Hebrew Glossary And Terminology
Expository Glossary of Hebraic Terms used in Messianic Teaching
By Johann van Rooyen and Dennis Humphrey
“Behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down.. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place”
(Micah i. 3, 4)
Key
Entries followed by the symbol are Greek terms. [G]
Entries followed by the symbol are Latin terms. [L]
Entries followed by the symbol are Aramaic terms. [A]
Almost all other foreign-language entries are transliterated Hebrew.
A
Abomination of Desolation
Hebrew: Wordplay on shiqutz shomem. Desolating sacrilege; mute abomination. “Ba’al samem” ba’al —”Ba’al of heaven,” indicating that this idol is not (master) and not ruler of heaven, but in fact a mute abomination that lays waste and brings desolation. Hebrew term for an idolatrous image, specifically one set up in the of the haQodesh Beit haMiqdash (Temple) in Yerushalayim, proclaimed to be “master of heaven” and worshiped as such. Historically, the mentioned in the book of desolating sacrilege Dani’el, was a statue of the pagan Greek idol, Zeus, bearing the facial image of Antiochus IV “Epiphanes.” This image was set up on the golden altar of incense by the insane Greek-Seleucid king, who attempted to outlaw the worship of Almighty YHWH and replace it by the worship of the Greek pantheon and the worship of himself as “god manifest.” Scripture is clear that an eschatological shiqutz shomem will be set up in the time immediately preceding the second coming of the Son of Man. Allusions and intimations lead the student of Scripture to expect the of the shiqutz shomem acharityamim (end of days) to be a Roman Catholic crucifix bearing the image of the False messiah, who will demand worship as “Christ” and “God.” The eschatological shiqutz shomem is described in Yeshayahu 40-46. The False Prophet will erect it in the haQodesh Beit haMiqdash (Set-Apart Place) of the (Temple). In its eschatological intent, the book of Yirmeyahu intimates that an image of a Madonna (“Holy Virgin;” “Queen of Heaven”) may in all likelyhood also be set up in the Temple compound.
Abaddon
Destruction. Angel of the bottomless pit, mentioned in Revelation 9:11. A name in the Tanakh for the grave, the netherworld.
She’ol is naked before Elohim; Abaddon lies uncovered.
Abaddon and She’ol say, `Only a rumour of it has reached our ears.’
It is a fire that burns to Abaddon; it would have uprooted my harvest.
She’ol and Abaddon lie open before YHWH— how much more the hearts of men!
Abba
“Daddy.” We are related to Almighty YHWH not only as subjects are related to a King, but also as children to a loving Father, having been adopted on the basis of the broken body, the shed sacrificial blood and the resurrection of Messiah Yahushua.
Acharith-yamim
The end-of-days; the latter days; the last days. A Hebrew term for the time of the consummation of all things. The days are pictured as an army marching past. The reshith acharit is the part that has already passed, while the is the part that is still approaching. Events said to happen (at the end of days) often ba’ha-acharit ha-yamim had one or even more partial fulfillments in history, which serves as a or pattern tavnit that foreshadows events that will happen in Yom YHWH.
The other Hebrew term for eschatology is (Footsteps of the ‘Iqqvot haMashiach Messiah). Scriptural history is a carefully woven prophetic that tavnit (pattern) teaches—to those who have ears to hear—the Footsteps of the Messiah.
Acharonim
The latter rabbinic authorities; in contradistinction to the (“early ones”). Latter- rishonim day authorities within Judaism.
Adon
Master, ruler. Expresses a relationship of rulership, headship, royalty and authority, and not necessarily one of ownership. The antonym of Adon is —servant. eved
The itinerant, aggadic proto-rabbi, Yahushua ben-Yosef mi Natzeret, was addressed by the title Adon, as was other sages.
Adonai
An intensive form of Adon or Adoni; “great master” or “my great master.” A title used to address kings and royalty. The name Adonai is most often used of the Almighty in the writings of the prophets—they were the messengers of the King, and therefore used the terminology of a messenger of a king.
The term is a plural of majesty. It is not the unique name of the Almighty; in Adonai Scripture it is also used of mighty men, e.g. Yosef as vice-regent of Mitzrayim under Pharaoh, and of King David.
In Orthodox Jewish worship, the name is used as an evasive synonym or circum- Adonai locution for YHWH, the Name of HaQadosh, baruch Hu (“the Holy One, blessed be He”).
Adoni
“My Adon,” i.e. “my master.” A term for the Messiah in Tehillim 110:1.
Af
Nose. See: (“my nose”). api
Afikoman (Afikoman) [G]
This word comes from Greek and means “that which comes after” or “after-dish.” The last morsel of eaten at the meal. During the Passover Seder meal, matzah Pesach Seder three pieces of matzah are placed inside a During an early stage of the matzah-tash. Seder meal, the children are sent out of the room. Then half of the central piece of matzah is broken off, wrapped in linen and hidden away. This is evidently symbolical of burial. The broken, wrapped and hidden piece of matzah is called the Afikoman.
Toward the end of the Seder meal, the children are given the opportunity to search for the The children search for it with fervour and great expectation; shouts of Afikoman. joy are heard when it is found. The child who finds the Afikoman can bargain with the father for a gift. The father promises to buy a gift, but must make an immediate downpayment, which serves as a proof and pledge of the gift that is to come—the “Promise of the Father.”
The Messiah came. His body was broken and He was buried, hidden away. He who finds the Messiah, shouts with joy. Our Father in Heaven gives us the promise of a share in the abundant life of the World to Come, to be in the resurrection of the righteous. The Promise of the Father is His Ruach—His life-giving Breath, Power, Presence, Personin-action. —the firstfruits of We now receive the firstfruits of the Promise of the Father the impartation of the That is a downpayment, a seal, a pledge of the Ruach HaQodesh. great gift that will be given to us in the fulness of time, at the final redemption, the geulah shelemah. , When King Messiah comes in esteem all who have found the living Afikoman Promise of the Father. will receive the fullness of the
Africa
It is a fact that Africa has played an important role in YHWH’s programme throughout history. In Scripture, we see that Africans have taken responsibility during some of the most difficult and dark times when the Qahal needed leadership and protection. When Mosheh fled from Pharaoh, refuge and place of preparation for his ministry was provided by Yitro the Midyanite (an African) Exodus 18:1-2. When was thrown — Yirmeyahu into the well and condemned for preaching the word of YHWH, he was rescued by an Ethiopian eunuch an African. When Yahushua was just an infant and his parents had — to flee to protect him from the wrath of Herod, they took refuge in Egypt, Africa. The first disciple who were added to the Messianic Qahal outside of after the Yerushalayim outpouring of the was an African an Ethiopian eunuch. The leader- Ruach HaQodesh — ship of the first Qahal in Antioch included two Africans. These, and other examples, demonstrate that the Qahal in Africa has a specific responsibility in YHWH’s programme, most times relating to crises when leadership, directive and protection are most needed.
Ages of salvation-history
The sages understood that salvation-history would unfold as a cosmic week with “days” of 1000 years each. Chronology starts with the impartation of the nishmat chayim (breath of life; to Adam. The preceding 6 days of creation are seen as being neshamah) separate from chronology, and to contain all the secrets and ages of the universe. Adam and Chawwah were in the and in the fulness of the image of Elohim. Malkut Shamayim, They transgressed and were diminished to the shell of the image of Elohim. The fall of man precipitated the (desolation), which endured for 2000 years. This was Age of Tohu followed by the (instruction) and the (Days of the Age of Torah Yemot haMashiach Messiah), each lasting 2000 years. Together, these three periods constitute the Olam hazeh —the present age or “this world.” These 6 days will be followed by Yom YHWH, the sabbatical millennium, the 1000 year reign of King Messiah. Just as king David first ruled over Yahudah from for 7 years, and then over all Israel from Chevron Yerushalayim, we expect Yahushua to rule from heaven for 7 years, and then on earth from Yerushalayim for the balance of the Millennium. The Messianic Kingdom is also called the —the age to come. It is followed by the Great White Throne Atid Lavo Judgement, and the —the World to Come. Olam ha-bah
Age of Tohu
The age of desolation. The first 2000 years of the (present age), i.e. from Olam Ha-zeh the fall of Adam until the calling of Avraham. Less than 10 chapters in all of Scripture deals with this 2000 year period, whereas hundreds upon hundreds of pages deal with the next 2000 year period—the Age of Torah.
Age of Torah
The age of instruction. The middle 2000 years of the (the present age). Olam Ha-zeh The was preceded by the Age of Desolation, and followed by the Yemot Age of Torah ha-Mashiach—the Days of the Messiah. The began with the calling of Age of Torah Avraham and ended at the first coming of the Messiah, when the Yemot haMashiach (Days of the Messiah) arrived.
Aggadah
A story that serves as an object-lesson. A parable. The ethical sayings and scriptural expositions of the sages, in contrast to their (legal) statements. The nonlegal halakhic part of rabbinic literature.
Agrapha
A term applied to sayings of Rabbi Yahushua from Natzeret not recorded in the Gospels.
An important Agrapha is the “Logia” or “Sayings” discovered 200 km south of Cairo in 1896. Logion 2 states:
[Yahushua said] “Unless you fast to the world, you shall in no way find the Kingdom of Elohim, and unless you keep the Sabbath you shall not see the Father.”
Logion 3 states:
[Yahushua said] “I stood in the midst of the world, and in the flesh was I seen by them, and I found all men drunken, and none found I thirsty among them; and 1 my being griefs over the sons of men, because they are blind in their heart…”
Aiyin Ra’ah
Literally: bad eye. To have an “evil” or “bad” eye is simply a Hebrew metaphor for a stingy person.2
Aiyin Tovah
Literally: good eye. A Hebrew metaphor for a generous person . In the King James 3 Version (KJV), this term is inaccurately translated as, “If your eye be single…”
1 Thirsty for saving truth, which leads to right conduct.
2 Afrikaans: ‘n Suinige mens.
3 Afrikaans: ‘n Vrygewige persoon.
Akeida
Binding an animal for sacrifice; specifically, Abraham’s binding of Yitzchaq for sacrifice to the Almighty (this sacrifice was, of course never consummated.) A sacrifice had to be bound in order to be valid.
Akkum
Non-Israelites who do not observe the Noachide commandments.
Al Chet
Literally: “for the sin;” an important prayer, listing sins for which we beg Yom Kippur forgiveness.
Aleinu Leshabe’ach
According to many early sources, the Aleinu prayer—a declaration of faith and dedication—was composed by Yehoshua after he led Yisra’el through the river Yarden.
During the Talmudic era it formed part of the Mussaf service, and at Rosh HaShanah some point during medieval times it began to find its way into the daily service.
The Aleinu was probably added to the daily prayers to implant faith in YHWH’s Oneness, the Oneness of His Kingship, and the conviction that He will one day “remove detestable idolatry from the earth,” thus preventing the Yehudim from being tempted to follow the beliefs and lifestyles of the nations among whom they dwelt in the galut. The is recited at the conclusion of every service. Its first paragraph proclaims the Aleinu difference between Israel’s monotheism and the polytheism of other nations. The second paragraph expresses confidence that all humanity will eventually recognise YHWH’s sovereignty and declare their obedience to His commandments. The Artscroll Siddur (Sherman, page 159) continues It should be clear, however, that this does not imply a belief or even a hope that they will convert to Judaism. Rather, they will accept Him as the only Elohim and obey the universal Noachide laws that are incumbent upon all nations (Rabbi Hirsch).
The inclusion of the sentence, “For they bow to vanity and emptiness and pray to a god which helps not” is quoted from Yeshayahu 45:20. Around the year 1400 a Roman Catholic Jew, no doubt seeking to prove his loyalty to the Church, spread the slander that this passage was meant to slur Christianity. This charge was refuted time and again, particularly by Menasheh ben Israel, a 17th century scholar. However, repeated persecutions and the insistence of the Roman Catholic Church, caused this line to be censored from most Siddurim (prayer books).
Eschatological perspective: The Aleinu is an ancient prayer of thanksgiving for being separated from the heathendom. This prayer quotes a passage from Yeshayahu 45. Yeshayahu 40-53 are prophecies spoken in the spirit and power of Eliyahu haNavi—the prophet Eliyah. Malakhi 3 states that the role of Eliyahu is to prepare the way before YHWH. In Messiah’s first coming, Yochanan haMatbil (John the Baptist) prophesied in the spirit and power of Eliyahu, pointing to the true Anointed One and proclaiming “Behold: the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sins of the world.” In doing so, he prepared the way for YHWH. In the second coming of the Messiah, the two witnesses will prophesy in the spirit and power of Eliyahu—Revelation 11. They will prophesy in the streets of Yerushalayim for 1260 days. They will prophesy the songs of the of Eved YHWH. They will proclaim that Yahushua is the unique Messiah of Almighty YHWH.
They will see the being set up in the ha-Qodesh of the shiqutz shomem Beit haMiqdash.
All their future prophesies are embryonically contained in Yeshayahu 40-55—this second section of the book Yeshayahu begins with the statement that the time of redemption has come and that a path will be prepared for YHWH in the wilderness. This identifies the passage as an Eliyahu-prophecy. An idol is described in Yeshayahu 40-46.
Historically, it describes an asherah-type idol. Eschatologically, it is a description of the shiqutz shomem (abomination of desolation), i.e. the idolatrous image of the False messiah that will be set up in the HaQodesh of the rebuilt in Beit haMiqdash Yerushalayim by the False prophet. During the time of the Spanish Inquisition, the beautiful Aleinu prayer was censored by the Roman Catholic Church because it was identified as an attack on the Indirectly, this confirms the intimations of crucifix.
Scripture that the eschatological will be a Roman Catholic crucifix shiqutz shomem bearing the face of the Antichrist, i.e. the face of Antiochus IV “Epiphanes,” i.e. the popularly accepted face of “Jesus.”
Al HaNissim
Thanksgiving to YHWH for the miracles of, especially, saving Israel from overwhelmingly strong enemies; added to prayer and grace after the meal on the festivals of Chanukah and Purim.
Aliyah
Plural: Aliyot
Literally: “going up.” To “have an aliyah” refers to the honour of being called up to the bimah Torah. to recite or chant the blessings over the To “make aliyah” or “go on aliyah” means to immigrate to Eretz Yisra’el.
Almighty
The personal name of the Almighty is YHWH. Hebraic names by which He is addressed, include (the Set-apart One, blessed be He), HaQadosh Baruch Hu Ribono shel Olam, HaRachamam, Adoshem, Adon Olam Avinu Sheba- (Master of All) and Shamayim (our Father who is in Heaven).
Greek: Pantokrator.
Al Miqra Megillah
The blessing before the reading of the megillah (scroll).
Al Netilat Yadayim
The blessing over the washing of hands before the meal.
Am ha’aretz
Peasantry. Used in the Talmud and thereafter as a derogatory reference to ignorant people of the land. A country bumpkin. (Afrikaans: “plaasjapie”; “bekvelder.”)
Amidah
Standing prayer; a group of prayers, quietly murmured, thrice daily as part of each daily service, while standing up. Also called the or the Tefillah Shemoneh Esreh (Eighteen Benedictions).
Amora
Plural: Amora’im.
Also see: Tanna’im.
Literally: Speaker, interpreter. Term used for an expounder of Talmudic (Mishnaic) law from the time of the completion of the Mishnah to the redaction of entire Talmud.
Rabbis who contributed to the Gemarah—the lengthier sections of the Talmud that expounds the Mishnah. In Babylon the Amora’im were given the title Mar or Rav. In Israel they were called Rabbi. Their discussions and teachings span the period 220 YM 550 YM, and form the Gemara lengthier sections of the Talmud that – —the follow each Mishnah.
Am Qadosh
Set-apart covenant people. A term for Israel, specifically the faithful remnant of Israel in the eschaton. They are commissioned to be —wholly different; set-apart to qadosh Almighty YHWH and His purposes.
Ana Adonai hoshi’ah na, Ana Adonai hatzlichah na
“Please, O Adonai, save us! Please, O Adonai, make us succeed!” A prayer from Psalm 118:25, recited on the last great day of . This salvation Hoshana Rabbah, Chag Sukkot was understood to come through the Messiah. This prayer was chanted at the triumphant entry of Messiah Yahushua on Aviv 10, less than a week before His execution.
Ancient of Days
A title for YHWH in Dani’el 7:9. Called in the book of the Before-Time Chanoch (Enoch).
Ani ma’amin
Literally: “I believe;” a song that is often sung at the Seder and at Pesach Yom Hashoah observances in memory of Holocaust victims who sang this song of faith on their way to their deaths at the hand of the Fascists during WW2.
Anshei K’neset Hagdolah
Sages of the Great Assembly during the first part of the Second Temple Period.
Antinomianism
The belief that faith frees a believer from all obligations to observe the Law of the Almighty. Also an attitude of hostility towards the of YHWH. Torah
A careful reading of Yirmeyahu 31 shows that the Renewed Covenant so changes people that knowledge of, and observance of, the Torah becomes our new nature, by the indwelling of and regeneration through the Ruach HaQodesh. We are not saved by keeping the Torah; Torah Scriptural -observance is the lifestyle of the redeemed.
Messianic Yehudim should be -observent; faithful Gentiles should keep the Torah Noachide mitzvot as entrance requirements, and should then begin to grow in knowledge of the without converting to Judaism, except in special circumstances, e.g. Torah, marriage to a Yehudi.
Api
“My nose.”
The literal translation of Yeshayahu 13:3:
I have commanded my dedicated ones;
I have also summoned my mighty ones to my nose (l’api)
To be exuberant over my grandeur.
The first verses of Yeshayahu 13 may therefore be read as a promise that YHWH will, before the destruction of eschatological Babylon, gather those dedicated to Him, to His very presence. A deep study of the fall of Bavel in Yom YHWH further shows that it will happen on Tishri 8, 7 days after 1 day before the False messiah comes Yom Teruah, to power and 2 days before he makes a strong covenant (military treaty) with many fore one “seven” i.e. yearweek, i.e. 7-year period. We also note that, in most prophecies of the fall of Bavel, there are promises of saving the faithful and bringing them into the very presence of YHWH (Yeshayahu 13:3), of the resurrection of the dead (Yeshayahu 18:3) and of the coronation of the Messiah (Yeshayahu 21:5 Tehillim 84:9). For this and „± remez other reasons, a pre-tribulation is not an unscriptural position to hold. natzal
Apocalyptic
Ideas and teachings pertaining to the revelation (apocalypse uncovering, unveiling) of the last days and the end of the present age. Examples are Dani’el 7-12, Zekharyah 1-6 and the book of Revelation.
Apocrypha [G]
A Greek adjective that means “things concealed.” Old Testament Apocrypha, specifically the fourteen books written after the canon of the Hebrew Scriptures was closed and which, being the least remote from the canonical books, laid strongest claim to canonicity…The body of Jewish literature written between the second century BM and the second century YM, not included in the canon of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Aram
Syria.
Aravah
Plural: Aravot.
A willow branch taken as one of the four species on Sukkot. The four species are the aravah, etrog, hadas and lulav—the willow, citron, myrtle and palm branch.
Arva kosot
The four glasses of wine drunk at the Pesach Seder.
Arva minim
The 4 plant species used at Chag Sukkot.
Armilus
In rabbinic literature, the name of the Antichrist or False messiah of the latter days. The name was apparently derived from the name Romulus, the legendary founder of the city of Rome. The sages saw that Scripture intimates that the False messiah will initially rule the revived Roman Empire, i.e. united Europe, possibly (initially) from Rome.
Aron Qodesh
The Ark of the Covenant. Also used as a term for the large wooden cabinet in which the Torah scrolls are kept in the synagogue. Today called in Sephardic synagogues. Hekhal
Arva’ah minim
The used during four species Chag Sukkot:
„¿ a palm branch (lulav)
„¿ myrtle twig (hadas)
„¿ willow twig (aravah)
„¿ citron (etrog).
Arvit
Evening prayer.
Asaph
To gather.
Ascetic ideal
A wholly unscriptural, pagan tradition of renouncing social life and comfort for solitude and self-mortification. Crept into Christianity before and during the Middle Ages.
Aseret Yemei Teshuvah
The ten days of penitence and return. The “High Holy Days.” The Days of Awe.
Tishrei 1 – Tishrei 10, i.e. to Seven days of awe are framed in- Yom Teruah Yom Kippur.
between the 2 days of and the day of . Yom Teruah Yom Kippur
Asham
A trespass or guilt offering made by one who has trespassed against his fellow man.
Qorban asham.
Asherah
An upright idolatrous image. A crucifix may be classified as an idol of class asherah.
Ashkenazi
Plural: Ashkenazim.
Referring to Jews coming from Central and Eastern Europe.
Ashrei
Psalm 145 recited thrice daily.
Ashshur
Historical Assyria. Ashshur under king Sancheriv is a foreshadowing picture of eschatological Gog of the land of Magog who will invade in Yom YHWH. Eretz Yisra’el
Asur
Forbidden. The opposite of mutar, which means permitted.
Atah Chonantanu
A passage added to the evening prayer after the Shabbat to note the difference between the and the (ordinary, mundane). qadosh chol
Atid Lavo
The age to come. A term for the Messianic era. The Millennium or Messianic Kingdom.
The Day of YHWH. Literally: “the future to come.”
Atzeret
A festive gathering for the conclusion of a festival or a festival season. Concluding observance of an appointed time or festival. The word is derived from atzeret “gathering.” is the concluding day of is a Talmudic term Shemini Atzeret Sukkot; Atzeret for because that festival concludes the spring festival season as well as Chag Shavuot, the counting of the Omer.
Av
Father. Also the eleventh month of the scriptural year.
We are related to HaShem not only as subjects to a King, but also as children to a Father.
Av Beit Din
“Father of the house of judgement.” Today: The Chief Justice of Israel.
Avel
Someone who is in mourning.
Avelim
Those who have recently lost a next of kin, find expression for their avelut by observing 7 days of confinement at home—”sitting sheva”—foregoing new clothes and musical entertainment, and reciting the qaddish prayer.
Avelut
Third period of mourning; the first year after death.
Averah
An infringement of the Torah; mitzvah the opposite of a (commandment).
Av HaRachamim
A prayer to “Father of compassion mercies” for the persecuted communities.”
Avi
Prefix or suffix meaning “my father.”
Aviga’il
“My father rejoices.” The beautiful and intelligent wife of the fool Naval who was later married by Dawid after Naval’s death—see 1 Samuel 25.
Avinu Malkenu
“Our Father, our King;” a prayer of supplication. Specifically prayed during the Ten Days of Awe (Days of Penitence; Days of Return and fast days. (teshuvah))
Avinu ShebaShamayim
Our Father Who is in Heaven.
Avishua
“Father of salvation.” Son of Pinchas and fourth High Priest of Yisra’el (1 Chronicles 6).
Aviv
First month of the religious calender of scripture, instituted in Exodus 12. and Pesach Chag haMatzah fall in Aviv. Aviv marks the beginning of the barley harvest; the wheat harvest begins about 50 days later, with Chag Shavuot.
Aviyah
“My Father is YHWH.” Mother of king Chizkiyahu.
Avodah
The Temple service, specifically that performed by the High Priest.
Since the destruction of the Temple, modified versions of the services have been Beit haMiqdash moved to the synagogues and homes; these consist of Scripture readings, teachings, songs, liturgical poems, etc.
Often a specific reference to the Yom Kippur service.
Chasidic concept of life dedicated to Almighty YHWH.
Avot
“Fathers.” Avraham, Yitzchaq and Ya’aqov.
Ayin ha-ra
An evil eye. Being stingy, jealous or envious; having a bad attitude. In Talmudic times, a superstitious dread of the “evil eye” developed.
Azarah
Plural: Azarot.
Generic term for a courtyard in the compound. Beit haMiqdash
Azazel
In the service, lots were drawn over two goats. The one lot read, Yom Kippur l’YHWH (“to YHWH”) and the other lot (“to Azazel”). The goat was led from l’Azazel l’Azazel
the Miqdash (Temple) by a chosen priest who is called an (a “timeless man,” i.e. a ish iti man without any sense of time or season, rain, snow or inconvenience) and taken to Har Azal (Mount Azal) where it was pushed off backwards from a high, steep, jagged cliff to be torn to shreds and fall to his death.
In the Me’am Lo’es Torah Anthology: Yom Kippur Service (Kaplan, 1982: 17), the teachings of the sages about the meaning of the word is summarised: Azazel
The etymology of the word is as follows: it is derived from the word Azazel az or azuz, strong. which denotes The word Azazel refers to a powerful, strong rock or cliff. The word means strong… el
Some say the word refers to the cliff over which the goat was pushed. Azazel
The word Azazel could also be broken up into ” which means az azel,” “the goat who goes.”
Rabbi Kaplan (1982: 17-18; 54) describes the manner in which goat was killed: l’Azazel
The High Priest would then come to the goat upon which there was the lot “to Azazel.” He would place both his hands on it and make confession for all Israel.
He would say, “O YHWH, Your people have erred, sinned and rebelled before you…”
He would then call the priest who had been designated from the day before Yom Kippur, and would give him the goat to bring to the desert. On the day before Yom Kippur, people would go to huts that had been put up previously, to accompany the person leading the goat. Those in the last hut would stand at the edge of the area where one can go…to see from a distance what the person in charge of the goat does.
The priest to whom the goat is given over, brings it to the cliff that we have mentioned and leads it to the top of the cliff. Half of the hank of scarlet cloth he would tie to the rock, and half he would tie between the goat’s horns. Then with his hands he pushes the goat down so that it tumbles down the cliff. It would not reach halfway down before it was broken into pieces, totally dismembered. The cliff over which the goat was thrown consisted of sharp, jagged rocks that would tear the goat into shreds. He would then say, “This is the way the sins of the House of Israel should be destroyed.”
The sages taught that the command to slay the goat in this particular manner is a l’Azazel chukah—a decree, which cannot be fully comprehended with the intellect. The reasons are known to YHWH, and Israel should obey it although they do not understand it fully.
The sages grappled with the meaning of the concerning goat chukah l’Azazel. The Torah Anthology: Yom Kippur Service (Kaplan, 1982: 20-21) relates one explanation:
When comes, HaShem sends Satan Sama’el his portion in the form Yom Kippur of the goat sent to Azazel. This is sent by the Israelites to the desert, which is a place of demons This is where Satan Sama’el has power…When (shedim).
Sama’el sees the goat sent to the desert, he also goes to the desert…and he no longer speaks evil against Israel.
Therefore a hank of scarlet wool was tied between the horns of the scapegoat…When the goat was pushed off the cliff, that skein of scarlet wool would become white. This teaches that this act atoned for the sins of the Israelites and whitened them: “If your sins are like scarlet they shall become white as snow” (Yeshayahu 1:18).
Through this repentance and confession, all the unclean spirits and denouncing forces that were created out of the sins are placed on the goat’s head. They are destroyed with him in the desert, since this is the abode of these denouncing forces.
Scripture intimates that the glorious second coming of King Messiah will climax on a Yom Kippur, when He will enter Yerushalayim and destroy all the armed forces that has come up to fight against Him. We know that the False messiah will be captured and slain on this very day. It is therefore a distinct possibility that the to slay goat chukah l’Azazel in this most unusual manner could, besides other possible symbolical meanings, be a prophetic rehearsal for this joyous future event. Scripture teaches that the False messiah will be cast into the “lake of fire.” This is a term for the Dead Sea—until roughly 1850, petroleum gas and combustible oil trapped beneath this lake often leaked out to catch fire, giving it, especially at night-time, the appearance of a lake of fire. It is believed that the earthquake that will coincide with Messiah’s coming to the Mount of Olives (Zekharyahu 14) will enlarge the Dead Sea (“Lake of Fire”) to reach the bottom of Mount Azazel. The earthquake will also cause huge amounts of petroleum gas and kerosene to surface through fissures in the earth’s crust, and to ignite. On that day we will understand the full significance of the to cast goat off the steep cliff chukah l’Azazel on Mount Azal on . Yom Kippur
Azazel is a prominent character in the pseudepigraphic book of Chanoch (Enoch). In Chapter 54 of 1 Chanoch, a great judgement scene is described. A question is posed: “For whom are these imprisonment chains prepared for?” to which the answer is given,
“They are prepared for the armies of Azazel.” The pronouncements of extra-scriptural sources about Azazel does, of course, not carry much weight; these sources give us the commonly held ideas of people, but not the of YHWH. Devar
There is a difficult theological problem with asserting that goat is a prophetic l’Azazel tavnit l’Azazel of the coming Anti-messiah. According to Leviticus 16:20-22, goat carries the sins of the people of Israel upon him. The theological problem is: how can the Anti-messiah, the man of lawlessness, carry the sins of others upon him? How can an evil monster be a sin-bearer? Seventh Day Adventists (SDAs) have been exposed to very harsh criticism for following Mrs Ellen White, who taught that goat l’Azazel represents Satan. To this, SDAs reply that there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood, so that sending goat into the wilderness could not have an l’Azazel atoning efficacy. Dr Walter Martin, author of has defended the Kingdom of the Cults, SDA Church against its harsher critics on the issue of the eschatological significance of goat in the (service). l’Azazel Yom Kippur avodah
B
Ba’al kore
Reader of the in a synagogue. Torah
Ba’al tekia
The shofar blower in a synagogue.
Badeken
Traditional formal veiling of the bride by the groom before the wedding ceremony.
Baptism
See: Immersion.
Barak
Lightning. See Lappidoth.
Bar-Anash [A]
See: Son of Man.
Barchu
A call upon the congregation to bless the Almighty.
Barech
“Blessing.” The part of the Pesach Seder when the blessing after the meal is recited.
Bar Kochba
Leader of a Jewish revolt (132-135 YM) against the Roman Empire. This revolt was cruelly put down by emperor Hadrian. Rabbi Akiva made the grave error of proclaiming Bar Kochba to be the Messiah. At that point, Yehudim who were followers of Messiah Yahushua deserted the Jewish army. This led to a souring of the relations between Messianic and rabbinical Judaism. The Bar Kochba Revolt also fed the de-Judiaising of Christianity—powerful Gentile Christian leaders began doing everything possible to distance themselves and their faith from the “troublesome Jews” in order to escape persecution by the Roman Empire.
Bar Mitzvah
Literally: son of the commandment; ceremony marking a youngster’s reaching the age of religious majority, traditionally thirteen for boys and twelve for girls; in many congregations, thirteen for girls as well. The young man or woman is considered old enough to be responsible for performing the commandments of the Torah. Bar Mitzvah is a ritual of acceptance by the community.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emet
A blessing of acceptance of the Almighty’s judgements. “Blessed be the true Judge.”
Said on news of a bereavement. One must say a blessing to Almighty YHWH for the bad as well as the good.
Baruch ha-ba
Blessed is the person that comes in. Welcome.
Baruch ha-ba b’shem YHWH
Blessed is the person that comes in the name of YHWH. Believing Israel will say this when the Messiah comes in the acharit-yamim.
Baruch Hu u-varuch Shemo
“Bless Him and Bless His Name.” A phrase of blessing of the Almighty’s Name upon hearing it uttered.
Basar
To be fresh, cheerful; to announce glad news. To preach, publish, show forth, bear, bring, carry, tell glad tidings, good news. Flesh; meat.
(The word “gospel” is a contracted form of the old English term “good spell” which means “good news.”)
Batel be-shishim
Of no significance. If less than volume/volume of non-kasher food falls into food that ƒp ƒuƒo complies with kashrut, it is batel be-shishim.
Anything undesirable that pales into unimportance.
Batey Midrashot
See: Plural of Beit Midrash. Beit Midrash.
Houses of Study.
Bat Kol
Literally: “daughter of a voice.” An “echo” of the voice of Elohim. The sages taught that during the 400 silent years YHWH did not speak through the prophets, but only occasionally through a bat-kol.
Batlanim
Scholarly Jewish teachers who, in ancient days, were either independently wealthy or on some type of financial support to enable him to provide the congregation with accurate and scholarly teachings and answers to difficult questions. The Pharisee and member of the Beit Din, Nicodemus, whose Hebrew name was Nakdimon ben-Gurion, was a Batlan.
Bat Mitzvah
Literally: Daughter of the commandment; ceremony marking a girl’s reaching the age of being responsible for her own sins, traditionally 12 or 13 years.
Bat-Sheva
The woman whom King David seduced and later married. She became the mother of King Sh’lomo. Literal meaning: “Daughter of the Oath.”
Bavel
Hebrew word usually rendered as Babylon.
Bavlites
Babylonians.
Ba’Yamim ha-hu
“In those days…” A phrase understood by the sages to signify that something will come to pass at the time that the Messiah will come and accomplish the final redemption.
Ba-yom ha-hu
“In thát day.” A phrase that signifies that something will happen in the Day of YHWH.
The sages identified several phrases which tells us that a passage will have its final fulfilment in the time when King Messiah would come. Some of these phrases are summarised in Table G.1 below:
Table G.1
Table of some phrases which signify that the events in a passage will have its final consummation at the time when King Messiah will come.
Hebrew English
ba-yom ha-hu
ba-yamim ha-hu
In thát day (i.e
In those days
In those days and at that time
The days are coming
Yom YHWH)
Sing to YHWH a new song
Bechirah
Free will. That every human being has a fundamental bechirah between good and evil, is never in doubt.
Bechiya le-dorot
A cause for eternal regret. Literally: “A moaning for generations.”
Bechor
Birthright. Ephrayim is the tribe of (birthright), whereas Yahudah is the tribe of bechor
the (ruling staff). shevet
1The sons of Reuven the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Yosef son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his 2 brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Yosef)…
They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
Devarim 33:13-17
13About he said: “May YHWH bless his land with the precious dew from Yoseph heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun 14 brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; with the choicest gifts of the 15 ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best 16 gifts of the earth and its fulness and the favour of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Yoseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17In majesty he is like a bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With firstborn
them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of such are the thousands of Ephraim; Menashsheh.”
Bediqat Chametz
The search for, and cleansing & casting out of the leaven, which was performed just before Yahushua cleaned out his Father’s House from leaven (greedy dealers) Pesach.
before He became our Lamb. (The cleansing of His Father’s house is also based Pesach on the last verse of Zekharyah 14.)
Be-ezrat HaShem
With the help of Almighty YHWH.
Behemah
Plural: Behemot.
Beast. General term for animals. As a simple plural, means beasts; as a plural behemot
of intensity, it signifies a large beast, similar to the liv’yatan.
Beinoni
Plural: Beinonim.
People of median (intermediate) piety; the sinners; the average people. In Hebrew thought, mankind consists of 3 classes on the day of Judgement: the Tzadeqim (righteous), the (sinners, intermediates, average people) and the (the Beinoni Resha’im perversely wrong; the wicked).
Beit
House. The Temple in Yerushalayim.
Beit Din
plural: batei din.
“House of Judgement;” “House of Law.” The court system was established by beit din Mosheh in (Bereshith 18), which operated under the aegis of the Parashat Yitro Beit Din HaGadol. Beit Din HaGadol, Beit Din Beside the well known the system comprised, under the aegis of the district and, under the aegis of the Beit Din HaGadol, Batei Din
district local representing the various communities recognised as Batei Din, Batei Din
legitimate by the higher A “must read” article is Batei Din. Bet Din and Judges in the Encyclopedia Judaica. beit din It is only with the Judaic phrase that the uninterrupted chain is obvious between the established by Mosheh, the Batei Din Beit Din HaGadol, which operated in the with the many under its supervision, Beit haMiqdash Batei Din and the which continue to operate today. Batei Din
Beit haMiqdash
House that is set-apart…The in . Beit haMiqdash (Temple) Yerushalayim
Beit HaShoevah
House of the Waterpouring. A joyous ceremony of water libation held during Sukkot.
The sages taught that those who have never observed the joy of the House of the Waterpouring, have never seen joy in all their life. During the Chag Sukkot, Beit HaShoevah Simchat Beit HaShoevah ceremony was held during the day, while the (“Rejoicing in the house of the waterpouring”) ceremony was celebrated in the Temple compound during nighttime. Four gigantic torches lit up the Beit haMiqdash compound at Sukkot during the nights; these were called “the light of the world.”
Beit Hillel
The School of Hillel. Pharisees who stressed YHWH’s (loyal love) towards all chesed people who turn to Him.
Beit Midrash
House of Study that was a part of or adjacent to ancient synagogues. The sages taught “if you meet the Evil Inclination along the road, drag him off to the Beit Midrash; there you will conquer him.”
Beit Shammai
The School of Shammai. Pharisees who stressed a particularly strict adherence to the Torah, and tended to hate Gentiles. They gained control over Judean society at the time of the birth of Yahushua, but lost their grip on the religious life of the nation with the destruction of the second in 70 YM. Beit haMiqdash
Ben-Adam
Aramaic: Bar-Anash.
See: Son of Man.
Ben-Noach
Literally: a son of Noach. Plural: Bnei Noach. A non-Israelite who worships YHWH,
observing the Noachide commandments. All people descend from Noach, so that we are all sons and daughters of Noach. In Acts 15, the Noachide are stipulated as mitzvot entrance requirements for Gentiles into the empowered eschatological qahal—the Messianic Assembly of the Yemot haMashiach.
Berachah
A blessing.
Bereshith
The first book of the named after its first words, “In the beginning of/when.” Torah,
Genesis.
Be-seder
In order. OK.
Be-shem
“In the name of” i.e. “according to the teaching received from” and “in the authority of”
a teacher of Torah.
Be-shem omro
It is Jewish ettiquette to state teachings be-shem omro—”in the name of the person who
said it.” Example:
Said Rabbi Chanina: “Anyone who says an idea be-shem omro ge’ulah brings
(redemption) into the world, for it is written, ‘And Esther said to the king, in the
name of Mordechai…'”
[Talmud, Megilah]
Betzah
Roasted egg, a symbol for the second sacrifice of . Pesach
Bigdey ha-lavan
White vestments of the High Priest.
Bigdey ha-zahav
Golden vestments of the High Priest.
Bikat ha-Yarden
The Jordan Valley.
Bikkur
Examining or investigating.
Bikkur Cholim
Visiting the sick a pious duty, carried out in the past by — Chevra Kadisha.
Bikkurim
The offering of the firstfruits of the harvest.
Bimah
The raised platform in the beit knesset (synagogue; shul) from which the is read Torah
and from which worship services are usually conducted; the platform is called in tevah
Sephardic synagogues. The reader’s stand in a synagogue.
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Binding and loosing
The terms “bind” and “loose” are two Semitic idioms used in Rabbinic literature as
technical terms referring to authority. To “bind” means to an activity halakhic forbid
and to “loose” means to an activity. Clear examples in the Apostolic Writings permit
(“New Testament”) are 16:19 and 18:18: Mattityahu
And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you on earth will be loosed loose
in heaven.
Truly I say to you, and whatever you on earth will be bound in heaven and bind
whatever you on earth will be loosed in heaven. loose
In Yochanan 7:22-23, Yahushua refers to a decision handed down by the Beit halakhic
Din and recorded in the Mishnah (Shabbat 18:3 19:2 Talmud Bavli Shabbat 128a). – „M
Here the Greek text reads:
If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should
not be broken…
However the Aramaic reads
…that the Torah of Moses should not be loosed.
In Yochanan 5:18 we read in the Greek:
“Therefore the Judeans sought the more to kill him, because…he had broken the
Sabbath…
However the Aramaic text reads
“…he had the Sabbath…” loosed
This is important because the Aramaic text does not have Yahushua breaking the
Sabbath, but instead has him permitting certain activities on the Sabbath (loosing it).
A final example of an important Aramaic reading is in
He is, therefore, our who made the two of them one and the shalom loosed
hedge which stood between us.
The phrase “and loosed the hedge” in the Aramaic reads and was used as a sh’ra s’yaga
technical halakhic term in Judaism. was used to mean “loose” or “permit” (as in Sh’ra
Mattityahu 18:18 and in various places in Rabbinic literature) The term appears s’yaga
in Mishnah Avot 1:1 “make a hedge about the Torah.” To “loose the hedge” would
mean to permit activities that these hedge rules had effectually discouraged, so as to truly
love thy neighbour.
Page 21
In Mattityahu 16:18-19, Yahushua states “…I will build my assembly…I will give you
the keys of the Kingdom…” It is easier to understand this passage if we first understand
its sister passage in Mattityahu 18:15-18. Both passages discuss an which has assembly
the power to “bind” or “loose.” As we have seen, the terms “bind” and “loose” are
Hebrew/Aramaic idiomatic expressions meaning to “permit” or “prohibit” in a court of
religious law. These technical terms are employed many times in the Talmud. halakhic
Table G.2 summarises a number of notable occurrences of these terms.
Table G.2:
Table of some passages in the Talmud where the halakhic terms “bind” and “loose” are
used in the sense of forbidding and permitting in a religious court of law—a Beit Din.
Version Order Tractate
Yerushalmi Zera’im Berakhot 5b; 6c
Yerushalmi Nashim Sanhedrin 28a
Bavli Nashim Avodah Zarah 37a
Bavli Nashim N
4
5
edarim 62a
Bavli Nashim Yevamot 106a
Bavli Mo’ed Beitsah 2b; 22a
Bavli Zera’im Berakhot 35a
Bavli Mo’ed Chagigah 3b
6
15″If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the
two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may
be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the and if he refuses qahal (assembly);
to listen even to the treat him as you would a pagan or a tax qahal (assembly),
collector. Amein.
18″Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
This text bears an implicit reference to
Devarim 19:15
One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offence he
may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or
three witnesses.
regarding witnesses before the court (Devarim 19:15-21). Mattityahu 18 relates to the
authority to administer (right-ruling) in courts. These courts permitted or mishpat
prohibited, as enacted in e.g. Acts 15. The word “church” here in the Greek is
4 That is, seeds.
5 That is, women.
6 That is, appointed times.
Page 22
“ekklesia;” in Hebrew it is or All of these words simply mean “qahol” “qahal.”
“assembly.” In fact, “ekklesia” is the word used for “assembly” throughout the
Septuagint; the Septuagint talks repeatedly of the “Ekklesia of Israel.” (The founders of
dispensationalism overlooked this and therefore portrays “the church” as being an
exclusively New Covenant phenomenon; they developed their theology from English
translations of Scripture, where the term “Church” suddenly appears in the “New
Testament.” This oversight fuelled their conceptual fragmentation of salvation history,
as well as antinomian tendencies.)
The word does not always refer to the Body of Messiah; sometimes it refers to a ekklesia
mob (Acts 19:41), sometimes the “assembly” of Israel (Acts 7:38) and sometimes it can
refer to a court, i.e. a (as in Acts 19:39). Since Mattityahu 18:16 quotes Beit Din
Devarim 19:15, it follows that the spoken of in Mattityahu 18:17 must be “…the ekklesia
judges who serve in those days…” which are mentioned in Devarim 19:17. Now if the
“qahal” which “binds” and “looses” in Mattityahu 18:15-18 is a “court” or judicial
council (a such as in Acts 7:38) then it is this same “church” that is mentioned Beit Din
in Mattityahu 16:18-19. The “keys of the Kingdom” refers to this authority to make
mishpat halakhah. (right-rulings) and udicial rulings should be solidly based on Such j
Scripture.
Let us now look at
To the messenger of the in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him qahal
who is set-apart and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no-one
can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open.
which quotes
Yeshayahu 22:21-22
21I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your
authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Yerushalayim and to
the house of Yehudah.
22I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens noone
can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open.
This “church” which has the keys of the Kingdom, then, is the of the ruling council
Messianic Assemblies which is seen meeting in Acts 15. Ya’aqov presided as the Nasi
(President) of the of the Messianic Assembly. Beit Din
The Roman Catholic Church claims to have inherited this authority through apostolic
succession. However, their ” ” is a messy and often pagan perversion of, and halakhah
addition to, Scriptural truth, and therefore carries no weight whatsoever— may halakhah
never contradict Scripture.
The Body of Messiah still has the authority of courts. Local congregations may make
locally applicable rulings on many issues. (A Bible-school may, e.g. forbid halakhic
students to smoke or consume alcohol.) Sadly, we have become so ignorant and divided
that any large-scale application of this authority of courts may lead to incessant quarrels
and possibly even a cruel inquisition. Therefore it is the best to apply this authority only
Page 23
within local assemblies and within denominations (e.g. at general synods), and not on a
greater scale. Let us wait for King Messiah to come and restore right-ruling to the earth,
to magnify the so that the will of YHWH be done on earth, as it is done in Torah,
heaven.
Groups such as the Assemblies of Yahweh and Netzarim Judaism have tackled the
problem of the sometimes chaotic division within Christianity by distancing themselves
from Christianity, and by proclaiming themselves the eschatological remnant of the
apostolic assembly of the first century. Netzarim Judaism acknowledges and submits to
the Beit Din system operating in Orthodox Judaism, and adds to this a Netzarim Beit Din
to decide on matters internal to Netzarim Judaism. The Assemblies of Yahweh views
themselves as the reconstituted Apostolic Assembly, reformed after 19 centuries or error
and darkness. They do not submit to the Beit Din system operating in Orthodox
Judaism, but seek to make their own rulings based on written Scripture.
„M „M „M „M „M „M „M
Next, we quote an article (pirated from the World Wide Web), “Binding and Loosing”
in Hebraic Thought by Dr Joseph B. Fuiten:
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two
of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I
with them.
The which YHWH gave on Mount Sinay formed the constitution of the nation Torah
Israel. It was both a simple and complex relationship. On the one hand the was Torah
simple. Yet in daily life it often became complex. In the earliest days, Mosheh himself
both instructed the people in the and decided complicated matters of law for them. Torah
Mosheh said, “Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between
the parties and inform them of YHWH’s decrees and laws.” In time this became too
much for Mosheh alone and he appointed assistants. His father-in-law, Yithro, gave this
advice:
But select capable men from all the people—men who fear Elohim, trustworthy
men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands,
hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all
times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can
decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it
with you.
In time, this group of assistants in the became an institution in their own right. Torah
Authority soon rested among the sages to interpret the meaning of the They Torah.
would consider the principles of the and decide issues. The decisions which they Torah,
Page 24
made carried great weight. Over the centuries, Rabbinical expansion of the principles of
the took place in all areas of community life. Torah
The Rabbis were constantly called upon by their community to interpret scriptural
commands. Was such-and-such an action permitted? Was such-and such a thing or
person ritually clean? Scripture, for example, forbids working on the Shabbat, but it
does not define “work.” As a result, the sages were called upon to declare what an
individual was and was not permitted to do on the Sabbath. They “bound” (prohibited)
certain activities, and “loosed” (allowed) other activities.
In the Hebrew way of thinking, binding and loosing is the interpretation of the by Torah
a Beit Din that performs and makes based on the written and mishpat halakhah, Torah
the oral Anyone who acted in this capacity was sitting in the seat of Mosheh. It Torah.
is easy to see why they used that term. Since Mosheh had acted in this way when he was
alive, interpreting the and since they were carrying on that tradition, they were Torah,
sitting in his seat.
Yahushua himself acknowledged the authority that resided in the teachers of the Torah
and among the Pharisees:
Then Yahushua said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the
Torah and the Pharisees sit in Mosheh’s seat. So you must obey them and do
everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice
what they preach…”
The early Church recognised this authority and what it meant. Writing in the mid-fourth
century, Cyril of Yerushalayim said,
“The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat; for it signifies not his wooden
seat, but the authority of his teaching.”
This authority found its highest expression in the Beit Din. Yet it existed down to the
local town and synagogue level. Outside the gates of the excavated ruins of ancient Dan,
there is a seat where once such decisions were made. There, the city elders gathered to
“sit in Mosheh’s seat.” Proverbs 31:23 gives us a sense for this:
“Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the
elders of the land.”
It is in this context, and with this meaning, that Yahushua spoke the words which
Mattityahu records:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth
will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven.”
This is an important moment in the history of non-Messianic and Nazarene (Messianic)
Judaism. Here is Yahushua, the Anointed One of YHWH, investing the power of
Mosheh into the hands of his talmidim, who now become His sh’liachim—apostles, sent
Page 25
ones, emissaries. They now become the ones responsible for interpreting the Torah.
This is decisive for it represents the imposition of authority. It places the authority held
by those who sit in the seat of Mosheh within the context of the Messianic Assembly.
Within the Messianic Assembly established by Yahushua, we find that this authority
continued on. In the beginning, it was the Apostles themselves who sat in the Seat of
Mosheh. The Apostles stepped into their role and took leadership of the Qahal.
We see Apostolic authority being exercised at the Yerushalayim Council Acts 15. —
The Messianic Beit Din met to discuss the entrance requirements for Gentiles. The
question was, how was the to be applied to them. What was necessary for their Torah
entry into the assemblies? After hearing various sides of the question, Ya’aqov said,
“It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles
who are turning to YHWH.”
Ya’aqov was exercising the authority of the seat of Mosheh. Indeed, this was clearly
more than just their opinions, for when they sent the letter out it was under the authority
of what “seemed good to the and to us…” They were laying claim to Ruach HaQodesh
divine authority as well as their own. In making the Acts 15 decision, the Apostles and
elders were sitting in the seat of Mosheh, using the power of binding and loosing. Again
and again, we find the Apostles and elders acting in the authority of Mosheh. In effect,
the New Testament is the Apostolic application of the principles found in the Torah.
Has this authority ceased in the Messianic Qahal? The Qahal today has the right to apply
Scripture to issues not mentioned directly in Scripture, following the practices of
“binding and loosing”, and sitting in the seat of Mosheh. That this power can be abused
is evident in twenty centuries of Church history. The term “ex cathedra” means “from
the chair.” Using this expression is an attempt by Roman Catholics to claim that the
Roman Catholic Church is infallible when it speaks “ex cathedra” because it is speaking
from the “Seat of Mosheh.” But the “Seat of Mosheh” was not for purposes of adding to
the Scripture, but to give an official interpretation on areas that were not clearly spelled
out.
Scripture’s texts on binding and loosing has been drawn into the Charismatic chaos
chiefly exported from the USA. The popular understanding in large sectors of the
Charismatic movement is that these texts are mandates for spiritual warfare. In the Faith
Movement we regularly hear authoritative proclamations such as “Satan we bind you;
angels we loose you…” This error in thinking springs from a fundamental error in
understanding about the Basar (Gospel) according to . What many today do Mattityahu
not understand is that the Gospel of Mattityahu was written in Hebrew.
That Mattityahu was originally written in Hebrew is the unanimous view of the Church
Fathers. Papias said,
Matthew put together the oral teachings of the Master in the Hebrew language.
Irenaeus said Mattityahu was written to the Jews:
The Gospel according to Matthew was written to the Yehudim. For they laid
particular stress upon the fact that Messiah (should be) of the seed of David.
Cyril of Jerusalem also noted:
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Matthew, who wrote the gospel, wrote it in the Hebrew tongue.
These men are not obscure figures, but formed the mainstream of the early Christian
assemblies; their views carry weight.
At present, no original copy of Mattityahu has ever been found in the Hebrew. However,
if these early fathers are correct, what exists in Greek is a translation of the Hebrew. As
such, it is subject to certain weaknesses. Translations of this period often did not
translate the sense of a passage, rather they tended to follow the actual or literal words.
In particular, Hebrew idioms did not always make the transition intact. We know when
someone says “his eyes fell to the floor,” not to take that literally. But consider the
problem of a translator. What is an idiom, and what should be taken literally? We see
this weakness reflected in the translation of the term “good eye” in Mattityahu. This is a
Hebrew idiom for a generous person. But that is not particularly clear in the Greek.
What about “binding and loosing” as spiritual warfare?
The idea of “binding” and “loosing” has risen to the forefront in some current teaching
on spiritual warfare. What is interesting is the absence of these two ideas in the spiritual
warfare that is mentioned in Scripture. If it were to be such an important part of warfare,
one would expect to find it more prominently mentioned in the Scriptures. In fact, it is
most noticeable for its absence. Far more emphasis is given to this idea than is
warranted from the Scripture. More likely, it doesn’t even exist as a weapon of spiritual
warfare.
Why do some believe that “binding and loosing” are aspects of spiritual warfare? This is
a new concept that has almost no history in the Church.
The Belief that demons can be “bound” or that angels can be “loosed” is based upon a
novel interpretation of Mattityahu 16:10 and Mattityahu 18:18. These passages are
interpreted to apply to spirit beings because of the phrases “bound in heaven” or “loosed
in heaven.” As the logic goes, since spirit beings exist in heaven, this passage must
apply to them. (It is not clear how the passage could apply to demons, which are not
generally associated with heaven.)
The “bind-loose theology” is heavily based upon a special interpretation of the “strong
man” passages in Mattityahu 12:29, Mark 3:27, and Luke 11. In these passages,
Yahushua is showing that only a superior power can drive out demons. He then uses the
example of a well armed strong man who defends his house until someone stronger
“attacks and overpowers” him, robbing him of his goods. The point of the passage,
however, is not about “binding,” but about the effect of superior power. This is the
emphasis which Tertullian gave to it.
Unfortunately, “binding the strongman” has become dogma in some circles. One book
builds it’s whole spiritual warfare concept around an improper interpretation of this
passage. A better understanding is found in the historic interpretation of “binding.”
No group or denomination in Christianity has ever interpreted these passages in this way
before the last part of the 20th century. Of course, being a new doctrine or
understanding does not necessarily mean the new doctrine in untrue. However, new
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doctrines need to be examined very carefully to see how they fit with the whole counsel
of Scripture, and with the interpretation of that same Scripture over the centuries.
Second, over the centuries, the “binding” and “loosing” passages have been interpreted
along the lines of the authority of the Apostles to “sit in the seat of Mosheh.” This
means interpreting Scripture and conducting the affairs of the Assembly. The Catholic
Encyclopedia expresses this idea when it says,
“These powers, consisting of a “binding” and a “loosing” in the spiritual order on
earth, that is, all powers necessary to the well-being of the kingdom, were
recognised by the apostles from the rabbinical terms for “binding,” that is, of
granting or forbidding, as contained in the Torah.”
The Catholic view, which is shared by the other branches of the historic Christian
Church, has always been that binding and loosing were part of the authority granted to
the Church, and are expressed in the idea of the “power of the keys.”
Third, only Mattityahu records this idea, probably because he was the only one,
according to Eusebius and the others we have cited, to write his original text of the
Gospel in Hebrew. The passage regarding “binding” and “loosing” is a Jewish idiom
translated word for word from the Hebrew into the Greek. Unfortunately, even though
the words of the idiom were translated correctly, the meaning was clouded in such a
literal translation.
Dr Roy Blizzard takes the historic view held by Catholics and Orthodox, but for a
different reason. He cites Jewish texts to show that “binding” and “loosing” were the
terms applied to the work of the rabbis in interpreting Scripture, allowing some things
but denying other based on their interpretation of the meaning of the So if the Torah.
rabbi said you were not allowed to walk more than a few hundred yards on the Sabbath,
he was “binding” certain behaviour. Although Yahushua criticised the Pharisees for
their hypocrisy, he did require his disciples to obey their interpretations. We have
already shown Yahushua saying, “The teachers of the and the Pharisees sit in Torah
Mosheh’s seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you.”
Fourth, of the many passages dealing with spiritual warfare, there is a noticeable absence
of any teaching regarding “binding and loosing.” There is a great deal in Scripture about
spiritual warfare. In light of these many passages, why does Sha’ul omit “binding and
loosing” in his passage on spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6? Why does Ya’aqov only talk
about the devil, stopping far short of the idea of “binding”? Why only resisting resist,
when you could “bind”? Indeed, why is there no plain statement linking “binding” and
“loosing” with any part of spiritual warfare?
The answer is that “binding and loosing,” the way it is being taught in some quarters of
the Church, is not adequately rooted in Biblical teachings on spiritual warfare.
Scripture does say that Satan will be “bound” and “loosed.” This, however, will be done
in the future (Revelation 20). No one is binding him today.
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And
cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that
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he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be
fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”
This future tense is the only proper application of this concept to spiritual warfare.
If Satan is being “bound” as often as people are saying the words, their “binding”
certainly does not last very long. If the “bind the devil” people are indeed “binding” the
devil” somebody needs to figure out how long their “binding” of the devil lasts. Then,
they could line up people all over the world on a “24-hour Bind Chain” to keep
“binding” Satan, so he never gets loose again.
Some might suggest that only demons are being bound, not Satan himself. Is it possible,
then, that we might eventually come to a point where all the demons are bound in chains
of darkness and none are free to roam the earth? Would this leave only Satan alone to do
all the evil work?
The further one probes this new idea of “binding,” the more questions are raised. The
reason all this becomes so imprecise when the details are exposed, is because the whole
notion is without Biblical foundation. Yahushua had many contacts with the devil and
demons, but He is never described as “binding” the demons. No New Testament writer
ever describes anyone ever “binding” the devil.
If there is no authority in the Scripture for this “binding,” it is better to stop now than to
continue building on sand. It is better to get back to scriptural warfare than to continue
eating soup with a fork. Firing blanks doesn’t kill the enemy. We need effective warfare
with live ammunition.
Binyamin
Benjamin. “Son of my Right Hand.”
When a Jewish household had a meal, the youngest son would always sit at the right
hand of the father. Binyamin was Ya’aqov’s youngest son, and also the last son of his
beloved wife, Rachel.
When a rabbi and his talmidim (taught ones; disciples) enjoyed a meal, the talmidim
would also be arranged around the table in order of their age, with the oldest talmid
sitting at the left hand of the rabbi and the youngest at his right hand. At the Pesach
Seder meal, everyone would recline to the left, so that the head of the youngest talmid
would be the closest to the chest of the rabbi. Based on information in the Gospels, we
infer that Yochanan was Yahushua’s youngest talmid, whereas Yahudah the betrayer was
the oldest.
Birkhat HaChodesh
The blessing of the New Moon.
Birkhat haMazon
A Blessing to YHWH said after meals.
Birkhat Kohenim
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Ba’Midbar 6:24 – 26
YHWH bless you and guard you;
YHWH make his face shine upon you, and show favour to you;
YHWH lift up his face upon you, and give you shalom.
This blessing should be said by Aharon and his sons, i.e. the (priests) of kohanim
Yisra’el, over the forever. b’nei Yisra’el (Children of Yisra’el),
Note that the very next verse says:
Ba’Midbar 6:27
Thus you shall put My Name on the b’nei Yisra’el (Children of Yisra’el), and I
Myself shall bless them.
The Tetragrammaton should be used, and no circumlocution or substitute.
Bittahon
An attitude of trust in and reliance on YHWH. It is the security of sensing and knowing
that He has not left us nor will he ever forsake us…no matter what the present
predicament may be.
Bittahon brings a confidence that YHWH will never “drop” us, that He knows the end
from the beginning and does all for the ultimate benefit of those who are His. Emunah
(faith) allows us to rest in bittahon.
Bitul Torah
The neglect of the study of the Torah.
Bi’ur chametz
Destroying of the leaven.
Blood Covenant
To the ancient Hebrews, a blood covenant was the most binding agreement one could
enter into. The making of blood covenants seems to be a universal concept found among
all peoples in even the most remote parts of the world. The custom of making blood
covenants can be found among American Indians as well as in the deepest most remote
parts of Africa. The origin of the blood covenant custom looms somewhere beyond the
horizon of history.
The customs surrounding the making of a blood covenant among the Hebrews involved:
1. Exchanging garments and swords (1 Sh’muel 18:4)
2. A blood sacrifice (Genesis 15:9-17; 31:43-54; Yirmeyahu 34:18-19)
3. A memorial covenant meal (Genesis 31:54)
There are several examples of covenants in Scripture. Lavan entered into a covenant
with Ya’aqov (Genesis 31:43-55). And David made a covenant with Jonathan (1 Samuel
18:1-4).
When two men were in a covenant relationship everything they owned and their very
lives were offered to each other. Moreover a person with a covenant relationship held
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heirship rights with the one he is in covenant with. For this reason David was the legal
heir to the throne when Yehonatan and King Sha’ul were killed. One of the best pictures
we have of the power of the blood covenant is given in Samuel 18-20. Because of 1
their covenant, Jonathan pleaded with his father the king on David’s behalf ( Samuel 1
19:4-7). And because of the covenant David sought out Jonathan’s son Mefiboshet so as
to show kindness to him and make him as one of his own sons (2 Samuel 9).
Now our covenants with YHWH are patterned after the Hebrew blood covenant customs.
In the same way we:
1. Exchanging garments and swords (Ephesians 6:11-17)
2. Have a blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12-22)
3. Have a memorial covenant meal (Mattityahu 26:26-29)
We also have an inheritance
15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are YHWH’s children.
17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of Elohim and co-heirs with
Messiah, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in
his esteem.
11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of
him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those
who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you
may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious
inheritance in the saints…
15For this reason Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are
called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a
ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,
17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect
while the one who made it is living.
3Praise be to the Elohim and Father of Adonu Yahushua the Messiah! In his
great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection
of Messiah Yahushua from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never 4
perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you…
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This inheritance is a major topic of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The author shows that the
Messiah was “made heir of all things” (1:2, 4) and the “firstborn” (1:6; 12:23) (an
inheritance term). He shows that the oath which made Abraham’s seed the chosen people
was a covenant (6:13-14), and that the oath which makes the Messiah a priest after the
order of Malki-tzedeq (7:20-22) is the New Covenant (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6-13). He also
shows that this is a blood covenant sealed with the Messiah’s blood (Hebrews 8 & 9).
The author argues that because of this covenant relationship we have an inheritance
(9:11-22). Since we are blood covenantors with the Messiah who is heir of all things
(i.e. the Kingdom (1:13; 2:5-9) we inherit with him (1:14; 2:10-18; 9:11-22; 12:23).
“Bnai Noach” and the “Netzarim Movement”
Generally speaking these groups are anti-Trinitarian, do not believe that the New
Testament is authoritative scripture, are vehemently anti-Christian in their writings,
believe in keeping both the Oral and Written do not believe that the Messiah was Torah,
born of a virgin and do not believe in that religious Jews need to accept Yahushua as the
Messiah. They deliberately distance themselves from anything “Christian.”
Many would view them as cults because they reject some of the historically orthodox
doctrines of Christianity.
Messianic Judaism should not be confused with and the Bnai Noach Netzarim Judaism
movement. The and movements consist mostly of non- Bnai Noah Netzarim Judaism
Jews. While they embrace the true roots of the faith, they often do so in an unbalanced,
reactive, divisive way.
Boethuseans
A religious party of the first century composed of wealthy and influential members of the
priesthood, similar in doctrine with the Tzadoqim (Sadducees).
Boneh Yerushalayim
The blessing over the rebuilding of . Yerushalayim
Born again
Some thoughts on Yochanan 3:1-12:
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews…
This was probably Nakdimon ben Gurion, one of the three leading Batlanim
(counsellors) in . According to the Talmud he was wealthy enough to feed Yerushalayim
the entire city for ten years (b. Gittin 56a). One rather lengthy Talmudic story tells us
that once, during a drought, Nakdimon made a deal with a Roman General so as to
procure twelve wells of water for the Jewish people. According to the story, Nakdimon
promised the General to repay him either twelve wells or twelve talents of silver (a large
sum of money) before the expiration of one year, had it not rained. On the last day of the
year it still had not rained, so Nakdimon went to the to pray. His prayer Beit haMiqdash
was answered and it began to rain and refill the wells. The Roman General, however,
demanded the silver, saying that the cloud-cover had caused the day, and thus the year,
to expire prematurely. Nakdimon returned to the and prayed again, this Beit haMiqdash
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time the clouds removed and the sun shined through, thus the General was satisfied. In
Ta’anit 19b-20a, the Talmud also recounts that “Nakdimon” was only his nickname and
that his real name was Buni. The Talmud also relates that a certain Buni was a talmid
(student) of Yahushua of Nazareth and was himself martyred some time after Yahushua’s
death (b. Sanhedrin 43a). The Talmud suggests that the nickname Nakdimon was taken
from which means “to shine” “because the sun shined out for him” (Ta’anit 20a). nakad
Another possible etymology for his name is “innocent of the blood” based naki dam—
upon his actions recorded in Yochanan 7:45-52; 19:39. The Greek equivalent name
Nicodemus has a meaning all of its own: Nikos Demos means “victorious people.”
There would be no reason for Buni to have this Greek name as a nickname, but the
sound-alike Greek name may have been used by the Roman occupiers in their dealings
with this very wealthy man, as the Talmud does record that he had dealings with the
Roman General stationed at (Ta’anit 19b-20a). Yerushalayim
…born again…
The idea behind such an expression can be found in the Talmud (Yevamot 48b and 62a):
“…a proselyte is like a new-born infant…”
born of water and the spirit…born of the flesh…born of the spirit
Yahushua ties this in as an elaboration of the previous phrase “born again;” He is
apparently referring to two passages: Tanakh
Yechezq’el 36:24-28
For I will take you from among the nations,
gather you out of all countries
and bring you into your own Land
Then I will sprinkle clean on you, water
and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness
and from all your idols.
I will give you a new heart
and put a new within you; spirit
I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh
and give you a heart of . flesh
I will put My within you spirit
and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and you will keep My (right-rulings) and do them. mishpatim
Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you fathers;
you shall be my people,
and I will be your Elohim.
Yeshayahu 44:3
For I will pour upon him that is thirsty, water
and floods upon the dry ground.
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I will pour my upon your seed, Spirit
and my blessing upon your offspring…
It is easy to understand why the metaphor of a birthing process is used of receiving the
righteousness of YHWH. When one is unredeemed, you are a living corpse, (tzadeqah)
under the penalty of death. As far as the life in the World to Come is concerned, it is as
though you are dead, unborn. When one received redemption, one is born as a citizen of
the World to Come. There is a passing from guilt to righteousness, from imminent death
and punishment to (everlasting life). Also consider chaiyah l’olam va’ed
Yeshayahu 23:4
Be ashamed, O Sidon, and you, O fortress of the sea, for the sea has spoken: “I
have neither been in labour nor given birth; I have neither reared sons nor
brought up daughters.”
Yeshayahu 26:17-18
17As a woman with child and about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain,
so were we in your presence, O YHWH.
18We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind. We have not
brought salvation to the earth; we have not given birth to people of the world.
This is why one who turns away from idolatry and self-righteousness and worships
YHWH (in spirit and in truth), i.e. empowered and indwelt by the ba’ruach v’ba’emet
Ruach Mashiach, that was upon the in accordance with the covenantal promises of
YHWH, which centres in the atoning and redeeming work of Messiah Yahushua, is born
again, passing from death to life.
The following Scriptures should also be examined when studying the concept of rebirth:
I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more
powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the
Ruach HaQodesh and with fire.
As soon as Yahushua was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that
moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of YHWH descending like a
dove and lighting on him.
Yochanan answered them all, “I baptise you with water. But one more powerful
than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will
baptise you with the and with fire. Ruach HaQodesh
31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that
he might be revealed to Israel.”
32Then Yochanan gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven
as a dove and remain on him.
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33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptise with
water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is
he who will baptise with the Ruach HaQodesh.’
38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will
flow from within him.”
39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to
receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Yahushua had not
yet been glorified.
We now return to the book of Yochanan.
…enter the kingdom of Elohim…
As we have shown earlier, the “Kingdom of Elohim” is a euphemism for the Kingdom of
Israel (as in Chronicles 28:5; 2 Chronicles 13:8). Thus in order to enter the Kingdom 1
and be re-gathered to the Land, the Jewish people would have to be born of water (made
clean), born of flesh (receive a heart of flesh rather than stone) and receive the Spirit of
YHWH so as to walk in the statutes.
…the wind blows…
In the Aramaic this is a word play, as the word for spirit can also mean — — rucha
“wind” and is the word used for wind here. This gives the double meaning “The Spirit
blows…”
…are you a Teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
These are things Nakdimon should have known, being a Jewish teacher. This points
away from the idea that Nakdimon merely misunderstood an idiomatic expression.
Mem: The letter of transition
The (immersion bath) entails two basic concepts, namely, water and the number miqvah
40. Both of these concepts are contained in a single letter, namely, the Hebrew letter
Mem.
The letter derives its name from the Hebrew word for water. Furthermore, mem mayim,
the numerical value of the letter is forty. Therefore it is not surprising to learn that mem
the letter is also said to represent the mem miqvah.
Another concept that we find associated wit the letter is the womb. The closed mem
mem mem sophit (final ) represents the womb closed during pregnancy, while the open
mem mem is the womb giving birth. The numerical value 40, associated with the then
also represents the 40 days during which the embryo is formed.
In order to understand the meaning of this letter on a deeper level and see how it relates
to the we must delve into a most interesting midrash. The prophet says miqvah,
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(Yirmeyahu 10:10): YHWH Elohim is (truth). The midrash then gives the emet
following explanation:
What is the seal of Elohim? Our rabbi said in the name of rabbi Reuven, “The seal of
Elohim is truth.”
Resh Lakish asked, “Why is the Hebrew word for truth?” emet
He replied, “Because it is spelled is the first letter of the Hebrew aleph mem taw. Aleph
alphabet, is the middle letter and is the last letter of the Alphabet. HaShem thus mem taw
says (Yeshayahu 44:6), ‘I am first and I am last.'”
From this, we see that the letter has a most interesting property. the first mem Aleph,
letter of the alphabet, represents the beginning. the last letter, represents the end. Taw,
Mem is the letter that represents transition.
We see this most clearly in the word itself. The first two letters, spell emet aleph mem
out the Hebrew word for mother. This is the beginning of man. The last two letters, em,
mem taw, met spell out the Hebrew word for death the end of man. — —
Most important here, represents the concept of transition and change. is the mem Aleph
past, and the future, so represents the transition from past to future. As such, it taw mem
represents the instant that we call the present.
The past is history and can not be changed. We have no way of even touching the
future. Therefore the arena of action, where all change takes place, is the present.
Symbolic of water, the essence of change as well as the number forty, the essence of
birth, the also represents the present the transition between past and future mem — —
which is the arena of all change.
On a deeper level, the transition from past to future also represents an aspect of birth.
Indeed, one word for “future” in Hebrew is which literally means, “that which HaNolad,
is being born.” The womb in which the future is born is the present. This is the letter
mem.
Thus, when a person enters the he is actually entering the concept of the miqvah,
ultimate present. Past and future cease to exist for him. What he was in the past no
longer counts. Even the 40 days of formation are no longer an expanse of time, but a
volume of water 40 Then, when he emerges from the he re-enters the — sa’ah. miqvah,
stream of time as if he were a new being.
Botzrah
Mountain in Edom (Saudi Arabia) from which direction the victorious, avenging
Messiah will come to Yisra’el, bringing the final redemption:
Yeshayahu 63:1
1Who is this coming from Edom, from Botzrah, with his garments stained
crimson? Who is this, robed in splendour, striding forward in the greatness of his
strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
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B’rachah
Plural: Berachot.
Blessing, benediction.
B’rachot haShachar
The blessings of awakening recited each morning.
B’rit
Covenant.
Brit-Am
Literally: “Covenant People.”
See: in the monograph “What about the Lost tribes of Israel?” The Coming of King
Messiah.
B’rit Milah
Covenantal circumcision of male Israelites.
B’rit Chadashah
New Covenant; Renewed Covenant.
B’shem
“In the name of.”
Byor
Laver.
Before the kohanim (priests) could begin the services, they had to take Beit haMiqdash
set-apart water and pour it over their hands and feet. This water was drawn from the
Byor or laver—a large copper basin in the courtyard of the Beit haMiqdash.
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C
Caiaphas
Joseph Caiaphas had been appointed High Priest under the procuratorship of Valerius
Gratus in 18 CE. It is significant that he served in this capacity for 18 years until 36 CE.
when Pilate himself was recalled, coinciding with the downfall and trial of Sejanus. High
Priests came and went like the husbands of some movie stars, rarely serving more than 3
years. Caiaphas had probably worked out a good relationship with Valerius Gratus,
Pilate’s predecessor, who himself served for eleven years in contrast to the normal 3 year
terms of service. It is probably no coincidence that the unprecedented long terms of
Gratus, Pilatus and Caiaphas coincide with the career of Lucius Aelias Sejanus. Judea
may not have been considered a “plum” appointment because of the harsh surroundings
but the opportunity for accumulating fortunes from graft and corruption was high. It is
obvious that Caiaphas was “their man” in the Temple with access to the treasury as head
of the party of the Sadducees and to all of the ancillary trade and commercial enterprises
that surrounded the Temple. There were somewhere between 300 000 to 400 000
pilgrims in Yerushalayim and surrounding areas for the temple services of Passover,
each carrying a purse. Money changing, the selling of sacrificial animals, the money
coming to the treasury from Jews all over the Roman world and hundreds of enterprises
associated with the Temple were all being siphoned to enrich Sejanus, the Prefect as well
as to the High Priest and his Sadducean cronies. When Yahushua entered the Temple
early in the year 30 and condemned these practices, overturning money changers’ tables,
it sealed his death warrant. Joseph Caiaphas, as High Priest and head of the collaborating
Sadducees, who controlled these commercial enterprises, had a great thing going for
himself and his Roman cronies, Gratus and Sejanus in Rome and later Pilatus and
Sejanus.
CHABAD
The initials of and ch b d okhmah, inah a’at—”wisdom, understanding and knowledge.”
Also the name taken by a Chassidic movement founded in Russia.
Chag
Plural: Chaggim.
Festival. Literally: circle. Every is an island in time set apart, made that chag qadosh,
had to be celebrated in a specific way at a specific place. Why? To communicate with
us in foreshadowing, prophetic which teach us about the Footsteps of the patterns
Messiah in a concrete way, so that we would not miss the real redemptive events when
they came to pass. Each chag Pesach also teaches about our walk before Elohim.
signifies redemption from slavery. It teaches us that we are redeemed by grace. Shavuot
signifies the giving of the and teaches us that we are not redeemed unto Torah,
lawlessness, but unto obedience. The forms the marriage contract between Torah
Almighty YHWH and Yisra’el; the sign of the contract is the keeping of the Shabbat.
Chag Sukkot teaches us that, in the present age, we should sojourn with the same
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dependence on the provision and guidance of YHWH that Israel had in the 40 years in
the wilderness.
Chaggay
Haggai
Chag-haAsif
Festival of ingathering—a term for Sukkot.
Chag haBikkurim
Literally: Festival of the First Fruits; another name for Shavuot.
Chag haGeulah
Festival of redemption. Pesach & . Chag haMatzah
Chag haKatzir
Festival of reaping. Shavuot.
Chag Same’ach
Literally: “joyous festival”; greeting used on the festivals.
Chai
Literally: life. When Yehudim drink, they wish each other (“to life”). l’Chayim
Chalil
Flute. Literally: —a term for the Messiah. At a specific point in the pierced one Sukkot
celebrations, everything becomes quiet. Then a begins to play, and the man who chalil
plays it, leads the procession. Likewise, the pierced One leads us, and will be the leader
of Yisra’el in the Millennium.
Challah
Plural: Challot.
Bread baked with egg in dough, eaten on Shabbat and festivals; the used on challah Yom
Teruah is round, often containing raisins, symbolising a sweet year, distinguishing it
from the Shabbat that is braided. challah
Chametz
Leaven; yeast. Food prepared with leaven, by extension referring to all foods and
utensils forbidden during . Leavened bread and anything Pesach and Chag haMatzah
made with wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt, which has not been supervised to ensure that
it does not contain leaven.
Chanokh
Chanukah
Literally: dedication; name of the 8-day festival commemorating the Maccabean victory
over the Syrians under Antiochus IV “Epiphanes” in the year 165 BM, and the
subsequent rededication of the Beit haMiqdash (Temple).
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Chanukah, the Festival of Dedication, begins on Kislev 25. It looks back at the
rededication of the House of YHWH after the Maccabees had driven the forces of
Antiochus IV “Epiphanes” from Yerushalayim. Prophetically, looks forward Chanukah
towards the rededication of the Temple after the second coming of the Messiah—the
Temple that will be desecrated by the False Messiah, who will be of the spirit of
Antiochus IV “Epiphanes.” The fact that falls exactly 75 days after Chanukah Yom
Kippur, gives the only viable explanation for the 1335 days of Dani’el 12. The 1260
days of the Great Tribulation will begin on an Aviv 10, when the False messiah will
enter Yerushalayim, slay the 2 witnesses, goes up to the Temple and proclaim himself to
be “Christ and God.” The Tribulation will end on a 1260 days later, when Yom Kippur,
the False messiah is cast into the lake of fire. falls 75 days later, beginning on Chanukah
Kislev 25, and . ƒpƒqƒuƒo ƒð ƒvƒt „M ƒpƒrƒrƒt
The Institution of The consecration of the and dedication of Chanukah: Beit haMiqdash
the new altar were celebrated for eight days. At that stage, it was not yet called
Chanukah Sukkot but rather “The Feast of the Month of Kislev.” The Jews, who had not
been able to observe while the was still in the hands of the pagan Sukkot Beit haMiqdash
Syrian Greeks, were now able to gather within its walls for joyful assembly. As Sukkot
was observed for eight days, the feast of dedication was equally observed for eight days.
And there was an additional reason for regarding the feast as a second both the Sukkot:
First and the Second Temples had been dedicated on Kings 8, 2:2- Chag Sukkot—see 1
65 and Nechemyah 8:13-18.
The name Chanukah which this Feast eventually received, links it to the consecration of
the (altar) in the Tent of Meeting in the desert: mizbeach
“zot chanukat ha-mizbe’ach.”
“This was the dedication of the altar.”
After the original celebration, an ordinance was issued and accepted by the people:
Maccabees 4:36-61
Then Yahudah [Maccabeus] and his brothers and the whole congregation of
Israel established that the days of the consecration of the altar be celebrated for
eight days at this period, namely beginning with the twenty-fifth of the month of
Kislev, in joy and happy renewal.
Maccabees 10:5-9
It came about that on the very same day (3 years later) on which the Miqdash
had been profaned by aliens, the purification of the Miqdash took place, and they
celebrated it for with gladness, like the festival since they had eight days Sukkot
missed it during the time of war…and declared that the whole Jewish nation
should observe these days every year as a remembrance of their victory…
Although this festival of is not officially instituted in canonised Scripture, the Chanukah
book of Daniel contains prophecies about the rededication of the after Beit haMiqdash
the reign of Antiochus IV “Epiphanes.” The prophecies of Chaggai also allude to
Chanukah. Torah, In the text of the there are coded messages about the Maccabees and
the festival of Chanukah.
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„M „M „M „M „M „M „M
THE HISTORY OF HANUKKAH
Alexander the Great was a famous Greek King who conquered most of the known world
in his day. He dominated all of the Near East which included the land of Israel during the
4th Century BM After his death, his kingdom was divided into four parts. The land of
Israel was under the dynasty of the Seleucid dynasty that dominated the area of Syria. In
167 BM Antiochus IV Epiphanes tried to force the Hellenisation (accept the ways and
practices of the Greek Empire) of all his subjects. Jewish practices such as the keeping of
the Sabbath and circumcision were forbidden. They even commanded that the Jews
sacrifice the most unclean of animals, a pig, to Zeus instead of the animals that YHWH
required and instituted through the Levitical priesthood in the Some Beit haMiqdash.
Jews desired to assimilate and accept the Greek ways but other Jews refused and some
were brutally killed.
When the Seleucids arrived in Modi’in, a town about 27 km from Yerushalayim, they set
up an altar and commanded the Jews to come and sacrifice a pig. Mattathias, an old
priest, was enraged by this event. As priest, Mattathias was to be the first person
required to do this sacrifice. Mattathias boldly refused to offer a sacrifice to Zeus and
made a rousing speech against pagan worship and called the Jews to solidarity and faith.
When a renegade Jew went forward to sacrifice the pig in compliance with the demand
of the pagan invaders, Mattathias killed the weak-spirited Jewish infidel and attacked the
Seleucid soldiers. At that very moment, the revolt began.
Mattathias and his 5 sons engaged the Greeks in guerrilla warfare to win Israel’s
independence. The Yehudim miraculously won the war against the Syrian Seleucids and
regained their freedom to worship the one true Elohim of Israel. The Beit haMiqdash
which was desecrated when Antiochus IV Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the altar, was
recaptured by the Maccabees, cleansed and rededicated to Almighty YHWH.
Chanukah is a well documented festival. It is recorded in the Apocrypha—in 1st and
2nd Maccabees. Concerning the story of the ancient Jewish historian Chanukah,
Josephus born in 37 YM wrote in his book, 12:7:7 The Antiquities of the Jews,
Now Yehudah [Maccabeus] celebrated the festivals of the restoration of the
sacrifices of the for eight days: and omitted no sort of pleasure Beit haMiqdash
thereon: but he feasted them upon every rich and splendid sacrifices; and he
honoured Elohim and delighted them, by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so
very glad at the revival of their customs, when after a long time of intermission,
they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a
law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the
restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we
celebrate this festival, and call it I suppose the reason was, because this lights.
liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was the name given to
that festival.
The story of in the book of Maccabees Chanukah
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Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one
people. And every one should leave his laws. So all the heathen agreed
according to the commandment of the king. Yea, many also of the Israelites
consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols and profaned the sabbath. For
the king had sent letters by messengers unto Yerushalayim and the cities of
Yahudah that they should follow the strange laws of the land. And forbid burnt
offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should
profane the sabbaths and festival days. And pollute the sanctuary and set-apart
people. Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s
flesh, and unclean beasts. That they should also leave their children
uncircumcised and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness
and profanation. To the end they might forget the and change all the Torah,
ordinances. And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the
king, he said, he should die. In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole
kingdom and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of
Yahudah to sacrifice, city by city.
The many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook
the and so they committed evils in the land. And drove the Israelites into Torah,
secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour. Now the fifteenth
day of the month Kislev, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the
abomination of desolation upon the altar, and built idol altars throughout the
cities of Yahudah on every side; and burnt incense at the doors of their houses,
and in the streets. And when they had rent in pieces the books of the Torah
which they found, they burnt them with fire. And whosoever was found with any
committed to the , the king’s commandment was, that they would put him Torah
to death. Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as
many as were found in the cities. Now the five and twentieth day of the month
they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of Elohim. At
which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that
had caused their children to be circumcised. And they hanged their infants about
their necks, and destroyed their houses and slew them that had circumcised
them. However, many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves
not to eat any unclean thing. Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be
defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the covenant: so then they
died. And there was very great wrath upon Israel.
The Hasmonean dynasty
Before Mattathias died, he passed the leadership onto his son Yahudah ha-Makkabi,
which means “the hammer.” Under his respected leadership, the Jewish warriors
continued to drive the pagan invaders out of Israel. This was the beginning of the
Hasmonean dynasty. Against all odds, the Yehudim were victorious. Ultimately, they
liberated Yerushalayim and rededicated the back to YHWH. Later, the Beit haMiqdash
Hasmonean dynasty became quite Hellenised. They persecuted and opposed the rabbis.
The Hasmonean dynasty ruled into the 1st century.
The Talmudic rabbis and Chanukah
The ancient Rabbis taught about the holiday but even they don’t discuss the miracle of
the oil until the later Talmudic writings of the Gemara. The Mishnah is silent about the
Page 42
miracle of oil burning for 8 days after having only a one day supply of oil to burn in the
Beit haMiqdash Beit haMiqdash upon recapturing the back from the Greeks. This was
probably due to the Mishnah Rabbis living under Roman domination and their fear of the
Roman authorities.
Is Chanukah a Scriptural Festival? Hanukkah is included in the list of set-apart times
ordained in Leviticus 23. However, John 10:22 teaches us that Messiah Yahushua kept
and celebrated this festival.
Dreidels
Dreidels are the toys with Jewish children play to call to remembrance the story of the
rededication of the in ancient Israel. Can a toy tell a religious story? A Beit haMiqdash
sevivon (Hebrew for Dreidel) tells a marvellous story. A dreidel is a 4 sided top-like
spinning toy that has a letter painted on each side. The letters are a Hebrew acronym
saying:
A Great Miracle Happened Here!
What was this great miracle that the Dreidel and the holiday commemorate? It is
proclaimed that after the Maccabees won their stunning military victory over the Greek
invaders of Israel they cleansed the In so doing, they needed to light the Beit haMiqdash
Menorah (a candelabra in the Temple). The Maccabees only had enough proper olive oil
to burn for 1 day. The miracle that is remembered is the story of how the lights burned
for 8 days giving them sufficient time to complete their celebration and produce more oil
for the Beit haMiqdash
Chanukiah Candle Lighting Guide
1) First, set the number of candles ready to be lit to correspond with which of the 8 days
are being celebrated. The first candle is placed at our right, as we face the Chanukiah (9
candlestick menorah) subsequent candles are placed to the left of it, one additional
candle to each of the eight days. The first new candle is ALWAYS kindled first by the
LIT shamash candle.
2) Light the Shamash (servant) candle, which represents the Messiah Yahushua (He is
YHWH’s Servant sent to the earth to redeem us from our sins). While holding the
Shamash candle, recite the Berachah (blessing) saying, “He is the Light of the World”
and reading
Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
3) With the Shamash candle burning, take it in your hand and recite the following
blessing in Hebrew and English:
“Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melekh ha-olam kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu
l’hadlik ner shel Chanukiah.”
“Blessed are you, O YHWH our Elohim, King of the Universe, Who has set us
apart with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of the
Chanukah (and to let our light shine before others)”
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“Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melekh ha-olam sheheyanu v’ke’manu
v’heegeeanu lazman ha-zeh”
“Blessed are you, YHWH our Elohim, King of the Universe, Who has performed
miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time”.
“Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melekh ha-olam, she-hasah nisim la-atotainu bayamim
ha-ham bazman ha-zeh”
“Blessed are you, YHWH our Elohim, King of the Universe, Who has kept us
alive and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season”.
4) Then, light the other candles with the Shamash candle.
5) Each night of lighting, invite a different person to read the Scriptures designated for
each night of the 8 days.
6) Sing (“Rock of Ages”) and other Chanukah songs you might come Ma’oz Tzur
across, celebrating the coming of the Light of the World.
Candle Scripture(s)
1st Exodus 3:21-22
2nd Psalm 18:28, Psalm 27:1
3rd Yeshayahu 60:1-3
4th John 8:12
5th Luke 2:30-32
6th Tehillim 119:105 & 130
7th 5:14-16
Mattityahu
„M „M „M „M „M „M „M
During , the Jewish people relive their military and ideological victory over Chanukah
ancient Greece. We still hear the echoes of this cultural clash today, as Winston
Churchill wrote in his History of the Second World War:
No other two races (but the Jews and Greeks) have set such a mark upon the
world. Each of them from angles so different have left us with the inheritance of
its genius and wisdom…the main guiding light in modern faith and culture.
Jewish historians label the period during which the Hellenists had influence over Israel
as the “Greek Exile.” Ironically, during the era, there was no attempt to drive the Jews
from Israel, our homeland.
This begs the question, who or what did they view as having been exiled?
Jewish sages provide an explanation by comparing our existence within the Greek nation
to the darkness at the very beginning of creation. The first two lines of Genesis read,
In the beginning…the earth was empty…and darkness was upon the face of the
deep.
The command “Let there be light” banished the darkness. However, according to the
sequence of events presented in the the luminous bodies including the sun and Torah,
stars did not come into existence until much later. This first “light” must be understood
Page 44
not as light in a conventional sense, but as a reference to raw spiritual energy. The Greek
exile is therefore seen through the eyes of the sages as comparable to a physical universe
wholly lacking any spiritual content.
While traditional Jewish sources compare Greek culture to primordial Darkness, they
simultaneously confirm that externally, ancient Greece was the most beautiful and
cultured of all civilisations. Many Jews during the historical period in which the
Chanukah miracle too place found in Hellenism the world’s first intellectually
stimulating alternative to Judaism. Consequently, the glamour of Greece, her arts and
comforts, enticed many Jews toward complete assimilation into secular Greek culture.
The Hellenistic world glorified the human mind and body. To the Greek philosopher, the
world was run by natural laws, entirely accessible to the human intellect. Phenomena and
concepts to which logic could be applied were exhausted, and those which lay beyond
the confines of pure reason were shunned as folly.
The foundation of our modern Western world-view developed directly from this
perspective. We see as an illustration of this point, the widespread modern-day
assumption that there exists nothing beyond the physical world. Such a view relegates
the notions of love and the soul to the realm of merely base biochemical phenomena.
Existentialism, the philosophy of life’s absurd futility and inherent meaninglessness is
also a natural outgrowth of Hellenistic thought.
Additionally, the commonly accepted notion of “relative morality” which denies the
existence any absolute right or wrong prevails. These disheartening conclusions, held by
so many today, emerge from the perspective of this world being just a circus of atomic
nuts and bolts lacking any overall purpose or intentional design.
Yet many thinking people consider ridiculous the view that life is utterly meaningless,
and balk at the claim that there is nothing wrong with cold-blooded murder other than
personal preference. Even Bertrand Russell, this century’s most eloquent atheistic
philosopher conceded, “I cannot see how to refute the arguments for the subjectivity of
ethical values, but I find myself incapable of believing all that is wrong with wanton
cruelty is that I don’t like it.” Those who posses the humility and courage to concede that
the human mind’s reasoning faculty has its limits are forced to re-examine such a
constricted view of reality.
The second century before the Common Era, at the time when Athens and Yerushalayim
intellectual locked horns, a core of Jews maintained that the mechanical laws of nature
are subordinate to a higher reality. They saw the glory that was Greece, certainly not as
a dimness of intellect, but as a bleak shackling of the human spirit by a disinterested and
lifeless world. The brilliant spiritual intensity of humankind was left overshadowed by
the superficiality of externals, only because the material aspects of the universe are more
readily grasped by simplistic logic and reasoning. This is the “darkness” of Greece. This
too explains what the sages saw Greek culture had exiled: the spark of the human soul
and spirit. Jews on the other hand recognised the intellect as the soul’s most powerful and
reliable tool, but nothing more. Just because our minds can’t easily package what our
soul “knows” need not mean that our souls’ are wrong. This very same struggle rages
today between secular thought and living by the (Word) of YHWH. Devar
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Chanukat Habayit
Literally: dedication of the home; the ceremony of affixing the mezuzah to the doorpost.
Chanukiah
Eight-branched menorah, with a place for a ninth candle — Chanukah (shamash
“servant”) used to light the other candles, especially designed for use during the Festival
of Chanukah.
Charoset
A mixture of fruits, nuts, and wine; one of the symbolic foods. Its colour and Pesach
consistency are reminders of the bricks and mortar used by the Israelite slaves.
Chasidim
A group of pious 1st Century YM Jewish sages who shared the Pharisees’ ethical and
religious values, but were also characterised by a close walk with the Almighty and their
emphasis on what you preach, putting your proclamation into practice. Choni the doing
Circle-Drawer was a famous 1st century chasid.
Since the 18th century, this title also designates a group within Judaism, consisting of
Ultra-Orthodox followers of the eighteenth-century leader, Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, who
is called the (literally: “the master with a good name.”) In Israel, the Ba’al Shem Tov
ultra-orthodox are referred to as the Charridim, which means the ones who tremble
before Almighty YHWH.
Chasidism
„̓p
Religious revivalist movement of popular mysticism among German Jews in the
Middle Ages.
„̓q
Religious movement founded by Israel ben Eliezer, the (“Master Ba’al Shem Tov
of a Good Name”) in the first half of the 18th century.
Chata’aat
Sin-offering in A sin offering made by one who has sinned against the Beit haMiqdash
Almighty, i.e. transgressed against Torah.
Chatan
Bridegroom.
Chatan Bereshith
Literally: “Bridegroom of Genesis;” the man called to recite or chant the blessings over
the first section of the on Torah Simchat Torah.
Chatan Torah
Literally: “Bridegroom of the the man called to recite or chant the blessings Torah;”
over the final section of the on Torah Simchat Torah.
Chavurah
A group of “subscribers” convened for the purpose of offering the Pesach sacrifice and
Page 46
eating of its meat. A group of like-minded people meeting together to worship by
studying Scripture with reverence and joy.
Chaver
A Hebrew word meaning In ancient times, it denoted a scholar or pious companion.
person among those who loved and kept the faithfully. This concept was taken Torah
from the text of Psalm 119:63, “I am a companion of them who fear YHWH.”
Chavaqquq
Habakkuk.
Chawwah
Eve.
Chayah
A living creature. Singular of chayot.
Chayei chadash
New life.
Chayei olam
Everlasting life.
Chayot
Living creatures. A type of angel mentioned in Yechezq’el 1-3 and Revelation 4-5.
Chazan
The cantor, who intones the liturgy and leads the prayers in a synagogue.
Chazan Ha-keneset
Synagogue employee.
Cheshbon
Heshbon. A town in ancient Moav (today: Jordan). A centre of enmity and conspiracy
against the Children of Yisra’el. At the time of the exodus from Mitzrayim and the entry
into the promised land, Sihon, king of the Amorites dwelt there. He refused to let the
Israelites pass through. The Israelites defeated them and destroyed Cheshbon. The tribe
of Reuven later rebuilt the city. It is highly likely that Cheshbon in Jordan will also
feature in an eschatological conspiracy to first put Israel at ease and then destroy them as
a nation. This may be inferred by doing between Yirmeyahu 48, Numbers 24:17, remez
Tehillim 83 and Ovadyah 1:7.
Chesed
Grace, mercy, loyal love.
Chet
Missing the mark, making a mistake; the Hebrew term translated as “sin.” Transgression
of Torah. avon pesha Related to (crookedness) and (rebellion).
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Chevlei Shel Mashiach
Birthpains of the Messiah. Hebrew term for the seven year tribulation period that will
precede the glorious second coming of King Messiah. The excruciating pain, profuse
shedding of blood, and subsequent joy of childbirth is a picture of the agony and the joy
that the believing remnant of Israel as well as gentile believers will experience when they
are born into the Messiah and His kingdom.
The metaphor of passing through labour pains to be born into the is yeshuat Elohim
found throughout the Tanakh.
Table G.3: Prophecies about the Chevlei Shel Mashiach—the Birthpains that will come
upon the earth at the threshold of the Messianic Age.
Book Verses
Genesis 3:16; 35:16-20; 38:27-28; 48:3
Yeshayahu 13:8; 21:3; 23:4; 26:17; 37:3; 42: 14; 54:1; 66:7-9
Yirmeyahu 4:31; 6:24; 13:21; 22:23; 30:6; 31:8; 48:41; 49:22-24; 50:43
Let us look at a few of these passages where the cataclysmic events that will come upon
the earth in the Day of YHWH are described as birthpains:
Yeshayahu 26:16-18
YHWH, they came to you in their distress;
when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer.
As a woman with child and about to give birth writhes and cries out in her
pain, so were we in your presence, O YHWH.
We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind.
We have not brought salvation [Hebrew: yeshu’ah] to the earth;
we have not given birth to people of the world.
Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man
with his hands on his stomach like a , every face turned woman in labour
deathly pale? How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of
trouble for Ya’aqov, but he will be saved out of it.
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Yeshayahu 66:7-10
“Before she goes into , she ; labour gives birth
before the . pains come upon her, she delivers a son
Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things?
Can a country be born in a day
or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Tziyon in labour
than she gives to her children. birth
Do I bring to the moment of and not give delivery?” says YHWH. birth
“Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your Elohim.
“Rejoice with Yerushalayim and be glad for her, all you who love her;
rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.
To receive the is to pass from death to life, to be born anew, to receive yeshuat Elohim
the breath of new life—cf. Yechezq’el 37. The wicked are considered dead even when
they are alive, while the righteous are considered alive even when dead. That person
who heeds the call of the Spirit of the Almighty, and does finds shelter under teshuvah,
the wings of the Shekhinah and is born as a citizen of the the World to Olam Ha-ba,
Come.
The frequency and vividness of the metaphor of birthpangs in the could be the Tanakh
reason Yahushua found it distressing that the batlan, Nakdimon, a prominent teacher of
Israel, did not comprehend that one cannot enter the without being Malkut Shamayim
born again from above, by the (cf. Yochanan 3). In telling Nakdimon Ruach HaQodesh
that one needs to be born again from above to enter the Kingdom of YHWH, Yahushua
may have been challenging Nakdimon with prozelyte baptism. Three things were done
when a man became a prozelyte to Judaism: He was circumcised, he immersed „Í „Í ƒp ƒq
himself in a miqvah, and he and brought an offering in the In „̓r
Beit haMiqdash.
Talmud Yevamot 48b and 62a, it is said that
“…a proselyte is like a new-born infant…”
According to the principles of historical-grammatical exegesis, we should ask ourselves:
What was the conceptual life-world of the participants in the discussion in
Yochanan 3—the discussion about being “born again from above.” They lived in a time
when the expression “born anew” was used for the prozelyte coming up from the waters
of the miqvah. They saw the miqvah as a tomb or grave, and as a womb. By „Í „Í ƒp ƒq
immersion in the miqvah the prozelyte indelibly cast his past as a pagan behind him, and
was like a child of one day when he came up from the waters. His new life as a member
of the covenant community of Almighty YHWH—the nation of Yisra’el—lay ahead of
him. By saying to the prominent Pharisee, Nakdimon, that he needs to be born again,
Rabbi Yahushua the Mashiach is telling him that to join His movement and to become
His talmid, Nakdimon must undergo a transformation and change of direction that is as
radical as is prozelyte immersion. The Malkut Shamayim was breaking forth into the
world, and those in it were about to be empowered by the . To proceed Ruach HaQodesh
from the summit of pre-Messianic Judaism to Messianic Judaism, would be as radical a
change as it is for a pagan who becomes a prozelyte to Judaism.
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Chevlo Shel Mashiach
The pains suffered by the Messiah.
Chevrah Kadisha
A group of people entrusted with the of preparing a body for burial. mitzvah
Chevron
Hebron. A town in the mountains of Yehudah, between Beer-sheva and 7 Yerushalayim,
about 30 km from each. The patriarchs Avraham, Yitzchaq and Ya’aqov and the
matriarchs Sarah, Rivkah and Leah are buried in the cave of Machpelah in Chevron. In
Judaism, Chevron is considered the second most holy city, after Yerushalayim.
King David ruled from Chevron for 7 years and from Yerushalayim for 33 years—a
total of 40 years. In later Jewish thought, Chevron is a synonym for the abode of the
dead, and was called “the bosom of Avraham.”
Chiastic
Style of Hebrew poetry and logical construction of an argument: A/B/C/B /A . An anti- č č
thetical parallelism constructed symmetrically about a central idea.
Chilul HaShem
Desecration of the Name of YHWH. According to an understanding of Sefer Yechezqel,
the excile of Am Yisra’el amounts to the desecration of the Name.
Chodesh
Renewed. Specifically the new moon, as the marker of a new monthly cycle. Note that
the moon is not a new moon, but a moon. Likewise, the “New Covenant” is a renewed
renewed not covenant, and an entirely new covenant that is discontinuous from the past.
Chokhmah
Wisdom, specifically as a manifestation of the Ruach HaQodesh.
See Devar of Chokhmah.
Chokhamim
Wise men; sages. Usually referring to respected, learned Pharisees.
The “magi” who came to bring presents to Yahushua at his birth were most probably
chokhhamim who came from the land of Babylon. (They were not kings, and there was
not three of them!) After the Babylonian captivity, the majority of Yahudim remained in
Babylon (“the land of the east”) and formed centres for study of the Scriptures. They
knew that the Scriptures teach that the Light of the World, the (Sun Shemesh Tzadekah
of Righteousness ), had to come into the world in the fourth day, i.e. —Malachi 4:2
before the year 4000, just as the sun was created on the fourth day to bring light to the
dark world (Genesis 1). The knew that He would be born in Beit Lechem chokhamim
(about 5 km from Yerushalayim) and also understood Numbers 24:17 messianically. In
the messianuc understanding of Numbers 24:17, it is the Messiah who is called a star
that will come out of Ya’aqov and a staff (sceptre of right-ruling) that will come forth
7 Afrikaans: Sewefontein.
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from Yisra’el. We find this messianic understanding in, e.g., Targum Onkelos. In
bringing Him presents, they fulfilled prophecy—cf. Tehillim 68:29; 72:10-15; 76:11;
Genesis 43:11. In these scriptures, Yosef and Sh’lomo foreshadows the Messiah. At the
level of the Psalm 72 speaks about Sh’lomo, the son of David. It is a prayer of p’shat,
thanksgiving to YHWH for a king who would be a saviour. But this Tehillah looks
beyond the immediate historical setting, and shows us King Messiah, our Saviour. The
splendour of the reign of Sh’lomo is a foreshadowing prophetic picture of His reign.
This Psalm says that will be brought to the king from far countries. This happened gifts
in His first coming, and will happen again in His second coming.
Chol
Not set-apart.
Chol haMo’ed
Ordinary part of the festival-days in the middle of or when work Chag haMatzah Sukkot
is allowed. The weekdays of the Festival.
Christ
Greek: Christos Anointed with oil. „M
A rough Greek equivalent of Mashiach (Messiah).
The modern usage of this term is often incorrect and even irritating, because it is used as
though it is a surname—”Jesus Christ.” Those who persist in using terms such as
“Jesus” and “Christ” should use terminology in as meaningful a way as possible. To
remind their audience what the term “Christ” really means, it is good practice to add the
explanation, “Jesus the anointed, empowered, commissioned One, sent forth by the
Father” after having said “Jesus Christ.”
It is not quite correct to speak about Yahushua as “our Messiah”—He is the anointed
One of YHWH. We can thank our Father in Heaven for sending to be His Messiah our
Go’el (kinsman-redeemer and blood-avenger).
Chuq chuqah „¡
Plural: Chuqim.
Decree, statute. A commandment of the that does not have a readily understood, Torah
logical, rational explanation. The sages saw the decrees concerning goat and the l’Azazel
parah adumah chukot. (red heifer) as Although baffling to the rational mind, the
Almighty does have a purpose with these decrees, and so Israel should faithfully observe
them. The slaying of goat on l’Azazel Yom Kippur is probable related to both the atoning
death of Messiah Yahushua and the casting of the False messiah into the Lake of Fire
(i.e. the Dead Sea, having erupted in flames) at the triumphant return of King Messiah.
Chumash
The five books of Mosheh. Commonly called the Torah. The word is derived from the
Hebrew word for “five.”
Chuppah
A spread canopy under which the bride and groom stand during the wedding ceremony.
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The canopy represents the honeymoon chamber of the couple and symbolises the home
that is about to be established.
Church
See Qahal.
The term “Church” is one of the most misused and misunderstood words in existence
today! Because our concepts are tied to our use of language, the misuse of language
breeds a conglomeration of quasi-concepts. I cringe at Dispensationalism’s misuse of
this term.
Church Fathers
The (Gentile) Christian scholars and leaders who preached and wrote between
approximately 135 to 450 YM. Besides the good things they did, they were also
responsible for the de-Judaising of Christianity, and the imposition of alien philosophical
schemes such as Neo-Platonism, on exegesis. With the wisdom of hindsight, we can say
that they were tragically ignorant of the communication principle of Hermeneutics,
which tells us that we should understand historical communication in the historicalconceptual
framework in which the communication took place originally.
Churban
Destruction, specifically of Yerushalayim end the Beit HaMiqdash.
Confirmation
Ceremony marking the completion of the religious school course of study, often held on
Shavuot.
Consecration
Ceremony marking the beginning of a child’s formal education in often held on Torah,
Simchat Torah.
Counting the Days
This is a period of time specified in Leviticus 23, falling between and Pesach Shavuot.
Covenantal Nomism
The Judaism of the time of Yahushua’s ministry in Israel is characterised by a unitary
“pattern of religion” namely covenantal nomism. The pattern or structure of covenantal
nomism is this: (1) YHWH has chosen Israel and (2) given the The Torah. Torah
implies both (3) YHWH’s promise to maintain the election and (4) the requirement to
obey. (5) YHWH rewards obedience and punishes transgression. (6) The provides Torah
for means of atonement, and atonement results in (7) maintenance or re-establishment of
the covenantal relationship. (8) All those who are maintained in the covenant by
obedience, atonement and YHWH’s mercy belong to the group which will be saved. An
important interpretation of the first and last points is that election and ultimately
salvation are considered to be by YHWH’s mercy rather than human achievement.
Passage after passage from Tannaitic literature, the Qumran documents, and intertestamental
literature may be cited to prove conclusively that the perception of late
Second Temple Period Judaism (or some branch thereof) as a religion of legalistic
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works-righteousness, wherein YHWH’s approbation must be earned by good works in a
system of strict justice, is completely wrong.
Jewish religion in the time period under discussion views the whole question of
obedience and disobedience on the basis of YHWH’s unfathomable mercy in choosing
Israel and of his merciful provision of means of restoration for sinners. In fact, this is
probably the constant perspective of Judaism in whatever period. Perhaps no one has
succeeded in conveying the centrality of this perspective in traditional Judaism more
eloquently than Solomon Schechter in A careful and Aspects of Rabbinic Theology.
unbiased reading of Jewish literature from any stratum, whether it be Old Testament,
Talmud, apocalyptic, wisdom literature, or modern Judaism, should be adequate to warn
against thinking of Judaism as a religion of strict justice in which YHWH’s lovingkindness
and mercy is obscured by the severity of the Law.
Cush
See: Kush.
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D
Da’at
Knowledge.
Inherited semi-pagan traditions, an excess of moralistic, sentimental, shallow preaching,
and the unscholarly “spirit of the age” have caused the level of of (knowledge da’at emet
of the truth) among large sections of believers to become dangerously low. “My people
perish because of a lack of Those who stand for nothing often fall for anything. da’at.”
Dammeseq
Damascus.
Darash
To tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication to seek or
ask; inquire; question, require, search, seek.
Dareyawesh
King Darius.
Day of the LORD
See Yom YHWH.
Dayenu
“Literally: It would have been enough for us;” name of a pop ong. ular Pesach Seder s
Days of Awe
See: Yamim Nora’im.
Defilement
See: Tamei.
Ritual impurity.
Demons
Hebrew words used in Scripture for demons:
„¿ (Leviticus 17:7). Literally: mighty ones, masters. Consistently translated Seirim
as demons in the Septuagint.
„¿ (Deuteronomy 32:17). Shedim
„¿ Lilith
„¿ Tsiim
„¿ Iim
Devar Davar „¡
The Word of YHWH. The sages taught that the should be thought of as Devar
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proceeding from the which dwelt where the gaze of the two met in Sh’khinah, keruvim
the expanse above the (seat of atonement) of the Ark of the Testimony in the kapporet
Qodesh haQodeshim. The Ark of the Testimony had the shape of Yechezq’el’s vision of
the throne , which was made of of YHWH This interpretation follows from a lapis lazuli.
midrashic linking of Numbers 7:89 and All of the teaches about Yechezq’el 10:1. Devar
the Messiah. The Messiah is the the who became flesh to make His Devar, Torah,
dwelling amongst us. and are closely related concepts Devar, Torah Ruach —speaking
of instruction, guidance, movement, life-giving person-in-action.
Devar of Chokhmah
Word of Wisdom. An unquestionably true answer to a seemingly impossibly difficult
ethical question. A manifestation of the Ruach HaQodesh.
Devar of Da’at
Word of Knowledge. Speaking forth a truth that is supernaturally revealed to you by the
Ruach HaQodesh Ruach HaQodesh . . A manifestation of the
Devar Torah
Literally: a word of follows the reading in a worship service, taking the Torah; Torah
form of a sermon, talk, explication, story, discussion, or program.
Devorah
Deborah. Bee; congregation. See . Lappidoth
Diaspora
Jewish communities outside of Israel.
Din
Judgement. To strive in judgement.
Dispensationalism
An approach to understanding Scripture that divides the Almighty’s dealings with
mankind into 8 distinct “dispensations .” Dispensationalism has served a purpose in 8
showing people the truth of the eschatological restoration of Israel and teaching us to
understand prophecy literally. However, classical dispensationalism stands in urgent
need of being brought into line with the results of a rigorous exegesis of Scripture and a
much more careful use of terminology. The teachings of the antinomian, no-law branch
of Dispensationalism is particularly deplorable.
John Nelson Darby was the founder of the Plymouth Brethren and creator of
Dispensationalism. He greatly popularised the Pre-Tribulation rapture of the Church.
During the 1820s to 1840s, Darby developed a new systematic theology called
“Dispensationalism.” Dispensationalist theology has since become very popular in many
branches of Christendom.
Like most 19th century theologians, John Darby was an antinomian he believed that —
the “Law of Moses” had passed away at the Cross. However, Darby was disturbed by
8 This use of the term is a misuse of language. dispensation
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specific problems created by this point of view. He noticed that during the seven years
of Daniel’s final week (Dani’el 9:24-27), the sacrifices and offerings are being made at
the Temple. Since the Law of Moses will clearly be kept during this seven year
tribulation, Darby concluded that the Law comes back into effect at the beginning of the
tribulation. This train of thought led Darby to segregate Scriptural and prophetic history
into compartmentalised ages, which he called He theorised an “Age of dispensations.
Law” that ended at the Cross and an “Age of Grace” or “Church Age” that began at the
Cross. Then, with the beginning of the seven-year tribulation, the “Age of the Law”
kicks back in and the or ends. This created a Church Age Dispensation of Grace
problem for Darby’s theory. How can the Age of Law return if the Church is still here?
Darby saw the Age of Law as an age in which YHWH dealt with Israel. He (correctly)
saw the tribulation as a return to YHWH’s dealing with Israel as a nation. So what
happens to the Church? Surely the Church will not exit from under the wings of Grace
and come under the Law of Moses, Darby theorised. As a result, he adopted the idea of
a PreTrib rapture of the Church. According to this view, the Church will leave the earth
right before the beginning of the 7-year tribulation, leaving Israel behind to enter the
tribulation and the return of the Age of the Law.
Darby now had another problem: If the Church is raptured leaving Israel behind, then
what about so-called “Jewish Christians?” Do they get raptured with the Church, or stay
behind with Israel. Darby had yet another solution: the Church/Israel dichotomy. This
theory taught that a Jew who becomes a believer in Messiah becomes part of the Church
and is no longer part of Israel. As a result no one can be both a part of the Church and
Israel. Jewish believers, according to this theory, stop being Jews and become part of the
Church, which, he taught, contained people who are not Jews or gentiles any more.
Thus the three pillars of Dispensationalism are:
1) The Law is not for today; it terminated at the Cross.
2) The PreTrib rapture of “the Church.”
3) The Church/Israel dichotomy. The Church was seen as a new entity, totally
discontinuous from Israel, which was created when Israel rejected the Messiah.
See the Glossary entry on page 165 for an analysis of Dispensationalism’s misuse Qahal
and misunderstanding of the term Church.
Messianic Jews do accept that is not for today; neither can they accept the not Torah
Church/Israel dichotomy page 165. Two of the three pillars which must be —see
present to support Dispensationalism are pillars of clay which are rejected by Messianic
Judaism.
This leads us to the important question: Is the pre-tribulation rapture an invention of
Dispensationalism, or does it have a Scriptural basis? See the Glossary entry, Rapture
on page 172 for a discussion.
Divorce
Yahushua’s on Divorce is reported in 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-9 halakhah Mattityahu
and Luke 16:18 and is based on the following commandment in the Torah:
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Devarim 24:1
When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no
favour in his eyes because he has found some unclean matter in her, and he
writes her a bill of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house,…
Sha’ul’s on the matter of divorce is reported in Romans 7:2-3 and 1 Corinthians halakhah
7:10-17.
Yahushua’s halakhah is a on Genesis 2:24 and Deuteronomy 24:1. homiletic Midrash
Yahushua’s use of Genesis 1:27 to prove his position is paralleled in the Dead halakhic
Sea Scrolls : (Dam. Document Column 4, line 20 through Column 5, line 1)
…they are caught in two traps: fornication, by taking two wives in their lifetimes
although the principle of creation is: “male and female He created them.”
Even more significant is Yahushua’s interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1. In the first
century a major debate was ongoing as to the meaning of the words for “unclean matter”
in this text. The debate is recorded in the as follows: Mishnah
Mishnah, Order Nashim, Tractate Gittin 9:10
The School of Shammai say, “A man should divorce his wife only because he
has found grounds for it in unchastity, since it is said, “Because he has found in
her an unclean matter in anything” (Devarim 24:1).
And the School of Hillel say, “Even if she spoiled his dish, since it is said,
‘Because he has found in her an unclean matter in anything'” (Devarim 24:1).
Rabbi Akiva says, “Even if he found someone else prettier than she, since it is
said, ‘And it shall be if she find no favour in his eyes’ (Devarim 24:1)”
The controversy surrounded the ambiguity of the phrase “matter of uncleanness.” This
phrase in Hebrew can be taken literally, or can be taken as an idiomatic expression for
fornication. Yahushua, who is usually a Hillelian teacher, here agrees with the strict
interpretation of the school of Shammai. The looser interpretation of Hillel prevailed in
later Rabbinic Judaism.
Let us examine Yahushua’s position closer. Yahushua uses Genesis 1:27 & 2:24 to argue
for the stricter interpretation of “unclean matter” in Deuteronomy 24:1. In
Mattityahu 19:8, Yahushua makes an important observation: Deuteronomy 24:1 is not
presented in the as being in the perfect will of YHWH. A careful reading of Torah
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 shows that 24:1 is an incidental statement in a larger Law which
deals with remarriage of the divorced. However 24:1 says:
When and it happens a man takes a wife… that she find no favour in his eyes…
Deuteronomy 24:1 simply says, “when [divorce] happens” and then discusses the issue
of the on remarriage. Yahushua points out that this is YHWH’s recognition of Torah
man’s will on the subject and not the Almighty’s will itself, which he finds in Genesis
1:27 & 2:24. All of this he uses to argue for the strictest interpretation of “unclean
matter” in Deuteronomy 24:1.
Now Yahushua draws two (rules on how to walk) from his reported in halakhot midrash
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„¿ Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another,
commits adultery.
„¿ Whoever marries her who is divorced, commits adultery.
We should reach clarity on the Messiah’s position on divorce, because great damage has
been done by people who condemnd divorce a priori, and blindly instructs all married
couples to remain married, whatever the circumstances. Should a woman who worships
HaShem, e.g., remain married to a man who leads such an immoral life that he will
certainly pass AIDS to her?
We should always interpret the Messiah’s teachings in harmony with the Torah, and not
in contradistinction with the Hebrew Scriptures. To err in this regard, and understand the
Messiah’s words as abrogating the Torah, amounts to a form of Marcionism—a
destructive, ancient and pervasive heresy. Such a position clashes head-on with the
Messiah’s own words in 5:17ff where he states that the will never pass Mattityahu Torah
away until heaven and earth pass away. Yahushua does NOT teach that the Torah is
wrong in permitting divorce in Devarim 24. No, he is taking a strong, polemical position
against the teachers of his day, who taught the people that a husband may divorce his
wife for trivial reasons and then remarry without blinking an eye. He teaches that and
why divorce is outside the original and perfect plan of Almighty YHWH. It is permitted
in the Torah as a consent to human weakness and depravity. The Torah does not
condone divorce; it regulates it.
In the pastoral application of the Messiah’s halakhah, one should distinguish between the
principle and the pastoral response. In Yochanan 8, we read how the Messiah did not
condemn a woman caught in adultery. The Torah rules that the death sentence applies in
matters of marital unfaithfulness. Yet our Rabbi rules that he does not condemn her, and
that she should go forth and sin no more. The principial answer of the Torah to her sin is
that she should be stoned to death. The practical situation of the day was that the right to
pass the death sentence had been removed from Israel by the Roman rulers, and that a
Beit Din may not pass a death sentence any more. The pastoral response of the Messiah,
in the specific case at hand, was forgiveness and instruction not to sin any more.
Divre HaYamim
“The events of the days.” Hebrew name of the book Chronicles (Annals).
Divri
Literally: “my word.” Leviticus 24:10-23 paints a vivid -picture which Torah
prophetically foreshadows the blaspheming False messiah of the endtimes. His mother’s
name was , the daughter of the . The names and Shelomit Divri Danite Shelomit Divri
are very significant: means “peaceful,” while means “my word.” We Shelomit Divri
know that the False messiah will present himself as a herald of world (cf. the white peace
horse of Revelation 6), and that he will speak many great, pompous, blasphemous words
(cf. Dani’el 7). Historical Egypt is a picture of the revived Roman Empire of the endtimes.
Note that the blasphemer is the son of an Egyptian father and an Israelite woman
from the tribe of Dan. Dani’el 9:24-27 teaches that the Antichrist will be European, and
will rule the revived Roman Empire. Ancient Jewish sages taught that the evil world
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leader of the last days would be European and would initially rule from Rome. He was
expected to come from the tribe of Dan . —cf. Genesis 49:17
Dodi
My beloved. The term by which the two loved ones addresses each other in Shir
HaShirim.
Dor hemshekh
A next generation.
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E
Ebionites
By the second century, the faction of Jewish believers in Yahushua who came from the
School of Shammai, was called the Ebionites. In the course of time, they were rejected
by the increasingly gentilised Christianity.
Egel
The golden calf episode, which took place while Mosheh was receiving the on Torah
Har Sinai.
Eh-yeh
When Mosheh asked the Almighty His Name, He answered (Shemot 3:14), “Eh-yeh
asher Eh-yeh.” This indicates past, present and future dynamic, active existence, with
the emphasis very strongly on the future. The repetition indicates intensity, so that the
best rendering is not “I will be who I will be,” (which conveys arbitraryness) but rather
“I will be!” Often inaccurately translated as “I am” in Exodus 3:14.
Eidah
Congregation; a gathering of any type; a body of people gathered around a witnessing
common purpose. Related to the word which means witness. See: eidut, qahal.
Eidut
Witness; testimony; a sealed scroll handed to the kings of Yahudah and Israel at the
coronation ceremony. See 2 Kings 11:12, 2 Chronicles 23:11 and Revelation 5. Based
on this, Revelation 4-5 may be interpreted as a vision of the of King Messiah coronation
in heaven.
Eikhah
‘Alas!’, written by Yirmeyahu; known today as the book of Lamentations.
Ein chadash tachat ha-shamesh
“There is nothing new under the sun.” Words spoken by King Shlomo in his old age—
he had seen everything, had studied everything, and had developed a sober cynicism.
El Elyon
El Most High.
El Erech Apa’im
A prayer mentioning the thirteen Attributes of the Almighty.
El Malei Rachamim
Literally: El, full of compassion; a prayer of remembrance.
Eloah Mahozim
The mighty one of fortified strongholds. Dani’el 11:21-12:13 intimates that the False
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messiah of the latter days will be of the same spirit as Antiochus IV “Epiphanes.” The
events are reported with an almost direct transition between the reign of Antiochus IV
“Epiphanes” the endtime reign of the Antichrist, with Dani’el 11:35 serving as the
transition verse between historical time and the eschaton. Dani’el 11:38 states that this
evil figure will not honour the —the Mighty One whom his fathers Elohim of his avot
worshipped—but will honour Eloah Mahozim. The Coming of King Messiah, In we
have linked this name with the religious system which developed from the apostasy in
ancient Babylon, a few generations after the Flood during the days of Noach. We saw
that there is a chilling link between the nature of that ancient pagan religious system, and
the apostate Rome-based paganised Christianity of today. Putting it all together, one
comes to the conclusion that the Antichrist will be a European Jewish man from the tribe
of Dan, an apostate and traitor of his people, who will arise from within paganised
Christianity, with the full backing of the leader the — False prophet of Revelation
13—of that idolatrous religious system.
Elohim
Mighty one before whom one trembles in awe. Used of YHWH the Father, and also of
the Son, as a plural of intensity and majesty. Used of idols and judges as a normal plural
noun. Elohim is not the personal name of the Almighty, but a term. relational
Expressive of the majesty and attribute of strict justice of the Creator. In Tehillim 45:7,
the relationship between the prophetic poet and the Messiah is that the Messiah is the
Elohim of the human poet, while YHWH the Father is the Elohim of His anointed Son.
Throughout Scripture, the Messiah is, in His presence, YHWH Elohim manifest; yet in
His service, He is the servant of YHWH His Elohim, calling the Father “my Elohim” and
“the only true Elohim.”
El Shaddai
The All-Sufficient, All-bountiful One. Until the time of Mosheh, the Almighty made
Himself known to the patriarchs in the character expressed by the name El Shaddai.
Ever since Mosheh, He has also revealed Himself in the character expressed by the name
YHWH—everlasting, escalating, manifest existence expressed in loyal covenantal love.
Emunah
Faith; the reinforcing triangular interaction between (1) knowledge of the truth (da’at)
(emet), emunah (2) trust in this revealed truth, and (3) obedience. The term is very rich
and also contains the concepts of love toward the Almighty, steadfastness, uprightness
and faithfulness. We are saved by the loyal love of the Father and the faithfulness of
Yahushua the Messiah. We accept this grace when we heed the call of the of the Ruach
Almighty and put our trust in the fundamental truth of Scripture: vicarious atonement
through the Messiah. Subsequently, we walk in Note that we are saved by emunah. not
our grace faithfulness faith, but by the of the Father and the of the Son—truths which
are sowed in our heart by the . Scripture teaches Ruach HaQodesh covenantal
nomism—YHWH draws us into the covenant by unmerited grace. Once saved, we have
covenantal obligations, to which we should be faithful with our entire being, not by
external ritual alone.
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When many Gentiles accepted the Messiah, there was a problem with communicating
Scriptural truth to them in their language—languages which were not the original
vehicle for the and which contained concepts which hindered the correct Devar,
communication of the The Greek word is somewhat poorer than the Devar. pistes
Hebraic concept of So the Almighty chose and sent —Messianic emunah. chokhamim
Jewish sages—to the Gentiles, to communicate the fulness of the to them in their Devar
own language, to fill out the (fulness) of the Hebraic concepts in the Greek pleroma
language. We have the essence of the inspired teachings of these in the chokhamim
epistles of the Sh’liachim.
Emunah is a glowing fire in the heart, not an intellectual confession of doctrine; it is
caught, not taught; it is a work of the Ruach HaQodesh.
Enthronement festival
Scholar Sigmund Mowinckel identified Rosh HaShanah as the enthronement festival
major and is the enthronement festival minor—refer to the articles Sukkot Day of the
Lord Sukkot Encyclopedia Judaica. and in The major enthronement psalms in Scripture
are Psalms 47, 93 and 96-99. Also study 2 Samuel 6-7, Psalm 132 and 1 Kings 8.
Ephrayim
Literally: “fruitfulness.”
A tribe of Israel. The tribe of birthright. Yirmeyahu 31 as well as Hoshea contain rich
prophecies about Ephrayim.
Episkopos [G]
A superintendent, bishop, overseer.
Episunagoge
A complete collection; a meeting (for worship). Assembling (gathering) together.
Eretz
Land or world.
Eretz Yisrael
The Land Israel.
Erev Shabbat
Late Friday afternoon, just before Shabbat begins. Eschatologically, we are living in
Erev Shabbat, Olam Hazeh Yom YHWH. i.e. at the end of the and at the very threshold of
Erev
Dusk. The day before, the eve of.
Erusha
A betrothed virgin.
Erusin
The betrothal ceremony. The bridegroom paid a price—the —for the bride. The mohar
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bride accepted the bridegroom’s betrothal offer by drinking a cup of wine. In ancient
times, the formal betrothal ceremony, constituting the first phase of marriage.
Yahushua the Messiah laid down his own life for us to buy us as His bride, because our
sinfulness is incompatible with the qadosh-ness of the Almighty; without the Messiah
our righteousness is as filthy rags and we remain under the penalty of death. His mohar
(bride-price) was his own life; the currency was his own blood, his broken body. This is
the gate through which the righteous shall enter; there is no other gate (cf. Tehillim 118).
The cup of wine that we drink, and the bread that we eat during the meal dedicated to
YHWH, is a symbol, remembrance and seal of our covenant status as a (zekher)
betrothed bride who awaits the coming of our Bridegroom to take us to His Father’s
house.
Eruv
Technical term for rabbinical provision permitting the alleviation of certain restrictions.
Esheth ish
A married woman.
Eved
Servant. In the four prophetic songs about the in , the Eved of YHWH Yeshayahu 42-53
Messiah is announced to be the (student) of YHWH, the rejected and tortured Talmid
One who will be resurrected from the dead. By His vicarious death, healing and
salvation came to us. He is Yisra’el personified. Whereas the nation Yisra’el failed as
the elect covenant partner of YHWH, the Eved of YHWH is the empowered who One
will not fail, will become the representative Head of the redeemed, in whom the
represented many receive salvation.
Etrog
Citron fruit; with the lulav, it is the symbol of Citron fruit taken as one of the Sukkot.
four species on the Feast of Tabernacles. Based on a coded message in a specific Psalm,
the sages taught that Adam and Chawwah trespassed in by eating an Gan Eden etrog.
Eytz Chayim
Tree of life.
YHWH wants to restore to mankind, but only to those who will do Chayim Olam
teshuvah (return to Him). Because He knew that the nature of mankind would be evil
after eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, YHWH prevented us
from eating of (the tree of life) by driving us out of Gan Eden. Eating of Eytz Chayim
that tree would have locked us up in a state of sinfulness.
Eusebes [G]
Well-revered, i.e. pious and devout.
Even Shetiyah
The Foundation Stone in the Miqdash.
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Ezra, ibn
Abraham ibn Ezra (1092-1164), poet, mathematician, astronomer, grammarian, and
Bible commentator, emerged as a philosopher through his major work, Sefer Yesod Mora
Ve-Sod HaTorah Torah), (Treatise on the Foundation of Awe and the Secret of the in
which he explains the commandments found in Scripture. is also one Sefer Yesod Mora
of the first philosophical treatises to be written in Hebrew.
Rabbi ibn Ezra opens the with an evaluation of the various branches of Yesod Mora
knowledge, noting that man’s rational soul separates human beings from the rest of the
animal kingdom. He then analyses the role of traditional learning in the development of
the soul. Ibn Ezra addresses the importance of the knowledge of grammar, stating that
one cannot fully understand the text of the without it. He also discusses the study Torah
of Scripture and the Talmud, arguing that one cannot properly comprehend the Talmud if
one does not know the sciences, for there are many passages in the and the Torah
Talmud that are either incomprehensible or given to misinterpretation by one who has no
prior knowledge of the sciences.
Rabbi Ibn Ezra believed that there is a reason for all the commandments of the Torah
and that all possess a coherent structure. He maintains that an individual is mitzvot
obligated to observe all the commandments, even if he does not understand their purpose
or function. He also explains that the are divided into positive and negative mitzvot
commandments, noting that the commandments are observed through belief, speech, and
action.
Sefer Yesod Mora greatly influenced Maimonides and many of the concepts found in his
Guide for the Perplexed, Yesod Mora and traces of the can even be found in Rabbi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi’s Tanya.
Ezrat Nashim
The Hall of the Women in the compound; the outer Courtyard. Beit haMiqdash
Ezrath Yisra’el
The Hall of Israel in the Temple compound.
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F
Fasting
Why do Israelites fast on ? Va’Yikrah (Leviticus) 23 and Ba’Midbar Yom Kippur
(Numbers) 29 both make it clear that Israelites are to “afflict” or “deny” their beings
(nefesh) on This has been interpreted to mean, amongst other things, Yom HaKippurim.
abstaining from food, bathing, sexual contact and other kinds of pleasurable activity—
Yom Kippur is a day of solemn assembly.
But how does fasting in particular accomplish afflicting your being? Fasting in the
Torah is done on certain occasions only, and permitted by the Rabbis for short periods
only, usually not for more than 25 hours for various events like the anniversary of the
death of someone, a communal catastrophe, when or books are dropped, Tefillin Torah
and on feast days like and minor fast days like and Yom Kippur Purim Katan, Tisha b’Av
two or three others.
Denying yourself food, from a Jewish point of view, is a mechanism of remembrance
which reminds us that YHWH alone is sovereign over all, and only He is to be served
and worshipped, instead of our own needs. It also instructs us that all things come from
the Set-Apart One of Israel, blessed be He, and not from our own efforts Devarim (see
8), as our pride would tend to dictate.
Fasting can be thought of as sending a message to YHWH that we recognise His Kingship
and provision. Fasting was never meant to be a method through which we coerce9
the Almighty into doing what want, or invoke His presence, or to get Him to listen to we
us; He hears us anyway, whether we fast or not. Those who practice fasting to achieve
these things are really practising a form of shamanism. Fasting in the in fact, is Tanakh,
not YHWH or even YHWH. It is about and our relationship YHWH. for about us, to
Scriptural fasting never has as its goal (as in paganism) to reach the heavenly powers and
please them by denying the physical needs of the body. It is not a mechanism of guiltremoval
to cleanse the conscience, nor is this concept found in Except for Torah.
personal grief or sorrow, Scriptural fasting is almost always communal, not individual—
the faithful fast as a body.
Thus we afflict our beings, by going against the grain of our natural thoughts and
perceptions. Fasting is in essence a to help us get back on track, that the reality check
prayer of Psalmist might come to pass…
Lev tahor barah li Elohim, v’ruach nachon chadesh ba-kirbi.
Create in me a pure heart, O Elohim, and renew a correct spirit within me.
Yeshayahu 58 deals with fasting; unfortunately this passage is almost universally misunderstood
and misapplied within contemporary Christianity; it deals with communal
fasting on and is, in fact, the Scripture reading for Yom Kippur Haftarah Yom Kippur.
9 Afrikaans: Sy arm draai.
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Yeshayahu 58 teaches us to look at ourselves and measure us against the moral standards
of the Word, and then to repent and become doers of the word, specifically in being
generous and kind to poor brothers and sisters in the community.
Fox
An inferior person. One of low moral and intellectual stature, of inferior pedigree.
Opposite: Lion.
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G
Gal
Circle; wheel; heaven. Names like Galil and Gilgal contain this grammatical root.
Galil
The Galilee.
Galut
The Diaspora, exile or dispersion of Israel. The condition of Israel in the Dispersion.
Gan Eden
Literally: Garden of delight. The Garden of Eden. Paradise.
Gaon
Plural: Ge’onim.
Excellency. Reverential title of heads of Talmudic academies of Sura and Pumbedita in
Babylonia, which flourished between the sixth and eleventh centuries, the Gaonic period.
The head of a learning centre in Babylonia in the post-Talmudic era. Torah
Gaonate
The office of Gaon.
Gaonic period
Period between the sixth and eleventh centuries, when Talmudic academies flourished in
Babylonia, and were led by the Ge’onim.
Gemarah
A collection of legal and ethical discussions of the rabbis of the third to the fifth
centuries, edited about 500 YM. Together with the Mishnah, it forms the Talmud. The
Hebrew word Gemarah means “completion.” It is the second and longer of the two
pieces of literature which comprise the Talmud. The Gemarah completed the Mishnah
by functioning as its commentary.
The word “talmud” means “studies”. The Talmud is essentially edited minutes of
meetings between sages who discussed the written the oral the Prophets, Torah, Torah,
the service, the Writings as well as (Jewish religious law). Beit haMiqdash halakhah
The Mishnah is the shorter, earlier part of the Talmud. It is quite cryptic and needed
explanation and elaboration. Accordingly, the Gemara was required to complement the
Mishnah. Although many things in the Talmud are untrue, it also contains very valuable
material.
Gematria
The calculation of the numerical values of Hebrew letters and words to find deep
meanings. Finding meanings in the numerical value of Hebrew letters and words.
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Genizah
A depository for sacred books. The best-known was discovered in the synagogue of
Fostat in old Cairo.
Ger
Also: Geir. plural: geirim; feminine: geirah; connective plural: geirei-.
Resident-alien. As noted in the Encyclopedia Judaica, Acts 15 contains one of the
earliest extant references to laws applying to non-Jews:
This latter list [Acts 15:20] is the only one that bears any systematic relationship
to the set of religious laws which the Pentateuch makes obligatory upon resident
aliens
These resident aliens are the geirim. What some rabbis today are calling “B’nai Noah”
was first formally defined and stated by the Netzarim in Yerushalayim, under Beit Din
the first Paqid, Ya’aqov “ha-Tzadiq” Ben-David.
The quickest and easiest way to understand the concept ger is to relate the ger to the
modern definition of “Bnai Noah.” The ger differs in two ways:
Semantic: the name. Both and Talmud refer unambiguously to Benei Noach as all Torah
non-Jews, not just those who observe the Noachide Laws. As the widely acknowledged
expert in Hellenism, Louis H. Feldman, makes clear in his article in the Biblical
Archaeology Review (86.09-10, p. 58ff), in both Biblical and Talmudic times, these non-
Jews were unconverted proselytes to Judaism, called geirim.
Threshold condition versus end-goal. The earliest formal statement of the Noachide
Laws, stated explicitly in the same decision that these were a threshhold or Beit Din
minimum requirement for non-Jewish geirim, not an acceptable permanent goal for B’nai
Noach, because, then these non-Jews, otherwise not permitted to mingle with Jews
during that period, were permitted to attend synagogue, where they could learn the rest
of from those who recite the of Mosheh every Shabbat, in every city, from Torah Torah
ancient generations, the of Mosheh being recited every Shabbat in the Torah
synagogues. What some rabbis hail as the end-goal for “B’nai Noah” was considered the
minimum threshhold or entrance requirement for geirim interrelating with the Jewish
community in the 1st centuries BM and YM.
While the modern understanding of ger is “a convert to Judaism,” the Biblical definition
was slightly different. See the 1986-09-10 magazine Biblical Archaeology Review
(BAR) article by Louis H. Feldman. BAR states: “There is simply no one in the world
who has a better grasp of Hellenistic Jewish literature than Louis Feldman” p. (loc. cit.,
45). Feldman’s article on “God-fearers” (loc. cit., pp. 58-69) is a MUST read. Non-Jews
never came to Judaism already -observant and satisfying all of the requirements for Torah
being converted. When non-Jews became interested in learning about Judaism they
required a special status to distinguish them above the Upon coming Bnei Noach.
before, and being recognised by, the as 1) keeping the Noachide laws and Beit Din
2) committed to learning and practising the rest of -observance, these postulants to Torah
Judaism were granted the status of (feminine: These geir Toshav geirah toshevet).
remain unchanged the two requirements for being recognised by the Netzarim — — Beit
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Din geir Toshav Netzarim. geir Toshav as a Becoming a enables a non-Jew to be
counted within Israel; it is not the same as converting.
In Ancient Israel, most geirim converted, which is why geir eventually blurred with
“convert.” However, when the geir converts, Orthodox then recognises him or halakhah
her as a Jew(ess). The Jew(ess) whom Orthodox prohibits from even being — halakhah
reminded of their non-Jewish past is then no longer a geir(ah). There were also many —
geirim who, either because they feared circumcision or were married to a non-Jew who
did not want to convert, never converted. Upon becoming conversant and responsible to
the entirety of like a Jew, the who didn’t convert was then instead Torah geir Toshav
recognised as a (who was still not a Jew). Thus, it is inaccurate to confuse geir tzeddiq
the geir with the (converted) Jew. A is a non-Jew who has come before a geir Toshav
Beit Din and been recognised as a non-Jew, with probationary status in the Jewish
community, committed to learning, and keeping as they are in the process of learning,
Torah halakhah and .
Ger Sheker
Proselyte who declares full conversion for ulterior motives.
Ger Toshav
Literally: sojourner or stranger who dwells at the gate (Afrikaans: “die vreemdeling in
jou poorte”). A temporary resident in A Gentile living in Eretz Yisra’el who worships
the One Elohim of Yisra’el and obeys the Noachide laws as his covenant obligation, but
does not receive circumcision and does not as yet observe the entire Such a Torah.
person received courtesies and privileges. The teaches that such a person had to Torah
be treated well by the Israelites.
In Acts 15, the Nazarene Beit Din met in Yerushalayim and ruled that a non-Jew may
enter the Body of Messiah as a In other words, immediate conversion to Ger Toshav.
Judaism is not an entrance requirement for Messianic Gentiles. This loosing halakhic
still applies today, i.e. no-one may force a Gentile believer in Messiah to become „̓p
Jewish in order to be saved. Likewise, no-one may tell a Jewish believer in Messiah „̓q
to break away from In Torah, i.e. to be unfaithful to his or her covenantal obligations.
the first century, point was widely misunderstood. Today, point is sadly „Í „Í ƒp ƒq
misunderstood, both within Christianity and non-Messianic Judaism.
Ger Tzadek
Literally: a righteous sojourner or stranger. A full convert of true conviction, in all
respects to be treated like an ethnic Israelite. A Gentile who accepts the entire yoke of
the Torah as his covenant obligation and is circumcised.
Note: the yoke of the is considerably lighter for a female than for a male Torah Ger
Tzadek.
The Torah given through Mosheh deals with Israel’s unique covenantal obligations, and
contains (commandments) on how to treat Gentiles travelling through and mitzvot
residing in Eretz Yisra’el. It does state how Gentiles staying outside Eretz Yisra’el not
should behave. Why not? Is it an oversight? Certainly not! The covenant with Noach
applies to such Gentiles, i.e. all non-Israelites dwelling outside the borders of Eretz
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Yisra’el. Before Messiah, only a received the fulness of the benefits of the Ger Tzadiq
covenants with Israel. Since Messiah, Gentile believers enter into the fulness of the
benefits of the (New Covenant), not by converting to Judaism, but by B’rit Chadashah
the (faithfulness) of Yahushua the Messiah. After having entered into the emunah
covenant by grace, the Gentile believer keeps the Noachide (commandments) as mitzvot
the entrance requirement for fellowship, and should then start out on the path of learning
and practicing more and more of the . In the view of many Messianic Jewish Torah
ruling councils, then, the covenantal obligations of a Gentile worshiper of the Almighty
are considerably less that that of a Messianic Jewish believer. Israel had and has a
unique commissioning: they are the chosen people—chosen to perform a task.
Gerut
The process of conversion to Judaism.
Get
A Jewish bill of divorce, given by a man to an unwanted wife.
In the days of King David, it was customary for soldiers to provide their wives with a
Get Get before they went to battle. Should the husband become “missing in action” the
would spare the wife the agony of having to remain an unmarried widow for the rest of
her life.
The rabbis teach that Uriyah gave Bat-Sheva a before he went to war, so get
that—technically—Bat-Sheva was a divorced woman when King David seduced her.
This fact does not distract from the seriousness of King David’s sin, for which he was
punished but forgiven.
Gevurot Geshamim
“The power of rain,” a praise to YHWH for the revelation of His powers in nature.
Gezerah
Laws or traditions added by the Pharisees as around the written of the fences mitzvot
Torah in an attempt to prevent it from being broken.
Ge’ulah
Redemption.
Ge’ulah shelemah
The complete redemption, in the acharit-yamim, to be established by Almighty YHWH
by the hand of His Messiah. The eschatological messianic redemption.
Gever
A strong one, i.e. a male or a warrior.
Gey
Valley.
Gey Hinnom
Valley of (the son(s) of) Hinnom. Simplistically translated as “hell.” A valley to the
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South, Southwest and West of Yerushalayim where the social outcasts and those with
unclean diseases dwelt amidst rubbish, sewerage, worms and smoke from ever-present
fires, cut off from the life of Yisra’el and tye avodah of the . Beit haMiqdash A place of
punishment in the age to come.
Gihon
A river. Literally: to gush.
GNT
(Greek New Testament Text)
It is a fact of life that there are many manuscripts of the New Testament, ranging from
minute portions, dated as early as 45 to 55 YM, right through to whole copies of the New
Testament dating as early as the middle 300’s YM, and many more that are later than
that, right up to around 1000 YM.
No one claims to have any portion of the original documents themselves, and so
everything of antiquity available to us are copies (of copies etc.). This all took place
before the printing press.
The copyists of the New Testament text were generally reasonably accurate in their
work, but not nearly as accurate as the Jewish copyists of the Hebrew Scriptures. There
were mistakes made, but not usually significant.
Most people do not bother to count copies of the New Testament that are younger than
1000 YM as significant in determination of the most accurate text.
On such a basis there are around 28,000 manuscripts or parts of, that are considered as
old enough to have any bearing on what would determine an accurate representation of
the original Greek text.
Such a large number of manuscripts provide a sufficient enough amount of data to
compare each, and in doing so generally iron out any mistakes made by copyists.
Although it does seem to some extent logical that the older the manuscript it is less likely
to be influenced by scribal error.
Although, such a conclusion is challenged by some of the most eminent of commentators
on this matter.
Most early translations into English, the first of which took place around the end of the
1300’s YM were made from a very early Latin translation, made by Jerome, called the
Vulgate.
However, there arose a very strong desire to present an accurate edition of the Greek text
of the New Testament. Names like Stephen (1550 YM) and Elzevir (1624 YM) represent
serious attempts to present working editions of the Greek text.
The methods they used were simply to sift through whatever was available and make a
decision about what each manuscript available to them said, and include what looked
like a general consensus of accuracy into their text.
They were guided to some extent by what had been considered traditionally by the
church, and its theologians, as an accurate representation of the original text. That is,
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what which had been received by the church through the ages. Thus the general
description of the resultant text has become to be known as the “Received Text”
(sometimes known by its Latin title Textus Receptus). This forms the basis of the —
work of the above editors, and many others of the time.
By the time of the translation of the 1611 King James Version of the Bible, the edition
known as the Received Text was generally accepted as the most accurate representation
of the Greek New Testament. That was used by the translation committee of that version.
In the late 1800’s a significant ancient Greek manuscript became available: this became
to be known as and currently resides in the British Museum in Codex Sinaiaticus,
London. Its significance in the discussion as to the accuracy of the 15th and 16th
Century editions of the Greek New Testament, can be seen in that it is the oldest
complete copy of the New Testament and dates to around 340 YM. At last, it was
believed, a very ancient manuscript that could confirm or validate the work of the
Erasmus, Stephens and Elzevir.
There arose a consensus of opinion in this area of discussion that the most ancient
manuscripts were the most accurate. This had not been the opinion of the 15th and 16th
Century editors, who had followed rather a loose majority text opinion. This more
modern idea, that the oldest manuscripts were the most accurate, began to be widely
adopted by editors, and forms the basis of the principles of Westcott and Hort. Largely
speaking that position has prevailed in the region of textural criticism since the latter half
of the 19th Century, and is still held by many today.
The text that we refer to as the Westcott and Hort text, although it is known by some
other descriptions, is largely based upon the Codex Sinaiaticus, and highlights some
significant differences with that presented in the Received Text.
However, the theory that antiquity carries authenticity has some serious flaws. The
reason why it was adopted, was simply because, it was assumed that people do not take
things out of a text, they more likely add things to it. The older the manuscript the less
likely to be the errors. Yet this is simply not true. You can just as easily remove things in
error as well as you may add things in error.
One reason why there are not so many really old documents is that they get damaged and
deteriorate in use. To find a very ancient complete manuscript of the Apostolic Writings
actually implies that it had not been used, which carries and inherent suggestion of
unacceptability.
Another difficulty with the school of thought that surrounded the editions following the
principles of Westcott and Hort, was simply that it was all too eclectic, and subject to the
opinions of the editors. Evangelicals have looked for a less subjective approach to the
matter.
A number of evangelical scholars have pointed out the glaring problems of too closely
following the Westcott and Hort type text, for there are occasions where a variant text is
chosen which just does not accord with context.
For example, in Luke 4:44: the Westcott and Hort text says that Yahushua continued to
preach in the synagogues of Judea, when the passage immediately previous to it makes it
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very clear that he was nowhere near Judea, being continually located in Galilee at the
time. This is echoed by the NIV and NASB translations which both, quite slavishly,
follow the Westcott and Hort type text, and is so obviously wrong that it is surprising
that the translators could stick to the text, yet they do acknowledge this in their footnotes.
However, the (NKJV), which follows a Majority Text position New King James Version
gets it right and translates the text to read that he continued preaching in the synagogues
of Galilee, which admirably fits the context.
Another example is found in John 1:28, where the NIV reflecting its Westcott and Hort
background claims that John was baptising at Bethany which is the other side (meaning
the eastern side) of the Jordan, which of course is simply incorrect, for Bethany is just a
mile or two to the south east of Yerushalayim and nowhere near the Jordan, let alone the
other side of it. The NKJV version, following the majority text, more accurately points
out that John was baptising at Bethabara, which is on the eastern side of the river Jordan.
Why we ask do the advocates of the Westcott and Hort principles stick to such obvious
errors of presentation, if it is not to give the reader the general impression that errors
reside in the New Testament text?
Do they not realise that the original writers and their readers were so highly unlikely to
have settled for such obvious errors, that as such they are clearly do not come from the
original text.
This and many other observations have caused evangelical scholars from all schools of
thought to contend that the principles of Westcott and Hort are so seriously flawed that
the editions of Greek that are espoused by them are just not trustworthy.
Even the most recent editions of the NIV have been forced to acknowledge this, and
while not completely eradicating the slavish attitudes of the early translation committee,
they have been forced to reinstate into the text some passages, missing in the Westcott
and Hort text, that were originally found only in footnotes.
Recently, significant numbers of scholars have abandoned that principles outlined in the
work of Westcott and Hort and have simply turned to a majority text position. That is
where it is theorised that the burden of accuracy rests with the rendering that has the
support of the largest number of manuscripts. This of course recognises the values of
many manuscripts that were not available to the editors of the Greek Text at the time of
the editors of the so called “Received Text.”
Surprisingly enough, the product of the modern Majority Text position is very much like
the Received Text, and we are beginning to understand that the GNT manuscript
compilers of the 15th and 16th Century were not so far from the truth.
„M „M „M „M „M „M „M
Some claim that the was first written in Hebrew and that we only have New Testament
Greek translations of the Hebrew original.
Hebrew documents that recorded events in the life of Yahushua existed very early. Each
of the gospel writers Mattityahu, Mark, Luke and Yochanan have drawn on these —
Hebrew and Aramaic documents in preparing their gospels.
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The following Semitic manuscripts of are not simply translations, New Testament books
but are descendants of the original Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts of the Apostolic
Writings of which the Greek is a translation:
„¿ — DuTillet A Hebrew manuscript of Mattityahu which was confiscated from Jews
in 1553 and placed at the Bibliotque Naztionale in Paris as Hebrew MS 132.
„¿ — Shem Tob Shem Tob A Hebrew version of Mattityahu which transcribed in its
entirety into his polemic work in 1380. Evan Bohan
„¿ — Munster DuTillet Shem A Hebrew version of Mattityahu closely related to and
Tob which Munster published in printed form in the 16th century from a
manuscript (now lost) which he obtained from Jews.
„¿ — Old Syriac A Syriac (Aramaic) version of the four Gospels which exists in two
manuscripts which date to the fourth century.
„¿ — Peshitta NT A Syriac (Aramaic) version of most of the Apostolic Writings
(only 2 Peter; 2 & 3rd John; Jude and Revelation are missing) which exists in
about 350 ancient manuscripts which date as early as the fourth century. This was
the Aramaic version which came to be used by the Messianic Assemblies of the
East (Nestorians/Assyrians) as well as the Syrian Jacobites and the Chaldean
Roman Catholics.
„¿ — Crawford Manuscript An Aramaic Manuscript of Revelation.
„¿ Also some Greek manuscripts of Mattityahu have notes referring to variant
readings from the (Jewish version). Judaikon
Professor Shmuel Safrai has remarked that just as one should not expect to find firstcentury
copies of Pharisaic writings, one should not expect to find fragments of a
Hebrew biography of Yahushua. Prof. Safrai’s assumption that no Hebrew Life of
Yahushua will turn up results from his knowledge that in this period the disciples of a
Pharisaic sage was not permitted to transmit in writing the words of his master. A sage’s
teaching was considered Oral and as such its transmission writing was strongly Torah
prohibited. If, as seems likely, Yahushua’s first disciples viewed his words as part of that
growing corpus of scriptural interpretation know as Oral then they, too would not Torah,
have dared preserve his teaching in writing, but would have transmitted it orally.
Pursuing this line of reasoning, one can suggest that the first written collection of
Yahushua’s words and deeds was a Greek work.
Dr David Bivin of the Jerusalem School of Synoptic Studies suggests that early listeners
to the Apostle’s preaching may have made notes and that these formed some of the
collections of writing that were used by the gospel writers themselves. Dr Bivin says,
“Perhaps the listeners took notes in Hebrew and later translated them to Greek, or simply
translated what he heard directly into Greek.”
What we can say is that the conversations recorded in the gospel accounts, were
conducted in Hebrew, and the Greek text of the B’rit Chadashah shows much evidence of
these Hebraic origins. These were Hebrews, writing about events that are very Jewish,
where the original conversations took place largely in Hebrew. But note carefully that
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this is not equivalent to saying that the was originally written in Hebrew B’rit Chadashah
and then translated into Greek.
Go’el
Kinsman-redeemer. A close relative who pays the price required to restore a person or
persons who have lost their property and/or freedom, to their original state of landownership
and freedom, from which they had fallen into poverty and slavery. Yahushua,
the Second Adam, is our Go’el. He had to come as a Man to accomplish the work of
redemption, to restore the believing remnant of mankind to the fulness of the Malkut
Shamayim (Kingdom of Heaven) and the earth to its former state.
The article from the 1903 edition of the Jewish Encyclopedia states: GO’EL
Next of kin, and, hence, redeemer. Owing to the solidarity of the family and the
clan in ancient Israel, any duty which a man could not perform by himself had to
be taken up by his next of kin. Any rights possessed by a man which lapsed
through his inability to perform the duties attached to such rights, could be and
should be resumed by the next of kin. This applied especially to parcels of land
which any Israelite found it necessary to sell. This his , or kinsman, had to go’el
redeem (Leviticus 25:25). From the leading case of Yirmeyahu’s purchase of his
cousin Hananeel’s property in Anathoth (Yirmeyahu 32:8-12) it would appear
that in later Israel at any rate this injunction was taken to mean that a kinsman
had the right of pre-emption. Similarly, in the Book of Ruth the next of kin was
called up to purchase a parcel of land formerly belonging to Elimelech (Ruth
4:3). It would appear from the same example that another duty of the was go’el
to raise offspring for his kinsman if he happened to die without any (Ruth 4:5).
This would seem to be an extension of the principle of levirate marriage; hence
the procedure of was gone through in the case of Na’omi’s , just as halizah go’el
if he had been her brother-in-law. The relative nearness of kin is not very
definitely determined in the Old Testament. The brother appears to be the
nearest of all, after whom comes the uncle or uncle’s son (Leviticus 25:49).
Another duty of the was to redeem his kinsman from slavery if sold to a go’el
stranger or sojourner (Leviticus 25:47-55). In both cases much depended upon
the nearness or remoteness of the year of jubilee, which would automatically
release either the land or the person of the kinsman from subjection to another.
As the had his duties, so he had his privileges and compensation. If an go’el
injured man had claim to damages and died before they were paid to him, his
go’el would have the right to them (Leviticus 6:1-7). The whole conception of the
go’el was based on the solidarity of the interests of the tribe and the nation with
those of the national Elohim, and accordingly the notion of the became go’el
spiritualised as applied to the relations between Elohim and Israel. Elohim was
regarded as the of Israel, and as having redeemed him for the bondage of go’el
Egypt (Exodus 6:6, 15:13). This conception is especially emphasised in
Yeshayahu 40-66.
However, the chief of the duties toward his kinsman was that of go’el avenging
him if he should happen to be slain by someone outside the clan or tribe.
Indeed, it is the only expedient method by which any check could be put upon
the tendency to do injury to strangers. Here again to the family of the murderer,
and the death of one member of a family would generally result in a vendetta. It
would appear that this custom was usual in early Israel, for the crimes of a man
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were visited upon his family (Yehoshua 7:24; II Kings 9:26); but at a very early
stage the Jewish code made an advance upon most Semitic codes, including
that of Hammurabi, by distinguishing between homicide and murder (Exodus 21:
13-14). It was in order to determine whether a case of manslaughter was
accidental or deliberate that the cities of refuge were instituted (Deuteronomy 19;
Numbers 35). In a case where the elders of the city of refuge were satisfied that
the homicide was intentional, the murderer was handed over to the bloodavenger
( ) to take vengeance on him. Even if it was decided that “go’el ha-dam”
it was a case of unintentional homicide, the man who committed the deed had to
keep within the bounds of the city of refuge till the death of the high priest, as the
go’el could kill the one who committed the homicide with impunity, if he found
him trespassing beyond the bounds (Numbers 35:26-27).
In the legislations [of other nations] the principle of commuting the penalty by
paying an amount of money as a fine, grew… [the amount of money that had to
be paid] varied according to the rank of the person. Such a method [of paying a
fine] was distinctly prohibited in the Israelite code (Numbers 35:31). It would
appear that the custom of the still existed in the time of David, as blood-avenger
the woman of Tekoah refers to it in her appeal to the king (II Samuel 14:11)…
In His second coming, we see Yahushua the Messiah coming as the the Go’el ha-dam,
blood-avenger, coming to save the faithful remnant and take vengeance on His enemies:
Yeshayahu 26:20-27:1:
20Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide
yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.
21See, YHWH is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for
their sins. ; she will conceal The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her
her slain no longer.
27:1In that day , YHWH will with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful 10 punish
sword, Liv’yatan the gliding serpent, Liv’yatan the coiling serpent; He will slay the
tannin of the sea.
Yeshayahu 63:1-6:
1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained
crimson? Who is this, robed in splendour, striding forward in the greatness of
his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2Why are your garments , like those of one treading the winepress? red
3″I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no-one was with me. I
trampled them in my and trod them down in my ; their anger wrath blood
spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.
4For the day of was in my heart, and the year of my has vengeance redemption
come.
5I looked, but there was no-one to help, I was appalled that no-one gave support;
so my own worked salvation for me, and my own sustained me. arm wrath 11
10 Some modern translations render this, misleadingly, as “on that day.” is a 1000 year day, Yom YHWH
and not a single 24-hour day.
11 A term for the Messiah.
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6I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and
poured their blood on the ground.”
Go’el Yisra’el
The Redeemer of Israel. The One who pays the price to enable us to regain what we
have lost, and who will avenge the blood of the covenant people in the Day of the fierce
anger of YHWH, as the Go’el ha-dam, the blood-avenger. It is very important to note
that the concept of not only implies kindness and restoration, but also vengeance in go’el
the eschatological time of wrath.
One of the eighteen benedictions of the prayer. Amidah
Gog and Magog
The Jewish Encyclopaedia, (Singer, 1912, Volume VI: 19) states:
…the term [Magog] connotes the complex of barbarian peoples dwelling at the
extreme north and Northeast of the geographical survey covered by [Genesis
10]. Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, II.6 § 1) identifies them with the
“Scythians,” a name which among classical writers stands for a number of
unknown, ferocious tribes. According to Jerome, Magog was situated beyond
the Caucasus, north of the Caspian Sea. It is very likely that the name is of
Caucasian origin…In Ezekiel 38:2, “Magog” occurs as the name of a country
(with the definite article); in Ezekiel 39:6 as that of a northern people, the leader
of whom is Gog.
The Gematria of the Hebrew letters of the expression Gog-uMagog (“Gog and Magog”)
is 70. The sages interpreted this as the 70 nations of the world rising up against Yisra’el
and the Mashiach.
Golden Calf Worship
Christmas and Easter forms part of a “golden calf” system of worship. What is the
“golden calf” system of worship? It is paganism with the worship of the Elohim mixing
of Israel and calling this mixed worship the true worship of YHWH.
And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and after
he had made it a and they said, these be thy Elohim O Israel, which molten calf:
brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an
altar before it and Aaron made proclamation and said: ‘Tomorrow is a FEAST
TO YHWH. And they rose up early on the morning and offered BURNT
OFFERINGS and brought PEACE OFFERINGS and the people sat down to eat
and to drink and rose up to play
YHWH commanded Israel to serve Him with offerings and feasts; however, backslidden
Israel expressed that worship in an idolatrous fashion with a golden calf. —
Jeroboam, the leader of the Northern Kingdom of Israel did the same thing in 1 Kings
12.28-32:
Whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold and said unto
them, It is too much for you to go to Yerushalayim [as YHWH commanded in
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Deuteronomy 16:16]: behold thy elohim, o Israel, which brought thee up out of
the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel and the other put he in Dan.
The places where the images were set up, is prophetic: means “house of El” and Bethel
Dan comes from Hebrew word, which means The people called it “The din judgement.
house of Elohim,” but Elohim called it “Dan/Din” or judgement. Ultimately, Elohim
judged the northern kingdom and dispersed them into the nations; they reaped what they
sowed . —assimilation mixing or
The reason for Elohim’s judgement upon this system is given in…
And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against
YHWH their Elohim and they built them high places in all their cities, from the
tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set up images and asherim
in every high hill and under every green tree. And there they burnt incense in all
the high places, as did the heathen whom YHWH carried away before them: and
wrought wicked things to provoke YHWH to anger. For they served idols
whereof YHWH had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Yet YHWH
testified against Israel and against Yahudah by all the prophets and by all the
seers saying, Turn ye from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my
statues according to all the which I commanded your fathers and which I Torah
sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear,
but hardened their necks, like the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in
YHWH their Elohim.
The worship system of the people was in their minds the worship of the Almighty of
Israel. When YHWH sent His messengers to the people and told them “you don’t have it
quite right,” they rejected these messengers because they viewed that they were
worshipping YHWH and had a covenant with Him and so their reaction was the
following: “Who are you to judge my faith in YHWH?”
Goy
Plural: Goyim.
Nation; Gentile.
Goyah
A Gentile woman.
Goyim
Gentiles; nations.
Great Commission
In Mattityahu 28:18-20, Yahushua commissions his to become talmidim
sh’liachim—sent ones, commissioned ones:
…Therefore go and make of all the teaching them to obey talmidim Goyim…
everything I have commanded you…”
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To understand this commandment, we must place it back in its original setting. In
ancient Israel, a Rabbi or teacher would attract a group of i.e. students, to him. talmidim,
They would voluntarily attach themselves to him to study the Scriptures with him and
learn from him how to apply the Scriptures in their daily walk. The Rabbi attracted his
talmidim by his knowledge, wisdom, understanding and his walk with YHWH, not by
forcing them or running after them.
Based on this understanding, we can paraphrase the commission, as it applies
specifically to us, as follows:
Become talmidim of the Messiah. Learn the Scriptures, worshipping the Father
walking in the Footsteps of the Messiah. Live like Messiah instructed us,
obeying the Word in love. Then go to all the nations. By your moral example
and knowledge of the truth, people to (and often temporarily) attract voluntarily
attach themselves to you as . Teach them that YHWH seeks us in the students
Son Yahushua the Messiah, that He reaches us in the Spirit, bringing us by —
the Spirit to the Son and in Him to the Father.
Green Tree
One of the more difficult sayings of Yahushua is:
For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?
The Aramaic literally reads:
That if in a green tree they do these things, what will happen in the dry?
Not in Hebrew and Aramaic the “b-” preposition can mean “in” but idiomatically it can
also mean “with” meaning “to” In this case the passage is best rendered:
That if with a green tree they do these things, what will happen with the dry?
In the Semitic the passage is a clear allusion to 20:45-21:17, where the Yechezq’el green
tree righteous dry tree wicked, is a metaphor for the while the symbolises the who will
be burned up when judgement falls.
In summary: Alluding to Yahushua uses a Yechezq’el 20:45-21:17, kol v’khomer
statement to say:
If they do this with a righteous one,
What will happen to the wicked?
or:
If they do this with me,
What will happen to them?
Luke 23:26-31 and 20:45-21:17 are parallel passages; Yahushua the Messiah Yechezq’el
is the Word become flesh, and the density of His references to the Word, i.e. the Hebrew
Scriptures, is astounding. He did not speak His own words, but the words of His Father
in Heaven. Almost every sentence that He spoke contains multiple references to the
Tanakh.
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Grogger
Noisemaker used to drown out Haman’s name during the reading of the on Megillah
Purim.
G ulah e
Redemption. Specifically: t YHWH through the Messiah. The blood of he redemption of
bulls and goats can never restore (resurrection and immortality) to our Chayim Olam
nefesh (being). The sacrifices offered in the wilderness and in the Beit haMiqdash
(Temple) set Yisra’el apart unto YHWH and temporarily covered their transgressions,
but ultimately pointed toward the G’ulah Go’el (redemption) through the (Kinsman-
Redeemer) who would be sent forth by the Father. We presently have the of firstfruits
redemption, but await the final or full redemption that will happen with the return of
King Messiah.
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H
Ha-azinu
Deuteronomy 32; the Song of Mosheh. Ha-Azinu was prayed every morning on the Beit
haMiqdash. It was prayed by the kohanim, who would run to do this prayer, which was
performed in the Chamber of Hewn Stone—the meeting place of the highest court in
Eretz Yisra’el. The sages taught that ha-azinu has 6 parts, which point to the 6
eschatological periods of the (present age), leading up to the final Olam ha-zeh
eschatological period—the time when King Messiah will reign. Performing the haazinu
prayer every morning must have given the kohanim the means to make it through
the day—we can maintain our stability in the present because of the promise of the
future.
Parashat Ha’Azinu is one of the most remarkable in Scripture. Its uniqueness stems, first
of all, from its special literary style, for it is composed almost entirely of one extended
poem. However, it is outstanding not only in style but also in content. Moses leaves the
people with a poem which is to serve as a testament and warning to all future
generations. The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, Spain, 1194-1274) concludes
his commentary on the poem with a summary of its content:
Now this Song, which is our true and faithful testimony, tells us clearly all that will
happen to us. It mentions first the mercy that the Holy One, blessed be He,
bestowed upon us from the time He took us to be His portion. He mentions the
favors that He did for us in the wilderness, and that He caused us to possess the
lands of great and mighty nations, and the abundant good, wealth and honor that
He made us inherit there. Yet despite the abundance of all good, they rebelled
against God to worship the idols, and it mentions how He was provoked by them
until he visited upon them in their country pestilence, famine, the evil beast, and
the sword, and then He dispersed them in every direction and corner. It is
known that all this has been fulfilled, and it was so…
The poem is composed of several parts. Following the prologue, the Torah recounts the
benevolence of God towards the people of Israel in their travels in the desert, and in His
bequeathing to them a rich and fertile land. The second segment recounts the people’s
rebellion against Elohim and their severe punishment and eventual exile from the land of
Israel.
The poem then concludes with a promise of future redemption. The poem is a synopsis
of the history of the people of Israel. The nation forgets all the good which Elohim has
bestowed upon them, rebel, are punished and then mercifully redeemed. The Ramban
marvels at the accuracy of the poem’s predictions. We would add that from our vantage
point, the poem seems all the more impressive in its forecasts. Not only have the first
two segments transpired, Elohim’s bequeathing to the people the land, their wrongdoing
and exile therefrom, but, we have been fortunate enough to witness the unfolding of the
final section of the poem, Elohim’s restoration of the people to their homeland. If the
Ramban marveled at the precision of the poem’s prophecies, all the more do we of later
generations!
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What causes the tragic deterioration from the first segment of the poem, Elohim’s
benevolence towards Israel, to the second segment, the rebellion and punishment of the
people? Let us see how the Torah portrays this awkward chain of events:
Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of ages past;
Ask your father, he will inform you,
Your elders, they will tell you: …
He [Elohim] found him [Israel] in a desert region,
In an empty howling waste.
He encompassed him, watched over him,
Guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
Like an eagle who rouses his nestlings,
Gliding down to his young,
So did He spread His wings and take him,
Bear him along on his pinions;
The Lord alone did guide him,
No alien god at His side.
He set him atop the highlands,
To feast on the yield of the earth;
He fed him honey from the stone,
And oil from the flinty rock,
cheese of cattle and milk of flocks;
With the best of lambs,
And rams of Bashan, and he-goats;
With the very finest wheat-
And foaming grape-blood was your drink.
So Jeshurun grew fat and kicked-
You grew fat and gross and coarse-
He forsook the Elohim who made him
And spurned the Rock of his support.
They incensed Him with alien things,
Vexed Him with abominations.
They sacrificed to demons, no-gods,
Mighty ones they had never known,
New ones, who came but lately,
Who stirred not your fathers’ fears,
You neglected the rock that begot you,
Forgot the Elohim who brought you forth.
As previously stated, the structure of the poem is such that it begins by recounting
Elohim’s kindness to the people and then continues with the people’s rebellion against
Him. However, a close inspection of the poem reveals a direct relationship between the
two sections. The Torah describes the people’s rebellion as a direct outcome of Elohim’s
benevolence! The key verse signaling the shift from the description of Elohim’s
kindness to the people’s wrongdoing is “So Jeshurun grew FAT and kicked.” The act of
rebellion is depicted as a kick. The cause of the rebellion is Jeshurun’s fatness. How did
Israel become fat? The answer appears in the preceding verses. Elohim provides the
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people with the fattest of foods! Let us return to the poem’s description of the
fruitfulness of the land to which Elohim brought the people of Israel:
He set him atop the highlands,
To feast on the yield of the earth;
He fed him honey from the stone,
And oil from the flinty rock,
cheese of cattle and milk of flocks;
With the best of lambs,
And rams of Bashan, and he-goats;
With the very finest wheat-
And foaming grape-blood was your drink.
This lavish description is reminiscent of other verses in the Torah which describe the
bountifulness of the land of Israel. “Honey from the stone” and “milk of flocks” remind
us of the description of Israel as a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 13:27).
Likewise, the mention of honey, oil, wheat and grape recall the verse describing the
fruits of the land: “It is a land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs and pomegranates; a land of
olive oil and honey” (Deuteronomy 8:8).
The Torah contrasts the desert which is described as “an empty howling waste” with the
lushness of the land of Israel. After entering the promised land the nation grows fat,
forsakes Elohim and turns to idolatry. Instead of the desert description, “the Lord alone
did guide him, no alien god at His side” we find “They sacrificed to demons…gods they
had never known.” This development is a direct outcome of settling in the land of Israel.
The problem did not exist in the desert! The question arises, if the opulence of the land
of Israel is the cause of the people’s rebellion, then why did Elohim lead them there? Is
not Elohim to blame for the fattening of Jeshurun? Rabbi Hirsch (Rabbi Samson
Raphael Hirsch, Germany, 1808-1888) relates to this specific point in his illuminating
commentary:
“Here for the first time we meet the name Jeshurun. It designates Israel after the
ideal of its moral calling, which in ‘yashar’ – straight, never deviating in any way
from the straight path, corresponds to this name…Elohim wishes that Israel
ascend the summit of the dual heights of human aims, the highest material good
fortune and the highest spiritual and moral perfection. For Israel is to show the
world an illuminating example of how a life devoted entirely to spiritual moral
duties by no means entails a renunciation of bright earthly happiness, on the
contrary, how the highest degree of morality fits in very well with the highest
amount of earthly happiness and all material wealth and earthly enjoyments can
be turned into moral deeds and spiritual achievements. But when the destined
Jeshurun-people get an abundance of all the good things on earth for the
purpose of fulfilling this mission, when it has come out of the wilderness into the
land of milk and honey, then it became fat and “kicked out.”
‘You grew fat and gross and coarse’ is an address in parenthesis made to the
people present with Moses and to all future readers of the words of the poem. It
contains the quintessence of the whole of Jewish history. In suffering, the
Jewish people have mostly proved themselves splendid. But it has seldom been
able to stand good fortune. ‘As often as it has become fat, it has become
corpulent and overgrown with fat,’ literally: ‘covered.’ … The sense of the
passage is: – the more strengthening, the fatter, the food which is given to the
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body is, the more should the surplus be used up in energy and work, the higher
should the activity and achievements be. Then the person masters the
abundance and remains bodily and mentally healthy and fit, and by his greater
achievements increases his moral worth. But if he neglects to use it, then the
surplus material stores itself up in his body, he becomes corpulent, obese, and
instead of mastering the abundance, he, his real spiritual active self, becomes
overcome by the fat, and sinks. That is the history of Israel. It did not use the
abundance and surplus with which it was blessed to increased spiritual and
moral achievements, not the fuller carrying out of its mission. Its moral
improvement did not keep pace with its material good fortune. It did not
understand how to remain master of its riches and good fortune, did not know
how to use them for the purpose of fulfilling commandments, it allowed itself to
be overcome by riches and good fortune, and its better, spiritual moral self to be
ruined by it.”
Rabbi Hirsch suggests that the word “Jeshurun” stems from the root ‘yashar’ – straight
and refers to the whole nation of Israel. The nation which was to exemplify uprightness
has become crooked and has turned away from Elohim. They have become fat from the
abundance of the land of Israel.
Why then did Elohim bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey? Rabbi Hirsch
explains that this is the ultimate mission of the people of Israel. According to the Torah,
spirituality does not negate material wealth. In contrast to other religions, Judaism does
not preach or glorify asceticism. Spirituality is not achieved by living a reclusive life in
the desert. The Torah is to be observed in the land of Israel with its material richness.
However, here lies the major challenge and danger confronting the nation of Israel.
They must use their material wealth for the accomplishment of spiritual ends. Material
well being is meant to assist moral growth. This is where the nation fails in its mission.
That which was meant to be a tool turns into the essence. Material wealth develops into
materialism, a way of life. In such circumstances, spirituality can no longer exist. The
people grow “fat,” and “kick” and rebel against Elohim. Elohim responds by sending the
people into exile and bringing upon them horrible suffering. If the nation does not know
how to use the blessings of the land of Israel for positive ends, then they forfeit their
claim to it.
The land of Israel presents the nation with the opportunity for great spiritual growth but
also with the danger of moral disintegration. It is the ultimate mission of the people of
Israel to utilize the “highlands” of the land of Israel for accomplishing their higher
spiritual mission. It is only thus that we may realize the full potential of the land flowing
with milk and honey.
Hadas
A myrtle branch.
HaElyon
The Most High.
Haftarah
Selection from the Prophets read or chanted after the weekly portion during the Torah
synagogue service on the Sabbath and set-apart days.
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haGadol
The great.
Hagah
To murmur (in pleasure or anger). To ponder, imagine, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk,
utter.
Hagbalah
Days of Abstinence.
Haggadah
A general Hebrew term for utterance, applied specifically to the nonlegal portion of
rabbinic literature. It is also the title of the text recited at the festive meal (Seder) on the
first two nights of . Literally: telling; book in which the story is retold Pesach Pesach
and the Seder ritual is outlined. The tale of the Exodus from Egypt as read at the Seder
Night.
Haggay
Haggai.
Hairstyle (men)
It is very sad, even disgusting, that the popular Christian representation of “Jesus” is a
long-haired man—Scripture clearly prescribes that a priest should have neatly trimmed
hair and beard. Yahushua was and is our High Priest. Look at the following witness of
the and the Tanakh B’rit Chadashah concerning the hairstyle of a priest:
Yechezq’el 44:20:
The priests must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to
keep the hair of their heads trimmed.
Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a
disgrace to him…
In Me’am Lo’az The Torah Anthology: — (Kaplan, 1982: 60), the Yom Kippur Service
halakhic prohibitions of the sages concerning male hairstyle are set out:
…a prohibition against letting one’s hair grow and not cutting it…so as to
resemble [pagan priests]…Likewise, it is forbidden to…leave the hair on the
back [of the head] falling on one’s shoulders, since all these are pagan customs
and forbidden by Elohim.
If one does any of these, he is in violation of this commandment and can incur
the penalty of flogging.
We have shown that the popular “takhaar” conception of how “Jesus” looks, is in fact a
representation of Antiochus IV “Epiphanes” and the coming False messiah.
HaQadosh BaruchHu
“The Set-Apart One, Blessed be He.”
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Halakhah
The way one goes; the “walk.” The legal and regulatory portions of the Talmud, and of
all Jewish lore…Jewish law. Law, regulation, legal ruling on a particular issue. The
legal part of rabbinic literature. Derived from a Hebrew word meaning “walk,”
halakhah lays down the way one should walk or live one’s life, based on the teachings of
both written and oral A is also a specific legal decision in a given area Torah. halakhah
of life which a person is to follow.
Halakhah comes from the Hebrew word Halak (Strong’s 1980) which means “to walk.”
Halakhah the way one walks how you keep the commandments of YHWH. means or
In Scripture, YHWH gives many commandments for us to follow. The question then
becomes do I follow and keep these commandments. The Hebrew term describing how
the rules of how to walk is halakhah.
In Yochanan 14:6, Yahushua said that He was the WAY. The Hebrew equivalent of
“way” is course of life or mode of action, a road trodden.” derek; Halakhah it denotes “a
is intended to show you the (way) that you are to live to keep the commandments derek
of the Almighty, i.e. your covenantal obligations.
Halakhah comprises the orally transmitted authoritative interpretations of Scripture
handed down by the over the millennia. comprises two forms: (a) Beit Din Halakhah
case law, and (b) legislated Both forms are issued by a res judicata, mishpatim, khuqim.
Beit Din Torah , and define the legitimate limits in interpreting . The Qumran-Essene
Tzedoqim called their orally transmitted interpretations (the practice). The ma’aseh
Roman-vassal Pseudo-Tzedoqim of the Beit Miqdash in Yerushalayim called their
interpretations which they codified in an attempt to end oral transmission their — —
“Book of Decrees.”
Halakhah L’Mosheh Mi’Sinay
A Law claimed to have been given to Mosheh on Mount Sinay, but not written explicitly
in the Torah. Oral Torah.
Hallel
Psalms 113-118 in liturgical use.
haMelekh
The king.
Hamantashen
Filled three-cornered pastries supposed to represent Haman’s hat, traditionally eaten on
Chag Purim.
Hamavdil
The Havdalah blessing.
Hanukah
See: Chanukah
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Haptomai [G]
To attach oneself to, i.e. to touch. Hebrew: Naga.
Har ha-bayit
Temple mountain in Ir . Literally: “mountain of the House.” Yerushalayim
Harpazo [G]
Catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
HaSatan
The Adversary (same as Satan).
Havdalah
Literally: separation; ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of
the week. The blessing over wine to mark the difference between the Sabbath and the
weekdays.
Hallel
Plural: Hallim.
The Hallim are – 118, which are special psalms of praise sung on specific Psalms 113
festivals. The Hallim were sung while Messiah died on the cross. Read Psalm
118—the —in this light. Note that the expression, “the Right Hand Lot of the Messiah
of YHWH” is a prophetic term for the Messiah.
Hallel haGadol
Talmud Peshachim 118a calls Psalm 136 the —the Great Song of Praise. Hallel haGadol
haMelekh
The King. Major part of the Rosh HaShanah Mussaf (additional) service.
Harp
See: New Song.
Two types of harp were used in ancient Yisra’el. The first harp, known as the Nevel,
dates from the patriarchal period. The Nevel had 3 to 22 strings. The number 22 is very
significant to the sages. The Hebrew alphabet contains exactly 22 letters. They teach
that the Almighty created the universe by pronouncing the letters of the Hebrew
alphabet, one letter at a time, from the ( ) to the ( ). The sages taught that alef tav } Z
YHWH sang the creation, accompanied by a heavenly harp, a Nevel. Besides creation,
the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, as well as the 22 strings of the Nevel,
speak of the (Word), and the Messiah. Devar Torah (the Instruction of the Almighty)
The sages claim that the Nevel makes the most beautiful music in the world.
During the Second Temple era, the was used in the music, and Nevel Beit haMiqdash
had a half-tone lever system. These levers provide the player the ability to alter each
string exactly one half-tone. They can also be repositioned very quickly, even in the
middle of a song. This device enables the musician to change into different scales while
playing, without stopping to re-tune the harp. It is known that the Levitical choir
performed these changes frequently in the awesome music of the . Beit haMiqdash
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Below is a picture of a Nevel, reconstructed by Micah and Shoshanna Harrari of
Yerushalayim.
Figure: A 22-stringed Nevel.
The second type of harp referred to in the Scriptures, is the The Hebrew name Kinnor.
for the Sea of Galilee is Lake Kinneret, because it this lake has the shape of a Kinnor.
The lyre of David is a Kinnor. Below is a picture of a 10-stringed Kinnor, reconstructed
by Micah and Shoshanna Harrari of Yerushalayim.
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Figure: A 10-stringed Kinnor.
The harp, whether the Nevel or the Kinnor, can be played in three different ways. The
first is to play a known tune. The second method is where the musician begins to play
the harp, sensitive to the direction of the Almighty. The ancient prophets played like
this—the prophet began to play his harp freely and then would feel a hand on his (yad)
shoulder At this time the tune and words was coming from the Almighty, and the song
was the prophecy. The Nevel was only used for joyful occasions: weddings, homecomings,
Temple Services, and for the simple act of praising and worshipping the
Creator of the Universe. King David composed the psalms using the accompaniment of
both the Nevel and the Kinnor (lyre). In solitude, he reached up to the throne of Heaven,
and as the strings vibrated, his heart would fill with joy, and the Ruach HaQodesh
entered into his being and gave him the inspiration to write the Psalms. The sages teach
that the musical notes played in the are actually coded in the Hebrew Beit haMiqdash
Scriptures, but that the key of translation has been lost over time.
The third way of playing the harp is as awesome as the second. The harp is the only
musical instrument that can be played by the wind. A famous midrash tells of King
David hanging his in a tree at night as he lay down. At midnight the north wind Kinnor
would blow and the harp would begin to play, awakening David to worship YHWH by
studying In Hebrew, the word for wind is the Hebrew term customarily Torah. ruach;
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translated as “Holy Spirit,” is The rabbis teach that simulated wind, Ruach HaQodesh.
e.g. from a fan, can not induce the harp to play. Only the can make the harp ruach
resound beautifully, without human hands. It is awesome to hear the Kinnor being
played by the the (Hand) of YHWH. Ruach, Yad
HaShem
Literally: “the Name.” An evasive synonym for the explicit Hebrew name of the
Almighty, YHWH.
HaShem Yisborach
Evasive synonym for the Name YHWH.
Haskalah
“Enlightenment;” a movement for spreading modern European secular culture among
Jews. This movement was influential from circa 1750 to 1880. An adherent was called
a This movement originated and was most influential in the very countries in maskil.
which Nazism later arose. The Haskalah led to a gross departure from Torah. Devarim
28 teaches that if Israel departs from punishment will follow. Torah,
Hatikva
“The hope.” National anthem of the modern state of Israel.
Havdalah
Literally: separation. A ceremony that marks the end of the Shabbat and other days setapart
to YHWH, and the coming secular days. During Havdalah, a spice-box is passed
around the table. Everybody brings it to their noses to delight in the pleasant smell. This
is a picture of the Almighty’s delight in those who delight in His exaltation. Yeshayahu
13:1-2 draws its imagery from the Havdalah ceremony, but is usually poorly translated.
Hebrew thought
Hebrew thought is very different from Greco-Roman thought. The Hebrew studies
affectively—to revere, to worship. Scriptural revelation is seen as the final authority.
The perfect virtue is seen as obedience. The prime question is: “What should I do?”
Hebrew thought deals with correct action in the here and now. It is concrete and simple.
How many in the mitzvot Torah deal with the hereafter? None.
In contrast, Greek thought is abstract, disregards this life and has an otherworldly
orientation. It sees the physical, material world as something evil that should be escaped.
It strives after the purely spiritual and abhors the physical as evil.
Hebrew thought is correct and Greek thought is wrong. There is more to life than dying!
Life in the world to come is a reward, not a purpose.
HeChag
Literally: “the festival.” One of the names for Sukkot.
Hekdesh
The property of the Beit haMiqdash. Articles endowed with kedusha.
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Hekhal
The set-apart place that housed the (7-branched lampstand), the menorah shulchan
lechem ha-panim mizbe’ach zahav (Table of the Bread of the Faces) and the (golden
Altar of Incense).
Helel
The shining one, the awakener of light. A term for the king of Babylon in Yeshayahu
14:12. When the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Latin, this term was translated
as At the same time, the exegesis that Yeshayahu 14:12 deals with the fall and lucifer.
judgement of Satan, became popular. As a result, the name “Lucifer” became a popular
term for the adversary. It should be noted that the common and popular identification
“Lucifer Satan” is based on (1) a translation, which is inherently arbitrary, and (2) a „M
questionable interpretation. In rabbinic literature, the satan’s name is usually Sama’el—
“strong poison.”
Hell
Misleading traditional mistranslation of —”Valley of [the sons of] Gey Hinnom
Hinnom —a valley to the South and West of Ir Yerushalayim. “
Hester Panim
Hiding the face, i.e. the withdrawal of the favour of YHWH.
Heter
Permission, permit.
Hevel
Abel.
Hierarchy in commandments
The sages inferred from Scripture that there are three acts a Jew should never commit,
but rather die : al Kiddush HaShem—sanctifying the Name of the Almighty
Sanhedrin 74a
Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of rabbi Shim’on ben-Yehotzadak: “By a
majority vote it was decided in the upper chambers of the house of Nitza in Lud
that in every law of the if a man is commanded, ‘Transgress, or you will Torah,
be put to death,’ he may transgress in order to save his life—with these
exceptions: idolatry, fornication and murder.”
To these we may add: denying that Yahushua is the unique son of Almighty YHWH,
sent forth from YHWH as the anointed, empowered Redeemer of the World who interposed
His shed sacrificial blood between us and the righteous demand of the that Torah
the wages of sin is death.
High Holy Days
The ten day period that starts on Rosh HaShanah Yom Kippur (Tishri 1) and ends on
(Tishri 10). Called the Days of Awe and days of teshuvah (turning (Yamim Nora’im)
back in repentance) by the sages, because an exegesis of Yo’el 2 shows that an overwhelmingly
strong army will attack and almost completely destroy Israel in the Day of
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YHWH. The historical attack on Yahudah during the reign of king Chizkiyahu by king
Sancheiriv of Ashshur, is a prophetic shadow of this great eschatological attack. The
terminology used in Yo’el 2 indicated to the sages that this attack will start on a Yom
Teruah Yom Kippur (Tishri 1) and end on a (Tishri 10). Yechezq’el 38-39 describes this
same attack. YHWH will use this attack to turn the remnant of Israel to accept their
Messiah—cf. Yechezq’el 39:22. In its eschatological, prophetic intent, Chapter 1 of
Yeshayahu starts on the very eve of that when Israel lies waste, her cities Yom Kippur,
ruined…
Hillel
A famous rabbi who taught from 10 BM to 30 YM Hillel was known for his thirst after
knowledge, patience, humility, great knowledge and kindness towards Gentiles who
wanted to learn the ways of the Most High.
Hillel’s seven rules
Rule 1: (light and heavy). Kal v’khomer
Kol v’khomer is the first of Hillel’s seven hermeneutical rules. Hillel did not invent these
rules; these rules are used in the . Tanakh
The thought-form is used to make an argument from lesser weight based on kol v’khomer
one of greater weight. It may be expressed as:
If X is true of Y then how much more X must be true of Z, where Z is of greater
weight than Y.
A argument is often, but not always, signalled by a phrase like “how much kol v’khomer
more…”
The Rabbinical writers recognise two forms of kol v’khomer:
„¿ —In this form the argument appears Kal v’khomer meforash kal v’khomer
explicitly.
„¿ —in which the argument is merely implied. Kal v’khomer Kal v’khomer satum
There are several examples of in the . For example: Kal v’khomer Tanakh
Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth;
much more the wicked and the sinner.
and
If you have run with footmen and they have wearied you,
then how can you contend with horses?
Other examples to look at, are Devarim 31:27; Samuel 23:3; Yirmeyahu 12:5b; Tanakh 1
Yechezq’el 15:5 and Esther 9:12.
There is also an important limitation to the thought-form. This is the Kal v’khomer dayo
(enough) principle. This is that the conclusion of an argument is satisfied when it is like
the major premise. In other words, the conclusion is equalised to the premise and neither
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a stricter nor a more lenient view is to be taken (m.BK 2:5). Rabbi Tarfun rejected the
dayo principle in certain cases (b.BK 25a).
There are several examples of in the Apostolic Writings. Yahushua often Kal v’khomer
uses this form of argument. For example:
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the Law of Moses should
not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on
the sabbath?
and:
What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the
Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a
man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
Other examples of Yahushua’s usage of are: Kal v’khomer
Mattityahu 6:26, 30 = Lk. 12:24, 28
Mattityahu 10:25 & Jn. 15:18-20 Mattityahu 12:12 & Jn. 7:23
Sha’ul uses in: Kal v’khomer
Romans 5:8-9, 10, 15, 17; 11:12, 24
Rule 2: (Equivalence of expressions) G’zerah Shavah
An analogy is made between two separate texts on the basis of a similar phrase, word or
root.
Tanakh example:
Rule 3: (Building of the father from one text) Binyan ab mikathub echad
One explicit passage serves as a foundation or starting point so as to constitute a rule
(father) for all similar passages or cases.
Exodus 3:4 YHWH addressed Moses “Moses, Moses…” all the time.
Hebrews 9:11-22 applies “blood” from Exodus 24:8=Heb. 9:20 to Yirmeyahu 31:31-34
4. (Building of the father from two or more texts) Binyab ab mishene kethubim
Two texts or provisions in a text serve as a foundation for a general conclusion.
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In Heb. 1:5-14 the author sites:
Deut. 32:43/Ps. 97:7/(Neh. 9:6) = Heb. 1:6
to build a rule that the Messiah is of a higher order than angels.
5. (the general and the particular) Kelal uferat
Genesis 1:27 > Genesis 2:7, 21
A general statement is first made and is followed by a single remark which particularises
the general principle.
6. (analogy made from another passage) Kayotze bo mimekom akhar
Two passages may seem to conflict until a third resolves the conflict.
Lev 1:1 & Exodus 25:22 > Num. 7:89
2Sam. 24:9 & 1Chr. 21:5 > 1Chr. 27:1
Exodus 19:20 & Devarim 4:36 > Exodus 20:19 (m.Sifra 1:7)
Sha’ul shows that the following . passages SEEM to conflict: Tanakh
The just shall live by faith (Rom. 1:17 = Hab. 2:4)
with
There is none righteous, no, not one… (Rom. 3:10 = Ps. 14:1-3 = Ps. 53:1-3; Eccl. 7:20
and:
[Elohim] will render to each one according to his deeds. (Rom. 2:6 = Ps. 62:12; Proverbs
24:12)
with
Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man whom YHWH shall not impute sin. (Rom. 4:7-8 = Ps. 32:1-2)
Sha’ul resolves the apparent conflict by citing Genesis 15:6 (in Rom. 4:3, 22):
Abraham believed Elohim, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Thus Sha’ul resolves the apparent conflict by showing that under certain circumstances,
belief/faith/trust (same word in Hebrew) can act as a substitute for righteousness/being
just (same word in Hebrew).
7. (Explanation obtained from context) Davar hilmad me’anino
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The total context, not just the isolated statement must be considered for an accurate
exegesis.
Hillelites
The group of Pharisees who held to Hillel’s view of the as taught in Beit Torah,
Hillel—the school of Hillel. Their view stressed the —the kindness and chesed
mercy—of the One who gave the for them, was given for the benefit of Torah; Torah
Israel.
Hilula
A celebration of a memorial.
Hineh ha-Seh ha-Elohim chanoseh chata’aat ha-olam
Behold the Lamb of Elohim, Who takes away the sins of the world.
Hip! Hip! Hurrah!
Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable Hip states that is said to be a notarica,
composed of the initial letters of (“Jerusalem is destroyed”). H E P ierosolyma st erdita
Henri van Laun says, in that whenever the German knights headed a Notes and Queries,
Jew-hunt in the Middle Ages, they ran shouting “Hip! Hip!” as much as to say
“Jerusalem is destroyed.”
Timbs derives from the Slavonic (“to Paradise”), so that Hurrah hu-raj Hip! hip! hurrah!
would mean “Jerusalem is lost to the infidel, and we are on the road to Paradise.” These
etymons may be taken for what they are worth. The word “hurrah!” is an exclamation in
the Germanic languages.
Hodu Hoddu „¡
India.
Holocaust
The murder of 6 million Jews by the Fascists during World War 2.
Holy of Holies
See: Qodesh haQodeshim.
Homiletics
The art of preaching or public persuasion.
Horse
In a study published on the Internet, Orthodox Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld of Har Nof,
Yerushalayim, writes:
“We find a connection between war, lust and pride in the ‘s description of horses. Torah
In biblical times, it seems that horses were primarily put to use in war.
A horse is prepared for times of war.
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The horse is not able to provide a person salvation [when YHWH is not with
him].
As the Gemara describes,
Pesachim 113b
Six things were said of a horse: It is promiscuous; it loves war; and it is a proud
creature…
It is appropriate that we find the Egyptians being described as the best horse-breeders in
the civilised world (Devarim 17:16). Due to the exceptional beauty of their land
(Be’reshith 13:10; Rashi Ba’Midbar 13:22), the Egyptian nation was especially arrogant
(Shemot 15:1, and Targum Onkelos). In fact, the refers to Egypt as Torah Rahav,
(Tehillim 87:7), meaning “Arrogant” (as in Tehillim 40:5). Along with this, the
Egyptians were known throughout the world for their promiscuity (Rashi: Be’reshith
13:10; Va’Yikrah 18:3; Aggadic literature also point to 42:9). With regard to Be’reshith
horses, the arrogant of nations perfecting the breeding of the arrogant of creatures.
The fact that horses represent war and conquest answers a number of riddles. In
Be’reshith 32:15,16 Ya’aqov sends a generous gift to his brother, Esav, in order to
appease his anger. Ya’aqov’s gift includes all sorts of animals goats, sheep, camels, —
cows and donkeys. I was once asked, why didn’t Ya’aqov send Esav any horses? The
answer obviously is that he did not want to send the angry Esav weapons for war, nor did
he wish to hand him a sign of conquest.
The prophet (Zekharyahu 9:9) describes the Messiah as “a poor man, riding upon a
donkey.” The Gemara (Sanhedrin 98a) describes how King Shevor of Persia scoffed,
“Why doesn’t your Messiah come riding on a horse? If he lacks one, I’ll be glad
to provide him with one of my best!”
Why, indeed, should the Messiah come on a donkey? Isn’t a horse a more appropriate
sign of military victory?
The answer may be learned from the words of the Gemara earlier on that same page
(ibid.). A poor man on a donkey is a description of how the Messiah will appear if the
Jews are *not* found deserving of a spectacular salvation.
Whether we deserve it or not, we will eventually be redeemed; however, if we are not
deserving the Messiah will only arrive riding on a donkey. A horse is a sign of proud
conquest; this Messiah will provide but a humble Exodus. As the Gemara says in
Shabbat 152a,
“One who rides a horse is a king; one who rides a donkey is but a freeman.”
Similarly, when the 72 Elders translated the for King Ptolemy (Megillah 9a), they Torah
changed the meaning of a number of words in order that he should not misunderstand
them and scoff at them. One of the words they change involved the donkey that Moshe
rode his family upon, on his way to Egypt to free the Jews. Instead of “donkey,” they
used the broad term “beast of transportation,” lest King Ptolemy ask them, “Did Moshe
not have a horse to ride upon?” Moshe, too, rode upon a donkey because the Jews were
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not being redeemed from Egypt on their own merit, but rather out of YHWH’s mercy. He
was not the proud conqueror.
On a deeper level of meaning, in the above-mentioned Gemaras the gentile kings were
not able to grasp the concept that YHWH will redeem the Jews even if they are not
worthy of it. “How can that be?” they thought, “If the Jews are not worthy of being
redeemed, let YHWH leave them as they are, under our domain. If they are worthy, let
him redeem them proudly, with flourish and fanfare!”
What these kings did not know was that the Jewish People are YHWH’s chosen nation.
Out of His love for our virtuous ancestors, who embedded their desirable traits deep in
the hearts of their descendants, YHWH promised to always come to our rescue and to
eventually redeem us from exile. Whether he comes on a horse or on a donkey, the
Messiah is on his way may he arrive speedily in our days!” —
Hoshanah
A chant which means “please save us!” A heartfelt and almost desperate prayer to the
Almighty to send the Messiah, the Redeemer. This word is widely misunderstood and
misapplied in present-day Christianity, especially in songs of praise.
Hoshana Rabbah
The last and greatest day of Sukkot.
[The] House
A term for the in Beit haMiqdash Yerushalayim. When we read in Acts 2 that the
talmidim were gathered together with one accord in “the house,” it does not refer to the
upper room, but to the Beit haMiqdash.
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I
I-khavod
The (esteem; glory) has departed. kivod
In chapters 9-11 of the great prophetic work, the prophet Yechezq’el gives an awesome,
touching account of the departure of the kavod from the first First he Beit haMiqdash.
sees the Shekhinah in the usual place between the keruvim in the Qodesh ha-Qodeshim.
Then the Shekhinah arises and moves to the threshold of the House, where it remains for
a while. Then the kavod moves away from the Beit haMiqdash. Passing out by the east
gate, it hovered over the court, which was full of the brightness of the kavod of YHWH.
This was a very slow, deliberate departure, full of pathos and tragic judgement.
Eventually, the kivod of YHWH went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the
mountain which is on the east side of Yerushalayim—the Mount of Olives, also called
Har Mashiach—Mountain of the Messiah.
Rabbi Yochanan said in a commentary, “For the space of three years and a half, the
Shekhinah was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, thinking perhaps Israel might repent.”
Many scholars hold the view that Yahushua’s public ministry spanned three and a half
years. Messiah Yahushua ascended to heaven from this same mountain where
Yechezq’el the prophet saw the Shekhinah depart, finally ascending out of sight.
Immersion
Proselytes to Judaism were immersed as a sign and a seal of their life-redirecting,
regenerating experience. The proselyte had utterly broken with idolatry (i.e. demonworship)
to the worship of YHWH, the One Elohim of Yisra’el. He passed from death to
life, and was born as a citizen of the (the World to Come). The immersion- `Olam ha-ba
washing of the proselyte was a graphic reminder, sign and seal of this fact. The (ot)
candidate, fully naked, immersed in the waters, symbolically cleansing himself himself
from antecedent defilement. At least one had to be present to witness the witness selfimmersion.
No part of the body was allowed to be above the surface during immersion;
the fingers and toes had to be moved to ensure that the water of the would touch mikveh
the entire surface of the body. His past behind him, the proselyte emerged to take his
stand with (the covenant-people of Israel). In the Talmud, newly immersed Am Yisra’el
proselytes are called “born again.” In Tractate Yevamot 62a, e.g., Shim’on Ben-Lakish
says that “a proselyte is like a new-born infant.” Rabbi Yosi makes a similar statement
in Tractate Yevamot 48b. Genesis Rabbah 39:11 also alludes to this concept of rebirth.
The laws of the menstrual cycle specifies that an Israelite husband and wife should not
come together for 2 weeks per month. The first week was the “seven red days” which
were followed by the “seven white days.” Following the separation, the woman would,
fully naked, immerse herself into a to symbolise her passing from a state of being mikveh
tamei tahor (not ready; ceremonially unclean) to (ready; ceremonially clean). Coming
out of the she would dress herself like bride for the married couple’s “monthly mikveh,
honeymoon,” and was called “born again.”
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The earliest artistic depiction of the immersion of Messiah Yahushua shows Him
immersing into the river Yarden, fully naked, with Yochanan haMatbil standing Himself
right at the of the water, the self-immersion and lending the Messiah a edge witnessing
hand to help Him out of the river.
It is very important to note that Scriptural immersion is always full immersion self- and
immersion, witnessed by at least one witness, and never immersion by a second party. It
is ironic that virtually none of the denominations who vehemently denounce each other
for practising an incorrect form of “baptism,” practice it correctly! Any major library
contains all the information that is necessary to establish how Scriptural immersion
should be performed. Most denominations, however, cherish their inherited traditions
more than the truth. The fathers built a fence, the children installed a gate in the fence
and the grandchildren threw away the gate’s key. So the only way out is to break out.
Immersion was used to render objects in the that became Beit haMiqdash tamei, tahor
once again. If, e.g., the or the (table of the bread of Menorah Shulchan lechem ha-panim
the faces) became they were removed from the for immersion into the tamei, ha-qodesh
yam (“sea”).
In the name of
According to the teaching of. When a rabbi taught, he had to state whether his teaching
was his own, or whether he received it from another rabbi. When he quoted another
rabbi, he spoke “in the name of” that other sage. The term also connotes authority. To
ask something “in the name of” the Messiah, means to ask it of Almighty YHWH in
accordance with the teachings and of Rabbi Yahushua miNatzeret and also in halakhah ,
the authority of our adoption accomplished by his redemptive work.
‘Iqqvot haMashiach
“Footsteps of the Messiah.” A Hebrew term for eschatology. In Hebraic understanding,
eschatology encompasses dealing with the coming of the Messiah. The term everything
‘Iqqvot haMashiach is derived from
Remember, Adonai, how your servant has been mocked, how I bear in my heart
the taunts of all the nations, the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O
YHWH, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your Mashiach.
Ir David
City of David.
Ishtar
Pagan fertility idol on whose pagan, idolatrous rites many rituals of the “Christian”
festival of Easter is based.
Israel Vision
See: in the monograph “What about the Lost tribes of Israel?” The Coming of King
Messiah.
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Ivrit
The Hebrew language.
Iyov Iyyov „¡
Job.
Izevel
Jezebel.
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J
Jewish attitudes to Yahushua
All quotations below, except that of Dr Pinchas Lapide, may be found in The
Messiahship of Jesus: Are Jews Changing Their Attitudes Towards Jesus? by Dr Arthur
Kac (Baker Book House, 1986). Dr Lapides’ book is The Resurrection of Jesus
(Augsburg Publishing House,1983).
Albert Einstein
As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew,
but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.
Rabbi Leo Baeck (for many years the religious leader of German Jewry)
Jesus is a genuine Jewish personality, all his struggles and works, his bearing
and feeling, his speech and silence, bear the stamp of a Jewish style, the mark
of Jewish idealism, of the best that was and is in Judaism. He was a Jew among
Jews.
Prof. Martin Buber, Philosopher and Professor at Hebrew University,
Yerushalayim
It is a peculiar manifestation of our exile-psychology that we permitted, and even
aided in, the deletion of New Testament Messianism, that meaningful offshoot of
our spiritual history. It was in a Jewish land that this spiritual revolution was
kindled; and Jews were those who had spread it all over the land…we must
overcome the superstitious fear which we harbour about the Messianic
movement of Jesus, and we must place the movement where it belongs, namely,
in the spiritual history of Judaism.
Prof Joseph Klausner, Hebrew University, Yerushalayim
Jesus was a Jew and a Jew he remained till his last breath. His one idea was to
implant within his nation the idea of the coming of the Messiah and, by
repentance and good works, hasten the ‘end’…In all of this, Jesus is the most
Jewish of Jews…more Jewish than Hillel…From the standpoint of general
humanity, he is, indeed, ‘a light to the Gentiles.’
Sholem Asch, Yiddish writer:
I couldn’t help writing on Jesus. Since I first met Him, he has held my mind and
heart…I floundered a bit, at first; I was seeking that something for which so
many of us search-that surety, that faith, that spiritual content in my living which
would bring me peace and through which I might help bring people to others.
I found it in the Nazarene…Everything He ever said or did has value for us
today, and that is something you can say of no other man, alive or dead…He
became the Light of the world. Why shouldn’t I, a Jew, be proud of it?
Rabbi Hyman Enelow, past President of the Central Conference of American
Rabbis:
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Jesus has become the most popular, the most studied, the most influential figure
in the religious history of mankind…No sensible Jew can be indifferent to the fact
that a Jew should have had such a tremendous part in the religious education
and direction of the human race…Who can compute all that Jesus has meant to
humanity? The love he has inspired, the solace he has given, the good he has
engendered, the hope and joy he has kindled-all that is unequalled in human
history…The Jew cannot help glorying in what Jesus has meant to the world; nor
can he help hoping that Jesus may yet serve as a bond between Jew and
Christian, once his teaching is better known and the bane of misunderstanding at
last is removed from his words and his ideal.
Rabbi Stephen Wise, Zionist leader and founder of the Jewish Institute of
Religion:
Neither Christian protest nor Jewish lamentation can annul the fact that Jesus
was a Jew, a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Surely it is not wholly unfit that Jesus be
reclaimed by those who have never unitedly nor organizedly denied him, though
oft denied by his followers; that Jesus should not be so much appropriated by us
as assigned to the place in Jewish life and Jewish history which is rightfully his
own. Jesus was not only a Jew but he was the Jew, the Jew of the Jews…In that
day when history shall be written in the light of truth, the people of Israel will be
known not as Christ-killers, but as Christ-bearers; not as God-slayers, but as
God-bringers to the world.
Dr Pinchas Lapide, Orthodox Jewish scholar:
Jesus was utterly true to the as I myself hope to be. I even suspect that Torah,
Jesus was even more true to the than I, an Orthodox Jew. I accept the Torah
resurrection of Easter Sunday not as an invention of the community of disciples,
but as a historical event…I believe that the Christ event leads to a way of
salvation which [Elohim] has opened up in order to bring the gentile world into
the community of [Elohim’s] Israel.
Judaisers
A term applied to a group of first-century Messianic Jews (probably from Beit Shammai)
who required non-Jews to perform —”works of the Law” before they Ma’asei haTorah
were accepted into the Body of Messiah. Also called the “circumcision faction/party.”
Sha’ul reacts strongly to their unauthorised countermissions in epistles such as Romans,
Colossians and, especially, Galatians. The message of the Judaisers conflicted with the
halakhic decree of the Nazarene Beit Din reported in Acts 15.
Jubilee
Yovel.
Jubilees, Book of
A pseudepigraphic work sometimes called the Lesser Genesis, consisting of a history of
mankind as related to Mosheh by an angel. The dates mentioned by the angel centres
around the years of Yovel.
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K
Kabalah
See: Qabalah.
Jewish Mysticism. Qabalists strive to understand the Creator and the universe from a
mystical viewpoint. Some wise men taught that whoever studies Qabalah before the age
of 40, may go insane.
Kalat Be’reshith
Literally: bride of Genesis; the woman called to recite or chant the blessings over the
first section of the on Torah Simchat Torah.
Kallah
Bride. Conclave or retreat.
Kaparah
Expiation…The ceremony of transferring sinfulness to the goat during the l’Azazel Yom
Kippur service.
Kaporet
The covering of the Ark of the Testimony. Seat of atonement.
Karah
A Pesach dish.
Karath
To cut (off, down or asunder). To destroy or consume. To cut a covenant (i.e. make an
alliance by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces). “Being cut off” from the
people is punishment which might become capital or consist of early natural death.
Karmel
Mount Carmel.
Karpas
A green herb like parsley or a green vegetable such as celery or watercress, symbolising
spring; one of the symbolic foods used on the Pesach Seder plate.
Kasday
Chaldean.
Kasdim
Chaldeans.
Kasher
Ritually clean food, permitted by the Torah. kashrut. Foods permitted under the laws of
Commonly called under the influence of Yiddish. kosher
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Orthodox Rabbi Yehuda Appel writes:
Many people find dieting to be quite a challenge. Indeed, Jewish tradition found
the entire enterprise of eating to be filled with obstacles and opportunities. Meal
time is termed in Jewish literature as “the hour of war;” the Hebrew word for
war— —has the same root as —bread. Eating is supposed to milchama lechem
be an act of elevating oneself through the medium of thought, speech and
action. In the realm of thought, we should view eating as an act of fulfilling the
Almighty’s will. In the realm of speech, we say a blessing over the food. And in
the realm of action, we eat the food with care and appreciation of the Almighty’s
beneficence.
In this week’s portion, the delineation is made between Torah Shmini, kosher
and non-kosher animals. The states that for an animal to be kosher it Torah
must chew its cud and have split hooves. Chewing the cud (“rumination”)
involves the regurgitation and then redigestion of food. Jewish tradition sees this
as an allusion for the need to review and re-examine one’s actions, a procedure
that is at the very heart of righteousness. The split hoof, coming as it does at the
foot, emphasises the need for a person to be complete from head to toe.
In contradistinction to the wholeness of a kosher animal, there are four
animals—the camel, pig, shafan and arnevet (the last two animals’ identities are
not known today)—who are singled out in this week’s parsha because they
possessed only one of two kosher signs. The camel represents pride, the
pig—hypocrisy, the shafan—idolatry, and the arnevet—narrowness.
On the other hand, fish are seen as the most holy of species. Unlike other
species who, even in their kosher manifestations need some tikkun
(rectification), the fish needs none. Fish do not need to be ritually slaughtered or
have its blood removed as its land cousins did. Moreover, the fish were
unaffected by Noach’s flood. While the land animals had been involved in
bestiality before the deluge, the fish maintained their purity and were thus saved.
This symbol of the fish as representing purity can also be found in the qabalistic
literature where it is used to symbolise the Tzadiq, the righteous person. Many
people are guilty of misusing their gift of sight and viewing scenes they would be
better off avoiding. In qabalistic understanding, the anatomical feature of the
eyelid is an allusion to this need to at times shut our eyes and avoid seeing
improper things. The Tzadiq, however, guards his behaviour, intuitively avoiding
such situations, and actually needs no such safeguard. He is thus symbolised
by a fish, a species which has no eyelid.
The also makes distinctions between kosher and non-kosher fish. To be Torah
kosher, a fish has to possess both fins and scales. The sources explain that
these elements can be likened to crowns atop the fish, attesting to the kosher
fish’s higher spiritual status. Furthermore, such fish tend to swim in the upper
expanses of the ocean where the water is more pure.
It is clear that Jewish tradition sees the act of eating as an opportunity to elevate
one’s behaviour to a higher level.
Kashrut
The dietary laws of the Torah.
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Kavanah
Literally: intentionality; referring to the spiritual attitude with which we approach
worship. The spiritual concentration accompanying prayer and the performance of a
positive commandment.
Karath „¡ Kareth
To cut off; by implication: to destroy or consume; to cut a covenant by cutting flesh and
passing between the pieces; to excommunicate; to execute by death or to die an early
death.
Dani’el 9:24-27 teaches that —the Anointed Ruler—will be “cut Mashiach HaNagid
off,” i.e. that He would be killed and a covenant be cut through His death. The prophecy
makes it clear that He would be “cut off” before the destruction of Yerushalayim and the
Second Temple. Which covenant would be cut by the death of Mashiach HaNagid? The
Tanakh answers: The (Renewed Covenant) promised to the Houses of B’rit Chadashah
Israel and Yahudah in Yirmeyahu 31:31-34. This prophecy about Mashiach HaNagid
also teaches that there will not be Messiahs—a suffering Servant and a conquering two
King—but only Messiah, who would both suffer a vicarious covenantal death and one
(subsequently) be the ruling Messiah (Nagid). A close scrutiny of the Talmud,
especially Tractate Sanhedrin, shows that Dani’el 9:24-27 was well understood by the
Talmudists.
Karav
To come up and be present. Often translated as “at hand,” it usually does not mean that
something is near, but that something has come up and is now a reality. present
Kasday
Chaldean.
Kasda’im
Chaldeans.
Kashrut
The dietary laws prescribed in the Colossians 2:16-17 teaches us that the dietary Torah.
laws were given to about Messiah. teach
Kayin
Cain.
Kedushah
When the reader or cantor repeats the Amidah (standing prayer), the congregation rises
for this antiphonal chant of a doxology from Scripture verses proclaiming the oneness
and set-apartness of YHWH.
Kedushat Hayom
The benediction concerning the “set-apartness of the day” included in the Amidah
prayers on Sabbaths and Festivals.
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Kefar
Village. The first part of many settlements in Eretz Yisra’el. The Messiah frequented
Kefar Nachum (Capernaum)—the “Village of Nachum,” i.e. the “Town of the
Comforter.” This town was named after the prophet Nachum.
Kehilat
See Qahal Qahol. „¡
Congregation.
Kehunah
Priesthood in the . Beit haMiqdash
Kehunah Gedolah
High Priesthood.
Kellim
The set-apart vessels used in the of the avodah Beit haMiqdash. According to the
rabbinic commentators, the vessels of the not only allowed ceremonies to be Miqdash
performed, but also lent to the —the dwelling-place of the —the Miqdash Sh’khinah
ambience of a palatial residence.
Kemosh
An idol. Mentioned in Numbers 21:29; Judges 11:24; 1Kings 11:7, 33; 2Kings 23:13;
Yirmeyahu 48:7, 13, 46.
Kena’an
Canaan.
Kena’anim
Canaanites.
Keruv
Plural: Keruvim.
A type of heavenly messenger (“angel”).
Kesed
The loyal covenantal love of YHWH.
Keseh
See: Yom Teruah
Another name for is the Rosh HaShanah Yom Teruah or Yom haKeseh, Day of the
Hiding, Day of Concealment Hidden Day. keseh the or the The term or is derived from
the Hebrew root which means to conceal, cover, or hide. A Jewish reference for kachah
Rosh HaShanah being called can be found in the book, The Hidden Day The Complete
Story of Tishrei Mekkos L’inyonei Chinuch by Nisan Mindel, (Brooklyn, New York: Inc.,
1956).
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Ketubah
A traditional Jewish marriage contract, detailing the duties of the husband and the wife
and stipulating the amount of money that the husband should pay as a penalty should he
divorce his wife.
Ketuvim
Literally: “the Writings;” the third section of the Tanakh.
Ketz
End of Days.
Kheder
Chamber; room.
Kiddush
Blessing recited or chanted over wine on Shabbat or festivals emphasising their setapartness.
A prayer of setting apart, of separation, of dedicating something or a set-apart
time to Almighty YHWH. The Kaddish is recited over wine and bread on the eve of the
Shabbat and the Festivals.
Kiddush HaChodesh
The setting-apart of the New Moon.
Kiddush Levanah
The blessing of setting-apart over the monthly renewal of the moon.
Kiddushin
Literally: set-apart. Refers to the full wedding ceremony and the state of being married.
King James Only
The erroneous belief that the (KJV) translation is inerrant. Many of these King James
groups follow the views of Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, an outspoken advocate of this view.
Ruckmanism is popularised by the popular comic, which is Crusaders Sabotage,
published by Chick Publications in the USA.
Welcome to the real world! Though the KJV is the least tainted by theological
modernism, there simply is no perfect translation of the Scriptures, because translation is
the work of fallible human beings. While many love to make the King James Bible out
to be a perfect translation, in reality it is not. In one quick example, Acts 12:4 reads:
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to
four quaternions of soldiers to keep him: intending after EASTER to bring him
forth to the people…
This is the same Greek word translated as in over 25 passages in the Apostolic Pesach
Writings. In Luke 22:15 it is written,
“I have desired to eat this (3957) with you before I suffer” PESACH
Can you imagine Yahushua saying, “I have desired to eat this EASTER with you before
I suffer”? Horrid paganism!
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The original KJV was printed in 1611. The present KJV has been retranslated over 10
times. If you owned an original KJV, you could not read and understand it because it is
written in Old English. English has changed a lot during the past 400 years.
Furthermore, the King James Bible displays an anti- bias in the translation because Torah
of the theology that prevailed when it was translated. This same bias is still preached
today in many denominations. Beginning in the 3rd century, this anti- bias began Torah
to gain a strong foothold within Christianity. Some of the viewpoints of the heretic
Marcion, who detested the are still prevalent and taught in many churches today Torah,
and are accepted as some of the true doctrines found in the Epistles of Sha’ul. In
addition, Jews were kicked out of England during the era of the printing and influence of
the King James Bible because the “Christian church” was still steeped in many Catholic
doctrines from the 4th century through the Middle Ages.
Those who claim the KJV is the “pure Word” are living in fantasy. These people are as
deluded as the “sacred name” fanatics who claim that if you don’t use the correct Hebrew
name for the Almighty and His Messiah, you will “burn in hell.” The KJV is inaccurate
in many areas. However, it is the most accurate English translation and based upon less
questionable transcripts. Modern translators, influenced by liberalism, also have far less
respect for the Word than the more ancient translators. For that reason, the KJV is the
least tainted with liberalism, modernism and occultism. But perfect?—no! Only the
original Hebrew manuscripts are perfect. Because practically all of the Apostolic
Writings was conceived in Hebrew, and often mechanically rendered into Greek, the
translator and exegete should reconstruct the hidden Semitic undertext that underlies the
Greek New Testament.
Kippa
Small round head covering worn by -observant men in a set-apart place or when Torah
reading Scripture. It is a symbol of respect for and submission to the Almighty. Some
sages would not walk two steps without their heads being covered, because the Sh’khinah
is all around us.
Christianity’s tradition that men’s heads should be uncovered in a House of Prayer, is
possibly based on a misunderstanding and mistranslation of Sha’ul’s instruction in
1 Corinthians 11:4. Correctly understood, this verse means that men should not enter a
Beit Tefillah hair tangled up, hanging down. (house of worship) with their (In the
ancient Roman Empire, male homosexual prostitutes wore their hair like this.) In other
words, a man’s hair and beard had to be neatly shaven, and he had to have his head
covered.
Kinah
Plural: Kinot.
Lamentation. Elegy in poetic (piyyut) structure recited on Jewish days of mourning.
Kislev
Month in which Chanukah falls. Usually overlaps with the months November and
December on the pagan calender.
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Kittel
White garment that is part of traditional Jewish burial clothes; worn by some worshipers
on as a reminder of mortality and a symbol of purity, and by some officiants Yom Kippur
at services and at the Seder. Also worn by some grooms at their Rosh HaShanah Pesach
wedding.
Kittim
Commonly translated as Cyprus, but anciently understood to denote Rome in some
passages, e.g. Numbers 24:24, where renders it as Rome. The word Targum Onkelos
Kittim Tanakh is used in 8 verses in the — Genesis 10:4, Numbers 24:24, 1 Chronicles
1:7, Yeshayahu 23:1,12; Yirmeyahu 2:10; Yechezq’el 27:6 and Dani’el 11:30.
Kiyor
Washstand. Laver.
K’naf
Corner, wing; corner of garment where the are fastened. Malachi 4:2 teaches that tzitzit
the Messiah will come as the (Sun of Righteousness) with healing in Shemesh Tzadekah
his k’naf . (wings, corners) When correlated with the creation account of Genesis 1, the
principle that 1 day represents 1000 years, and the fact that the symbolises the tzitzit
Torah, this intimates to us that the Messiah would come to earth as the Light of the
World around the year 4000, and that He will be the Living In the book of Ruth, Torah.
we read how Ruth asked the (kinsman redeemer), Boaz, to spread the of his go’el k’naf
garment over her. This is a beautiful intimation about the Messiah and His bride.
Knowledge of good and evil
„Í „Í ƒp ƒq The possession of the full spectrum of knowledge, or attaining the age of moral
insight and responsibility.
Qodesh haQodeshim
The Most Set-Apart Place; the “Holy of Holies” in the Beit haMiqdash in . Yerushalayim
This room housed the Ark of the Covenant. Only the High Priest could enter this room,
and that only on Yom Kippur.
Korban Asham
Guilt-offering; trespass offering.
Korban Hata’aat
Sin offering.
Korban Olah
Burnt offering.
Klaf
Hand-written scroll placed in a containing Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. mezuzah,
Qodesh
Set-apart. Afrikaans: “gans anders.” Misleadingly translated as “holy.”
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Qodesh haQodeshim
The room behind the HaQodesh.
Kohelet
The scroll of “Ecclesiastes.”
Kohen
Plural: Kohanim.
Descendant of the priestly class, the progeny of Aaron. A priest.
Kohen haGadol
The High Priest.
Kol
All.
Kol ha-kavod
All honour.
Kol Nidrei
Literally: “al vows;” a prayer that begins the evening service; the entire Yom Kippur
service is often called the service…a prayer and announcement of repeal of Kol Nidrei
all vows that is recited upon the advent of the Day of Atonement. According to Rashi,
Kol Nidrei Geonim was instituted by some (Babylonian Jewish sages, heads of the
Talmudic academies in the Middle ages, circa 600-1100). The Geonim were extremely
divided about this practice. only applies to personal religious vows which do Kol Nidrei
not affect any other person. It has no bearing on an oath imposed by law.
Korech
Matzah and bitter herb sandwich, eaten during the Pesach Seder meal.
Koresh
Cyrus, the King of the Medes and Persians and conquerer of Babylon. In Yeshayahu 45,
he is calles an anointed one, because he was anointed with the royal power to conquer
Babylon, and with the wisdom to allow the rebuilding of the Temple in Yerushalayim.
Kosher
Yiddish for R Kasher. itually fit for use…permitted.
Kri
The traditional pronunciation of words in the Torah.
K’tiv
The traditional spelling of words in the Torah.
Kush
Anciently, 3 regions were known as Kush—(1) Sudan/Ethiopia, (2) a region in Yemen,
and (3) Mesopotamia. When a text reads, “beyond/between the rivers of Kush” it refers
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to the Mesopotamian Kush and not to Ethiopia. See, e.g. the ancient commentary of
Rabbi Ibn Ezra in Isaiah.
The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988: 267) mentions “…an earlier Asiatic, Mesopotamian
Cush, probably the Kassites.”
Kushim
Kushites. Inhabitants of Kush, i.e. one of the 3 regions anciently called Kush.
See: Kush.
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L
Lamnatze’ach Ya’ancha HaShem
Psalm 20, recited on weekdays to mark sorrow and supplication.
Lappidoth
A torch; one who brings forth light. A term for the Messiah.
The account of Devorah, Barak, Ya’el and Sisera in Shovetim (Judges) 4 contains much
teaching on the Messiah. The name Devorah means bee, but is closely related to “Word”
and “Congregation.” She is married to Lappidoth. She overcomes the enemy. She sits
and judges between Ramah and the mountains of Ephrayim. The sages understood
Ramah as the “seat of idolatry,” while Ephrayim means fruitfulness. Likewise, the
Congregation who is married to the Torch, the Light of the World, King Messiah, will
overcome and will choose Ephrayim (fruitfulness) above Ramah (idolatry). Barak
means lightning. Yahushua’s coming will be like lightning that flashes from the east to
the west . Ya’el crushed the head of Sisera, a —Chavaqquk 3:3-4; Mattityahu 24:27
picture of Satan and the False messiah (cf. Genesis 3:15), with a yo’ted—a term for the
Messiah, who would crush the head of (the serpent) and the eschatological seed nachash
of —the False messiah. nachash
Lashon ha-qodesh
Literally: The set-apart tongue. The Hebrew language.
Lashon ha-ra
Literally: “Tongue that is evil.” Evil speech; gossip and slander. Lashon ha-ra means
the making of a derogatory or damaging remark about someone.
Gossip has always been a serious problem, but in modern times it has become so
prevalent that witty innuendo is a mark of distinction, and character assassination is a
constitutionally protected right that is regarded as an essential safeguard in a free society.
If one has a grievance against another, it should be settled personally and privately. If,
however, one instead gossips to a third party, has occurred. This wicked lashon ha-ra
tongue can be worse than the original offence, and is expressly forbidden in the Torah.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
There are 31 commandments that relate to in the Two in particular lashon ha-ra Torah.
will be considered here. These specifically address inappropriate speech or mitzvot
gossiping about another:
You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people.
The text,
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You shall not wrong one another.
has traditionally been interpreted as wronging a person with speech. It includes any
statement that will embarrass, insult or deceive a person, or cause a person emotional
pain or distress.
The Chofetz Chayim, Israel Meyer Kagan, wrote several books about lashon ha-ra
which all go into great detail. The basics of the laws are these:
„¿ You are not to say derogatory things about anyone whether true or not.
„¿ You are not to imply derogatory things about anyone.
„¿ You are not to listen to derogatory things about anyone, and if you do, you should
not believe it.
To violate these instructions is to become one who is known as having an “evil Torah
tongue,” or one who commits Tale bearing is, essentially, any malignant lashon ha-ra.
gossip. The Hebrew word for talebearer is (resh-kaf-yod-lamed), which is related rakheel
to a word meaning trader or merchant. The idea is that a talebearer is like a merchant
whose merchandise is gossip or tale bearing. Some other terms that bring more
understanding to the solemnity of this subject are or the dust of gossip and avak rechilut
avak lashon ha-ra the dust of an evil tongue. —
Sometimes a violation of can be committed in without even saying Torah lashon ha-ra,
anything specific about another. The “dust” of could be a statement that lashon ha-ra
you may make such as “well, so-and-so said something about you, but I won’t tell you
because that would be wrong.” The worst offence is purposely “motzi shem ra”—
spreading a bad name or lie about another, with the intention of bringing injury.
We must correct our speech, change our habits, and learn to walk circumspectly before
YHWH and people. Western Christianity has evolved into a system that strongly
preaches what one “believes,” but that belief-system is not necessarily expressed in
everyday living. The early Messianic Assemblies had a different perspective: one
studies in order to revere and obey; not to assemble head-knowledge.
Please note that warning people about a dangerous person, specifically a teacher of
heresy, does not constitute lashon ha-ra—to contend for the truth and warn the sheep
about wolves is a Scriptural principle. Such warning, though, should be done with many
documented facts and few adjectives.
Scriptures forbids one to denigrate the behaviour or character of a person or to make any
remark that might cause physical, psychological or financial harm.
Wayyiqra 19:16
Do not go about spreading among your people. Do not do anything that slander
endangers your neighbour’s life. I am YHWH.
He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads is a slander
fool.
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Do not a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will pay for slander
it.
They are all hardened rebels, going about to They are bronze and iron; slander.
they all act corruptly.
When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; …when
we are we answer kindly. slandered,
But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls
himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a a slanderer,
drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male
prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards 10
nor nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of YHWH. And that is slanderers 11
what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you
may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarrelling,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, gossip, arrogance and disorder. slander,
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and along with every slander,
form of malice.
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice,
slander and filthy language from your lips.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be
slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
Remind the people…to no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and slander
to show true humility towards all men.
Ya’aqov 4:11
Brothers, do not one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or slander
judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you
are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
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Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and
slander of every kind.
Ten fundamental rules to remember in order to avoid lashon ha-ra
1. It is to convey a derogatory image of someone, even if that image is lashon ha-ra
true and deserved. (False derogatory statements are called —”slander motzi shem
of a name.”)
2. A statement which is not actually derogatory but can ultimately cause someone
physical, financial or emotional harm is also lashon ha-ra.
3. It is to humorously recount an incident that contains embarrassing or lashon ha-ra
damaging information about a person, even if there is not the slightest intent that
they should suffer any harm or humiliation.
4. is forbidden even when you not only incriminate others, but also Lashon ha-ra
yourself.
5. may not be communicated in any way, shape or form—i.e. through Lashon ha-ra
writing, body language, verbal hints, etc.
6. To speak against a community as a whole is a particularly severe offence.
Harmful remarks about children are also . lashon ha-ra
7. may not be communicated even to close relatives, including one’s Lashon ha-ra
spouse.
8. Even if the listener has previously heard the derogatory account, or the
information has become public knowledge and the subject will suffer no further
harm by its repetition, it nevertheless should not be repeated.
9. which is telling one person a derogatory statement that another person Rechillut,
said about them, is forbidden because it causes animosity between people.
10. It is forbidden to listen to or If someone inadvertently lashon ha-ra rechillut.
hears it is forbidden to believe that it is true. One should give the lashon ha-ra,
person the benefit of the doubt. Assume the slanderous information is inaccurate
or that the person does not realise they are doing something wrong.
Last Day
Yom YHWH. Yom YHWH, Note that the resurrection of the dead takes place in the
sabbatical millennium, the Last Day.
Lavan
Uncle of Ya’aqov; father of Rachel and Leah. Literal translation: “Whitey.”
Lawlessness
To act as though there was no to act in radical opposition to The goal of Torah; Torah.
Torah is to instruct man in the righteousness that is through Yahushua the Messiah, who
has interposed his shed sacrificial blood between us and the righteous demand of the
Torah that the wages of sin is death. The Man Yahushua the Messiah is the only
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mediator between mankind and Elohim. The essence of the is to love YHWH Torah
your Elohim alone, with your entire being. The False messiah will say that he is “Christ”
and “God” and will demand worship. This will make him the —the man of lawlessness
man who seeks to annul both the and the of goal essence Torah.
Note that wrong definitions of “lawlessness” abound in contemporary Christian teaching.
Many pastors do not understand the term at all, because they have not learned to think in
terms of the Hebrew lifeworld of the first century. The term lawlessness does not deal
with crime statistics, strikes and marches, but with the of YHWH. To teach that Torah
the has been “cancelled in Christ” is teaching lawlessness. It is especially the Torah
liberal “no Law” branch of dispensationalism that is guilty of this incorrect teaching.
Le’ah
Leah.
Lechem Mishneh
Two loaves required for the blessing on Sabbath and Festival meals.
Lehitpalel
Literally: “to judge oneself;” the Hebrew verb translated as “pray.”
Leshanah Tovah Tikatevu
Literally: May you be inscribed [in the Book of Life] for a good year; Rosh haShanah
greeting, sometimes shortened to Shanah Tovah.
Lev
Heart. Metaphor for the mind, the will, the cognitive, morally responsible centre of a
person. The heart has two entrances windows: the eyes and the ears. One’s heart is
manifested in one’s thoughts, words and deeds.
See: nefesh.
Levana
The moon. “The white one.”
Levir
A husband’s brother.
Levirate marriage
Hebrew: Yibbum. The institution of the brother-in-law marrying his brothers widow.
The marriage of a childless widow by the brother of the deceased (yavamah) (yavam)
husband, in accordance with Devarim 25:5. The release of this obligation is effected
through chalitzah.
Lev-qamay
“That rise up against me.” A prophetic term for Bavel (Babylon) in Yirmeyahu 51:1.
1This is what YHWH says: “See, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against
Babylon and the people of I will send foreigners to Babylon to Lev-Kamay. 2
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winnow her and to devastate her land; they will oppose her on every side in the
day of her disaster.
In the acharit-yamim, Bavel, the “hammer of the whole earth,” i.e. the policeman of the
world, will rise up against YHWH by turning against those in Israel who are jealous for
the and will therefore come under judgement, because she destroys the inheritance Torah
of YHWH, the apple of His eye.
See: Meratayim.
Liv’yatan
Leviathan. A seven-headed, gigantic, twisted serpent that dwells in the sea. Liv’yatan
was a well-known character in ancient Middle-eastern literature. In Ugaritic literature
this monster is called Lotan. YHWH uses this well-known symbol to give graphic
prophecies about Satan, the False messiah (Antichrist) and his evil empire.
The word is derived from a root meaning “to coil” and “to twist.” liv’yatan
The 1912, Vol. VIII, p. 37-39 states: Jewish Encyclopedia,
The leviathan is prominent in haggadic literature in connection with the advent of
the Messiah. Referring to Job 41:6, “and the pious ones shall make a banquet of
it,” Rabbi Yohanan says that in the time of the resurrection a banquet will be
given by Elohim to the righteous, at which the flesh of the leviathan will be
served…Elohim will divide the monster with his sword…
These haggadot concerning the leviathan are interpreted as allegories by
[practically all Jewish] commentators…
In the…literature the “piercing leviathan” and the “crooked leviathan” are
interpreted as referring to Satan Sama’el [the celestial prince over Rome]…,
while…others consider the expressions to be allusions to the destruction of the
powers which are hostile to the Jews…The haggadic sayings obtained a hold on
the imaginations of the poets, who introduced allusions to the banquet of
leviathan into the liturgy.
The Vol. 11, p. 90 states: Encyclopaedia Judaica,
In the Scriptures, [leviathan] is used interchangeably with several other seamonsters
— (“dragon”), and (“sea”)—all of whom are tanin rahav, yam
represented as supernatural enemies of Elohim.
Lion
A great, morally and intellectually superior person; a distinguished scholar of the
Scriptures. King Messiah is the Lion from the Tribe of Yahudah.
See: Fox.
L’olam va’ed
For ever; for a period of time that has a hidden, undetermined, indefinite end.
Loose the hedge
In a 1998 submission to an Internet newsgroup, Dr James Trimm writes:
Understanding Ephesians 2:14-15 from the Aramaic text
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14He is, therefore, our shalom who made the two of them one and loosed the
hedge which stood between us and therefore the enmity (by His flesh and the 15
Torah because of the statutes within the commandments) is abrogated, that
from the two of them He might create in Himself one new man, and He made
shalom, reconciling you two into one body with Eloah, so that by His crucifixion 16
the enmity has been slain.
footnotes to 2:14-16: Lit. Aram. “and the law (namosa) of the statutes (puqada) within
the commandments (puqdana).” Aramaic Hebrew and Aramaic namosa Torah „M
puqada mitzvah puqdana mitzvot „M „M Hebrew , and also Aramaic Hebrew (Mk.10:19).
In Aramaic, also equals Hebrew which means means puqada choq statute. Mitzvot
commandments or ordinances. Greek has “the law (nomos) of the decree (dogma) in the
commandments (entole).” Here the Greek decree or statute which is dogma „M
equivalent to the Hebrew or The passive verb “is abolished” is singular mitzvah choq.
and can not have two subjects. As a result only “enmity” is abolished. The words “by
His flesh” is conjuncted to “and the ” The next phrase is a and begins torah. dalet clause
with “because” as in Dani’el 3:29,4:9, 6:3, 23, and 7:11. The reference here in 2:15
concerns the enmity between Yahudim and Gentiles due to the unique “customs of
Israel” (v. 12) that necessarily produced estrangement between them. The particular
customs that Sha’ul here refers to are that separated, such as the hedges about the Law
laws of separation from Gentiles given in the (e.g. which were in Mishna Avodah Zarah)
effect in the period (see John 4:9, 21-22). The phrase “and loosed the New Testament
hedge” in the Aramaic reads and was used as a technical term in sh’ra s’yaga halakhic
Judaism. was used to mean or (as in 18:18 and in Sh’ra “loose” “permit” Mattatiyahu
various places in Rabbinic literature) The term appears in Mishna Avot 1:1 “make s’yaga
a hedge about the torah.”
To “loose the hedge” would mean to permit activities that these hedge rules had
effectually discouraged such as, to (truly) love thy neighbour. Sha’ul is pointing out that
the flesh of the Messiah was given as a sacrifice for the whole world and that even the
Torah Kol v’chomer itself demanded the abrogation of enmity. (light and heavy) is
applied as the reasoning the work of the Messiah is of higher consequence than the —
differences between Jew and Gentile that the statutes produced, for even the itself Torah
teaches to love your neighbour. It is emphasised that Messiah died for the whole world
and now has become the unifying factor above all else, in whose redeeming work all
enmity between people can and should be set aside.
Lulav
Plural: Lulavim
Palm branch, with myrtle and willow sprigs attached; with the etrog, it is the symbol of
Sukkot…a palm branch taken as one of the four species on the Feast of Booths.
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M
Ma’ariv
Night-time prayer service…evening prayers after sunset. Service after dark.
Ma’asar
Plural: Ma’asrot.
Tithes.
Tithing one’s possessions was a very ancient custom, existing as early as the time of the
patriarchs. Avraham gave a tenth part of all to Malki-tzedeq:
Bereshith 14:18-20
Then Malki-tzedeq king of Shalem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of
the Most High El, and he blessed Avram, saying, “Blessed be Avram by the 19
Most High El, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be the Most High El, 20
who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Avram gave him a tenth of
everything.
Ya’aqov made a vow that, if he should return to his father’s house in safety, he would
acknowledge YHWH as his Elohim and give Him a tenth of everything he possessed:
Bereshith 28:20-22
20Then Ya’aqov made a vow, saying, “If Elohim will be with me and will watch
over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to
wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then YHWH will be my Elohim 21
22and this stone that I have set up as a pillar shall become the house of Elohim,
and of all that you give me I shall repeatedly give you a ” tenth.
Later, the Torah given through Mosheh made the tithe obligatory on the Israelites. The
tithe, whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, belonged to YHWH and was,
in consequence, qadosh—set-apart. It was redeemable by adding 20% to its value. The
tithe of the cattle and other kosher animals was, however, not redeemable. If one animal
earmarked for the tithe was exchanged for another, both animals became set-apart unto
YHWH.
The tithe-animals were determined by passing the animals under the rod in single file;
every tenth animal passing under the rod became the tithe-animal.
Wayyiqra 27:30-33
30A of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the tithe
trees, belongs to YHWH; it is set-apart to YHWH.
31 If a man redeems any of his he must add a fifth of the value to it. tithe,
32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes
under the shepherd’s rod—will be set-apart to YHWH.
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33 He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he
does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become set-apart
and cannot be redeemed.'”
Tithing dealt with agriculture and with animals (livestock), and not with money—except
when crops were redeemed.
5As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of
their grain, new wine, olive oil and date honey and all that the fields produced.
They brought a great amount, a of everything [i.e. agricultural products]. tithe
6The men of Israel and Yehudah who lived in the towns of Yehudah also brought
a of their herds and flocks and a of the set-apart produce dedicated to tithe tithe
YHWH their Elohim, and they piled them in heaps.
7They began doing this in the [i.e. at and finished in the third month Shavuot]
seventh month [i.e. in Tishri, at … Sukkot]
… Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, and dedicated gifts… 12 tithes
Almsgiving and offerings is an altogether different subject from tithing. Every
synagogue had a gebei tzadeqah—the treasurer of almsgiving. Each rabbi and his
group of talmidim had a gebei tzadeqah. talmidim Yahushua and his group of also had a
gebei tzadeqah—Yehudah ha-Zikari (Judas Iscariot—Judas the cut-throat). (He was
no honest man, for he stole from the purse.) The people were instructed from childhood
that they had a responsibility of taking care of the dependents in the community.
In ancient Israel, the poor and disabled of the community were expected to request alms.
Refraining from this was seen as sinful conduct, because it kept almsgivers from
receiving blessings from YHWH. Whereas tithing dealt with the produce of the land,
almsgiving and scriptural giving (offerings) could be done with money. Alms were
given to the for distribution to the needy, or directly to the persons in gebei tzadeqah
need. Childless aged widows were put on the roll of local synagogues. A portion of
what was given at the synagogue, was given to these people.
Besides Temple tax, all that was given to the Beit haMiqdash was required to be freewill
gifts. Synagogues levied a tax, part of which was given to the synagogue’s gebei
tzadeqah for distribution to the needy. The Temple tax amounted to half a sheqel per
year—about half an American dollar per year; everybody paid the same Temple tax.
There were certain responsibilities that one could not avoid by giving. If a man had an
income and his own parents were in need, it would be wrong to give to the synagogue,
the Beit haMiqdash or to other needy persons, unless his own parents were well looked
after first. Giving to his needy parents was seen as giving to Elohim. It was considered
a sin to take money to the or synagogue, and let his own parents suffer Beit haMiqdash
want. A man who did not fulfil this vital responsibility first, was seen as a pagan.
Messiah Yahushua objected vehemently to people giving to the Temple while their own
family suffered want.
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All the tithe was given to the Levi’im, as they had no inheritance in the land. The tithe
was to be their principal source of sustenance. In turn, the Levi’im tithed to the priests.
The Levi’im were the of Israel. gebei tzadeqah
Bemidbar 18:20-31
20YHWH said to Aaron, “You will have in their land, nor will you no inheritance
have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the
Israelites.
21″I give to the Levites all the in Israel as their inheritance in return for the tithes
work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting…
23It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the
responsibility for offences against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the
generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites.
24Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the that the Israelites tithes
present as an offering to YHWH. That is why I said concerning them: `They will
have no inheritance among the Israelites.'”
25 26 YHWH said to Moses, “Speak to the Levites and say to them: `When you
receive from the Israelites the I give you as your inheritance, you must tithe
present a of that as YHWH’s offering… tenth tithe
28…In this way you also will present an offering to YHWH from all the you tithes
receive from the Israelites. From these you must give YHWH’s portion to tithes
Aaron the priest…
31…You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your
wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting.
The Levi’im were the treasurers of the tithe. They also used it for their own sustenance.
The tribe of the Levi’im had no agricultural land; their function was to perform the
avodah in the Beit haMiqdash Eretz and serve as the gebei tzadeqah to the poor of
Yisra’el. They also used the tithe for their own food.
From Exodus 23:14 we know that there were 3 annual or regalim
Devarim 12:5-19
5But you are to seek the place YHWH your Elohim will choose from among all
your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;
6there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your and special gifts, tithes
what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your
herds and flocks.
7There, in the presence of YHWH your Elohim, you and your families shall eat
and shall in everything you have put your hand to, because YHWH your rejoice
Elohim has blessed you.
11Then to the place YHWH your Elohim will choose as a dwelling for his
Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings
and sacrifices, your and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you tithes
have vowed to YHWH.
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12And there before YHWH your Elohim, you, your sons and daughters, rejoice
your menservants and maidservants, and the from your towns, who Levites
have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
17You must not eat in your own towns the of your grain and new wine and tithe
oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give,
or your freewill offerings or special gifts.
18 Instead, you are to your Elohim at the eat them in the presence of YHWH
place YHWH your Elohim will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your
menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are
to rejoice before YHWH your Elohim in everything you put your hand to.
19Be careful not to neglect the as long as you live in your land. Levites
During the reign of King Shlomo, Ancient Israel was divided into 24 districts. There
were levitical cities in each district. There were storehouses in these cities. These
storehouses were granaries, cattle-pens and sheep-pens. The people brought the food to
the storehouses; the food was used for two purposes: (1) To provide for the Levi’im, the
kohanim and their families, and (2) to provide for the poor people of that district. The
Levi’im administered this distribution system. Of the total amount that came in, the
Levi’im gave 10% to the kohanim. The kohanim had no responsibility to distribute this
to the poor; they had to consume the animals and agricultural produce given to them by
the Levi’im; it was their “salary.”
Only farmers tithed. Others, e.g. scribes, tradesmen and artisans, gave alms and taxes,
but not tithes—the tithing system was purely agricultural. The elders of a synagogue
did not receive or collect tithes. The “pastors” of “congregations” had no authority, no
right, to ask the congregants to “tithe.”
Tithing was structured in a 7-year cycle.
Devarim 14:22-29
22Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
23Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and
flocks in the presence of YHWH your Elohim at the place he will choose as a
dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere YHWH your Elohim
always.
24But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by YHWH your
Elohim and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where YHWH will choose
to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take 25
the silver with you and go to the place YHWH your Elohim will choose.
26Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented
drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the
presence of YHWH your Elohim and rejoice.
27And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment
or inheritance of their own.
28At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and
store it in your towns,
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29so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the
aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat
and be satisfied, and so that YHWH your Elohim may bless you in all the work of
your hands.
We can summarise the 7-year cycle of tithing as follows:
Year Shavuot Sukkot
1 Tithe to local storehouse Bring tithe to
2 Tithe to local storehouse Bring tithe to
Beit haMiqdash
B
& feast there
eit haMiqdash
Bei
& feast there
3 Tithe to local storehouse Bring tithe to local storehouse
4 Tithe to local storehouse Bring tithe to t haMiqdash
Beit haMiqdash
& feast there
& feast there 5 Tithe to local storehouse Bring tithe to
6 Tithe to local storehouse Bring tithe to local storehouse
7 Year of release. No planting or tithing Sh’mitah:
Devarim 26:12-15
12When you have finished setting aside a of all your produce in the tenth third
year, the year of the tithe, Levite, the alien, the you shall give it to the
fatherless and the widow, towns so that they may eat in your and be satisfied.
13Then say to YHWH your Elohim: “I have removed from my house the set-apart
portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow,
according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands
nor have I forgotten any of them.
14I have not eaten any of the set-apart portion while I was in mourning, nor have
I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I
have obeyed YHWH my Elohim; I have done everything you commanded me.
15Look down from heaven, your set-apart and wholly different dwelling-place,
and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on
oath to our forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
37″Moreover, we will bring to the of the house of our Elohim, to the storerooms
priests, the first of our ground meal, of our [grain] offerings, of the fruit of all our
trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the
Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.
38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they
receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the
house of our Elohim, to the storerooms of the treasury.
At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the
contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to
bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the
Levites, for Yehudah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.
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5…and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain
offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine
and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the
contributions for the priests.
12All Yehudah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms.
“…Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.
Malakhi 3:7-12
7″Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees
and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says YHWH
Tzva’ot. But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8″Will a man rob Elohim? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, `How do we rob you?’
“In tithes and offerings.
9You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing
me.
10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Test me in this,” says YHWH Tzva’ot, “and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room
enough for it.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will
not cast their fruit,” says YHWH Tzva’ot.
12″Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,”
says YHWH Tzva’ot.
The tithe of the spring harvest (called the firstfruits) was brought to the levitical
storehouses during Shavuot (Pentecost), and the tithe of the late-summer harvest or main
harvest, was brought at Chag Sukkot. Every third year, the tithes were not brought to
Yerushalayim, but were taken to the local levitical storehouse, for use by the Levi’im,
who presented a tithe of the tithe to the kohanim, and distributed the food to widows, the
disabled, orphans and (resident aliens; strangers) who had no income. In years 1, gerim
2, 4 and 5 the landowner took the tithe to the (Temple) and ate it there Beit haMiqdash
with his family, sharing freely with the less privileged and the Levites. In the year of
Sh’mitah (Release), there was no planting of crops or harvesting of fields, and therefore
no tithing. Everyone could help themselves to what was available in the fields. Only
farmers refrained from work during the Sh’mitah; all other people worked as usual.
In conclusion: Tithing was purely agricultural, and pertains to the land of Israel. For the
tithing system to be operational, there has to be a Beit haMiqdash (Temple) as well as
levitical storehouses. Tithing has nothing to do with giving money to the Church; that
misapplication dates from around the year 1200, when the Roman Catholic Church
needed money to build cathedrals. The Faith Movement within the Charismatic
movement is notorious for misapplying the concept of tithing to their advantage.
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The fact that at least 90% of the teaching on tithing heard within Christianity is a
misapplication of Scripture, should not prevent us from practicing scriptural giving. The
Talmud records that Beit Shammai stipulated that a generous person gives 60% of his
income to the poor; the School of Shammai considered a man who gave 40% or less to
the poor, to have an evil eye, i.e. be stingy.
The following saying of the Messiah, as recorded in Mattityahu and Luke, teaches that it
is wrong to tithe religiously while neglecting the weightier matters of the Torah:
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give Elohim a tenth of your mint, rue and
all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of Elohim.
You should have practised the latter without leaving the former undone.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth
of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more
important matters of the —justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should Torah
have practised the latter, without neglecting the former.
Ma’asei haTorah
Works of the Law.
A technical term is 1st century Judaism, referring to the aspects of the that set Torah
Israel apart from all the other nations — circumcision, the dietary laws (Kashrut) „Í „Í ƒp ƒq
and the keeping of Shabbat. „̓r
Mabul
Flood, specifically the deluge in the days of Noach.
Maccabees
There are two mayor reason because the Council of Yavneh (90 BM) did not include the
books of Maccabees in the as Scriptures. First is the “internal evidence” as the Tanakh
author of the book confess and never said the inspired formula: “This said YHWH.”
Second is the external evidence: the Hasmoneans’ family, once in the political control of
Yisrael after they defeated the Syrian army, introduced an illegal monarchy in Israel. As
we know, only the Davidic descendent trough Salomon has the right to seat in the
Throne of David as king of Yisrael. The Messiah has to come from this royal line. At the
moment as the Hasmoneans declared themselves to be kings dynasty in Israel they
destroy the royal framework for the Messiah to arise.
So if that fact had was confirmed through inclusion the books in the the Council Tanakh,
would have declared them a legitimate royal dynasty that replaced the Davidic Lineage
and so destroy the Except for this error, the Hasmoneans or Maccabees Torah.
(Mikamojah B’elim Adonai) was considered by many as good shepherds.
There is another reason because we don’t accepted it as inspired books: Messiah
Yahushua. In Yohanan 10 we have the story of Yahushua in Yerushalayim rejoicing in
the Chanukah Festival (verses 20-23). On that occasion he present himself to Yisrael as a
Good Shepherd and said: “He who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold but
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enter through the (climbs in some other way), he is a (thief) and derech hasha’ar ganav
a (robber).” So Yahushua declared that the action of the Maccabees to proclaim shoded
themselves as a royal family in Israel is similar to the false shepherd (thief). That
specific action invalidated them so that the books written by and about them do not
merit inclusion in the Tanakh.
At the same time, the presence of Yahushua in Yerushalayim for Chanukah endorse the
festival as valid for His (disciples). talmidim
Machah
To stroke or rub; by implication to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or
make fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out,
reach unto, utterly, wipe (away, out).
Machzor
Literal meaning: repetition.
A special prayer book used during (Pilgrimage festivals) and Regalim Mo’edim
(appointed times). There are for (inter alia) machzorim Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur
and . Sukkot
Maday
Medes.
Maftir
Last part of reading on a given Shabbat or festival…the man who is “called up” in Torah
the synagogue to perform the reading of the concluding passage. Also: the public reader
of the Haftarah.
Magen
Shield. A term for the Messiah. Psalm 84:9 says,
“Behold, O Elohim, our Magen (Shield),
and look upon the face of your Mashiach.”
This verse is in the style of Hebrew parallelism—saying the same thing twice, in
different words. Note that the parallelism links the with the Magen Mashiach. If we do
remez with Yeshayahu 21:5b,
Arise you princes, anoint the magen…
at the interpretative level of the (deeper meaning), reading it in its context, we sod
identify the latter text as a prophecy that the princes (i.e. believers, who have all been
made royalty by the covenantal love of the Father and the faithfulness of the Son) will be
resurrected (“arise”) and caught up to heaven to attend the coronation of King Messiah
(“anoint the magen”) shortly before the annihilation of eschatological Babylon in Yom
YHWH. This annihilation will precipitate the Chevlei Shel Mashiach (Yirmeyahu 51:7),
catapulting the False messiah into office at an emergency summit meeting held in Europe
(Revelation 17).
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Magen Avot
A short summary of the Sabbath Amidah prayer, recited on Erev Shabbat (Sabbath Eve)
after the silent prayer.
Maggid
Preacher; generally itinerant, and popular because of his clever parables…narration.
Mah Nishtanah
Four questions asked by a child during the Pesach Seder service.
Mahoz
Plural: Mahozim.
Fortification. Fortified stronghold.
Makoum
“Place.” The sages applied this term to the Almighty. He is not in the universe; He is
haMakoum (The Place); the universe is in Him. When we suffer bereavement, we can
pray to the Almighty as asking Him to fill the void, the empty place within haMakoum,
our hearts, with His dwelling presence (the and His comfort (the Sh’khinah) Menachem).
Malakh
Messenger, “angel.” The sages taught that a takes the legal identity of the one malakh
who sent him in all his dealings with those he is sent to.
Malakhi
Malachi. “My makakh,” i.e. “my messenger.” The Messiah is the Messenger of the very
Face of YHWH, the exact representation of His Being. The name YHWH is in Him; He
has all the attributes of the Father.
Malki-tzedeq
Melchesedik.
Malkot
The penalty of lashing.
Malkut Shamayim
The Kingdom of Heaven, i.e. the Kingdom of YHWH Elohim. In this phrase, as in
many other expressions dating from the last half of the Second Temple period, the term
“heaven” is used as an evasive synonym or circumlocution for YHWH, the personal
name of the Almighty. The fact that, in the Apostolic Writings, the term “heaven” is a
circumlocution or evasive expression for the personal names of YHWH, is widely
misunderstood in Christianity—hence the deplorably otherworldly and pagan “we are
going to heaven for eternity” myth. The truth is that the is coming to Malkut Shamayim
the redeemed remnant of mankind and to the earth. What has been lost in Adam, is
gained and restored in Messiah Yahushua, the corporate representative of the Yisra’el of
Elohim—redeemed Yisra’el and Gentiles grafted into the commonwealth of Yisra’el.
We have the firstfruits now, but the fulness comes later—when Messiah returns.
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The teaching of some dispensationalists that there is a difference between the “Kingdom
of Heaven” and the “Kingdom of God” is an incorrect teaching dating from a time when
there was little appreciation of the communication principle of hermeneutics.
The Malkut Shamayim is a present reality. If I stand next to a table, I would say, “the
table is near.” This refers to spatial nearness. Likewise, the expression “the Kingdom of
Heaven is at hand or near” refers to its actual, spatial presence. The is Malkut Shamayim
a present, dynamic reality. In the fulness of time, it will become a physical reality on
earth. It is “here now but not yet in its fulness.”
The is: Malkut Shamayim
„¿ The supreme rulership and absolute sovereignty of YHWH Elohim. The
Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingship of YHWH. Remember that, in the Apostolic
Writings, the term Heaven is often not a place, but an evasive synonym for the
personal name of Almighty YHWH.
„¿ YHWH ruling and reigning actively, forever and ever. Imparting His life, His
Ruach, His redemption to man, through the Son. The king is a saviour—see
Psalm 72. The Almighty redeems to rule.
„¿ The redeemed people whom YHWH rules over. All authority has been given to
the Son—Yeshayahu 40:10. The movement started by Messiah Yahushua is the
Kingdom of Heaven. Those who submit to His mastership are in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom owns us; we are the subjects of the Kingdom. King Messiah is not
only our Saviour but also our Master.
„¿ The supernatural manifestations of the Spirit of YHWH.
Some applications of how to operate in the authority and power of the Kingship of
YHWH and His Messiah:
„¿ Repent, turn around. Confess your sins. Be cleansed. Be clothed. Be equipped.
Be commissioned. Now go.
„¿ Live a kingdom-centred life? How? Do the will of YHWH—”Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done.” The manifestation of His kingdom, His kingship,
expands on earth as more and more people know Him and do His will. Submit to
His authority. Be faithful and obedient. Do the will of our Father in Heaven.
How? Prayer and Scripture, prayer and Scripture, prayer and Scripture… Hear
and obey. All who call the Messiah (Master) are not part of His movement; Adon
only those who do the will of His Father in Heaven—Mattityahu 7:21. Those
who “name and claim” but do not obey are not in the Kingdom. We must take the
yoke of the Kingship of YHWH on our shoulders. How? By obeying Torah in
the measure it has been laid on us: Yahudim should keep all of the while Torah
Gentiles should obey the Noachide as entrance-requirements. We should mitzvot
bend the neck, put on the yoke, and do the work of the Kingdom. The yoke is
easy to bear, but it is still a yoke. The Kingdom is for free, but it costs everything.
„¿ Lead a life characterised by humility. Be not puffed up. The Almighty is in
charge; He placed all under His Son.
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„¿ Beautify the commandments. When observing a commandment, do it with joy
and beauty.
„¿ Lead a life characterised by productivity and abundance in fruit. There is not a
single Hebrew word for “prosperity” in the sense of the accumulation of wealth.
Scripturally, prosperity refers to being equipped for what YHWH has sent us to
do. We should bear this fruit in the here and now, in our daily walk. As the Body
of Messiah, we share in the power of the Ruach that is upon Him. He is the
Bearer and Bestower of the Ruach. He bestows that power and authority to those
inside His movement. By the power and authority of YHWH in our lives, we
should bear abundant fruit and have abundant life.
„¿ Become connected to the community of the faithful. Be an active part of
Yahushua’s living movement; don’t try to be a “lone ranger,” a Rambo. Do not
fight battles alone; let the rest of the army support you in prayer. Think “we” and
“us” and not “I” and “me.”
„¿ Realise you are in continual spiritual conflict. Satan is upset when people leave
his territory and get into the Kingdom of YHWH. The Malkut Shamayim frees
the captives who are in Satan’s hold. The adversary takes offence at this and
attacks. You are part of a community engaged in conflict. So put on the full
armour of Elohim—truth, salvation, active witnessing, righteousness, the
manifestations of the the authority of the names of YHWH and Ruach HaQodesh,
Yahushua. Proclaim the mastership of Messiah Yahushua. Heal the sick, drive
out demons, set the captives free—by the power of Almighty YHWH and the
authority given to us by the Son.
„¿ Realise that the kingdom is a present reality, but a reality that is manifest in
firstfruits-form. The kingdom is in our midst individually and as a community of
believers.
Maoz Tsur
Best-known Chanukah song. An English version of the song is entitled “Rock of Ages.”
Marcion
Also see: neo-Marcionism.
#Marcion was born around 100 YM at Sinope, a seaport located on the Black Sea coast
of Asia Minor. His father was a leader in the church of Sinope. Marcion grew up in a
Christian home, but it was most probably not the same type of Christianity known today.
It appears that Marcion remained in fellowship with the church as long as he lived in
Asia Minor. Many think that he shared his thoughts with leading churchmen of that
region, such as Polycarp of Smyrna and Papias of Hierapolis. Sometime after 138 CE,
during the time of Antoninus Pius, Marcion travelled to Rome, the imperial city. When
he arrived in Rome he made a generous contribution to the church.
Tradition says that he was a ship owner and very wealthy. He became very active in the
church and began to develop and teach his own theology. We do not know if he
originated this or if he simply taught the Christianity of his home area. The Roman
church leadership was so disturbed by his doctrine that they not only actively rejected it,
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but even refunded his contribution. However, their reaction didn’t end Marcion’s
influence.
As a devoted Christian, Marcion made his way to Rome (c.140) and attached himself to
the church there. He associated with the Syrian Gnostic, Cerdo, who was in Rome, and
developed unorthodox views that brought him into conflict with the Roman church.
Marcion was excommunicated (c.144), but his beliefs continued to gain wider and wider
acceptance.
The main thesis of Marcion’s system was that the gospel of Jesus is entirely a gospel of
love that is radically different from, and discontinuous with, the Marcion taught Torah.
that the original gospel of Jesus had been corrupted by Judaising tendencies among the
earliest disciples and that the Old Testament had no validity for Christians. According to
Marcion, only Sha’ul had correctly understood the original teaching of Jesus.
Marcion regarded Sha’ul as the only faithful apostle. In fact, he maintained that the
original apostles corrupted Jesus’ teachings by mixing it with legalism. This is the same
message often preached in the churches today when we hear “Replacement Theology” or
that we are “no longer under the Law but under grace alone.” Such a statement clashes
head-on with the Messiah’s own words in 5:17ff where he states that the Mattityahu
Torah will never pass away until heaven and earth pass away.
Marcion rejected the Hebrew Scriptures completely. Marcion distinguished the “God of
the Old Testament” from the “God of the New Testament and the Gospels.” Marcion,
being influenced by Persian dualism (two forces in the universe, one good and one bad,
who are constantly fighting it out for supremacy) believed that these were two individual
deities, each within its own independent existence. First, there was the Creator-God who
created the material universe. This was the God of Israel, which was a totally different
God from the Father spoken of in the Gospel of Christ. The Father God was the good
and merciful God and the God of Israel and the Old Testament was the bad God.
Marcion’s understanding followed the same line as that of the Gnostic schools. They
taught that the God who made the material world was an inferior deity. He was inferior
in both status and morality alike. The superior deity or the supreme God was pure spirit.
This idea is reflected in doctrines which teach that flesh is evil and spirit is good.
After being rejected by the church leadership in Rome, Marcion withdrew from the
Roman church and established a movement of his own. His “church” survived for
several generations. A unique aspect of his church was that it maintained its membership
solely through conversion. Celibacy was obligatory for every member.
Marcion’s Anti-Semitism: Marcion’s new “scriptures” included no part of the Old
Testament and were written in Greek. For Marcion, the Old Testament had passed away
and was by his edited version of the “New Testament.” Have you heard this replaced
same heresy preached in Christian Churches? For Marcion, the church was to replace
the synagogue, grace was to replace the new “holy days” were to replace the set- Torah,
apart days of YHWH as found in Leviticus 23, “spiritual Israel” was to replace physical
Israel. The Church was Israel’s replacement and was now to receive all that had been
promised to Israel. This is replacement theology at its worst.
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#Marcion, who lived in the second century YM, completely rejected the Hebrew
Scriptures (Old Testament) and wanted it excluded from the canon of Scripture.
Marcion stressed the radical nature of Christianity vis-a-vis Judaism. In his theology
there existed a total discontinuity between the OT and the New Testament, between
Israel and the Church, and even between the “God of the OT” and the “Father of Jesus.”
Jesus came to reveal the “true God,” who was totally unknown up to the Incarnation.
Having been greatly influenced by the Gnostics, he taught a theology—he demiurgic
claimed that the “God of the Old Testament” was cruel and a totally different being from
the “loving God revealed in the New Testament.” Marcion was so consumed with the
belief that Sha’ul’s message of the grace of YHWH opposed the “Law,” that he only used
an edited portion of Sha’ul’s writings that agreed with his theology. He detested the
Hebrew Scriptures and desired to root out the Jewish foundation of the faith altogether.
He also detested New Testament books with a strong Hebraic setting, e.g. Revelation.
Polycarpos, a prominent Gentile believer and sage, who received direct instruction from
Yochanan the Apostle, called Marcion the “first-born of Satan.”
After having been excommunicated by the congregation at Rome, Marcion founded his
own sect which merged selected “New Testament doctrines” with Gnosticism, creating a
theology that was sharply dualistic, violently antagonistic toward Judaism, ascetic and
celibate, and wielded a wide and destructive influence within Christianity.
Maror
A bitter herb such as horseradish, symbolising the bitter plight of the enslaved Israelites;
one of the symbolic foods used on the Pesach Seder plate.
Marranoes
Forcibly converted Jews in Spain.
Mashach
Verb meaning to anoint with oil. The corresponding noun is mashiach—an anointed
one.
Mashiach
Messiah. (Greek: The anointed, empowered One. The Messiah was sent Christos.)
forth by the Father to accomplish the redemption of man. Every king, prophet and high
priest of Israel was called messiah. The anointed prophets spoke the (Word) of a Devar
YHWH to his people, served as his instrument to work (miracles) and interceded nissim
on behalf of the people. The high priest served YHWH in the services of the Beit
haMiqdash (Temple), representing the people before YHWH in services that taught that
without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. The king had to rule with
justice, as good shepherds who applied the principles of YHWH’s kingship on earth.
The king was anointed as the one chosen by YHWH to represent His rulership in Israel
and to bear witness to His glory before the nations. These three offices were pictures of
the , who is Prophet, High Priest and King. In Messiah’s first coming, Messiah the the the
the emphasis was on the prophet who spoke the and the high priest who actively Devar
interposed his own shed sacrificial blood between YHWH and the sinner as a kapparah
(atoning covering) for our sin. At present, the emphasis in the work of the Messiah is on
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the role of the interceding High Priest. In His second coming, the emphasis will be on
His role as King. Yet He will always stand in all three these offices.
The term is an Anglicisation of the Latin word which is a transliteration messiah messias,
of the Greek a translation of the Aramaic , which is in turn a translation messias, meshiha
and shortening of the Hebrew —”the King Messiah.” haMelekh haMashiach
Some prophetic terms for the Messiah are summarised in Table 4. We leave it to the
reader to extend the list and fill in additional references.
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Table 4: Some prophetic titles of the Messiah
Prophetic Title Reference
The Coming One Malachi 3:1 & Zekharyahu 9:9
The Elect One Yeshayahu 42:1
Adon Tehillim 110:1
Son of Man Dani’el 7:13
The Son Tehillim 2
Immanu’el Yeshayahu 7-8
Yeshayahu 11:1-10
The Branch
Choter netzer shoresh (shoot); (branch); (root)
(Tzemach) Yirmeyahu 23:5b
The Banner Yeshayahu 11:10; 18:3
The Capstone Tehillim 118:22
The Green Tree Rabbinic title (Yechezq’el 20:47)
Se
(Nes)
ed of the Woman Genesis 3:15
The and the Zekharyahu 12:10; Genesis 1:1
The Man the Son of Peretz Rabbinic title (Ruth 4:18)
S
Alef Tav
on of the Clouds Rabbinic title (Dani’el 7:13)
The Messenger of YHWH Genesis 22; Exodus 3; …
The Messenger of the Presence Yeshayahu 63:9
The Arm of YHWH Yeshayahu 40-66
The
The Shield (Magen) Psalm 84:9; Yeshayahu 21:5b
The Lion of the tribe of Yahudah Genesis
Yoted
49; Revelation 4-5
The (Redeemer) (many)
The (Servant) of YHWH Yeshayahu 42-53
The Rock (many)
The Prophet Devarim 18
The Good
Go’el
Eved
Shepherd Genesis 49; Zekharyahu 11 & 13
The Teacher of Righteousness Yo’el 2:23
The Sun of Righteousness Genesis 1:14-18; Ma
12
13 lachi 4:2
The Light of the World Genesis 1:14-18; Yeshayahu 9:2
Shiloh Genesis 49:10b
Shiloach Yeshayahu 8:6
Wonderful Counsellor
Mighty El
Father of Time
Prince of Peace
Yeshayahu 9:6
12 Moreh Tzadekah.
13 Shemesh Tzadekah.
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In Table 5 we have listed some of the names that ancient Jewish sages ascribed to the
Messiah.
Table 5:
Some names ascribed to King Messiah in ancient rabbinic sources.
(Lamentations Rabba, Midrash Mishle, S. Buber’s note to Midrash Mishle, Targum to
1 Chronicles. Quoted in Patai (1979: 21-23, 81-83)).
Name of Messiah Meaning of the name
YHWH Personal Name of the Almighty
Yinnon To continue forever
Tzemach Shoot, Branch
Pele Miracle
Yo’etz Counsellor, advisor
Mashiach The Anointed One
El Mighty One before whom we tremble
Givvor Mighty Hero
Avi’Ad Shalom Everlasting Father of Peace
Tzidkenu Our Justice/Righteousness
Menachem Comforter
[My Servant] David (cf. )
Shiloh Him to whom the
Yechezq’el 34:23 & 37:24
right belongs
Hanina Favour
Nehira Light
Bar-Nifle Son of the Clouds
Anani He of the clouds
The Green Tree Yechezq’el 20:45-49; Luke 23:31
ben-Adam Son of Man
ben-David Son of David
ben-Yosef Son of Joseph
ben-Elohim Son of Elohim
haNavi The Prophet
haMoreh The Teacher
Masorah
The body of traditions regarding the correct spelling, writing and reading of the Hebrew
Scriptures.
Masorete
A scholar of the Masoretic tradition.
Masoretic
In accordance with the Masorah.
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Masoretic Text
The accepted Hebrew text of scriptures.
Matan Torah
The giving of the Torah.
Matzah
Unleavened bread.
Matzor
Besieged places.
Mayim Chaiyim
Living Waters.
Mattan Torah
The giving of the (teaching, instruction), specifically on Mount Sinay. Torah
Mattanot Le-Evyonim
Giving to the poor.
Matzah
Plural: Matzot.
Unleavened bread…The unleavened bread eaten in recollection of the hurried departure
from Egypt; the eating of is obligatory only at the Pesach Seder. matzah
Mayim Chayim
Living waters.
Mazel tov
Popular expression for “congratulations.” It contains an astrological mindset, because it
literally means, “good constellation” i.e. “good star-sign.”
Meat offered to Idols
I has been suggested that Sha’ul’s statements in Corinthians 8:1-13; 10:7, 14-28 conflict 1
the ruling against eating meat offered up to idols (Acts 15:10, 29; 21:25; Revelation
2:14, 20). However there is in reality no conflict.
Acts chapter 15 does not give an exhaustive enumeration of all of the laws which apply
to gentiles, but rather the “greater burden” or outer limits of the Noachide or Gentile Law
(Acts 15:28). This is based on a Jewish exegetical principle of (light and Kal v’khomer
heavy) which recognises that certain commandments are of greater weight than others
(see Mattityahu 23:23; the principle is used in Mattityahu 12:11-12 & Yochanan 7:22–
23). There was never any question as to whether Gentiles could forsake justice,
blaspheme, murder or steal; so there was no need to list these with the greatest burden of
Gentile Law.
The Noachide Law against idolatry is given very strict borders. Idolatry is to include
eating meat offered to idols.
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Now in Corinthians 8:1-13; 10:7, 14-28 Sha’ul agrees that one may not knowingly eat 1
meat offered up to idols. The issue Sha’ul questions, is whether or not one must halakhic
ask when purchasing meat whether or not it has been offered to idols. Sha’ul argues
(based on Tehillim 24:1= Corinthians 10:26, 28) that meat is not actually altered by the 1
idol but that eating such meat appears to others to endorse the idol to which it was
offered. If meat is advertised as having been offered to idols, then believers may not eat
it, since this would appear to endorse the idol. However, since the idol has no real power
over the meat, believers are not required to ask, since this would imply that the believer
believed that the idol had power over the meat, thus ascribing power to the idol and
endorsing idolatry by acknowledging the idols alleged power.
A basis for Sha’ul’s argument can be found by comparing Sha’ul’s summation of his
argument in Corinthians 10:28 to the story of the martyr Eleazar in 2 Maccabees 6:1- 1
29. Eleazar was a prominent Jew under the Hellenistic rule. A day came when all of the
Jews were to show their loyalty by eating meat offered to idols at a public feast. Eleazar
was not willing to do so, but because of his prominence, the authorities offered to allow
him to sneak kasher meat into the feast and eat it instead, thus only appearing to eat meat
offered up to idols. Eleazar refused, knowing that this would appear to endorse idolatry,
despite the fact that the meat would be kasher. As a result Eleazar was executed. This
story demonstrates that eating meat offered to idols is wrong, not because of the meat
itself, but because of the implied endorsement of the idolatry. Thus Sha’ul’s
interpretation does not conflict with Acts 15 but actually implies a very strict
interpretation, by which eating kasher meat would also be forbidden, if the meat were
falsely advertised as having been offered to an idol.
Meditate
Hebrew: yeh’geh.
Commenting on Tehillim 2:2b,
…and in His Torah he meditates day and night…
the Volume I, pp. 60-61 teaches as follows on the Scriptural Artscroll Tehillim Series,
notion of meditation:
[yeh’geh] …means speech…[that] articulates deeply held personal thoughts
weighing heavily on a person’s mind…the word refers to a developed thought
ready for expression.
The Talmud 19a) urges a study program in which the (Avodah Zarah talmid
(student) first whets his appetite by acquainting himself with the entirety of the
Torah Torah text swiftly, albeit superficially, thereby making “YHWH’s his desire.”
Then the student is urged to go back and painstakingly analyse each topic with
deep deliberation, “And in his he meditates day and night.” Torah
In a culture where mass-media propagate dangerous, futile and occultic “meditation”
techniques, the talmid of Messiah Yahushua should know the Scriptural concept of
meditation, as taught by the sages of Israel, very well, and teach it to all who have ears to
listen.
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Melekh
King.
Menashsheh
The Patriarch Yoseph son of Yisra’el, had 2 sons—Ephrayim and Menashsheh. The
conventional translation of Genesis 49:50-51 is:
And Yoseph called the name of the firstborn For Elohim has Menashsheh:
caused me to forget all my troubles and my father’s family. (Nashani’)
The Hebrew word translated above as “forget” is derived from a root, “noshe,”
connoting “movement from its proper place.”
A linguistic analysis (freely translated) of the name “Manasseh” by Rabbi Samson
Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888) extracted from his Commentary on the Book of Genesis
shows that “Forget” is not the only meaning of “Nosheh.” “Nosheh” also means: to be
the bearer of a claim, to be a creditor. [Genesis 32:33:]`”Nosheh”…to have body or
property in another’s trust. Thus the (creditor) has passed to another person part nosheh
of his property and as a result he demands something from him…a woman in the
singular …complements (her husband) and stands by his side as an equal. In the (ishah)
plural [i.e. in the plural name for women, however, is revealed the “nashim”],
communal status of woman, who surrenders some of her rights to the man and these
rights are represented by him. Only in the mass, in the life of the general whole group, do
women reveal themselves as weak and lacking. Women, however, are (i.e. noshim
“creditors”) with a claim [to be represented] on the husband who owes it to them.’
(S. R. Hirsch on Genesis 32:33).
The relevant verse regarding the name Menashsheh, Genesis 41:51, says:
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manashsheh: For Elohim has
caused me to forget [Hebrew: `nashani’] all my troubles and my father’s family.
Rabbi S.R. Hirsch on the above states that does not mean “forget” in case of the nashani
name but rather Menashsheh, delegated representation:
“The correct interpretation therefore of “Nashani” [from which the name
Menashsheh is derived] is that Elohim has made my tragedy and my [loss of]
family credit claims. From that which till now appeared to be tragedy and
torment, Elohim has made a tool to form my happiness. I am greatly obligated to
my tragedy and [loss of] family.
The name Menashsheh is therefore derivable from the root A Creditor is a nosheh.
nosheh noshim because he has a claim on somebody else; women are because as a group
they have a claim on their husbands to represent their interests. Yoseph named his firstborn
“Menashsheh” because when a (righteous person) suffers years of hardship, tzadiq
it is as though he or she stores up credit for future happiness.
Meni
A pagan moon goddess.
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Menorah
Plural: Menorot.
The seven-branched lampstand of solid gold that stood in the of the HaQodesh Mishkan
(Tabernacle) and the . Today, people commonly refer to a Beit haMiqdash (Temple)
Chanukiah as a menorah.
The usual translation “seven candlesticks” in Revelation 1-3 should actually read “sevenbranched
menorah.” Note that Yahushua stands in the of the menorah of middle
Revelation—the position of the or servant—just as the of Genesis 1:1 Shamash Z}
stands in the middle of the seven Hebrew words of Genesis 1:1. Because the can not Z}
be directly rendered into Greek, the “alef and the tav” is explicitly rendered as “the
Alpha and the Omega” in the Book of Revelation.
At a midrashic level of interpretation, we may relate the “Seven Spirits” or “sevenfold
Spirit” of YHWH, which is mentioned in Revelation, to a Menorah, each branch
bringing light and revelation to mankind. In 11 we see a sevenfold of Yeshayahu
attributes of the of YHWH, which is upon the Anointed One of Yisra’el in their Ruach
full measure:
1. The Spirit of (Wisdom). Chokhmah
2. The Spirit of (Understanding). Binah
3. The Spirit of Counsel.
4. The Spirit of (Might). Gibor
5. The Spirit of (Knowledge). Da’at
6. The Spirit of (the Fear of YHWH). ha-Yirat YHWH
7. The Anointing to do mishpat (right-ruling).
Merkavah
Chariot. The name of a modern Israeli armoured tank.
Mesorah
The traditional essential requirements in the writing of a scroll. Torah
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Mezuzah
Plural: Mezuzot.
(Literally: doorpost). Cylindrical container with letter and text from the shin Sh’ma ( ) V
that is put on the doorpost(s) of the house.
Megillah
Plural: Megillot.
Literally: scroll. A scroll of one of the following five books of Scripture: Esther, Song of
Songs, Ruth, Lamentations and Kohelet (Ecclesiastes); thus there are five megillot in the
Scriptures. Each is read on a particular as summarised in Table 6. mo’ed,
Table 6
Megillot read at specific Occasions.
Occasion Megillah
Pesach Song of Songs
Shavuot Rut
Tishah Be’Av Lamentations
Sukkot Kohelet
Purim Esther
Melekh
King.
Memra [A]
Aramaic equivalent of (Word; Divine expression). Devar
Menachem
Comforter. The manifesting as comforter, as interceding advocate, of Ruach HaQodesh
the individual and the covenant people. Greek: Parakletos. Also a title for the Messiah,
the Comforter of Yisra’el.
Menuchah
Rest. The rest that the believers will enter in when King Messiah comes, of which we
now have the firstfruits in our hearts.
Me’olam
From an indefinite time in the past.
Meratayim
Intense bitterness; double rebellion. A prophetic term for Bavel (Babylon), the
policeman of the world, the queen of the kingdoms, in Yirmeyahu 50:21-25.
21″Attack the land of and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and Meratayim
completely destroy them,” declares YHWH. “Do everything I have commanded
you.”
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22The noise of battle is in the land, the noise of great destruction!
23How broken and shattered is How desolate the hammer of the whole earth!
is Bavel among the nations!
24I set a trap for you, O Bavel, and you were caught before you knew it; you
were found and captured because you opposed YHWH.
25YHWH has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for
Adonai YHWH Tzva’ot has work to do in the land of the (Chaldeans). Kasda’im
Meshek
Mesech. Yechezq’el 38:2-3; 39:1. Linked by some commentators to the name Moscow.
Some Talmudic rabbis saw that historical Ashshur under Sancheiriv is a prophetic
picture of eschatological Gog from the land of Magog. As early as 1913, Professor HA
Ironside of the in Chicago, stated that historical Assyria equals Moody Bible Institute
eschatological Russia.
Metatron
Jewish tradition teaches that Metatron is the name of the (messenger, “angel”) malakh
spoken of in Exodus 23:21, where YHWH states: “My name is in him,” so that Metatron
bears the Tetragrammaton, “YHWH” (Jewish Encyclopedia, 1912, Vol. 8, p. 519). Even
though he bears the ineffable Name, the rabbis stated (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate
Sanhedrin 38b) that Metatron may not be worshiped—they taught that YHWH
commanded, “Exchange Me not for him.” The sages taught that Metatron is the prince
of the world, a teacher of the and a power in heaven. The (a mystical Torah Zohar
cabalistic work) states that Metatron is the “Son of Man” who is only slightly lower than
YHWH (after Psalm 8:6). Some rabbis also identified Metatron as the Malakh ha-Panim
or “Messenger of the Presence,” spoken of in Yeshayahu 63:9. The term “metatron”
means “guide.” In rabbinic tradition then, Metatron is the unique (messenger) of malakh
the Presence, who bears the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, and guided the Children of
Yisra’el through the wilderness to the promised land. In the pseudepigraphic book of
Enoch, Metatron is called the “most excellent of the heavenly host” and “the guide to all
the treasures of my Elohim.” In some rabbinic works, he is called “Metatron Messiah”
i.e. the “Anointed Metatron.” A specific ancient prayer said on Yom Kippur by ancient
Messianic Jewish believers is directed to the Almighty, “ad-iad Yeshu
Metatron”—through Yeshua Metatron.
Hebrew commentaries on Yeshayahu 63:9, where the Malakh YHWH is called the
Malakh ha-Panim—the Messenger of the Face Presence—say that the title “malakh „¡
ha-panim” means “Prince of the Countenance” Radaq (Rabbi Dawid (Sar ha-Panim).
Qimchi) says of Malakhi 3:1, “He who will suddenly come to His Miqdash” is the King
Messiah, and He is Adonai-b’rit (Adonai of the covenant).
The Jewish prayer book (Siddur haShalem) contains a remarkable prayer which speaks
of the Prince of the Countenance. This prayer is said on Yom Teruah when the shofar is
sounded:
May it be thy will that the blast from this shofar should carry to the tabernacle of
Elohim…through Yeshua the Prince of the Countenance and the Prince
Metatron, and may your favour be our part. Be thou blessed, Adonai of favour.
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In Bereshith 32:29-30, Ya’aqov wrestled with a certain “man” from whom he asked a
blessing. Ya’aqov named the place Peni’el, meaning “face of El.” The Midrash Rabbah
comments on this, saying that Ya’aqov “saw the face of El in the Shekhinah.”
It is important to remind ourselves that aggadic rabbinic teachings about Metatron are of
a characteristic playful, speculative nature, and is subservient to the full revelation of
Scripture.
Midat haDin
The attribute of justice of YHWH. The name YHWH is expressive of the Creator’s
mercy and loyal covenantal love, while the term Elohim expresses Him as the righteous
Judge. Drawing on a mathematical understanding of Exodus 20:5-6, the sages taught
that the attribute of mercy is at least times stronger than the attribute of ƒqƒoƒoƒo
ƒs „M ƒtƒoƒo
retributive justice.
In Me’am Lo’az The Torah Anthology: — (Kaplan, 1982: 59), the Yom Kippur Service
teachings of the sages concerning the attributes designated by the names and YHWH
Elohim, are set out as follows:
The Almighty directs Israel with two attributes: the Attribute of Justice (midath
haDin) (midath HaRachamim) and the Attribute of Mercy …
The Almighty therefore said, “I am YHWH your Elohim.”
The name YHWH denotes the Attribute of Mercy. The Almighty is saying, “I am
trusted to give good reward to those who follow my ways, but I am also your
Elohim. I can also direct the Attribute of Justice against you and punish those
who violate my commandments.”
Middot
Our character essence and heart-attitude, specifically as it manifests in the way we treat
others.
Midrash
Plural: Midrashim.
1) A method of interpreting the stressing the allegorical method of inter- Tanakh,
pretation. It is also a homiletic way of looking at a text, as opposed to an exegetical
approach. An inquiry, an investigation. A rabbinic exposition of the text of Scripture,
squeezing it to get more and more meaning out of it.
2) The name of certain specific collections of commentaries which have employed the
midrashic method of interpretation. A collection of works compiled between the third
and twelfth centuries that seeks out underlying truths and meanings of the Scriptures; the
result of the process of delving into the ramifications of a verse of Scripture and of the
ancient rabbis’ reading between the lines of Scripture. The best known collection of
midrashim is called the which is a commentary on the entire Midrash Rabbah, Torah
plus the five megilot. Although compiled sometime between the fourth and fifth
centuries YM, includes some material from Yahushua’s time and even Midrash Rabbah
before.
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Midyan
Midian.
Midyanite
Midianite.
Migdal Eder
Stronghold or tower of the sheep-flock.
And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee
shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of
Yerushalayim.
The phrase “tower of the flock,” according to Strong’s, is a particular location called
Migdal Eder, just outside of Beit-Lechem (Bethlehem). The Mishnah tells that Levitical
shepherds were require to raise the animals for Temple sacrifices within a prescribed
radius from Yerushalayim. Those “suburbs” of Yerushalayim that fell within that radius
were called Bat-Zion, i.e. the “Daughter of Tzion.”
The shepherds who watched over the flocks raised for sacrifices in the Beit haMiqdash
were not ignorant country bumpkins, but Levites who erected towers (migdal) from
which they watched over the sacrificial flocks. Yahushua’s birth, probably occurred in a
sukkah adjacent to the Levitical watchtower just outside Beit Lechem. The Migdal Eder,
Levitical shepherds would recognise the Messiah wrapped in swaddling cloths—the
priestly undergarments.
When one stands at Migdal Eder, Beit-Lechem can be seen in the distance. The word
migdal can also be understood to be a stronghold.
Miqdash Me’at
Literally: a small set-apart place. The home is seen as such, and the father of the household
is as a priest serving the Almighty in his own house.
Mikhah
Micah. Shortened form of Mikhayahu—”Who is like unto Yahu…”
Mikha’el
Michael. Literally: “Who is like El…”
Mikvah
A pool of water for immersing the body to purify it from ritual uncleanliness. Immersion
in a is also obligatory for proselytes to Judaism, as part of the ceremony of mikveh
conversion. A mikveh contains at least 40 measures of water.
Mikveh
Something that is waited and hoped for in confidence.
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Millennium
The 1000 year rule of the Messiah during Several approaches to the Yom YHWH.
Millennium mentioned in Revelation 20 are found in theology:
Premillennialism states that the Messiah returns to the Millennium, establishing prior
the Kingdom. Premillennialism may be further subdivided according to their views on
the timing of the catching up of believers to meet the Messiah in the air. We find the
pre-tribulation rapture (“PreTrib”), mid-trib and post-trib views. Many, but not all, pretrib
believers are dispensationalists.
Amillennialism states that there will be literal 1000 year Messianic reign, and that the no
prophecies about His reign are fulfilled, spiritually, in His present heavenly reign over
His Church on earth.
Postmillennialism states that the Church will triumph the return of the Messiah before
and that the triumphant Church will enter into this Millennium. After the horrors of
WW2, classical postmillennialism seemed in danger of losing all adherents because
serious doubts were cast on the perfectibility of the Church; many postmillennialists
quietly turned into amillennialists. However, the rise of Reconstructionism and Kingdom
Now Theology within the Charismatic Movement has swelled the ranks of the
Postmillennialist movement. The sermons of Postmillennialists are characterised by
optimistic and almost militant references to the “Triumphant endtime Church.” To teach
this triumphalism from the replacement theology, which “swaps” the term Tanakh,
Church Israel, for is employed. Postmillennialists refer to their optimistic views as the
“Biblical eschatology of victory” and think of premillennialists and amillennialists as
painful “gloom & doom” pessimists. Non-Charismatic postmillennialists are usually
Theonomians and hold the Law in high regard. Their views are far more sound than that
of Charismatic Postmillennialists. Yet Al Dager easily pulls many their views apart in
Vengeance is Ours: The Church in Dominion (1990).
An important aspect of proper interpretation of prophecy is the role of timing. When will
a prophecy be fulfilled in history? There are four possibilities. The four views are simple
in the sense that they reflect the only four possibilities in relation to time-past, present,
future, and timeless. The preterist (past) believes that most, if not all prophecy has
already been fulfilled, usually in relation to the destruction of in YM 70. Yerushalayim
The historicist (present) sees much of the current church age as equal to the tribulation
period. Thus, prophecy has been and will be fulfilled during the current church age.
Futurists (future) believe that virtually all prophetic events will not occur in the current
church age, but will take place in the future tribulation, Second Coming, or Millennium.
The idealist (timeless) does not believe either that Scripture indicates the timing of
events or that we can determine their timing in advance. Therefore, idealists think that
prophetic passages mainly teach great ideas or truths about YHWH to be applied
regardless of timing.
Personally, I regard Premillennialism as the correct eschatological view.
Some branches of the Charismatic movement currently teaches a somewhat bizarre
mixture of premillennialism and postmillennialism—they are doctrinal premillennialists
but operational postmillennialists.
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Minchah
Plural: Menachot.
To apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; tribute. Gift, offering, present, sacrifice.
In Temple times: A gift offering in the , usually bloodless and voluntary; Beit haMiqdash
an offering made of flour and oil.
Afternoon prayer.
Minyan
Quorum of ten adult Jews necessary for public prayer.
Miqra
Something that is called out, i.e. a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place);
rehearsal, assembly, convocation.
Miqra Qodesh
A set-apart meeting, rehearsal, convocation.
Miryam
“Mary.” Miryam was the most common name given to Hebrew women, 2000 years ago.
Mishkan
A residence, dwelling, habitation; specifically the Tabernacle.
Mishnah
The collection of the committed to writing around 200 YM under Rabbi Oral Torah
Yahudah haNasi.
Mishpachah
Family, i.e. circle of relatives.
Mishpat
Plural: Mishpatim.
Judgement; right-ruling. Ethical commandments of the Torah.
Mishpat pl. mishpatim, connective pl. mishpatei-…
The lawful decision of the De-Judaized to “judgement” and various other Beit Din.
renderings to avoid recognition of the system. Mishpat is concerns the Beit Din
definitive, authoritative and just interpretation of applied to real-life situations. All Torah
other interpretations are “following one’s own heart and one’s own eyes” (Shemot 15:39;
Devarim 17:9-13). Mishpat has been handed down by the in a chain Beit Din
uninterrupted since Mosheh at Har Sinay. “Sanhedrin,” a Greek word, was known
(outside of Hellenist circles) in the Jewish community as the (the Beit Din Ha-Gadol
Great Court of Law). The corpus of accumulated case law (mishpatim) and legislated
statutes (chuqim) of the over the millennia is called (the walk). The Beit Din halakhah
Qumran-Essene Tzedoqim called their interpretations (“the practice”). ma’aseh
In contrast to a a makes sense to the rational mind. chuq, mishpat
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Mizbeach
Altar.
From the verb “to slaughter, kill, sacrifice.” There were two altars in the tzabach, Beit
haMiqdash mizbeach —the huge bronzen altar in the courtyard of the kohanim, and the
zahav parochet Qodesh ha-Qodeshim. or golden altar, in front of the in the
Mitzrayim
Egypt.
Historical Mitzrayim may well be a picture of the eschatological empire of the False
messiah. Compare Revelation 16, which describes the plagues over the kingdom of the
Beast, with the 10 plagues over Mitzrayim described in Exodus. Also compare
Yechezq’el 29:1-7 and 32:1-6 with Mattatiyahu 24:28, Luke 17:35-37 and Revelation
19:17-21.
Mitzvah
Plural: Mitzvot.
Literally: Commandment; a religious precept or obligation; mitzvah refers to one of the
613 commandments in the …a good deed. Torah
Mitzvat Aseh
A commandment-to-do, a positive command.
Mitzvat Lo Ta’aseh
A commandment-not-to-do, a prohibition.
Mo’ed
An appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically a festival and/or assembly of the
qahal of Yisra’el. An assembly convened for a definite purpose; technically the
congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal as appointed
beforehand appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, —
solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn, synagogue, (set) time (appointed). See
Leviticus 23 for a listing of the and their dates. mo’edim
Mof
Memphis.
Mohar
A bride-price.
Mohel
The official who perform covenantal circumcision.
Molekh
An idol worshipped by bringing child sacrifices.
Molad haLevanah
The appearance of the new Moon.
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Molekh
Demonic idol, served by casting children into fire burning inside the metal shell of the
idolatrous image.
Mordekhay
Mordechai.
Moreh Tzadekah
Teacher of Righteousness. A term for the Messiah. Based on Yo’el 2:23. Referred to in
Mattityahu 26:18, Mark 14:14 and Yochanan 11:28.
Mori’el
Literally: ” is my teacher.” El
Moriyah
Name of Mountain in Yerushalayim. Literally: “Yah is my teacher.” MoriYah.
Mosheh Rabbenu
Moses our teacher.
Moshe’im
Saviours (in Ovadiyah 21).
Motza’ei Shabbat
The night following the Sabbath.
Motzi
Literally: Who brings forth bread; blessing over bread; standard blessing before meals at
which bread is served…one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony.
Mussaf
“Added” prayer service for Sabbaths and festivals, immediately following morning
prayer… the additional whole offering in the prescribed by the Beit haMiqdash Torah
for Sabbaths, Festivals and New Moons. The service Mussaf follows the regular daily
service. The additional sacrifices brought on specific festivals, e.g. the seventy bulls that
were sacrifices during Sukkot. Because there is no Temple today, no additional sacrifices
can be brought. Therefore additional prayers are added on the above days.
The term means —that which has been to the normal state of Mussaf addition added
affairs. The Mussaf sacrifice is entitled such as it comes in addition to the standard, daily
sacrifices. Each day, one sheep is offered in the morning (the “tamid shel shachar”) and
one in the late afternoon (the “tamid shel bein ha’arbayim”). No sacrifices were offered
prior to the morning tamid, nor was any offering brought upon the altar after the
afternoon tamid (with the exception of the korban pesach). Thus, in effect, the two tamid
offerings opened and closed the daily service in the Temple.
In the Torah introduces the commandment regarding the as part Parashat Teruma, tamid
of its discussion of the altar (Shemot 29). This association suggests that the this korban
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constitutes part of the basic definition of the altar, or at least of the service conducted on
the altar.
As stated earlier, special korbanot are offered on Shabbat and festivals in addition to the
daily tamid offerings, and they must be brought only the morning tamid. (For this after
reason, the Mussaf prayer that we recite on Shabbat and Yom Tov, which commemorates
the Mussaf sacrifice, is always recited after the shacharit service, which commemorates
the morning tamid.)
A closer look at the various Mussaf sacrifices shows a variety of systems of the Mussaf
sacrifice, which may point to a corresponding variety of types of festivals. In other
words, the Mussaf sacrifices may enhance our understanding of the Jewish calendar with
its various holidays. The following chart lists the sacrifices to be offered at their
respective times, grouped by the numbers of animals:
Shabbat: two sheep
Rosh Chodesh: seven sheep; two bulls; one ram.
Chag haMatzot: seven sheep; two bulls; one ram.
Shavuot: seven sheep; two bulls; one ram.
Rosh Hashanah: seven sheep; one bull; one ram.
Yom Kippur: seven sheep; one bull; one ram.
Shemini Atzeret: seven sheep; one bull; one ram.
Sukkot: fourteen sheep; 13-7 bulls (in descending order from the first day); two rams.
Thus, three distinct types of festivals emerge.
On Shabbat, only two sheep are offered. In other words, the basic daily sacrifice (the
“tamid”), which consists of one sheep, is merely doubled. No rams or bulls are offered
as is the case on the festivals. Although Shabbat assumes its place among the sacred
days of the calendar, it remains separate from the other holidays. (This duality with
regard to the nature of Shabbat is manifest in the presentation of the Shabbat and
festivals in —Vayikra 23—as well.) Parashat Emor
The other festivals may thus be classified into two distinct groups, according to the
number of bulls sacrificed thereupon. The common denominator uniting all the festivals
regards the number of sheep—seven—and the number of rams—one. (Later, we will
examine the Mussaf of Sukkot, the obvious exception.) The point of difference, then, is
with regard to the number of bulls.
Thus, the festivals may be grouped as follows:
I) Rosh Chodesh, Chag haMatzot, Shavuot : two bulls II) Rosh Hashanah, Yom
Kippur, Shemini Atzeret: one bull
In order to properly understand the underlying significance of this classification, we
must first try to identify the beginning of the Jewish year. The Torah states in Parashat
Bo (Shemot 12:2), “This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall
be the first of the months of the year for you.” Here, the month of Aviv seems to mark
the beginning of the calendar year. However, as we all know, “Rosh Hashanah,” the
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New Year, is observed six months later, on the first of Tishrei. (See the first mishna in
Masekhet Rosh Hashana.) This calendar arrangement, with Tishrei marking the new
year, emerges from a different verse in Sefer Shemot (23:16): “…and the Feast of
Ingathering (Sukkot) at the end of the year, when you gather in the results of your work
from the field.” Sukkot is presented here as occurring towards the end of the year. (See
also the parallel verse—Shemot 34:22: “…and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the
year.”)
Evidently, the Jewish calendar features two different new years—one in Aviv and the
other in Tishrei. I would like to suggest that the two systems of korbanot—i.e. the two
types of festivals—that we have encountered directly relate to this duality within the
Jewish calendar. The first system relates to the festivals of Aviv, i.e. the festivals of the
Exodus from Egypt. The institution of Rosh Chodesh was established simultaneous to
YHWH’s instructions to Moshe and Aharon with respect to the Exodus (Shemot 12:1);
Chag Ha-Matzot commemorates the Exodus; and Shavuot, which was never given a
calendar date and is observed always fifty days after Chag Ha-Matzot, comprises a
continuation of this process of recalling the Exodus from Egypt.
Correspondingly, the second system of festivals involves exclusively the month of
Tishrei. It consists of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Shemini Atzeret, all of which
occur during this month. This distinction is expressed by the different sacrifices offered
on the holidays of each respective group.
Now we must turn our attention to the more complex Mussaf sacrifice of Sukkot. At
least with regard to the rams and sheep, the Mussaf offering of Sukkot is simply double
that of the other festivals. It requires fourteen sheep as opposed to the seven of the other
holidays, and its two rams double the single ram of the other Mussaf sacrifices. We must
therefore view Sukkot as a “double” festival, one which incorporates two “smaller”
festivals therein. It would seem that this double nature evolves from the two distinct
systems outlined above. In other words, Sukkot is observed both in the “Tishrei-year” as
well as in the “Aviv-year.” The reason is clear. On the one hand, Sukkot commemorates
the Exodus—”…in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite
people live in booths seven days” (Vayikra 23:43)—thus warranting its inclusion in the
Aviv system of festivals. Concurrently, though, Sukkot obviously belongs in the Tishrei
group, as it follows Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and occurs on the fifteenth of
Tishrei. Thus, Sukkot features a complex system of Mussaf sacrifices.
This dichotomy of Sukkot expresses itself in Parashat Emor, as well. The Torah there
presents and discusses all the festivals, concluding with Sukkot. Following its treatment
of Sukkot, the Torah summarizes, “These are the set times of YHWH that you shall
celebrate as sacred occasions” (23:37). After this conclusion, though, the Torah once
again commands the observance of Sukkot: “Mark, on the fifteenth day of the seventh
day, when you have gathered in the yield of your land, you shall observe the festival of
YHWH seven days.” Thus, the Chumash presetwo commandments with respect to
Sukkot, corresponding to the dual nature of this particular festival. (This issue of the
repeated discussion of Sukkot in Vayikra 23 is a vast topic, well beyond the scope of this
shiur. The reader is referred to the analysis of Rav Mordechai Breuer in “Pirkei
Moadot.”)
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(The issue of the bull-offerings, which require thirteen through seven bulls in descending
order over the course of the festival, seems to relate to an entirely different concept. As
this topic warrants independent treatment, we will simply remark that the Torah may
have specifically required the offering of seven bulls on the seventh day.)
These two categories of festivals present before the Jew two fundamental experiences,
expressed by and during the festivals. First, the Jew is called upon to experience his
nation’s history and commemorate events of the past, specifically the Exodus from Egypt
and the Revelation at Sinai ( = the year that begins with Aviv). Simultaneously, the
individual faces the present reality, specifically his agricultural concerns, and beseeches
the Almighty for success in his endeavors. This sense manifests itself most acutely in
Tishrei, the beginning of the agricultural year.
Thus, the listing of the sacrifices in Parashat Pinchas expresses the nature of the various
festivals and the relationships between them. We have not dealt with the specific
numbers themselves, e.g. why the Torah ordained specifically seven sheep and two
rams. Our goal here was to demonstrate the differences between the various festivals
and how these distinctions reflect the essence of each respective category of holidays.
In effect, within both systems man confronts the reality designed by the Almighty.
However, this confrontation contains two distinct but complimentary features. During
the festivals of Aviv, the individual faces the events that characterized the formation of
the Jewish people and expresses his gratitude to YHWH. In contrast, the festivals of
Tishrei have the Jew stand directly before the Almighty and request His assistance. Both
systems are founded on the same principle—YHWH’s boundless dominion over the
universe and the events that transpire therein. Whereas during the festivals of Aviv the
Jewish experience focuses on the events themselves, the festivals of Tishrei feature a
direct encounter with YHWH.
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N
Na’anu’im
The wavings of the four species on Sukkot.
Nacham
To sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication: to be sorry, i.e. (in a favourable sense) to
pity, console, or comfort, ease. To have regrets, as in Genesis 6:6, Exodus 32:12-14 and
Nachem
A prayer for consolation.
Nachash
Serpent, snake. From a root that means “shining whisperer, enchanter.” The shining
enchanter. Afrikaans: “glinsterende verleier.” In Exodus 7:9-15, is parallel to nachash
the —the sea creatures of Genesis 1:21, and therefore also related to the tanin liv’yatan
(cf. Yeshayahu 27:1), which is a . The —the shining enchanter—misled tanin nachash
Adam and Chawwah in Gan Eden. Properly Hebraised, Revelation 20:2 reads:
And [the seized the that old which is the Devil and malakh] tanin, nachash,
Satan, and bound him a thousand years…
Naga
To touch, i.e. lay the hand upon, draw near, reach, strike, touch. Following His
resurrection, Yahushua told Miryam not to Him naga —the same word a (High) Priest
would use while on his way to sprinkle atoning blood on the altar.
Na’omi
Naomi.
Nasi
Plural: Nesi’im.
An exalted one. A king, governor, prince or president of the Beit Din. The president or
administrator of a synagogue. In the Talmudic period, the Nasi also functioned as the
head of the Jewish people. Yechezq’el 40-46. A title for the Messiah in
Natzal
To snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense. Defend, deliver (self), escape,
without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, surely, take out.
Deliverance, being snatched away from danger; Greek: harpazo. Rapture.
Nazah
Besprinkle.
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Neder
A vow. The service on Kol Nidre Yom Kippur begs the Almighty for forgiveness of, and
release from, all unkept vows made to Him.
Ne’eilah
Literally: closing; concluding service of …closing of the gate. Yom Kippur The
concluding service on after which the Nikanor gates of the Yom Kippur, Beit haMiqdash
were closed (Winter, 1973: 72-73). At this service, a sustained blast was shofar
sounded. Yeshayahu 27:13 and The (great of which we read in Shofar haGadol shofar),
Mattityahu 24:31, is blown with the service, and marked the closing of the Ne’eilah
Nikanor gates of the . It is clear therefore, that both Yeshayahu 27:13 Beit haMiqdash
and Mattityahu 24:31 intimates that the triumphant return of King Messiah will be on the
mo’ed Yom Kippur. (appointed time)
Nefesh chayyah
Living being. The animating life-force shared by humans and all living, breathing
creatures—Genesis 1:30. Essentially equivalent to the (breath of life) nishmat chayyim
mentioned in Genesis 2:7.
Nefilim
Fallen ones; mentioned in Genesis 6.
Negev
South. The southern, mostly arid area of Eretz Yisra’el.
Neo-Marcionism
See: Marcion.
A loose term used to refer to the mindset that the (Hebrew Scriptures) is largely Tanakh
irrelevant and has been replaced by the Greek New Testament Scriptures. In his book,
Jesus the Jewish Theologian, Professor Bradford Young laments the fact that large
sections of contemporary Christianity are infested with a subtle and pervasive spirit of
Neo-Marcionism.
Ner
Lamp.
Ner ha-ma’aravi
The light in the branch of the nearest to the Menorah Qodesh ha-Qodeshim. The rabbis
taught that this light miraculously never was extinguished, except in the last 40 years
before the destruction of the by the Romans under Titus in 70 YM. The Beit haMiqdash
ner tamid was burned night and day in the Beit haMiqdash.
Nesech
The libation of wine over the altar in the , accompanying the sacrifices. Beit haMiqdash
Neshamah
Breath of life. Treated hypostatically in later rabbinic writings.
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Nesi’im
Head of the people, a head of a Tribe, a Prince.
Netan’el
Nataniel.
Nevi’im
The Prophets; second section of the Tanakh.
New Song
Hebrew: Shir Chadashah.
See: Harp.
Today, our music is set up on an eight-note scale called an octave. This dates back to
ancient times. In Scripture, there are references to a song called the This New Song.
song is understood as the song that will be sung when Messiah comes. The
commentaries of the sages abound with tremendous revelation on the full implications of
every reference to the The sages teach that the will be sung on a New Song. New Song
new ten-note scale rather than our present eight-note octave. They teach that the two
additional notes are already present, but that they can not be heard yet. Wherever we
encounter the expression, “sing to YHWH a new song” in Scripture, it indicates that the
passage will have its consummation at the time when King Messiah will come, when we
will be empowered by the to sing the praises of YHWH in an extended Ruach HaQodesh
musical scale, using ten-stringed musical instruments.
Psalms 33, 40, 92, 93, 96, 98, 144, 149, Yeshayahu 42:10-17, and also Revelation 5:9 &
14:3 deal with this wonderful theme. Psalms 92, 93 are sung with Qabalat
Shabbat—the welcoming of the Sabbath. These Tehillim speak prophetically of the
Messianic Kingdom to Come, the sabbatical millennium. The theme of these Psalms is
that the greatness of will be recognised by all in the Messianic Kingdom. Rabbi YHWH
Ya’aqov Emden taught that Psalms 92 and 93 should be sung when the Footsteps of the
Shabbat was heard. We are the generation living in Erev Shabbat—at the very
threshold of the Messianic age of which the of the weekly Shabbat is a prophetic shalom
tafnit (pattern).
The sage Rashi taught that Psalm 92 was the Levite’s song for the Shabbat Beit
haMiqdash service. According to the Scherman, Artscroll Rosh HaShanah Machzor (
1985), Rashi taught that,
[Tehillim 92] refers to the World to Come [the when man will be Olam ha-ba],
given the spiritual perfection we only glimpse during the Shabbat.
Commenting on the expression,
“…upon 10-stringed instruments and lyre, with singing accompanied by a harp.”
the ( 47) states, Artscroll Rosh HaShanah Machzor Scherman, 1985:
The sages teach that the lyre/harp of Messianic times will be ten-stringed,
representing a beautiful enhancement of music, which is now limited to the
octave of 8 notes. Every period in life calls for its own unique expression of
praise…The enhanced spirituality of Messianic times will [be expressed in] a
heightened form of song see Artscroll (Sfas Emes; Overview, Tehillim).
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In its commentary on the expression “10-stringed instrument” in Psalm 33, the Artscroll
Rosh HaShanah Machzor ( ) calls it “a celebration of the World to Come Scherman, 1985
(the Olam ha-Ba).”
This recognition of the profound prophetic significance of the joyous expression, “sing
to a enables us to understand otherwise obscure passages in an YHWH new song”
entirely new light. Take, for example,
Yeshayahu 42:10-17
10Sing to YHWH a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go
down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.
11Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar
[i.e. Bedouin Arab believers] lives rejoice. Let the people of [Petra] sing for Sela
joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.
12Let them give esteem to YHWH and proclaim his praise in the islands.
13YHWH will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
14″For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But
now, I cry out, I gasp and pant. like a woman in childbirth,
15I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn
rivers into islands and dry up the pools.
16I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will
guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough
places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
17But those who trust in idols, who say to images, `You are our mighty ones,’ will
be turned back in utter shame.
The understanding that the phrase, “sing to YHWH a new song” refers to the empowerment
of the faithful remnant for a wonderful new mode of worship, at the revelation of
King Messiah, enables us to identify this passage as describing the triumphant revelation
of the Messiah at the end of the Chevlei Shel Mashiach—the Birthpangs of the Messiah,
i.e. the tribulation period —cf. . The faithful remnant of Yisra’el hiding in Sela (Petra
Yeshayahu 16 and Revelation 12 —cf. Yeshayahu 16 ), Arab believers (Kedar ) and all
the faithful in the earth (“the ends of the earth”) rejoice in His coming. Empowered by
the YHWH Ruach HaQodesh, they sing a New Song of praise to Elohim Tzva’ot, in an
extended musical scale, in the most joyous celebration.
Niddah
Ritually unclean woman. A woman during the period of menstruation. The first 7 days
of menstruation was called the “seven red days.” This was followed by “seven white
days.” During this 14 day period, a husband could not come together with his wife.
Following the 14 days, the woman would immerse herself in a mikvah. Upon coming
out of the mikvah, she was called “born again.” She dressed herself like a bride,
beautifying herself for the monthly “honeymoon.”
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Nikanor gate
One of the seven gates in the large hall of the Temple compound. This gate was by the
Ezrath Yisra’el (the Hall of Israel) to the east, to the north of the altar.
Ninveh
Nineveh.
Nirtzah
Acceptance, closing prayer…the last phase of the Seder ceremony.
Nisan (Aviv)
First (springtime) month of year, during which falls. Pesach The first month of the
religious calender and the seventh on the civil calender. In earlier texts, its name is Aviv.
Under the influence of the Assyrian culture, which impacted upon Yahudah during the
Babylonian captivity, the name later was changed to Nisan.
Nes
Banner. A term for the Messiah in passages such as Yeshayahu 11:10, 13:2 and 18:3.
Nissim
Miracles such as were performed by Messiah Yahushua, his Sh’liachim as well as other
1st century Chassidics such as Choni the Circle-Drawer. Yahushua’s had a nissim
uniquely messianic quality. The many miraculous healings He performed on the seventh
day—the Shabbat—are acted prophecies that the great healing is coming on the
seventh day—Yom YHWH.
Nissuin
In ancient times, the formal wedding ceremony.
Nisuch Hamayim
The libation of water in the during the Feast of Tabernacles. Beit haMiqdash
Noach (No’ach)
Noah.
Noachide
One who follows the stipulations of the covenant made with Noach after the Mabul
(Flood).
Noachide laws
Commands originally given to Noach and therefore binding on both Jews and non-Jews.
The sages taught that there were seven such laws or categories of rules. The Noachide
laws later became recognised as the basic commandments that a non-Jewish believer
should observe to show that he had withdrawn from idolatry, and serves only YHWH.
In Acts 15, the Nazarene Beit Din in Yerushalayim ruled that Gentile believers should,
as an keep the entrance requirement for fellowship in the Messianic assemblies,
Noachide covenantal obligations. This special concession does not mean that the entire
Torah is not binding on Messianic Jews any more. Neither does it mean that Gentile
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believers should not voluntarily obey more of the It Torah, in a gradual growth-process.
is a ruling about into the community of believers, the halakhic entrance requirements
commonwealth of believing Yisra’el.
The US Congress officially recognised the Noachide Laws in legislation which was
passed by both houses. Congress and the President of the United States (then Ronald
Reagan) indicated in Public Law 102-14, 102nd Congress, that the United States of
America was founded upon the and that these Laws Seven Universal Laws of Noach,
have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilisation. They also acknowledged
that the are the foundation upon which civilisation stands and that Seven Laws of Noach
recent weakening of these principles threaten the fabric of civilised society, and that
justified preoccupation in educating the Citizens of the United States of America and
future generations is needed. This Public Law designated March 26, 1991 as Education
Day for this purpose.
Nomos [G]
The Greek term commonly mistranslated as Law. “Law” is a mistranslation of the
Hebrew term, which means teaching, instruction, a showing of the way. The Torah,
word Greek was in turn taken from Aramaic. nomos
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O
Occult
Some terms and concepts:
Yiddoni „M Spiritist.
Ov „M medium; familiar spirit; the divining demon present in the body of the conjurer.
Divining by an is expressly forbidden in Va’yiqrah 20:27. ov
Wayiqra 20:27
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard (i.e. who is a
medium or spiritist), shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with
stones: their blood shall be upon them.
Zekharyah 10:2
The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are
false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep
oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Cheret „M magic; occult magic.
Teraphim „M Household idols consulted for oracular answers—see Bereshith 31:19-35,
Judges 18:14-20, 2 Kings 23:24, Yechezq’el 21:21 and Zekharyah 10:2.
Divination „M The art of obtaining secret knowledge, especially of the future; a pagan
corruption/counterpart of prophecy. Inspirational divination is by demonic power, and is
condemned by Scripture—
Devarim 18:10-12
10Let no-one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire,
who practises divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
11or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12Anyone who does these things is detestable to YHWH, and because of these
detestable practices YHWH your Elohim will drive out those nations before you.
Doresh el-ha-metim „M One who inquires of the dead; a necromancer. This practice is
forbidden in Devarim 18:11. The most famous instance of necromancy in Scripture is
that of king Shaul and the medium of En-dor, recounted in 1 Shemuel 28:1-25. The
medium of En-dor was a woman controlled or mastered by a divining demon.
Ohel Mo’ed
The Tent of Meeting.
Oil in Israel
The following texts allude to finding massive oil reserves in Israel in the acharit-yamim:
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1And Ya’aqov (Israel) called for his sons and said, ‘gather yourselves together
(around me) so that I may tell you what shall befall you in the latter or last
days…
25By the Elohim of your Father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will
bless you…blessings lying deep beneath…
Yeshayahu 45:3 (conventional translation)
I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stores in secret places so that
you will know that I am YHWH your Elohim who calls you by name.
He (YHWH) made [Israel] ride on the heights of the land and fed him (Israel) with
the fruit of the fields…and with oil from the flinty crag (rock).
The term denotes natural porosity where oil is stored. crag
And the rock (flinty crag) poured out rivers of oil.
Man puts forth his hand upon the flinty rock: he overturns the mountains by the
roots. He cuts out channels and passages among the rocks and his eye sees
every precious thing. Man binds the streams so that they do not trickle and the
thing that is hidden he brings forth to light.
Blessed by YHWH be His land (Israel) with the precious gifts of heaven from the
dew and from the deep rock that couches beneath with the precious things of the
earth and its fullness and the favour and goodwill of Him [financial prosperity] for
they shall suck the abundance of the seas and the treasures hid in the sand.
Now the Valley of Siddim before the Dead Sea existed was filled with tar
pits…some of the men fell into them and the rest fled and escaped.
Genesis 19:24, 25A, 28-29
“YHWH rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire (sulphur and flaming
rock filled with oil) from YHWH out of the heavens…He overthrew, destroyed
and ended those cities (by the great oil reserves exploding)…and [Avraham]
looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and
saw, and behold, the smoke of the country went up like the smoke of a furnace
[a hole 60 km long, 8-12 km wide, and 16,000 feet deep]. When Elohim ravaged
and destroyed the cities of the plain (of Sodom), He remembered Abraham and
He sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities
where Lot lived.
Olah
Burnt offering.
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Olah
Burnt offering in Temple.
`Olam ha-bah
The world to come (the renewed heavens and the renewed earth). The New
Yerushalayim. When a i.e. one who has received YHWH’s gift of imputed tzadiq,
righteousness, passes through resurrection (or the glorification of living believers) which
will happen when Messiah returns, the enters into the After the tzadiq `Olam ha-bah.
Great White Throne Judgement at the end of the Messianic Kingdom, all will tzadeqim
be in the `Olam Ha-bah.
`Olam ha-zeh
The present world of toil and turmoil. “This world.” Not a place, but the time interval
between Adam’s fall and the second coming of the Messiah. According to respected
rabbinic schools and reliable early Christian sources, the will endure for `Olam Ha-zeh
6000 years. At present, we are probably very close to the end of 6000 years since the
impartation of the to Adam. neshamah
Omer
Sheaf or bushel of grain.
Omer, Counting of the
Hebrew: A period of 49 days counted from the day on which the Sefirat ha-Omer. omer
was first offered in the , until Beit haMiqdash Chag Shavuot.
Oneg Shabbat
Literally: joy of the Sabbath; reception after Friday night services, which includes
refreshments, socialising, and, sometimes, Israeli dancing or a discussion.
Onkelos
An Aramaic paraphrase of the Onkelos was a proselyte to Judaism, who Torah.
translated the into Greek because the Septuagint was not widely accepted. His Chumash
Greek translation later became the basis for a further Aramaic paraphrase, a work
performed by others.
Oral Torah
The written requires continual interpretation. Much of the traditional Torah
interpretations of the sages are very valuable. However, much of the binds Oral Torah
an unnecessarily heavy burden on men.
A study of the is particularly valuable to the exegete of the Messianic Oral Torah
Scriptures.
Original knowledge
In many pagan cultures, a diligent researcher may uncover remains of original
knowledge that there is One Almighty Elohim, that mankind was judged in a great
deluge and subsequently scattered across the earth after the confusion of languages.
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There are also evidence of original knowledge of the fall of man and the promise of a
coming saviour who would redeem a faithful remnant of man.
Oseif
The gathering (of the nobles). The ingathering. is the —the festival Sukkot chag-ha-Asif
of ingathering.
Ot
Plural: Otot.
There are certain rituals in Judaism which are referred to in the as an “Ot”—a Torah
sign of the binding relationship between the Jew and YHWH.
Examples of otot:
The Sabbath is called an “Ot;” circumcision is described as an “Ot”; the mitzvah
(commandment) of is also an “Ot”—a sign. According to Genesis 1:14, the sun, Tefillin
moon and stars are otot ba’shamayim—signs in the heavens. The mark on Qayin (Cain)
was an as is the rainbow in the sky after the Mabul; (flood) in the days of Noach. ot,
Covenantal circumcision is an ot, as are miracles performed to substantiate the truth of a
claim. The blood of the Pesach lambs on the doorposts of the houses of the children of
Yisra’el in Mitzrayim were also an ot.
Otot haMashiach
“Signs of the Messiah.” The term means and is the plural of Things the ot sign, otot ot.
Messiah will do as well as events that will precede and follow his footsteps. The major
Otot haMashiach can be ascertained from a very careful study of Scripture, paying
specific attention to the prophecies about the events of To seek and teach Yom YHWH.
what has not been revealed, however, becomes dangerously close to divination. The
secret things belong to YHWH our Elohim, while that which has been revealed in
Scripture has been given for us to study and focus our hope upon. The teacher of
Scripture should pray not to fall into sensationalism.
Ovadyahu
Obadiah. “Servant of YHWH.”
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P
Panim
Literally: faces. Always used in the plural. Presence.
The Messiah is the unique of YHWH—the Messenger of the Malakh ha-Panin
Face/Presence of YHWH (Yeshayahu 63:9).
Paqid
Plural: peqidim.
Biblical Hebrew: overseer, monitor, auditor, officer, commissioner.
Parah Adumah
Red Heifer, a special sacrificial animal whose ashes was used in cleansing ceremonies.
A has to be born and raised in before the continual altar Parah Adamah Eretz Yisrael
service (the may begin. There can only be a functioning priesthood in Israel once tamid)
a red heifer has been sacrificed and its ashes used for purification. The priesthood can
not function without the ceremony of the red heifer’s ashes mixed with water from the
pool of being sprinkled on each of the individual priests. Siloam
Paras
Persia.
Parasha
Plural: Parashiot.
The weekly portion. The rabbis have divided the into 54 portions which Torah Torah
are read and studied each week for one year. In ancient times, the -reading cycle Torah
in Israel lasted 3 years. A (portion) is sometimes also called a parasha sidra.
Pardes
Paradise.
An acronym formed by taking the first letter of each of the four foundational categories
of rabbinic exegesis used in the first century. These methods were:
P‘SHAT: The simple, plain meaning of a text.
REMEZ: Hinting, alluding to.
D‘RASH: Complex; homiletical application.
SOD: Secret, mystery.
Parnasim
Almoners; deacons.
Members of an ancient synagogue whose responsibilities included caring for the poor
and distributing alms.
Parochet
The curtain separating the (most set-apart place) from the Qodesh haQodeshim
HaQodesh parochet (set-apart place). The layout of the is shown in the following
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diagram:
„„„ „„„Â
KhK
HK
KhK denotes the and HK denotes the Note that the Qodesh haQodeshim HaQodesh.
parochet consisted of a double curtain with a narrow passageway along which the High
Priest walked during the service. Every curtain was about 4 inches thick. Yom Kippur
The faces of an ox, a man, a lion and an eagle were embroidered on the curtain.
Parsian
Persian.
Pelishti
Philistine.
Pelishtim
Philistines.
Pentateuch
The first five books of the Scriptures, the Five Books of Mosheh, i.e. the or Chumash
Torah.
Peqach
Pekah.
Perat
Euphrates.
Pesach
Plural: Pesachim.
Passover.
Pesach Katan
The second offering of the Paschal Lamb on the 14th of Iyar.
Pesach Sheni
The 14th of Iyar, the offering of the Pesach Sacrifice by those who were not able to do so
on the 14th of Nisan.
In the time of the Birthpains, the False messiah will desecrate the Miqdash on Aviv 10,
exactly at the halfway mark of the last “seven” decreed over Am Yisra’el (the people of
Israel) and Yerushalayim (Dani’el 9:24-27). Having corporately accepted Yahushua as
the Messiah 6 months before this event, Messianic Israel will therefore have to celebrate
Pesach in the wilderness on Iyar 14.
Peshat
Little meaning, literal meaning.
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Pesikta
Book of Haggadic discourses for festivals and special Sabbaths.
Pharisees
See: P’rushim.
Religio-political faction in late Second Temple days that wanted to develop Judaism
through prayer, study of and midrashic interpretations of forerunners of Torah, Torah;
the rabbis.
Pharo
Pharao
Pharo Nekho
Pharao Necho.
Piku’ach Nefesh
The care for human life.
Pilpul
Sharp, dialectic, intellectual argumentation. Used particularly by Talmudists in Poland
from the 16th century.
Pirkey Avot
“The Ethics of the Fathers”, a Tractate in the Mishnah. The Sages’ Guide To Living.
Consists of 6 chapters from the Talmud and is loved by many. The Talmudic sages
called it simply it is a the guide to behaviour, attitudes, civility, honour, Fathers;
integrity, faith, and much more.
Piyyut
Liturgical poem. Many piyyutim were incorporated into the services of the and chaggim
mo’edim.
P’listim
Philistines.
Pneuma
Greek equivalent of Hebrew ruach.
Prodigal son
A midrash on Yirmeyahu 31, the reading on Yisra’el is seen Haftarah Rosh HaShanah.
as a backslidden son who has gone to a far country, but who will be re-established in the
acharit-yamim. Malkut Shamayim In teaching his talmidim on the , Messiah Yahushua
originated many parables, but also drew on the large pool of existing used by aggadot
other sages of Yisra’el in their instruction to their talmidim.
Proselyte
A person who converted to Judaism, taking the full yoke of the (i.e. Yisra’el’s Torah
specific covenantal obligations) upon him or herself.
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Proselyte
A convert to Judaism.
Proto-rabbi
Formal ordination of rabbis was only instituted after 70 YM. Before this period, many
prophetic teachers were given the title rabbi. Yahushua was an itinerant, aggadic protorabbi.
Itinerant travelled from place to place. Aggadic teach by parables. Proto- „M „M
rabbi A rabbi (prophetic teacher) who lived before the time when rabbis were formally „M
ordained.
Proto-rabbinic Judaism
Judaism before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 YM.
P’rushim
Pharisees, i.e. the upholders of the at the time of the Second Temple. The Oral Torah
Pharisees were the teachers of the common people. In the 1st century, many were
itinerant, i.e. they travelled from place to place. They instructed by means of aggadot
(parables). Yahushua was like a Pharisee in the sense that He was Aggadic an itinerant
Rabbi.
The Sadducees comprised mostly of the Temple religious establishment. They were the
primary sect that ran the order of business in the Temple. The Sadducees didn’t believe
in the resurrection of the dead, didn’t believe in angels or the . (That is Ruach HaQodesh
why they were sad, you see.) In contrast to the Sadducees, the Pharisees did believe in
the resurrection of the dead, believed in angels and in the . Ruach HaQodesh
There were several schools of Pharisaic thought in the first century. Yahushua seems to
have to some extent been a teacher of the school of Hillel. Some of his teachings also
agreed with Qumran. His objections to the Pharisees was always that they were
“hypocrites” he agreed largely with them but felt that they should have done a better —
job of practising what they taught.
Of all the sects of Judaism in the 1st century, it was only the Pharisees who remained as
a distinguishable sect of Judaism. It was the successors of the Pharisees who wrote the
Talmud (the Oral law consisting of the Mishnah and Gemara). In the Talmud, both
Pharisees and Sadducees are strongly criticised for their hypocrisy. When the Pharisees
wanted to tell somebody how to be religious, they did so by condemning the not
Sadducees and saying, “Don’t be like the Sadducees who do such and such…”
The were two main groups among the Pharisees. One group followed the Rabbi Hillel
the Great and the other followed Rabbi Shammai. One group was known as the House
of Hillel and the other group was known as the House of Shammai. Beit Shammai was
more strict regarding the and followed more closely the letter of the than Torah Torah
Beit Hillel. In some issues in the Gospels, Yahushua ruled with the House of Shammai
and in other places He ruled with the house of Hillel.
Overall, Yahushua most often agreed with the position of the House of Hillel; in
Mattityahu 23, he apparently clashes head-on with Beit-Shammai. The House of
Shammai disappeared over time. All who remained in their distinguishable form were
the Pharisees of the House of Hillel. The Pharisees of the House of Hillel wrote the
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Talmud. The Talmud is the Oral Teachings of Judaism that were written down to
preserve the Oral Teachings after the Temple was destroyed in 70 YM as the Jews were
eventually taken captive by the Romans and dispersed into the nations of the world. The
Talmud began to be written about 200 YM There is a Yerushalayim Talmud and a
Babylonian Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud is the most extensive, authoritative, and is
the most studied within Orthodox Judaism today.
Following the destruction of the Temple in 70 YM, in order to preserve Judaism,
Judaism was restructured at Yavneh in the land of Israel by a group of Rabbis. Rabbi
Yochanan ben Zakkai emerged as their leader. When this was done, Judaism changed
from being primarily Aggadic to being primarily . Thus, Rabbinic Judaism was Halakhic
established.
Modern day Orthodox Jews trace their roots to the Pharisees of the House of Hillel. In
the last 150 years, those Jews who have broken away from the Orthodox Judaism have
formed two other main sects of Judaism Conservative and Reform. Both of these —
sects are more liberal than Rabbinical Orthodox Judaism and have steered away from the
Oral teachings of Rabbinical Orthodox Judaism while trying to maintain their Jewish
religious heritage and balance this with the realities of the modern world. Reform
Judaism is at the opposite extreme of Rabbinical Orthodox Judaism and is very liberal.
Conservative Judaism is a balance between Rabbinical Orthodox Judaism and the very
liberal Reform Judaism. There are even various sects within Orthodox Judaism itself.
Some Orthodox Jews try to remain Orthodox and try to balance this with the realities of
the modern world. These are known as “Modern Orthodox.” Then, there are the Ultra-
Orthodox Chassidic Jews. There are even various sects among the Chassidics. Many of
the Ultra-Orthodox Jews do not even acknowledge Conservative or Reform Jews as
representing Judaism. Torah
Pseudepigraphic
Written under another name.
P’shat
The literal meaning or plain sense of a passage of Scripture.
Purim
Literally: lots; festival that celebrates the survival of the Jewish people in the time when
Haman the Agagite attempted to have them all killed. Celebrated on Adar 14 or 15 in
commemoration of the deliverance of the Yahudim in the Persian Empire in the days of
Ester.
Purim is a Rabbinic command. It was instituted by the Beit Din after the D’Rabbanan—
deliverance of the Jews who were under the rule of the Persian Empire.
Purim is a minor holiday connected to a historical event. One complete book in the
Scriptures the Book of Esther, often referred to as or the Scroll of — Megillat Esther
Esther is devoted to recounting the events that led to the holiday. The dramatic story is —
read at the synagogue service on the night of Purim and again at the service the
following morning.
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The name Purim, we are told in the Book of Esther, derives from the word (plural: pur
purim), meaning “lots,” which were used by Haman, Prime Minister of King
Achasverosh of Persia, to choose the date on which he would slaughter the Jews of the
empire.
Purim, the Feast of Lots, commemorates the deliverance of the Jews of Persia in the fifth
century BM by Esther and her cousin (the son of her father’s brother) Mordechai.
Haman, second in command to King Achasverosh, planned to exterminate the Jews of
Persia. He ordered that lots be drawn to determine on which day the massacre should
take place, and it fell on the thirteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar.
Haman’s plans were foiled by beautiful Queen Esther and her cousin, Mordechai.
Risking her own life, Esther pleaded before the king for her people, and Haman’s order
was rescinded. Instead of the Jews of Persia being slaughtered, Haman and his family
were hung on the gallows prepared for Mordechai. Thus, those days of doom were
turned “from sorrow to gladness,” days to be commemorated by “sending gifts to one
another and to the poor” (Esther 9:22).
During the reading of the Megillah at the synagogue service, whenever Haman’s name is
mentioned, it is booed in one form or another by the stamping of feet or the rattling of
noisemakers (groggers). Before the day is over, friends and relatives exchange gifts and
join in a festive meal called the Seudat Purim.
Purim, of course is not mentioned in the Apostolic Writings, yet its lessons can still be
found within it. One primary lesson which Rav Sha’ul (Paul) expounds upon in Romans
9-11 is that of the faithfulness of YHWH towards the Jewish people. The church as a
whole should never forget, as they have in the past, that YHWH will remain faithful to
his people and intervene whenever they are threatened with destruction, not because of
their intrinsic “goodness” or because they deserve it, but because the character and Name
of YHWH would be impugned otherwise. The fact that YHWH has granted consistent
protection toward the Jewish people has literally provided the Gentiles with an insurance
policy that guarantees the promises of YHWH to be valid for them and their salvation as
well. Should YHWH fail at any point to carry out His ultimate promises to the Jewish
people, the Scriptures would be declared null and void, and the Gentiles would be left
without hope in this world, (May Heaven forbid! Perish the thought!). Chas-ve’Shalom
Puritans
Founding immigrants to USA who sought purity of faith. Some of the early Christian
settlers who came to the USA from Europe to seek religious freedom in the founding
days of the USA were strongly opposed to the celebration of pagan festivals such as
Christmas. The Puritans embraced their Hebraic Heritage. Very few people realise that
the US congress voted on Hebrew being the official language of the USA. This proposal
was defeated by only in the early days of the republic. This is how much one vote
influence our Hebraic Heritage and the embracing of it had in the early days of the USA
and how close the USA came to speaking Hebrew today!
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Q
Qabbalah
“Received.” is the traditional and most commonly used term for the esoteric Qabalah
teachings of Judaism and for Jewish mysticism, especially the forms which it assumed in
the Middle Ages from the 12th century onward. In other words, while there is an ancient
esoteric tradition, refers to the apostasy of Middle Ages magic and superstition, Qabalah
prohibited by which infused 12th century Judaism. Before the 12th century, Torah,
Qabalah comprised the tradition recorded by Aboav in the Teimani (Yemenite Jewish)
work . Menorat ha-MeOr
Qabbalat Ol Mitzvot
The acceptance of the yoke of the commandments; a convert’s agreement to lead a
Jewish life.
Qabbalat Shabbat
Psalms, readings and songs welcoming the Sabbath; the introductory portion of the
Sabbath eve service.
Qaddish
A liturgical prayer praising the Almighty. This prayer is chanted at several points in a
service. In addition, it is recited at least once at each service in memory of those who
have died…Prayer of setting apart the Name of YHWH. (qadosh)
Qadosh
Set-apart. Separated. Radically different. (Afrikaans: “gans anders.”) Customarily
translated by the misleading and meaningless term, “holy.”
Qadoshim
Set-apart ones; often translated as “saints” in English translations of the See Tanakh.
Tzadeqim.
Qahal Qahol „¡
Synonymous to Kehilat.
Congregation, assembly of the people called out by YHWH. Translated as in ekklesia
the Septuagint. The believer of today, Jewish or Gentile, belongs to the same that Qahal
stepped out of the Ark, the same that stood (underneath; at the foot of) Qahal tachat
Mount Sinay, the same that received the Qahal Ruach HaQodesh Shavuot on in
Yerushalayim, about 2000 years ago, when the eschatological was empowered as Qahal
the power of the came upon believers, giving them the firstfruits of the Ruach HaQodesh
powers of the Olam Ha-ba. Jewish believers are natural members of that cultivated olive
tree, while Gentile believers have been grafted into that tree.
Conceptual chaos regarding the term “church” prevails today. The problem is that we
develop our understandings from where the term “church” first appears in translations,
the Apostolic Writings. Christian seminaries have historically trained pastors to under-
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stand the “New Testament” scriptures against a Hellenistic background, by looking at
what the terms meant in ancient Greek society. The conceptual darkness is dissolved
once we realise that the Apostolic Writings are Jewish theological documents, passed to
us in Greek, the of the day. Words should be understood by asking, “what lingua franca
is the Hebraic concept behind this Greek term, and how was it used (1) in the Tanakh,
and (2) by the ancient Jewish sages?” How it was used in pagan Greek culture is usually
quite irrelevant. In this way, sound hermeneutics can restore our sense of continuity with
the community of Avraham avinu (our father Avraham).
Some authors prefer not to use the term “church” at all, because it derives from
paganism—it is etymologically related to the temples of Circe (alias Kirke), the
daughter of the Sun-idol in Roman mythology.
In order to avoid conceptual chaos, we have used the terms “congregation” and
“assembly,” and even in our study monographs. Because language sets limits to Qahal
the clarity of our thinking, we should exercise extreme care to use language correctly.
Wrong terminology breeds wrong concepts, wrong convictions and, ultimately, wrong
behaviour.
The following overview of the correct meaning of the term is based on Dr John Church
D. Garr’s article, published in Vol. 4 No. 3. Upon this Rock! Restore!
When Yahushua asked his talmidim who they understood him to be, Shim’on Petros
answered him, “Atah hu, haMashiach, ben El Chai” “You are he, the Messiah, Son of —
the Mighty One who lives.” Knowing that the truth about his nature had been revealed
to this tempestuous by his Father in Heaven, Yahushua replied, talmid
Matttityahu 16:16-18
…Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of she’ol shall not prevail
against it.”
Many have taken this statement to mean that “Jesus’ mission was to clean the religious
slate and initiate and establish something profoundly new and hitherto unheard of: the
Church. Those who hold to such a neo-Marcionist hermeneutic typically say that “Jesus
was terminating the dispensation of the Law and announcing the creation of a new,
vibrant entity the Church a vibrant new faith and a new ‘dispensation’ —— —the
dispensation of grace.”
Is this true? How should we understand Yahushua’s answer to Shimon Kefa’s insight?
In order to understand what Yahushua said and did, we must relate these words to their
original context, to Second-Temple period Judaism, to the life and practices of firstcentury
Israeli Jewry. We cannot understand these words if we transplant them to gentile
soil and to the present century, for they were spoken by a Jew in the land of the Jews to
fellow-Jews. Only when we return to that place, to that time and to that people, can we
truly comprehend the meaning and function of the Church.
The term church is both very familiar and very misunderstood. What is the church?
Who are part of it? When did it begin? Where does it exist? How does it operate? Why
does it exist? These are the questions of the study of the church. It is ecclesiology—
essential that we build our entire understanding of the concept Church from analysing
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Scripture in its original intent and context. We must turn to Scripture for our
understanding of ecclesiology. In analysing Scripture, however, we must be careful that
we engage in exegesis, not eisegesis. The use of the latter has resulted in the maze of
confusion on the subject of the nature and mission of the church. People of good
intentions have read into the texts of Scripture the meanings which their cultures, politics
or other environmental conditioning dictated. It is imperative that we exegete the
scriptural term by literally “drawing out” the meaning of the words and texts of church
Scripture.
The word must be understood in the light of the New Testament Greek term church
ekklesia, which refers to an assembly or gathering of people. This brings us to a crucial
hermeneutical pitfall. The very worst, the most disastrous eisegetical turn to make at this
stage, is to follow the following recipe for exegetical shipwreck:
Premise 1
The term Church is used exclusively in the NT.
Premise 2
Jesus established the Church.
Premise 3
To establish the meaning of the term one has to analyse the use of the term church,
ekklesia in classical and Koine Greek.
The ecclesiology of many Christian denominations, especially those where scholarship
of the Hebrew language is sadly lacking, is based on the above “3-premise shipwreck.”
Why is the above method in error? How then, should we proceed?
The correct premise for an exegetical analysis of the term is that the use of church
technical terms in the Greek New Testament (GNT) is based on the use of these Greek
terms in the Septuagint and other Greek manuscript translations in common use in Late
Second Temple Period Judaism. As a corollary (associated truth), it follows that an
exegesis of a technical term such as we should first of all ask “Which Hebrew ekklesia,
word was translated by that Greek word in the Septuagint?” Next, we should study the
meaning of the corresponding Hebrew word(s) in the Hebrew Scriptures to determine its
meaning in the GNT. Because a Hebrew undertext and thought-world underlies the text
of the GNT, I can think of few things as pointless as being a scholar of Biblical Greek
without simultaneously being a scholar of Hebrew. The text of the GNT is something
that should be penetrated to uncover the underlying Hebrew lifeworld.
We begin to discover the meaning of the secular Greek term when we turn to the ekklesia
Hebrew word or words which were rendered by the translators of the ekklesia
Septuagint. According to tradition, seventy Jewish scholars based in Alexandria, Egypt,
translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek in the third century BCE to enable the
Hellenised Jews in the diaspora to read the Scriptures in the of the lingua franca
Mediterranean Basin. These scholars used the Greek word to translate the ekklesia
Hebrew word which means “congregation, assembly.” is a derivative of qahal, Qahal
qol, the word for voice. Ultimately, it refers to the summoning of an assembly or to the
act of assembling. This term is generally used in Scripture to refer to the assembly of the
people of Israel, e.g. assembly of Israel, assembly of qahal Yisrael qahal YHWH — —
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YHWH, and the assembly of Elohim. The people of Yisrael are qahal Elohim—
sometimes referred to as the from the same root. As said, the word qahal is qehillah,
usually rendered in the Septuagint. The important point is that the exegesis of ekklesia
the term in the GNT should therefore be based on the use of the term in ekklesia qahal
the Hebrew Scriptures. Failure to do so, inevitably results in a perverse “splitting up” of
concepts, in the creation of a new pseudo-concept, in creating a false dichotomy and
discontinuity in salvation-history.
In Scriptural language then, the “church” is the assembly of all who respond to the call to
enter into a covenant relationship with Almighty YHWH. “Church” is not exclusively a
“New Testament” term, for the origin of the term is found in the Septuagint translation of
the Hebrew Scriptures, which the writers of the GNT used. The word which the apostles
used to express their corporate identity was the same as that which had been used by the
people of Israel since the exodus from Egypt. This is why Stephanos calls Israel “the
church in the wilderness” in Acts 7:38 and why Hebrews 2:12 quotes Psalm 22:22: “I
will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of will I praise the congregation
thee” as “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the will I sing church
praise unto thee.” This is also why Hebrews 12:23 uses “general assembly” and “church
of the firstborn” as virtually synonymous, in the characteristic style of Hebrew
parallelism, which rhymes thoughts, not words.
The authors of the apostolic writings understood that the word translated the ekklesia
Hebrew and meant the assembly or congregation of YHWH. For Yahushua and qahal
the sh’liachim (apostles) there was between the congregation of the absolute continuity
pre-Messianic past and the Messianic future, the church of the Hebrew Scriptures and the
church of which we read in the apostolic writings. The of the Messianic age is an qahal
empowered qahal Ruach HaQodesh. —empowered by the Yahushua called unto him
whom He would, trained twelve (students; apprentices under discipline) to be talmidim
the leaders of His empowered qahal. qahal He brought the of YHWH to its intended
state, a state of partaking of the firstfruits of the New Covenant which was sealed in His
own shed sacrificial blood.
We conclude that Reformed theology is correct in tracing “Church history” all the way
back to the time of the exodus from Egypt (or even before that). In contrast,
Dispensationalism misuses the term Their theology, with its stark church.
Church Israel dichotomy, was developed from English translations of Scripture, so that „q
they fell into the disastrous hermeneutical trap by assuming premises 1 to 3 detailed on
page 167 above.
Dr John D. Garr continues,
The term then, might more accurately be translated [or church, congregation
assembly]. Perhaps if the Archbishop of Canterbury’s instructions to those who
created the interpretation of the Bishops’ Bible that came to be known as the
Authorised King James Version of the Scriptures had not proscribed [ruled out]
the use of congregation in deference to the ecclesiastical term church,
generations of Christians in English-speaking nations would have understood the
church as the congregation of [Elohim], a perpetuation of the congregation of
Israel in complete continuity. Then, we might have more readily understood that
Paul’s olive tree metaphor in Romans 11 reveals Israel, into which Gentile
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branches were grafted to share in the roots and fatness of Judaism. We would
also have understood the church as the continuation, not replacement, of Israel
and the new covenant as a renewed covenant as Hebrews 8:10-11 reveals.
So who are the assembly, the congregation? Who are the people who comprise the
assembly of those who are called out to be in covenant with YHWH? The answer was
very clear in the Hebrew Scriptures: it was the entire assembly of the descendants of
Avraham through Yitzchak and Ya’aqov who made the exodus from Mitzrayim and
stood (at the foot of; literally: underneath) Mount Sinai, and it was all of their tachat
subsequent offspring who held fast to the covenant. While all of the children of Yisra’el
was denominated and arranged accordingly around the tent of meeting in the wilderness,
they were collectively considered the the “assembly of YHWH.” All of Israel qahal,
was the the ones called out to enter into covenant with YHWH. All of Israel, qahal,
therefore, was the in the wilderness. Those who became unfaithful to the covenant qahal
and fell into gross sin, were “cut off” from the qahal.
The answer is equally clear in the Apostolic writings. Just as the of Israel was qahal
immersed into one corporate body unto Mosheh in the cloud and in the sea (1
Corinthians 10:2), so all believers have been immersed by one into Ruach HaQodesh
one body (1 Corinthians 12:13), and buried and raised with Messiah by immersion in a
Miqvah (Colossians 2:12). This includes everyone who have been “There is called out:
one Spirit, called… body, and one even as you are ” (Ephesians 4:4). It is a calling into
covenant with Almighty YHWH. All believers are, corporately, the adopted children of
YHWH, betrothed to one husband (2 Corinthians 11:2).
The Christian denominations that teach that “the Church” began on the day of Pentecost
are correct, but they talk about the wrong Pentecost! The did not begin on qahal
Pentecost at Mount Zion in Acts 2. It began on (Greek: Pentecoste) at Mount Shavuot
Sinai in Exodus 19.
Yahushua’s statement “I will build my church” means that He would empower and
restore his Yahushua’s brother Ya’aqov, Nasi of the Netzarim Beit Din (President qahal.
of the Ruling Council of Messianic Yehudim) in Yerushalayim, quoted Amos 9:11-12 in
connection with the work of the Messiah,
After this I will return, and will build again the of Dawid, which is fallen sukkah
down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and will set it up.
Yahushua came to restore and perform the work of redemption so that the could be qahal
empowered by the He overcame death, so that the can, in Him, Ruach HaQodesh. qahal
have victory over death. He is the representative one; the is the represented many. qahal
He is the bearer and bestower of the Spirit; His receives of the anointing that is qahal
upon Him. Yahushua never intended to destroy or put aside what the Father had been
moulding among the people of Yisra’el for many centuries. He did not come to terminate
the past and start a discontinuous new entity. His work is to the house of Dawid restore
that lay in ruins. Not to displace it.
Why is the above information generally not taught in Christianity? The answer lies in
the domino effect and in human nature. The facts that we are grafted into the same qahal
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that stood Har Sinay, that Messiah Yahushua was rigorously -observent, tachat Torah
upsets the and people’s psychological laziness. It holds as a corollary that we status quo
should reform, and drastically so. Once the domino of a new entity called the “Church”
is disproved and topples over, we need to rid ourselves of a great many associated
untruths: pagan “holy days,” the pagan names with which we dishonour Almighty
YHWH, and more… It also entails that we should re-institute the celebration and
keeping of the Shabbat and the Appointed Times of Almighty YHWH. Not to earn
salvation, but as the lifestyle of the redeemed. People can tolerate change, but hate being
changed. All too few have the guts to make the paradigm shift, and to ask in brokenness
of spirit, “How then shall we live?”
qalal
To scorn or despise; to take lightly. In Bereshith 12:3 Almighty YHWH promises
Avraham that those who despise him, take him lightly, will be cursed by Elohim.
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R
Rabban
Honorific title higher than that of Rabbi. Gamli’el, under whom Sha’ul studied, was
called Rabban.
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakhai
This pharisee and sage survived the First Jewish Revolt against Rome by being carried
out of the besieged city of Yerushalayim in a coffin. In Yavneh, he guided his followers
in establishing a Judaism that could exist meaningfully without a temple. For this
reason, he is often called the father of rabbinic Judaism. Like the Apostle Sha’ul, he
studied under the highly respected Rabban Gamli’el.
A tale of two rabbis: When Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakhai became terminally ill, his
talmidim gathered around his sickbed. When he saw them, he began to weep. His
disciples said to him,
“Lamp of Israel, pillar of the Right Hand, mighty hammer, why are you weeping?”
He replied and (Berachot 28b Avot de Rabbah of Rabbi Nathan 25):
“…Now that I am to be taken before the Supreme King of Kings, the Set-Apart
One…there are two roads before me—one leading to Gan Eden, and the other
to Gey Hinnom, and I do not know by which road I shall be taken. So shall I not
weep?”
It is clear that the founder of rabbinic Judaism had absolutely no assurance of salvation at
the end of his life. In contrast, his fellow-student and rabbi, Sha’ul of Tarsus, could say
the following at the end of his life—because he received the redemption that is only
through Messiah Yahushua:
6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come
for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have 7
kept the faith.
8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the
righteous Judge, will award to me in thát day—and not only to me, but also to all
who have longed for his appearing.
Rabbi Yahudah haNasi
A famous rabbi, credited with compiling the traditional oral teachings of Judaism into
the Mishnah, circa 200 YM. In the Talmud, he is simply referred to as “the Rabbi.”
Rachav
Rahab.
Proud, harlot, broad wall. A term for Egypt, and also for the kingdom of the Antichrist,
which is foreshadowed by ancient Egypt—see Iyov 9:13 & 26:12; Tehillim 87:4;
Yeshayahu 30:7 & 51:9.
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In ancient walled cities, prostitutes had rooms in the walls. The walls were called
“broad(s).” For this reason, rachav is a term for a prostitute, while prostitutes are
commonly called “broads.” This is also the reason why the red-light district in
Amsterdam is called “Walletjies.”
Rachatzah
Washing Ur’chatz—celebrant washes, one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony
Rochtzah—the phase of the Seder ceremony in which hands are washed for the meal.
Ramah
Seat of idolatry in ancient Egypt.
Rapture, pre-tribulational
The 19th century Dispensationalist theologian, John Nelson Darby, was not the
originator of PreTrib rapture theology, as uninformed critics often claim. Let us look at
some proofs.
The approaching Deliverance of the church.
Pierre Jerieu France. 1687.
Peter Jurieu was a French Calvinist preacher and was considered “the Goliath of the
French Protestants.” He wrote in 1687 about the Rapture and the Premillennial return of
the Messiah. Jurieu discussed the coming of Yahushua to translate the prior to tzadeqim
the time He returns in Judgement. He preached in Rotterdam as one of the greatest of
the Reformers in his day. Jurieu refuted the amillennial teaching of his day and clearly
argued for the premillennial position regarding Messiah’s return. He also believed that
Messiah would come in the air to rapture the and return to heaven before the tzadeqim
Battle of Armageddon. His writings disproves the theory that the PreTrib rapture was
first invented by Darby. Over 130 years before Darby, Jurieu spoke of a secret Rapture,
a kind of clandestine coming of Messiah prior to His coming in glory and judgement.
Jurieu wrote of John’s prophecy about the Millennium, “the shall reign with tzadeqim
Messiah a thousand years” and commented,
But to me it seems very evident that this reign shall begin with some miraculous
appearance of our Master in His glory. After which He shall go back to Heaven.
Expanding on his interpretation, he wrote,
There is a first coming of Messiah, and it may be a first Resurrection. Lastly, who
can be certain, that this coming of Messiah, to establish His kingdom upon Earth,
shall not be in that manner, with the voice of an Archangel, and in great
magnificence and Glory? Who can prove, that at that first coming of Messiah He
shall not raise some of the dead, as St. John seems expressly to have foretold?
Writing directly about the coming Rapture he compared it to the resurrection of the Old
Testament when Messiah rose from the grave. He asked, tzadeqim
Why may not Messiah raise some of the who lived during the tzadeqim Yemot
haMashiach, at the coming of His Kingdom, as well as raise some of the ancient
patriarchs, when He arose from the grave?
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Jurieu rejected the view that Messiah will stay in heaven until the final judgement of the
world. He suggested that Messiah will first “come down from heaven” in the air in “a
glorious apparition, returning to heaven.” While these comments are not conclusive,
they do suggest that the idea of Messiah coming in the air for His prior to tzadeqim
Armageddon was under discussion over 300 years ago.
An ancient PreTrib Rapture Statement is found in (c. 374-627): Pseudo-Ephraem
All the and elect of Elohim are gathered together before the tribulation, tzadeqim
which is to come, and are taken to the Master, in order that they may not see at
any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.
We conclude that Dispensationalism and the pre-tribulation rapture are not synonymous;
the hope of a pre-tribulation rapture preceded Dispensationalist Systematic theology by
more than a thousand years.
Rashi
Rabbi Solomon ben Yitzchak. A famous rabbinic commentator who lived in France
around the years 1040 – 1105. He penned a very famous and valuable Torah
commentary.
Rasha
Plural: Resha’im.
The wholly wicked, the iniquitous, the perversely wrong. Vessels fit for destruction.
Rav
A Sage of the Talmudic era. He lived in Babylonia, and composed today’s form of the
Aleinu prayer.
Rav Sha’ul
A Hebraic way of referring to Sha’ul the Apostle as a teacher.
Reb, Rebbe
Yiddish for Rabbi.
Refa’enu
“Heal us…”, one of the eighteen benedictions of the Amidah prayer.
Refa’im
Giants.
Relational
Scripture portrays beings relationally and not in absolute categories. People, e.g., are
called (righteous ones), (set-apart ones), sinners (ones who miss the tzadeqim qadoshim
mark) and (perversely wrong ones). All these terms express relational states resha’im
and contain ethical value-judgements.
The name and titles of YHWH also have a strong relational content—His personal
Name, YHWH, speaks of escalating manifest being; His title signifies a relation Elohim
of creative and judgmental might that induces awe and reverence; denotes a Adonai
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relation of sovereign, royal power. In contrast, our Greco-Roman heritage often teaches
us wrong, non-relational concepts.
YHWH is our Elohim—He is mighty and we stand in awe of Him. Relationally to me,
the Messiah is —my sovereign master (Psalm 110:1) and my mighty one (El; Adoni v’Eli
Elohim) before whom I tremble in reverential awe (Psalm 45:7); the fulness of YHWH is
manifest bodily in Him (Yochanan 20:28). Relationally to the Father, the Father is the
Elohim of Yahushua the Messiah—cf. Yochanan 17:3 and Revelation 3:2, 12.
Remez
Alluding or hinting to.
Replacement Theology
A concept that emerged from the teachings of some non-Jewish leaders of the secondcentury
Church. They taught that YHWH is irrevocably finished with dealing with Israel
as a nation, and that all prophecies about the restoration of Israel pertains in a spiritual
sense to the Church and individual believers.
Resurrection body
Did Sha’ul believe, and does the Scriptures teach, that at the Second Advent living and
dead believers will receive non-material and non-physical bodies, totally devoid of
physical substan