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Commentary - Year 1 Sabbath 33

Genesis 35:9-36:43   -   Isaiah 43:1-7   -   Psalm 29   -   Matthew 5:1-12
 

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."


© 2004  Beikvot HaMashiach
(Followers of the Messiah)