Nitzavim-VaYelec: Deuteronomy 29:10-39:30 |
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Deuteronomy 8: Nitzavim-VaYelec
Tribal Destiny, New World, Protection
Deuteronomy 29:10-39:30
To Hear a Talk based on the Text below: |
Nitzavim-Vayelech
DEUTERONOMY 29:10 to 31:30
S.1
[DEUT 29:10] YE STAND THIS DAY ALL OF YOU BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD; YOUR CAPTAINS OF YOUR TRIBES, YOUR ELDERS, AND YOUR OFFICERS, WITH ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL,
YOUR CAPTAINS OF YOUR TRIBES: Commentary of the "Natziv" (Naphtali Zvi Berlin, an important 19th century Rabbi in Russia whose opinion is still greatly respected) in free translation:
##YOUR CAPTAINS OF YOUR TRIBES: The expression "of your tribes" would appear to be superfluous...rather it comes to teach us that each tribe and its heads are not judged the same as the others. Each tribe is judged according to its own nature and according to that quality it was recognized to be most adhering to. It is judged by the extent of its deviation from its own special characteristic. This is similar to Amos:
[AMOS 2:4] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF JUDAH, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY HAVE DESPISED THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND HAVE NOT KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND THEIR LIES CAUSED THEM TO ERR, AFTER THE WHICH THEIR FATHERS HAVE WALKED:
[AMOS 2:6] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF ISRAEL, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY SOLD THE RIGHTEOUS FOR SILVER, AND THE POOR FOR A PAIR OF SHOES;
##The main judgment against Judah is because they departed from their good path of keeping HIS commandments meaning the qualities of the Torah. It is an honor for the Written Law that it be kept very strictly. When they departed from the good path it was as if they despised the Torah. This did not apply to the [other] Tribes of Israel who had never been really strict about learning the Torah. On the contrary, their main characteristic was kindness [empathy] between a man and his fellow. The main judgment against the [northern ten ] Tribes is because they departed from this quality of social empathy and sold THE POOR FOR A PAIR OF SHOES?. ##
[DEUT 29:11] YOUR LITTLE ONES, YOUR WIVES, AND THY STRANGER THAT IS IN THY CAMP, FROM THE HEWER OF THY WOOD UNTO THE DRAWER OF THY WATER:
Note: THY STRANGER THAT IS IN THY CAMP. From the very beginning they had people of foreign non-Israelite origin with them. These had the same rights and the same obligations as anyone else.
[DEUT 29:12] THAT THOU SHOULDEST ENTER INTO COVENANT WITH THE LORD THY GOD, AND INTO HIS OATH, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD MAKETH WITH THEE THIS DAY:
[DEUT 29:13] THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THEE TO DAY FOR A PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF, AND THAT HE MAY BE UNTO THEE A GOD, AS HE HATH SAID UNTO THEE, AND AS HE HATH SWORN UNTO THY FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, AND TO JACOB.
The people of Israel belong to God Almighty.
[DEUT 29:14] NEITHER WITH YOU ONLY DO I MAKE THIS COVENANT AND THIS OATH;
[DEUT 29:15] BUT WITH HIM THAT STANDETH HERE WITH US THIS DAY BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD, AND ALSO WITH HIM THAT IS NOT HEREWITH US THIS DAY:
According to tradition [Midrash Tanchuma] the souls were present of all those who were destined to accept the Torah whether by birth or by conversion. The Covenant was being made with those who were physically there then and with those who were not but eventually would be part of the people.
[DEUT 29:16] (FOR YE KNOW HOW WE HAVE DWELT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; AND HOW WE CAME THROUGH THE NATIONS WHICH YE PASSED BY;
We were slaves in Egypt. Other peoples would not accept us. Jews and Anglo-Saxons are disliked without justification by most peoples of the earth.
[DEUT 29:17] AND YE HAVE SEEN THEIR ABOMINATIONS, AND THEIR IDOLS, WOOD AND STONE, SILVER AND GOLD, WHICH WERE AMONG THEM:)
They were all idolaters and in a sense still are. And so are we in some ways.
[DEUT 29:18] LEST THERE SHOULD BE AMONG YOU MAN, OR WOMAN, OR FAMILY, OR TRIBE, WHOSE HEART TURNETH AWAY THIS DAY FROM THE LORD OUR GOD, TO GO AND SERVE THE GODS OF THESE NATIONS; LEST THERE SHOULD BE AMONG YOU A ROOT THAT BEARETH GALL AND WORMWOOD;
##OR TRIBE: The possibility existed of a whole tribe departing from the straight and narrow.
[DEUT 29:19] AND IT COME TO PASS, WHEN HE HEARETH THE WORDS OF THIS CURSE, THAT HE BLESS HIMSELF IN HIS HEART, SAYING, I SHALL HAVE PEACE, THOUGH I WALK IN THE IMAGINATION OF MINE HEART, TO ADD DRUNKENNESS TO THIRST:
Whenever we sin we say to ourselves that somehow we will escape whatever punishment is entailed.
[DEUT 29:20] THE LORD WILL NOT SPARE HIM, BUT THEN THE ANGER OF THE LORD AND HIS JEALOUSY SHALL SMOKE AGAINST THAT MAN, AND ALL THE CURSES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK SHALL LIE UPON HIM, AND THE LORD SHALL BLOT OUT HIS NAME FROM UNDER HEAVEN.
[DEUT 29:21] AND THE LORD SHALL SEPARATE HIM UNTO EVIL OUT OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, ACCORDING TO ALL THE CURSES OF THE COVENANT THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK OF THE LAW:
[DEUT 29:22] SO THAT THE GENERATION TO COME OF YOUR CHILDREN THAT SHALL RISE UP AFTER YOU, AND THE STRANGER THAT SHALL COME FROM A FAR LAND, SHALL SAY, WHEN THEY SEE THE PLAGUES OF THAT LAND, AND THE SICKNESSES WHICH THE LORD HATH LAID UPON IT;
The whole Land of Israel before the Zionist return was in desolation. Visitors (such as Mark Twain) were astonished as to how desolate the Land really was.
[DEUT 29:23] AND THAT THE WHOLE LAND THEREOF IS BRIMSTONE, AND SALT, AND BURNING, THAT IT IS NOT SOWN, NOR BEARETH, NOR ANY GRASS GROWETH THEREIN, LIKE THE OVERTHROW OF SODOM, AND GOMORRAH, ADMAH, AND ZEBOIM, WHICH THE LORD OVERTHREW IN HIS ANGER, AND IN HIS WRATH:
This sounds exaggerated but it was so, utterly desolate, according to eye-witness accounts.
Many of the Arabs in the Land of Israel (Who call themselves Palestinians?.) are descended from Muslim newcomers who 2 or 3 generations ago came from from North Africa, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Bosnia, etc. These newcomers flooded the country looking for a living when the British and Jews began to build the place up.
[DEUT 29:24] EVEN ALL NATIONS SHALL SAY, WHEREFORE HATH THE LORD DONE THUS UNTO THIS LAND? WHAT MEANETH THE HEAT OF THIS GREAT ANGER?
[DEUT 29:25] THEN MEN SHALL SAY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE COVENANT OF THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS, WHICH HE MADE WITH THEM WHEN HE BROUGHT THEM FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT:
[DEUT 29:26] FOR THEY WENT AND SERVED OTHER GODS, AND WORSHIPPED THEM, GODS WHOM THEY KNEW NOT, AND WHOM HE HAD NOTGIVEN UNTO THEM:
[DEUT 29:27] AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST THIS LAND, TO BRING UPON IT ALL THE CURSES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK:
[DEUT 29:28] AND THE LORD ROOTED THEM OUT OF THEIR LAND IN ANGER, AND IN WRATH, AND IN GREAT INDIGNATION, AND CAST THEM INTO ANOTHER LAND, AS IT IS THIS DAY.
INTO ANOTHER LAND = THE ?NEW WORLD? = AMERICA = LOCATION PREDICTED TO BE THE PLACE OF THE LOST TEN TRIBES!
It was predicted that if Israel did not keep the commandments they would be cast out into an "Eretz Acheret" which is translatable from the Hebrew as meaning both "another land" (Deuteronomy 29;28) and/or a "New World". The Mishna (Sanhedrin 10) opines that the verse in Deuteronomy refers to the Lost Ten Tribes who are destined to remain in "Eretz Acheret" until close to the End Times. The American hemisphere when first revealed in our era to European eyes was known as "The New World". Deuteronomy (29;28) and the Mishna, may be therefore understood as saying that the Lost Ten Tribes would be mainly in "The New World" (i.e. "Eretz Acheret") after its discovery (or re discovery) by Europeans since only then did the term become applicable. It follows that either North or South America was intended as a place of exile and all other evidence points to Northwest Europe and North America.
[DEUT 29:29] THE SECRET THINGS BELONG UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD: BUT THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE REVEALED BELONG UNTO US AND TO OUR CHILDREN FOR EVER, THAT WE MAY DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW.
THE SECRET THINGS: This in my opinion includes traumatic experiences that cause criminal behavior. In many cases it is for the health of society that punishments be administered for wrongdoing even if the perpetrator had a bad childhood, etc.
At the same time quite a few people are unjustly in prison or excessively under condemnation.
The sicknesses and injustices of society that are known about are not secret and we may have to give an account as to why we did not attempt to correct them.
S.2
[DEUT 30:1] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN ALL THESE THINGS ARE COME UPON THEE, THE BLESSING AND THE CURSE, WHICH I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE, AND THOU SHALT CALL THEM TO MIND AMONG ALL THE NATIONS, WHITHER THE LORD THY GOD HATH DRIVEN THEE,
[DEUT 30:2] AND SHALT RETURN UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, AND SHALT OBEY HIS VOICE ACCORDING TO ALL THAT I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, THOU AND THY CHILDREN, WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL;
We have to love God with all that we have and are to the utmost of our ability and beyond. Easier said than done maybe but it is our duty.
[DEUT 30:3] THAT THEN THE LORD THY GOD WILL TURN THY CAPTIVITY, AND HAVE COMPASSION UPON THEE, AND WILL RETURN AND GATHER THEE FROM ALL THE NATIONS, WHITHER THE LORD THY GOD HATH SCATTERED THEE.
If you turn to God, HE will help you.
[DEUT 30:4] IF ANY OF THINE BE DRIVEN OUT UNTO THE OUTMOST PARTS OF HEAVEN, FROM THENCE WILL THE LORD THY GOD GATHER THEE, AND FROM THENCE WILL HE FETCH THEE:
[DEUT 30:5] AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL BRING THEE INTO THE LAND WHICH THY FATHERS POSSESSED, AND THOU SHALT POSSESS IT; AND HE WILL DO THEE GOOD, AND MULTIPLY THEE ABOVE THY FATHERS.
[DEUT 30:6] AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE THINE HEART, AND THE HEART OF THY SEED, TO LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE.
S.3
[DEUT 30:7] AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL PUT ALL THESE CURSES UPON THINE ENEMIES, AND ON THEM THAT HATE THEE, WHICH PERSECUTED THEE.
Those that persecuted you will be punished.
[DEUT 30:8] AND THOU SHALT RETURN AND OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD, AND DO ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY.
We shall all return to worship the God of Israel.
[DEUT 30:9] AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL MAKE THEE PLENTEOUS IN EVERY WORK OF THINE HAND, IN THE FRUIT OF THY BODY, AND IN THE FRUIT OF THY CATTLE, AND IN THE FRUIT OF THY LAND, FOR GOOD: FOR THE LORD WILL AGAIN REJOICE OVER THEE FOR GOOD, AS HE REJOICED OVER THY FATHERS:
We will succeed in what we do. We shall have good, healthy children and many of them. Our possessions will increase almost of their own accord.
We will be blessed in every way. We only have to return to the God of Israel.
[DEUT 30:10] IF THOU SHALT HEARKEN UNTO THE VOICE OF THE LORD THY GOD, TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK OF THE LAW, AND IF THOU TURN UNTO THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL.
We must keep the Law and We must love God.
[DEUT 30:11] FOR THIS COMMANDMENT WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, IT IS NOT HIDDEN FROM THEE, NEITHER IS IT FAR OFF.
[DEUT 30:12] IT IS NOT IN HEAVEN, THAT THOU SHOULDEST SAY, WHO SHALL GO UP FOR US TO HEAVEN, AND BRING IT UNTO US, THAT WE MAY HEAR IT, AND DO IT?
[DEUT 30:13] NEITHER IS IT BEYOND THE SEA, THAT THOU SHOULDEST SAY, WHO SHALL GO OVER THE SEA FOR US, AND BRING IT UNTO US, THAT WE MAY HEAR IT, AND DO IT?
[DEUT 30:14] BUT THE WORD IS VERY NIGH UNTO THEE, IN THY MOUTH, AND IN THY HEART, THAT THOU MAYEST DO IT.
S.4
[DEUT 30:15] SEE, I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE THIS DAY LIFE AND GOOD, AND DEATH AND EVIL;
Note the association Good=life, evil=death.
[DEUT 30:16] IN THAT I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY TO LOVE THE LORD THY GOD, TO WALK IN HIS WAYS, AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES AND HIS JUDGMENTS, THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE AND MULTIPLY: AND THE LORD THY GOD SHALL BLESS THEE IN THE LAND WHITHER THOU GOEST TO POSSESS IT.
If we keep the law we will live and be multiplied and blessed in the Land.
[DEUT 30:17] BUT IF THINE HEART TURN AWAY, SO THAT THOU WILT NOT HEAR, BUT SHALT BE DRAWN AWAY, AND WORSHIP OTHER GODS, AND SERVE THEM;
If we do not hearken to God we shall be punished.
[DEUT 30:18] I DENOUNCE UNTO YOU THIS DAY, THAT YE SHALL SURELY PERISH, AND THAT YE SHALL NOT PROLONG YOUR DAYS UPON THE LAND, WHITHER THOU PASSEST OVER JORDAN TO GO TO POSSESS IT.
Most people who live long and remain healthy have lead good lives.
[DEUT 30:19] I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO RECORD THIS DAY AGAINST YOU, THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSING: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH THOU AND THY SEED MAY LIVE:
We are commanded to choose life, for our own good and for the good of our offspring. God wants our good and this is the way we earn it.
[DEUT 30:20] THAT THOU MAYEST LOVE THE LORD THY GOD, AND THAT THOU MAYEST OBEY HIS VOICE, AND THAT THOU MAYEST CLEAVE UNTO HIM: FOR HE IS THY LIFE, AND THE LENGTH OF THY DAYS: THAT THOU MAYEST DWELL IN THE LAND WHICH THE LORD SWARE UNTO THY FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, AND TO JACOB, TO GIVE THEM.
THOU MAYEST CLEAVE UNTO HIM: This can be fulfilled be associating with good people who also love God.
[DEUT 31:1] AND MOSES WENT AND SPAKE THESE WORDS UNTO ALL ISRAEL.
[DEUT 31:2] AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, I AM AN HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS OLD THIS DAY; I CAN NO MORE GO OUT AND COME IN: ALSO THE LORD HATH SAID UNTO ME, THOU SHALT NOT GO OVER THIS JORDAN.
Moses was 120 years old. My grandfather lived to 106 and he was fairly healthy and active almost to the last. He was also according to reports in his own way always quite religious. He did the best he could according to his knowledge. He helped others exhorted others to do good which was for their own good. Economically I do not think he was rich but he lived well. It can be done.
[DEUT 31:3] THE LORD THY GOD, HE WILL GO OVER BEFORE THEE, AND HE WILL DESTROY THESE NATIONS FROM BEFORE THEE, AND THOU SHALT POSSESS THEM: AND JOSHUA, HE SHALL GO OVER BEFORE THEE, AS THE LORD HATH SAID.
##HE WILL DESTROY THESE NATIONS FROM BEFORE THEE##: I saw a report based on archaeological finds in Jerischo (from ca 1400 BCE?) that there were plagues that decimated part of the Canaanite peoples just before the Israelite conquest.
[DEUT 31:4] AND THE LORD SHALL DO UNTO THEM AS HE DID TO SIHON AND TO OG, KINGS OF THE AMORITES, AND UNTO THE LAND OF THEM, WHOM HE DESTROYED.
[DEUT 31:5] AND THE LORD SHALL GIVE THEM UP BEFORE YOUR FACE, THAT YE MAY DO UNTO THEM ACCORDING UNTO ALL THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.
[DEUT 31:6] BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE, FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID OF THEM: FOR THE LORD THY GOD, HE IT IS THAT DOTH GO WITH THEE; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.
God will be with you. He will not fail you. This works even if you are afraid.
If you are not afraid but trust in God then it works even more: He will not cause you to fail nor feel abandoned but rather He will be with you if you do not fear and show courage. At All events HE will be with you.
S.5
[DEUT 31:7] AND MOSES CALLED UNTO JOSHUA, AND SAID UNTO HIM IN THE SIGHT OF ALL ISRAEL, BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE: FOR THOU MUST GO WITH THIS PEOPLE UNTO THE LAND WHICH THE LORD HATH SWORN UNTO THEIR FATHERS TO GIVE THEM; AND THOU SHALT CAUSE THEM TO INHERIT IT.
Joshua was of the Tribe of Ephraim, Moses belonged to the Tribe of Levi. Ephraim and Menasseh were the two tribes of Joseph.
Joshua is taken as being a type of the Messiah son of Joseph.
There will be two Messiahs, one a descendant of Ephraim who will lead the Ten Tribes back to their source and wage wars against the adversaries of Israel. He will also assist the Jews return to their land and rebuild it and according to some be connected with re-building the Temple.
The Jews belong primarily to Judah though most of Levi also joined them. Moses is therefore prototypical of Judah especially since Moses transmitted the Law and Judah maintained and strengthened it.
In addition to the Messiah son of Joseph there will also appear (somewhat later but co-eval) the Messiah son of David who will first head Judah, return the Jews back to keeping the Law and then give the Law to all Israel. It is not certain whether the Messiah son of David will initiate the re-unification with the Ten Tribes or this will already have taken place. The Messiah son of David will be responsible for affirming the identification of each Israelite individual and inform him what Tribe he belongs to.
[DEUT 31:8] AND THE LORD, HE IT IS THAT DOTH GO BEFORE THEE; HE WILL BE WITH THEE, HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NEITHER FORSAKE THEE:FEAR NOT, NEITHER BE DISMAYED.
[DEUT 31:9] AND MOSES WROTE THIS LAW, AND DELIVERED IT UNTO THE PRIESTS THE SONS OF LEVI, WHICH BARE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD, AND UNTO ALL THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL.
The Levites received the Law and Levites have always been prominent amongst Jewish sages who transmitted the Law and explained it.
[DEUT 31:10] AND MOSES COMMANDED THEM, SAYING, AT THE END OF EVERY SEVEN YEARS, IN THE SOLEMNITY OF THE YEAR OF RELEASE, IN THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES,
[DEUT 31:11] WHEN ALL ISRAEL IS COME TO APPEAR BEFORE THE LORD THY GOD IN THE PLACE WHICH HE SHALL CHOOSE, THOU SHALT READ THIS LAW BEFORE ALL ISRAEL IN THEIR HEARING.
According to tradition it was the King who had to read the Law.
[DEUT 31:12] GATHER THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, MEN AND WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, AND THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES, THAT THEY MAY HEAR, AND THAT THEY MAY LEARN, AND FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND OBSERVE TO DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW:
Everyone had to come, even the little children. It was explained that even the children may not understand much of what was going on they would remember the gathering and ceremony and sense their participation. This would have an educational effect.
[DEUT 31:13] AND THAT THEIR CHILDREN, WHICH HAVE NOT KNOWN ANY THING, MAY HEAR, AND LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD, AS LONG AS YE LIVE IN THE LAND WHITHER YE GO OVER JORDAN TO POSSESS IT.
Keeping the law is connected with dwelling in the land. If you go through all the blessings and covenants "dwelling in the land" is always linked with keeping the Law: This in effect means being religious Jews or of similar status or at least not rejecting the authenticity of obligation. Other aspects of the blessings are not necessarily so linked and some of them were unconditional, at least to a degree.
S.6
[DEUT 31:14] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, BEHOLD, THY DAYS APPROACH THAT THOU MUST DIE: CALL JOSHUA, AND PRESENT YOURSELVES IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, THAT I MAY GIVE HIM A CHARGE. AND MOSES AND JOSHUA WENT, AND PRESENTED THEMSELVES IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION.
[DEUT 31:15] AND THE LORD APPEARED IN THE TABERNACLE IN A PILLAR OF A CLOUD: AND THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD STOOD OVER THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE.
[DEUT 31:16] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, BEHOLD, THOU SHALT SLEEP WITH THY FATHERS; AND THIS PEOPLE WILL RISE UP, AND GO AWHORING AFTER THE GODS OF THE STRANGERS OF THE LAND, WHITHER THEY GO TO BE AMONG THEM, AND WILL FORSAKE ME, AND BREAK MY COVENANT WHICH I HAVE MADE WITH THEM.
The Lost Ten Tribes were exiled because they went in the ways of the peoples around them. This is described in detail in 2-Kings chapter 17.
[DEUT 31:17] THEN MY ANGER SHALL BE KINDLED AGAINST THEM IN THAT DAY, AND I WILL FORSAKE THEM, AND I WILL HIDE MY FACE FROM THEM, AND THEY SHALL BE DEVOURED, AND MANY EVILS AND TROUBLES SHALL BEFALL THEM; SO THAT THEY WILL SAY IN THAT DAY, ARE NOT THESE EVILS COME UPON US, BECAUSE OUR GOD IS NOT AMONG US?
[DEUT 31:18] AND I WILL SURELY HIDE MY FACE IN THAT DAY FOR ALL THE EVILS WHICH THEY SHALL HAVE WROUGHT, IN THAT THEY ARE TURNED UNTO OTHER GODS.
[DEUT 31:19] NOW THEREFORE WRITE YE THIS SONG FOR YOU, AND TEACH IT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTHS, THAT THIS SONG MAY BE A WITNESS FOR ME AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
S.7
[DEUT 31:20] FOR WHEN I SHALL HAVE BROUGHT THEM INTO THE LAND WHICH I SWARE UNTO THEIR FATHERS, THAT FLOWETH WITH MILK AND HONEY; AND THEY SHALL HAVE EATEN AND FILLED THEMSELVES, AND WAXEN FAT; THEN WILL THEY TURN UNTO OTHER GODS, AND SERVE THEM, AND PROVOKE ME, AND BREAK MY COVENANT.
[DEUT 31:21] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN MANY EVILS AND TROUBLES ARE BEFALLEN THEM, THAT THIS SONG SHALL TESTIFY AGAINST THEM AS A WITNESS; FOR IT SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THEIR SEED: FOR I KNOW THEIR IMAGINATION WHICH THEY GO ABOUT, EVEN NOW, BEFORE I HAVE BROUGHT THEM INTO THE LAND WHICH I SWARE.
FOR IT SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THEIR SEED : There will always be some who will remain faithful to the Torah.
[DEUT 31:22] MOSES THEREFORE WROTE THIS SONG THE SAME DAY, AND TAUGHT IT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
[DEUT 31:23] AND HE GAVE JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN A CHARGE, AND SAID, BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE: FOR THOU SHALT BRING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL INTO THE LAND WHICH I SWARE UNTO THEM: AND I WILL BE WITH THEE.
[DEUT 31:24] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN MOSES HAD MADE AN END OF WRITING THE WORDS OF THIS LAW IN A BOOK, UNTIL THEY WERE FINISHED,
[DEUT 31:25] THAT MOSES COMMANDED THE LEVITES, WHICH BARE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD, SAYING,
[DEUT 31:26] TAKE THIS BOOK OF THE LAW, AND PUT IT IN THE SIDE OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, THAT IT MAY BE THERE FOR A WITNESS AGAINST THEE.
[DEUT 31:27] FOR I KNOW THY REBELLION, AND THY STIFF NECK: BEHOLD, WHILE I AM YET ALIVE WITH YOU THIS DAY, YE HAVE BEEN REBELLIOUS AGAINST THE LORD; AND HOW MUCH MORE AFTER MY DEATH?
[DEUT 31:28] GATHER UNTO ME ALL THE ELDERS OF YOUR TRIBES, AND YOUR OFFICERS, THAT I MAY SPEAK THESE WORDS IN THEIR EARS, AND CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO RECORD AGAINST THEM.
[DEUT 31:29] FOR I KNOW THAT AFTER MY DEATH YE WILL UTTERLY CORRUPT YOURSELVES, AND TURN ASIDE FROM THE WAY WHICH I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; AND EVIL WILL BEFALL YOU IN THE LATTER DAYS; BECAUSE YE WILL DO EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, TO PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER THROUGH THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS.
AND EVIL WILL BEFALL YOU IN THE LATTER DAYS: Such expressions are usually understand to refer to the times before the end ones, meaning probably our own times. In a sense we may be living on borrowed time.
[DEUT 31:30] AND MOSES SPAKE IN THE EARS OF ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL THE WORDS OF THIS SONG, UNTIL THEY WERE ENDED.
THIS SONG: Religious Jews have systems of intonation that turn the saying of the Torah into a kind of chant. This helps memorization and internalization of the message. I always regret never having learned this system. An associate with some intellect but who was against the Brit-Am belief based on at least a superficial examination came to the conclusion that there was a connection between early English folk music and early Hebrew. He said that this could have been due to some of the English ancestors copying Hebrew or Jewish musicians at an early date. Other people have made similar claims.
Haftorah
Isaiah Chapter 62: There will be a Restoration of Israel which will be centered on Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:1). Jerusalem will be blessed greatly and known throughout all the earth (62:3-10). The people of Jerusalem will be recognized as the Redeemed of God (62:11-12).
Isaiah Chapter 63: A Special Person (The Messiah son of David? or son of Joseph?) shall take revenge on Bozrah of Edom through the strength of his might (63:1-5). He will trample down peoples (63:6). God will do great goodness to the House of Israel (63:7). God says these are my children who will act according to their parentage and fulfill the task they were destined to fulfill (63:8). God Himself suffered when HIS people were persecuted and suffered (63:9). Israel sinned and so God turned away (63:10). Even though they sin and turn away from HIM, HE will remember and return to HIS people at some stage, no matter what.
WHERE IS HE THAT PUT HIS HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN HIM? If God puts HIS spirit in us or in His prophet we can be led onto the right track (Isaiah 63:11). We do not act as our forefathers would have wanted us to do and we do not merit to receive the blessings promised to them neither do we fulfill the tasks they accepted upon themselves on our behalf. They would be in their rights to disown us BUT even so God will not disown us.
We may not be recognized as the physical descendants of Abraham and Israel even though that is what we feel ourselves to be and probably are. Even so God will help us (63:16). We are the tribes of Israel. THE TRIBES OF THINE INHERITANCE. We need to feel the Divine Presence and return (63:17). The enemy possesses the Temple Mount and defiles it. O UR ADVERSARIES HAVE TRODDEN DOWN THY SANCTUARY (63:18). Israel is the People of God. The physical descendants of the Israelites are the chosen people. There is none other (63:19).
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