Parsha "Re'eh" (see) DEUT 11:26 - 16:17

[Ben Avraham]

Parsha "Re'eh" (see)


DEUT: 11:26 - 16:17 , ISAIAH 54:11 - 55:5 , I JOHN 4:1 -6


I would like to look at just a few things, Moshe continues to stress "blessings and curses" (B'rachah v'k'lala) they are all conditional, like they are today, nothing has changed, if we want YHVH's blessings, then we are to follow his , his mitzvoth, and trust in Yeshua as Messiah, Of course, trusting in Messiah is the ONLY way to obtain righteousness, but we do want HaShem's blessings on our lives, so living in accordance to how the leads us is essential,

There is one thing that I wish to bring into light and avoid confusion, that is in
Deut 12:15 "However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of YHVH your God, which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of the gazelle and deer alike"

Perhaps some might believe that this is talking about foods, that we can eat both "clean and unclean foods" but this is not the case, it is talking about "people" being "clean and unclean" that is ceremonial clean and unclean. If a person has touched a dead thing, or has just buried grandma or grandpa, or has chicken pox, a skin rash, or some kind of disease, or a woman who is on her period, or has just come off her period, they are considered "unclean" and can not come to the Mishkan to offer sacrifices, HOWEVER they can "kill and eat" kosher animals at their own dwellings, mentions "gazelle" and "deer" which are kosher animals that lived in the middle east in those days, they couldn't offer them as sacrifices though, as only bulls, cows, goats, rams, sheep, were accepted as sacrifices, the "gazelle and deer" were wild, clean animals that an Israelite could hunt, kill, and eat with his family.

Today, we can also eat those animals, as well as bison (buffalo) in the USA, I have ground bison meat in my freezer today, very much kosher

We also see the importance of three "moedim" (festive holidays) which are to be celebrated. the of YHVH says to "Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover" The Passover reminds us of YESHUA as the PASSOVER LAMB,

The FEAST OF WEEKS, or SHAVUOT, we celebrate to remind us of the giving of the on Mt Sinai, and also, of the coming of the Ruach Ha Kodesh, (The Holy Spirit) on that day, known also as PENTECOST in Greek.

the FEAST OF TABERNACLES or SUKKOT reminds us of the day of Thanksgiving, of abundant crops, and of the arrival of Messiah Yeshua to earth to dwell among men and women, to teach , to heal, and to die for our sins.

These celebrations will also be celebrated in the millennial kingdom of Yeshua on earth. So, get used to them, we will be celebrating them for 1000 years.
_____________________________________________________________________________________ ISAIAH 54:11 - 55:5

Pay special attention to "55:1-5" an invitation to abundant life, the Prophet is saying "and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Indeed I have given HIM as a witness to the people" in some translations, it says IT, but in Hebrew, the word IT is also translated HIM, who is this "everlasting covenant?" "YESHUA" who is the WITNESS. He is the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL

SEEK YHVH WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND! is there a time when He might NOT be found? Only if a person has hardened his or her heart to such an extend that, well, that the person will NOT WANT TO have an encounter with God, then, apart from a miracle, that person will not search for mercy from God. God forbid that we might fall into that category
_______________________________________________________________________________
1 JOHN 4:1 -6

The apostle is saying "test the spirits" to see if they are from God. We can not believe every person that comes into our lives and claims to be a "believer" many will say "Oh, I believe in God, Yeah, Jesus is real, " but do they really believe? do their "works" back up their words? Yochanan says "test the spirits" ask them questions. "Who is Yeshua?" what you think of Him? Is he GOD in the flesh? await the answers, observe the person's activities, life style. etc.

SHABBAT SHALOM V' SHAVUA TOV

Rabbi Ben Avraham

[alon]

A lot of things are now changing as they are abut to enter and take possession of the land. Most of the changes are due to the prophetic act of Elohim stipulating a central place for sacrifices and worship. This would later be seen when Melech Dovid took Yerushalay'im and made it the spiritual and political capitol of Ysiro'el. Where before an alter could be set up and sacrifices made to honor God, in the future the Hebrews would have to pilgrimage to sacrifice. This would severely restrict their diet, so it is now OK to slaughter domestic animals following the same rules as for killing wild game. This is only a small sampling of the changes made just in this par'shah.

My suggestion is that everyone research these last parshot in this cycle for themselves. Otherwise you will miss so much; and there is so much more than anyone can give in a short forum post. My hat is off to Ben Avraham, as I was really stumped as to just how to deal with this par'shah. My mind is in information overload, but he hit on some important points. Just like I am saying, there is so much more depth and breadth to all this. I hope it will inspire everyone to look into these readings themselves.

(Hint: a copy of the JPS Study Bible [TNK] would be a good investment. They even reference some of how this relates to Christianity- and do so very fair mindedly, I might add.)

Dan C

[alon]

Here's another exercise in understanding:

One of the things we are told repeatedly in this par’shah is that “You shall not eat the blood.” We are even told why in Deu 12:23, “Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life.” But let’s break this down; why is the blood so important? Didn’t we take the “life” of the animal already? What’s in a pronoun? (As an English failure, I hope I got that right …) Let’s look at it anyhow.

We all kow of Adam, the first man of God’s creation. Genesis 2:7 (ESV) “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Adam, formed from the “dust of the ground.” Soil, earth, dust- Heb “adama.” Further, “ben adam,” literally “son of man” always refers to a human in the Bible. (ref. Ezekiel 3:17, Psalm 146:3, Mark 9:9). However "Ben Ha'adam," The Son of Man often refers to HaMoshiach (Daniel 7:13, Mark 9:9). In the Hebrew language as well as the Biblical account of creation there is a definite link to man and the earth, and between man and the Messiah. But what about the blood, which we are instructed in Deu 12:16 “Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.”

Well, the Hebrew word for blood is “dam,” obviously a part of the name Adam and, consequently the word “adama,” earth/dust; and man (son of man), “ben adam.” So there is a definite relationship illustrated in God’s language (Hebrew) which cannot be seen in Greek or English translations.

Now the interesting correlation- plural for “dam” is “damim,” which is also the word for money, payment, or retribution. Most translators, not fully understanding the Hebrew connotations which depend on context for their meaning, simply translate “damim” as “blood.” This obscures the true intent of many passages. Consider this somewhat confusing passage: Exodus 22:2-3 (ESV) “If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Sounds like if the sun rises on his corpse, the victim would have to pay for his death. Kind of the Hebrew version of “If you shoot an intruder and he falls outside, drag him inside or you’ll be charged.” Or even more confusing, I am to sell his corpse for payment?

However if we consider these verses in light of payment in retribution, we see that if he died in the act, he didn’t get away with anything and a corpse can’t pay anyhow. However, if he lives to see daylight, he did make off with something and he now must pay damages.

The word “damim” is spelled dalet, mem, yod, mem sofit:
dalet- door, pathway
mem- water, liquid, massive, chaos
yod- work, hand
mem sofit- chaos
One of the word pictures I can see in this is there is a door, or path (Yeshua, John 14:6), through which a mighty work is done to lead (rescue) us from the chaos of sin and retribution. Just my interpretation for retribution. (I can also see many pictures for "money" with a double dose of chaos in the meaning as well.)

We were dead in our sins, yet someone paid the ransom for us; 1Pe 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” This, I believe, is the connection- the reason we are not to eat the blood. It represents the precious lifeblood, the damim that was to be shed to pay for our sins.

Dan C

resources- works of Dr. Danny Ben-Gigi and Dr. Frank Seekins