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Heshvan 24, 5762 /
Nov 10, 2001
Heshvan 22, 5765 / Nov
6, 2004
Heshvan 22,
5768 / Nov
3, 2007
Heshvan 22, 5771 / Oct
30, 2010
Heshvan 22, 5774 / Oct
26, 2013
Heshvan 25, 5777
/ Nov 26, 2016
Heshvan 25, 5780
/ Nov 23, 2019
Heshvan 25, 5783
/ Nov 19, 2022
Vayrah
Elohim el / Then Elohim appeared
SCRIPTURES should be read first
El (Elohim)
is God who judges His creation.
(V.9-10) Then
Elohim appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram,
and He blessed him. And Elohim said to him, "Your name is
Jacob; you shall no longer be continually called Jacob (Supplanter),
but Yisrael (Prince/Chief) shall be your name." Thus
He called him Israel. Though “the lord of Esau” – the
angel with which Jacob wrestled – previously indicated the
name change, that was not his mission: he was only saying
what he knew God would do. (This is based on one of the
Talmudic interpretations of Genesis 32:28, that indicates
the angel is an evil one.)
The name Jacob
would henceforth be used when referring to physical or
mundane matters, and the name Israel would be used in
spiritual matters. God commanded that Avram should be called
Avraham (v.17:5), thus there is a commandment against using
his former name, and we may see in the Epistles that the
Apostles complied (Romans 4:18, Hebrews 7:1, and 1 Peter 3:6
are among many examples); but Ya’acov (Jacob) could be
called by either name.
(V.11-12)
Elohim also said to him, "I am El-Shadday (Creator-Judge
Almighty); be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company
of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth
from you. And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I
will give it to you, and I will give the land to your
descendants after you." This is the blessing Yahweh
gave to Avram when He changed his name to Avraham (v.17:1),
and it was previously confirmed by Isaac to Jacob (v.28:3).
“Be fruitful and
multiply,” previously stated to Adam, is seen as a creative
Word, a command, and a blessing. The original statement to
Adam is the creative cause of sexual desire (v.1:28). Denial
of the command* can be a capital offense (v.38:9). The
ultimate blessing can be the fulfillment of the purpose of
our existence – building the Kingdom of God, a kingdom of
priests. Also, as for Jacob, it means Israel would not
require foreigners for her kings.
*The many
deviant sexual behaviors that cannot result in procreation,
are denials of this command; however, the command is not to
be taken as condemning of normal marital relations that
cannot produce offspring because of age or infertility (1
Corinthians 7:36).
The land promise
is yet to be completely fulfilled – that is, Israel never
obtained the full area promised, but will when the Covenant
is renewed (Jeremiah 31:31-40). Verse 12 can be translated,
“In the end of days I will give your offspring the entire
earth.”
(V.13-15)
Then “Elohim ascended from upon him” in the place where He
had spoken with him. This is reminiscent of the
experience of Yeshua in Matthew 3:16-17, when the Spirit
descended upon Him, and God spoke from the heavens. And
Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with
him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a libation
(wine) on it; he also poured (olive) oil on it. So
Jacob named the place where Elohim had spoken with him, Beit-El
(House of the Creator-Judge). Jacob finally fulfilled
his vow.
(V.16-19)
Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still
some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth
and she suffered severe labor. And it came about when she
was in severe labor that the midwife said to her, "Do not
fear, for now you have another son." And it came about as
her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him
Ben-oni (Son of my sorrow); but his father called him
Bin-Yamin (Son of my right hand). Note that, in the
wilderness arrangement of the tribes, Benjamin is on the
right (south).
(V.20) So
Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is,
Bethlehem). And Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that
is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day. Jacob had
said that whoever stole Laban’s gods – the deeds to his land
(see commentary Y1-30) – would not live. Rachael was allowed
to live until she gave birth to Benjamin – the twelfth
tribe. At thirty-six years of age (by Talmudic count), she
died upon entering the Holy Land. There is also a teaching
that the Holy Land could not accept Jacob dwelling there
with two wives.
(V.27-29)
Jacob and his father Isaac were reunited after thirty-six
years (by Talmudic count): Jacob had left with nothing, and
returned with a large family and as a very rich man, but
without his most beloved wife.
Isaiah 43:1
– The haftartah clearly relates to this portion: “But
now, thus says Yahweh, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who
formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!’ ”
Psalm 29 –
The Psalmist relates: (v.1-2) Ascribe to Yahweh, O sons
of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. Ascribe
to Yahweh the glory due to His name; worship Yahweh in holy
array. Jacob finally fulfilled his vow, to glorify
Yahweh at the altar.
(V.9) The
voice of Yahweh makes the deer to calve, and strips the
forests bare, and in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
His Word made Rachel give birth. Jacob’s altar was called
Bethel – the House of God: it was a forerunner of the Holy
Temple, where everything says, “Glory!”
(V.11)
– The Psalmist relates: (v.1-2) Ascribe to Yahweh, O sons
of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. Ascribe
to Yahweh the glory due to His name; worship Yahweh in holy
array. Jacob finally fulfilled his vow, to glorify
Yahweh at the altar.
(V.9) The
voice of Yahweh makes the deer to calve, and strips the
forests bare, and in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
His Word made Rachel give birth. Jacob’s altar was called
Bethel – the House of God: it was a forerunner of the Holy
Temple, where everything says, “Glory!”
(V.11)Yahweh
will give strength to His people; Yahweh will bless His
people with peace. This is part of the Covenant to
Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. This is part of the Covenant
that will be renewed (Jeremiah 31:31-34) – often called the
“New Covenant” – and it will apply to us! This is the
subject of Matthew 5!
Matthew 5 –
Yeshua says, “Blessed are those . . .”, as He details
parts of the Abrahamic Covenant. For we as gentiles were
once without Messiah, and had no part in the Covenant
(Ephesians 2:12), but now, as believers, we are made
fellow-citizens (Ephesians 2:19), and the promises are ours!
We are heirs
through faith in the redemptive work of God’s Passover Lamb
– Yeshua. Then our future riches are based upon our
spiritual growth here: those who hunger for righteousness
now, will be satisfied then (v.6); those who learn to
display God’s mercy now, will find it for themselves then
(v.7). Those whose spiritual life grows more now, will have
more then (Matthew 25:29).
In that
future world, we will build houses, plant gardens, and raise
livestock. But everything will be in perfection and at
peace.
We may find some more detail
of our future life throughout the Prophets. Some of this
relates to the Sabbath Millennium – when Yeshua reigns for a
thousand years on this earth, and some relates to the time
following – after the earth is renewed by fire; but all of
it relates to the time after the resurrection of the
righteous dead – when we are perfected.
Jeremiah 32: 37 "Behold, I will gather them
out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My
anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will
bring them back to this place (Israel) and make them
dwell in safety. 38 They shall be My people, and
I will be their God; 39 and I will give them one
heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their
own good and for the good of their children after them.
40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them that
I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will
put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not
turn away from Me. 41 I will rejoice over them to
do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land
with all My heart and with all My soul. 42 For
thus says Yahweh, 'Just as I brought all this great disaster
on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good
that I am promising them. 43 Fields will be
bought in this land of which you say, "It is a desolation,
without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the
Chaldeans." 44 Men will buy fields for money,
sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of
Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem, in the cities of
Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of
the lowland and in the cities of the Negev; for I will
restore their fortunes,' declares Yahweh."
Zephaniah 3:
9
"For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all
of them may call on the name of Yahweh, to serve Him
shoulder to shoulder. 10 From beyond the rivers
of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, will bring My
offerings. 11 In that day you will feel no shame
because of all your deeds by which you have rebelled against
Me; for then I will remove from your midst your proud,
exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My
holy mountain. 12 But I will leave among you a
humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the
name of Yahweh. 13 The remnant of Israel will do
no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be
found in their mouths; for they will feed and lie down with
no one to make them tremble."
Ezekiel 11: 18 "When they come
there, they will remove all its detestable things and all
its abominations from it. 19 And I will give them
one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take
the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart
of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes
and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My
people, and I shall be their God. 21 But as for
those whose hearts go after their detestable things and
abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their
heads," declares the Lord Yahweh.
Jeremiah 33:
"15 'In those days and at that time I will cause
a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall
execute justice and righteousness on the earth. 16
In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell
in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called:
Yahweh Tzidkenu
(Yahweh Is Our Righteousness).'
17 For thus says Yahweh, 'David shall never lack a man
to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18
and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me
to offer elevation offerings, to burn grain offerings and to
prepare sacrifices continually.'"
Daniel
7: 13 "I kept looking in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man
was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was
presented before Him. 14 And to Him was given
dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations
and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is
an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His
kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
Readings:
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who chose us from among all peoples by
giving us Your Torah.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
Reader 1* Amen.
9 Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came
from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. 10 God said
to him, "Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called
Jacob, But Israel shall be your name." Thus He called him
Israel. 11 God also said to him, "I am God
Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company
of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth
from you. 12 "The land which I gave to Abraham
and Isaac, I will give it to you, And I will give the land
to your descendants after you." 13 Then God went
up from him in the place where He had spoken with him.
14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had
spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a
drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15
So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him,
Bethel.
Reader 2* Amen.
16 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when
there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began
to give birth and she suffered severe labor. 17
When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, "Do
not fear, for now you have another son." 18 It
came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that
she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to
Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set up a
pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel's grave
to this day.
Reader 3* Amen.
21 Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent
beyond the tower of Eder. 22 It came about while
Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay
with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Israel heard of
it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob-- 23
the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, then Simeon and
Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; 24 the
sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; 25 and the
sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali; 26
and the sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid: Gad and Asher. These
are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
27 Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of
Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had
sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were one
hundred and eighty years. 29 Isaac breathed his
last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of
ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Reader 4* Amen.
36:1 Now these are the records of the generations
of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives
from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the
Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and the
granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 also
Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. 4
Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel, 5
and Oholibamah bore Jeush and Jalam and Korah. These are the
sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
6 Then Esau took his wives and his sons and his
daughters and all his household, and his livestock and all
his cattle and all his goods which he had acquired in the
land of Canaan, and went to another land away from his
brother Jacob. 7 For their property had become
too great for them to live together, and the land where they
sojourned could not sustain them because of their livestock.
8 So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir; Esau
is Edom. 9 These then are the records of
the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the
hill country of Seir.
Reader 5* Amen.
10 These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz
the son of Esau's wife Adah, Reuel the son of Esau's wife
Basemath. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman,
Omar, Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz. 12 Timna was a
concubine of Esau's son Eliphaz and she bore Amalek to
Eliphaz. These are the sons of Esau's wife Adah. 13
These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and
Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau's wife Basemath. 14
These were the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter
of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon: she bore to Esau,
Jeush and Jalam and Korah. 15 These are the
chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the
firstborn of Esau, are chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho,
chief Kenaz, 16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief
Amalek. These are the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in the
land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah. 17
These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: chief Nahath, chief
Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs
descended from Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons
of Esau's wife Basemath. 18 These are the sons of
Esau's wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief
Korah. These are the chiefs descended from Esau's wife
Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 19 These are
the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their
chiefs.
Reader 6* Amen.
20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the
inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and
Anah, 21 and Dishon and Ezer and Dishan. These
are the chiefs descended from the Horites, the sons of Seir
in the land of Edom. 22 The sons of Lotan were
Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna. 23
These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath and Ebal,
Shepho and Onam. 24 These are the sons of Zibeon:
Aiah and Anah-- he is the Anah who found the hot springs in
the wilderness when he was pasturing the donkeys of his
father Zibeon. 25 These are the children of Anah:
Dishon, and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 26
These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran
and Cheran. 27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan
and Zaavan and Akan. 28 These are the sons of
Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs
descended from the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief
Zibeon, chief Anah, 30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer,
chief Dishan. These are the chiefs descended from the
Horites, according to their various chiefs in the
land of Seir.
Reader 7* Amen.
31 Now these are the kings who reigned in the
land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of
Israel. 32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom,
and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 Then
Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king
in his place. 34 Then Jobab died, and Husham of
the land of the Temanites became king in his place. 35
Then Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated
Midian in the field of Moab, became king in his place; and
the name of his city was Avith. 36 Then Hadad
died, and Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place.
37 Then Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the
Euphrates River became king in his place. 38
Then Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became
king in his place. 39 Then Baal-hanan the son of
Achbor died, and Hadar became king in his place; and the
name of his city was Pau; and his wife's name was Mehetabel,
the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab. 40
Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau,
according to their families and their localities, by
their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,
41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 43 chief
Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom (that is,
Esau, the father of the Edomites), according to their
habitations in the land of their possession.
Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living
Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
______________________
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who selected good prophets, delighting
in their words which were spoken truthfully.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the
Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,
and the prophets of truth and
righteousness."
Isaiah 43:1-7
Reader 8* Amen.
1 But now, thus says Yahweh, your Creator, O
Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I
have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be
with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow
you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be
scorched, nor will the flame burn you. 3 "For I
am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I
have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your
place. 4 "Since you are precious in My sight,
since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men
in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring
your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west.
6 "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And
to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from
afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth, 7
Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created
for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made."
Psalm 29
A Psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to
Yahweh, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and
strength. 2 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to
His name; worship Yahweh in holy array. 3 The
voice of Yahweh is upon the waters; the God of glory
thunders, Yahweh is over many waters. 4 The voice
of Yahweh is powerful, the voice of Yahweh is majestic.
5 The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars; yes, Yahweh
breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He
makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild
ox. 7 The voice of Yahweh hews out flames of
fire. 8 The voice of Yahweh shakes the
wilderness; Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9
The voice of Yahweh makes the deer to calve and strips the
forests bare; and in His Temple everything says, "Glory!"
10 Yahweh sat as King at the flood; yes, Yahweh
sits as King forever. 11 Yahweh will give
strength to His people; Yahweh will bless His people with
peace.
Matthew 5:1-12
1 When
Yeshua saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after
He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He
opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, 3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for
they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the
gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons
of God. 10 Blessed are those who have been
persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people
insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of
evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be
glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same
way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
"Blessed are You, Yahweh
our God, King of the Universe,
Rock of Ages, righteous
throughout all generations.
You are the faithful God,
promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,
for all Your words are true
and righteous.
Faithful are You, Yahweh
our God, and faithful are Your words,
for no word of Yours shall
remain unfulfilled;
You are a faithful and
merciful God and King.
Blessed are You, Yahweh our
God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words." |