Deuteronomy 2: Va-etchanan
Vaetchanan, Promises and the Ten Commandments
Deuteronomy 3:23 to 7:11 (58 minutes)
Ve-Etchanan
The Portion this week is
Ve-Etchanan from Deuteronomy 3:23
to 7:11.
s.1
[Deuteronomy 3:23] AND I BESOUGHT THE LORD AT THAT TIME, SAYING,
[Deuteronomy 3:24] O LORD GOD, THOU HAST BEGUN TO SHEW THY SERVANT THY
GREATNESS, AND THY MIGHTY HAND: FOR WHAT GOD IS THERE IN HEAVEN OR IN EARTH,
THAT CAN DO ACCORDING TO THY WORKS, AND ACCORDING TO THY MIGHT?
[Deuteronomy 3:25] I PRAY THEE, LET ME GO OVER, AND SEE THE GOOD LAND THAT IS
BEYOND JORDAN, THAT GOODLY MOUNTAIN, AND LEBANON.
Moses wanted to cross the Jordan River
to enter the western section of the Land of Canaan. Though the Holy Land
stretches technically from the Nile to the Euphrates there are different levels
of sanctity in it.
See:
"The Land of Israel" by Rabbi
Yehonatan
Davidiy
http://www.britam.org/Yehonatan.html#different
Different Levels of
Holiness
##The Land of Canaan [west of the Jordan] is more holy than the Land east of the
Jordan since the Land of Canaan is suited for a Temple to serve the Divine
Presence whereas East of the Jordan is not suitable.##
The region west of the Jordan had to be
conquered in order that a greater degree of sanctity should be realized
throughout all the other areas that had already been conquered.
[Deuteronomy 3:26] BUT THE LORD WAS WROTH WITH ME FOR YOUR SAKES, AND WOULD NOT
HEAR ME: AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, LET IT SUFFICE THEE; SPEAK NO MORE UNTO ME
OF THIS MATTER.
[Deuteronomy 3:27] GET THEE UP INTO THE TOP OF PISGAH, AND LIFT UP THINE EYES
WESTWARD, AND NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND EASTWARD, AND BEHOLD IT WITH THINE
EYES: FOR THOU SHALT NOT GO OVER THIS JORDAN.
[Deuteronomy 3:28] BUT CHARGE JOSHUA, AND ENCOURAGE HIM, AND STRENGTHEN HIM: FOR
HE SHALL GO OVER BEFORE THIS PEOPLE, AND HE SHALL CAUSE THEM TO INHERIT THE LAND
WHICH THOU SHALT SEE.
Moses was from the Tribe of Levi. Levi
together with Judah, Benjamin, and representative minorities of other tribes
gave rise to the Jewish people. The Tribe of Levi moved en masse to Judah
because of religious loyalty to the Law of Moses.
[2-Chronicles 11:13] AND THE PRIESTS [Cohanim]
AND THE LEVITES THAT WERE IN ALL ISRAEL RESORTED TO HIM [i.e. to
Rehoboam
son of Solomon of the House of David against whom the Ten Tribes under Jeroboam
had rebelled] OUT OF ALL THEIR COASTS.
[2-Chronicles 11:14] FOR THE LEVITES LEFT THEIR SUBURBS AND THEIR POSSESSION,
AND CAME TO JUDAH AND JERUSALEM: FOR JEROBOAM AND HIS SONS HAD CAST THEM OFF
FROM EXECUTING THE PRIEST'S OFFICE UNTO THE LORD:
In a sense Levi represents Judah and
Moses may be considered a precursor of the Messiah son of David who comes from
Judah. Here we have Moses [representing Judah] passing away and the leadership
being turned over to Joshua from the Tribe of Ephraim. Joshua was about to lead
all Israel in conquering Land. Joshua in a sense was a forerunner of the Messiah
son of Joseph. In the future the roles will be reversed. Messiah son of Joseph
will begin to lead the Ten Tribes and other Israelites back but the task will be
completed by Messiah son of David.
[Deuteronomy 3:29] SO WE ABODE IN THE VALLEY OVER AGAINST BETHPEOR.
[Deuteronomy 4:1] NOW THEREFORE HEARKEN, O ISRAEL, UNTO THE STATUTES AND UNTO
THE JUDGMENTS, WHICH I TEACH YOU, FOR TO DO THEM, THAT YE MAY LIVE, AND GO IN
AND POSSESS THE LAND WHICH THE LORD GOD OF YOUR FATHERS GIVETH YOU.
[Deuteronomy 4:2] YE SHALL NOT ADD UNTO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, NEITHER
SHALL YE DIMINISH OUGHT FROM IT, THAT YE MAY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD
YOUR GOD WHICH I COMMAND YOU.
We are forbidden to invent commandments
or to say that any particular strictness that we practice is the same as the
commandment. The Jewish rabbis added all kinds of guide-lines and safety guards
around many of the commandments so that they should not be transgressed even by
accident. They were very careful however to always make it quite clear where the
actual commandment began and ended. They always emphasized that their additions
were no more than their own enactments and not part of the commandment itself.
As in every community however one gets all types. We have to be tolerant of
eccentrics and fanatics in the same way as we sometimes tolerate others who are
more lenient than ourselves.
[Deuteronomy 4:3] YOUR EYES HAVE SEEN WHAT THE LORD DID BECAUSE OF BAALPEOR: FOR
ALL THE MEN THAT FOLLOWED BAALPEOR, THE LORD THY GOD HATH DESTROYED THEM FROM
AMONG YOU.
[Deuteronomy 4:4] BUT YE THAT DID CLEAVE UNTO THE LORD YOUR GOD ARE ALIVE EVERY
ONE OF YOU THIS DAY.
This is correct. People who go in the
good path and do as well as they can serving God according to their abilities
will usually be much better off over the long run. Most of those reading these
lines or listening to them being broadcast are basically good people. Otherwise
they probably would not be interested. As good as we may or may not be there are
or were periods in the lives of all of us that we would have changed if we
could. Looking back we often see that we too if we had have been a little better
than we were would have been better off.
s.2
[Deuteronomy 4:5] BEHOLD, I HAVE TAUGHT YOU STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS, EVEN AS THE
LORD MY GOD COMMANDED ME, THAT YE SHOULD DO SO IN THE LAND WHITHER YE GO TO
POSSESS IT.
[Deuteronomy 4:6] KEEP THEREFORE AND DO THEM; FOR THIS IS YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR
UNDERSTANDING IN THE SIGHT OF THE NATIONS, WHICH SHALL HEAR ALL THESE STATUTES,
AND SAY, SURELY THIS GREAT NATION IS A WISE AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE.
Those who obey the commandments and
follow the Law as a community develop their understanding, basic intuitive
abilities, and intellectual capacity, and attune their behavior to the
requirements of Divine Providence. In the eyes of others they succeed because
they seem wise and in a sense that is indeed what they very often are.
[Deuteronomy 4:7] FOR WHAT NATION IS THERE SO GREAT, WHO HATH GOD SO NIGH UNTO
THEM, AS THE LORD OUR GOD IS IN ALL THINGS THAT WE CALL UPON HIM FOR?
[Deuteronomy 4:8] AND WHAT NATION IS THERE SO GREAT, THAT HATH STATUTES AND
JUDGMENTS SO RIGHTEOUS AS ALL THIS LAW, WHICH I SET BEFORE YOU THIS DAY?
[Deuteronomy 4:9] ONLY TAKE HEED TO THYSELF, AND KEEP THY SOUL DILIGENTLY, LEST
THOU FORGET THE THINGS WHICH THINE EYES HAVE SEEN, AND LEST THEY DEPART FROM
THY HEART ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE: BUT TEACH THEM THY SONS, AND THY SONS'
SONS;
We should teach our children and
grandchildren these truths if we are able to do so.
[Deuteronomy 4:10] SPECIALLY THE DAY THAT THOU STOODEST BEFORE THE LORD THY GOD
IN HOREB, WHEN THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, GATHER ME THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND I WILL
MAKE THEM HEAR MY WORDS, THAT THEY MAY LEARN TO FEAR ME ALL THE DAYS THAT THEY
SHALL LIVE UPON THE EARTH, AND THAT THEY MAY TEACH THEIR
CHILDREN.
Moses describes the time at Mount Sinai
when all the Children of Israel as one body received the Torah and agreed to
keep it.
[Deuteronomy 4:11] AND YE CAME NEAR AND STOOD UNDER THE MOUNTAIN; AND THE
MOUNTAIN BURNED WITH FIRE UNTO THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, WITH DARKNESS, CLOUDS, AND
THICK DARKNESS.
[Deuteronomy 4:12] AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO YOU OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE: YE
HEARD THE VOICE OF THE WORDS, BUT SAW NO SIMILITUDE; ONLY YE HEARD A VOICE.
[Deuteronomy 4:13] AND HE DECLARED UNTO YOU HIS COVENANT, WHICH HE COMMANDED YOU
TO PERFORM, EVEN TEN COMMANDMENTS; AND HE WROTE THEM UPON TWO TABLES OF STONE.
[Deuteronomy 4:14] AND THE LORD COMMANDED ME AT THAT TIME TO TEACH YOU STATUTES
AND JUDGMENTS, THAT YE MIGHT DO THEM IN THE LAND WHITHER YE GO OVER TO POSSESS
IT.
[Deuteronomy 4:15] TAKE YE THEREFORE GOOD HEED UNTO YOURSELVES; FOR YE SAW NO
MANNER OF SIMILITUDE ON THE DAY THAT THE LORD SPAKE UNTO YOU IN HOREB OUT OF
THE MIDST OF THE FIRE:
[Deuteronomy 4:16] LEST YE CORRUPT YOURSELVES, AND MAKE YOU A GRAVEN IMAGE, THE
SIMILITUDE OF ANY FIGURE, THE LIKENESS OF MALE OR FEMALE,
[Deuteronomy 4:17] THE LIKENESS OF ANY BEAST THAT IS ON THE EARTH, THE LIKENESS
OF ANY WINGED FOWL THAT FLIETH IN THE AIR,
[Deuteronomy 4:18] THE LIKENESS OF ANY THING THAT CREEPETH ON THE GROUND, THE
LIKENESS OF ANY FISH THAT IS IN THE WATERS BENEATH THE EARTH:
[Deuteronomy 4:19] AND LEST THOU LIFT UP THINE EYES UNTO HEAVEN, AND WHEN THOU
SEEST THE SUN, AND THE MOON, AND THE STARS, EVEN ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN,
SHOULDEST BE DRIVEN TO WORSHIP THEM, AND SERVE THEM, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD HATH
DIVIDED UNTO ALL NATIONS UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN.
[Deuteronomy 4:20] BUT THE LORD HATH TAKEN YOU, AND BROUGHT YOU FORTH OUT OF THE
IRON FURNACE, EVEN OUT OF EGYPT, TO BE UNTO HIM A PEOPLE OF INHERITANCE, AS YE
ARE THIS DAY.
[Deuteronomy 4:21] FURTHERMORE THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH ME FOR YOUR SAKES, AND
SWARE THAT I SHOULD NOT GO OVER JORDAN, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT GO IN UNTO THAT
GOOD LAND, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE FOR AN INHERITANCE:
[Deuteronomy 4:22] BUT I MUST DIE IN THIS LAND, I MUST NOT GO OVER JORDAN: BUT
YE SHALL GO OVER, AND POSSESS THAT GOOD LAND.
[Deuteronomy 4:23] TAKE HEED UNTO YOURSELVES, LEST YE FORGET THE COVENANT OF THE
LORD YOUR GOD, WHICH HE MADE WITH YOU, AND MAKE YOU A GRAVEN IMAGE, OR THE
LIKENESS OF ANY THING, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD HATH FORBIDDEN THEE.
[Deuteronomy 4:24] FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE, EVEN A JEALOUS GOD.
[Deuteronomy 4:25] WHEN THOU SHALT BEGET CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, AND
YE SHALL HAVE REMAINED LONG IN THE LAND, AND SHALL CORRUPT YOURSELVES, AND MAKE
A GRAVEN IMAGE, OR THE LIKENESS OF ANY THING, AND SHALL DO EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF
THE LORD THY GOD, TO PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER:
[Deuteronomy 4:26] I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO WITNESS AGAINST YOU THIS DAY, THAT
YE SHALL SOON UTTERLY PERISH FROM OFF THE LAND WHEREUNTO YE GO OVER JORDAN TO
POSSESS IT; YE SHALL NOT PROLONG YOUR DAYS UPON IT, BUT SHALL UTTERLY BE
DESTROYED.
[Deuteronomy 4:27] AND THE LORD SHALL SCATTER YOU AMONG THE NATIONS, AND YE
SHALL BE LEFT FEW IN NUMBER AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHITHER THE LORD SHALL LEAD YOU.
The people were threatened with Exile if
they should worship foreign gods or if they should try to imagine God in human
or any other material form.
Here we find that it was said that if they were exiled they would be reduced in
number. We find however that the northern Ten Tribes who were exiled for
worshipping idols became extremely numerous.
See:
Immense Multitudes
http://www.britam.org/Proof/Blessings/blessNumbers.html
The Ten Tribes had a task in history to
fulfill and aspects of the blessing given prior to that had to come to past to
enable them to fulfill their mission.
See:
The Divine Purpose for the Exile and Division of the Tribes
http://britam.org/tape3.html
The Ten Tribes in a
spiritual sense were cut off from their obligation to keep the commandments and
given the same status as non-Israelite gentiles though in the future that will
change (Malachi 4:4). Since they were no longer obligated by the Law they would
not be punished to such a degree for not keeping it. Judah on the other hand was
never disqualified from the Torah and therefore had to bear the punishment when
it came though in the future Judah too will be compensated.
THE
RECOMPENSMENT
OF JUDAH
http://www.britam.org/isaiah/Isaiah46to50.html
Isaiah chapter 49:23
onwards speaks of how God will restore the Jewish people, and vastly multiply
their numbers. They shall be honored by rulers of the world, and see their
oppressors punished. Those who oppressed the Jews had in effect denied the
existence of the LORD God of Israel (v.49:26).
[Isaiah 49:23] AND KINGS SHALL BE THY NURSING FATHERS, AND THEIR QUEENS THY
NURSING MOTHERS: THEY SHALL BOW DOWN TO THEE WITH THEIR FACE TOWARD THE EARTH,
AND LICK UP THE DUST OF THY FEET; AND THOU
SHALT
KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD: FOR THEY SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED THAT WAIT FOR
ME.
[Deuteronomy 4:28] AND THERE YE SHALL SERVE GODS, THE WORK OF MEN'S HANDS, WOOD
AND STONE, WHICH NEITHER SEE, NOR HEAR, NOR EAT, NOR SMELL.
The Ten Tribes themselves did indeed
worship other gods both in their own land and later in their places of Exile.
Judah on the other hand after the return from Babylon did not. Nevertheless
after Judah was exiled they were subjects of heathens who did worship idols and
the pagan culture amongst which they had to survive had an effect on them. This
was counted to them as if they too were subject to idols themselves.
[Deuteronomy 4:29] BUT IF FROM THENCE THOU SHALT SEEK THE LORD THY GOD, THOU
SHALT FIND HIM, IF THOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL THY HEART AND WITH ALL THY SOUL.
If you seek the Almighty you will find
HIM. This is a promise we all need to take to heart with greater intensity and
earnestness.
[Deuteronomy 4:30] WHEN THOU ART IN TRIBULATION, AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE COME
UPON THEE, EVEN IN THE LATTER DAYS, IF THOU TURN TO THE LORD THY GOD, AND SHALT
BE OBEDIENT UNTO HIS VOICE;
[Deuteronomy 4:31] (FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A MERCIFUL GOD;) HE WILL NOT FORSAKE
THEE, NEITHER DESTROY THEE, NOR FORGET THE COVENANT OF THY FATHERS WHICH HE
SWARE UNTO THEM.
[Deuteronomy 4:32] FOR ASK NOW OF THE DAYS THAT ARE PAST, WHICH WERE BEFORE
THEE, SINCE THE DAY THAT GOD CREATED MAN UPON THE EARTH, AND ASK FROM THE ONE
SIDE OF HEAVEN UNTO THE OTHER, WHETHER THERE HATH BEEN ANY SUCH THING AS THIS
GREAT THING IS, OR HATH BEEN HEARD LIKE IT?
[Deuteronomy 4:33] DID EVER PEOPLE HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD SPEAKING OUT OF THE
MIDST OF THE FIRE, AS THOU HAST HEARD, AND LIVE?
All of the Israelites as one body saw
God at Mount Sinai and heard HIS voice. Somewhere or other in our inherited
subconscious a realization of this truth exists.
[Deuteronomy 4:34] OR HATH GOD ASSAYED TO GO AND TAKE HIM A NATION FROM THE
MIDST OF ANOTHER NATION, BY TEMPTATIONS, BY SIGNS, AND BY WONDERS, AND BY WAR,
AND BY A MIGHTY HAND, AND BY A STRETCHED OUT ARM, AND BY GREAT TERRORS,
ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD DID FOR YOU IN EGYPT BEFORE
YOUR EYES?
In the same way as God took us out of
Egypt HE can do similar wonders for us.
[Deuteronomy 4:35] UNTO THEE IT WAS SHEWED, THAT THOU MIGHTEST KNOW THAT THE
LORD HE IS GOD; THERE IS NONE ELSE BESIDE HIM.
[Deuteronomy 4:36] OUT OF HEAVEN HE MADE THEE TO HEAR HIS VOICE, THAT HE MIGHT
INSTRUCT THEE: AND UPON EARTH HE SHEWED THEE HIS GREAT FIRE; AND THOU HEARDEST
HIS WORDS OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE.
[Deuteronomy 4:37] AND BECAUSE HE LOVED THY FATHERS, THEREFORE HE CHOSE THEIR
SEED AFTER THEM, AND BROUGHT THEE OUT IN HIS SIGHT WITH HIS MIGHTY POWER OUT OF
EGYPT;
[Deuteronomy 4:38] TO DRIVE OUT NATIONS FROM BEFORE THEE GREATER AND MIGHTIER
THAN THOU ART, TO BRING THEE IN, TO GIVE THEE THEIR LAND FOR AN INHERITANCE, AS
IT IS THIS DAY.
The British and related colonists of
North America subdued numerous Amerindian Nations. Some of the Amerindians may
have been Hebrews as is frequently claimed. We have supporters and personal
friends who are partly Amerindian. Nevertheless most of the American Natives
were probably not Israelites but it was descendants of Israel who displaced
them. The same applies to Australia and New Zealand and it would also apply to
South Africa were it not for the fact that something has gone wrong there.
Peoples who probably were of substantial-Israelite origin lost control of South
Africa and the whole country has been disintegrating for some time. This should
have served as a warning to all of us. Is the USA headed along the same path?
[Deuteronomy 4:39] KNOW THEREFORE THIS DAY, AND CONSIDER IT IN THINE HEART, THAT
THE LORD HE IS GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE, AND UPON THE EARTH BENEATH: THERE IS NONE
ELSE.
[Deuteronomy 4:40] THOU SHALT KEEP THEREFORE HIS STATUTES, AND HIS COMMANDMENTS,
WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH THEE, AND WITH THY
CHILDREN AFTER THEE, AND THAT THOU MAYEST PROLONG THY DAYS UPON THE EARTH, WHICH
THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE, FOR EVER.
s.3
[Deuteronomy 4:41] THEN MOSES SEVERED THREE CITIES ON THIS SIDE JORDAN TOWARD
THE SUNRISING;
[Deuteronomy 4:42] THAT THE SLAYER MIGHT FLEE THITHER, WHICH SHOULD KILL HIS
NEIGHBOUR UNAWARES, AND HATED HIM NOT IN TIMES PAST; AND THAT FLEEING UNTO ONE
OF THESE CITIES HE MIGHT LIVE:
[Deuteronomy 4:43] NAMELY, BEZER IN THE WILDERNESS, IN THE PLAIN COUNTRY, OF THE
REUBENITES; AND RAMOTH IN GILEAD, OF THE GADITES; AND GOLAN IN BASHAN, OF THE
MANASSITES.
As noted elsewhere, there were three
Cities of Refuge east of the Jordan and three to the west, i.e. three for two
and a half Tribes (Gad, Reuben and half-Manasseh) and three for 9 and a half
)Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Ephraim, half-Manasseh, Dan,
Naphtali,
Zebulon, Issachar,
Asher). Manasseh had two cities, one on the west side in
Schechem
and one on the east side in
Ramoth of Gilead. The cities were
primarily intended for unintentional homicides. Nevertheless such incidents are
more liable to occur were there is a propensity for violence. Descendants of
Manasseh in Gilead became predominant amongst certain elements in Northern
Ireland and Scotland that in turn gave rise to the early settlers of the west
and south in the USA where violence was prevalent. This is discussed in our
work,
Joseph. The Israelite Destiny of America
http://britam.org/bkjoseph.html
See:
http://britam.org/hosea6.html
[Hosea 6:8] GILEAD IS A CITY OF THEM THAT WORK INIQUITY, AND IS POLLUTED WITH
BLOOD.
[Deuteronomy 4:44] AND THIS IS THE LAW WHICH MOSES SET BEFORE THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL:
[Deuteronomy 4:45] THESE ARE THE TESTIMONIES, AND THE STATUTES, AND THE
JUDGMENTS, WHICH MOSES SPAKE UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AFTER THEY CAME FORTH
OUT OF EGYPT.
[Deuteronomy 4:46] ON THIS SIDE JORDAN, IN THE VALLEY OVER AGAINST BETHPEOR, IN
THE LAND OF SIHON KING OF THE AMORITES, WHO DWELT AT HESHBON, WHOM MOSES AND THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SMOTE, AFTER THEY WERE COME FORTH OUT OF EGYPT:
[Deuteronomy 4:47] AND THEY POSSESSED HIS LAND, AND THE LAND OF OG KING OF
BASHAN, TWO KINGS OF THE AMORITES, WHICH WERE ON THIS SIDE JORDAN TOWARD THE
SUNRISING;
[Deuteronomy 4:48] FROM AROER, WHICH IS BY THE BANK OF THE RIVER ARNON, EVEN
UNTO MOUNT SION, WHICH IS HERMON,
[Deuteronomy 4:49] AND ALL THE PLAIN ON THIS SIDE JORDAN EASTWARD, EVEN UNTO THE
SEA OF THE PLAIN, UNDER THE SPRINGS OF PISGAH.
s.4
[Deuteronomy 5:1] AND MOSES CALLED ALL ISRAEL, AND SAID UNTO THEM, HEAR, O
ISRAEL, THE STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS WHICH I SPEAK IN YOUR EARS THIS DAY, THAT YE
MAY LEARN THEM, AND KEEP, AND DO THEM.
[Deuteronomy 5:2] THE LORD OUR GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH US IN HOREB.
[Deuteronomy 5:3] THE LORD MADE NOT THIS COVENANT WITH OUR FATHERS, BUT WITH US,
EVEN US, WHO ARE ALL OF US HERE ALIVE THIS DAY.
[Deuteronomy 5:4] THE LORD TALKED WITH YOU FACE TO FACE IN THE MOUNT OUT OF THE
MIDST OF THE FIRE,
The Ten Commandments
[Deuteronomy 5:5] (I STOOD BETWEEN THE LORD AND YOU AT THAT TIME, TO SHEW YOU
THE WORD OF THE LORD: FOR YE WERE AFRAID BY REASON OF THE FIRE, AND WENT NOT UP
INTO THE MOUNT;) SAYING,
Here come the Ten Commandments that are
both specific injunctions and general declarations of Principle.
An overriding rule of thumb for understanding the specific commandment aspect is
that it had to involve a crime for which the death penalty could be applied. All
of the commandments fit this rule except the tenth one.
Another list of the Ten Commandments is found in Exodus (20:1-14 Portion
Yitro).
[Deuteronomy 5:6] I AM THE LORD
THY GOD, WHICH BROUGHT THEE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, FROM THE HOUSE OF
BONDAGE.
This is a general statement or the First
Commandment depending on how one counts it.
There are Ten Commandments but different ways of counting them. Everyone agrees
on what was said but there is disagreement as to where one injunction ends and
another begins. Our way of counting below is not that which is generally given.
Technically speaking according to one counting it is not the first commandment
but serves as a kind of Preamble!
Know that GOD is your God!
[Deuteronomy 5:7] THOU
SHALT
HAVE NONE OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.
Commandment no.1
No other gods but GOD!
[Deuteronomy 5:8] THOU
SHALT
NOT MAKE THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, OR ANY LIKENESS OF ANY THING THAT IS IN HEAVEN
ABOVE, OR THAT IS IN THE EARTH BENEATH, OR THAT IS IN THE WATERS BENEATH THE
EARTH:
Commandment no.2
No not attribute godlike qualities to
any other being even on a lower level.
We are forbidden to worship images as God and this would include depictions we
create in our own mind. Some could count this commandment as an aspect of no.1,
count no.1 as 2, and count the Preamble as no.1
[Deuteronomy 5:9] THOU
SHALT
NOT BOW DOWN THYSELF UNTO THEM, NOR SERVE THEM: FOR I THE LORD THY GOD AM A
JEALOUS GOD, VISITING THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN UNTO THE
THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION OF THEM THAT HATE ME,
[Deuteronomy 5:10] AND
SHEWING
MERCY UNTO THOUSANDS OF THEM THAT LOVE ME AND KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.
We are liable to be punished for 4
generations for our sins. Some of the problems some of us have may be due to the
sins of our forefathers that we are still paying for. Our children,
grandchildren, and great-grand children may have to suffer difficulties due to
our own frailties and transgressions.
On the other hand by virtue of the good that do do we shall ensure a blessing on
our descendants for a thousand generations!
[Deuteronomy 5:11] THOU
SHALT
NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN: FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM
GUILTLESS THAT TAKETH
HIS NAME IN VAIN.
Commandment no. 3
This commandment is primarily against false oaths but it also applies to
blasphemy, and the improper use of the Holy Names.
One should not utter the name of God. Some
Ephraimites
have allowed themselves to get caught up in one or other the Holy Name Heresies.
They should get out of them.
[Deuteronomy 5:12] KEEP THE SABBATH DAY
TO SANCTIFY IT, AS THE LORD THY GOD HATH COMMANDED THEE.
Commandment no. 4
Keep the Sabbath
We have to keep the Sabbath day which according to the Bible begins at sunset on
Friday Night and ends at Sun down on Saturday.
[Deuteronomy 5:13] SIX DAYS THOU
SHALT
LABOUR,
AND DO ALL THY WORK:
One should work every day except
for the Sabbath. If you have a holiday on another do something, even a little
bit, that would be considered work.
[Deuteronomy 5:14] BUT THE SEVENTH DAY
IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD: IN IT THOU
SHALT
NOT DO ANY WORK, THOU, NOR THY SON, NOR THY DAUGHTER, NOR THY MANSERVANT, NOR
THY MAIDSERVANT, NOR THINE
OX, NOR THINE
ASS, NOR ANY OF THY CATTLE, NOR THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES; THAT
THY MANSERVANT AND THY MAIDSERVANT MAY REST AS WELL AS THOU.
[Deuteronomy 5:15] AND REMEMBER THAT
THOU WAST
A SERVANT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND THAT THE LORD THY GOD BROUGHT THEE OUT
THENCE THROUGH A MIGHTY HAND AND BY A STRETCHED OUT ARM: THEREFORE THE LORD THY
GOD COMMANDED THEE TO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY.
Remember you were servants. The Hebrew
word here is "avodim"
meaning slaves. That is what we were. We should remember it and treat others who
at present may be leess
fortunate than ourselves and perhaps under our authority with sensitivity.
[Deuteronomy 5:16]
HONOUR
THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER, AS THE LORD THY GOD HATH COMMANDED THEE; THAT THY
DAYS MAY BE PROLONGED, AND THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH THEE, IN THE LAND WHICH THE
LORD THY GOD GIVETH
THEE.
Commandment no. 5
Honor your father and mother.
A lot of us have some kind of resentment against our parents. This may be
justified. We should however avoid recriminations and accusations. Give your
parents respect because their honor is your own. Try to always think well of
them.
[Deuteronomy 5:17] THOU
SHALT
NOT KILL.
Commandment no. 6
Do not kill.
One should avoid violence if possible.
My own family has gotten into trouble due to use of violence.
I myself channeled this necessary but dangerous tendency in a more positive
direction by learning Siamese Boxing and working out with it.
I found this helped my physical and psychological health. It assisted me
socially and also taught me how to better defend myself in case I should ever
need it.
Be responsible, drive carefully. Avoid accidents. If you do drink alcohol avoid
driving or doing anything dangerous to yourselves or others. Do not put others
in danger. Take safety measures. Do not perform or tolerate abortions.
[Deuteronomy 5:18] NEITHER
SHALT
THOU COMMIT ADULTERY.
Commandment no. 7
Do not commit adultery.
This injunction has many different applications. A non-Jew should not take the
woman of anyone else. Any woman who lives with a man is considered his woman as
long as she is living with him. A Jew should not take any woman he is not
legally married to.
s.5
[Deuteronomy 5:19] NEITHER
SHALT
THOU STEAL.
Commandment no. 8
Do not steal [a human being].
Here the commandment refers primarily to kidnapping and forcing another to work
for oneself against their will. It also refers to stealing in general.
[Deuteronomy 5:20] NEITHER
SHALT
THOU BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY
NEIGHBOUR.
Commandment no. 9
Do not bear false witness.
Do not tell lies in general. Avoid saying things about others that are not so or
that may be misinterpreted or that are unnecessarily harmful even if there is
some truth to them. Our mouths sometimes have tendency to run away with us, to
take on a life of their own, we may find ourselves saying things we do not mean
and do not really want to say. We must take control of our tongues.
[Deuteronomy 5:21] NEITHER
SHALT
THOU DESIRE THY NEIGHBOUR'S
WIFE, NEITHER SHALT
THOU COVET THY NEIGHBOUR'S
HOUSE, HIS FIELD, OR HIS MANSERVANT, OR HIS MAIDSERVANT, HIS OX, OR HIS ASS, OR
ANY THING THAT IS THY NEIGHBOUR'S.
Here DESIRE means not only feeling a
need and yearning for but also pressuring another person to give or sell us
something that he does not really want to part with.
Commandment no. 10
Do not desire or seek to gain what rightfully belongs to others.
[Deuteronomy 5:22] THESE WORDS THE LORD SPAKE UNTO ALL YOUR ASSEMBLY IN THE
MOUNT OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE, OF THE CLOUD, AND OF THE THICK DARKNESS,
WITH A GREAT VOICE: AND HE ADDED NO MORE. AND HE WROTE THEM IN TWO TABLES OF
STONE, AND DELIVERED THEM UNTO ME.
[Deuteronomy 5:23] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN YE HEARD THE VOICE OUT OF THE
MIDST OF THE DARKNESS, (FOR THE MOUNTAIN DID BURN WITH FIRE,) THAT YE CAME NEAR
UNTO ME, EVEN ALL THE HEADS OF YOUR TRIBES, AND YOUR ELDERS;
[Deuteronomy 5:24] AND YE SAID, BEHOLD, THE LORD OUR GOD HATH SHEWED US HIS
GLORY AND HIS GREATNESS, AND WE HAVE HEARD HIS VOICE OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE
FIRE: WE HAVE SEEN THIS DAY THAT GOD DOTH TALK WITH MAN, AND HE LIVETH.
[Deuteronomy 5:25] NOW THEREFORE WHY SHOULD WE DIE? FOR THIS GREAT FIRE WILL
CONSUME US: IF WE HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD OUR GOD ANY MORE, THEN WE SHALL
DIE.
[Deuteronomy 5:26] FOR WHO IS THERE OF ALL FLESH, THAT HATH HEARD THE VOICE OF
THE LIVING GOD SPEAKING OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE, AS WE HAVE, AND LIVED?
[Deuteronomy 5:27] GO THOU NEAR, AND HEAR ALL THAT THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL SAY:
AND SPEAK THOU UNTO US ALL THAT THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL SPEAK UNTO THEE; AND WE
WILL HEAR IT, AND DO IT.
[Deuteronomy 5:28] AND THE LORD HEARD THE VOICE OF YOUR WORDS, WHEN YE SPAKE
UNTO ME; AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, I HAVE HEARD THE VOICE OF THE WORDS OF THIS
PEOPLE, WHICH THEY HAVE SPOKEN UNTO THEE: THEY HAVE WELL SAID ALL THAT THEY
HAVE SPOKEN.
[Deuteronomy 5:29] O THAT THERE WERE SUCH AN HEART IN THEM, THAT THEY WOULD FEAR
ME, AND KEEP ALL MY COMMANDMENTS ALWAYS, THAT IT MIGHT BE WELL WITH THEM, AND
WITH THEIR CHILDREN FOR EVER!
[Deuteronomy 5:30] GO SAY TO THEM, GET YOU INTO YOUR TENTS AGAIN.
[Deuteronomy 5:31] BUT AS FOR THEE, STAND THOU HERE BY ME, AND I WILL SPEAK UNTO
THEE ALL THE COMMANDMENTS, AND THE STATUTES, AND THE JUDGMENTS, WHICH THOU
SHALT TEACH THEM, THAT THEY MAY DO THEM IN THE LAND WHICH I GIVE THEM TO
POSSESS IT.
[Deuteronomy 5:32] YE SHALL OBSERVE TO DO THEREFORE AS THE LORD YOUR GOD HATH
COMMANDED YOU: YE SHALL NOT TURN ASIDE TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT.
[Deuteronomy 5:33] YE SHALL WALK IN ALL THE WAYS WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD HATH
COMMANDED YOU, THAT YE MAY LIVE, AND THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YE
MAY PROLONG YOUR DAYS IN THE LAND WHICH YE SHALL POSSESS.
In order to enter the Land of Israel and
to dwell within it we need to keep the Torah.
Nachmanides:
The Connection Between Law and Land
http://britam.org/Moses/Moses-2.html
The Ten Tribes when they
return may not be keeping the Torah at first but they will have to begin to do
so.
http://www.britam.org/Ezekiel11to15.html
[Ezekiel 11:18] AND THEY
SHALL COME THITHER, AND THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY ALL THE DETESTABLE THINGS THEREOF
AND ALL THE ABOMINATIONS THEREOF FROM THENCE.
The exiles (from the Ten Tribes) will remove their idols and cease their
paganism in their places of exile. OR ELSE:
They shall first come back to the land and then they shall cast aside their
idols"
[Ezekiel 11:19] AND I WILL GIVE THEM ONE HEART, AND I WILL PUT A NEW SPIRIT
WITHIN YOU; AND I WILL TAKE THE STONY HEART OUT OF THEIR FLESH, AND WILL GIVE
THEM AN HEART OF FLESH:
They will be given one heart, a spirit of unity, awareness of the truth,
willingness and ability to fulfill God's will, and the awareness that they
capable of doing so and want to do so.
[Ezekiel 11:20] THAT THEY MAY WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND KEEP MINE ORDINANCES, AND
DO THEM: AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.
[Deuteronomy 6:1] NOW THESE ARE THE COMMANDMENTS, THE STATUTES, AND THE
JUDGMENTS, WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD COMMANDED TO TEACH YOU, THAT YE MIGHT DO THEM
IN THE LAND WHITHER YE GO TO POSSESS IT:
The Israelites had to have the
intention to possess the Land. We are forbidden to leave the land in the hands
of non-Israelites. At the moment only Judah represents the Israelites in the
Land of Israel since only Judah has the unbroken tradition of Israelite
ancestry. Judah did not get Lost! Judah at present in attempting to repossess at
least a portion of the Promised Land is acting as a representative of all Israel
and as a pioneer going before the other Tribes!
http://britam.org/hosea6.html
The Third Redemption with
the building of the Third Temple will be final and there will be no more exiles
after that. Religious leaders must acknowledge the truth and be respected. The
People of Gilead and Manasseh had a propensity to violence which is still
apparent today. A portion of Judah will prepare the way in the Land of Israel
for the rest of Judah and for all the Ten Tribes. The USA and other Israelite
Nations should support the State of Israel and encourage the settlements instead
of doing the opposite as they have been.
See the Commentary of Rabbi Zevi
Kalisher
to:
[HOSEA 6:11] ALSO, O JUDAH, HE HATH SET AN HARVEST FOR THEE, WHEN I RETURNED THE
CAPTIVITY OF MY PEOPLE.
[Deuteronomy 6:2] THAT THOU MIGHTEST FEAR THE LORD THY GOD, TO KEEP
ALL HIS STATUTES AND HIS COMMANDMENTS, WHICH I COMMAND THEE, THOU, AND THY SON,
AND THY SON'S SON, ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE; AND THAT THY DAYS MAY BE
PROLONGED.
[Deuteronomy 6:3] HEAR THEREFORE, O ISRAEL, AND OBSERVE TO DO IT; THAT IT MAY BE
WELL WITH THEE, AND THAT YE MAY INCREASE MIGHTILY, AS THE LORD GOD OF THY
FATHERS HATH PROMISED THEE, IN THE LAND THAT FLOWETH WITH MILK AND
HONEY.
s.6
[Deuteronomy 6:4] HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD:
This verse in Hebrew "Shema
[Hear] Yisrael"
is the mark of faith of Judah. Many Jews were killed for not abandoning their
belief in God and His Torah. Their last words were often this verse.
[Deuteronomy 6:5] AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND
WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT.
[Deuteronomy 6:6] AND THESE WORDS, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, SHALL BE IN
THINE HEART:
[Deuteronomy 6:7] AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UNTO THY CHILDREN, AND
SHALT TALK OF THEM WHEN THOU SITTEST IN THINE HOUSE, AND WHEN THOU WALKEST BY
THE WAY, AND WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, AND WHEN THOU RISEST UP.
[Deuteronomy 6:8] AND THOU SHALT BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON THINE HAND, AND THEY
SHALL BE AS FRONTLETS BETWEEN THINE EYES.
[Deuteronomy 6:9] AND THOU SHALT WRITE THEM UPON THE POSTS OF THY HOUSE, AND ON
THY GATES.
[Deuteronomy 6:10] AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN THE LORD THY GOD SHALL HAVE BROUGHT
THEE INTO THE LAND WHICH HE SWARE UNTO THY FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, AND TO
JACOB, TO GIVE THEE GREAT AND GOODLY CITIES, WHICH THOU BUILDEDST NOT,
[Deuteronomy 6:11] AND HOUSES FULL OF ALL GOOD THINGS, WHICH THOU FILLEDST NOT,
AND WELLS DIGGED, WHICH THOU DIGGEDST NOT, VINEYARDS AND OLIVE TREES, WHICH THOU
PLANTEDST NOT; WHEN THOU SHALT HAVE EATEN AND BE FULL;
The Israelites when they conquered the
Land of Canaan took over cities that we already built of and of a high cultural
standard for that time. So too, the Jews when they conquered Palestine from the
Arabs and the Arabs fled or were driven out the Jews received Arab houses that
were often of a reasonable standard.
All the Land of Israel from the Nile River to the Euphrates should belong to
Israel. In the future we will expel the heathen squatters who now illegally
occupy this territory. The cities they have built and developed will be taken
over by Hebrews.
It may be that, Because the Israelites
did not drive out all the Canaanites as commanded then the Jews suffered in the
Holocaust and had their houses and possessions taken from them by descendants of
the Canaanites in Europe.
See:
Numbers 33:52-56
http://www.britam.org/numbers/9matotmasai.html
[Deuteronomy 6:12] THEN BEWARE LEST THOU FORGET THE LORD, WHICH BROUGHT THEE
FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, FROM THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE.
[Deuteronomy 6:13] THOU SHALT FEAR THE LORD THY GOD, AND SERVE HIM, AND SHALT
SWEAR BY HIS NAME.
[Deuteronomy 6:14] YE SHALL NOT GO AFTER OTHER GODS, OF THE GODS OF THE PEOPLE
WHICH ARE ROUND ABOUT YOU;
[Deuteronomy 6:15] (FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD AMONG YOU) LEST THE
ANGER OF THE LORD THY GOD BE KINDLED AGAINST THEE, AND DESTROY THEE FROM OFF THE
FACE OF THE EARTH.
[Deuteronomy 6:16] YE SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD, AS YE TEMPTED HIM IN
At Maasah (Exodus 17:7) the People had doubted whether or not God was with them.
Such doubting is forbidden.
[Deuteronomy 6:17] YE SHALL DILIGENTLY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR
GOD, AND HIS TESTIMONIES, AND HIS STATUTES, WHICH HE HATH COMMANDED THEE.
[Deuteronomy 6:18] AND THOU SHALT DO THAT WHICH IS RIGHT AND GOOD IN THE SIGHT
OF THE LORD: THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE, AND THAT THOU MAYEST GO IN AND
POSSESS THE GOOD LAND WHICH THE LORD SWARE UNTO THY FATHERS.
[Deuteronomy 6:19] TO CAST OUT ALL THINE ENEMIES FROM BEFORE THEE, AS THE LORD
HATH SPOKEN.
[Deuteronomy 6:20] AND WHEN THY SON ASKETH THEE IN TIME TO COME, SAYING, WHAT
MEAN THE TESTIMONIES, AND THE STATUTES, AND THE JUDGMENTS, WHICH THE LORD OUR
GOD HATH COMMANDED YOU?
[Deuteronomy 6:21] THEN THOU SHALT SAY UNTO THY SON, WE WERE PHARAOH'S BONDMEN
IN EGYPT; AND THE LORD BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT WITH A MIGHTY HAND:
[Deuteronomy 6:22] AND THE LORD SHEWED SIGNS AND WONDERS, GREAT AND SORE, UPON
EGYPT, UPON PHARAOH, AND UPON ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD, BEFORE OUR EYES:
[Deuteronomy 6:23] AND HE BROUGHT US OUT FROM THENCE, THAT HE MIGHT BRING US IN,
TO GIVE US THE LAND WHICH HE SWARE UNTO OUR FATHERS.
[Deuteronomy 6:24] AND THE LORD COMMANDED US TO DO ALL THESE STATUTES, TO FEAR
THE LORD OUR GOD, FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS, THAT HE MIGHT PRESERVE US ALIVE, AS IT IS
AT THIS DAY.
[Deuteronomy 6:25] AND IT SHALL BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, IF WE OBSERVE TO DO ALL
THESE COMMANDMENTS BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD, AS HE HATH COMMANDED US.
s.7
[Deuteronomy 7:1] WHEN THE LORD THY GOD SHALL BRING THEE INTO THE LAND WHITHER
THOU GOEST TO POSSESS IT, AND HATH CAST OUT MANY NATIONS BEFORE THEE, THE
HITTITES, AND THE GIRGASHITES, AND THE AMORITES, AND THE CANAANITES, AND THE
PERIZZITES, AND THE HIVITES, AND THE JEBUSITES, SEVEN NATIONS GREATER AND
MIGHTIER THAN THOU;
[Deuteronomy 7:2] AND WHEN THE LORD THY GOD SHALL DELIVER THEM BEFORE THEE; THOU
SHALT SMITE THEM, AND UTTERLY DESTROY THEM; THOU SHALT MAKE NO COVENANT WITH
THEM, NOR SHEW MERCY UNTO THEM:
[Deuteronomy 7:3] NEITHER SHALT THOU MAKE MARRIAGES WITH THEM; THY DAUGHTER THOU
SHALT NOT GIVE UNTO HIS SON, NOR HIS DAUGHTER SHALT THOU TAKE UNTO THY SON.
[Deuteronomy 7:4] FOR THEY WILL TURN AWAY THY SON FROM FOLLOWING ME, THAT THEY
MAY SERVE OTHER GODS: SO WILL THE ANGER OF THE LORD BE KINDLED AGAINST YOU, AND
DESTROY THEE SUDDENLY.
THY SON. The grammatical construction
here is where the Law comes that traces a Jew to anyone born of Jewish mother.
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesJudaism.html
Is there any Biblical
foundation for the "Jewish Mother" Law?
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesJudaism.html#Mother
[Deuteronomy 7:5] BUT THUS SHALL YE DEAL WITH THEM; YE SHALL DESTROY THEIR
ALTARS, AND BREAK DOWN THEIR IMAGES, AND CUT DOWN THEIR GROVES, AND BURN THEIR
GRAVEN IMAGES WITH FIRE.
All traces of idol worship must
eventually be expunged from the Holy Land.
[Deuteronomy 7:6] FOR THOU ART AN HOLY PEOPLE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD: THE LORD
THY GOD HATH CHOSEN THEE TO BE A SPECIAL PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF, ABOVE ALL PEOPLE
THAT ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
[Deuteronomy 7:7] THE LORD DID NOT SET HIS LOVE UPON YOU, NOR CHOOSE YOU,
BECAUSE YE WERE MORE IN NUMBER THAN ANY PEOPLE; FOR YE WERE THE FEWEST OF ALL
PEOPLE:
[Deuteronomy 7:8] BUT BECAUSE THE LORD LOVED YOU, AND BECAUSE HE WOULD KEEP THE
OATH WHICH HE HAD SWORN UNTO YOUR FATHERS, HATH THE LORD BROUGHT YOU OUT WITH A
MIGHTY HAND, AND REDEEMED YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDMEN, FROM THE HAND OF
PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT.
[Deuteronomy 7:9] KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD THY GOD, HE IS GOD, THE FAITHFUL
GOD, WHICH KEEPETH COVENANT AND MERCY WITH THEM THAT LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS
COMMANDMENTS TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS;
Here it is repeated.
God HIMSELF promises to repay you if you are faithful to HIM.
Not only will HE repay you but HE will also loom after your descendants for ever
by virtue of the good things you have done. You will be rewarded in the best way
possible.
[Deuteronomy 7:10] AND REPAYETH THEM THAT HATE HIM TO THEIR FACE, TO DESTROY
THEM: HE WILL NOT BE SLACK TO HIM THAT HATETH HIM, HE WILL REPAY HIM TO HIS
FACE.
[Deuteronomy 7:11] THOU SHALT THEREFORE KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS, AND THE STATUTES,
AND THE JUDGMENTS, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, TO DO THEM.
The
Haftorah
Isaiah 40:1-26
http://www.britam.org/isaiah/Isaiah36to40.html
[Isaiah 40:2] SPEAK YE
COMFORTABLY TO JERUSALEM, AND CRY UNTO HER, THAT HER WARFARE IS ACCOMPLISHED,
THAT HER INIQUITY IS PARDONED: FOR SHE HATH RECEIVED OF THE LORD'S HAND DOUBLE
FOR ALL HER SINS.
"Jerusalem" strictly speaking applies to Judah but it has some applicability
also to the rest of Israel.
The sins are paid up for and now comfort is coming.
[Isaiah 40:3] THE VOICE OF HIM THAT
CRIETH
IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A
HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.
[Isaiah 40:4] EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL
BE MADE LOW: AND THE CROOKED SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH PLACES PLAIN:
There will be no impediments.
[Isaiah 40:27] WHY SAYEST
THOU, O JACOB, AND SPEAKEST,
O ISRAEL, MY WAY IS HID FROM THE LORD, AND MY JUDGMENT IS PASSED OVER FROM MY
GOD?
There will be a time of trouble. Judah
and Israel will think that God has abandoned them. It is not so.
In our private lives also we should bear through times of trouble and know that
God watches and will help us.
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