood of Aaron was instructed whereas the priesthood of Yeshua is bound by an everlasting oath which God made by His Own Soul. “Will not change His mind” translates as “will not turn His mind” in another direction. This must be understood in accordance with the best commentary that can be made on Biblical text, that being Biblical text: “15 Brothers and sisters, I speak after the manner of human beings; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man voids it, or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed the promises were made. He does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Messiah. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Messiah, was four hundred and thirty years after the Torah, which cannot void it, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the Torah, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” -Galatians 3:15-18 “13 For when God made a promise to Avraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He swore by Himself, on His own soul, 14 saying, “indeed, for blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you [your seed/progeny].” [ Gen. 22:17] 15 And so, having patiently waited in his spirit, he obtained the promise. 16 For indeed people swear an oath by one greater, and taking an oath serves as confirmation to them, an end of all strife, dispute, contradiction between them. 17 In the same way God, desiring more abundantly to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the fact that His purpose is immutable, unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath, 18 so that by two immutable, unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong comfort who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both certain, loyal and forceful, reliable and one which enters into the house the parochet inner veil [the veil hung before the holy of holies], 20 where Yeshua has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the word, order, type, style, arrangement of Melkiy Tzedek.” -Hebrews 6:13-20 (Author’s translation) 22 by the same extent Yeshua[H] also has become the guarantee of a better covenant. “better covenant” The Brit HaChadashah, New Covenant in Yeshua is better because it atones forever, saving unto eternal life those who enter into it, unlike the temporary blood of animals which cannot fully purge sin from the human soul. We note that the better covenant is made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, the ethnic religious descendants of Jacob and is accessible to the nations through the Jew Yeshua Who is also God with us. Failing to understand the Brit HaChadashah, New Covenant in these terms leads to the satanic teaching of Replacement Theologies which the modern Christian Church continues to proliferate under various pseudonyms such as “Supersessionism, Continuationism, Successionism” etc. “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.’” -Jeremiah 31:31 NIV This covenant promised by God through Jeremiah does not do away with the former covenant but fully fills it. Just as it is wrong to say Torah observance is obligatory for the Messiah follower, it is also wrong to say that Torah is now obsolete. Torah remains to indict against sin until the end of the age. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 24 Yeshua[H], on the other hand, because He continues, abides, dwells, remains forever, has an immutable, unchanging priesthood. Notice that this all concerns Yeshua’s priesthood which has always existed in God. And that His priesthood, while likened to that of the mortal Melkiy Tzedek, is nonetheless distinguished from it as being superior to it. Immutable, unchanging. 25 Therefore, He is also able (dunamai[G]) to save to the full end, perfectly, forever (pantelēs[G], lehushiya teshuat[H]) those who come to God (Theos[G], Elohiym[H]) through Him, since He always lives (zao[G], chay[H]) to make intercession (entugchanō[G]) for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest (archiereus[G], Kohen Gadol[H]), holy (hosios[G], kadosh[H]), innocent (akakos[G]), undefiled (amiantos[G]), separated (chōrizō[G]) from sinners (hamartōlos[G]), and made (ginomai[G]) higher (hupsēlos[G]) than the heavens (Ouranos[G], hashamayim[H]); 25 Therefore, He is also able to save to the full end, perfectly, forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. “Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He has poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” -Isaiah 53:12 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; “He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.” -Ephesians 4:10 NIV “For what the Torah could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” -Romans 8:3 27 who does not need to offer sacrifices daily (kata hēmera[G], yom yom[H]), like those high priests (archiereus[G], koheniym gedoliym[H]), first for His own sins [missing the mark set by God’s holiness] (hamartia[G]) and then for the sins of the people (laos[G], ha’am[H]), because He did this once for all (ephapax[G]) when He offered up (anapherō[G]) His soul (nafsho[H]). 28 For the Torah[H] appoints men as high priests (archiereus[G], koheniym gedoliym[H]) who are infirm, weak (astheneia[G]), but the word, essence, substance (logos[G], devar[H]) of the oath (horkōmosia[G]), which came after the Torah[H], appoints a Son (uihos[G], haben[H]), who has been made consecrated (teleioō[G], na’aleh[H]) forever (eis aion[G], bishleimot netzakh[H]). 27 who does not need to offer sacrifices daily, like those high priests, first for His own sins [missing the mark set by God’s holiness] and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all when He offered up His soul. “15 For we do not have a high priest Who is unable to sympathize, have compassion with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted, tried, examined, proved in all things just as we are, yet without sin [missing the mark set by God’s holiness].” -Hebrews 4:15 (Author’s translation) 28 For the Torah[H] appoints men as high priests who are infirm, weak, but the word, essence, substance of the oath, which came after the Torah[H], appoints a Son, who has been made consecrated forever. The oath in Psalms 110:4 was spoken by David in the Holy Spirit centuries after the giving of the Torah at Sinay, and appoints a Son who has been consecrated as an everlasting Priest. The Word (logos[G]/Davar[H]) of the oath and the Son appointed are one and the same. The Word Who came after the Torah in chronology (time and space) is also the Author of the Torah. He is all existing. NB: For an explanation of the order of Melkiy Tzedek’s priesthood and why Melkiy Tzedek is not Yeshua, please read my commentary on Hebrews 5. Copyright 2021 Yaakov Brown If you keep the Shabbat out of obligation you have failed to keep the commandment. Obligation is hard work, there is no rest (Shabbat) in obligation. The Coptic New Testament begins with the book of Yochanan (John), and for good reason, both the first book of the Tanakh (OT) Genesis and the Gospel of John begin with the same words, “In the beginning”. Both the beginning of creation and the new beginning have their origin in God, Father, Son and Spirit.
בְּרֵאשִׁית הָיָה הַדָּבָר וְהַדָּבָר הָיָה אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וְהוּא הַדָּבָר הָיָה אֱלֹהִים׃ 1:1 הבשורה על-פי יוחנן בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 1:1 בראשית Within the Hebrew text of the first verse of both books appears the sign of the definite direct object “את” which is not translated in English versions but is a contracted form of the Hebrew word “אות” meaning “miraculous sign”. Yochanan (John) 1:1 explains not what but Who the sign “את” is. בְּרֵאשִׁית הָיָה הַדָּבָר וְהַדָּבָר הָיָה אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וְהוּא הַדָּבָר הָיָה אֱלֹהִים׃ 1:1 הבשורה על-פי יוחנן בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 1:1 בראשית At the goal (end) of the HaBrit HaChadashah (New Testament) we read the words of Yeshua: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” -Yeshua (Revelation 22:13) The Hebrew equivalent reads: ““I am the Aleph “א” and the Tav “ת”, the first and the last, the beginning and the goal.” -Yeshua (Revelation 22:13) Yeshua is the Aleph and the Tav, the Author and the Goal of the Torah. He is the Author of the beginning, the all-existing God, the Son (John 1:1), present as the creating Word, and the sign to all creation (Genesis 1:1). He is the Author and the Spirit of the Torah, the Word (Deuteronomy 30:14). He is also the Goal of the Torah: “For Messiah is the Goal of the Torah for righteousness to everyone who believes.” –Rav Shaul’s Letter to the Roman Believers 10:4 If we fail to understand that Yeshua is “את” the Author and Goal of Torah (Not just the books of Moses but all of the Instruction of God), then we will fail to properly interpret and understand the written word of God (Tanakh [OT] & HaBrit HaChadashah [NT]). We must accept that God does not change His mind (Num. 23:19), and that the King Messiah Yeshua has come not to remove or change the Torah but to fill it up, illuminate it (Matthew 5:17). God Does NOT Change His Mind: It is impossible for an omniscient (all-knowing) God to change His mind. In spite of mistranslations into English, the Scripture in its original language affirms God’s omniscience (All Knowing Nature) Exodus 32:14 “So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.” NLT “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” KJV What the Hebrew text actually says, a literal translation: “The YHVH sought to console concerning the evil He had declared to do to His people.” “God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes his mind! Does He speak and then not do it, or promise and not fulfil it?” -Bamidbar (Numbers) 23:19 TLV Yeshua Did NOT Remove or Change the Torah: “17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfil. 18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of *these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven..” -Mattisiyahu (Matthew) 5:17-19 TLV *Note, that in the context of this passage all the commandments pretexted by the words “*these commandments” in the proceeding verses are moral commandments (incumbent on all human beings). Yeshua is NOT saying that commandments of distinction given specifically to Jews (ethnic, religious, chosen, set apart) are incumbent on Gentiles. This is a grave misunderstanding of the text and of first century Jewish theology. Understanding Torah: The Torah (Books of Moses) are divided into three distinct categories:
Historical Narrative: The story of creation, humanity, and the chosen people Israel. Moral law: Laws that expose the lawlessness of all human beings. Laws of Distinction: Laws commanded specifically to ethnic, religious, chosen, set apart Israel (the Jewish people), incumbent on Israel alone for the purpose of setting the Jewish people apart unto the goal of all things. Purpose of Torah Distinctions: Historical Narrative: Teaches all humanity that God is Creator and King of all things, and that He has chosen an ethnic people as His everlasting possession. Moral law: Exposes the lawlessness of all human beings. These laws are incumbent on all people. To those without Messiah these laws bring condemnation, and to those who receive Messiah these same laws are the loving instruction of the Father. Laws of Distinction: Laws commanded in order to set ethnic Israel apart as a people and possession belonging to God. These laws are NOT incumbent on people of other nations, Messiah followers or not. Some Examples of Moral Laws and Laws of Distinction: Moral Laws: • You shall have no other gods before Me! • You shall not make graven images… nor bow down to worship them • You shall not misuse the Lord’s Name (YHVH) • Honor your Father and Mother • You shall not Murder • You shall not commit adultery • You shall not steal etc. Laws of Distinction: • The children of Israel shall keep the Shabbat throughout their generations… • Kosher food (Lev.11) • Don’t cut the hair around the sides of your head… • Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together. • Tefillin (Ex. 13:9, 16) • Tzitzit (Numb. 15:38) Moral Law: From the earliest days our Rabbis understood that only the moral laws were applicable to non-Jews. The only exception was when non-Jews joined and lived within the ethnic Jewish community and eventually married into Israel’s bloodline (e.g. Exodus 20:8-10). Knowing this, and being guided by the Holy Spirit the early Jewish Fathers of the body of believers (Ecclesia) required nothing more of the Gentile believers other than adherence to four primary laws which summed up the Noachide (moral laws) of the Torah (Acts 15:1-35; 21:24-25). “Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke (laws of distinction) on the neck of the Gentile disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Yeshua, just as they will.” -K’fa (Peter) Acts 15:10-11 “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” -Rav Shaul (Paul) Galatians 3:10-11 Sadly, many Messianic Jews and Gentiles decontextualize and seek to reinterpret the following words, written by Jews, followers of the King Messiah Yeshua, the fathers of our faith communities. A Religious Community that Does Not Soberly Critique Itself is a Cult! Laws of Distinction Have Never Been Incumbent on Non-Jews: Among Messianic believers today, and in particular among so called Messianic Gentile believers (Christians who hate being called Christians), there is a growing number who seek to impose laws of distinction (intended specifically for Jews, and not for Gentiles) upon Gentile Christians. They use spiritual blackmail in conjunction with decontextualized Scriptures in order to guilt-trip others into focusing on law observance rather than on Yeshua our King Messiah. In doing so they commit the same error that early believers perpetuated until the refutation of their false practices by the Rav Shaul HaShaliach (Paul the Apostle) [Galatians 3:10-11]. One of the great and tragic ironies of the zealous law keepers in the Messianic and Hebrew roots movements today, is that by insisting Gentile Christians keep the laws of distinction (intended specifically for Jews, and not for Gentiles) they are quit literally practicing the “Replacement Theology (Continuationism, Successionism etc.)” that they themselves claim to detest. “For freedom, Messiah has set us free—so stand firm then, and do not become burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” -Rav Shaul HaShaliach Letter to the Galatian Believers 5:1 What did Peter the Apostle call a “yoke” that Jews have been unable to “bear”? The yoke of slavery Shaul refers to concerns the obligatory observance of the laws of distinction (commanded to Jews alone). This is the same yoke Peter refers to in Acts 15:10-11) Is the Shabbat Incumbent on Gentiles? Among the most prominent misteaching's of zealous law keepers in the Messianic and Hebrew roots movements is the insistence that Gentile Christians are obligated to keep the Sabbath and cease worshipping on Sunday (First Day of the week) [A day they claim to be a day attributed to Sun worship, as if days belong to anyone or anything other than God our Creator]. When these law keeping zealots say that Sunday worship is wrong/idolatry, they are in fact impugning the character of the disciples of Yeshua and both the Jewish and Gentile believers of the early Ecclesia (body of believers). In fact, the disciples of Messiah gathered together on a Sunday only days after Yeshua’s crucifixion and continued to gather regularly on the first day of the week (Sunday) [John 20]. “On the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread, Shaul (Paul) talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.” –Acts 20:7 Observe the Day or Not, Unto the Lord: “One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.” –Romans 14:5-6 TLV Rav Shaul wrote these words to a mixed congregation of Jews and Gentiles who were arguing over the keeping of days and over kosher eating among other things. The Sabbath was one of the days in question. Rav Shaul’s admonishment clearly understands Gentile believers as being free from the obligation to keep the Shabbat commandment. His emphasis is on doing all in and toward God and NOT on law keeping. We are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshipping a God Who is beyond days! What does “Keep the Shabbat” Mean? The phrase “keep the Shabbat” (Ex. 31:13) in Hebrew does not mean what many think it does. The Hebrew root “שמר” shamar means to guard, to keep safe, to protect from defilement. In the Beit Midrash we’re taught that we are to Shomeir HaShabbat guard, protect the Shabbat. We will learn that the ethnic, religious children of Israel are given the Shabbat as a sign “אות” upon them alone, and that they are to “guard, protect, keep” it from defilement, desecration etc. throughout their generations (Exodus 31:16-17). The Command to Keep Ha-Shabbat (the Sabbath) is a Law of Distinction: The principle of regular rest is for the good of all humanity but the specific command to rest on the Shabbat is given to Israel (ethnic, religious, empirical, chosen) as a generational sign “אות” on the ethnic people of Israel, a sign between ethnic Israel (the Jewish people) and God (Exodus 31:16-17 ). The command to keep the Sabbath day is NOT incumbent on Gentile believers! Shabbat is a Sign “אות” Between God & the Jews (Israel) “So Bnei-Yisrael is to keep the Shabbat, to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign “אות” between Me (YHVH) and Bnei-Yisrael forever, for in six days ADONAI made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested.’” -Exodus 31:16-17 (TLV) *As observant Jews we pray this very Scripture as part of the “V’shamru” (And You Shall Guard) prayer every Shabbat. There are those who misuse the following passage to support general Gentile Christian observance of Shabbat: “Remember Yom Shabbat, to keep it holy. You are to work six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat to ADONAI your God. In it you shall not do any work—not you, nor your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your cattle, nor the outsider that is within your gates.” Exodus 20:8-10 (TLV) Note that this commandment, given specifically to Israel (ethnic, religious, empirical) is to be observed by all Jews but only by foreigners (Gentiles) who live within the Jewish community: specifically among the people of Israel on their way to and within the land of Israel. This does not apply to today’s Christians who worship the God of Israel but live outside of Israel and further still, outside of the Jewish communities within the diaspora (dispersion). *Attending a Messianic or Hebrew roots congregation does not constitute living in the Jewish community. The commandment to keep Shabbat is specifically a sign “אות” on the ethnic, religious chosen people of Israel (Jews): “So Bnei-Yisrael is to keep the Shabbat, to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me (YHVH) and Bnei-Yisrael forever, for in six days ADONAI made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested.’” -Exodus 31:16-17 (TLV) We note that the Shabbat is a sign between God and the ethnic, religious people of Israel (Jews). It is not a sign upon the nations. Therefore, those Gentiles who appropriate this sign under obligation are literally practicing Replacement Theology. Some seek to use Yeshua’s words from Mark’s Gospel to support the idea that Gentile Christians must keep the Shabbat. However, even if one ignores the context of Yeshua’s words the fact remains that He spoke of the purpose of rest and not of obligation to keep the Shabbat commandment given specifically to the Jewish people. “the Shabbat was made for man and not man for the Shabbat” (Mark 2:23-28) The only “men” present were Jews. Further, He used an example from the Tanakh (OT) in which only Jews participated. If we interpret His words to apply to all human beings, we are ignoring the historical and Scriptural context of what He said and are also impugning His character by suggesting that He contradicted the Torah (Exodus 31:16-17) of which He is the Author. To the contrary, He is making a drash (comparative teaching) on a commandment given specifically to Israel (ethnic, religious , empirical) and not to the nations. Thus, when He says “man” He means “man” within the context of Israel (Jews) and not humanity in general. If we go further and interpret His words figuratively to apply the Shabbat to all nations, we must by reason of logical progression be speaking of the eternal Shabbat at the end of the age, that is the Olam Haba (world to come) [Hebrews 4:9] and not to the literal weekly Shabbat commanded specifically to the Jews. All figurative interpretation must submit to the plain meaning of the text. In the context of Yeshua’s words the command to keep Shabbat is not made incumbent on Gentile Christians, (who did not yet exist at the time Yeshua spoke), rather He was explaining to the Pharisees that the sign of the Shabbat upon Israel’s “men” was one of rest and restoration through the work of God and was not a form of rest purchased by either the restraint or the actions of Jewish “men” (and women). That is, not by obligation. All this is done to keep the Shabbat as a sign on the ethnic, religious Jewish people until the end of the age, when: “‘it will come to pass, that from one New Moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, all flesh will come to bow down before Me,’ says ADONAI.” -Isaiah 66:23 (TLV) The prophet Isaiah is clearly prophesying a time yet future (it will come), and is not, as some suggest, inferring that all nations should keep the Shabbat in the present age. This is also seen in Zechariah 14:16 where, at the end of the age (not now), the survivors of the defeated nations will repent and go up to Jerusalem to join with ethnic, religious Israel in celebration of the festival (signs) placed on the Jews. Neither passage denotes a requirement for weekly Shabbat observance by Gentile Christians. When Yeshua says “The Son of Man is Lord of the Shabbat” He is alluding to the Messianic title given to the Messiah in the prophecy of Daniel (Dan. 7:13-14) in order that He might be recognised as the Messiah by His disciples and any among the Pharisees who might understand and repent. While it is true that He is the Messiah over all men, we do not glean this understanding from the context of Mark 2:23-28. “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,” –Hebrews 4:9 Some decontextualize and misuse this Scripture to promote obligatory Sabbath observance. They are in grave error. The context of Hebrews 3 and 4 concerns Israel’s escape from bondage in Egypt and her subsequent rest within the promised land (HaAretz), which is a figure for the Olam Haba (World to come). The Kohen (priest) who wrote Hebrews is making a drash using Israel’s rest from bondage and revealing the future rest for all believers in the Olam Haba (World to come), which he calls a “Sabbath rest”. Therefore, the Sabbath rest that remains for all the people of God is the Olam Haba (World to come), and not the temporary weekly Sabbath observed in the sin affected world. Misusing Scripture is wrong, but worse still is misusing Scripture in order to force obligation and bondage upon other believers. This is Abhorrent to God and contrary to the Gospel of our Messiah. Those who teach that Gentile Christians must keep the Shabbat are in fact teaching Gentile Christians to usurp and appropriate one of the signs that sets ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical Israel (the Jewish people) apart from the nations. Ironically, as I’ve said previously, in doing so, “Hebrew roots Christians” and so called “Messianic Gentiles” are literally practicing the “Replacement Theology” they claim to detest. I stand in opposition to those movements who seek to place Gentile Christians under bondage to commandments that were never incumbent upon them. The Shabbat, like the other commandments given to distinguish Israel (the Jewish people) as a unique people, is not a moral commandment and is therefore not incumbent on humanity as a whole. According to the Scripture it is a commandment, a sign, given to and upon the chosen ethnic, religious people of Israel. Any attempt to appropriate it is practiced in direct opposition to the Scripture, and therefore, in opposition to the Author of the Scripture. At Beit Melekh we are Jews and Gentiles who together are followers of Yeshua the King Messiah. He has set us free for freedom, that we might not return again to bondage(Galatians 5:1). This is not to say that Gentile Christians can’t choose to keep the Shabbat as free members of the body of Messiah Yeshua, rather it is to say that the weekly Shabbat is NOT incumbent upon Gentile Christians. The principle of regular rest is for all human beings but the specific command to keep the weekly Shabbat is a sign upon the ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical people of Israel, the Jewish people, throughout their generations (Exodus 31:16-17 ). Those who keep the letter of the law at the expense of the Spirit of the Law will be judged according to the Law and found wanting. If you keep the Shabbat out of obligation you have failed to keep the commandment. Obligation is hard work, there is no rest (Shabbat) in obligation. We wish you a Messiah filled Shabbat of rest, peace and freedom. May you know the present peace of the King Messiah Yeshua and understand that He is enough. Yeshua is our message! “That which God knows to be a future certainty He reveals to we who are uncertain of the future through repetition.” Introduction:
The blessings or prophetic words Jacob pronounces over his sons while on his death bed are probably best defined as future character descriptions of the tribes that will bear their names. While the sons are addressed according to their own actions, they are not to be the recipients of the outworking of those actions. The closest parallel to this in the Tanakh (OT) is Deuteronomy 33, where Moses blesses most of the tribes of Israel prior to his death and before Israel enters the Promised Land. The word play and phrasings of Jacob’s prophetic blessing are difficult to convey in English. Some of the Hebrew is cryptic and rare in places and includes some unusual and ancient divine names. The sayings are ordered according to the tribal mothers Leah, Zilpah, Bilhah, Rachel. The first four tribes of Leah appear in birth order, as do the sons of Rachel. However, the sons of the Handmaidens, who are previously listed in chronology through the Genesis narrative, are here listed in the alternate order of Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher and Naphtali. In fact each of the twelve sons of Jacob are listed according to the roles they will play in the strengthening of the nation of Israel. Gen 49:1 And Yaakov (Follower) called to his sons, and said, “Gather yourselves together, so that I may tell you asher-yik’ra etchem what you will encounter in the latter ha-yamiym days (years). Yaakov, the follower of HaShem, musters the last of his energy and calls his sons. He asks them to gather together because although he will pronounce prophetic words specific to each of them, he wants the brothers to understand that their futures are intrinsically linked. The suffering of one will be the suffering of another, and the success of one will be the prosperity of another. Israel’s tribes are to be echad (a complex and indivisible unity). The phrase “asher-yik’ra etchem” translates literally as, “what will call to you”. There is a subtle difference between the root קרה and the root קרא which is used here. The former means “befall”, the latter, “call”. In one sense, the words that Jacob is about to pronounce are the respective callings of each tribe. The phrase “b’chariyt ha-mayim” speaks of days/years far beyond the brothers’ own lifespans. With the benefit of hindsight we’re able to see that the words of Jacob reach beyond the land of Egypt, and while partially fulfilled in Israel’s future history within the land of Israel, they reach still further, even beyond our own years. Concerning the phrase “b’chariyt ha-mayim” the orthodox commentator Sforno writes: “At the end of the period allocated to life on earth as we know it. Yaakov speaks of the arrival of the Messiah which will signify the end of existence of the nations that oppose God and the kingdom of God on earth… Yaakov speaks of the time frame he has in mind as the one when Shiloh will arrive, the one to whom nations will pay homage.” Sforno understands “Shiloh”, which means “Tranquillity, rest, belonging”, to be a name for the future King Messiah. Rashi agrees, and explains that “the End Days” refers to the Messianic age. He goes on to say, in accordance with the Midrash, that “Jacob wished to tell his children when Messiah would come”. Gen 49:2 Gather yourselves together, v’shemu and hear, receive, obey, you sons of Yaakov (Follower); v’shemu and hear, receive, and be in obedience to Yisrael (Overcomes in God) your father. Akeidat Yitzchak asks, “Why does Jacob seem to commence with the blessing twice…?” We know that a thing is repeated in the Torah in order to show the reader that the matter is firmly established. That which God knows to be a future certainty He reveals to we who are uncertain of the future through repetition. Thus the repetition of Jacob’s call to gather and the use of the names Yaakov and Yisrael are informing us that what is to follow is firmly established. Specifically, the gathering of Israel is firmly established, both at the time of Jacob’s blessing and in the last days. Israel’s ability to hear from God and act in obedience to Him is also firmly established with the repetition of the Hebrew “v’shemu”: which is first used in implicit reference to hearing from God and subsequently used in explicit reference to obeying the words of the patriarch Jacob. The sons of Jacob are sons of a follower: that is, one who was once a follower who wrestled in relationship with HaShem and as a result of yielding to Hashem has now become one who overcomes in God. Thus the sons will also become those who overcome in God through Mashiyach (Messiah). Therefore, they are being called as obedient followers and as victorious overcomers in God’s redemptive plan for Israel and for humanity. Jacob’s words are prophetic blessing. But he is not a fortune teller. Prophecy has more to do with relationship than it does with power, and it has nothing to do with men manipulating spiritual forces. God has not imbued Jacob with some metaphysical gift for the purpose of conjuring up futures, to the contrary, Jacob is relaying the observations of God. God, in intimate relationship with Jacob, has shared with Jacob that which has already happened outside of time and space. Jacob is not making predictions, he is making what he knows to be statements of future fact. Gen 49:3 Reuven (Behold/Now a son), you are my firstborn, my strength, and beginning of my substance, excellent, exalted, and superior, fierce: Gen 49:4 Unstable as water, not to remain; because you aliyat went up, lying on your father's bed; then you cholal’ta defiled, profaned, desecrated: to my bed, you alah went up. “Reuben, my son, I did not rebuke you all these years so that you should not leave me and stay with my brother Esau” –Sifre Devarim Jacob begins his words over Reuben by stating that which once belonged to him: 1.) The blessing and portion of the firstborn 2.) The role of priest [Passed from Patriarch to Patriarch, an obligation of the firstborn which was first despised by Esau] 3.) The kingship [Strong, exalted, superior]. Each of these would now be given to the sons Whom God had chosen: The rights of the firstborn would go to Joseph and his sons, the priesthood would go to Levi (because his tribe would not participate in the sin of the Golden Calf), and Judah would become the tribe from whom Israel would receive her kings, and ultimately, the King Messiah. “But because you sinned my son, the birth right is given to Joseph, the kingship to Judah and the priesthood to Levi” –Targum Yonatan The idiom “Unstable as water” seems to imply fast-flowing water and or the waters of the body. In other words, Reuben lacked self-control, rushing to sin sexually with Bilhah (Gen. 35:22), his father’s wife. Though once the firstborn head, the tribe of Reuben has left little mark in Israel’s Biblical history. Moses later calls Reuben “Small and in danger of extinction” (Deut. 33:6), and the song of Deborah the prophetess rebukes Reuben for their indecision (Judges 5:15-16; ref. Gen 42:36-38). While the p’shat (plain meaning) of the text refers to the act of sexual sin committed by Reuben, the rabbis interpret a remez (hint) alluding to spiritual defilement. This is in part due to the repetition of the Hebrew Aliyah, to ascend which is often used in connection with Israel’s ascent to Jerusalem for the regalim, aliyot festivals (moadim). “You did defile Him (Holy spirit) Who used to ascend my bed.” –Daat Zkenim Sforno writes, “Alternatively, Yaakov may have referred to Reuven’s act being a desecration of God’s honour.” “The sons of Reuven the firstborn of Yisrael—he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his birth right was given to the sons of Yosef son of Yisrael—so he is not reckoned as the firstborn in the genealogical record.” -1 Chronicles 5:1 Gen 49:5 Shimon (Heard) and Levi (Joined) are brothers; instruments of chamas cruelty, injustice: m’ceirotei’hem swords stabbing (habitation). Having explained why Reuben failed to inherit the birth right Jacob now makes it clear that the sons who would otherwise have been next in line are also unworthy of inheriting positions of leadership in Israel. The Levites would of course become priests and servants of God but they would not have authority over the nation. In fact they depended on the rest of the tribes for their livelihood. Simeon and Levi are coupled together because they had heard (Shimon) of what had been done to their sister and had joined (Levi) together in violent vengeance rather than awaiting just recompense (Gen. 34). They were also instigators of the sale of Joseph. The meaning of the Hebrew “mekerah” is debated. However, its literal meaning is “swords, weapons”. Thus it’s likely that the Torah intends to convey the idea of the use of swords and violence as a way of life. Yeshua uses this same idiom when He says, “Those who make the sword their way of life will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). This should not be confused with self-defence or just warfare, which the Bible clearly teaches are acceptable expressions of violence. The Stone Chumash translates the last phrase as, “their weaponry is a stolen craft”. Rashi explains that violence was a trait they had stolen from Esau because it was he who lived by the sword and not his brother Jacob (Genesis 27:40). Gen 49:6 Don’t enter into their secret council my nefesh (Soul, life); or into their assembly, to join my honour to them: because in their b’afam flaring nostrils (anger) they killed a man, and in their delight they cut an ox. Wicked actions are often planned in secret. A righteous man should not associate with men who live a lifestyle of uncontrolled violence. The last phrase is interpreted literally by Rambam to mean that they slaughtered the cattle of Shekhem. Rashi interprets it figuratively of Joseph (Simeon and Levi being instrumental in harming him), who he likens to a strong ox. “Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil people.” –Proverbs 4:14 Gen 49:7 Cursed be their nostrils (anger), because it was fierce; and their wrath was excessive: I will divide them in Yaakov, and scatter them in Yisrael. We note that Jacob does not curse his sons, rather he curses their sin. The curse is against a lifestyle of perpetual and unjust violence. Yaakov cannot abide cruelty, nor does he want Israel to be infected with it. The division and scattering probably refers to Simeon’s absorption into Judah and Levi’s being redefined as a priestly tribe, without land of its own (Deut. 18:1-2). Gen 49:8 Yehudah (Praise), you who your brothers shall praise: your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's children will bow down before you. With regard to the kingly tribe of Judah the Midrash says that all his brothers will chose to call themselves Yehudi (Jews) rather than by their own tribal names. One Biblical example of this is the book of Esther, where Mordechai is known as a Yehudi (Jew) even though he was from the tribe of Benjamin. Of course with regard to the modern Jewish people, all the tribes have become known as Jews. This came about after the return from the second exile when all the tribes merged under the remnant of Judah who had remained in the land. Thus all the tribes of Israel call themselves Yehudi (Jews) to this day. Chiddushei HaRim says that the reason for Judah being honoured was the motivation of Leah when naming him. She had given Judah his name as a way of expressing her gratitude to God for having received more than her share of children (Gen. 29:35). Gen 49:9 A lion’s cub Yehudah (Praise): from the prey, my son, you are aliyat gone up: he bent down and stretched himself out as a lion, and as a mature lion; who shall rouse him up? We note that whereas Reuben went up aliyat to sin, Judah will go up aliyat in victory over his enemies. The phrase concerning Judah’s victory over his prey is interpreted by Tur to refer prophetically to David’s killing of a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34). Ultimately Judah’s victory refers to the King Messiah Who, having been born of Judah, will defeat ha-Satan and take hold of the keys of mot (death) sheol (holding place of the dead), triumphing in resurrected glory and redeeming Israel and the nations. Gen 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Yehudah (Praise), nor a lawgiver (Scribe, governor) from between his feet (euphemism for reproduction), until Shiloh (Messiah, rest, tranquillity) comes; and to Him (Shiloh) the yik’hat gathering, cleansing, purging of the peoples. “The rule of Israel shall not depart from Judah nor will one depart who will challenge Israel to keep God’s Instruction/Law (Such as Moses, the prophets, being literally present) and stay close to her kings, until the Messiah (Shiloh: rest, tranquillity) comes. And to Him (Shiloh, the Messiah), shall be the purging, cleansing, gathering of the peoples.” –Paraphrase by author “Until the Messiah comes to Whom the kingdom belongs”-Onkelos The Hebrew “Shiloh” is explained by the Midrash as a composite of Shai (Gift) and Lo (him), a reference to the King Messiah to Whom all nations will bring gifts. There can be no doubt that this passage is saying that in the future, when the Messiah (Shiloh) will come, Israel’s kings, descended from Judah, will cease to reign. Therefore, the Messiah had to have come in the first century CE. And if there are those among our people who are awaiting Him still, they await His second coming. Gen 49:11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: Gen 49:12 His eyes made dull with wine, and his teeth (sharpness) white (pale) from milk. Shiloh (The Messiah: rest, tranquillity) is the subject of these verses. The vine of Israel is HaShem. Meaning that it is from HaShem that Israel receives her fruitfulness. Likewise, Shiloh (The Messiah) will tether His humble ministry (ass’s colt) to the vine of HaShem, completely reliant on God and echad (one) with His Father’s purpose. The eyes are the window to the inner man, they offer insight to the one who views them and they make observations and give vision to the one who possesses them. The eyes of Shiloh will be burdened and made dull with the weight of the sins of humanity. “He appointed Him sin, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” –2 Corinthians 5:21 Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno (16th century) says that the King Messiah rides an ass rather than a horse because it is God Who wages the wars by which He (King Messiah) comes to reign, “And He will become King in peace”. “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Tziyon (Parched Land)! Shout, daughter of Yerushalayim (Flood of Peace)! Now, your King is coming to you, a righteous one bringing salvation. He is lowly, riding on a donkey-- on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” –Zechariah 9:9 “Go into the village before you. Right away, you’ll find a donkey tied up and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me.” –Yeshua [Matthew 21:2] (TLV) Wine is a symbol of prosperity and sweetness. And there is certainly some sense of the prosperity and fruitfulness of the vines of Israel, Judah and specifically Shiloh (The Messiah) in the abundance of wine mentioned here. However, the fruit of the vine is also a representation of the life blood. During the Passover Seder we drop that life blood on our plates and in the Yemenite tradition we shout “Blood, blood, blood, I am saved by the blood of the (Pesach) Lamb!” The juice of the grape is called blood by the Apocryphal writings of Sirach: "The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.'' –Sirach 39:26 "He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a sweet smelling savour unto the most high King of all.'' –Sirach 50:15 When blood remains in the body it is the life of a man, for “the life is in the blood”(Leviticus 17:11). But when that blood is poured out, it is loss of like, death, sacrifice, atonement. In these verses we read that the Messiah will attach His donkey colt to the choice vine of Israel, meaning He will be born of God and of the Jewish people and His life blood is intrinsically linked to both God and the nation of Israel. Yeshua is the vine, we are the branches (John 15:5). He washes His garment in the blood of His own sacrificial death, His eyes made bloodshot (dull) with the cup (wine) of His suffering, for the sake of His people’s spiritual prosperity, His teeth milk white, the white washed colour of the tomb where He would lie, albeit temporarily. “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” –Luke 22:42 “His teeth white from milk” infers strong bones from childhood, and in particular, a pure voice, both seen and heard: the Hebrew chalav (milk, dairy) being figuratively linked to sucking, like the nursing child. However, it’s also possible that this phrase is a metaphor regarding the pallor of a dying man’s skin. White is also a symbol of purity and holiness. Thus the words of Messiah’s (Shiloh’s) mouth are to be white, without sin, pure, holy, and faultless. Gen 49:13 Zebulun (Exalted) at the coastline of the sea will dwell; and he shall be a coastal shelter for ships; and his border upon Zidon (Hunting/fishing). Having established the position of Judah and Israel’s kings, Jacob now gives Zebulun precedence over Issachar, despite the fact that Issachar is the older of the two. It seems that Jacob abandons the birth order for a progression of blessing that addresses the need to provision Israel. Therefore, following the appointing of the kingly tribe (Judah) he now assigns blessing to the hunter (Zebulun), the labourer (Issachar) and so on. Zebulun’s role as sea fearing merchant would see his territory reach from Yam Kinneret (Galilee) to the Mediterranean and as far north as Zidon near the border of Northern Israel and Lebanon (Joshua 19:10-15). Gen 49:14 Yissaschar (Wages, recompense: figuratively: labourer) is a strong boned ass, he lies down between two boundaries: Gen 49:15 And he saw that comfort was good, and the land pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became an indentured labourer. The name Issachar seems to be a play on words “Ish sakhar”, literally “man hired”. The indentured servant portion of this pronouncement may refer to Issachar’s subjugation under the Canaanites in the northern regions (Judges 1:3), although the text seems to infer that Issachar will willingly serve as a labourer for the sake of Israel. Gen 49:16 Dan (Judge) shall yadin judge his people, as one of the tribes of Yisrael (Overcomes in God). Gen 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. Jacob having finished blessing the six sons of Leah, now goes on to the oldest son born to Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant. The sons of Rachel are left for last because they are favoured by Jacob above his other sons. Rabbinical commentary interprets Samson as the judge of Dan who will be like a viper. The use of the serpent metaphor denotes wisdom or cunning rather than opposition to God e.g. “Be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves” (Matthew 10:16). “An adder in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider shall fall backward” is said by both Rashi and Rambam, to be an allegory of Samson’s last act, the destruction of the Philistine temple and the subsequent deaths of 3000 of Israel’s enemies (Judges 16:29). Gen 49:18 I have waited for Your salvation (Yeshua), O HaShem (YHVH: Mercy). This verse is the only verse in Genesis 49 that uses the Holy Name YHVH. It seems unattached to both the preceding blessing and the blessing that follows. It may be a sort of intermission, where Jacob himself is calling on the Name of the Lord and as he approaches death is acknowledging the mercy and salvation he has received. This phrase is replicated almost word for word in Psalm 119:166. However, it’s possible that this line is a phrase attributed to Samson (Like the sun). In his last moments, through true repentance (not selfish vengeance), Samson calls on God for Salvation and the strength to overcome the enemies of HaShem and of his people Israel. In a very real sense Samson is redeemed through Yeshua long before Yeshua’s birth into time and space. Gen 49:19 Gad (Troop), g’dud a troop that will be y’gudenu overcome: but he shall yagid invade and overcome in the end. The root from which Gad derives his name is used repeatedly in this verse to show that the tribe will journey from armed conflict to armed conflict until the final day when they will overcome in Messiah. Gad is the oldest son of Zilpah and his tribal allotment was on the east of the Jordan. Gad vowed to support the other tribes in conquering the land of Israel and fought the Canaanites valiantly, not ceasing until the land was overcome, at which time they returned to their own allotment on the east of the Jordan. Thus the tribe of Gad is known for its warrior spirit and loyalty to the people of Israel. Gen 49:20 From Asher (Happy) comes sh’meinah rich/fat lechem food/bread, and he shall give royal delicacies. “Asher’s land will be so rich in olive groves that it will flow with oil like a fountain” –Rashi The plain meaning is that kings of both Israel and foreign lands will desire the delicacies grown in the tribal land of Asher. Gen 49:21 Naphtali (Wrestling) is a deer let loose: he gives sayings of beauty. Naphtali is the last of the sons of the maidservants, he is Bilhah’s youngest son. “A deer let loose” denotes swiftness. Naphtali is said to have been swift in battle during the time of Deborah the judge (Judges 4). The sayings of beauty attributed to Naphtali are said to be given in praise of God for the swiftly growing vegetation of his territory, and in praise of the Lord for His hand in enabling Naphtali to be swift in battle. Gen 49:22 Son of fruitfulness Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) a son fruitful upon the ground near an eye/fountain; daughters run over a wall: It is here that the rabbis fall short, offering only trite analogies and desperate explanations. The plain meaning is full of remez (hints) that reveal a sod (mystery) of great consequence. The plain meaning likens Joseph to a fruitful vine growing by an eye of the earth, that is a natural well or fountain of mayim chayim (waters living). This links Joseph (a figure for the coming Messiah) to Shiloh (A name for the Messiah), Who tethers His donkey colt to the vine. The living waters strengthen the fruitful vine of HaShem and Mercy adds (Joseph) redemption through blood (garments washed in wine), the offering of the innocent life of Shiloh and gifting the people with tranquillity and rest (Shiloh), a gift to him (Israel). Gen 49:23 Now embittering him greatly and hating him my ba’alei husband/lord, they shot him with arrows: Again, the rabbis fall short, arguing over who is more righteous or worthy to be king, Judah or Joseph. They miss the obvious, that the description, while in its plain sense refers to the mistreatment of Joseph, is none the less prophetic of the Messiah (Shiloh), to Whom the previous verse attaches itself. “Then I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication, when they will look toward Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son and grieve bitterly for Him, as one grieves for a firstborn.” –Zechariah 12:10 (cf. John 19:34, 37; Rev. 1:7) [TLV] Gen 49:24 But his bow dwells in strength, and supple arms, hands made strong from the hand of the Mighty One of Yaakov (Follower); from there the Shepherd, the e’ven Stone of Yisrael (Overcomes in God): The unusual and prophetic names of God in this passage prompt the question, “If these names have not been prolifically used prior to this, why are they now employed?” God is called 1.) Mighty One of Jacob (Follower) 2.) The Shepherd 3.) The Stone. In fact The Stone can only refer to the stone of the altar of Isaac, the stone of the Temple Mount, of Zion, of the Hill, the foundation stone through which Jewish tradition says all things were created, the stone and foundation of the Temple, of Har-Beit (Mountain House). Again, this is not in reference to Joseph but in reference to the One for Whom Joseph is a pre-figure. That is, Shiloh, the Messiah. In the plain sense this verse is speaking of the deliverance of Joseph and the subsequent deliverance of Israel. It speaks of the Shepherd of Israel, HaShem and the firm foundation that He has provided for the sons of Jacob through Joseph. At the same time it continues the story of the coming Messiah (Shiloh), Who, after being pierced, will be strengthened again by the hand of God and will become the foundation stone of Israel’s eternal security, shepherding her throughout the ages. “Therefore thus says HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) Elohim (God: Judge): ‘Now, I am laying in Tziyon a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a firm foundation-- whoever trusts will not flee in haste.” –Isaiah 28:16 (ref. 1 Corinthians 3) The Hebrew “e’ven” translated “stone” can be seen as a contraction of the words “Av” (Father) and “Ben” (Son). In the plain sense the father is Jacob and the son is Joseph, but in the metaphysical sense the Father is HaShem and the Son is the coming Messiah Shiloh (Yeshua). Gen 49:25 From El God (Judge) of your father (Jacob), and your helper; and the Shaddai All Sufficient Protector (Almighty), Who will bless you, from the heavens will come blessings, blessings of the deep that lie under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: Gen 49:26 The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of those who conceived me, to the boundary limit of the hill everlasting: they shall be on the head of Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds), and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brothers. Once again the blessing is filled with descriptive names of God: 1.) The Judge 2.) The Helper 3.) All Sufficient Protector, the Almighty 4.) The One Who blesses [In fact, all blessing comes from God]. Once again Zion’s hill is spoken of. In fact it can be no other hill because the hill in question is called “Olam” meaning “eternal, everlasting”. It is not Jacob who blesses, it is God, the Judge, the Helper, the All Sufficient Protector. He is bringing blessing upon Joseph that alludes to Shiloh, the Messiah. Eternal blessing that could not apply to Joseph alone. A form of blessing which is over Jacob and will prevail as an over those blessings given to his parents. Greater blessing means the greater outworking of the blessings placed upon Abraham and Isaac. Blessing from the heavens, meaning God will come down (Messiah). Blessing from below, meaning that the Messiah will rise from sheol (Holding place of the dead). Blessing from the breast and womb, which refers to disciples feeding at the breast of Messiah, who will be born at Israel’s breast Miriam (Mary: rebellion). Of the plain meaning we read that Joseph, who was separated from his family temporarily will be crowned with blessing. Of the remez (hint) we read that Shiloh (The Messiah) will be separate from His brothers temporarily (Dead for three days and three nights like Jonah), He will be unique in all Israel, crowned before He descends from God and crowned with blessing and with the k’vod HaShem glory of God (Mercy) when He ascends to be seated at God’s right hand. Speaking of the right hand… Gen 49:27 Benyamin (Son of my right hand) shall ravage as a wolf: in the morning he will devour the prey, and at night he will divide the spoil.” It is true that the descendants of Benjamin became known for their fierce wolf like warrior nature, as recorded in the affair of the concubine at Gibeah (Judges 19-20). King Saul of Benjamin was also like a wolf, defeating Moab, Edom and Philistia. The morning is said to refer to the rise of Saul as Israel’s first human king, and the night is said to refer to the overcoming of Mordechai and Esther (Both of Benjamin) and the dividing of the spoils of their enemies (Israel’s enemies)[Esther 8:7]. Gen 49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Yisrael: and this is what their father spoke to them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. “Everyone according to his blessing” again affirms the core doctrine that teaches all blessing comes from God and is the speaking into time of that which God has already seen fulfilled outside of time and space. Gen 49:29 And he charged them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people: inter me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron (Fawn like) the Chiti (Descendant of Chet [terror]), Gen 49:30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah (Double portion), which is before Mamre (Strength, fatness, abundance), in the land of K’naan (Lowland, humility), which Avraham (Father of many peoples) purchased along with the field of Ephron the Chiti (terrorist) for a possession of a place for interment. Gen 49:31 There they interred Avraham and Sarah (Princess, queen) his wife; there they interred Yitzchaak (He laughs) and Rivkah (Fetching beauty) his wife; and there I interred Leah (weary). Gen 49:32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is there was from the children of Chet (Terror). The Torah affirms yet again the legal purchase of the land surrounding Hebron and the cave therein. Despite the revisionist history of the enemies of Israel, there can be no argument, Hebron was, is and will always be a Jewish holy site. This is Jacob’s final request. He has already obligated Joseph through an oath, now he also commands Joseph’s brothers. Jacob’s interment at Hebron is not merely a dying man’s selfish demand, to the contrary, Jacob knows that his interment there will become a physical manifestation of the divine promise to bring all Israel into that Promised Land. By instructing all his sons to honour his wish, he is laying a foundation of hope, not only in the physical promises of God relating to the land of Israel, but also in the eternal hope of the resurrection and the Olam haba (World to come). Gen 49:33 And when Yaakov (Follower) had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and died, and was gathered to his people. The phrase “He gathered his feet into the bed” concludes Jacob’s last earthly journey, he has entered death well: something he had begun in 48:2. This action is a symbolic representation of the gathering to his people. Just as the feet are drawn from the open air and beneath the covers, so too Jacob will be drawn from this life and beneath the earth into that part of Sheol (Gan Eden) where the righteous dwell. As I have explained in previous commentary, those who die in Messiah are dead to this temporary world but alive to Messiah in Gan Eden (Paradise). Jacob was gathered to his people. One cannot be gathered to a people who have ceased to exist. Both Judaism and Christianity teach the eternal nature of the human Spirit/Soul. This teaching originates here in the first book of the Torah and not (As so many foolish Christian scholars suggest) post Hellenism. “But concerning the dead being raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the burning bush? How God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He’s not the God of the dead, but of the living. You have gone far astray!” –Yeshua Mark 12:26-27 (TLV) © Yaakov Brown 2017 In verse 31, the Septuagint, a Jewish translation of the Hebrew Torah, reads “staff” rather than “bed”, as recorded in the Masoretic Hebrew text of the Torah. There is no need to argue over which is correct. Both are correct. His staff was at the head of his bed, thus he bowed on the staff and at the head of the bed. Gen 47:1 Then Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) came and spoke to Pharaoh (Great House), saying, “My father and my brothers, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, have come out of the land of K’naan (Lowland, humility); and, hinei behold, they are in the land of Goshen (Draw Near). Gen 47:2 And umik’tzeih from the end, outer edge (cut off) of his brothers he (Yosef) took five men, and yatzigeim established (presented) them lip’neiy before the face of Pharaoh (Great House).
Joseph has carefully orchestrated these events so as to keep his brothers and family separate from the royal court of Egypt and the possibility of assimilation. He has previously placed the idea of Goshen before Pharaoh as a foregone conclusion and Pharaoh is happy to comply with Joseph’s request. Why only five of his brothers? Some of our Sages suggest that Joseph chose the weakest of the brothers so as to deter Pharaoh from employing them in his court. Others say that he chose the strongest in order to satisfy Pharaoh’s faith in the strength of Joseph and his community, and enlist Joseph’s brothers into the Egyptian military. Five is symbolically seen as half of fullness (10), the first instalment of a work yet to find completion. In a very real sense this is prophetic of what awaits Israel in the years ahead. It is impossible to know which five brothers were taken before Pharaoh. The Sages’ interpretations range from the weakest to the strongest, and offer various reasons to support their conjectures. Perhaps the most likely explanation is that Joseph chose brothers from each end of the birth order. This fits with the use of the Hebrew “umik’tzeih” which translates literally as “and from the end”. If this is the correct reading of the Hebrew text then the brothers selected might have included Rueben (Behold a son), Simeon (Heard), Benjamin (Son of my right hand) and Zebulun (Prince, dwelling gloriously, gift), the fifth being either Levi (Joined) or Issachar (reward). The Targum of Yonatan names the five as, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher; but Yarchi identifies them as, Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Issachar and Benjamin. Neither list can be considered as anything more than conjecture. What is clear is that Joseph intended to establish his brothers before Pharaoh as being of great value as herders of Egypt’s animals but of little value to the court of the monarchy and to its military. It seems that his goal was to keep the sons of Israel set apart, in order to maintain their culture and more importantly their priestly role before the one true God HaShem, whom they worshipped and represented in the land of idolatry known as Egypt. Gen 47:3 And Pharaoh said to his (Yosef’s) brothers, “What is your occupation? And they replied to Pharaoh, Your servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. As discussed in my commentary on the previous chapter, the role of shepherding was both a practical and spiritual role for the Patriarchs and the tribes of Israel. The Pharaoh in question may be one of the Hyksos kings and is therefore interested in the occupation and lineage of this people who have come from the same region as his descendants, who had invaded Egypt many years prior. If on the other hand he is not a Hyksos ruler and these events are taking place at a later date in History, his question is simply a means by which he can assess how the brothers of Joseph might enhance his rule and the betterment of Egypt. Gen 47:4 They also said to Pharaoh, “It is in order to sojourn (dwell temporarily) in the land that we have come; for your servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine/hunger is severe in the land of K’naan (Humility): now therefore, we plead with you, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen (Draw near). All this was said to Pharaoh according to the instructions Joseph had given his brothers. What stands out in respect to Israel’s greater story, is the fact that the brothers said, “It is in order to sojourn (dwell temporarily) in the land that we have come.” It’s clear that the entire family of Jacob understood the promises of God concerning Israel and the importance of looking forward to that day when they would leave Egypt and return to the Land of K’naan, which would make up part of the greater area of land promised to Israel. To sojourn is to dwell temporarily, working and living until the time comes to move on to the goal of one’s journey. All who follow Messiah Yeshua are sojourners, awaiting His return and the goal of our journey, to live eternally with Him in the promised Olam Haba (World to come). It’s important to note that Joseph’s brothers offer no real threat to the security of Egypt as herders of animals, an occupation reserved for the lower classes and or slaves. Therefore, part of the reason for Joseph’s instructions is to ensure that neither his brothers nor his father appear arrogant or entitled before Pharaoh. Gen 47:5 And Pharaoh (Great House) spoke to Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds), saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you (singular): Gen 47:6 The land of Mitzrayim (Double straits/distress) Egypt is before your face (singular); in the best of the land make your father and brothers to dwell; in the land of Goshen (Draw near) let them dwell: and if you know of any men of strength among them, then make them shari my princes over my cattle.” Pharaoh speaks directly to Joseph using the singular “you” and insists that it is Joseph before whom the entire land of Egypt lies. Joseph has shown great respect to Pharaoh in coming to him before allowing his family to make camp in Goshen. Pharaoh continues to trust Joseph’s judgement in all matters and thus he effectively gives the decision back into Joseph’s hands, saying, “Let them dwell”, meaning, ‘Let them dwell where you’ve suggested”. Finally Pharaoh, having seen the prosperity brought about through Joseph’s leadership, requests that he select the strongest of his brothers to care for his herds. This of course gives some credence to the suggestion that Joseph had brought the weaker looking of the brothers before Pharaoh. Gen 47:7 And Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) brought in Yaakov (Follows after the heel) his father, and stood him before the face of Pharaoh (Great House), and Yaakov y’vareikh blessed Pharaoh. What we are reading about here is the meeting of two kings. The king of the people of HaShem (A spiritual king), and the king of a world power. Hebrews 6:16 reminds us that human beings always swear by one greater than themselves. In the case of the servants of HaShem, that greater One by Whom we swear is God Himself. It is also true that because the Hebrew view understands all blessing to come from God, the person who blesses is always blessing by One greater than himself. In fact, with regard to the Patriarchs and their interactions with other rulers, it can be said that the greater blesses the lesser. In the present case Jacob blesses Pharaoh, there is no mention of Pharaoh blessing Jacob. From the Torah’s perspective Jacob, the servant of God is greater than Pharaoh (Great House). This is why nothing is said of Pharaoh blessing Jacob. God has and will continue to bless Jacob, and through Jacob God pronounces blessing on Pharaoh, for as long as he cares for, protects and facilitates the prosperity of Jacob/Israel. Gen 47:8 And Pharaoh said unto Yaakov, How old are you? This question of Pharaoh seems unusual. What might have prompted Pharaoh to ask this? It seems that in the plain sense Pharaoh is struck by the ancient features of Jacob’s face and his frailty. Though, given what he already knows of Joseph’s father, the opposite may be true. He may be impressed at how fit Jacob looks for a person whom Pharaoh suspects of being much older than himself. It’s possible that Egyptians were not accustomed to seeing people who had lived as long as Jacob had, and that Pharaoh was astounded by Jacob’s obvious old age and wondered how it was possible? Thus he wanted to verify Jacob’s age. Gen 47:9 And Yaakov said unto Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years: few and raiym (full of) evils have the days of the years of my life been, and my days are not as many as the days of the years of the lives of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. We know that Jacob dies at the age of 147 years (47:28). Therefore, he spends two seventeen year periods with Joseph: Joseph’s first 17 years and Jacob’s last seventeen years. 17 is the sum of the two numbers of completion and wholeness. 7 is connected to the created order and its completion, while also being representative of the sevenfold Spirit of HaShem and the emanations of His character. Thus 7 is symbolic of spiritual completion, wholeness, fulfilment. 10 is also a number of completion and wholeness, and seems to have the role of symbolizing the earthly fulfilments of the heavenly will. In simple terms HaShem has shown Jacob the end from the beginning and is now showing him the beginning from the end. He has lived to see part of the promise fulfilled and will now begin a new journey in Hashem, the journey into Gan Eden (Paradise). Though Jacob’s days have been full of troubles, he has none the less seen the faithfulness of HaShem manifest throughout his days on earth as a sojourner/pilgrim. The root for the Hebrew “guray” meaning pilgrimage or sojourn, is “geir”. Thus, in modern terms Jacob was saying, ‘I’ve been living as an immigrant, a geir (alien/stranger) for 130 years”. Both Rashbam and Rambam read raiym (evils) as “travails”. In this context the Hebrew raiym can denote trouble. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” –Job 14:1 Gen 47:10 And Yaakov (YHVH: Mercy adds) y’varekh blessed Pharaoh (Great House) and went out from before Pharaoh. Once again Jacob (representing HaShem) blesses Pharaoh. Both these blessings are conditional on Pharaoh’s right treatment of Israel. The Torah has already established that God will bless those who bless Abraham’s descendants and curse those who curse them (Gen. 12:3; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; 30:27-30; 39:5, 23). Gen 47:11 And Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) settled his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Mitzrayim Egypt, in the best part of the land, in the land of Rameses (Child of the Sun), as Pharaoh had commanded. “The land of Rameses” is the later name, that is, the name used during Moses lifetime, for the region of Goshen (Exodus 1:11). Gen 47:12 And Yosef nourished his father, and his brothers, and all his father's household, with bread, according to the mouths of their children. “According to the mouths of their children” is an idiom that means each family was given the appropriate amount of supplies for the number of people in the family. The same principle is applied during the collection of manna many years later, following the exodus. Gen 47:13 And there was no bread (food) in all the land; for the famine/hunger caused great fainting, so that the land (& those in it) of Mitzrayim Egypt and all the land of K’naan (Lowland) fainted before the face of the famine/hunger. A stark contrast is shown between the care and provisioning of Israel and the general state of the common people of Egypt and K’naan. The “fainting” described is the natural result of low blood sugar and dehydration and is a metaphorically allusion to despair. The famine made things especially difficult during the extremely hot conditions of the summer months. Gen 47:14 And Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) gathered up all the silver that was found in the land of Mitzrayim Egypt, and in the land of K’naan, (as the price) for the grain which they (the people of Egypt and K’naan) bought: and Yosef brought the silver into Pharaoh's house. Although Joseph had authority over all these things he showed his great integrity by making himself fiscally accountable to Pharaoh. Gen 47:15 And when the silver ran out in the land of Mitzrayim Egypt, and in the land of K’naan, all the Mitzrayim Egyptians came to Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds), and said, “Give us bread (food): for why should we die in front of you? Now that the silver is gone. Gen 47:16 And Yosef said, “Give your cattle; and I will give you food in exchange for your cattle, if the silver is gone.” Gen 47:17 And they brought their cattle to Yosef: and Yosef gave them bread (food) in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. We note that it is “bread/food” that is given rather than grain. These events must be taking place in the latter part of the fifth year or the beginning of the sixth year of the famine/hunger, since we read of a second or following year, when seed rather than bread was given to them for the purpose of sowing the land. This means the drought was coming to an end, making the second of these two years the seventh and final year of the famine. Gen 47:18 When that year was ended, they came to him again the second year, and said to him, “We can’t hide it from my lord, our silver is spent; my lord also has our herds of cattle; there nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: Gen 47:19 As a result, should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread (food), and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and so that the land will not be desolate. In the ancient world it was common for people devoid of any other means of payment to offer their liberty as payment and become indentured servants to those from whom they purchased goods. The irony of the enslavement of the common people of Egypt is not lost on the Hebrew writer of this text. Moses is recording these words in retrospect at Sinai and must surely see the rhythms of God at work as he collates the oral and revealed history and laws of Israel. Gen 47:20 And Yosef bought all the land of Mitzrayim Egypt for Pharaoh; for every Mitzrayim Egyptian sold his field, because the famine/hunger prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. It seems unlikely that those in Pharaoh’s court and those of higher social standing were required to sell their freedom. Along with the priests, the elite were probably exempt due to the stipends they received from Pharaoh. Gen 47:21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Mitzrayim Egypt even to the other end. This was probably done in order to sever generational ties to those parts of the land that had been sold. Thus those who had sold ancestral lands in one location were moved to another so that they would not become reattached to the idea of owning what they might later consider to be their rightful possession. That is, the land they had sold. Gen 47:22 Only the adamat ground of ha-coheniym the priests was not purchased; for the priests had a portion assigned them by Pharaoh, and ate their portion of food which Pharaoh gave them: this is why they didn’t sell their ad’maat ground. The priests of Egypt received their stipend in much the same way as the priests of Israel would one day receive their living from the people for the service offered before HaShem. It’s interesting to note that if it is the case that only the priests of Egypt were in this privileged position, then one might consider the people of Israel, who were also allowed to maintain their land in Goshen (and buy more land) and received a regular allotment of food from Joseph, to be a nation of priests. In fact, this has been the case since the first priest Abraham chose to lead his children in the paths of Hashem, and is still the case today. “’So as for you, you will be to Me a kingdom of kohaniym and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you are to speak to Bnei-Yisrael (Children of Israel).” –Exodus 19:6 Gen 47:23 Then Yosef said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: so, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. This happened in the last year of the famine, or else sowing seed would have been pointless. Gen 47:24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for those of your households, and for food for your little ones. Gen 47:25 And they said, “You have saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.” Gen 47:26 And Yosef made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should receive a fifth; with the exception of the land of the priests, which didn’t become Pharaoh's. Joseph acts generously in Pharaoh’s name. The land owner (Pharaoh) was entitled to take the majority of the land’s produce. Another ruler of the period might have taken four fifths of the produce and left those who worked the land with only a fifth from which to divide up food and seed for replanting. What Joseph agrees to is the opposite of this. Pharaoh will take the lesser portion and the greater portion will remain in the hands of the farmers. This is why the people respond by saying, “You have saved us”. They gladly offer themselves in service of a ruler who will deal with them righteously. There is a wonderful foreshadowing of the Messiah and His kingdom in this interaction. The Olam Haba (World to come), will be a kingdom owned entirely by the most generous King of all time, God Himself. Those who sell all they have to become His servants in this life are delighted to receive the generous portion of eternal life that God affords those who work in His harvest field. He gives enough for our needs and overflows our cup that we might bless others. When His Son Yeshua (Joseph being the type for Messiah) offers us the opportunity to be set free from certain death in the famine and hunger of this sin affected world, we gladly give up that which we cannot hold on to for that which we will never lose. The fifth given to Pharaoh, even up until the day of the writing down of the Torah, is symbolic of Egypt’s failure to be complete in its spiritual journey. The tithe of Abraham and subsequently of the priesthood, is a lesser portion practically speaking (A fifth is greater than a tenth), but a greater portion spiritually speaking. Gen 47:27 And Yisrael (Overcomes in God) dwelt in the land of Mitzrayim Egypt, in the country of Goshen (Draw near); and they acquired property in it, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. The priests of Egypt maintained their property, but the priestly nation of Israel extended their land holdings. Israel the man, and “they”, Israel the people, dwelt in Egypt and prospered. Vayechiy (And He lived) This parashat is distinct in that unlike others, there is no gap in the Torah text to indicate its division. It may seem ironic that the portion that describes Jacob’s death should be headed “And he lived”. However, this is exactly the right way to describe the deaths of the children of God. As Yeshua has said, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” (Matthew 22:32). For Jacob, now Israel, death is the doorway to the Messiah and Gan Eden (Paradise), and subsequently “He lives, eternally”. Gen 47:28 And Yaakov (Follows after the heel) lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the total number of Yaakov’s years was one hundred forty seven. Yaakov the follower, the pilgrim, completes his earthly journey with the knowledge that as Yisrael the overcomer he will enter into Gan Eden (Paradise, Abraham’s bosom). Gen 47:29 And the time drew nigh that Yisrael (Overcome in God) must die: and he called his son Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) and said to him, “If now I have found grace in your sight, I plead with you, put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; I plead with you, do not inter me in Egypt: Israel, who has overcome in God now calls upon HaShem Who adds mercy, asking for confirmation of the hope he has held in his heart for so many years. He asks to be interred above ground (not buried). The act of placing the hand under the thigh next to the male sexual organ is symbolic of an oath which binds one to the generations past and future (Gen 24:2). In effect, Joseph is making an oath that will also be incumbent on his progeny. This is why all of Jacob’s sons go up to inter him at Machpelah in Hebron (Gen. 50:8, 12-13). Gen 47:30 But I will lie with my fathers, and you shall carry me out of Mitzrayim Egypt (Double straits, distress), and inter me in their place of interment.” And he (Joseph) said, “I will do as you have said”. Gen 47:31 And he (Jacob) said, “Swear to me.” And he (Joseph) swore to him. And Yisrael prostrated himself toward the head of the bed (bowed himself on the head of his staff). “In trusting Yaakov (follower), as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he bowed in worship while leaning on the top of his staff.” –Hebrews 11:21 In verse 31, the Septuagint, a Jewish translation of the Hebrew Torah, reads “staff” rather than “bed”, as recorded in the Masoretic Hebrew text of the Torah. There is no need to argue over which is correct. Both are correct. His staff was at the head of his bed, thus he bowed on the staff and at the head of the bed. With this established we are free to expound the meaning of the head of the bed and the bedrock of the staff, both being significant symbols. The second of Joseph’s dreams has not yet been fulfilled to completion. His brothers have bowed down to him but his father has not. As Jacob seeks Joseph’s oath, Joseph stands close to the top of his bed. After making the oath upon Jacob’s thigh, Jacob bows to Joseph at the head of his bed and upon his staff. Thus he completes that part of Joseph’s second dream that can be completed and leaves the final fulfilment of it (When both Jacob and Rachel will bow to the Messiah ben Joseph [Yeshua]) until that great day when the Messiah returns and the dead rise. The head of the bed is the chief place of rest and denotes a final transition of peace. Jacob is bowing to HaShem in the knowledge of his son’s oath, assured that he will be interred in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron (Gen. 23:9-19; 25:9; 49:30; 50:13), along with his forefathers, there to await the resurrection and the life everlasting in the land promised to him by HaShem. The staff is a sign of Jacob’s authority over all his sons, the tribes of Israel. This is why the name Israel is used in verse 29 prior to the oath and prior to his bowing to Joseph at the head of his bed and upon the staff. This staff of authority is being passed on, not to Judah, but to Joseph, from whom the sons of promise (Ephraim and Menashe) have come forth. This staff is given to Joseph in a figurative representation of the future Messiah, Who will rule over all the tribes of Jacob/Israel, and indeed, over all nations. “ So Yaakov’s sons did for him just as he commanded them. His sons carried him to the land of K’naan and interred him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, the field that Avraham bought as a property for burial from Ephron the Chitti, next to Mamre.” –Genesis 50:12-13 © Yaakov Brown 2017 Those who fear God need not be afraid of Him. 46:1 So Yisrael (Overcomes in God) set out, along with everything that belonged to him. When he came to Beer-sheva (Well of sevens/oath), he va’izbach slaughtered animals z’bachiym as blood sacrifices lei’eloheiy to the God of his father Yitzchak (He laughs).
It’s Yisrael (Overcomes in God) who sets out, certain of his corporate identity. Upon Yisrael’s (Both the man and the nation) arrival at Beer-Sheva sacrifices are made for both the nation and the man. However, it is Yaakov (the follower), father of the tribes, who needs to be encouraged by HaShem. Abraham had made an agreement at Beer-Sheva with Avimelech, planting trees to confirm the location’s importance and give shade to future generations (Gen. 21:22-34), and Yitzchak had previously offered sacrifices at Beer-Sheva (Gen. 26:23-33). It was on his way to Charan just after leaving Beer-Sheva, that Jacob had his dream of the stairway to the heavens (Gen. 28:10-16). Israel’s sacrificing here a symbol of his intrinsic connection to both his forebears and the land. Beer-sheva was considered to be at the southern border of K’naan and was therefore the last stop before entering into new territory. The well (Beer: mayim chayim waters of living) of complete blessing and promised prosperity (Sheva) is the appropriate place for Jacob/Israel to prepare for his descent into Egypt (Double straits/distress). It seems clear that Jacob was aware of God’s prophecy to Abram concerning his descendants: “After these things the word of HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) came to Abram (Father of a nation) in a vision saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward’… Then He said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and oppressed 400 years. 14 But I am going to judge the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will go out with many possessions.’” –Genesis 15:1, 13-14 Jacob is said to make blood sacrifices (va’izbach z’bachiym) to the God of his father Isaac because the Torah is making clear the generational connection to the promises of God concerning the Land of Israel. The God of Isaac is also named because He has been identified previously as the “Terror/Dread/Awe of Isaac”. It is this fearful and awe inspiring description of God that will accompany Israel on his (their) journey. Yes, Jacob is leaving the land of his fathers, but only for a time. According to the promise of HaShem he will return (Gen. 15:13-14). It is a great tragedy that even some of the best English translations mislead the reader (be it intentionally or not) by rendering the Hebrew “va’izbach z’bachiym” as “and offered sacrifices”. The Hebrew zabach, meaning to slaughter, is the root of the Hebrew word mizbeiach (altar) and is employed twice in succession here in reference to the act of slauhtering. The Hebrew zabach always indicates slaughter except when it is qualified by another term. This is also true of the Hebrew mizbeiach, meaning altar, as in the case of an altar of incense (mizbeiach miktar) etc. Jacob is not simply offering generic sacrifices, which could take any form including offerings of fruit etc. To the contrary, he literally “Slaughters, slaughterings”. The point is that he understands the need for blood covering for the remission of sin. When this text is rendered properly it also alerts the reader to the fact that Jacob sees a need to humble himself before God and seek forgiveness for sin through blood sacrifice, prior to journeying to Egypt. All of this is missed if we read “offered sacrifices”. The Hebrew commentator Radak affirms this understanding of va’izbach z’bachiym saying that Yaakov “offered meat offerings at Beer-sheva”. Radak goes on to say that “The sacrifices he offered were intended to restore the Holy Spirit to him (Jacob) which had departed when Joseph had departed from him.” (Radak on Bereishit 46:1:1). Regardless of whether we agree with Radak’s theology, he is clearly inferring that Jacob sees a need for propitiation and blood atonement in order to reconcile his spiritual journey with HaShem and receive the present manifestation of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit), in Talmudic terms “The Shechinah” (Manifest feminine Spirit of God). “For the life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives—for it is the blood that makes atonement because of the life.” – Vayikra (Leviticus) 17:11 (TLV) “And nearly everything is purified in blood according to the Torah, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” –Hebrews 9:22 (TLV) 2 And speaking, Elohiym (God: Judge) to Yisrael (Overcomes in God) b’mar’ot in visions/mirrors ha-laylah of the night, said, “Yaakov (Follower at the heel), Yaakov (Follower, disciple).” It’s Elohiym the Judge who speaks because blood sacrifices have been made as a means of atonement. It is the Judge Who judges the covering and forgives the offense. We could read the allegory “The Judge spoke to the one who overcomes in God through the reflections of the mirrors of night, saying ‘Follow at My heel, follower, and disciple’.” The Hebrew “marah”, meaning vision or mirror, conveys the idea that the voice of God is reflected in Jacob’s night time experience. There is a sense of the awesome holiness of God and Jacobs inability as a sinful man to look God full in the face. Thus God’s Word is reflected in the visions. Rav Shaul (Paul the Shaliach: sent one) writes the following words to the Corinthian believers: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I am fully known.” -1 Corinthians 13:12 The visions of God are mirrors reflecting the light of eternity into our present reality and leading us into futures already held complete in God’s hands. When God speaks we are assured of things unseen and warmed by the reflected light of His glory (k’vod). His present eternity is made real in our fading reality. Beer-Sheva is the tipping point of trust. Once beyond this point Jacob is fully committed to his course of action. He needs reassurance from HaShem that he is prepared for what lies ahead. Thus HaShem calls to him in order to show Jacob that he is ready and to encourage him in the knowledge that he will not be going alone. And Yaakov responded, “Hineini,” (Here I am, ready, willing, attentive, I’m standing to attention, I know it’s You, I’ve been prepared before now, I’m obedient, I’m present, No one but You could stop me, I’m certain of Your intentions, I’m afraid but am willing to act on Your instructions regardless). In Jacob’s response the Sages see the instigation of the Maariv (Evening prayer service). “Therefore, Yaakov the Patriarch of exile, originated Maariv, to show his children that the exile/night might be the epilogue to one day, but it is prologue to another, even better one” –Meshech Chochmah Just as his forefathers had done, Jacob offers the contrite and holy response, “Hineini”. I’m utterly laid bare before You HaShem, instruct me, I am willing to go where you lead. 3 And He (God) said, “I am Ha-El the God, Eloheiy God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Mitzrayim (Egypt, double straits/distress), for I will turn you into a great nation there. 4 I Myself will go down with you to Mitzrayim Egypt and I Myself will also bring you up. Yosef (YVHV: Mercy adds) will lay his hands upon your eyes.” This is God’s only speech in chapters 37-50 and He uses this time to reiterate His promise to Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 12:2-3; 26:2-5). Thus He is assuring Jacob that his leaving the Promised Land does not change the fact that God will honour His commitment to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “I myself will also bring you up” (v.4). This is a foreshadowing of the future exodus and brings to mind the words of the Passover Haggadah: “Our father Jacob did not come down to strike roots in Egypt but only to sojourn there.” Israel is not descending into Egypt in order to be destroyed. Rather he is going down (humbling himself) in order that God might bring him up (redemption). God has already promised Jacob that Israel will become a great nation there (They became 600,000, besides children; Gen. 46:27 Exodus 1:7; 12:37), and that the land of Israel will be kept for the people of Israel in perpetuity. According to the promise of God, Who does not lie. Yarchi takes the words “I Myself will also bring you up” to be a promise that Jacob will be buried in the land of Canaan, which had its fulfilment, when his corpse was carried out of Egypt to Machpelah, and there interred. God had previously instructed Isaac not to go down to Egypt during a past famine, waiting instead for the right time in human history (Perhaps corresponding to the latter Hyksos period), when He will seed a great nation in the midst of a great famine. The Rabbi Sforno writes: “I am the One Who told your father (Isaac) ‘do not go down to Egypt’ (Gen. 26:2-3), I am also the One Who tells you ‘do not be afraid to go down to Egypt at this time’. The difference is that the time has come. If you were to remain in Canaan at this time, your family would intermarry in short order with the members of the local population, so that they would become assimilated to them and the future of a Jewish nation would be jeopardised. This is something that will not happen in Egypt.” –Sforno on Bereishit (Genesis) 46:3:1 “Lay his hands on your eyes” is an idiomatic expression referring to the act of closing the eyes of one who has died (Ibn Ezra). Both Maimonides and the writers of the Talmud agree that the closing of the eyes of the dead, is among the appropriate rites used towards them (Hilchot Ebel, l. 4. sect. 1; Talmud. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 151. 2.). The use of this expression assures Jacob that the son whom he had once thought dead will outlive him. This strengthens Jacob’s resolve in going down to Egypt. It’s worth repeating that the God of Isaac, in whose name Jacob has sacrificed, is known as “The Dread/Fear of Isaac”, and yet it is this same God Who commands Isaac’s son Jacob, “Do not be afraid”. What this teaches us is that those who fear God need not be afraid of Him. The title “Dread of Isaac” is intended for those who seek to harm the chosen people of God. The children of HaShem need not be afraid of Him. 5 Then Yaakov (Follower at the heel) arose from Beer-Sheva (Well of seven/oath) and the children of Yisrael (Overcome in El) carried Yaakov their father, their little children, and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh (Great House) had sent to carry him. It is Jacob the follower who arises to go and the sons of Israel the nation, carry the follower Jacob, the last of the great Patriarchs (Patriarch of Exile), and all his household, down to Egypt. The current verse shows us that Jacob is to be included in the final sum of 70 recorded at the end of the listing of his household. It is noteworthy that Jacob's wives aren’t mentioned here, it is likely that they were all now dead; it is certain Rachel was (Gen. 35:19), and it’s likely that Leah died before this time, since Jacob says he buried her himself in Machpelah in Canaan (Gen. 49:31). It’s also very likely that his two concubine wives Bilhah and Zilpah were dead. 6 They also took their livestock and their possessions they had acquired in the land of K’naan (Humility, lowland) and they came to Mitzrayim Egypt, Yaakov (Follower) and all his offspring with him. 7 His sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his offspring, he brought with him to Mitzrayim Egypt. This general accounting of the household of Jacob serves the primary purpose of conveying the fact that all of Jacob’s bloodline are descending to Egypt. This is a defining moment in distinguishing who will become part of the roots of ethnic Israel the nation. Those rabbis who foolishly claim that being Jewish has nothing to do with ethnic lineage are sadly mistaken. Though many will marry into Israel in future times through conversion and devotion to God, the primary bloodline remains as a distinct reminder of the Jewish peoples intrinsic connection to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to the history recorded in the Torah. Yes, there is a religious component to the identity of the Jewish people, there is also a cultural aspect, but these things do not deny the bloodline at the root of our nation (Where ever we are dispersed). In his excellent book titled Legacy, author Harry Ostrer presents definitive evidence of the common DNA marker present in Jewish people from diverse cultures and locations throughout the world. His science affirms what the Torah teaches, that “the life is in the blood”. The mention of daughters and granddaughters refers both to those born and to those who are yet to be born in Egypt, and probably includes Sarah the daughter of Asher (Gen. 46:5) We must remember that Moses is writing this down many years later and is including his knowledge of the greater house of Israel in Egypt in order to show that all of Israel both at the time of Jacob’s descent and into the future, are considered to have descended into Mitzrayim (double distress: Egypt). The fact that all the names of daughters/daughters-in-law (Dinah etc. ref. Radak on Gen. 46:7:1) and granddaughters are not included in the following accounting, by no means excludes them from the household. The Torah is conveying the perfect number 70 as symbolizing the completion and prosperity of Israel as a people. This is not intended as a precise genealogical record. This is why there are variant names in other accounts (Num. 26:38-40; 1 Chronicles 7:6; 8:1), where sons are named as grandsons. These grandsons are included here in anticipation of their birth (Hebrews 7:10). The List of Members of Yaakov’s Household who went down to Egypt The following list seeks to give an overview of the house of Israel as it enters Egypt. The numbers of people adding up to seventy in total are meant to convey symbolic meaning. Thus the threes indicate the unity of God and revelation, while the number seventy combines the two numbers of wholeness and perfection 10 x 7 = 70. Ultimately the meaning is that God has brought to wholeness and completion the beginnings of a holy nation whom He will multiply and bless, making them a great nation according to His promise. He also promises to return Israel to the land of promise, making her a light to the nations, who are also represented in the number 70 according to the table of nations recorded in Genesis 10. This list arranges the family of Jacob according to the order of his wives, first listing the children of Leah and her maid Zilpah and then the children of Rachel and her maid Bilhah. 8 Now these are the names of the b’nai children of Yisrael (Overcome in God) who came to Mitzrayim (Egypt: land of double distress), Yaakov (Follower) and his sons: Yaakov’s firstborn, Reuven (Behold a son), 9 and Reuven’s sons: Chanoch (Dedicated), Palu (distinguished), Chezron (Surrounded by a wall) and Carmi (My vineyard). 10 Shimon’s (heard) sons: Yemuel (Day of God), Yamiyn (Right hand), Ohad (United), Yachiyn (He will establish), Tzochar (Reddish grey: tawny) and Shaul (Desired) the son of the K’naani woman. 11 Levi’s (joined to) sons: Gershon (exile), Kohat (assembly) and Merari (bitter). 12 Yehudah’s (Praise) sons: Er (Awake, watchful), Onan (strong), Shelah (A petition), Peretz (Breach) and Zerah (rising). Er died along with Onan in the land of K’naan. Perez’s (Breach) sons were Chezron (Surrounded by a wall) and Chamul (spared). 13 Yissachar’s (There is recompense/reward) sons: Tola (Worm), Puah (splendid), Yob (persecuted) and Shimron (watch, height, guardian). 14 Zebulun’s (Exalted) sons: Sered (Fear), Elon (Mighty, terebinth) and Yachleel (YHVH Mercy waits). 15 These are Leah’s (Weary) sons whom she bore to Yaakov in Paddan-aram (Field of Aram: exaltation), along with his daughter Dinah (judgement). The tally of all of his sons and daughters was 33 people. From both the previous verses and from the statement of verse 8 “Yaakov and his sons” we conclude that the number 33 is inclusive of Jacob. In one sense we can understand the tally to mean “The number representing all his sons and daughters was 33”. If we understand the numbers symbolically we are more in tune with the intention of Moses. 16 Gad’s (troop) sons: Tziphion (lookout), Chaggi (My festival), Shuni (rest, providence), Ezbon (Discern in haste), Eri (My watcher), Arodi (I shall roam, subdue) and Areli (My Lion of God). 17 Asher’s (Happy) sons: Yimnah (right hand), Yishvah (He will resemble), Yishvi (He resembles me), Beriyah (with a friend), and Serach (The princes spirit/breath) their sister. Beriyah’s (with a friend) sons: Chever (friend) and Malkiyel (My King is God). 18 These are the sons of Zilpah (A trickling), whom Laban (White) gave to Leah (weary) his daughter. She bore these to Yaakov: 16 people. 19 The sons of Yaakov’s wife Rachel (ewe): Yosef (YHVH Mercy adds) and Benyamin (Son of my right hand). 20 Menashe (Causing to forget) and Ephraim (Doubly fruitful) were born to Yosef in the land of Mitzrayim Egypt--As’nat (Belonging to Neit) the daughter of Potiphera (He whom Ra gave) priest of On (strength) bore them to him. 21 Benyamin’s (Son of my right hand) sons: Bela (destruction), Becher (young camel), Ashbel (Man of God/husband), Gera (a grain), Naaman (pleasantness), Ehi (My brother), Rosh (head), Muppim (Serpent), Huppim (protected) and Ard (I shall subdue). 22 These are Rachel’s sons who were born to Yaakov. The tally of all the people was 14. 23 The sons of Dan (Judge): Chushim (make haste) 24 Naphtali’s (wrestling) sons: Yachtzel (God divides), Guni (My defender), Yetzer (forming, inclination) and Shillem (repaid). 25 These are the sons of Bilhah (troubled) whom Laban (white) gave to Rachel (ewe) his daughter and she bore these to Yaakov. The tally of all the people was seven. 26 All the people belonging to Yaakov who came to Mitzrayim Egypt—those coming from his loins (not counting the wives of Yaakov’s sons)—the tally of all the people was 66. In order to reach the total of 66, Dinah must be added (v.15) making 71 and 5 names subtracted: Er and Onan (buried in K’naan), Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, who are already in Egypt. Thus we reach the number of descendants traveling with him, which is 66. The following verse then adds Joseph and his sons to equal 69, plus Jacob, the sum being seventy. 27 The sons of Yosef who were born to him in Mitzrayim Egypt was a tally of two people. The tally of all the people belonging to Yaakov’s house who came to Mitzrayim Egypt was 70. The Daat Zkenim romantically suggests that it is God Who makes up the 70th person of Jacob’s household, saying that though 70 are said to descend only 69 are mentioned. However, this is easily explained with the inclusion of Jacob and the fact that while Jacob may be a member of God’s household, God is not a member of Jacob’s household (With the exception of course of Yeshua [God with us] the King Messiah). 28 Now he sent Yehudah (Praise) before him to Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) in order to direct his face to Goshen (Drawing near). The plan meaning shows Judah’s role as King of the tribes. He is going ahead to make preparations for Israel’s settlement in Goshen. The follower sent praise before him to the one who adds mercy in order to guide his face to draw near. There is a beautiful allegory here. Judah (Praise), the father of the tribe that later brings us the King Messiah, goes before Israel into the land of Egypt, a land that will become synonymous with slavery, bondage and death. Thus we are shown a picture of our Messiah entering this fallen, death affected world, in order to bring us to a place of drawing near to God (Goshen). When they came to the land of Goshen (Drawing near), 29 Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) harnessed his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Yisrael. As soon as he appeared before him, he fell upon his neck, and wept on his neck for some time. The plain meaning is clear, Joseph had longed for this day of reconciliation and is utterly overwhelmed. Tears of grief over years lost mix with tears of joy at seeing his aged father. The sages say that Jacob recited the Shema (Deut. 6:4) at this moment (Rashi). The reciting of the Shema is an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty. This is why Jacob is said to have chanted the famous prayer upon seeing his beloved son Joseph (Aryeh). Jacob finally realizes what he has always believed, that God is in control of all things. Rambam suggests that the verb “wept” applies to Jacob rather than Joseph, who is the antecedent to the preceding pronoun eilayu (toward him). If this is correct we would read “And he (Jacob) fell on (Joseph’s) neck and he (Jacob) wept.” 30 Then Yisrael (Overcomes in God) said to Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds), “At this time I am ready to die, after seeing your face in person—for you’re still alive!” For years Jacob has been mourning his son Joseph in bitter depression and has been focussed on his own mortality in light of the loss of his favoured son. Now his talk of death takes on new meaning. Rather than dying in the bitterness of grief and loss, unwilling to go on in life, he instead looks forward to dying in the knowledge of God’s faithfulness, due to having seen his beloved son alive, Jacob himself is reborn. 31 Then Yosef said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I’ll go up and tell Pharaoh (Great house), and say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household who were in the land of K’anaan have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds, for they’ve been men who handle livestock, who have brought their flocks and cattle and everything that they possess.’ 33 So when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you must say, ‘Your servants have been men who handle livestock since the time of our youth until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you can live in the land of Goshen, because every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.” Joseph seems to be coaching his family on how to ensure that they will receive the fertile land of Goshen and at the same time keep themselves separate from the idolatrous Egyptian culture. Thus he urges them to emphasize the fact that they are shepherds, a profession the animal worshipping Egyptians despised. It is also possible however, that the Egyptians despised foreign shepherds in particular rather than shepherds in general. By identifying themselves as foreign shepherds they were ensuring their possession of the land of Goshen for their herds and will be kept from future assimilation due to Goshen’s semi isolated location [Goshen was a fertile region in northeast Egypt, east of the Nile delta, which contained the country’s most fertile soil and is called the best of the land (Gen. 47:6)]. This in turn would keep their own worship practices alive and strengthen their devotion to HaShem. In this environment they would strengthen their bloodlines and multiply, growing from strength to strength. Israel’s practical role as shepherd informed her spiritual growth and her identity as the sheep of the Shepherd over all nations, HaShem and His Messiah (Psalm 80:1; 23, Jer. 31:10). Shepherds are tasked with caring for and nurturing dependent animals, sheep are prone to wondering and in need of protection. Within this role the Israelites learned to identify their own shortcomings as the chosen sheep of HaShem, and their need to rely on Him completely. It is no surprise that the idea of shepherding was despicable to the Egyptians, who had slaves do this menial work and spent their days involved in less honourable pursuits such as, idolatry, political intrigue and occult practices, to name a few. It is possible that these events took place during the Hyksos reign 1680-1540 BCE. Which makes it unlikely that the Egyptian hatred for Shepherds is associated, as some claim, with the aftermath of the so called “Shepherd Kings” of the Hyksos (Syro-Palestinian invaders). Anyone caught dishonouring the Hyksos leaders of the time would have been dealt with severely. It is also clear from the text itself that the Pharaoh of our text shares the same dislike for shepherds as the rest of the Egyptian community. Therefore, he does not consider himself a “Shepherd King”, a title used in folk tradition long after the Hyksos period. On the other hand, if these events took place at a later period in Egyptian history, it must be stressed that Egyptians had slaves who shepherded their own herds and flocks. Thus it seems likely, as previously stated, that their hatred was for foreign shepherds rather than for shepherds in general. © Yaakov Brown 2017 The favour that God bestows on others does not diminish our value, but our envy of them clouds our ability to see our value. Introduction:
It is the repentant and self-sacrificing plea of Judah on behalf of his brother Benjamin, and the imminent possibility of Jacob’s death that acts as the catalyst for Joseph’s break down and revelation. The viceroy and ruler of Egypt, Joseph (YHVH: Mercy adds), chooses to refuse vengeance and instead adds mercy to his brothers. It is almost impossible for the Spirit filled disciple of Yeshua to miss the obvious correlation between the present text and the final exodus of the Jewish people recorded in the Revelation of Yeshua (Jesus) to Yochanan (John). Just as the tribes of Israel have gathered in repentance before Joseph in Egypt and according to the revelation of his person, mourn their sin and are reconciled through his mercy, so too the books of Romans (11) and Revelation explain that in the latter days all the tribes of Israel will look upon the one whom we have pierced and in repentance will receive the mercy of Yeshua our Mashiyach. If there were ever any doubt as to the correlation between the life stories of Joseph and Yeshua, it is silenced here. Gen 45:1 Then Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) no longer had the power to restrain himself in front of all who stood near him; and he called out, “Cause every man to go out from me”. And there stood no man with him, when Yosef made himself known to his brothers. Mercy added knowledge to the tribes of Israel. It is clear from the last verses of the previous chapter, that it is Joseph’s realization that his brothers are truly repentant, along with their care for Benjamin and Joseph’s own fears for the wellbeing of his father which finally bring him to the end of himself, emotionally speaking. Rashbam suggests that Joseph had his personal staff and other household members leave the room because his position required that he be seen by them only in an emotionally neutral state. Prophetically speaking, Joseph’s revealing himself to his brothers in private seems to correlate to Yeshua’s revealing Himself to the twelve disciples (All of whom were Jews and represented the twelve tribes of Israel). Following His transfiguration Yeshua instructs the three, “Don’t tell anyone” (Matt. 17:9; 9:9). Gen 45:2 Vayitein And giving kolu his voice, he wept: and the Mitzrayim (Egyptians: Double distress) and the house of Pharaoh (Great House) heard. This can be understood to mean that word spread to Pharaoh’s house from the houses surrounding Joseph’s house, or, that Joseph’s house was close enough to Pharaoh’s palace that he could be heard. Regardless, the weeping must have taken the form of wailing in order to have been heard outside the walls of Joseph’s house. Gen 45:3 And Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) said to his brothers, “I am Yosef; does my father ha-od continue in chaiy health (life)? And his brothers could not answer him; for they were terrified before mipanay’u his face. Everyone, including the interpreter, had been cleared from the room. Now only Joseph and his brothers remained. Therefore, Joseph must be speaking Hebrew at this point. Thus the brother’s terror and astonishment are triggered not only by the words themselves but also by the fact that Joseph is now speaking their mother tongue. Joseph is not repeating the previously answered question of whether his father is alive. Rather in this context the Hebrew chaiy indicates health, much like the English expression “Full of life”, chaiy is used in a similar way in verse 27 where it speaks of Jacob being revived. Other uses of chaiy denoting health and wellbeing can be found in Lev. 18:5, Deut. 8:3; Prov. 14:30; Hab. 2:4 etc. We notice that Joseph’s brothers were terrified by his revelation. They gazed upon his face (panayu). In other words, when Joseph made himself known, the familiarity they had sensed when looking upon him became suddenly and awe inspiringly clear. So too, at the end of the age, the twelve tribes of Israel will look upon the One Whom they have pierced (Zech. 12:10; John 19:37), and in repentance the entire remnant of the ethno-religious people of Israel (Jews) will be redeemed through Yeshua (Romans 11:25-26). “When Joseph said ‘I am Joseph,’ God’s master plan became clear to the brothers. They had no more questions. Everything that had happened for the last twenty-two years fell into perspective. So too, will it be in the olam haba (time to come) when God will reveal Himself and announce, “I am HaShem!” The veil will be lifted from our eyes and we will comprehend everything that transpired throughout history.” –Chafetz Chaim “Therefore, having such a hope, we act with great boldness. 13 We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face in order for Bnei-Yisrael not to look intently upon the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened. For up to this very day the same veil remains unlifted at the reading of the ancient covenant, since in Messiah it is passing away. 15 But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Ruach Adonai is, there is freedom. 18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” -2 Corinthians 3:12-28 (TLV) Gen 45:4 And Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) said to his brothers, “G’shu Draw near to me, please, eli into me, against me. Va’igashu And they came near. And he said, I am Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) your brother, you sold me into Mitzrayim (Egypt: Double distress). Gen 45:5 Now therefore, don’t be cut up, nor angry in your own eyes, that you sold me here: for it was to preserve life that Elohiym (God: Judge) sent me before lip’neichem your faces. Adding Mercy he spoke to his brothers, “Draw near, intimately close in brotherly love”. And the brothers drew close. “I am adding mercy” he said, “I’m your brother who you sold into double distress. But don’t dwell on your sin or condemn yourselves because you sold me into this place: it is because there was a need to preserve life that The Judge sent me before your faces (while you were still unable to see). Joseph responds to the brothers’ terror with an invitation of grace and mercy. “I am the one who adds mercy, your brother”. Joseph does not deny the reality of the sin committed against him. He states clearly that which is already on the minds of the brothers’, “You sold me into double distress”. When he continues he further illuminates and acts out a progression of redemption through repentance and mercy. He has stated his identity as the aggrieved party, acknowledged that he has been sinned against, and has accepted the repentant attitude and actions of those who have committed the sin. Now, drawing attention to all these elements he says, “Now, therefore, don’t be cut up or become self-condemning because you sold me here: for it was to preserve life that Elohiym (God: Judge) sent me before lip’neichem your faces.” Not only did The Judge Elohiym send Joseph ahead of his brothers to preserve them and the entire household of Jacob, He also, through Joseph, has preserved the lives of the Egyptians, who would otherwise have starved to death during the famine. Thus, “To preserve life”. “All of us (sons of Jacob) were destined to descend into Egypt according to God’s decree that Avraham’s descendants would be aliens in a foreign land (Gen. 15:13). Normally we would have gone to Egypt in iron fetters [in the same manner of all slaved-exiles], but He chose to spare Father (Jacob) and you from the harshness of a forced descent into hostile conditions. He set me here to prepare the way and provide for you in honour.” –collected from Tanchuma; Lecha Tov Gen 45:6 For these two years the famine (hunger) has been in the land: and there are five years yet to come, in which there will neither be sowing nor harvesting. Benjamin had been given the fivefold portion as the first half of the completion of the work of Israel’s establishment in Egypt. There will now be five more years of reliance on the provision of Joseph under Pharaoh, bringing the prosperity and security of Israel (Jacob) to completion. Thus the number ten represents the fullness and certainty of the promised provision of God. Gen 45:7 And Elohiym (God: Judge) sent me before your faces to place you as a remnant ba-aretz in the land, and to keep you alive for a great deliverance. As a preserved remnant, Israel was to be set apart as the nation from whom the Messiah will come. God had been working to bring about the deliverance of Israel from hunger and death, and He will continue to do so throughout her history until that final deliverance which is foretold in the prophetic book of Revelation. A book that retells the exodus as the grand meta-narrative encompassing generations and fulfilling the allotted days of this world. The deliverance Joseph speaks of is both the present coming to Egypt of Joseph’s family and the future deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery, both physical and spiritual. Gen 45:8 And now it was not you that sent me here, but Ha-Elohiym the God/Judge: and He has made me to be a father to Pharaoh (Great House), and adon lord of all his house, and a ruler in all the eretz land of Mitzrayim Egypt (Double distress). “And now” is the phrase that secures the brothers’ forgiveness and distinguishes between the past sin and the present reconciliation. “It was not you that sent me here” reveals the purposes and participation of the loving God YHVH. It infers that Joseph was not simply sold but called by God in his dreams and sent ahead by God via the vehicle of adversity. “Father to the King” is an ancient title given to viziers and is therefore appropriately applied to Joseph. The title father is also used to refer to Israel’s prophets, as in the case of Elisha, who is called “O my father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel” (2 Kings 13:14). Thus Elisha is seen as the spiritual leader of Israel, who has authority in God to direct the outcomes of Israel’s military battles. Given the Hebrew understanding of the use of father in this context, it seems very likely that Joseph’s role in Egypt was a combination of spiritual and military leadership. Additionally, it is also symbolically significant in its representation of Joseph as a type for the Messiah. Yeshua said, “I and the Father are echad (complex unity)”. It is comforting to know that our Messiah is Ruler, even in the land of double distress (Mitzrayim/Egypt). Gen 45:9 You hurry, and go up to my father, and say to him, “This is what your son Yosef says, ‘Elohiym (God/Judge) has made me adon lord of all Mitzrayim Egypt: come down to me, don’t delay: Gen 45:10 And you shall dwell in the land of Goshen (Drawing near), and you shall be near to me, you, and your children, and your children's children, and your flocks, and your herds, and all that you have: Gen 45:11 And there will I nourish you; for there are yet five years of famine (hunger); otherwise you and your household, and all that you have, will come to poverty. Goshen was a fertile region in northeast Egypt, east of the Nile delta, which contained the country’s most fertile soil and is called the best of the land (Gen. 47:6). The repetition of the phrase “draw near” which was seeded in verse 4, conveys a rhythm of reconciliation and intimacy that cradles the entire account. Joseph is sending a message to his Abba (Dad) saying, “I’m alive Dad, and I’m a trusted adviser to the king and a ruler over all Egypt. Come down (Draw near) to me, live in a place called “Draw near” and dwell near to me with your entire household for the remainder of your days. Also, allow the generations of your progeny to draw near to me.” As a type for the Messiah, Joseph is echoing the future work of the Messiah: “Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of chesed (grace), that we might receive rachamiym (mercy) and find chesed (grace) to help in time of need.” –Hebrews 4:16 The major city of Goshen was Rameses. Goshen is thought to have been near Tanis, the seat of power of the Hyksos (Chiefs of Foreign Lands), Semitic invaders who dominated Egypt from approx. 1720 to 1580 BCE. The name Rameses was used in later times during the reigns of the Ramessides of the thirteenth century BCE. These are possibly the periods of Joseph (mid 1700s) and Moses (mid 1300s) respectively. Gen 45:12 V’hinei And behold, your (plural) eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benyamin (Son of my right hand), that it is my mouth (language) that speaks to you. “You can recognize my features with your own eyes. You can also identify me by my speaking Hebrew.” -Radak Gen 45:13 And you shall tell my father of all k’vodi my glory in Mitzrayim Egypt (Double distress), and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here. Gen 45:14 And he fell upon his brother Benyamin's neck, and wept; and Benyamin wept upon his neck. Joseph’s glory in Egypt and his intimate connection to his father remind me of the words of Yeshua: “I glorified You on earth by finishing the work that You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world came to be.” –Yochanan (John) 17:4-5 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” –Revelation 12:11 Joseph clearly favours Benjamin over his other brothers and their blood bond strengthens their joyful tears of relief at finally reuniting. The language “And he fell upon his brother Benyamin's neck, and wept” is more dramatic than that of the following verse, where he simply kisses and weeps upon the brothers. The reason God favours one over another in this life, is so that He might exhibit His offer of eternal favour to all. In regard to salvation God has no favourites, but in regard to the way we walk, He favours the obedient. Gen 45:15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers, and wept upon them: and after that his brothers talked with him. This final act of reconciliation releases the brothers from their fear of Joseph the Egyptian ruler (Judge) and invites them into safe conversation with Joseph their brother and redeemer. Yeshua, in respect to the God-head, is our judge, redeemer and comfort (God with us). And in respect to His humanity, He allowed Himself to become our brother. Like the brothers of Joseph, we view Yeshua as a fearsome judge until we receive His intimate kiss. The Torah brings death only to those who are already dead. It is a judge over the sinner and an instructor to the righteous. Gen 45:16 V’hakol And the kol voice, sound, was heard in the house of Pharaoh, saying, Yosef's brothers are come: and it was pleasing in the eyes of Pharaoh, and his servants. Gen 45:17 And Pharaoh said to Yosef, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this; load your animals, and go, head to the land of K’naan (Lowland, humility); Gen 45:18 And fetch your father and your households, and come to me: and I will give you the good of the land of Mitzrayim Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land. Gen 45:19 Now you are commanded, do this; take wagons out of the land of Mitzrayim Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Gen 45:20 Also regard not your possessions; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. And The Voice was heard in the great house saying, “Mercy has added his brothers to you”. Joseph was unable to go up to get his father himself due to his role as Egypt’s viceroy and the many responsibilities he had, particularly during this time of famine. Thus (care of Pharaoh) he is very specific in his instructions to his brothers. Pharaoh’s relationship with Joseph is clearly a positive one that goes beyond politics and the matters of the ruling class. He shows extravagant hospitality to the brothers and affords Joseph the opportunity to lavish them with supplies and promise fertile land upon their return. Regard not your possessions, for all the goodness that comes from the land of distress is yours. Adversity teaches us that material possessions are worthless in light of the eternal truths learned through our struggles. Gen 45:21 And the children of Yisrael (Overcomes in God) did so: and Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. The use of the name Israel here is one of the many reasons that the popular but flawed redacted theory is so unattractive to me. The name Israel in this section of the text of the Torah is an anomaly that refutes the idea of the so called pro-Jacob Elohimist. In fact, the reason the name Israel is used hear is because it is not merely Jacob who is being delivered from famine but the entire people of Israel. This is the perfect place to use the unified title of the tribes, directly after their reconciliation and provisioning. And there is absolutely no reason to believe it was inserted by a redactor at a later date. Gen 45:22 To all of them he gave each man changes of clothes; but to Benyamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of clothes. Each brother is clothed and cared for but Benjamin is given special treatment as Joseph’s favoured brother, the only one who had not participated in his sale into slavery. There is no indication of the old rivalries, the brothers have learned to accept and appreciate that which God has provided and to celebrate the special gifts which have been given to their younger brother. There is much for us to learn from this. The favour that God bestows on others does not diminish our value, but our envy of them clouds our ability to see our value. Therefore, we celebrate the Good God bestows on others and in doing so we realize our true identity as sons and daughters of God in Messiah. Gen 45:23 And to his father he sent the following; ten donkeys laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she donkeys laden with grain and bread and food for his father’s return journey. The double portion of fullness (10) is in compensation for Jacob’s double distress at losing his two sons (albeit temporarily). The bread supplies the immediate need and the grain provides for making bread when the fresh bread runs out. The remainder of the food may be dried fruit, meats etc. for the journey. Gen 45:24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed: and he said to them, See that you don’t have a falling out on the way. The p’shat (plain) meaning here denotes that Joseph was concerned that the brothers might look to blame one another for the mistreatment of Joseph. Alternatively, he was concerned that they would begin to argue over why Benjamin received such extravagant gifts from Joseph. Whatever the reason the point was that Joseph wanted his brothers to remain focused on the goal of their journey which was to bring Jacob and all his household to Egypt in fulfilment of the decree of HaShem (Gen. 15:13). Gen 45:25 And they went up out of Mitzrayim Egypt (Double distress), and came into the land of K’naan (Lowland, humility) to Yaakov (Follower) their father, Gen 45:26 And spoke to him, saying, “Yosef is chaiy alive, and he is governor over all the land of Mitzrayim Egypt”. And Yaakov’s lev core being/heart became faint (slacked), for he did not believe them. Gen 45:27 And they told him all the words of Yosef, which he’d said to them: and when he saw the wagons which Yosef had sent to carry him, ha-ruach the spirit of Yaakov (Follower) their father v’t’chaiy revived: Gen 45:28 And Yisrael (Overcomes in God) said, “It is enough; Yosef my son is chaiy alive: I will go and see him before I die. Both Rashi and Rambam suggest the Jacob experienced a spiritual revival upon accepting the truth of the news concerning Joseph. This, they say, is why the name Yisrael (Signifying Jacob’s spiritual nobility) is employed in the following verse. Jacob’s mourning “will bring down my grey head in sorrow to sheol” (Gen. 42:38), is turned to joy, “It is enough that Joseph my son lives: I will go and see him before I die!” © Yaakov brown 2017 Joseph is a type for the Mashiyach and Judah is the name under which ethnic Israel would one day be conjoined. 44:1 Then he instructed the one over his household saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they are able to lift and put silver in the mouth of each man’s sack. 2 Place my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, along with his grain and silver.” So he did as Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) told him.
The Targum Yonatan once again asserts that the “One over his house” is Manasseh. Joseph had sought to prove his brothers in many ways, during their first trip to Egypt and then during the meal he provided for them upon their return with Benjamin. However, he seems determined to seek confirmation of the brothers’ repentant spirit by placing them in a position where they will have to choose either to fight for a son of Rachel (Benjamin), or flee in order to save themselves. The returning of the silver is of no real practical consequence, given that this has been done previously. However, each time Joseph returns the silver to his brothers he is leaving a clue to the ruse. After all, they had received 20 pieces of silver as his purchase price when they sold Joseph into slavery (37:18-28). What makes this plot more convincing is the addition of the personal sacred item. The cup in question may have been similar in appearance to other sacred goblets used in divination and occult practices. It is clearly symbolic of Joseph’s authority and is an intimate object that touches the mouth: the domain of speech, food, kissing etc. It is obviously a cup he drinks from regularly. 3 In the morning light, the men were sent off, they and their donkeys. 4 They left the city and had not gone far, when Yosef said to the one over his household, “Arise, run after the men. When you catch up to them, say to them, “Why have you repaid ra’ah evil for good? “Get up, chase after the men while the fear of the city is still upon them.” -Tanchuma Joseph was clearly using the awe of the city and the proximity of his power to help inspire fear in his brothers. If the one over Joseph’s house had waited until the brothers were outside of the city they may have felt that they were a safe distance away and simply made their escape. The charge “Why have you repaid evil for good” is a heavy accusation in the culture of the Middle East. Hospitality is paramount and any suggestion that hospitality has been disrespected in any way is often seen as being a greater offense than petty crimes like stealing. 5 Isn’t this the one (cup) from which adonaiy my lord drinks? He even uses it to nachash y’nachash diligently observe by divination (observe a hissing snake). This is ha-reiotem the evil that you’ve fashioned!” 6 Thus he had caught up to them and spoken these words to them. An ancient Jewish translation of the Tanakh called the Septuagint offers evidence that a second question “Why have you stolen my silver goblet?” was once included in the Hebrew text at the end of verse 4. This helps us make sense of the fact that the Hebrew “Kos” (Cup) is not used in verse 5. The phrase “From which my lord drinks” is meant to inspire terror in the hearers. The cup of a king was sacred property and the stealing of it was a direct slight against the one in authority of the entire land of Egypt. The use of the Hebrew “ha-reiotem” from the root “ra’ah”, meaning evil, is interesting. It is used twice in as many verses and carries the core meaning of the accusation against the brothers. First in verse 4 it is said “Why have you repaid ra’ah evil for tovah good?” Then again here in verse 5 we read “This is ha-reiotem the evil that you’ve fashioned”. When added to the double use of the Hebrew “Nachash” meaning “hiss, divine, snake, divination, observe diligently etc.”, the twofold ruse of Joseph is illuminated against the double sin of his brothers. They first threw him into a pit in order to kill him and then sold him into slavery. Joseph has thrown them into a pit (during their first visit to Egypt) and is now placing them in a position where the only means of saving the life of Benjamin and their own lives is to submit to slavery. It is important to remember that the reference to divination does not mean that Joseph practiced divination. In order for Joseph to live and work in Egypt he must have possessed cultural items and objects of authority and items that others associated with Egyptian worship that were simply part everyday life for one who was associated with the Egyptian monarchy. All of this is a ruse. Later when Joseph claims to know things by divination he is simply playing a part. What is clear from the story of Joseph is that he was a devote worshipper of HaShem and it is therefore unlikely that he ever literally practiced divination, which is considered an act of rebellion against God. (Lev. 19:12; Numbers 23:23; Deut. 18:10-11). 7 They said to him, “Why are you saying these things my lord? Far be it from your servants to fashion such a thing as this. 8 Look, the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of K’naan (humility, lowland). So how could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 Whoever among your servants is found with it, let him die! And also, we’ll become my lord’s slaves.” The first response of the brothers is an emotional one, charged with incredulity. However, they follow this with what is known in the Talmud as a kal vachomer [a.) a deduction from minor to major b.) by extrapolation we know; all the more so]. The brothers are so sure that none of them have stolen the goblet, that they proclaim a death curse over the thief and slavery for themselves if it is proven to be true. It is no coincidence that death and slavery were the very things that the brothers intended to inflict on Joseph. 10 “Now let it be according to your words,” he said. “He with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be n’kiym clean (innocent, exempt).” The one over Joseph’s house accepts the spirit in which the brothers have spoken but does not insist on a literal adherence to their oath. Rather he counters by proposing the enslavement of the guilty party who he knows to be Benjamin (Though not truly guilty). This is an additional test to prove the brothers. They are being offered the opportunity to leave the guilty party behind and save themselves. Joseph clearly believes that if his brothers still hold animosity toward the sons of Rachel that they will take the opportunity to be rid of Benjamin and escape Egypt with their lives intact. However, if they choose to stay and defend Benjamin, Joseph will know that they are truly repentant. It’s interesting to note that the one over Joseph’s house says “He with whom it is found will be my slave”. This would be a preposterous thing for a servant to say. A slave may work under another slave but he is never the property of that slave. This lends credence to the idea that the one speaking here is Manasseh the son of Joseph who holds authority in Joseph’s house as his first born, and is therefore qualified to speak this way. 11 Then each man hurriedly lowered his sack to the ground and each man opened his sack. 12 He searched them beginning with the eldest and finishing with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benyamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothing, and each one loaded up his donkey and they returned to the city. The speedy response of the brothers shows their belief in their innocence. The man over Joseph’s house searches methodically from eldest to youngest so as to make it appear that he has no idea where the cup might be. According to the Midrash the brothers were being punished measure for measure. Just as they had sent Joseph’s blood stained coat home to Jacob and he had torn his garment in grief, so too they were tearing their garments at the thought of Benjamin’s slavery and the affect that it would have on Jacob. The tearing of garments is a significant Hebraic sign of grief over a lost loved one. The brothers were grieving, not only for Benjamin and Jacob but also for the potential death of the burgeoning nation of Israel. 14 When Y’hudah (Praise) and his brothers entered Yosef’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him. 15 “What’s this deed you’ve done?” Yosef said to them, “Didn’t you know that a man like me can discern by divination?” Joseph’s allusion to divination is obviously part of the ruse. The phrase “A man like me” is intended to promote his Egyptian disguise and affirm his power over them. Joseph is a devote worshipper of HaShem and does not practice divination. This is now the second time Joseph’s first dream has been fulfilled (Gen 37:9). Hebrew prophecy has a cyclical nature and is often fulfilled multiple times. 16 Then Y’hudah said, “What can we say to my lord? What words can we speak? How can we justify ourselves? Ha-Elohiym The God has exposed the iniquity of your servants’. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we as well as the one in whose hand the cup was found.” Though Judah knows that he and his brothers are innocent (Perhaps with the exception of Benjamin), He doesn’t attempt to defend himself, nor does he place the blame on Benjamin. Instead he says, “The God has exposed the iniquity of your servants (plural)”. Judah is clearly making confession concerning the brothers’ greater sin of selling their brother Joseph into slavery. 17 But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The one in whose hand the cup was found—he will be my slave. But you, go up to your father in peace.” Joseph pushes Judah further by saying “The one in whose hand the cup was found—he will be my slave. But you, go up to your father in peace.” This is his final proving of his brothers. Will they take the opportunity to finally be rid of Rachel’s sons? Or, will they show true repentance and join themselves to Benjamin in brotherly loyalty and honour. (Parashat Vayigash) And Draw Near 18 Then Y’hudah approached him and said, “I plead for your pardon, my lord. Please let your slave say a word in my lord’s ears, and don’t be angry with your slave, since you are like Pharaoh (Great House). The Hebrew phrase “Va-Yiggash,” translated here as “approached” also appears in the introduction to Avraham’s petition on behalf of the righteous of Sodom (Gen. 18:23). There are also similarities between Judah’s petition and that of Moses on behalf of Israel at Sinai (Exodus 32:9-14). However, while his offer is substitutionary, unlike Moses, Judah is not without guilt. Judah knew that his petition to trade places with Benjamin might be seen as letting Benjamin off the hook and therefore could be offensive to the Egyptian ruler (Joseph). Judah also intended to remind the viceroy (Joseph) of the fact that he had requested Benjamin’s presence despite the protests of the brothers. This is why he asked that the viceroy (Joseph) not be angered by what he was about to say. This self-sacrificing stance of Judah shows his strength of conviction and his willingness to be held accountable before God for his sin. 19 My lord asked his servants saying, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ 20 So we said to my lord, ‘We have a father who is old, a child born to him in his old age is katan little. Now his brother is dead, so he is the only one of his mother’s children left, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can look at him.’ There is no problem with the description of Benjamin using the Hebrew katan, meaning little, small, young etc. Judah’s words are referencing what was said during their last visit and it is likely that enough time had passed since the brothers last came to Egypt for Benjamin to have matured in size and appearance. Benjamin is at least 20 years old when these events take place, given that Joseph is now approximately 40 years (Gen. 37:2; 41:46, 53). By reminding Pharaoh’s viceroy (Joseph) of his passed enquiries, Judah appears to be calling attention to the obvious inconsistencies in the events leading up to the discovery of the cup. Implicit in his recounting of events is his belief that something is not right with the situation that has arisen. 22 But we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave his father, he would die.’ 23 Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you won’t see my face again.’ 24 “Now when we went up to your servant, my father, we told him my lord’s words. 25 Then our father said, ‘Go back, buy us a little grain for food.’ 26 So we said, ‘We won’t go down unless we have our youngest brother with us—then we’ll go down. For we won’t see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 “Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You yourselves know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One went out from me, so I said, “He must have been torn to shreds,” and I haven’t seen him since. Verses 27-28 further illuminate the communication between Jacob and his sons which was recorded in Gen. 43:6-7. The Torah is often brief in one place and expansive in another. This kind of illuminated repetition helps the reader to retain small details that might otherwise be forgotten. 29 And if you also take this one away from before me and an accident happens to him, then you’ll bring my grey hair down to the evil of Sheol.’ 30 “Now if I come to your servant my father and the boy isn’t with us, since his v’nafsho soul life is bound to his b’nafsho soul life, 31 when he sees that the boy is no more, he’ll die. Then your servants will bring the grey hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in grief. The use of the Hebrew “nephesh”, meaning soul life, denotes a strong intimate relational connection between Jacob and Benjamin. The same word is used in 1 Samuel 18:1 where it describes Yonatan’s friendship with David. Judah is unwittingly accusing the viceroy of Egypt (Joseph) of killing his own father. Thus Joseph is emotionally challenged within his own ruse. 32 For your servant became surety (An exchange) for the boy with my father when I said, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before my father all my days.’ 33 So now, please let your slave remain as my lord’s slave in the boy’s place, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how can I go up to my father and the boy is not with me? Otherwise I would see the va’rah evil that would come upon my father!” With a contrite heart Judah offers himself as a slave to the viceroy (Joseph), not knowing that the man who stands before him is the brother he had once sold into slavery. This is a wonderful prophetic allegory for the ethnic people of Israel and her redemption through Messiah at the end of the age. Joseph is a type for the Mashiyach and Judah is the name under which ethnic Israel would one day be conjoined. Thus, just as Judah and his brothers sold Joseph into metaphorical death, so too Israel sold Yeshua into death. But the story doesn’t end there. The day is coming when like Judah, the ethnic Jewish people will come with contrite hearts and gaze upon the One Whom we have pierced, and in repentance through the sacrifice of Yeshua the entire remnant of ethnic Israel will be saved (Romans 11). © 2017 Yaakov Brown We live to follow and serve in the strength we have been afforded, but when all strength is gone and every option exhausted, we learn that HaShem is sufficient. 43:1 Now the ha-ra’av famine (hunger) was kaveid heavy in the land.
The reason this phrase is repeated at the beginning of this chapter is because “the land” in question here is not Egypt, as is the case in the previous chapter. The following verse qualifies the context for ba-aretz (In the land). Ha-aretz is a title synonymous with the land of Israel. We could read “Now the hunger was heavy in the land of Israel”. 2 When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Mitzrayim Egypt (Double distress) their father said to them, “Go back. Buy us a little food.” 3 And speaking toward him Y’hudah (Praise) said, “Ha-eish The man warned us firmly saying, ‘You won’t see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy grain for you for food. 5 But if you won’t send him, we won’t go down, because the man said to us, ‘You won’t see my face unless your brother is with you.’” Reuben, Jacob’s eldest son had already tried to convince his father and had failed (Gen. 42:36); Simeon the next in birth order, was now in Egypt (Gen. 42:24), and Levi, possibly due to his actions at Shechem (Gen. 34:25), had lost his father’s respect. Therefore, Judah, being next in birth order, with the consent of his brothers, speaks to Jacob for the good of the whole community. Judah uses stronger language in describing the Egyptian Viceroy’s (Joseph’s) instruction to them than the brothers had used together (42:24). When the issue of returning to Egypt was last discussed they had plenty of food and may have hoped that the famine would let up and allow for a return to agricultural prosperity. Now however, they were again faced with the prospect of starvation. Judah had to convince Jacob that none of his sons would return to Egypt without their brother, because Joseph’s vow had been made using a euphemism that required the return of Benjamin or the deaths of the brothers. The irony of the name Mitzrayim (Egypt: Double distress) is not lost on Jacob, who is facing the double distress of losing both Joseph and Benjamin. 6 Then Yisrael (Overcome in God) said, “Why did you do evil to me by telling the man that you have another brother?” 7 They said, “The man questioned particularly about us and about our relatives saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have a brother?’ So we spoke to him on the basis of these words. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’”? The name Israel is said to depict Jacob in his spiritual role as Patriarch of the Jewish people. Earlier in this account the name Jacob has been used, now Israel is employed. Jacob is a follower, Israel has overcome in God. In the previous chapters Jacob followed his vision, having seen food for his starving people in Egypt. He pursued that provision through his sons. Now he is faced with the possibility of losing the last of his favoured sons and the realization that this could potentially end the religious observance of Israel (remaining sons). It is at this point that he must completely let go of his own ability to control the circumstances of his family’s predicament and allow God to be his overcoming strength. Thus, Israel (Overcome in God). This is not so much the difference between human effort and Godly strength, rather it is the lesson of every disciple, we live to follow and serve in the strength we have been afforded, but when all strength is gone and every option exhausted, we learn that HaShem is sufficient. 8 Then Y’hudah (Praise) said to his father Yisrael (Overcome in God), “Please, send the boy with me and we’ll get up and go, so that we’ll live and not die—we and you, and our children. 9 I’ll exchange myself for him (Benjamin). From my hand you can demand him back. If I don’t bring him back to you and place him before you, then the sin I’ve committed against you will be on me all my days. 10 If we had not delayed, we could have returned twice by now.” Judah attempts to remove one of Jacob’s fears by taking sole responsibility. Reuben had previously offered the lives of his sons but Judah was making himself personally accountable. The Hebrew phrasing infers a life for a life exchange. Judah is saying that he will deliver Benjamin by any means including taking his place if he were to be unjustly imprisoned in the land of Egypt. Short of this he would bear the blood guilt of the sin of losing Benjamin. A sin that he sees as being committed against Jacob. “I will guard him from heat, cold, evil beasts, and robbers. I will offer my life for his and do anything necessary to ensure his safety.” –B’chor Shor Rav Meir Zlotowitz suggests that the reason Jacob was willing to listen to Judah’s petition was related to Jacob’s words “Upon me has it all fallen” (Gen. 42:36), implying that only a father could realize the magnitude of the loss of his two sons. Of all the brothers only Judah could identify with the loss of two sons (Gen. 38:7, 10). Therefore, when Judah offered to accept personal responsibility for Benjamin, Jacob granted Judah’s request to return to Egypt with his youngest brother. 11 Then their father Yisrael said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your vessels, and bring an offering down to the man—a little balsam and a little honey, gum and myrrh, pistachios and almonds. As is the case in Genesis 37:21-30, Judah’s request prevails where Reuben’s had failed (Gen 42:37-38). There are of course a number of reasons for this, one of which is that the Torah is showing how Joseph, the dominant tribe of the North and Judah the Royal tribe of the south became more important than Reuben, the firstborn. Rashi notes the Targum, which says “From the praises of the land” and interprets “From the praised produce of the land”. To this he adds that the produce born of the land gives praise to God. While not all of this produce was unique to the land of K’naan (Israel), it was produce that K’naan was famous for. This selection of gifts included items that were not readily available in Egypt (Gen. 37:25). During a time of famine even a small amount of each of these precious commodities was a sign of great respect and a symbolic gesture of humility toward the Egyptian monarchy. The balsam or balm carries with it the symbolism of healing. A symbol that will be recognized by Joseph as a voice of affirmation, but is yet to be understood by his father and brothers. The gift of honey has particular significance because this is the first time it’s mentioned made in Scripture, and it’s being mentioned in relation to the land which will later be called the land of milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). Parts of the land of Israel (Ha-aretz) were famous for their honey production, such as in the region surrounding Ziph (Ez-Zeifeh. Located South-east of Hebron just below the Salt Sea [Dead Sea]: Josh. 15. 55; 1 Sam. 23. 14f., 24; 26. 2), subsequently called the honey of Ziphim (Misn. Machshirin, c. 5. sect. 9). 12 Also take in your hand a double portion of silver, and bring back in your hand the silver that had been returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother too—now, get up, go back to the man! The instruction to “take in your hand” seems to be a practical one. Silver carried in bags or vessels with other goods might appear to be hidden and therefore an attempt to deceive the Egyptian officials, whereas silver carried in hand shows both openness and a willingness to repay any funds that may have been mistakenly returned to the Hebrew contingent. 14 May El Shaddai (God the All Sufficient Protector) grant you rachamiym mercy (compassion) before the man, so that he may release your other brother to you, along with Benyamin (Son of my right hand/strength). As for me, if I am shachol’ti made childless, shachal’ti childless I will be.” The name Shaddai is a conjunction of she-dai, meaning “Who is sufficient/enough”. It seems that Jacob employs this name in order to remind his sons that regardless of the amount of preparation they put into their journey and the amount of silver and supplies they carry, it is because God is sufficient to meet the needs of His people that they can trust in His provision and mercy. The double use of the Hebrew shachol’ti emphasizes the weighty grief of Yisrael. Radak explains that the first use is passive and the second active, meaning that Jacob is saying “I have been made childless and I must face the possibility that I will be made childless”. This is a statement of trust in HaShem that is similar to that of Esther when she was about to appear before the king uninvited: “If I have forfeited my life, so be it” Esther 4:16. Put simply, “HaShem gives and Hashem takes away, Blessed is the Name of HaShem” (Job 1:21). The repetition of this word is also an affirmation of the two children Yisrael has treasured most in his old age, the sons of Rachel: Yosef and Benyamin. 15 Then the men took this offering. They also took the double portion of silver in their hand, as well as Benyamin. So they got up and went down to Mitzrayim Egypt, and stood before Yosef. 16 When Yosef saw Benyamin with them, he said to the one over his house, “Bring the men into the house. U-t’voach t’vach Slaughter, slaughter an animal and hachen (make it firm) prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon. Jewish tradition teaches that “the one over his (Joseph’s) house” was his eldest son Manasheh (Targum Yonatan). This seems unlikely, given that Manasheh could not have been older than 9 at the time, having been born before the famine. The Sages say that the expression Ut’voach t’vach implies that the one over his (Joseph’s) house was to expose the incision in the neck of the animal so that the brothers could see that it had been slaughtered according to the tradition of their fathers, a tradition that would later be included in halakhic ruling regarding the Torah instructions for the slaughtering of animals (Chullin 91a Rashi). Radak explains that noon is known as the time for royal dining. The time when many ancient royals enjoyed their main meal. The Sages say that Genesis 43:16, which employs the phrase “Slaughter the animal and make it firm, prepare it”: infers that the preparation was done in honour of the Sabbath and that the meal was served at noon on the Sabbath. A day which Joseph observed long before the Torah was given at Sinai (Daat Zkenim). 17 So the man did as Yosef said, and the man brought the men into Yosef’s house. 18 But the men were afraid, because they had been brought into Yosef’s house. They said, “It’s because of the silver that was returned to our sacks the first time that we are being brought in—in order to wrestle us to the ground and fall on us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” It seems that the brothers’ guilt feeds their fear. They were probably concerned about the loss of their donkeys because they were their only means of delivering supplies back to Jacob and their families in K’naan. 19 So they approached the man who was over Yosef’s house and spoke to him at the entrance of the house. 20 “Please, adoniy my lord!” they said. “We came down the first time to buy grain for food. 21 When we came to the encampment and opened our sacks, behold, there was each man’s silver at the opening of the sack, the full amount of our money. So we’ve returned it in our hand. This response seems to merge the details of the two discoveries of silver: the singular portion of silver first found in one of their sacks and the silver subsequently found in all their sacks upon their return to K’naan. The reason for including the details regarding the silver discovered at the encampment on the way, may be to show that they could not have returned at that point because they had not yet retrieved their brother and had been warned by the viceroy (Joseph) not to return without him. 22 In addition, we’ve brought down other silver in our hand to buy grain for food. We didn’t know who put our money into our sacks.” 23 “Shalom lachem Peace to you all,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid. Eloheichem v’loheiy Your God and the God of your father has given you hidden treasure in your sacks. Your silver had come to me.” Then he brought Shimeon out to them, The man who was over Joseph’s house (possibly Manasheh, or a member of As’nat’s family, because if this one had been a servant the text would read “the servant who was over Joseph’s house” rather it reads, “the man”), makes a point of comforting the brothers by saying that it has been their God Who has engineered events to bless them. Something that Joseph later expresses to his brothers. Whoever the one over Joseph’s house is, one thing is certain, he is aware of the God of Israel. Joseph is clearly teaching his Egyptian household about the merciful God of Israel from Whom he has received his name and calling. 24 and the man brought the men into Yosef’s house, gave them water and they washed their feet. He also provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 So they prepared the offering for Yosef’s coming at noon, for they had heard that they were going to eat there. This verse seems to indicate a progression in their approach toward Joseph’s house and their entry into it. Thus it seems likely that the conversation recorded prior to this was held the courtyard or entry room to the house, which is considered part of the house. In their fearful state Joseph’s brothers had expected to be pounced on, beaten and confined, and in truth that is what they deserved. However, they were instead given water to wash their feet. One recalls the actions of Yeshua during his final Pesach meal with His disciples. Joseph’s brothers had expected their donkeys to be taken from them. However, they were instead given fodder with which to feed their donkeys. Through the actions of the governor of Joseph’s house (Manasheh: forget), the brother’s sins are forgotten and Mercy is shown to triumph over judgement. “He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve; nor repaid us according to our iniquities.” –Psalm 103:10 26 When Yosef came home, they brought him the offering in their hand into the house, and they bowed down to the ground to him. For the first time all of Joseph’s brothers, including Benjamin, bow down to him in fulfilment of Joseph’s first dream (Gen. 37:7). 27 Then he asked if they were well, and said, “Is he well—your elderly father that you told me about? Is he still alive?” The order of Joseph’s questions seems strange. He first asks if their father is well and then if he is alive. This can be explained by the fact that Joseph may have asked the first question and then, before the brothers could answer, had the terrible thought that his father may have passed away. Alternatively he may have simply been nervous and muddled his words. Perhaps a better explanation is found in Daat Zkenim, where it is suggested that Joseph first asks after Jacob “Is he well” and then asks about his sabba (Grandfather) Isaac “The older father”, whom the brothers may also have told him about, and who’s death occurred around this time. Of course, the text doesn’t explicitly state that the brothers had spoken to Joseph about Isaac, but on the other hand, he may have simply slipped up by revealing his knowledge about Isaac’s existence. He was certainly showing superior knowledge when he had his staff seat the brothers according to their birth order. 28 “Your servant, our father, is well,” they said. “He’s still alive.” Then they knelt and bowed down. 29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benyamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother whom you mentioned to me?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Then Yosef hurried out because his rachamiyn compassion grew warm and tender toward his brother so that he wanted to cry. So he went into an inner room and wept there. If the assertion concerning Joseph’s unusual question is correct, then the answer of the brothers “Our father is well” applies to Jacob and the second phrase “He is still alive” applies to Isaac. If Isaac was alive at this point in time, he must have passed away between this encounter and the coming to Egypt of Jacob’s household (46:26-27). Joseph had already seen Benjamin but at this point he notices Benjamin’s features and sees the resemblance to his mother (Zohar; Haamek Davar). Benjamin is 31 years old at the time of this meeting. Joseph hasn’t seen him for over 13 years. Jacob had blessed his sons saying “May El Shaddai (God the All Sufficient Protector) grant you rachamiym mercy (compassion) before the man” (v.14). Now, Joseph is filled with rachamiyn mercy and compassion for Benjamin. 31 Then he washed his face, came out, and controlled himself. “Serve the food,” he said. 32 So they served him by himself, them by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves (for Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews because it was an abomination to Egyptians). Joseph probably ate separately because of his exalted status and possibly because he was keeping Hebrew eating practices that would have been seen by his Egyptian staff as abhorrent and reported to Pharaoh. The reason for the Egyptians eating separately from the Hebrews is stated. Shepherds (Hebrews) were regarded as abhorrent to the Egyptians (Gen. 46:34; Exodus 8:22), and the sheep seems to be the singular exception to the Egyptian worship of various animals. Egyptians despised sheep and their herders in much the same way as Jews came to despise pigs and their keepers. Radak’s assertion that Egyptians didn’t eat the meat of sheep because they were considered a deity is untenable, given that Egyptians consumed the meat of a number of other animals to which they attached worship practices, and that those who herded sheep would have therefore been considered holy and respected rather than abhorred. The fact that the Hebrews were detestable to the Egyptians at a time when Israel consisted of less than seventy souls (Gen. 46:26), is a testimony to Israel’s God given reputation and prominence in the land of K’naan. 33 They were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birth-right and the youngest according to his youth. The men looked at each other in astonishment. The ten eldest brothers were born within seven years of one another, making it difficult for a stranger to guess their exact birth order. Thus the brothers were astonished to see themselves seated in order from Eldest to youngest. 34 Then portions were brought to them from before him—and Benyamin’s portion was five times larger than any of their portions. Yet they drank and celebrated with him. Benjamin’s portion is half the number for completion. Half of Joseph’s prophetic dreaming had been fulfilled. Joseph gave Benjamin a significantly greater portion in order to test the brothers to see if their hatred for the sons of Rachel still consumed them. In response to this the Torah states “Yet they drank and celebrated with him”. They were not angered by the special treatment shown to Benjamin. To the contrary, they celebrated it. This shows true repentance and a genuine humility on the part of the 10 eldest sons of Jacob, and stands in stark contrast to the meal they had eaten when they had sat down after throwing Joseph into the well (Gen. 37:25; 42:21). Only the repentant can receive salvation. © Yaakov Brown 2017 42:1 Now Yaakov (Follows after the heel) ra’ah learned (saw, perceived) that there was grain in Mitzrayim (Egypt: double distress), so Yaakov said to his sons, “Why are you looking at each other?”
Seder Olam says that it wasn’t until the second year of the famine that Yaakov sent his sons down to Egypt. The Hebrew shever (grain) can be read sever (hope). It is understood that the original Hebrew text was without nikkud (vowel markers added by the Massorites). This means that the character shin could be read as sin and potentially alter the meaning of the word, providing that the meaning fits the context. Rashi concludes therefore, that the phrase “Yaakov saw that there was grain in Egypt” should read “Yaakov saw that there was hope in Egypt”. We need not chose one over the other. The former is practically true and the latter, spiritually true. Note that this account begins by using the name Yaakov the individual. The Hebrew, “Lamah tit’rau” (Why are you looking at each other), means: “Why are you excusing your inaction by looking to someone else to do something about it, when you know you are capable of doing something about it yourself?” Alternatively “Why do you make yourself conspicuous?” (Taanit 10b; Rashi). This is why the Brit HaChadashah (The New Covenant) says, “If anyone knows the good he should do and does not, to him it (is accounted) sin” –Yaakov (James) 4:17 2 Then he said, “Hinei Behold! I’ve heard that there’s grain in Mitzrayim (Egypt: Double distress). Go down there and buy some grain for us there so that we’ll live and not die.” The phrase “So that we’ll live and not die” while referring to the immediate future, can also be understood as a remez (hint) of what is to come in the days of Yisrael’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Meaning that Yisrael’s suffering and bondage is a prerequisite to her redemption. This is yet another picture of the Gospel of our Messiah at work in the story of Yisrael. In fact it is true to say that (within the sin affected world), without suffering there can be no redemption. 3 So Yosef’s (YHVH: Mercy adds) brothers went down, ten of them, to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Benyamin (Son of my right hand: strength), Yosef’s (YHVH: Mercy adds) brother, Yaakov did not send, for he said, “Lest he encounter ason mischief, evil, harm, hurt.” Some ask why ten of the brothers had to go to Egypt. Sforno explains that Yosef had decreed that no one could buy more food than was needed for a single household. The Midrash suggests that Yosef had imposed this restriction upon each person who came to buy grain so as to assure that all of his brothers would have to come down to Egypt to buy an allotted portion of grain for each of their households. Thus fulfilling the prophecy of his dream. It is worth noting that according to Divine justice and practical protection, Benyamin is kept from the torment and adversity his brothers would face prior to Yosef revealing himself. This is because Benyamin played no part in causing Yosef’s suffering. Spiritually speaking we might say that this is yet another picture of the Messiah, as if God were saying, “The Son of my right hand alone is without guilt”. The use of the Hebrew ason infers that Yaakov suspected that Yosef’s brothers had harmed Yosef because of their hatred of him. He also feared that because of the brothers’ animosity toward the favoured sons of Rachel (Sons of Yaakov’s old age), that they might do harm to Benyamin also. Of course, ten is a number of completion. Therefore, this is also symbolic of the completion of Yosef’s rise to power and of the first stage in Yisrael’s journey toward freedom from both physical and spiritual bondage. 5 The sons of Yisrael (Overcomes in God) went to buy grain among the others who were coming, because the famine was in the land of K’naan (Lowland, humility). Note that the story continues here under the name Yisrael, meaning the sons of the nation Yisrael rather than the individual Yaakov. 6 Now Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) was the master over ha-aretz the land. He was the provider of grain for all the people of ha-aretz the land. It seems that this verse is meant to indicate that Yosef had watchers throughout the land whom he had instructed to keep a look out for his brothers. The Midrash says that Yosef, knowing his brothers would eventually have to come for grain in Egypt, had kept only one storehouse open so that he could monitor it personally and thus spot his brothers when they arrived. Alternatively, according to Rashi, Yosef interviewed every national group and then delegated their care to his subordinates according to each group’s needs. 7 Then Yosef’s (YHVH: Mercy adds) brothers came and bowed down to him with faces to the ground. When Yosef saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he made himself unrecognizable to them. Then he spoke harshly and said to them, “Where have you come from?” “From the land of K’naan (Lowland, humility)” they said, “to buy grain for food.” Though it had been at least 13 years since Yosef had seen his brothers we must remember that they had been older than him at the time of his sale into slavery, and that males older in age tend to maintain a certain continuity of appearance whereas a young man (as Yosef had been) would have undergone a more dramatic growth period from 17 to 30 years of age and thus may have changed significantly in appearance. Therefore, it seems logical that though his brothers were immediately noticeable to him, he was not easily identifiable. We can add to this the fact that they were expecting to find Yosef a slave, providing he were still alive. In addition, Yosef was not arrayed in common clothes. He was wearing the garments of royalty and probably had a shaved head and Egyptian chin beard, both customs being contrary to the ancient Hebrew style of grooming. We know from the following verses that one of the ways Yosef disguised himself was to use an interpreter, thus giving the impression that he did not speak Hebrew. Based on the events that follow we can interpret Yosef’s actions as a well thought out pretence intended to direct circumstances toward the fulfilment of his dreams. His harsh speech is meant to initiate events that will eventually bring his entire family to Egypt so as to save them from starvation and poverty. The phrase “To buy grain for food” tells us that the brothers believed it to be impossible to use the grain as seed for sowing as long as the drought and famine continued. It also indicates that they had run out of their own grain supplies for planting and were now so desperate that they were at the point of starvation and needed food immediately. 8 Though Yosef recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then Yosef remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them. He said to them, “You’re spies! You’ve come to inspect the er’vah nakedness (undefended places) in the land.” It is after remembering his dreams that Yosef further manipulates his brothers’ circumstances. He is looking for a way to bring his entire family to safety. This pretence is one born of trust in God, the One who had given him his dreams. There are times when harsh words are words of love, and times when gentle words are evidence of a failure to love. Kli Yakar notes that Yosef uses the accusation of spying in order to keep the brothers from seeking out Yosef while they were in Egypt. Given the opportunity to investigate Yosef’s whereabouts they may have gleaned information about a Hebrew slave who had risen to power in Egypt. This in turn may have adjusted the outcome of events. Whereas by being accused of spying, they would not be allowed to move freely throughout Egypt. Yosef’s first dream called for all eleven of his brothers to bow to him. Therefore, he must arrange for this to happen. Only then could his second dream find its partial practical fulfilment. Meaning, the only way his mother could bow before him is at the resurrection. Thus the complete spiritual fulfilment of Yosef’s dream would be at the resurrection and acts as an allegory for the bowing of the tribes of Yisrael before the Messiah, for Whom Yosef is a type. 10 “No, my lord!” they said to him. “Your servants came to buy grain as food. 11 All of us are the sons of one man. We’re being truthful. Your servants have never been spies.” 12 “Not so,” he said to them. “Rather, you’ve come to see the er’vah nakedness (undefended places) in the land.” Though they are unaware of it, in both a practical and prophetic sense the phrase “All of us are the sons of one man” includes Yosef, the one they’re speaking to. It seems that the brothers employed this phrase in order to appeal to common sense. It is unlikely that a people would send all or even the majority of their fighting men to spy out a foreign power. It is standard spying practice to send only a selection of men so that they might travel light and go unnoticed. It seems likely that Yosef continued to challenge them in order to get information out of them about Benyamin and Yaakov. Yosef may have been concerned that they had treated Benyamin poorly because he was also a son of Rachel. Their answers would indicate to Yosef whether they were worthy of redemption. 13 But they said, “We your servants are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of K’naan. V’hinei And behold, the youngest is with our father today and the other one we are without.” The brothers seem to be answering an unrecorded question, indicated by the recounting of their story to Yaakov in Genesis 43:7, where they say “The man asked us directly about our condition and our family saying ‘Is your father still alive?’ and ‘Do you have another brother?’” The brothers tactfully use the phrase “The other one we are without”. Thus they keep the reasons for the missing brother secret rather than showing themselves to be of poor character. Sforno suggests that by speaking so freely about their family they were attempting to prove themselves trustworthy because all that they were saying was easily verifiable. 14 Yosef said to them, “It’s according to the words I spoke to you when I said, ‘You’re spies.’ Yosef pretends to be unimpressed by the words of his brothers and reemphasizes his belief in their guilt, but offers them a way to prove their innocence, and bring his brother Benyamin to him. 15 By this you’ll be proved, scrutinized and tested: by the life of Pharaoh (Great House), you’ll not leave from here until your youngest brother comes here! 16 Send one from among yourselves to get your brother, while you remain confined, in order to prove your words, to see whether the truth is with you. If not, by the life of Pharaoh, you’re spies!” The proof of their innocence will be Benyamin’s physical presence in Egypt. Thus all their other claims will be considered true. Yosef’s use of language strengthens his disguise. He is making oaths (Of pretence) using Pharaoh as the deity before which the oath will be held accountable. This causes him to appear to them as a typical heathen Egyptian. The following verses seem to indicate that none of the brothers were willing to volunteer to go. Perhaps because to travel alone would be dangerous, or because they believed Yosef to be an unreasonable ruler who would not keep his word. 17 So he put them together in prison for three days. The three days in prison reflect the death and resurrection of the cupbearer. This is also a remez hinting at the death and resurrection of the Messiah Yeshua, Who will come out of Yisrael and through His own imprisonment and freedom will deliver her from death. 18 Then Yosef said to them on the third day, “Do this and you will live. Ha-Elohiym the God, I am in awe of. 19 If you’re being truthful, let one of your brothers remain as a prisoner in the guardhouse where you’ve been, while you, go and bring grain for the hunger in your homes. 20 And bring me your youngest brother, so that your words can be verified—and you won’t die.” So they did. Seeing that none of the brothers had volunteered to go, Yosef offered a more palatable solution. Using the name of the brothers’ own God in reference to his offer, Yosef sought to sooth their fear somewhat. We notice that even with the offer of freedom for the nine, he still had to select the one who would stay. This denotes great fear on the part of the brothers. Notice that they have been confined in the guardhouse, just as Yosef was. He had put them in the prison of the upper class rather than placing them under confinement in the harsh conditions of the prisons of the common people. 21 Then each man said to his brother, “We’re truly guilty for our brother. We saw the distress of his soul when he begged us for mercy, but we didn’t listen. That’s why this distress has come to us.” This is an honest and sincere admission of guilt. This is confession, an acknowledgement of sin. 22 Reuven (Look a son) answered them saying, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t sin against the boy’? But you didn’t listen. Now, see how his blood is now being accounted for.” Reuven continues to believe that the other brothers have killed Yosef and thus speaks of the blood guilt that murderers carry. 23 They did not know that Yosef was listening, since there was an interpreter between them. The presence of an interpreter gives strength to Yosef’s disguise while allowing him to hear the brothers’ responses. According to the Midrash, the interpreter was Manasseh Yosef’s firstborn son (Rashi). 24 He turned away from them and wept. When he turned back to them and spoke to them, he took Shimeon (Hears) from them and tied him up before their eyes. It seems that at least in part, Yosef’s tears were due to his having heard his brothers admit their wrong doing. Shimeon is the appropriate choice of hostage because he is the second born son of Leah (Gen. 29:31-33) just as Benyamin is the second born son of Rachel. This is a clue to Yosef’s identity that his brothers were unable to see due to their distress. Rashi suggests that Shimeon is chosen because of his hot temper as evidenced by he and Levi’s raid on Shechem. Thus Yosef can be sure Shimeon and Levi (Gen. 34:25-26) will not develop some foolish plot to retaliate. Yosef continues the harsh performance by treating Shimeon roughly before them. 25 Then Yosef gave orders to fill their bags with grain, return each man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. So it was done for them. 26 Then they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left from there. Yosef’s actions in returning the money seem to be intended to incite further fear and give the brothers a greater motivation for repentance. 27 As one of them opened his sack to give fodder to his donkey at the encampment, he saw his money—behold, it was at the top of his bag. 28 So he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned! Look, it’s in my bag.” Their hearts sank. Trembling, each one turned to his brother and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” Knowing that Yosef kept accurate records, the brother who opened the sack at their first encampment was rightly afraid. Rashi suggests that this was Levi. “What is this that God has done to us?” is yet another admission of guilt and an acknowledgement of the Judge of the Universe, God of Yisrael. The brothers saw the returning of the money as a plot by the Master of Egypt to enslave them. Thus they saw it as a just retribution from God for what they had done to Yosef. 29 When they came to their father Yaakov, in the land of K’naan (Lowland, humility) they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke with us harshly, and took us as spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We’re honest. We’ve never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more and the youngest is with our father today in the land of K’naan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I’ll know if you’re being truthful: leave one of your brothers with me. As for the hunger of your homes: take and go! 34 Then bring your youngest brother to me, so that I may know you are not spies, but you are telling the truth. I’ll give you back your brother and you can move about freely in the land.’” In recounting their ordeal the sons of Yaakov keep certain facts from him in order to spare him unnecessary concern. They know he is old and still grieving the loss of Yosef. Therefore, they don’t include their three day imprisonment, nor do they convey the very real threat of slavery or the possible execution of Shimeon. 35 Now as they were emptying their sacks, v’hinei behold, there was each man’s bag of money in his sack. When they saw their money bags, they and their father, they were afraid. The fear of the brothers was due to their guilt, but the fear of Yaakov was for his sons, for Shimeon and ultimately for Benyamin. The brothers may have concluded that the money left in the one sack discovered on the way might have been an oversight on behalf of one of Pharaoh’s officials but the money found in all their sacks was evidence of an intentional plot to accuse them. 36 Then their father Yaakov said to them, “You’ve made me childless! Yosef is no more. Now Shimeon is gone, and next you’ll take Benyamin! Everything is against me!” One wonders at how the sons of Yaakov may have felt at hearing their father’s words? It is because he is without Yosef and may soon be without Benyamin, that Yaakov considers himself “childless”. Though Shimeon is included as collateral damage, this is none the less a slight against all ten brothers. 37 Then Reuven (Look a son) spoke to his father, saying, “You can put my two sons to death if I don’t bring him back to you. Put him in my hand and I—I will return him to you.” Reuven continues to seek restoration over his defilement of his Father’s wife. Here he offers the lives of his own sons in an attempt to prove his repentance, both in regard to his sexual sin and his part in the mistreatment of Yosef. This is however, a weak gesture because regarding the Hebrew consciousness the sons of Reuven are also considered the sons of Yaakov. 38 But he said, “My son will not go down with you—for his brother is dead and he alone remains. And if he should encounter ason mischief, evil, harm along the way you’re going, you’ll bring my grey hair down to Sheol (Place of the dead) in grief.” As part of his response Yaakov again insinuates that the brothers are guilty of mischief relating to Yosef: “if he should encounter mischief, evil, harm along the way you’re going”. The Hebrew Sheol (meaning place of the dead and not the grave, which is kever, an entirely different Hebrew word referring to the tombs of Yisrael which are above ground), again affirms the ancient Hebrew belief in the afterlife, spent in one of two places within Sheol: The bosom of Avraham (Gan Eden: Paradise) or Gehinnom (Torment). Whereas the grave (Kever) was above the earth, Sheol is a spiritual place indicated as existing below. This is because symbolically speaking, God’s throne is above, and death, the result of sin, is distinguished from God as being below. Yeshua illuminates the first century Jewish understanding of the temporal afterlife in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). The only parable where Yeshua employs proper nouns (names). This is because the parable is a true account regarding specific individuals and is intended to convey the reality of that which follows death: torment for the wicked and peace for the righteous. Sheol is a temporal holding place within time and space that precedes the final judgement, at which point the righteous will enter into the Olam haba (World to come) and the wicked into eternal punishment. Thus the Olam haba (World to come) follows Avraham’s bosom after the judgement and Eternal punishment (The fiery abyss) follows Gehinnom after judgement (Rev. 3:12; 20:10; 21:1-8). © Yaakov Brown 2017 We would do well to remember that modern social justice is not justice, in the same way that a truth is not the Truth. Introduction:
This sidra (section) of Genesis begins the Torah portion Mikeitz (end), which takes its title from the phrase “And it came to pass at the end of two years”. While practically speaking mikeitz is used to denote the end of a period of time, by way of a remez (hint) it also infers the end, or last phase of the prophecy made to Avraham (Gen. 15:13-16) concerning the bondage and persecution of his progeny and ultimately, their freedom from slavery. It is worth noting that verses 1-32 deal with the last of the three pairs of dreams in Joseph’s story. Each set of dreams acting as a stepping stone toward the fulfilment of God’s plan for Israel. The events of this chapter begin two years after the release of the baker and cupbearer and bring the total years of Joseph’s imprisonment to 12 and his years in captivity to 13 (Genesis 37:2). Verse 46 tells us that Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, making Jacob 120 years and Isaac 180 (Isaac died around this time) at the time of these events. 1Now it was at the end of two years, when Pharaoh (Great house) was dreaming, and hinei suddenly, there he was standing al upon (over, beside) ha-y’or the River (Nile). Pharaoh was standing upon or over the River, a title used to describe the Nile. The Nile was deified in Egyptian culture and Pharaoh’s standing on or over it makes him (at least in his own mind) superior to it, a god in his own right, which we also know to be part of the spiritual belief system of the ancient Egyptians. Pharaohs were often considered to be gods, a god with us, in reality they were types of anti-messiah’s. As mentioned in previous articles, Pharaoh was a title rather than a proper noun. All of Egypt was dependant on the Nile for its crops and water. The Nile symbolized prosperity and provision. Therefore, given its venerated status, Pharaoh could not help but be captivated by its prominent position in his dream. 2 Then hinei suddenly, there were seven cows, y’fot beautiful, healthy and at closer inspection, fat, and they grazed in the reeds. There were seven cows, a number meaning completion, fullness etc. A number that would later become closely associated to Israel’s agricultural and social order. These cows were healthy (one of the meanings of yafeh) and were grazing in the reeds. The reeds grow at the edge of the Nile itself, which indicates that the Nile is the source of the cattle’s health and fatness. Practically speaking, the cattle of Egypt often submerge themselves in the Nile in order to get relief from the heat and from insects. 3 Then hinei suddenly, there were seven other cows coming up after them from ha-y’or the River (Nile), ugly and emaciated, and they stood beside the cows at the edge of ha-y’or the River (Nile). 4 Then the ugly emaciated cows ate the seven good-looking fat cows—and Pharaoh woke up. As is often the case when dreams take a nasty turn, Pharaoh awoke abruptly and was probably unsettled for some time before going back to sleep. The eating of the fat cows seems symbolic of the fact that the seven full and complete good years would soon be forgotten by a full and complete (7), all consuming age of famine. 5 Then he slept and dreamed a second time: hinei suddenly, there were seven heads of grain ascending on a single stalk, b’riyot made fat and good. 6 Then hinei suddenly, there were seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouting up after them. 7 Then the seven thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven ears of grain that had been made plump and full. Then Pharaoh woke up—it was a dream. The text infers that the seven thin heads of grain grew on the same single stalk. The use of the Hebrew echad (One, complex unity) regarding the stalk of the full heads of grain, is intended to unify the two weeks of years in order to connect them to the former dream. Once again the years of famine swallow up all evidence of the years of abundance. Once again the seven that completes the prosperity also completes the poverty. The phrase, “it was a dream” infers relief on Pharaoh’s part at the fact that he had woken from a vivid dream. Relief that turns to concern when he realizes that the dreams have some sense of the prophetic about them. 8 But in the morning he v’tipaem felt beaten and disturbed in ruachu his spirit. So he sent and called for the fortune-telling priests of mitzrayim (Egypt: double distress) and all its wise men and Pharaoh told them his dream. But no one could interpret them for Pharaoh. The fortune-telling occultists of Egypt were part of her priesthood. It may be that the priest of On mentioned later in the text is one of those who was called upon. The wise men may or may not have been associated with the priesthood. Given the ongoing political struggles between the house of Pharaoh and the priesthood of Egypt, it is more likely that the wise men were men of logic and common wisdom rather than spiritualists like the fortune-telling priests. As in the case of the cupbearer and baker, an attempt is made to interpret the dreams but to no avail. This may be the catalyst for the cupbearer’s pang of conscience. We also note the singular use in the phrase, “Pharaoh told them his dream” compared to the plural, “But no one could interpret them”. At this point it should be clear to all concerned that the dreams have a unified message, and yet, this seems to escape all the wise men and priests of Egypt. Though, it seems to have been established in Pharaoh’s mind. This is possibly why when Joseph later begins by establishing the fact that the dreams are echad (one), Pharaoh accepts what follows, having already concluded the same. 9 Then the prince of the cupbearers spoke with Pharaoh saying, “I am reminded of my sins today. 10 Pharaoh had been angry with his servants and put me in the custody of the house of the prince of the executioners—and with me, the prince of the bakers. 11 Then we each dreamed (firmly binding) a dream (firmly bound) on the same night, he and I, we both dreamed, yet each dream had its own interpretation. 12 Now there with us was a ga’ar Ivriy Hebrew youth—a slave belonging to the prince of the executioners. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams for us, each man’s dream he interpreted. 13 Then it came about, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. I was restored to my position, but he was hung. We could read the cupbearer’s confession as the result of a genuine pang of conscience or as an act of self-preservation. Either way the timing is in God’s hands and affords Joseph the perfect opportunity to bring glory to both the God of Israel and himself. One would have thought, given the Egyptian prejudice against the Hebrews, that the phrase “ga’ar Ivriy” Hebrew youth, coupled with the position of slave, would have given Pharaoh reason to pause. However, it seems, based on the following verse, that Pharaoh’s angst had grown so great that at this point he was willing to try anything. 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds). So they quickly fetched him from the ha’bor well/pit. He shaved, changed his clothes, and came to Pharaoh. 15 Then Pharaoh (Great house) said to Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds), “I dreamed (firmly binding thing) a dream (firmly bound thing) and there’s no one to interpret it. I heard about you—it’s said that you can listen to a dream to interpret it.” Rosh Hashanah 10b says that Joseph was released 2230 years from creation on Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah: Day of Shofar blasts). If this is correct, Joseph was released at the beginning of what will later become known as the High Holy Days of Israel, which take place in the seventh month (Tishri, Beginning; The Sabbath Month) of the Hebrew Calendar, and include Yom Kippur (Day of Covering), Sukkot (shelters) and Shemini Atzeret (Eight Day). This idea is significant because the number seven, which symbolizes completion, fullness and fulfilment, is a central element in the dreams of Pharaoh. Also, the month of Tishri is a month of new beginnings. These events are truly a new beginning for both Joseph and Israel (Jacob). And, in retrospect, the beginning of the end (all be it 400 years down the track) of Egypt’s domination over the Jewish people. Note that Pharaoh is referring to the dreams as one dream but like the cupbearer and baker before him, he is using the doubling of the Hebrew chalom chalam’ti (Dreamed a dream). Thus the two become echad (one, complex unity). 16 Then Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) answered Pharaoh (Great house) saying, “apart from me. Elohiym (God, gods, Judge) will answer Pharaoh with shalom.” In other words, “Without Elohiym’s help I’m not able to give a Divine answer, instead I defer to Him and He will answer you so as to bring shalom (peace, wholeness) to the turmoil of your heart and mind.” Like Daniel the prophet, Joseph ascribes his interpretive skill to God (Daniel 2:30). “Those that honour Me, I will honour” -1 Samuel 2:30 17 So Pharaoh said to Yosef: “In my dream, hinei suddenly I was standing on the bank of ha-y’or the river (Nile). 18 And hinei behold, out of the river (Nile) seven cows were coming up, fat and beautiful, healthy, and they grazed in the reeds. 19 Then all of a sudden, there were seven other cows coming up after them, feeble, very ugly and emaciated. I’ve never seen cows this hideous in the whole land of Egypt. 20 Then the emaciated and ugly cows ate the first seven fat cows. 21 When they were devoured, one couldn’t tell that they had been devoured. Their appearance was as ugly as it was at first. Then I woke up. 22 Then I saw in my dream, there were seven heads of grain ascending on one (echad) stalk, full and good. 23 Then suddenly, there were seven heads of grain, dried up, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouting up after them. 24 Then the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. So I told the fortune-telling priests, but no one could provide me with an explanation.” While there are some subtle differences in the recapitulating of the dreams, all the main elements are present. It is possible that Pharaoh left out the fact that the scrawny cows came out of the Nile because the Nile was deified and from his perspective, only gave forth good things. However, this small detail does not mitigate the otherwise dark conclusion of the dreams. The fact that Pharaoh mentions his disappointment only in the fortune-telling priests, may indicate one of two things: either he didn’t expect the wise men (who use logic) to understand what he considered to be metaphysical symbolism, or, he was intentionally belittling his priestly rivals. Whatever the reason, he was none the less concerned about the dreams and their meaning, and was determined to get an answer. 25 Then Yosef said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dream is echad (one). Elohiym (God, gods) has told Pharaoh what He is about to fashion. 26 The seven good cows: they are seven years. Also the seven heads of grain: they’re seven years. It is echad (one) dream. 27 The seven emaciated and ugly cows coming up after them: they’re seven years. Also the seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind: there will be seven years of famine. 28 He (Hoo) the word (Ha-d’var) which I conveyed by my words (d’vartiy) to Pharaoh already: Ha-Elohiym the God is about to fashion, that which he has shown to Pharaoh. 29 Seven years of abundance are about to come in the whole land of Egypt. 30 Then seven years of famine will come up after them and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten and the famine will consume the land. 31 So the abundance in the land will be unknown because of the famine that follows, for it will be an exceedingly oppressive famine. Joseph emphasises the unity of the dreams. The cows representing ploughing and sowing and the grain, reaping and harvesting (Arbanel). He first gives a concise overview. Joseph infers that God has given this message to Pharaoh because it concerns the entire land that he has governance over. Joseph reasserts his own trust in God, repeating that God is about to fashion these things. Though the generic title Elohiym (God, gods, judges) is being used, as a Hebrew he can only be speaking of the Hebrew God, he is after all an imported slave who has little previous knowledge of Egypt’s deities. Joseph begins with the issue of famine because Pharaoh is used to prosperous livestock and abundant grain harvests, but it is the latter part of the dream that has concerned him most and it is this that allows Joseph to capture and hold Pharaoh’s attention. 32 “Now as for repeating Pharaoh’s dream twice: it’s because the matter has been settled by Elohiym God and Elohiym God will quickly make it happen. Joseph stresses the point that Elohiym is in control of both the dreams and the events that they predict. Elohiym (Joseph’s God) has firmly decided this and will make it happen very soon. Joseph, a slave, a despised Hebrew, speaks of an authority greater than the false man-god Pharaoh. Any other ruler might have had Joseph struck down for presuming to say such a thing but Pharaoh seems convinced that Joseph is his only means of escaping what is to come. 33 So now, let Pharaoh select a man discerning and wise and set him in authority over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh act by appointing administrators over the land and take a fifth portion from the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. The man for the job will need to be discerning enough to coordinate the business and logistics of this undertaking and wise enough to know how to store and preserve the grain. A good job for one who has cared for flocks and harvested grain in the fields of Hebron nu. The fifth portion is to be taken from the land, meaning a fifth of all the grain producing land would be farmed directly into Pharaoh’s storehouses. This would be in addition to the taxable produce of the land, which probably returned a tenth of all grain to Pharaoh’s storehouses every year. 35 Then let them gather all the food from these good years that are coming, and let them store up grain under Pharaoh’s hand as food for the cities, so they may preserve it. This means that each city would have its own granaries in which to store its grain. These granaries would be controlled by those whom the man Pharaoh appointed would place in charge as overseers. 36 Let the food be held in reserve for the land for the seven years of famine that are coming upon the land of Egypt. Then the land will not be annihilated by the famine.” Affirming his certain belief in the coming events, Joseph says, “the seven years of famine that are coming”. 37 Now the plan seemed good in the eyes of Pharaoh as well as all his servants. 38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can a man like this be found, one in whom is ruach Elohiym (God’s Spirit: spirit of the gods)?” It is interesting to note that the plan seemed good not only to Pharaoh but also to his servants. One would have thought that a court of people who despised Hebrews and had just been one upped by a Hebrew slave, would be envious, hateful and disagreeable to Joseph’s interpretation and council. However, be it due to their fear of Pharaoh’s wrath or simply because they genuinely saw the wisdom in Joseph’s words, they were all convinced by him according to the will of God. The name Elohiym, which denotes the attribute of Judgement, is used throughout this account. It is God the Judge who speaks this warning to Pharaoh, and it is the servant of YHVH the Merciful who brings Pharaoh the redemptive solution to the coming crisis. Whatever Pharaoh’s degree of spiritual understanding, he clearly believes that Joseph is a spiritually gifted man imbued with supernatural favour. 39 Then Pharaoh (Great house) said to Yosef, “Since Elohiym God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You! You will be over my house, and in addition all my people’s mouths will kiss you. Only in relation to the throne will I be greater than you.” Egyptian law forbade the promoting of slaves into positions of authority. Thus Pharaoh’s edict was a controversial one. However, it’s clear that Pharaoh was convinced that Joseph was uniquely qualified for the job. This rise to the position of Egypt’s second in command was the first stage of the final fulfilment of Joseph’s God given dream of ruling over Israel and the nations, as a type for the future Messiah. 41 Then Pharaoh said to Yosef, “See, I appoint you over the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and put a chain of gold around his neck. The ring was Pharaoh’s seal and meant that Joseph had authority to implement legislation and seal binding law in all Egypt. The fine garments of royalty represented Joseph’s authority over the land of Egypt, over the morning (Sun) and the evening (Moon) stars. This is in fulfilment of his second dream, which has multiple, far reaching and complex repercussions. In place of the garments he had lost, Joseph is given a garment of far greater authority. Though he has suffered great losses, he has, with God’s help, overcome adversity with his trust intact. 43 Then he had him ride in the chariot as second-in-command, the one that belonged to him, and they called out before him, “Av’reich Father King, Tender Father!” So he appointed him over the whole land of Mitzrayim (double distress) Egypt. There are at least two possibilities for translating the composite Hebrew word Av’reich. First, Av means Father (in wisdom) and reich means tender (in years) [Midrash]. Second, and according to both Rashi and Onkelos, Av is the Hebrew for Father and reich is Aramaic for King. Both titles denote attributes of the God of Israel, our Father and King (Aveinu Melkeiynu). Therefore, to the Hebrew reader at least, Joseph is seen as a type for the Messiah (God with us). The Jewish Redeemer who will save from the nations those who submit to Him and then, will deliver, save and restore His entire people (12 tribes), the house of His father Jacob (Israel). Onkelos paraphrases, “This is the father of the king”; which agrees with what Joseph himself says, that God had made him a father to Pharaoh (Gen. 45:8). The Targum of Yonatan includes both meanings in its paraphrasing of this verse: "This is the father of the king, who is great in wisdom, and tender in years:'' –Targum Yonatan “let the father of the king live, who is great in wisdom, and tender in years:'' –Targum Yerushalayim 44 Pharaoh also said to Yosef, “I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one will lift up his hand or his foot in the whole land of Egypt.” 45 Then Pharaoh named Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) Tzafnat-paneach (treasury of glorious rest) and gave him As’nat (Belonging to the goddess Neit) daughter of Potipherah (He whom the Ra gave), kohen priest of On (Strength), as his wife. Then Yosef went out, in charge of the land of Egypt. Both Rashi and Rashbam interpret Joseph’s new title as M’pareish Hatz’punot, meaning He who explains what is hidden. “One to whom hidden things are revealed” – Onkelos “A revealer of secrets” –Targum Yonatan The latter part of Tzafnat-paneach is used only this once in Scripture, and Iben Ezra confesses his ignorance as to whether it is an Egyptian word or not. Some think the first part of the name is etymologically linked to the name of the Egyptian idol Baal Zephon (lord of the north: Exodus 14:2), and that, in this new name given to Joseph by Pharaoh, he has inserted the name of his god, just as Nebuchadnezzar did, when he gave new names to Daniel and his company (Daniel 1:7). The Zohar explains that the name change was an instance of Divine Providence intended to help keep Joseph’s identity hidden from his family so that his dreams would be fulfilled. Alshich suggests that Potipherah is the same as Potiphar and that therefore, Joseph is marrying his former master’s daughter and is thus vindicated from the false charge concerning Potiphar’s wife. However, if as many believe, Potiphar is a title rather than a personal noun, it is just as likely that the Potiphera of the priests of On is simply an equivalent position in the priesthood held by another individual altogether. This seems more likely in fact, given that the role of Prince of Executioners (Potiphar) is quite separate and distinct from that of priest. As’nat the Egyptian (Double distress) becomes the mother of two of Israel’s greatest sons, the sons of promise, Ef’rayim (doubly fruitful) and M’nasheh (to forget trouble). Thus, out of double distress comes double blessing. 46 Now Yosef was 30 years old when he began serving as representative of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Yosef went out from Pharaoh’s presence and passed throughout the whole land of Egypt. The age of thirty years is significant because it is believed to be Yeshua’s age when He began His public ministry and is known to be the age at which first century Jewish teachers and scribes were welcomed into positions of ministerial authority. Add to this the multiples of three (Unity of deity and completion of that which is firmly established) and ten (Fullness, completion, fruitfulness), and we see that Joseph is entering a season of completion and fullness according to the will of God. At thirty he has now been separated from his family for thirteen years (Gen. 37:2). A number that in Judaism represents the twelve tribes in union with the One God. 47 During the seven years of abundance, the land produced by the handfuls. 48 So he gathered all the food in the land of Egypt during the seven years, and put food in the cities; the food from the city fields surrounding the cities he put in each city. 49 So Yosef (YHVH: Mercy adds) stored up grain like the sand of the sea, vast amounts, until he stopped keeping record because it was beyond counting. Once again Joseph’s name speaks forth his work and the blessing of God poured out on an undeserving people. Mercy adds. The phrase, “By the handfuls” is an idiom signifying abundance. 50 Two sons also had been born to Yosef before the first year of famine came, born to him by As’nat (Belonging to the goddess Neit), daughter of Potipherah (He whom the Ra gave), kohen priest of On (Strength). 51 Yosef named his first-born M’nasheh (to forget trouble), “because Elohiym God has caused me to forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.” 52 And the second he named Ef’rayim (doubly fruitful), “because Elohiym God has made me fruitful in the land of my oppression.” We are told that Joseph’s two sons are born to him, “before the first year of famine came”. Why? What difference does it make when they were born? In the birth of Joseph’s sons God has provided evidence in advance of the fruitfulness yet to come, so that during the coming years of famine (adversity), Joseph can look to the hope he has in HaShem. The sons are named both for the past faithfulness of God (M’nasheh) and for the future promises of God (Ef’rayim). There is a lesson here for every believer: God has given us a great hope in His Son Yeshua, a promise of eternal life, and we know this, that “God cannot lie”. Therefore, in adversity we should look to the sons who have been born to us in the former days, “Forgotten Trouble (Resurrection)” and “Future Double Fruitfulness (Eternal life)”, remembering that God has been faithful, that He is being faithful, and that He will faithfully complete the good work He has begun in us. The continued use of Elohiym (Judge) reinforces the restorative justice shown to Joseph. As’nat, like Tamar, Rachav, and Ruth, has been grafted into the bloodline of Israel through a Redeemer (like Boaz), a man who is a type for the future Messiah and deliverer of humanity. The fact that the boys were given Hebrew names infers As’nat’s conversion to Joseph’s faith, having been convinced of the truth of HaShem according to His providence and faithfulness to Joseph and Yaakov/Yisrael. We bless our boys every Yom Shishi with the words, “May God make you like Ef’rayim and M’nasheh” (Gen. 48:20). 53 Then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine started to come—just as Yosef had said. So there was famine in all the lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When the whole land of Egypt suffered famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, and Pharaoh said to all of Egypt, “Go to Yosef. Do whatever he tells you.” 56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, so Yosef opened up all the stores among them and sold grain to Egypt. Then the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Yet the whole world came to Egypt to buy grain—to Yosef—because the famine was severe in the whole world. For all intents and purposes, Joseph had become the ruler of the known world. He had become father to Pharaoh (Gen. 45:8), and would soon be recognized as ruler over his brothers according to the will and plan of God for His people Israel. © Yaakov Brown 2017 |
Yaakov BrownFounder of the Beth Melekh International Messiah Following Jewish Community, Archives
February 2024
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