Massei Parasha Leap Year Reading Thoughts, Studies, and Comments
This weeks Parasha (Torah Portion)
Massei Parasha Leap Year Reading Thoughts, Studies, and Comments
LovingNeighbor
05-28-2006, 1:59 AM
The goal of this section is to get everybody's studies, thoughts, and opinions on anything in the weeks parasha. This includes, word studies, thoughts on verses, history, related subjects, and anything that may help us to understand this Torah Portion. Even if it's just an observation on the smallest part, it can help others who may not have seen it that way. The goal is then as we visit the parasha (Torah Portion) each year we will create a collection of studies and thoughts on this portion and everyone will benefit by having a broader view of the portion. Shalom!
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
Massei Parasha 2007-8 Message - To Judgement
LovingNeighbor
07-27-2008, 11:10 AM
To Judgement
For Parasha Massei
By Lovingneighbor 8-2-2008
This weeks Parasha is in the book of Bamidbar also called Numbers, and are called Massei which means 'Journeys'. In this weeks parasha:
- The journeys of Yisra'el from Egypt to Yarden are retold
- YHWH commands when they go in to possess the land they must destroy the people, images, and high places or YHWH will do it to them
- YHWH tells Moshe the borders of the land given to them
- YHWH tells Moshe who to put in charge from each tribe for the dividing of the inheritance
- The Levitical cities and cities for the manslayer are commanded to be set up
- Anyone who kills a man on accident shall flee to the cities of refuge until they are judged
- If the killing is proved to be an accident he shall stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest
- You shall not take money for the life of a murderer or to let the man out of the city of refuge lest you pollute the land
- Daughters receiving an inheritance shall marry in their father's tribe so the inheritance doesn't leave the tribe
- Haftarah - YHWH shows Yisra'el how their own actions have brought destruction to them
In this weeks parasha we see the journeys of Yisra'el retold. From Egypt to Yarden. Some understand Yarden or Jordan to mean River of Judgement, and I tend to agree though there is so much more in trying to understand the meaning of Yarden. It means to descend.
I see it maybe as the model of death. The crossing over it or through it leads to the kingdom and life. This also fits the concept of judgement. It is spelled Yod, resh, Dalet, Nun. which in the ancient Hebrew could be Hand, head, door, seed. Which could mean the spirit of the commandments in the beginning at the Door, Sons. This reminds us of the parable of the 10 virgins that are at the door. Some of them lacked the oil which is the model of the spirit of the commandments. This determined whether they were let in or not.
So in this example we see that Yarden is like the door to the kingdom. It is where the testing of the wilderness will be judged and those with the right spirit will be allowed to enter in to the kingdom.
This journey started in Egypt or Mitzrayim Spelled Mem, Tsade, Resh, Yod, Mem. Which in the ancient Hebrew could be waters, snare, beginning, hand, waters. Which in the ramez can be words, trap, in beginning, the spirit of the commandment, words. This I understand to be talking about the words of the serpent which snared Chavah because she ignored the spirit of the commandments Elohim and her husband gave her.
So we see we started with violating the spirit of the commandments of Elohim, and what does Mashiach teach but the spirit of the commandments, because the pharisees and men of the time thought they had the letter of the law were doing just as Chavah did and not obeying the spirit of the law. This is what he taught and in my opinion it was what was lacking in the 5 virgins, and it was what the Children of Yisra'el were to learn in the wilderness before going through the door of judgement, or crossing over the Yarden.
In this parasha we get a recounting of their journey out of Egypt. They are told to destroy the high places, the people and images of the people. This was in my opinion the spirit of 'You shall have no idols', it was not enough to leave a remnant and say we do not worship them, but like Pi'nechas they are to be jealous for the Elohim and execute judgement. The Torah says their is no peace for the wicked. A little leaven leavens the whole loaf. Being a little off in judgement is what the serpent does by twisting th words of Elohim. This leads to cursings and death.
We see this judgement with the person who kills someone by accident and the murderer. We have to look at the spirit of the action not just the action. As Mashiach said about the pharisees that they were like white sepulcurs clean outside but full of death inside. And even if it was an accident they could not be set free from the cities of refuge or pay a fine and get out. They needed to accept the judgement of their actions which took a life. The torah has penalties and lessor penalties unlike many who think every sin is worthy of death. That is not judgement. You were to take whatever judgement for your actions. This is embodied in the inheritence. You were to keep what you were given and with the daughters of Tzelochad there was judgement to make sure their inheritence stayed with their fathers and in their tribe. The judgement YHWH gives shall stand and we shall do exactly as He commands or face the consequences.
In the haftarah YHWH explains in my opinion why it is that these things happened to Yisra'el and it was.
Jer 2:17 Have you not brought this unto yourself, in that you have forsaken YHWH your Elohim, when He led you by the way?
Jer 2:19 Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you have forsaken YHWH your Elohim, and that my fear is not in you, saith YHWH Elohim Tsebaoth
All the Torah and all our blessings and hardships are to teach us judgement and if we do not learn from them and correct our spirit to one of righteous judgement then we will not enter in. Don't be foolish in just living your life unaware of the lessons you must learn. Ask yourself constantly in blessing and cursing, what does Elohim want me to learn from this. Grow and be righteous so that when you reach the door you will have oil in your lamp and enter in. Shalom
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
Love Of Torah Copyright 2006