“There is abundant peace for the lovers of Your Torah, and there is no stumbling block for them.” Psalms 119:165

As I review and update this Op, it is 11 June 2024, just a few hours before the great Feast of Shavuot arrives…Baruch HaShem! Now more than ever, with all that is going on around us in the world especially with the seven front war against Israel, the explosion of anti-Semitism here in America, etc, it seems like we need to truly understand His Feasts and what they represent because the major prophetic events we read about in His Word all occur on or around His annual Feasts! The term we hear used in His Word i.e. ‘The Early and Late Rains’ is a Hebrew idiom referring to HaShem’s annual Feasts…the Spring Feasts i.e. Pesach, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Shavuot and then the Late Rains i.e. Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Keep this in mind as we progress in this Op.

On a side note, I know I bash Replacement Theology constantly in my Op’s, again it is NOT directed at the people, it is solely directed at the doctrine that has been regurgitated through the centuries, unfortunately leading so many to their ruin. Baruch HaShem, He is ending this reign of deception and leading people out of the captivity to Replacement Theology just as He promised He would do in the very End of Days! So while I will frequently highlight the differences between Replacement Theology and the Word of HaShem in this Op, it is not a slap at the people. It is meant solely to hopefully get some to stop, think, analyze, reason and search out His Word for themselves and with the help of HaShem, break off that veil over their hearts and eyes so they too can see how awesome and how wonderful He and His Torah truly are.

Now, always remember when you proceed further into this Op, despite the claims of many in Replacement Theology, the Temple Services i.e. the procedures which the Kohanim, Levites and Israelites in the Temple adhere too i.e. the Tavnit (Blueprints), are NOT man made! They were given to Moshe and David by the Ruach (Spirit) of HaShem per Shemot (Exodus) 25 and I Chronicles 28!

So, with this all said, the Feast of Shavuot (erroneously referred to as Pentecost), is a VERY, VERY important Feast, one of the three pilgrimage Feasts in which all the men of Israel are required to appear before HaShem in His Temple and bring korbonot (Offerings). This Feast is so important I will go ahead and give you a little hint as to what this Feast and what this Op will entail…..this Feast is what sets apart the Bride!! No Shavuot….no Bride!!! Again, keep this in mind!

Now we can jump into this, but before we do, always remember the following because they never, ever change:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13

Remember Yeshua is the AGENT of HaShem…please read the article from the Jerusalem Encyclopedia defining the ‘Law of Agency’. Here is an excerpt: “The Law of Agency deals with the status of a person (known as the agent) acting by direction of another (the principal), and thereby  legally binding the principal in his connection with a third person. The person who binds a principal in this manner is his agent, known in Jewish law as sheluaḥ or sheliaḥ (one that is sent): the relation of the former to the latter is known as agency (sheliḥut). The general principle is enunciated thus: A man’s agent is like himself (Ḳid. 41b).” – http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/894-agency-law-of

This means, Yeshua, can ONLY act, teach, do and say ONLY what HaShem i.e. The Principal Who charged His Agent i.e. Yeshua to act on His behalf. John 5:19 says “Therefore, Yeshua, responded and said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He does, the Son also likewise does.” Or John 8:28 says “So, Yeshua said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Adam, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do none at all of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these words I speak.'” Finally, John 12:49-50 says “Because I spoke not from Myself, but the Father Who sent Me has given Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life, what I should say and what I should speak.”

Is it then possible for the Messiah to come and teach a doctrine that is the complete opposite to what HaShem established in the beginning? Can the Messiah come teaching a doctrine of ‘Change’ and still legitimately claim to be from HaShem?

Before we examine the depths of Shavuot, we need to first lay the foundation for the Feast. Shavuot is on the sixth day of the Biblical month of Sivan i.e. the Third month of the year beginning with Nissan. This Feast is considered to be a continuation of Pesach (Passover). It is the 50th day after Pesach in which we have been Counting the Omer between Pesach and Shavuot.

On a side note, those who object to using the names for the Biblical months, there is biblical precedent for the names of the months as we see in the book of Esther 8:9 specifically refers to the month of ‘Sivan’ in Scripture, however, I am NOT looking to engage in arguments over the calendar issue…that is between HaShem and yourselves.

What is very interesting concerning the month of Sivan, i.e. the Third Month, is that it is in the Third Month HaShem brings Israel to Sinai and presents His marriage proposal i.e. His Torah. An excerpt from the book ‘The Book of Our Heritage’ by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov, it says “Just as marriage can survive only if there is peace and love, so too the Torah, the instrument of betrothal between HaShem and Israel, could only be received when these conditions prevailed. The Torah is referred to as ‘Morashah’ (A Heritage) per Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:4 which says ‘The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Ya’akov.’ This word ‘Morashah’ is better understood as ‘Me’orasah’ meaning ‘Betrothed.'” We will discuss this much deeper coming up shortly in the Op.

To better understand Shavuot, we must understand the concept of Kedusha (Holiness)! Kedusha is very well defined by my teacher in the following statement: “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!” Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries – Jerusalem Temple Study.

Tractate Kelim 1.6-9 from the Mishnah gives us a very good example by listing locations in ascending order of severity: “There are ten sanctities – Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) is more sanctified than any of the other lands. And what is its sanctity? That we may bring from it the omer and the first fruits and the Two Loaves of bread, which we may NOT bring from any of the other lands.”

“Cities surrounded by a wall are more sanctified than this, for we send the metzora’im (Those with biblical Leprosy) out of them, and they may carry a dead body around within them until they decide (To take them outside the walls for burial, once they go outside the wall, they may not re-enter until going through the ritual purity process for having contact with a corpse). Once out, they may not bring it (The corpse) back (Inside the walls).”

“Within the walls is more sanctified than these, for we may eat there Kodashim Kalim (Offerings of minor degree of holiness) and Ma’aser Sheni (Second Tithes). Har Habayit (Temple Mount) is more sanctified than this, for zavim and zavot, niddot and yoldot (Ritually impure due to bodily discharges) may not enter there. The Cheil is more sanctified than this, for Gentiles, and one rendered impure by a corpse, may not enter there. Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women) is more sanctified than this, for a tevul yom (One who has gone through the ritual purity process and has immersed in a mikvah, but must wait until sun down for their purity to be restored) may not enter there, but they are not liable to a sin offering for it. Ezrat Yisrael (Court of Israel) is more sanctified than this for one lacking atonement may not enter there, and they are liable to a sin offering for it. Ezrat Kohanim (Court of the Priests) is more sanctified than this, for Israelites may enter there only at a time when they are needed; for laying hands, for slaughtering, for heaving.”

“Between the Ulam (Outer portico of the Sanctuary building) and the Altar is more sanctified than this, for those with a blemish and those with wild hair (Uncut for thirty days) may not enter there. The Hekhal (The Sanctuary building) is more sanctified than this, for one may not enter there without washing hands and feet. The Holy of Holies is more sanctified than these, for only the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) may enter there, on Yom Kippur at the time of the service.”

Can you see the progression of severity as it pertains to the concept of Kedusha? Again, I ask the question, so now HaShem, Who says He never changes and His Word is firmly established for eternity, suddenly now changes His mind and says a group of people, i.e. Replacement Theology, which teaches everything about HaShem is now tossed aside and replaced and now this group of people who eat unclean, observe pagan feasts, rejects the Torah, embraces idolatry, and decides for themselves what is right and wrong, are now exactly what He has wanted from the beginning? Keep this in mind!

Shavuot has several names in His Word:

• Feast of Reaping per Shemot (Exodus) 28:16
• Feast of Shavuot per Shemot 34:22
• Feast of Bikkurim (Firstfruits) per Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:26

The Feast of Shavuot is a Korbon Feast meaning HaShem requires animal and grain offerings be brought into His Temple. These korbonot are listed in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:17 which tells us two minchah (Bread) offerings along with what is called an ‘External Chatat (Sin)’ korbonot of a young male goat. It is called an ‘External’ korbonot because it designates where the blood will be sprinkled, in this case on the external Mizbe’ach (Altar). Further this korbonot is also referred to as a ‘Communal’ obligatory korbonot in that this goat is offered up as a Chatat for ALL of Israel.

Additionally, per Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:26-27, two bulls, one ram and seven lambs are offered up as Olah (Burnt) korbonot, which means no one eats the meat as the meat is completely burned on the Mizbe’ach as a sweet aroma to HaShem.

One of the main korbonot brought to the Beis HaMikdash (Temple) is the Two Loaves (Shtei HaLechem) which is a Minchah korbonot i.e. a Bread Offering. Now when studying HaShem’s Word and utilizing the tools He gave us to study and learn, i.e. His Oral Torah (Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, Etc), it is always very important to pay very close attention to the details! The Shtei HaLechem is no difference!

Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:17 says “From your dwelling places you shall bring bread that shall be waved, two loaves made of two tenth ephah, they shall be fine flour, they shall be baked leavened; first offerings to HaShem.”

The following excerpt from the Book of the Mitzvot #307 says “The Omer offering, a special Minchah (Bread) offering made of barley, is brought, in the Beis HaMikdash on the second day of Pesach (Passover). It permits consumption of the new crop of grain, any grain, that had taken root during the period of the preceding year’s Omer offering and this one. Fifty days later, on the Festival of Shavuos, we are commanded to bring another special Minchah. This offering, which is made of wheat, is known as the offering of the Two Loaves, Shtei HaLechem.” Notice the Minchah offered on Pesach is made of barley, but the Minchah offered on Shavuos is made from wheat?

Note #2 from the Book of the Mitzvot excerpt clarifies “As a general rule, offerings (Minchah) may not consist of leavened bread (Chametz). However, there are two offerings that are required to be made of chametz. These are the Two Loaves offering of Shavuos and ten of the forty loaves of the Todah (Thanksgiving) offering of Vayikra (Leviticus) 7:13. The Two Loaves offering is a form of thanksgiving to HaShem for this new harvest, and therefore shares this aspect with the Todah offering.”

Tractate Menahot from the Mishnah describes the Two Loaves: “The Two Loaves brought on Shavuot, thus Vayikra 23:15-17 ‘Until the morrow after the seventh Shabbat shall you number fifty days, and you shall offer a new meal offering to the Lord. You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth measures, they shall be of fine flour…’ The above were eaten by the Kohanim.”

Tractate Menahot 5.6 from the Mishnah says “…How does he (Kohanim) proceed with the waving of the of the Two Loaves and the two lambs? He puts the Two Loaves on the two lambs. According to the Gemara (Talmud Commentary), he puts them beside the two lambs, ‘on’ actually signifying ‘near’ and puts his two hands underneath, and swings forward and backward in all four directions, and upward and downward, as it is written in Shemot (Exodus) 29:27: ‘Which is waved and heaved up’, ‘waved’ meaning forward and backward, and ‘heaved’ upward and downward. The above account of Aaron’s and his sons’ induction into the priesthood serves as a model for other waving’s”

Then, per Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:19 there are two male sheep offered up as a Shelamim (Peace) korbonot. It should also be noted all of these korbonot are considered to be ‘Communal’ and obligatory meaning they all are on behalf the entire people of Israel! This should be causing you to ask yourself some questions as it pertains to what we all were taught in Replacement Theology, which I will address shortly.

The biblical reference for Shavuot is found beginning in Shemot (Exodus) 19:1, which says “In the third month (Sivan) from the Exodus of the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt, on this day, they arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai. They journeyed from Rephidim and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the Wilderness; and Israel encamped there, opposite the mountain.

Moshe ascended to Elohim, and HaShem called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘So shall you say to the House of Ya’akov (Jacob) and relate to the Children of Israel. You have seen what I did to Egypt, and that I have borne you on the wings of eagles and brought you to Me. And now, if you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples, for Mine is the entire world. You shall be to Me a kingdom of ministers and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Children of Israel.

Moshe came and summoned the elders of the people, and put before them all these words that HaShem had commanded him. The entire people responded together and said, ‘Everything that HaShem has spoken we shall do!’ Moshe brought back the words of the people to HaShem.”

Very interesting! So we see Israel arrived in the Wilderness of Sinai on the first day of Sivan and it was then HaShem made the proposal to Israel on the 2nd day of Sivan! “IF you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, THEN you shall be to me the most beloved treasure of all the peoples, for Mine is the entire world.”

Consider this from an excerpt from the ‘Book of Our Heritage’ which says “The verse from Shir HaShirim (Song of Solomon) 2:2 states: ‘Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is My beloved among the sons.’ Just as the apple tree gives fruit fifty days after blossoming, so too did Israel receive the Torah fifty days after their departure from Egypt!”

I have to stop here and address this point…I hear constantly from the adherents of Replacement Theology that anyone striving to keep the Torah is attempting to earn their salvation and thus are derived from the Kingdom of Satan for teaching lies and deceit. Well, these verses here once more prove them wrong…how do we know? Because the picture HaShem has shown is FIRST He ‘saved’ or ‘redeemed’ Israel from the bondage of Egypt due to no merit of their own and THEN He brings Israel to Sinai and we will see shortly it is AFTER He redeemed Israel that He gives His Torah and says and I will paraphrase “Now that I have redeemed you, here is My Torah to know how to live as My people!” Point is, FIRST comes salvation/redemption THEN comes the Torah to be set apart to HaShem as His Own by faith i.e. live it out, practice, study, learn and apply it, all of which are the biblical definition of faith in HaShem! Remember ‘Faith WITHOUT works i.e. Torah is dead’ per Ya’akov (James) chapter 2 in the Apostolic Writings! Okay, back on point.

So, we can see HaShem offered His proposal to Israel here on the 2nd day of Sivan, in which Israel responds with “Everything that HaShem has spoken we shall do!” Meaning Israel accepted His proposal!! Moshe then brings the response to HaShem on the 3rd day of Sivan. Baruch HaShem!

It should be noted that it is recorded HaShem did offer the Torah first to the Gentile nations, but they all refused Him. Israel is the only nation who accepted His proposal…which accounts as to why the world hates Israel so much since then to include today. This concept is derived from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:2 which states “He said: HaShem came from Sinai, having shone forth to them from Seir, having appeared from Mount Paran, and then approached with some of the holy myriads, from His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them.” The commentary on this verse from the Talmud Bavli Tractate Avodah Zarah 2b says “With regard to the Revelation at Mount Sinai, our verse says, ‘HaShem came from Sinai, having shone forth to them from Seir, having appeared from Mount Paran.’ Seir is the homeland of the descendants of Eisav (Esau), and the descendants of Yishmael live on Mount Paran. This teaches that BEFORE HaShem gave the Torah to Israel at Mount Sinai, He offered it to the other nations of the world, and they all rejected His offer.”

Okay, moving on. So, now that Israel has accepted His proposal, He then tells Moshe in Shemot 19:9-15 “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Behold! I come to you in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people will hear as I speak to you, and they will also believe in you forever.’ Moshe related the words of the people to HaShem (On the 3rd day of Sivan). HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Go to the people and sanctify (Kedusha/Kadosh/Set apart) them today and tomorrow and they shall wash their clothing. Let them be prepared for the third day, for on the third day HaShem shall descend in the sight of the entire people on Mount Sinai (6th day of Sivan). You shall set boundaries for the people roundabout saying, ‘Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain shall surely die. A hand shall not touch it, for he shall surely be stoned or surely thrown down; whether animal or person he shall not live; upon an extended blast of the shofar, they may ascend the mountain.’ Moshe descended from the mountain to the people. He sanctified the people and they washed their clothing. He said to the people, ‘Be prepared after a three day period; do not draw near a woman.’”

These verses are just astounding!! Remember HaShem reveals the end out of the beginning!! Here HaShem keeps reiterating ‘On the THIRD DAY!’ What is so significant about the THIRD DAY? Because HaShem established the pattern from the third day of creation that something or someone is revealed! On the third day dry land appeared during the week of creation! So, here on the THIRD DAY, HaShem will come down to Sinai and reveal Himself to Israel!

Consider that to HaShem a thousand years is but a day per Psalms 90:4 and 2 Kepha (Peter) 3:8, which again adds a prophetic element to this account and here is why: Hosea 6:1-2 says “Come, let us return to HaShem for He has mangled and He shall heal us; He has smitten and He shall bandage us. He will heal us AFTER TWO DAYS (Two thousand years of exile after the second Temple destruction); on the THIRD DAY He will raise us up and we will live before Him.” Remember HaShem has given mankind 7,000 years and then the World to Come. The first six days i.e. six thousand years mankind makes a mess out of things. Then on the Shabbat i.e. the Seventh Day or the last thousand years, Yeshua will rule and reign and we will rest in Him. So, how long has it been since Israel was scattered into the world after the destruction of the Temple by Rome? Approximately two days i.e. two thousand years! On the third day after the exile began, He will raise us up i.e. the resurrection of the righteous and the Gathering to HaShem on that Rosh Hashanah which begins on His calendar the seventh day i.e. the Day of HaShem! The point I am striving to drive home is that HaShem is completely consistent and unchanging…Yeshua changed NOTHING despite what Replacement Theology teaches!

We also see how HaShem gives Israel three days to purify themselves i.e. sanctify themselves….remember sanctification has nothing to do with salvation/redemption, it is all about being set apart to Him for service unto Him. Is it a coincidence then that when a person is being purified from corpse impurity during the SEVEN day purification process that the ashes the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) are sprinkled on the person on the THIRD and SEVENTH days and then are clean before HaShem? Point is, pattern…consistency…He never changes! Moving on.

Then we see from these verses in Shemot HaShem establishes boundaries because of the kedusha issue. When one draws closer to HaShem, the level of kedusha increases…such as we see in the Temple. For example, Gentiles can only go so far in the Temple, they cannot cross the Soreg (Lattice worked wall). If they do, there is a death penalty. Israelite women can go only as far as the Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women), if they violate this, there is a death penalty. Israelite men can only go to the Court of the Israelite’s. The Kohanim (Priests) can only go so far and then finally the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) can only enter the Most Holy Place one time a year on Yom Kippur. If he violates this, then he will die by the Hand of Heaven in that year. Further, no one is allowed to turn their back towards the Most Holy Place anywhere in the Temple…to do so is a death penalty. No one is allowed to enter the Temple with their heads uncovered…again it is a death penalty…why? Kedusha!! Point is, HaShem is kadosh, and He commands we as His people are to be kadosh like Him.

With this all said, to be His people means we MUST have boundaries in our lives and MUST be kadosh…which is best defined by my teacher, Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries, who defined kedusha as: “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!” Can we be His people when we toss His Torah out and declare it null and void as Replacement Theology teaches? Nope! It is utterly impossible! This is why Replacement Theology doctrine is so tremendously dangerous as it is leading people to their utter ruin and they, in most cases, have no idea they are running headlong into a speeding freight train, figuratively speaking. I digress…moving on.

So, then on the THIRD DAY what happens? Per Shemot 19:16-24 says “On the THIRD DAY when it was morning, there was thunder and lightning and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of the shofar was very powerful, and the entire people that was in the camp shuddered. Moshe (Remember Moshe is a picture of Messiah Yeshua!) brought the people forth from the camp toward Elohim, and they stood at the bottom of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was smoking because HaShem had descended upon it in the fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of the furnace, and the entire mountain shuddered exceedingly. The sound of the shofar grew continually much stronger; Moshe would speak and Elohim would respond to him with a voice.

HaShem descended upon Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain; HaShem summoned Moshe to the top of the mountain, and Moshe ascended. HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Descend, warn the people, lest they break through to HaShem to see, and a multitude of them will fall. Even the Kohanim who approach HaShem should be prepared, lest HaShem burst forth against them.’ Moshe said to HaShem, ‘The people cannot ascend Mount Sinai, for You have warned us, saying, ‘Bound the mountain and sanctify it.’ HaShem said to him, ‘Go, descend. Then you shall ascend, and Aharon with you, but the Kohanim, and the people, they shall not break through to ascend to HaShem, lest He burst forth against them.’ Moshe descended to the people and said it to them.”

Again, HaShem is reinforcing the concept of kedusha! This is why it makes my blood boil every time I hear Replacement Theology go on and on about how ‘The veil is torn in two, now all of us have access to the Most Holy Place and go in whenever we want, however we want and answer to no one…’ No, no, no!!! Very, very, very wrong concept….think of how many people Replacement Theology would send to their deaths if the Temple were standing in Jerusalem today and people just waltzed in and tried to enter the Heichal (Sanctuary)? There would be piles of corpses laying around the place! Again can you see just how deadly Replacement Theology truly is?

So, now HaShem has descended onto the mountain and He then says in Shemot 20:1-14 says “Elohim spoke all these statements, saying: ‘I am HaShem, your Elohim, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. There shall not be to you the gods of others in My presence. You shall not make yourself a carved image nor any likeness of that which is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth. You shall not prostrate yourself to them and you shall not worship them, for I am HaShem, your Elohim, a jealous Elohim, Who visits the sin of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations, for My enemies; but Who shows kindness for thousands of generations to those who love Me and observe My commandments (What did Yeshua, the Agent of HaShem, reiterate? ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments!’ Means again NOTHING changed!) You shall not take the Name of HaShem, your Elohim, in vain, for HaShem will not absolve anyone who takes His Name in vain.

Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it. Six days shall you work and do all your labor; but the seventh day is Shabbat to HaShem, your Elohim; you shall not do any work, you, your son, your daughter; your slave, your maidservant, your animal, and your convert within your gates, for in six days HaShem made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore, HaShem blessed the Shabbat day and sanctified it.” So, what gives Replacement Theology the authority to declare HaShem’s Shabbat day now is null and void and any ole day can be Shabbat? The answer is, they CANNOT change what HaShem has decreed to be sanctified! Another reason why He will destroy Replacement Theology in the End!.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days will be lengthened upon the land that HaShem, your Elohim gives you. You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness against your fellow. You shall not covet your fellow’s house. You shall not covet your fellow’s wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow.”

So, again we see HaShem is giving the terms of the proposal to Israel i.e. He is giving Israel the Torah! In other words, HaShem, Who is the prospective Groom proposes to Israel i.e. the prospective Bride. She accepts His proposal and then He presents to her on the 6th day of Sivan what is called the ‘Ketubah’ i.e. the marriage contract, which stipulates everything the Groom will do and is responsible for taking care of His Bride and the responsibilities the Bride has to the Groom! Folks, understand, the Torah of HaShem IS the Ketubah which means Israel IS the Bride and it is on Shavuot, the 6th day of Sivan, He gave His Ketubah!

Does this change your perception of the Torah now? Can the so called ‘Church’ of Replacement Theology be the bride? Not a chance in Hades! Why? Because the Church has tossed out the Torah declaring it ‘Bondage, dung, human feces, deception, shackles of death, destruction, etc!’ I am not exaggerating either…many, many people in Replacement Theology really do believe this and claim Paul said these things in his letters, which is utter garbage and blasphemy! So, can there be a bride when the prospective bride claims the marriage contract has been tossed out? Or to put it another way, how can there be a wedding when the bride refuses to show up and has by default married someone else i.e. Replacement Theology/Torah Abolishing ‘Jesus’ whose entire doctrine is ‘Change’ culminating with the Torah is tossed out? I digress.

Consider a prophetic verse of the End of Days which is found in the book of Shoftim (Judges) 21:25 which says “In those days (Biblical idiom to reference the End of Days) there was no king in Israel; A MAN WOULD DO WHATEVER SEEMED PROPER IN HIS EYES.” In other other words, Torahlessness i.e. Lawlessness was the way people lived in the End. People spit on HaShem and embraced what was pleasing in their own eyes and thus would decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong, hence there was no king. This verse, in my opinion, sums up Replacement Theology and the devastating effects this Satanic doctrine has had on the world. Something to consider.

Additionally, during Shavuot, it is a part of the Feast for us to read the Book of Ruth. Why the Book of Ruth? Per the Book of Ruth Artscroll Commentary the Book of Ruth is indicative of being a picture of HaShem taking things which are impure and withdrawing purity from it! Job 14:3 says “Who can withdraw purity from impurity?” Further, the Bamidbar Midrash 19:1 says “Abraham came from Terach, Hezekiah from Achaz, Yoshiah from Omon, Mordechai from Shim’i, Israel from the nations, the World to Come from this world. Who could do this? Who could command this? Who could decree this? No one but HaShem, the only One on earth!” Keep all this in mind!

THE JEWISH WEDDING PROCESS

I am going to quickly discuss the Jewish wedding process because it relates to us today.

The Groom is required to “Pay the Bride Price” for the prospective bride. This MUST be something of value such as property, money or other forms of wealth. In this case, HaShem gave His Torah, something of immeasurable value for the Bride!

It is interesting to note that on Shavuot in the synagogues, a Ketubah is read and the date ‘6th of Sivan in the biblical year 2448’ (The number of years from Creation) is the date of the Betrothal between HaShem and Israel! Further, it is acknowledged that the Torah is the Bride Price that was paid for her!

There are TWO phases to a Jewish wedding:

• Erusin = The Betrothal Phase – The husband and wife are technically married, but they do not live under the same roof together, they do not partake of marriage sexual relations, but if either party wants to end the relationship, or if either party violates the terms of the Ketubah, they will need to obtain a divorce document called a ‘Get’. Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 3:8 says “And I saw that despite the fact that I (HaShem) divorced wayward Israel because of her adultery (Idolatry) and gave her a bill of divorce to her, unfaithful Judah, her sister, was not afraid; she too went and committed adultery.” So, HaShem DID divorce Israel………..BUT, there is hope! Since it is forbidden in His Torah for a man to remarry his divorced wife who married another man per Devarim 24:4, HaShem legally cannot remarry Israel….or can He? Again, this is where understanding the role of Yeshua comes into play as the ‘Agent of HaShem’. Yeshua comes on the scene, and what does He do? He offers Himself up and dies on Pesach, thus releasing HaShem from the prohibition of Devarim 24:4. HaShem then resurrects Yeshua on the THIRD DAY, the Ketubah is restored and renewed, and now HaShem can resume being in the Erusin stage of the marriage betrothal process! Does this change your perception of Yeshua’s role? If the Ketubah had been done away with as Replacement Theology teaches, then there is NO Marriage whatsoever! So, who is this Replacement Theology’s ‘Jesus’ married too? No one! There are no terms of marriage i.e. no Ketubah!
• Nissuin = Full Marriage – This will happen on the Rosh HaShanah HaShem has designated when Yeshua will be crowned King and then the Wedding Ceremony takes place. Remember Yeshua is the ‘Agent of HaShem’, and as HaShem’s Agent, will be the One to literally marry Israel. Just before the Nissuin ceremony the Groom must agree to the terms of the Ketubah in the presence of two witnesses, whereupon these two witnesses sign the Ketubah. Is it possible then that Moshe and Elijah i.e. Torah and the Prophets, present at Yeshua’s transfiguration in Matthew 17 are the two witnesses?

The Nissuin ceremony takes seven days in which the couple spends those seven days secluded. Again we see the picture emerging of the seven years where the new couple is secluded in the Heavenly Temple during the seven years of the Birth Pangs here on earth, erroneously called ‘The Tribulation’ period. It is here Yeshua begins His reign as King and then at the end of the seven days, He and the Bride emerge, and on that Yom Kippur, He and His Bride return to the earth where He marches into Jerusalem, defeats and destroys the False Messiah and His Replacement Theology doctrine. Then on that Sukkot, five days later, the greatest celebration ever experienced by humanity takes place for those seven days as all of HaShem’s enemies are wiped out and obliterated.

Now with this said, consider what HaShem says in Hosea 2:18-25 which says “And it shall be on that day (An idiom to mean the Day of HaShem in the End), declares HaShem, you (Israel) will call Me, ‘my Husband’ and you will no longer call Me, ‘My Master.’ And I will remove the names of the Baal idols from her mouth and they will no longer be remembered by their name. And I will seal for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky and the creeping things of the ground; and the bow, the sword, and war I will eradicate from the land, and I will lay them down in safety. And I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME FOREVER, AND  I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WITH JUSTICE, BENEVOLENCE AND MERCY. AND I WILL BETROTH TO ME WITH FAITH, AND YOU WILL KNOW HASHEM. And it will be on that day, I will answer, declares HaShem; I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth. And the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel (Specific location in Israel where crops are grown). And I shall sow her to Me in the land, and I will have mercy upon the unpitied one, and I will say to those who are not My nation, ‘You are My nation’ and he shall say, ‘You are my Elohim.’” Whelp, this just destroyed Replacement Theology once and for all!

Consider what He says in Song of Songs 3:11 which says “Go forth and gaze, O daughters distinguished by loyalty to Elohim, upon the King Shlomo adorned with the crown His nation made, on that day, His Torah was given and HE BECAME ONE WITH ISRAEL, and on the day His heart was gladdened by His Tabernacle’s consecration.”

Also consider the interesting verses in Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 23:5-6 which says speaking of Messiah Yeshua “Behold, days are coming, the Word of HaShem, when I will establish a righteous sprout from David; a king will reign and prosper and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. THIS IS THE NAME PEOPLE WILL CALL HIM – ‘HASHEM IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”“

Now read this in contrast Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 33:15-16 which says “In those days, at that time, I will cause a sprout of righteousness to sprout forth for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in security; AND THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL CALL JERUSALEM – HASHEM IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

What is so special about these verses? These verses show there was a wedding that took place and now both Messiah and His Bride i.e. Israel are called “HaShem is our righteousness!” Again I have to ask, can there be any truth to Replacement Theology and its doctrine the Ketubah/Torah have been tossed aside and replaced? Again not a chance in Hades!!

So, with all this said, Shavuot IS the date we celebrate as entering into the Erusin phase of the marriage between HaShem and Israel! The giving of the Torah is the Ketubah of this marriage and thus each Shavuot we acknowledge we re-dedicate ourselves to the Ketubah i.e. the Torah of HaShem.

Now consider, Yeshua dies on Pesach, is in the grave and HaShem resurrects Him on First Fruits. He is seen for the next 40 days and then what does He tell His Talmidim to do in preparation for Shavuot as is recorded in Acts 1:4? It is recorded “And meeting with them (His Talmidim), He commanded them NOT to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father which you have heard from Me.” So, Yeshua is telling them to stay in Jerusalem, go up to the Temple on Shavuot as required by the Torah, which remember requires animal korbonot to include Chatat (Sin) korbonot, and then wait for the Ruach i.e. the Promise of the Father. Why is this significant? Because this is Shavuot, the re-dedication to the Ketubah, which Yeshua just restored, renewed, and HaShem, like before, He gives His Ruach to His people to strengthen them to rebel and become a Lawless/Torahless bunch as Replacement Theology teaches? No, of course not, but His Ruach will help us KEEP His Torah i.e. the Ketubah and remain faithful to Him, leading us into all righteousness.

If Yeshua had ended everything to include the animal korbonot, then here would have been the perfect time to tell His Talmidim NOT to stay in Jerusalem and to go to another place…but instead, He tells them to keep the Torah! Again, nothing changed!

I hope and pray you can see the importance of Shavuot and why we WANT to keep this appointment with HaShem!! We WANT to rededicate ourselves to His Ketubah as His people and His Bride! If we truly love Him, then we will want to walk according to how He said to live…remember first comes salvation/redemption THEN the Ketubah/Torah as the means to express our faith, love, devotion and loyalty unto Him….not perfectly as that is unfortunately not possible right now, but striving for that. All I can say is, ‘May it be SO VERY, VERY soon in our days!!!’

Much to consider.

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
• Song of Songs by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Jeremiah by Artscroll
• Tehillim by Artscroll
• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
• The Milstein Edition Shemot of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Vayikra of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Bamidbar of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Devarim of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov
• Tractate Menachot, Kehati Mishnah
• The Early Prophets Joshua/Judges by Artscroll
• The Book of Ruth by Artscroll

“Frail man, his days are like grass, like a sprout of the field, so he sprouts. If a wind passes over it, it is gone, and its site knows it no more. But the kindness of HaShem is forever and ever upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness upon children’s children. To those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commands to fulfill them.” Psalms 103:15-18

As I put this Op together it is Shabbat, 1 June 2024! What a week leading up to this Shabbat it has been! Truly historic in witnessing another giant fall of America with the conviction of Pres Trump. Like or dislike Trump doesn’t matter. All Americans should be outraged and highly concerned at what has taken place with such an obvious corrupt and manipulated trial. Again, its a giant indicator America is falling just as HaShem said it would in the very end just before the Final Redemption!

Is it a coincidence at the same time of all this judicial corruption being exposed we see America voicing its utter disdain, contempt and outright hatred for Israel while Israel is literally in a battle to defend its very existence in a seven front war? HaShem warns, touching Jerusalem and His nation of Israel whether in words or deeds will result in severe consequences! And here we are today!

Further, is it a coincidence the month of May 2024 we witnessed a record amount of severe weather alerts and tornados which ripped apart the Midwest of the United States? The National Hurricane Center released their forecast for the hurricane season 2024 which begins today, 1 June 2024, and they are saying because the ocean waters are at record heat temperatures, to expect to see a record number of storms and catastrophic hurricanes to strike America this year! Again, there is no such thing as a coincidence with HaShem!

Is it a coincidence the more America voices its hatred of Israel, our economy is crumbling and the value of the US dollar is being dumped by nation after nation across the globe? Inflation is skyrocketing and now today we each have to figuratively speaking take a loan out from the bank just to pay the bills and buy the groceries! Its very, very concerning!

The more America plots and seeks to disrupt Israel’s ability to defend herself, the faster America will fall! So, how do we as HaShem’s people living in America today deal with this? Life is no doubt extremely difficult and full of concerns so much so it is utterly impossible to try and prepare for each possible scenario! Catastrophe can literally come upon each and every one of us at a moments notice now! We truly are in the End of Days, literally moments from the beginning of the Birthpains of Messiah!

Keep this in mind and as I always include in my Op’s never forget the following eternal attributes of HaShem and His Torah:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

This weeks Torah portion address this very topic of this Op! It is the last Torah portion of the book of Leviticus ‘Bechukosai’ which is found in Leviticus 26:3-27:34! This Torah portion begins with the very first verse which says “If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them…”

So, what does this very first verse tell us? Look at the wording HaShem begins with? He begins with ‘IF’, which denotes the decision is up to each of us! We get to choose each and every day which way we will walk. Its not an issue of Replacement Theology which teaches the Torah has been done away with and tossed out so it is no longer any concern, just the opposite, we are to choose even today and this Torah portion tells us what happens when we choose HaShem and what happens when we choose to walk away!

HaShem says when we follow and toil in our study of His Torah and perform His commandments, the following blessings will be bestowed: “Then I will provide rains in their time, and the land will give its produce and the tree of the field will give its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your bread to satiety and you will dwell securely in your land.”

So, we see He will provide the rains at their proper time and in proper quantity. The produce the land will be enough with much left over. Everyone will eat to satiety and none will be hungry or dissatisfied and we will dwell securely in the land, which means no crime, no violence, no corruption and ultimately no war!

He continues in verse six: “I will provide peace in the Land, and you will lie down with none to frighten you; I will cause wild beasts to withdraw from the Land, and a sword will not cross your Land. You will pursue your enemies; and they will fall before you by the sword. Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand; and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. I will turn My attention to you, I will make you fruitful and increase you; and I will establish My covenant with you.”

Do we see today peace in the land? Does anyone today lie down to go to sleep with nothing to be concerned about or frighten us? Is the sword i.e. violence/war, just something from a Hollywood script we occasionally consider? Is the effectiveness and fear of the US military amongst our enemies keeping the peace or is the growing weakness of the US military emboldening our enemies around the globe today?

HaShem continues in verse 10: “You will eat very old grain and remove the old to make way for the new. I will place My Sanctuary among you; and My Spirit will not reject you. I will walk among you. I will be Elohim unto you and you will be a people unto Me. I am HaShem your Elohim, Who took you out of the land of Egypt from being their slaves; I broke the staves of your yoke and I will lead you very high.”

Are we eating like we did twenty years ago here America today? Not a chance! How many times do you go the grocery store and common items are now out of stock? Just yesterday in the news it was discussing how another chicken farm in America was destroyed by fire in which millions of chickens were destroyed. The week before a chicken farm culled tens of millions of chickens because of bird flu. Point is, our food supply is rapidly diminishing!

Now, here is where HaShem says what will happen if we do NOT walk in His Torah: “But IF (Again our choice) you will NOT listen to Me and will not perform all of these commandments; if you consider My decrees loathsome, and if your being rejects My ordinances, so as not to perform all My commandments, so that you annul My covenant, then I will do the same to you; I will assign upon you panic, swelling lesions, and burning fever, which causes eyes to long and souls to suffer; you will sow your seeds in vain, for your enemies will eat it. I will turn My attention against you, you will be struck down before enemies; whose who hate you will subjugate you, you will flee with no one pursuing you.”

How often do we hear from the Replacement Theology groups just how much they utterly abhor and loathe HaShem’s Torah? I see and read it all the time now. The outright hatred and disdain for HaShem and His Torah is at levels I have never seen before! What is the effect on the land? One word encapsulates it i.e. LAWLESSNESS! We see law and order swirling down the drain now. Its a free for all and the powerful, wealthy and elite have all the power and are exempt from being held accountable!

Interesting HaShem says He will assign panic to the society who tells Him to take His Torah and get lost. Are we witnessing this today in America? Are we planting our fields with seeds and either the seeds do not sprout or those fields have already been promised to be given to our enemies! How about the millions of illegals who have poured into our country, many are adversaries of America who are here for nefarious and very dangerous reasons, and what is happening? They are being given the benefits, support, healthcare, housing and food which should be being provided to American citizens. Those who hate America will subjugate us and we can truly see this has happened today!

Its curious HaShem talks about how we will flee with no one pursuing us! Was America defeated and expelled out of Afghanistan or did America defeat itself and chose to expel ourselves in shame and dishonor? Was anyone overwhelming us in Afghanistan? No, again we chose to do so and it was broadcast over the entire globe the humiliating defeat of America. I could go on and on showing the examples of what is right in front of us today proving HaShem’s Word is absolutely true and we as a nation are reaping what we have sown!

So, what do we do here and now in this life in America 2024? The Midrash Rabbah for this weeks Torah portion has a very interesting commentary. It says “Why did King David go to the synagogues and study halls when he had planned on going elsewhere? Some understand that these detours were spontaneous; he was simply drawn away from his mundane itinerary by the inexorable pinings of his soul. However, David’s actions were premediated. Before attending to his mundane affairs, he would go to the synagogue to pray for success, and then he would enter the study halls to delve into the Torah and map out the proper way to go about his tasks. Thus, David said that when ‘I considered my ways, this is, when I contemplated my everyday affairs, I returned my feet to Your testimonies’, I prepared myself by going to the synagogues and study halls. The routine became so habitual, adds our Midrash, that even without any forethought, ‘my feet would lead me’ to these holy places.”

“This glimpse into King David’s methods provides a model for those who seek to lead their lives in the path of Torah. Before any worldly activity, one should pray for Divine assistance and consult the Torah for evaluation and guidance, evaluation of the activity against the standards of Torah law, and guidance on how to navigate difficult situations and how to withstand the moral challenges that are sure to come his way.” Are we today being inundated with shall we say difficult moral challenges with all the immorality, depravity and perversions we are constantly being smothered with?

The last paragraph from this Midrash says “For this reason, our verse does not say, ‘if you will observe My decrees, but if you will go in the path of My decrees.’ The chosen wording indicates that HaShem expects us to do more than perform the commandments as they come our way. He wants us to prepare for such observance by going to the synagogue and asking for His help, and by going to the study hall to determine how best to perform the commandment. And if that is true for commandment endeavors, it is surely true for personal or business matters, which must be examined even more closely under the Torah’s light.”

In other words, we strive to make Torah study a priority in our lives. Now I must pause here and reinforce, HaShem knows none of us are Torah scholars or sages and He knows where we live, what we have access too and our abilities i.e. health issues.

When we read HaShem wants us to study His Torah, we do the best we can do, where we are at and with the resources we have! Further, studying His Torah has nothing to do with obtaining salvation. This has been accomplished by the real Messiah Yeshua. Salvation is secure and striving and toiling in His Torah is how we walk and live in the likeness of Messiah Yeshua. Remember: Know Torah, Know Messiah Yeshua. No Torah, No Messiah Yeshua!

Back on track. The commentary from Or HaChaim on this Torah portion, points out “How shall I interpret, ‘If you will follow My decrees?’ Its meaning is ‘IF YOU WILL TOIL IN THE STUDY OF TORAH.’ Having established that ‘Following My decrees’ refers to studying Torah, Or HaChaim analyzes why the verse refers to Torah study as a ‘Decree’, a term that usually denotes a mitzvah (Commandment) whose purpose is unknown. The purpose of Torah study, however, seems obvious, to promote Torah knowledge and observance.”

“The reason that the verse calls toil in Torah study a decree, is because the mitzvah to study Torah includes an obligation to learn even subjects that a person has already learned two or three times and are already known to him. This obligation exists because HaShem wants His children to be engaged in Torah study at all times, regardless of how much it adds to their knowledge; it is a decree that He has ordained, to be followed even when it does not serve the obvious purpose of increasing knowledge. You will find, in fact, that the Sages, of blessed memory, said, that to ensure that a person will always learn Torah with enthusiasm, the wisdom of HaShem, blessed be He, ordained that a person shall learn and forget, so that he is forced to review his learning again and again, and thus will be constantly engaged in Torah study.”

Consider what the Haftarah says for this weeks Torah portion which is found in Jeremiah 16:19-17:14. This is just the first few verses: “HaShem, my Strength, my Stronghold, and my Refuge on the day of distress! To You nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, ‘It was all falsehood that our ancestors inherited, futility that has no purpose. Can a man make gods for himself? They are NOT gods!’ Therefore, behold, I inform them at this time, I shall let them know of My hand and My strength; and they shall know that My Name is HaShem!”

The point is, in the end, the nations will finally realize all the religious idolatry and garbage they held onto was absolutely futile and worthless. They will finally realize HaShem is the One true Elohim and there is no other and His Torah is the ONLY way to walk, the only truth there is and is the only way to have success in life! So, is it a coincidence HaShem attaches these verses from Jeremiah to this week’s Torah portion? Again, nothing is a coincidence with HaShem!

In summary, we are to toil in the study of His Torah, and in doing so, we can put into practice, as best as we can, His Torah, just as Messiah Yeshua did, and in doing so, we will be protected, supplied, and most of all maintain our sanity in a world gone mad with corruption, violence and immorality.

Just a quick Op to hopefully give someone a little sliver of hope in a hopeless world. May our redemption be so very, very soon in our days!!

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• Or HaChaim Vayikra by Artscroll
• Midrash Rabbah Vayikra by Artscroll
• The Chumash Vayikrah by Artscroll

“Blessed is HaShem, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for war. My Benefactor, my Fortress, my Stronghold, my own Rescuer, my Shield in Whom I take refuge, Who subjugates my nation to me.” Psalms 144:1-2

Would you agree that conflict, strife, anger, hatred and all sorts of debauchery and perversions are unfortunately thriving in the United States right now? Right is wrong and wrong is right. All things which are moral, upright and good have been trashed and demonized and now all things which had been confined and done in the shadows and in the darkness are now fully engaged in the open with total confidence, celebration, glee, joy and absolutely zero shame. What if I were to tell you this is fully expected and prophesied from the beginning and is the hallmark of Israel’s greatest, most bitter arch-enemy….AMALEK!!

As I revise and update this Op it is 15 May 2024, but more specifically it is the Torah portion ‘Emor’, which is found in Leviticus 21:1-24:23. This portion HaShem is laying out all the requirements to be set apart to Him as His people from the rest of the world. What is interesting is on the various blogs this week there are many discussions in which people are blaming Israel for the current war which is escalating in Gaza and in Lebanon since the 7 Oct 2023 sudden attack by Hamas in which over 1200 Israelis were slaughtered and hundreds were captured by Hamas. A new trend has emerged in these various blogs in which many in Christendom, who are vehemently anti-Israel are making references to Amalek and claim Israel is calling for the genocide of Amalek in the Old Testament based upon in an insidious, diabolical agenda against an ethnicity simply because of race. These same Israel hating Christians are equating the current war in Gaza to Israel committing genocide against Amalek. Unfortunately it is having the effect of emboldening Israel’s enemies across the planet to include here in the United States!

It is a biblical fact HaShem commands we are to remember what Amalek did to Israel on their way out of Egyptian captivity to include the prophesied time when HaShem will completely and utterly destroy Amalek and anyone associated with him from memory for the rest of eternity. Further, it is recorded on Purim where we remember and celebrate HaShem’s deliverance of Israel from the devious and treacherous schemes of Haman, descendant of Amalek, via Esther.

We will be exploring just who is Amalek and what his main characteristics associated with him are and who will embody Amalek in the End of Days. It may shock some so be prepared! But before we jump into this always remember the following eternal and unchanging characteristics of HaShem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

War is the name of the game per se, whether that is a physical war or a spiritual war, either way, conflict is the way of life for being a servant of HaShem and it is nothing any of us can avoid! It is inevitable that each of us will face this conflict, there is no get out of jail free card and there is no reasoning our way out of it. Walking away from HaShem may spare us some grief, but that is only for a very short, limited amount of time and then the war will resume and we will be in a much worse state having to endure apart from HaShem, which is hopeless. So, just who is waging this war against HaShem and His people and why? Obviously from the title of this Op we know it is Amalek!

Who is Amalek and why is he such an important person in Biblical history? Well, Bereshyt (Genesis) 36:12 tells us Amalek is the grandson of Esau. This in itself is very important because we know Esau, the brother of Jacob, is also a very bitter enemy of Israel who is to this day hell bent on destroying Israel and wiping out every single Israelite from the planet. On a side note, another name for Esau in the Bible is Edom which is prophetically associated with Rome/Replacement Theology Christendom in the End of Days, but I digress.

From the Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities on page 435 when describing Amalek it says “Amalek was raised on Esau’s lap. Esau told Amalek ‘How I toiled to kill Jacob! But he did not fall into my hands. Therefore, set your mind to taking my revenge!” Further, it says “The Holy One, Blessed is He, took an oath by His Throne of Glory not to leave a single descendant of Amalek under heaven and to remove any trace of them so that it should not be said, ‘This tree was Amalek’s, this camel was Amalek’s, this lamb was Amalek’s’ so that the name of Amalek will not be mentioned. Neither the Name nor the Throne is complete until the memory of Amalek is eradicated.” It also states Amalek was a homosexual and promoted this filthy, vile lifestyle.

When we read about Amalek in HaShem’s Word, we quickly see HaShem has a very intense hatred of Amalek and has decreed very intense commandments to Israel to equally hate Amalek. Further, HaShem has issued several prophecies that one day He will utterly wipe off the planet anyone associated with Amalek as well as erase Amalek from memory for all eternity.

Now let me stop here and stress, Amalek is NOT confined to a bloodline per se, but it is more importantly a spirit like we have the Spirit of Esau, we have the Spirit of Amalek which is flourishing today. If someone who is physically from the line of Esau and they have chosen to believe in HaShem and to worship the Elohim of Israel and to walk in His Torah, they are no longer considered to be from Esau, but are an Israelite. Very important to remember this fact as we proceed.

In this next part, we will see why it is so important we read the Torah portions each Shabbat because not only will we become familiar with all the people involved but will see the principles HaShem is teaching to us as we will see here with Amalek!!

In Shemot (Exodus) 17, we see Israel has been delivered from Egyptian bondage, they have been offered and accepted the Torah i.e. the Marriage Contract at Mt. Sinai and are in the Wilderness being led by HaShem. Suddenly, we read where Israel begins to doubt and question HaShem because there was no water to drink for them or their livestock. Israel quickly complained against Moshe and HaShem asking “Why is this that you have brought us up from Egypt to kill me and my children and my livestock through thirst?” It is here HaShem commands Moshe to strike the rock and water flows out. Then suddenly in verse eight we see Amalek strike which says “Amalek came and battled Israel in Rephidim.” Can you see the connection HaShem is teaching?

It is this event here in Shemot 17:8 that Amalek is decreed by HaShem to be at war with him from generation to generation! Why? Let’s keep reading in Shemot 17. Verse nine says “Moshe said to Yehoshua, ‘Choose people for us and go do battle with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of Elohim in my hand.'” So, Moshe tells Joshua (Yehoshua) to choose people to go and fight Amalek. Verse 10 says “Yehoshua did as Moshe said to him, to do battle with Amalek; and Moshe, Aharon, and Chur ascended to the top of the hill.” Verse 11 says “It happened that when Moshe raised his hand Israel was stronger, and when he lowered his hand Amalek was stronger.” The commentary from Tractate Rosh HaShanah 29a from the Talmud Bavli says “When Israel saw Moshe raising his hands, they were reminded to gaze upward and devote their hearts to HaShem. When they did so, HaShem helped them win the war. But when he lowered his hands, Israel did not subjugate their hearts and therefore Amalek gained the upper hand.” The point HaShem is teaching is when we subjugate our hearts in service to Him, we will prevail. When we don’t then we fall! Its that simple!

Shemot 17:12-12 says “Moshe’s hands grew heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it, and Aharon and Chur supported his hands, one on this side and one on that side, and he remained with his hands raised in faithful prayer until sunset. Yehoshua weakened Amalek and its people with the sword’s blade.” Tractate Zevachim 116a from the Talmud Bavli says “Yithro, Moshe’s father in law, heard about the war with Amalek and converted.” Why did he convert? Because the war with Amalek showed HaShem’s mastery over the heavens. The Amalekites used astrology to calculate which hours of the day they would be victorious, but HaShem stopped the sun from moving and this threw off all their calculations.

Shemot 17:14-16 says “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Write this as a remembrance in the Book and recite it in the ears of Yehoshua, that I shall surely erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.’ Moshe built an altar and called its name ‘HaShem is My Miracle’; and he said, ‘For my hand is on the throne of Elohim: HaShem maintains a war against Amalek, from generation to generation.'”

So, the point of this thus far is that Amalek, the grandson of Esau, was inspired by the hatred of Esau and went out to wage war on Israel in the Wilderness with the intent of annihilating all of Israel completely. It is from this event HaShem maintains a perpetual war against Amalek from generation to generation, because Amalek’s hatred of Israel only grows more intense year after year. Further, HaShem reveals a very important aspect of this event in that it says this war was fought at Rephidim. The name ‘Rephidim’ is very revealing in itself because it is two Hebrew words: ‘Refi’ which means ‘Weakness’ and ‘Yadayim’ which means ‘Hands’. It is understood the weakness of Israel in their Torah study is what allowed Amalek to strike! What a massive Op one could do right there on how important it is to discipline ourselves to study and walk in His Torah!

HaShem says in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 25:17-19 “Remember what Amalek did to you, on the way, when you were leaving Egypt, that he happened upon you on the way, and he struck those of you who were hindmost, all the weaklings at your rear, when you were faint and exhausted, AND HE (AMALEK) DID NOT FEAR HASHEM. It shall be that when HaShem, your Elohim, gives you rest from all your enemies (When Messiah comes and destroys all of HaShem’s enemies once and for all) all around, in the Land that HaShem, your Elohim, gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven, you shall not forget!” So, we see Amalek does NOT fear HaShem…very important to remember!

Mitzvah #603 from The Book of the Mitzvot says “The obligation to remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people when they were leaving Egypt. We are commanded to remember what the nation of Amalek did to the Jewish people, which is that Amalek took the initiative to attack them at the time when they were leaving Egypt, before any other nation or kingdom raised its hand against them; as it is stated in Bamidbar (Numbers) 24:20 ‘Amalek is the first among nations’ the first to wage war against Israel was Amalek.”

It further says “At the time of the Exodus ALL the nations were afraid of the Jewish people, having heard about the Great Hand that HaShem inflicted upon Egypt on their behalf; but the Amalekites, due to their evil hearts and corrupt nature, paid no attention to all this and attacked the Jewish people, and through this they removed the great fear of the Jewish people from the hearts of the other nations, leading them as well to eventually attack Israel.”

What is the purpose of this mitzvah? “Among the underlying purposes of the mitzvah is that we should take to heart the idea that anyone who causes trouble for the Jewish people is hated by HaShem, blessed is He, and the degree of his evil, and the sinister design of his great injury, will be matched by the severity of his downfall and his ruin. Amalek had a sinister design because it intended to show other nations that they should not be afraid to attack Israel. This design was harmful, because Amalek’s brazen attack is the cause of every subsequent war against us. HaShem, blessed is He, commanded us to erase their memory from the earth and to uproot that memory until it is completely gone.” I should add, uprooting the memory of Amalek will not be fully completed until Messiah comes and does so…may it be VERY soon in our days!

From The Book of Our Heritage by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov when describing Amalek says on page 378 “The deep rooted hatred which Amalek has for Israel cannot be compared to the hatred of other anti-Semites. While the animosity of other nations occasionally subsides, Amalek’s hatred is unrelenting and they constantly plan our destruction. Other nations can be bribed or placated; Amalek is unwilling to be placated through any means.”

I like to describe Amalek via an excerpt from the Terminator movie when Reese is warning Sarah about the Terminator only modified for Amalek: “Listen and understand, Amalek is out there! He can’t be reasoned with. He can’t be bargained with. He doesn’t know pity, or remorse or fear and he absolutely will not stop, ever until Israel is destroyed!” I digress.

Rabbi Kitov goes on describing Amalek “Esav saw that he was unable to destroy Ya’akov (Israel) for Psalms 121:4 says ‘The Guardian of Israel does not sleep or slumber.’ He commanded his children to exact his vengeance. Some of them despaired of being able to do so, for they said to themselves ‘We shall never be able to prevail against the one whom the King of the World protects. Our own possessions are sufficient and we have no desire for the legacy of Abraham and Isaac, neither the obligations nor the rewards.’ They drew far away from the path of Abraham and Isaac, choosing lives of ever growing evil. But there was one despicable member of Esav’s family, Amalek, an offspring who was himself from an abominable source (Incest), who approached his grandfather and said ‘I do not fear G-d. I fell no shame because of your deeds or because of my own (He was homosexual). I will accord no honor to the acts of the righteous, I despise them and their actions. Greatness and strength are mine. I shall go forth and wage war against your brother’s sons who have inherited the greatness that belongs to you. I shall fight them openly and in ambush. I will slay those who stray behind, and I shall slaughter their great ones, until I succeed in totally destroying all of them.”

“Amalek was loyal to the legacy of his grandfather, Esav, who had instructed him: ‘Let this tradition be yours. When you see them (Israel) stumble, attack them!'” Can you see how this applies to each of our lives today? Amalek is constantly coming after those who have chosen to serve HaShem and walk in His Torah!

Rabbi Kitov further says “The evil one, Satan, who is seen and unseen, who waits by the crossroads traveled by all who serve HaShem, placing obstacles and interfering with their pure faith, this is the root of Amalek!” This makes me think of Revelation 12:17 which says “And the dragon was enraged with the woman (Israel), and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed (Israel in the wilderness during the Birth Pains), those guarding the Torah of HaShem and possessing the witness of Yeshua (Not the Jesus of Replacement Theology) Messiah.” Amalek is described as being a vile serpent, a dragon if you will!

Now we need to discuss the characteristics of Amalek and see how he is running amok today!

Commentary from the Book of the Mitzvot discussing Amalek sums it up very well. It says “Amalek, in Hebrew, means ‘Twisted or distorted’ because Amalek embodies the distorted worldview that the world exists WITHOUT Divine Providence. As a result, they see no value in conducting themselves ethically if they can act deceitfully without being caught.” In other words, Amalek will do whatever he wants too! He knows HaShem exists, but is not afraid of HaShem, and embodies injustice, corruption, lies, deceit and unjust weights and measures. He hates anything HaShem considers to be righteous. Hmmm…do we see anything like this today in America in 2024? How about those running the government, not subject to laws, disregarding the Constitution, passing laws that promote injustice and tyranny and yet a society fully, willfully embracing the debauchery, immorality, perversion, injustice and insanity and yet hates anything that is righteous according to HaShem. And what is his goal? To get HaShem’s people to separate from His Torah and embrace idolatry, murder and engage in prohibited sexual practices…..Amalek is alive, well and thriving in America today in 2024!

Further, Amalek excels in planting the thoughts of doubt in HaShem’s people…‘Did HaShem really say?’ It is these seeds of doubt that if not squashed quickly will grow and we will end up loosening our grip on HaShem and His Torah, and then Amalek pounces and attacks just like at Rephidim! Point is, Amalek is extremely cunning and devious!

Additionally, Tractate Sanhedrin 74a from the Talmud Bavli states Amalek has three grave sins associated with him: Idolatry, Murder and Prohibited Sexual Relations. Again I ask, do we see any of these characteristics in America today? Idolatry is running amok in that the people are either worshipping themselves, other religious systems or have embraced the idolatry of Replacement Theology Christendom, regardless, all of these teach to separate from HaShem and His Torah, which is a foundational staple of Amalek, to get people to remove themselves from HaShem and thus destroy themselves.

Murder is running rampant whether through violence against each other or through abortion or more! The love of people has become cold and cruelty and violence against people and animals is thriving, unfortunately!

Finally, prohibited sexual relations! Good grief look how fast in 2024 this debauchery is consuming the country with the abominable, filthy homosexual lifestyle and the insanity of transgenderism and the subsequent pride and arrogance that follows. The decrees from the highest office in the United States making these lifestyles something to embrace, welcome, celebrate and promote is such an offense against HaShem! The recent decree from the President to fly the homosexual rainbow flag at every single US embassy around the world in effect tells the world that America is a homosexual nation and a giant middle finger in the Face of HaShem! This is done knowing HaShem exists, but there is zero fear of Him! Another example of Amalek flourishing in America!

The point for this Op is that Amalek is rising in America very, very quickly and will culminate ultimately when HaShem destroys America (Babylon) via Jeremiah 50-51 in a sudden nuclear attack as HaShem brings in the enemies of America and without warning wipes Babylon/America off the map. This sudden destruction will give rise to the one who fully embodies the Amalek spirit i.e. the False Messiah, who is very cunning and devious and like Amalek teaches the Torah is fulfilled and done away with, teaches the Feasts of HaShem are replaced by Christmas and Easter, etc. Who teaches there is no such thing as unclean food anymore. Who teaches Shabbat can be any day of the week that is convenient for us and who teaches he, himself is G-d in the flesh and who has an intense, seething hatred for HaShem, His people Israel, His Torah and His Temple! Who am I referring too you ask? Consider the following picture:

Recently during Purim, we read the Book of Esther and the account of how Haman, a descendant of Amalek, schemed to destroy Israel as well as read the portions from the Torah discussing what Amalek did to Israel. This same spirit has conspired throughout history and most recently with Hitler in the Holocaust, another picture of the False Messiah, who by the way also claimed to be a Christian and a follower of Replacement Theology Jesus Christ.

I will sum this Op with the hatred we feel for the corruption, the debauchery, the murder, the idolatry, the injustice and all the perversion is good and normal because we do belong to HaShem and per His Own Word, He is at war with Amalek and we are commanded to hate Amalek! But, we also have to understand this enemy is very, very cunning and devious and very oppressive, meaning unless HaShem intervenes very, very, very soon, His people will succumb and begin to assimilate to his schemes. I cite this because in the account of Lot and his family, HaShem had to act to not only save him and his family from the death threats, corruption, homosexuality, etc, but He had to act swiftly to prevent Lot from assimilating into to the culture under the pressures coming against him. Point is, the more empowered Amalek is in America today in 2024, then perhaps the sooner HaShem will act to rescue out His Own! May it be so very, very, very soon in our days!

There is so much for all of us, to include myself, to consider in these very dark times we are currently living in and witnessing! The attacks across the country in cities and college campuses calling for the destruction of Israel and the annihilation of the Jews IN AMERICA in 2024 is astounding! The more the Israeli military defeats Hamas and Hezbollah in battle, the more the world comes racing to defend Hamas and blames Israel for being the ones who provoked this war in the first place! Right is wrong, wrong is right, up is down and down is up…meaning everything is upside down and backwards. Nothing makes sense anymore and why? Because Amalek is rising which means Messiah must soon be arriving!

May it be so very, very soon in our days!

SOURCE MATERIALS

• The Milstein Edition of the Chumash by Artscroll
• Tehillim by Artscroll
• The Book of the Mitzvot by Artscroll
• Tractate Sanhedrin Talmud Bavli by Steinsaltz
• Tractate Rosh HaShanah Talmud Bavli by Steinsalts
• The Book of Our Heritage by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov
• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research

“He sent redemption to His nation, He commanded His covenant for eternity; holy and awesome is His Name.” Psalms 111:9

As I put this very short Op together it is 19 April 2024, just a few days before Pesach (Passover) 2024! This past week has been historic because we have seen Iran launch a massive drone and missile attack from Iranian territory itself against Israel! Baruch HaShem, HaShem protected Israel and the majority of the weapons fired by Iran were intercepted and destroyed!

What I find so astounding is today I received word from a citizen who lives in Israel who said when the country was warned of the Iranian attack, the people were told to just go to sleep as it would take many hours for the Iranian drones to arrive. Instead of sleeping the majority of the Israeli populace searched out and prayed from the Book of Tehillim (Psalms) for HaShem’s protection and He answered their prayers!! Additionally, this person said the populace of Israel today is talking about how HaShem protected them, the point is they are acknowledging HaShem’s Hand of protection…Baruch HaShem! It wasn’t the IDF nor the Americans and allies who saved Israel, it was HaShem!! Its an amazing precursor to Pesach next week!

Before continuing on always remember the following eternal characteristics of HaShem:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

We are commanded by HaShem to come three times a year up to Temple in Jerusalem to present ourselves before the Great King per Deuteronomy 16:16. These three times are known as the Shelosh Regalim, the Pilgrimage Feasts i.e. Pesach (Passover), Shavuot and Sukkot!

Why do we celebrate Pesach? Tractate Pesachim from the Elucidated Mishnah published by Artscroll, it explains “Pesach, the festival that commemorates the redemption of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. The redemption is the basis of our faith because the Jewish people actually saw the miracles that HaShem performed for them. They thus realized that HaShem not only created the universe, but that He also controls nature, and uses it to reward the innocent and punish the guilty. The Torah states that the Jews of that time should teach these lessons to their children, who must teach them to their children, and so on down through the generations, to this very day. In this way, the events of the Exodus, which are celebrated on Pesach, continue to inspire belief in HaShem and in His supervision of our lives.”

What is interesting is the Torah devotes more commandments to Pesach than to any other Feast of HaShem! There are 24 commandments of the total 613 commandments in the Torah specific to Pesach.

On the first night of Pesach we sit down for the Seder (Order) meal. It is here at the Seder we read through the prescribed order of the meal i.e. the Haggadah and in doing so we retell how HaShem miraculously redeemed the Jews from slavery and oppression in Egypt!

Tractate Pesachim from the Mishnah expounds further and says “Ever since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (70 AD by Rome), we have been unable to bring or eat the Pesach offering, or fulfill the Biblical mitzvah of eating maror (Bitter herbs). Although almost 2,000 years have passed since that tragedy, our people have never stopped yearning for the rebuilding of the Temple and the resumption of the korbonot services. Each year we conclude the Seder with the declaration ‘Next year in Jerusalem!’ And we pray ‘Just we have merited to perform the Seder, so too shall we merit to make the Pesach offering.’ We hope that in the merit of studying the laws of Pesach, we will see the rebuilding of the Temple, and we will observe the mitzvos of the Pesach offering, and perform the Seder in its full and proper form, ‘Speedily in our days, amen!'”

Chapter 10 of Tractate Pesachim in the Mishnah discusses the Seder which is divided into four parts:

• Kiddush
• Reciting the story of how we left Egypt and the first part of Hallel (Psalms of Praise)
• Eating the Matzah, maror and the festive meal
• Reciting the second part of Hallel

We drink one of the Four Cups of wine after each of these sections.

The four parts of the Seder are broken down into fifteen specific steps which are as follows:

• Kaddesh – Sanctify the day with recitation of Kiddush
• Urechatz – Wash the hands before eating Karpas
• Karpas – Eat a vegetable dipped in salt water (Represents the salty tears shed in captivity)
• Yachatz – Break the middle (Three pieces of Matzah) piece of Matzah. Put away the larger half for the Afikomen.
• Maggid – Narrate the story of the Exodus from Egypt
• Rachtzah – Wash the hands prior to the meal
• Motzi – Recite the blessing, Who brings forth, over Matzah as a food
• Matzah – Recite the blessing over the Matzah
• Maror – Recite the blessing for the eating of the bitter herbs
• Korech – Eat the sandwich of Matzah and bitter herbs
• Shulchan Orech – The table prepared with the festive meal
• Tzafun – Eat the Afikomen which had been hidden all during the Seder
• Barech – Recite Bircas HaMazon, the blessings after the meal
• Hallel – Recite the Hallel, Psalms of praise (Psalms 113-118)
• Nirtzah – Pray that HaShem accept our observance and speedily send the Messiah

I don’t expect anyone to understand this all. My point is, all through the Seder we will see the Redeeming Hand of HaShem! If He reveals the end from the beginning and there is nothing new under the sun, then we must observe the Pesach Seder and retell the miracles of HaShem because once again Redemption is at hand! Further, the ending of the Pesach Seder we pray not only next year may we be in Jerusalem with a rebuilt Temple, but more importantly may He redeem us once again by His Mighty Right Arm and send Messiah to redeem us and all of Israel from the oppression of Egypt (The nations)! How much more important is this today especially now in 2024 as we will celebrate Pesach in which our enemies are once again working diligently to annihilate us! It is important because this Pesach as we sit down at the Seder, we must remember the IDF are on the front lines in battle! Once more we will celebrate Pesach in a time of war! May HaShem grant victory and redemption soon in our days!

Chag Pesach Sameach! (Happy Passover!)

“Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; set your heart to My knowledge. For it is pleasant if you guard them in your innards and establish them upon your lips. Let your trust remain with HaShem, I have made this known to you today, you also. Surely, I have written for you in the Torah extremely noble things, with counsel and knowledge, to teach you the veracity of true words, so that you may answer words of truth to those who send words to you.” Proverbs 22:17-22

It has been far too long since my last posting on this channel. Life has shall we say gotten in the way, as it has for the majority of everyone these days! No doubt we are living in VERY trying and challenging times! The forces of darkness are out in force and anything which remotely shines the Light of HaShem is immediately and viciously attacked and the means to which to smother that light are just insidious!

This said, as I put this together, we are just hours away from entering into Shabbat followed by Purim later this weekend! To go along with this, we also begin a whole new book in the Torah with regards to the annual reading cycle. We begin with Parashat Vayikra (Leviticus), which to many can be a very boring book with enormous details, but when we explore this book a bit deeper we find there are infinite wonders HaShem has contained in this one single book of the Torah alone!

In today’s world with so much hatred and disgust for Israel and the Torah of HaShem, I thought it might be time to post something just to perhaps offer a little reminder of the wonder of HaShem and His Torah! But before we jump into this, always remember the eternal promises HaShem has given to us regarding His Torah:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

The Perkei Avos (Ethics of Our Fathers) 5.22 sheds some insight into the complexity of the Torah of HaShem. It says “Delve in it (Torah) and continue to delve in it, for everything is in it; look deeply into it; grow old and gray over it, and do not stir from it, for you can have no better portion than it.”

The point being made here is the Torah of HaShem is endless! Mankind will NEVER come to a point where we will stand before HaShem and tell Him we have learned everything possible to learn from it and are ready for something new! An eternity of studying His Torah will not be enough time to learn everything He has in it! Baruch HaShem!

With this said, now that we are beginning to enter into the annual reading cycle of the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus), we immediately learn Vayikra is THE Heart of the Torah of HaShem! Is it a coincidence Vayikra is in the middle of the Torah? Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy!

From what is revealed in His Torah, it has always been HaShem’s desire to dwell among His people beginning with the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. Adam acting as the first Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) performing the services of the Garden as the servant of HaShem! Before the incident of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which caused Adam and Eve to be expelled from the Garden.

HaShem then makes a way for Him to dwell among His people which we see as He rescues Israel from Egypt and meets with them at Mt Sinai and calls one man to meet with Him i.e. Moshe. He commands the Mishkan (Tabernacle) to be constructed, precisely according to the tavnit (Blueprints) HaShem gave to Moshe, with zero deviation allowed! When the Mishkan was completed, HaShem’s Presence rested upon the Ark in the Most Holy Place and once again, He was able to dwell with His people with Aharon being the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) and the Levites officiating the services as the people come before the King motivated out of love, devotion and loyalty. Remember HaShem told Israel per Shemot (Exodus) 19:6 “You shall be for Me a kingdom of kohanim (Priests), and a holy nation.”

In order to be a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation, how did Moshe and Aharon know exactly how to perform the services and what the specifications were concerning the korbonot (Offerings)? Or just knowing what exactly HaShem meant by the word ‘Holy’ and what it all entails and how to apply it our lives throughout every generation to include ours today? It is ALL encapsulated in the Book of Vayikra!

The commentary from the Steinsaltz Chumash introduction to Vayikra says “The book of Leviticus is referred to in ancient sources as ‘The Priestly Code,’ as a large part of the book deals with matters that concern the priests: The laws of the sacrificial offerings, the instructions pertaining to the priests duties and the manner of their consecration, the commandments that apply specifically to priests, and the gifts that the people are commanded to give to the priests. Nevertheless, a significant number of the commandments included in this book are not limited to priests. Leviticus contains practically no narrative sections.”

The point is, if we want to understand how the Mishkan and the Mikdash (Temple) operates, Vayikra where we get an in-depth look into these services!

“The sacrificial rites performed in the Temple express the manner in which man relates to the concept of sanctity (Holiness). As the boundaries of sanctity are more clearly defined and man seeks to attain sanctity, the antitheses of sanctity, sin or impurity, also becomes clearly evident, and these concepts are dealt with extensively as part of the laws of the offerings.”

This goes right along with what HaShem commands each of us today in Ezekiel 43:10-12 which says “You Ben Adam (Son of Adam)! Tell the family of Israel of the Temple and let them be ashamed of their sins, and measure the design (Study everything). And if they are ashamed, the form of the House and its design, its exits and entrances, and all its appearance, its laws, all its decoration, and all its regulations make known to them and write it down before their eyes, that they may remember its form and its decrees and perform them. This is the teaching of the House; the mountain, its entire boundaries all around, is most holy. Behold! This is the teaching of the House.”

In other words, we are commanded to study and learn EVERY single aspect of His House (Temple) and how it operates, the services, even the decorations in it, because everything in His House is teaching us something about HaShem and how to apply it to our lives in our walk with HaShem!

Consider what the Steinsaltz Chumash introduction to Leviticus further says “The Tabernacle is a symbolic microcosm of the universe, and the erection of the Tabernacle may be likened to a miniature reenactment of Creation. When HaShem created the world, He not only created new beings; He also created distinctions between those beings. The creation of light necessarily created a separate reality of darkness. Similarly, the manifestation of divine sanctity in the world highlights and sharpens the distinction between the sacred and the profane!”

There is absolutely no doubt in mind, since HaShem led me to begin to study the Temple and He led me to Joe Good of HaTikvah Ministries and I took His only Temple course, I was immediately astounded by how much was revealed and it ultimately made HaShem’s Word come alive and I was hooked and wanted more and more! The idea of sanctity and the profane suddenly was no longer some abstract, religious concept, but I was beginning to learn there are very real left and right seat limitations we are to have in our lives as we walk with HaShem!

When Paul in his letter to the Corinthians likens us to the Temple of HaShem, was he saying we are literally the Temple of HaShem and the structure standing in Jerusalem is no longer needed? Not a chance! Paul was teaching a very well known and understood concept among Torah observant Israel, in that we are to taking what we are to learn from the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem and apply those principles to our own lives!

“The central message of Leviticus is that the concept of sanctity is not limited to the Temple, although the Temple is its focal point. Sanctity must be manifest in every facet of life, in every action. The commandment ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy,’ is reiterated several times in the book of Leviticus. It appears in different contexts in elation to the most intimate aspects of life as well as in relation to the communal aspects of life. The book of Leviticus includes a comprehensive list of those with whom it is forbidden to engage in sexual relations, as well as a set of prohibitions concerning types of food that are unfit for a holy nation; it also contains the social precepts fitting for a holy society, such as the prohibition of usury and the precept ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself” per Leviticus 19:18.”

Wait a minute, but I thought Yeshua ended the Temple and the Torah, changed the Feasts of HaShem and ushered in a whole new doctrine devoid of the Torah? My point is, when we read the Apostolic Writings once we are learning about the Temple and what holiness truly is, suddenly we see there truly is nothing new in the Apostolic Writings and Yeshua taught NOTHING new and all the accusations against Paul being a teacher of lawlessness (Without the Torah) are resoundingly false! Why? Because what is taught in the Apostolic Writings has its foundation in the Torah and the Temple of HaShem!

If we want to know the difference between what HaShem considers to be purity and profane or light and darkness, His Temple is the means to learn it and the book of Leviticus is THE source to go to!

Consider the very first topic discussed in Vayikra 1 is HaShem telling Israel about the Olah Korbonot (Burnt Offering). The wording in Hebrew is very interesting because in English it is translated “When any man of you brings an offering to the Master, if you shall bring your offering from animals, from the cattle or from the flock you shall bring your offering.” In Hebrew it is worded differently because HaShem says “When any man brings, of you, an offering to the Master…” He is right up front teaching when we bring an offering to HaShem, we are to understand it is as though the man who is bringing the offering is offering up himself to HaShem! Gee, could this be why HaShem uses the Hebrew word ‘Korbon’ because this word in Hebrew means ‘To draw near to HaShem!’

HaShem then says if this Olah Korbon is being brought, it must be an UNBLEMISHED male and it must be brought to the entrance of the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting). Then He says it must be slaughtered precisely as He commands, meaning there is no fear, no pain and death is instant for the animal! Then He says it is Aharon’s sons i.e. the Kohanim (Priests) who will collect the blood and present it and cast the blood on the Mizbe’ach (Altar) in very specific locations on the Mizbe’ach and it MUST be done in a very precise manner otherwise it will not be accepted! Again, we see right off the bat, HaShem is teaching us about the concept of Kedushah (Holiness). The korbon is then cut up in precise pieces and laid on the Mizbe’ach and then it is burned and HaShem says it is a pleasing aroma to Him!

Now, if the Olah Korbonot is from the flock it has the same restrictions but must come from either a male sheep or male goat. If his Olah Korbonot is from the birds, then it must come from a turtledove or from a young pigeon. What determines what type of animal a person will bring to HaShem? In most cases it depends on what they can afford. What if a person is so poor they cannot afford an animal, does HaShem make a provision? In His mercy and kindness He does and it is called a Mincha (Bread) korbonot and must be comprised of high quality flour and olive oil will be poured over it and will place frankincense on it before being placed on the Mizbe’ach to be burned!

So, with this all said, what have we all just learned in the first few verses of Vayikra concerning the concept of kedushah (Holiness), korbonot (Offerings), His mercy and compassion and how we are to take these concepts and apply them to our lives. If what we just discussed could be likened to a drop of water’s worth of info, that drop of water is from an ocean the size of all the oceans on Earth with regards to the amount of detailed info just waiting to be explored!!!

I plan on addressing much more concerning the details of the Temple in future Op’s, depending on what all is going on in the world! I believe we are truly on the cusp of the Birth Pains as HaShem brings the world closer and closer to the Final Redemption….may it be so very soon in our days!

Shalom

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• Steinsaltz Chumash
• Leviticus A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David Fohrman

“You shall not make idols for yourself, and you shall not erect for yourselves a statue or a pillar, and in your Land you shall not emplace a flooring stone upon which to prostrate oneself, for I am HaShem, your Elohim. My Shabbats shall you observe and My Sanctuary shall you revere, I am HaShem.” Leviticus 26:1-2

As I begin to compile this Op, it is 9 July 2023, and it is hot outside, a record breaking heat wave is consuming parts of the United States. More importantly, the state of the country and the world is astoundingly dire, which in turn means our personal walks with HaShem and the studying, learning and applying His Torah to our own lives is more vitally important than ever before!

For example of the collapse of the world deep into chaos: We now live in a world which is literally teaching the children, men can become women and vice versa! Further, they are now teaching men can give birth! Genders are rendered to be nothing more than a specific pronoun in which a person chooses for themselves how to be identified, its utterly insane. My point is not to focus on this, but to once more shine a giant spotlight on the level of corruption and rebellion our society has now willfully and gleefully embraced! Right is wrong and wrong is now right! It is the height of rebellion against HaShem and His Ways! Again, this shows us more than ever, the ONLY way we are going to navigate the debauchery and maintain our sanity is to keep our focus on HaShem and draw near to His Torah, His Shabbat, His Feasts and His Temple!!

Just a quick reminder per Leviticus 26:3-5: “If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them, then I will provide your rains in their time, and the land will give its produce and the tree of the field will give its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your bread to satiety and you will dwell securely in your Land.” HaShem is literally begging Israel to keep His Torah so that He can bless His people! The choice is up to each of us!

Tractate Avoda Zara 5a from the Talmud Bavli expounds and says “The Sages taught with regard to the verse, ‘If you walk in My statutes’ per Leviticus 26:3, in this context, ‘If’ is a term that means nothing other than supplication i.e. HaShem is hoping, (begging) that the Jewish people will observe the Torah. And similarly, it is stated, ‘Oh that My people would hearken to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways, I would soon subdue their enemies’ per Psalms 81:14-15. And it states, ‘Oh that you would hearken to My commandments! Then your peace would be as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Your seed also would be as the sand, and the offspring of your body like its grains’ per Isaiah 48:18-19.”

The divide between the world and its ever increasing insanity as opposed to the truth and perfection of HaShem and His Torah is growing ever wider by the day! As such, as I always post in my Ops, never forget the eternal statements HaShem says concerning His Torah:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

This Op discussing Shir HaShirim chapter 7 is going to be a VERY in depth Op and will be a very heavily Temple focused Op! Chapter 7 discusses various aspects and specific locations as well as functions of the Temple. This will require us to go into deep exploration of the Temple to understand what HaShem is saying here in chapter 7!

This said, I wanted to begin with a very important excerpt from the Perkei Avos 2/20 which is very relevant for today! It says “Rabbi Tarfon says: ‘The day is short, the task is abundant, the laborers are lazy, the wage is great, and the Master of the house is insistent.'”

The focus on this Perkei Avos is, it is our job to strive to study, learn and apply to our lives the Torah of HaShem! The commentary from Perkei Avos says “The Torah is even longer than the earth in measure. This means it is impossible to say that you have ‘finished’ the Torah. No matter how much a person has learned, there is still abundant work to be done!” Another commentary says “Man is caught in the hourglass of time, struggling to hold back its onrushing sands. Try though as we might, life continues on, despite our efforts to make time stand still. Man’s challenge in life is to open the Torah scroll, for his mission is to reveal its secrets and live by its precepts.” This is based upon Joshua 1:8 which says “This Book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth; rather, you should contemplate it day and night in order that you observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will act wisely.”

Tractate Sanhedrin 99b from the Talmud Bavli expounds and says “Rabbi Elazar says: ‘Every man was created for labor, as it is stated ‘Man is born for toil’ per Job 5:7. Based on this verse, I do not know whether he was created for toil of the mouth, speech, or whether he was created for the toil of labor. When the verse states: ‘For his mouth presses upon him’ per Proverbs 16:26, you must say that he was created for toil of the mouth. And still I do not know with regard to the toil of the mouth whether it is for the toil of Torah or for the toil of conversation. When the verse states: ‘This Torah scroll shall not depart from your mouth’ per Joshua 1:8, you must say that he was created for the toil of Torah. And that is the meaning of what Rava said: ‘All bodies are like receptacles to store items until use. Happy is one who is privileged, who is a receptacle for Torah.'”

So, we can see, this excerpt from Perkei Avos is referenced by Yeshua Himself in Matthew 9:37-38! Its another example among hundreds which again shows Yeshua taught nothing new but reiterated what HaShem had already established and was being taught by Beit Hillel, the sect of the Pharisees Yeshua supported and quoted. Remember, it was the Pharisees of the sect of Beit Shammai, who were in power at the time Yeshua walked the earth, which was the sect which Yeshua contended with as is recorded in the Apostolic Writings! Keep this in mind as we proceed in exploring Shir HaShirim Chapter 7!

Shir HaShirim 7:1 says “The nations have said to me (Israel), ‘Turn away, turn away from Elohim, O nation whose faith in Him is perfect, turn away, turn away, and we shall choose nobility from you.’ But I replied to them, ‘What can you bestow upon a nation of perfect faith commensurate even with the desert camps encircling?'”

Israel replies to the nations who are attempting to seduce and manipulate her away from HaShem and embrace idolatry. The commentary from the Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim says “Israel retorts to the nations that their offer to honor her is ridiculous. What can they give her that can surpass her relationship with her Beloved?”

“You tempt me with offers of greatness, but I am greater than anything you can give me. Even in my earliest years in the Wilderness, when my tribes were arrayed around the Tabernacle, each with its own banner, my status as HaShem’s people made me greater than all your temptations.”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary expounds on this verse and says “The four repetitions of the word ‘Turn’, represent the four kingdoms that ruled over the people of Israel. The allegorical translation, according to Rashi’s interpretation, continues with the comments made by the nations of the world to the people of Israel. In chapter six, they taunted the Jewish people because seemingly HaShem had forsaken them: ‘Where is your God?’ they asked. These idolatrous nations recognize the greatness of the Jewish people, their wisdom, their abilities, their leadership qualities. They called Israel Shulamit, from the root shalom, complete, as it completes the habitation of the world, both in this world and the next.”

“Here, the nations attempt to dissuade the Jewish nation from following HaShem using different logic. ‘Until when will you give up your lives for your God, doing mitzvot for His sake, and willing to die to sanctify His Name, and He pays you back with tragedy and misfortune! Joint our ranks, and will make you officers and leaders among us!’ The nations are offering us lives of material success and honor, thinking that those are the things that we desire in life.”

“What can you offer us? responds the Jewish nation. ‘Have you ever ever heard that our Forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were idolatrous, so that their children would follow their pagan practice of idol worship? We will not follow your idolatrous ways! Can your idol worship compare to the dancing circles performed by 600,000 angels when Jacob left Laban’s house to return to Israel? Or like the circling done for us at the Sea of Reeds, or that will take place for us in the future when God will encircle us with love? Surely what you have to offer pales in comparison to what we already receive!”

“These idolatrous nations are making a fundamental mistake in their appeals to our people. They attempt to entice us away from God with the allure of fame and fortune, positions of prestige and trappings of materialism. They challenge a lifestyle that seems to receive less from their God than they receive! We respond that their priorities are skewed, and help them understand by explaining the essence of who we are as a people. We recognize that everything comes from the Almighty; since our inception as a nation He has provided us tools for living through the Torah and its commandments. At Mount Sinai, in front of nearly three million men, women, and children, we were given the Torah. A bond was forged between our nation and HaShem, forever. He would be our God and we would be His nation, and all the wiles of idolatrous civilizations could not move us from our historic role and our eternal destiny.”

This is precisely why the Orthodox Jews completely reject Christendom and the Jesus it promotes! To embrace Christendom would qualify as the Biblical definition of Avodah Zarah (Idolatry) because Jesus is the focus and not HaShem! I have heard some retort this Jesus is HaShem in the flesh, which is an absolute impossibility. HaShem says time and again no man has ever seen Him nor can any man see Him. Further, HaShem says He cannot die and He cannot lie. Christendom adopted from the pagans the concept of this human/deity hybrid concept and ran with it which again is biblically impossible. Yeshua is the Agent of HaShem, but Yeshua is NOT HaShem nor is Yeshua to replace HaShem! I digress.

Per the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.1 it states “Return, return is written four times in this verse, corresponding to the Four Kingdoms that would subjugate Israel, and indicating that Israel would fall into their hands in peace and ultimately emerge from all four of them in peace.”

The Four Kingdoms are:

• Babylon
• Persia/Media
• Greece
• Rome/Edom (We are currently in exile under Rome/Edom i.e. Christianity)

The Midrash expounds on verse 1 further and shows in Hebrew, Solomon, refers to Israel as ‘Shulamite’. “The Shulamite is Israel, the nation whom Shalom, namely, the Life giver of the world i.e. HaShem, accompanies. One of HaShem’s Names is ‘Shalom’ i.e. Peace. The Midrash is referring to the fact that wherever the Tabernacle traveled in the Wilderness, the Divine Presence traveled with it, accompanying Israel.”

Shir HaShirim 7:2 says “The nations continue to Israel: ‘But your footsteps were so lovely when shod in pilgrim’s sandals, O daughter of nobles. The rounded shafts of your libations abyss like trenches, handiwork of the Master Craftsman.'”

Be advised: This verse along with the subsequent verses in Chapter 7 will have a very heavy Temple focus to it with regards to the commentary cited, just be forewarned!

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary explains “The nations ask Israel to join us because of your beautiful deeds which we had observed in you when you were still in your full beauty i.e. your own land. How lovely were your steps, Jewish nation, daughter of Nobility, on your pilgrimages to the Temple to celebrate the Three Festivals: Passover, Shavuos, and Sukkot.”

Let’s quickly explore the Shelosh Regalim (Three Pilgrimage Festivals)! Exodus 23:14-17 says “Three pilgrimage festivals shall you celebrate for Me during the year. You shall observe the Festival of Matzos (Passover); seven days shall you eat matzos, as I have commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of spring time, for in it you left Egypt; you shall not be seen before Me empty handed. And the Festival of the Harvest (Shavuos) of the first fruits of your labor that you sow in the field; and the Festival of Ingathering (Sukkot) at the close of the year; when you gather in your work from the field. Three times during the year shall all your males appear before the Master, HaShem.”

The Shelosh Regalim are one of the major foundations of Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation! Remember, HaShem’s Word is eternal and cannot be changed or replaced despite what Christendom’s Replacement Theology teaches! I point this out because knowing the Shelosh Regalim is an absolute MUST when reading and interpreting the Apostolic Writings, especially the letters of Paul! I digress!

Sefer HaKorbonot Hilchot Chagigah 1.1 from the Mishneh Torah explains: “The Jewish people have been commanded to observe three positive commandments on each of the three pilgrimage festivals. They are:

1. To appear before HaShem’s Presence, as Exodus 23:17 states ‘All of your males shall appear.’
2. To bring a festive korbonot (Offering), as Deuteronomy 16:15 states ‘You shall bring a festive korbonot to Elohim Your Master.’
3. To celebrate, as Deuteronomy 16:14 states ‘You shall rejoice in festivals.’

“The Torah’s charge to appear before HaShem mandates that one should appear in the Temple Courtyard (Location is specifically north of the Altar, in between Beit HaMokeid and Beit HaNitzotz, which opens up onto the Azarah) on the first day of a festival and bring with him a Burnt Offering, whether from fowl or from domesticated animals i.e. a goat, sheep, or bull.”

What separates the offerings to the pagan gods from the offerings brought to HaShem in His Temple? The offerings to the pagan gods were meant solely for appeasing the deity and nothing more. The offerings brought to HaShem are explained in the Hebrew name for an offering i.e. Korbanot means ‘To draw near!’ So, the korbanot brought to HaShem is meant for the one bringing the offering to draw near to HaShem! It has NOTHING to do with appeasing HaShem! Further, the pagans engaged in human sacrifices as well as sacrifices in which many of them included the person being immersed in the blood of the animal. On a side note, no person was ever covered or immersed in the blood of a korbonot in the Temple of HaShem! Additionally, HaShem absolutely forbids human sacrifice! Learning this, caused me many years ago to seriously re-examine what I was taught in Christendom concerning the death and the application of the blood of “Jesus”, as what is taught is very highly influenced by paganism. I digress.

This said, we need to quickly explain the significance of a Burnt Offering. In Hebrew, it is an Olah Korbanot. There are two types i.e. an Individual and a Communal. HaShem commands a Communal Olah Korbanot be offered twice each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This is known as the daily Tamid korbonot. Tamid means ‘Eternal’ and per Tractate Tamid from the Mishnah says “The daily offering, one lamb offered as a burnt-offering each morning and afternoon, accompanied by a meal offering and a wine libation.” The significance of an Olah Korbonot is no one derives any benefit from it because the entire korbon is wholly burnt or consumed in the fire on the Mizb’each (Altar) to HaShem as a pleasing aroma!

Shir HaShirim 7:3 says “At earth’s very center your Sanhedrin site is an ivory basin of ceaseless, flowing teaching, your national center an indispensable heap of nourishing knowledge hedged about with roses.”

WOW…so the very center of the earth is the Sanhedrin of HaShem i.e. JUSTICE! Where is the Sanhedrin located? It is located in Beit Avtinas i.e. the SE corner building in the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem! Specifically, the Sanhedrin is located inside Beit Avtinas in the Lishkat HaGazit or the Chamber of Hewn Stone! On a side note, we have previously discussed the Sanhedrin in Shir HaShirim chapter four.

What is the Sanhedrin? It is the court system HaShem appoints in several verses in His Torah i.e. Exodus 18:21-23, Numbers 11:16-17 and Deuteronomy 17:8-13. The court system is comprised of three levels:

• The Court of Three (Three judges) = The lowest level and oversees ordinary monetary claims
• The Court of Twenty Three = Lesser Sanhedrin which hears and rules upon capital cases
• The Court of Seventy One = The Great Sanhedrin which sets the Halacha (How to walk in the Torah), sets the calendar, appoints a king over Israel and declares a voluntary war.

The Great Sanhedrin was the FINAL authority in all questions of Torah. Whoever believes in the authority of the Torah MUST accept the decisions of the Sanhedrin as binding! The decisions of the Sanhedrin concerning the Halacha (How to walk in the Torah) is contained in the Mishnah. The commentary of the Mishnah is contained in the two editions of the Talmud i.e. Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi! It is these sources among a few others which comprise the Oral Torah, which unfortunately is widely rejected by Christendom, Hebrew Roots and the Messianic organizations, but this is another topic for another day.

The commentary on Shir HaShirim 7:3 says “Allegorically, the reference is to the Sanhedrin, which is regarded as the navel i.e. center of the world because it is the source of justice. The judges sit in a semicircle, like a round basin, so the judges could see and communicate with one another as they discussed the issue before them. The navel’s umbilical cord gives nourishment to the fetus, like the Sanhedrin that gives nourishing wisdom to the world.” In other words, the entire world is sustained in existence because of the rulings of the Sanhedrin on how to walk in the Torah of HaShem! Again, we see Replacement Theology taught by Christendom is completely refuted by biblical facts!

“Just as wheat is the basic food, so the Sanhedrin’s teachings are the staple of the world. Just as everyone benefits when wheat is plentiful, so everyone benefits from the deliberations of the Sanhedrin. Although, a hedge of roses has thorns, it can easily be trampled, so it is hardly a very protective barrier. However, one who appreciates beautiful roses will not trample them. Similarly, although there is no physical barrier to prevent people from sinning, one who appreciates the beauty and sanctity of the Commandments and their Commander (HaShem) will not transgress them.”

There is a very important prophecy given by HaShem concerning the restoration of the Sanhedrin in the End of Days as written in Isaiah 1:24-29 which says “Therefore, the Word of the Master, HaShem, Master of Legions, Mighty One of Israel. Oh, I shall be appeased of My adversaries, and I shall avenge Myself of My enemies! I will turn My Hand against you, until I refine your dross as with lye and I remove all your base metal. Then I will restore your judges (Sanhedrin) as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning (Remember He reveals the end from the beginning!); after that you will be called ‘City of Righteousness’, ‘Faithful City’. Zion will be redeemed through justice, and those who return to her through righteousness; but calamity awaits rebels and sinners together; and those who forsake HaShem will perish; for they will become ashamed of the idolatrous elms that you desired, and you will be embarrassed over the gardens that you chose.”

So, again we see HaShem reveals the end from the beginning and there is nothing new under the sun! What is interesting to understand is for Messiah Yeshua to assume His place as King and rule from the Temple in Jerusalem, a Sanhedrin MUST be restored in order to appoint Him as King per the Torah!

When justice collapses and is corrupted, as we see today in the world and especially the USA, lawlessness increases, chaos ensues and ultimately societies and governments collapse. I digress.

The reference to the hedge of roses around the Sanhedrin, per the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.6-7, are the words of Torah, which are easy to breach and transgress as a fragile hedge of roses. Roses are very colorful, pleasing to the eye and emit spectacular fragrances, but they have thorns so if a person is careless with the roses bush, they will get pricked. Point is, to treat the rose bush with respect and appreciation just as we are to treat the Torah of HaShem with respect and appreciation! Once more, we see HaShem using His creation to teach us very important concepts!

Shir HaShirim 7:4 says “Your twin sustainers, the Tablets of the Torah, are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.”

The commentary from the Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim says “This expression is also found in Shir HaShirim 4:5, where it is interpreted as a reference to Moshe and Aaron, who nourished Israel like an infant nursing from its mother. Here, the concept is the same, but it refers to the two Tablets of the Torah or to the king and the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest), the material and spiritual leaders of the nation. They are likened to twins because they are of equal importance and stature.”

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary says “The twin Tablets of the Covenant, or, alternately, the King and High Priest. Thematically, this verse is as an exhortation regarding the bosom i.e. sources of Israel’s nourishment, the King and High Priest who are admonished to conduct themselves as two fawns, twins of a gazelle by complementing each other and striving for mutuality; the King in the affairs of state, and the High Priest in the service of HaShem.”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim 7:4 has some very interesting insight. It states: “Rashi explains how the commandments on the right (Concerning the Tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them) correspond to the parallel one on the left, citing our verse in Shir HaShirim as proof. I am your Elohim parallels ‘You shall not kill’ because by killing someone the murderer has minimized the image of HaShem, as all men were created in His image.”

“The second commandment, ‘You shall have no other gods’, corresponds to the seventh commandment, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ Fidelity to HaShem is compromised when one worships idols, just as the exclusivity to one’s wife has been severed if he is unfaithful to her.”

“The third commandment warns us not to take the Name of HaShem in vain. This parallels the prohibition against stealing, for one who steals will eventually be in a position where he will swear falsely.”

“When one does not honor the Sabbath, the fourth commandment, and desecrates it, he bears false witness against his Creator, the ninth commandment. Sabbath is HaShem’s manifestation on earth that it was He Who created it. It is as if he were saying that HaShem did not rest when He created the world.”

“The last of the mitzvot on the right side of the Tablet, ‘Honor your father and mother’, corresponds to ‘You shall not covet.’ One who transgresses and covets will eventually bear a child who will curse his real father, heaven forbid, and honor one who is not his father.”

And then our cities and schools remove the Ten Commandments and then cannot figure out why society is collapsing and lawlessness is increasing! Oh but I thought Jesus ‘fulfilled’ it all and tossed it all out because he did it all so we don’t have too! Yes, I am being sarcastic…my point is, just watch the news today and you will see how well Replacement Theology has worked out for society as a whole. I digress.

Shir HaShirim 7:5 says “Your altar and Temple, erect and stately as an ivory tower; your wise men aflow with springs of complex wisdom at the gate of the many peopled city, your face like a Lebanese tower, looks to your future boundary as Damascus.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah has a lot to expound on this verse and once more we must know about the intricacies of the Temple! The likening to an ivory tower, other translations have it ‘Your neck is like a tower of ivory’ has its roots to the account of Esau running to embrace Jacob and Esau fell upon his neck and kissed him per Genesis 33:4. The importance of this account is the Hebrew word used to describe Esau kissing Jacob is in fact literally saying Esau had embraced Jacob and bit him on his neck. Scripture tells us per Psalms 112:10 the wicked will gnash his teeth and melt away. This is a reference to Esau biting Jacob and his teeth were blunted by HaShem. Further, this statement of the ivory tower in our Shir HaShirim verse, likens Israel to a hard neck able to blunt the attacks of its enemies, just like our forefather Jacob!

The reference to ‘Your wise men aflow with springs of complex wisdom…’ is a reference to the Sanhedrin who are likened to the eyes of Israel. Numbers 15:24 discusses the eyes of the assembly i.e. the Sanhedrin. The Midrash says “There are two hundred and forty eight limbs in a man, and they all go after the eyes. So are the people of Israel; they cannot do anything without their Sanhedrin.”

‘Your face like a Lebanese tower’ is very important! The face being referenced here is a term for the Temple of HaShem! “Just as the face is placed at the high point of a person, so was the Holy Temple positioned on the highest part of the world!” What is the significance of the word ‘Lebanon?’ Lebanon in Hebrew means ‘To whiten’. The Midrash explains “It is because it (The Temple of HaShem) whitens i.e. atones for the sins of Israel like snow. For we find the expression ‘whitening’ used by Scripture to mean atonement, as it is stated, if your sins are like scarlet they will become white as snow per Isaiah 1:18. Psalms 48:3 describes the Temple as being the fairest of sites, joy of all the earth! Further, HaShem describes His Temple as being ‘My eyes and My heart shall be there all the days’ per I Kings 9:3.”

The reference to the future boundary of Jerusalem being up towards Damascus (Syria), is literal but also allegorical because the term ‘Damascus’ entails an upward expansion of Jerusalem in its status in the world and in the World to Come. HaShem describes Jerusalem in Zechariah 2:9 by saying “And I will be for it, the Word of HaShem, a wall of fire all around and for glory will I be in its midst.” The Midrash states “That Jerusalem will be surrounded by a wall of fire is considered a much greater praise than its outward and upward expansion.” Jerusalem will be known in the world as the city of HaShem and the most important city on the entire planet!

Shir HaShirim 7:6 says “The Godly name on your head is as mighty as Carmel; your crowning braid is royal purple, your King is bound in Nazarite tresses.”

The reference to the Name of HaShem on the head of Israel is reference to the tefillin (Phylacteries) which are commanded by HaShem to be put on each day. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 28:10 supports this “Then all the peoples of the earth will see the Name of HaShem is called upon you, and they will be in awe of you.” The commentary on this verse says “How do the nations see the Name of HaShem called upon us? This refers to our head – Tefillin, which are worn prominently and visibly. Tefillin are the strength of the Jewish people, inspiring awe and fear in our enemies hearts.”

“Your crowning braid is royal purple, your King is bound in Nazarite tresses.” This is a midrash to convey the people are complying with HaShem’s Torah and purple is a picture of royalty. It is interesting here because the King being referenced here is HaShem and He, per the commentary, is ‘Bound in love to the mitzvos (Commandments) with which Israel runs before Him.’ Additionally, a King bound in tresses ‘Esoterically refers also to Messiah who figuratively is bound up and prevented from revealing himself.’

HaShem Himself wears Tefillin! Isaiah 62:8 says “The Master has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength….” According to Tractate Berakhot 6a from the Talmud Bavli it says “His right hand refers to the Torah, as it stated in describing the giving of the Torah: ‘From His right hand, a fiery Torah for His people’ per Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:2. ‘The arm of His strength,’ His left hand, refers to phylacteries, as it is stated: ‘The Master gave strength to His nation’ per Psalms 29:11, in the form of the mitzva (Commandment) of phylacteries.”

Another understanding of this verse here in Shir HaShirim is from the Midrash which references the needy and poor of Israel. “The Holy One, blessed is He, said: The needy and the poor among Israel are as beloved to Me as one clothed in purple, referring to King David, as it is stated, ‘On that day, even the weakest among them (Israel) will be like David’ quoting Zechariah 12:8. And some say that they are as beloved as Daniel, of whom it is written, ‘They clothed Daniel in purple’ quoting Daniel 5:29.”

The poor and needy does not necessarily pertain to those who have difficulties with finances and paying the bills per se, it is also a description of a person who has little to no understanding and application of the Torah in their lives.

The Midrash explains: “Many people are poor in Torah knowledge. Despite the time and effort they have invested in Torah study, they are still needy, dependent on teachers and learning aids to understand the texts after a fashion. Such people may struggle with a lack of motivation and especially when comparing themselves to more advanced students, a nagging sense of futility. Why bother to study, they might ask themselves despairingly, when the obstacles are so great, my progress is so slow, and the only accomplishments I can realistically aim for are so modest.”

“One answer to this question lies, ironically, in the vastness of the Torah. The infinite breadth of its wisdom and the unplumbed depth of its commandments. Even the greatest Torah scholars have only begun to penetrate the surface. No one had a better grasp of the Torah or more intimate knowledge of its Giver than Moses himself. Yet in Moses’s own eyes, all that HaShem revealed to him was but an introduction, a first taste of the immense body of Divine wisdom that he aspired to, but could not, attain. You have begun, only begun, said Moses to HaShem near the end of his life, ‘To show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand’ per Devarim 3:24.”

“Thus, in the context of the Torah’s galactic range, even the most erudite scholar has not really progressed much closer to its limits than a bumbling novice. That is the lesson of our Midrash. Among Torah students, the poor and needy are equal in HaShem’s eyes to such paragons of Torah greatness as Elijah, David and Daniel. They are all beginners, having just started to plumb the Torah’s depths, and they are all treasured for whatever progress they have made.”

Shir HaShirim 7:7 says “How beautiful and pleasant are you, befitting the pleasures of spiritual love.”

The commentary explains here the nations of the world are praising Israel. It refers back to Shir HaShirim 1:15 and 1:16 when HaShem first praises Israel for their steadfastness and Torah observance, obviously referencing the time of the World to Come when Messiah is ruling and all of Israel has completely repented and turned to HaShem. The nations of the world will witness this and in my opinion will motivate the nations to want to repent and turn to HaShem as well.

Shir HaShirim 7:8 says “Such is your stature, likened to a towering palm tree, from your teachers flow sustenance like wine filled clusters.”

Notice once again HaShem is using elements of His creation to teach us an aspect of His Torah! In this instance He is using a palm tree. The commentary expands on this and says “Israel being compared to the palm tree is understood in the sense of ‘I will rise up’ i.e. HaShem will be glorified, uplifted, elevated through the virtue of this nation Israel. Rashi says ‘I (HaShem) boast about you (Israel) among the Celestial Hosts, that I am elevated through your actions on earth when My Name is hallowed by you among the nations of the world.”

“And let your bosom be like clusters of grapes, and your breath literally the scent of your nostrils like the scent of apples. The simile comparing finest scents to that of an apple orchard occurs in the Talmud. Commenting upon the verse in Genesis 27:27 ‘Like the smell of the field with which HaShem had blessed him,’ the Talmud, Taanis 29b, identifies the beautiful fragrance as the scent of a field of apples.”

“Rashi perceives this as an exhortation to the ‘bosom’, i.e. the righteous and wise who, by their good example, nurture and inspire the young, in age or intellect, by withstanding and responding vigorously to the taunts of their heathen neighbors who wish to lead Israel astray.”

“This your stature is like a palm tree. We (The nations of the world) witnessed your (Israel’s) lovely stature in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. All the other nations succumbed and bowed down to the statue i.e. Daniel chapter 3, but you remained upright as this palm tree.”

“The Targum perceives in the imagery of this verse an allusion to the Kohanim (Priests serving in the Temple) as they bless the congregation: ‘When your Kohanim spread forth their hands in prayer and pronounce the blessings upon their brothers the House of Israel, their outspread hands resemble the branches of a palm tree, while your congregation stands facing the Kohanim, their countenances lowered toward earth like a cluster of grapes.”

The following excerpts from the Perek Shirah the Song of the Universe says regarding the palm tree: “A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall. quoting Psalms 92:13. The date palm is straight and tall. It produces tasty and nutritious fruit. It is free of knots. So, too, are righteous people. They are spiritually upright and unblemished. They share their knowledge with others and inspire them to better themselves. And just as the palm tree includes the cedar in its praise, so the righteous are generous in lauding others.”

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my Beloved among the gods. In His shade I delighted and sat, and its fruit is sweet to my palate. quoting Shir HaShirim 2:3. When the Patriarch Jacob came to receive the blessing of his father Isaac, the scent of a blessed field came into the room with him. It was the scent of an apple orchard, the Sages teach, the scent of the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned. A scent is not only a reflection of the person from whom it emanates, it deposits its fragrance on his neighbors, as well. This is why we eat an apple on Rosh HaShanah, to inspire ourselves not only to personal growth, but to have a positive influence on others.”

“Thus says HaShem, ‘When the wine is found in a cluster, and someone says, do not destroy it, because there is blessing in it, so will I do for My servants, not to destroy everything’, quoting Isaiah 65:8. The vine itself has no value; its importance is in the fruit of the cluster, the wine that gladdens HaShem and man. Because of the wine, the cluster is spared, and because of the cluster, the vine is spared. So, too, though few people realize it, HaShem preserves the world because of its righteous people, who serve Him and whose performance of His commandments and study of His Torah are a source of merit for multitudes who do not know He exists.”

Can you see how much there is to learn just from a few examples from His creation and how those concepts can be applied to each of our lives in our service to Him? Keep this all in mind as this will continue in the next verse!

Shir HaShirim 7:9 says “I boast on High that your deeds cause Me to ascend on your palm tree, I grasp onto your branches. I beg now your teachers that they remain like clusters from which flow strength to your weakest ones, and the fragrance of your face like apples.”

This verse is represented by the picture above of the apple trees with their apple blossoms as HaShem once again connects the fragrance of apples to His people. Further, this verse connects to the significance and importance of a palm tree! The commentary on this verse says “Now HaShem compares Israel to a lofty, upright palm tree. If Israel rises to that spiritual level, HaShem, too, will be elevated because His Name will be sanctified in the world. Alternatively, Israel is the speaker. The nation pledges to repent and elevate itself like a palm tree. HaShem will grasp branches of Israel’s palm tree, as it were, as He is elevated and sanctified through Israel’s righteous conduct. If Israel is the speaker, it is pledging to hoist itself spiritually.”

“HaShem calls upon the teachers and leaders, to inspire the young or weak Jews by setting an example of loyalty to HaShem and resistance to the taunts and temptations of the nations. Alternatively, HaShem promises that if Israel restores its allegiance to Him, He will respond by restoring His Presence and clinging, as it were, to its branches. Then the teachings of its leaders will flow like wine from clusters and the aroma of its offerings will be accepted by Him.”

There are some cross reference verses connected to this verse here in Shir HaShirim. The cross reference is from Genesis 27:26-27 which says “Then his father Yitzchak (Isaac) said to him (Yaakov/Jacob), ‘Come close, if you please, and kiss me, my son.’ So, he drew close and kissed him; he smelled the fragrance of his garments and blessed him; he said, ‘See, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which HaShem had blessed.'”

According to Tractate Taanis 29b from the Talmud Bavli, “The smell was that of an apple orchard.” Further, the commentary from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli says “Apparently, this refers to a particular local type of apple, which ripens to a yellowish gold and has a sweet and juicy taste and a strong, pleasant odor.”

Again, we see HaShem using the elements of His creation to teach us concepts we can apply and understand in our own lives!

What is very interesting is this verse here in Shir HaShirim, connects to the events we read in Daniel 3 with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah being thrown into the fire and are protected even so much as to not have the slightest smell of smoke on their clothing!

Tractate Sanhedrin 93a from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli explains further: “At the moment that Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah emerged from the fiery furnace, all the nations of the world came and struck the enemies of Israel, a euphemism for the Jewish people, in the face and said to them ‘You have a God with capabilities like that and you bow to the graven image?’ Immediately Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah began and said, ‘Master, righteousness is Yours, but we are shamefaced, as of this day,’ quoting Daniel 9:7.”

“What is the meaning of that which is written ‘I said, I will climb into the palm tree, I will grasp its boughs, per Shir HaShirim 7:9?’ I said ‘I will climb into the palm tree’, this is a reference to the Jewish people, who are likened to a palm tree, as they are upright and have one heart directed toward their Father in Heaven, HaShem continues, ‘And now I have tested them by means of the decrees of Nebuchadnezzar, I have succeeded in grasping in My hand only the one bough of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, as only they were willing to give their lives.'”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.14 sums it up with the following commentary: “Having written concerning Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, when they emerged from the furnace, that they had not absorbed the smell of fire, per Daniel 3:27, it states in our verse, and the fragrance of your countenance like apples, that is, since they did not absorb the smell of fire, to what was their smell similar? To the smell of an apple orchard.”

“The term ‘Apple orchard’ in our Midrash is a metaphor for the Garden of Eden, which is called a field or an orchard in Genesis 27:27, and more specifically, an apple orchard.”

So, again we see HaShem lives up to His Word in that He never changes, His word is firmly established and He reveals the end from the beginning!! Keep this in mind as we proceed to the next verse here in Shir HaShirim!

Shir HaShirim 7:10 says “And may your utterance be like finest wine. I shall heed Your plea to uphold my faith before my Beloved in love so upright and honest that my slumbering fathers will move their lips in approval.”

The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book explains: “Exercise caution, and let your response to the taunts of the heathens be as clear and potent as fine wine.” Great advice especially when dealing with many of the mocking and the taunts of those on the various blogs who are vehemently opposed to anything Jewish and especially those many in Christendom who abhor the Torah of HaShem.

The commentary continues: “This is Israel’s reply of assurance intimating ‘I am cautious to stress in my response to them (The taunting heathens) that I will stand firm in my faith, that my palate should flow forth before my Beloved in righteous sincere love.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.15 Insights section expounds on this verse and highlights the following: “Jewry owes a great spiritual debt to its forefathers. By modeling in their own lives the selfless devotion required to serve HaShem in the harshest of circumstances, the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) instilled in their descendants the ability to sanctify HaShem’s Name in life and in death.”

Shir HaShirim 7:11 says “I am My Beloved’s and He longs for my perfection.”

This verse here parallels the verse in Shir HaShirim 6:3 “I am My Beloved’s and My Beloved is mine.” Israel is speaking to the taunting and mocking nations.

Rashi expounds further says “His longing is upon me might be interpreted to mean ‘the longing for Him is upon me’ i.e. I am totally consumed with longing for Him, and upon me is the obligation to love Him with all my heart, soul, and possessions. For one who attains the high degree of being able to say ‘I am my Beloved’s’ upon that person has descended the proper feeling of His longing i.e. the true longing for HaShem that only the righteous attain, a longing so deep that they become sick with love.”

Consider this concept which is understood to be a fact in this verse: “He who is deserving that HaShem’s desire be towards him, that person is sent the inspiration from above to serve HaShem properly.” None of us are deserving per se because of our sin, but HaShem’s mercy is fresh and anew every morning and He takes that which destroys us and turns it to the good! Keep this in mind.

The commentary on this verse says “This verse is Israel’s relieved reply after having heard all of HaShem’s admonitions and promises in the previous verses: ‘I always knew that I am His people and He will not despise me and exchange me for another.'” This once again flushes Replacement Theology down the toilet!

“The ‘I’ in this verse is a statement of man subordinating his entire self, his egocentricity, to his Creator by proclaiming: ‘I am my Beloved’s’, my entire self is subordinated entirely to my Beloved, and thus ‘His longing is upon me.'”

The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim commentary explains “Jerusalem said ‘As long as I go in the way of the Master of the Universe, He causes His Shechinah to rest in my midst and His longing is towards me, but when I turn away from His way, He removes His Shechinah from my midst and causes me to wander among the peoples, and they rule over me as a man who rules over his wife.”

Did Yeshua teach something similar about loving HaShem as recorded in the Apostolic Writings? Absolutely He did! Matthew 22:36-40 says “Master, which is the great command in the Torah? And Yeshua said to him, ‘You shall love HaShem your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great command. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.”

Was Yeshua teaching something new? Not at all! He was quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love HaShem your Elohim, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your resources.” He was also quoting Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your fellow as yourself, I am HaShem.”

This is absolute proof once more Yeshua taught keeping the Torah as the way to serve HaShem because even He states these two commands encapsulate the entire Torah of HaShem!!!

Mitzvah #418 The Obligation to Love HaShem. It is HaShem’s desire we are motivated to study and walk out His Torah out of love for Him, not out of fear of retribution but a genuine love for Him. Rambam says in the Mishnah Torah Hilchot Teshuvah 10 “The ultimate service of HaShem is one that is motivated by love for Him and a sincere desire to do His Will. To attain this level of serve, however, one must first cultivate a love of HaShem.” This cultivation can begin by simply observing His creation around us and acknowledging His Kingship over all of His Creation which reveals Who He is! Noticing the colors, the mountains, the flowers, the birds, the sky, the stars, etc. It all reveals His greatness! It is out of this cultivation in which we desire to learn His Torah.

Mitzvah #419 The Obligation to Study Torah. HaShem says in Deuteronomy 6:7 “You shall teach them diligently to your sons, and you shall speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise.”

The underlying purpose of this mitzvah is obvious “Through the study of Torah, a person can attain knowledge of the ways of HaShem, blessed be He. By contrast, without Torah knowledge, one will neither know nor understand HaShem’s ways, and, as such, he will be likened to an animal.”

Shir HaShirim 7:12 says “Come my Beloved, let us go to the fields where Your children serve You in want, there let us lodge with Esau’s children who are blessed with plenty yet still deny.”

An interesting explanation of this verse is found in Tractate Eruvin 21b in the Talmud Bavli which explains “Come, my Beloved, let us go forth into the field, the Congregation of Israel said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: ‘Master of the Universe, do not judge me like those who reside in large cities where there is robbery and licentiousness, and vain oaths and false oaths, but rather, let us go forth into the field, come and I will show You Torah scholars who work the land but nonetheless engage in Torah study, in poverty and in distress.'”

“Let us lodge in the villages, do not read the phrase as: ‘In the villages, but rather as by the deniers, meaning, come and I will show You the nations of the world, whom You showered with good, yet they have denied You.'”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary expounds further and says “The overriding theme of Shir HaShirim is the relationship between the Jewish nation and HaShem. The role of our people among the idolatrous nations of the world is often referred to as well. Chapter six discusses how the nations mock us because it seems that HaShem has forsaken us, and chapter seven begins with the nations offering us positions of prominence if we forsake HaShem and join them in their endeavors.”

“The larger cities are filled with thievery and licentiousness, a result of the affluent lifestyle found there. The people of Israel ask to be judged by HaShem in the rural areas; despite the poverty in such places, the scholars uphold the study of Torah. Rural villages can be read as people who deny the Almighty. Look at the difference between us and the Children of Esau! We proclaim to HaShem. We are steadfast in our faith in You, despite our poverty, yet the nations have denied Your greatness, despite the beneficence You have showered upon them.”

Shir HaShirim 7:13 says “Let us wake at dawn in vineyards of prayer and study. Let us see if students of Writ have budded, if students of Oral Torah have blossomed, if ripened scholars have bloomed, there I will display my finest products to You.”

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary says “Let us rise early for the vineyards is an allusion to the synagogues and study houses which are already occupied from early morning. According to the Midrash vineyards refers to Israel, as it says in Isaiah 5:7 ‘For the vineyard of HaShem of Hosts is the house of Israel.'”

“Let us see if the vine has budded, if the blossom has opened, if the pomegranates are in bloom. If the vine has budded is an allusion to the students of Scripture i.e. the Written Torah; if the blossom has opened is an allusion to the students of the Mishnah (Oral Torah) because, as Rashi explains blossoming refers to the period when the blossom falls away and the grapes become visible; the students of Mishnah are so described because they are a stage closer to enabling others to benefit from them, the students, by enjoying their teaching.”

“If the pomegranates are in bloom i.e. in the last stages of ripeness. This alludes to the students of the Talmud (Babylonian and Yerushalmi) who have achieved wisdom and are ripe and worthy to instruct in Torah matters.”

Once more we see HaShem using His creation to teach us of spiritual concepts! Another reason why we should be aware of creation around us because He is using these elements to teach each of us! Baruch HaShem!

Shir HaShirim 7:14 says “All my baskets, good and bad, emit a fragrance, all at our doors have the precious fruits of comely deeds, those the Scribes have newly ordained and Your Torah’s timeless wisdom, for You, Beloved, has my heart stored them.”

The commentary explains this final verse of Shir HaShirim chapter seven with the following “The baskets or otherwise known as mandrakes yield fragrance. The Talmud renders baskets i.e. the baskets of figs, both good and bad figs, as signified in the verse from Jeremiah 24:1 ‘And behold two baskets of figs set before the Temple of HaShem; one basket had very good figs and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten they were so bad.’ Good figs are an allusion to those who are righteous in every respect; bad figs are an allusion to those who are wicked in every respect. But lest you imagine that their hope is lost and their prospect is frustrated, it was explicitly stated the baskets yield fragrance, both the wicked as well as the righteous will in time to come give forth fragrance, they will all seek out HaShem.”

All of our actions, good and bad figuratively and in some cases literally emit a fragrance depending on what that action was i.e. good or bad. Again, we see HaShem using His creation to teach us His Torah!

I will wrap up this chapter of Shir HaShirim with what Psalms 31:20 says “How abundant is Your goodness which You have treasured for Your reverent ones, that You performed for those who seek refuge in You, in the presence of men.”

This verse here in Psalms describes so much! The abundance of HaShem will bestow upon the righteous is beyond the power of mortal man to describe. Rambam emphasizes “That in this finite, material world we cannot conceive of the finite spiritual rewards stored in the Hereafter. Just as the blind man has no conception of colors nor the deaf man an idea of sound, similarly, our limited senses have no way of sensing the spiritual bliss as long as we are enclosed in the body which restricts our soul. Therefore, the Torah never makes promises of spiritual rewards for obeying its commands, for they are indescribable!”

This completes Chapter Seven of Shir HaShirim! Just one more chapter to go and this will complete this entire set! It has taken a serious amount of time to get this done. This chapter in itself has taken nearly five months to complete! I began on 9 July 2023 and have finished it 8 December 2023! There is SO much to pull out and I have not even began to touch what all is here in Shir HaShirim!! I am hoping these Op’s will spur your curiosity and you will take it upon yourselves to do your own study of Shir HaShirim and see HaShem’s commitment, loyalty and His compassion for His bride i.e. Israel and all He has done to redeem her! May it be so very soon in our days!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scriptures Research
• The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
• The Rubin Edition The Prophets by Artscroll
• Tehillim by Artscroll
• The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah by Artscroll
• Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
• Mishnah Torah
• Kehati Mishnah
• The Illuminated Shir HaShirim by Artscroll

“This is the day HaShem has made; we will rejoice and be glad in Him! O HaShem, please save us! O HaShem, please make us prosper!” Psalms 119:24-25

Hanukkah 2023 is a very interesting time, it is a time of tension. It is a time of chaos and confusion, but most importantly it is a time of war! Israel is currently at war against Esau i.e. Hamas and their supporters the Palestinians in Gaza and with Hezbollah in Lebanon! Israeli citizens are currently being held hostage by Hamas and being used as weapons against Israel, but Israel has one giant advantage over Esau…….Israel has HaShem, Master of the Legions of Heaven, Creator of all things and the Defender of Israel helping out, not just spiritually, but also literally in the physical and here and now to include on the battlefield!

The nation of the world are quickly turning against Israel to include the United States! Pressure, threats, conditions and consequences are all being levied against Israel today to end the war in Gaza and allow Hamas to survive. If Hamas were to survive, they would consider it to be a complete victory over Israel, thus Israel cannot and must not allow Hamas, even one member of Hamas to survive!

With this all said, I thought I would post a quick Op discussing Hanukkah, what it all entails and how it applies to you and I today in 2023! Acknowledging Hanukkah today in 2023 is probably the most important Hanukkah in recent memory simply because of the state of the world and what HaShem is teaching us in this biblical celebration! Keep this in mind!

As always never forget the eternal statements HaShem gives us in His Word in describing His Torah:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

Traditionally we are told Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of how there was only a one day supply of pure olive oil to burn in the Menorah, and it ended up burning for eight days. Further, we are told Hanukkah commemorates how the Greeks conquered the Jews and began the process to turn them from the Torah of HaShem and how He came to Israel’s defense. In coming to Israel’s defense, He enabled them to overcome the overwhelming and powerful Greek armies, thus bringing about a great victory and ultimately saving Israel!

While these are certainly very important events to remember and to always thank HaShem for, there is also another very important aspect of Hanukkah especially in light of this wretched, miserable and idolatrous world we live in! It is the concept of remaining wholeheartedly committed to HaShem and His Torah despite living in a world which constantly seeks to entice each of us away from HaShem and to forsake His Torah! By lighting the candles of the Menorah on Hanukkah we are in effect declaring our loyalty, devotion, commitment and submission to HaShem and to His Kingship and Authority! Keep this in mind as we explore what the meaning of the menorah and the oil represent!

An excerpt from the Hanukkah book by Artscroll says the following “The Menorah, which would illuminate Jewish minds and hearts with its spiritual glow, by inspiring them to contribute to the riches of the Oral Torah (Mishnah i.e. the right rulings of the Sanhedrin along with the Talmud i.e. the commentary on the Mishnah), was the fulfillment of HaShem’s command that there be light in His universe. It was the first thing He desired for His world, for a world without the light of Torah is mired in darkness.”

“Hanukkah is the festival when oil produced a light that illuminated the true nature of a major slice of Jewish history. The war against the Syrian-Greeks had been won through miracles. But more. The fact that the struggle was climaxed with the miracle of the oil and that HaShem chose to stamp His salvation with a miracle of light was a proof to the leaders of Israel that their struggle was more than a fight for self respect and freedom, they had been waging the war of light against darkness, and bringing about the fulfillment of HaShem’s command ‘Let there be light!'”

Remember how HaShem reveals the end from the beginning per Isaiah 46:10? HaShem reveals there will be four world kingdoms in which Israel will be subject too while in exile: Babylon, Persia/Media, Greece and Rome. Consider this tidbit of info from the very first chapter in the Book of Genesis and how HaShem reveals the end. The following is from the Bereishis (Genesis) Midrash Rabbah 2.4 when discussing Genesis 1:2 “When the earth was astonishingly empty, with darkness upon the surface of the deep, and the Divine Presence hovored over the surface of the water.” “And the earth was desolation, this is an allusion to the Babylonian Empire as revealed by Jeremiah 4:23 ‘And behold, it was desolate’. ‘And emptiness’ this is an allusion to the Median Empire as revealed in the Book of Esther. With darkness, this is an allusion to the Greek Empire, because it darkened the eyes of Israel with their evil decrees, for the Greeks would say to the Jews ‘Write on the horn of an ox that you have no portion in the G-d of Israel!’ Upon the surface of the deep, this is an allusion to the evil empire of Rome/Edom. And the Spirit of HaShem hovered upon the surface of the waters, this alludes to the Spirit of the Messiah, as it is stated regarding the Messiah ‘The Spirit of HaShem will rest upon Him’ per Isaiah 11:2.”

The final kingdom of exile i.e. Rome/Edom (Another name for Esau) is the most powerful, longest and most brutal kingdom Israel will be ruled over by! We are still under the influence of that kingdom today! How do we know? What was the main influence of Rome upon the world? It brought the world Christianity! We are still under the influence of Rome i.e. Christendom today and what is its message? To separate Israel from HaShem and His Torah via Replacement Theology!

It is very interesting the Haftarah readings for the Shabbat during Hanukkah is found in Zechariah 2:14-4:6! Pay close attention to what HaShem is saying and see how they relate to Hanukkah!!!

“Sing and be glad, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I AM COMING AND I WILL DWELL IN YOUR MIDST, the Word of HaShem. Many nations will join themselves to HaShem on that day, and they will become a people unto Me; and I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that HaShem, Master of Legions, has sent me to you. HaShem will take Judah as His heritage, His portion upon the Holy Land, and He will choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, all flesh, before HaShem, for He is aroused from His holy abode!”

“Then He showed me Joshua, the Kohen Gadol, standing before the angel of HaShem, and the Satan was standing on his right to accuse him. The angel of HaShem said to the Satan, ‘May HaShem denounce you, O Satan! May HaShem, Who chooses Jerusalem, denounce you! Indeed, this man is like a firebrand saved from a fire! But Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel. The angel spoke up and spoke to those standing before him, saying, ‘Remove the filthy garments from upon him!’ Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from upon you, and dressed you in clean attire.’ Then I said, ‘Let them put a pure turban on his head.’ So they put a pure turban on his head and they dressed him in clean garments, while the angel of HaShem remained standing. The angel of HaShem then warned Joshua saying, ‘Thus said HaShem, Master of Legions: ‘If you go in My ways, and if you will safeguard My watch, and you also administer My Temple, and you will also guard My courtyards, when I will grant you strides among these angels who stand here. Listen, now, O, Joshua, the Kohen Gadol, you and your companions who are sitting before you, for they are men worthy of a miracle, for behold, I am bringing My servant, Zemah (The Branch, another name for Messiah Yeshua). For behold the foundation stone I have placed before Joshua, seven eyes toward one stone; behold, I am engraving its adornment, the Word of HaShem, Master of Legions, and I will remove the iniquity of that land on one day. On that day, the Word of HaShem, Master of Legions, each man will invite his fellow beneath the vine and beneath the fig tree (A term to describe dwelling securely in peace, and enjoying the benefits of the land and its fruit together.)”

“Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep. He said to me, ‘What do you see?’ I said, ‘I see and behold, there is a menorah made entirely of gold with its bowl on its top; its seven lamps are upon it, and there are seven ducts for each of the lamps on its top. There are two olive trees over it, one at the right of the bowl and one on its left. I spoke up and said to the angel who was speaking to me, saying, ‘What are these, my master?’ The angel who was speaking to me answered and said to me, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ And I said, ‘No, my master!’ He spoke up and said to me saying, ‘This is the word of HaShem to Zerubabbel, saying, ‘Not through army and not through strength, but through My Ruach (Spirit), said HaShem, Master of Legions!'”

One final thought. Did Yeshua keep and celebrate Hanakkuah? It may surprise many but yes He did and it is recorded for us in the Apostolic Writings. Yochanan (John) 10:22-23 says “At that time the Hanukkah came to be in Yerushalyim (Jerusalem), and it was winter. And Yeshua was walking in the Set-apart Place (Temple of HaShem), in the porch of Solomon.” Yeshua came to Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukkah! I find it very interesting, it was during Hanukkah as recorded in this chapter of John, where the people flat out asked if He was Messiah or not i.e. the Light of Hanukkah revealing Messiah Yeshua (The real one). Just something to think about.

This all said, lighting the candles of Hanukkah, is meant to illuminate a very dark, oppressive world which is committed to the destruction of Israel and which delights in separating Israel from HaShem’s Torah. When the lights of Hanukkah are lit, it banishes the darkness of Rome and reminds us HaShem’s promises are true and He WILL redeem His people from exile and bring us all home into His Land i.e. Israel!

The calling of His people back to Israel, is both literal and spiritual! He is awakening His people by the masses and calling them home i.e. to leave the religious systems of Rome i.e. Christendom, and to begin the journey of learning His Torah and discovering Who Yeshua really is! Its a slow process and we learn more and more each day, even if we move only a millimeter, we are still moving forward!

Consider all of this as we begin Hanukkah during a time of war in 2023!

Hanukkah Sameach!!!!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scriptures Research
• The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
• The Rubin Edition The Prophets by Artscroll
• Tehillim by Artscroll
• The Bereishis Midrash Rabbah by Artscroll
• Hanukkah Its History by Artscroll

“The Elohim! His Way is perfect; the promise of HaShem is pure. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him!” 2 Samuel 22:31

Can we all agree that the year 2023 has been a year unlike any other in recent history? This year has been an extremely difficult year for many, many people: The sudden deaths of loved ones, receiving devastating health news, economic difficulties, watching a country literally rip itself apart, crime running amok akin to Hollywood movie levels, a literal invasion of the country via the border and being facilitated from the very top, catastrophic weather events, etc. Plus, being literally on the cusp of World War 3 to include using nuclear weapons at any moments notice! This year has been one hit after another hit in rapid succession it seems and there appears to be no reprieve anytime soon!

HaShem knows and has known all along this is how it will be in the End just before the Birth Pains commence because, remember, He reveals the End from the Beginning (Isaiah 46:10)! He is in so much control over all of His creation, He is able to to reveal the End from the Beginning and turn catastrophic events into something good and to our benefit because nothing is impossible for Him!

With this said, it is no wonder then that HaShem, in my opinion, wants us to, now more than ever, better understand the significance of not just His Feasts, but specifically Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and just what it all truly represents especially in light of 2023! In my opinion, what we are witnessing take place in the year 2023 brings us to the very cusp, before the real prophesied events of the Birth Pains commence; which means we are going to have to draw closer to HaShem unlike anytime in our lives before if we are going to not only survive what is coming but also to be a witness for others that HaShem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel, is the One and Only true living Elohim, Who shares His glory with no one and the focus of servitude and worship of Israel and all those who wish to serve HaShem!

It is my intent that this Op not focus on the horrible events that have occurred to people, but to be a reminder that HaShem has NOT abandoned us! But that He Himself, in His abundant mercy, compassion, kindness and forgiveness, is wholly able to not only shelter us, but to provide for us and yes, even weep and grieve with us when these catastrophic events do take place. This is best exemplified in His commanded Feast of Sukkot! Keep this in mind as we progress and never forget the following eternal and unchanging characteristics of HaShem:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

What is the main theme of Sukkot? Is it to dwell in a sukkah? Is it to commemorate the Wilderness experience when HaShem miraculously delivered our forefathers out of Egyptian bondage by His Great Power and mercy? Yes, Sukkot commemorates these events, but would you be surprised the main theme of Sukkot is the command to REJOICE in HaShem and to celebrate our most greatest possession He has granted to us i.e. His Torah! Seven days of rejoicing in HaShem and acknowledging all we have is from Him and Him alone! Seven days of rejoicing in HaShem and acknowledging only He is our literal place of refuge, shelter, protection, provision, redemption and salvation! Imagine, seven days of celebrating the goodness of HaShem, especially in light of the events of 2023! Baruch HaShem!!

Sukkot is the climax of the three Pilgrimage Feasts of HaShem i.e. Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, in which all are to present themselves before HaShem, the Great King, in the Temple in Jerusalem as well as bring korbonot (Offerings) and gifts to the Great King!

On Pesach HaShem redeemed His people and on Shavuot He informed His founding nation Israel the purpose of our freedom, to make the entire nation a ‘Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation’ per Exodus 19:6! On Sukkot, per the Sukkot Machzor, it states the message of Sukkot is as follows: “In the wilderness HaShem enveloped and sheltered Israel in His Clouds of Glory. The clouds were a sign that Israel had risen to the spiritual level that made it worthy of HaShem’s all enveloping protection.” This is where the importance of the Sukkah is derived from in that in the Wilderness, HaShem Himself, sheltered Israel and shielded the people from every form of danger in existence. This is why when we build our Sukkah’s each year, at least in my experience, there is a very real, tangible, Presence in the Sukkah which does give you the sense of protection and shelter! I cannot explain or describe it other than I would recommend people who have not erected a Sukkah before, do so at this time and you will see for yourself and be instantly hooked and will from this point on look forward to Sukkot each year! HaShem wants us to literally experience Him and we certainly can do so on His Feasts along with all the outstanding food He commands we prepare and enjoy, but it is here on Sukkot where we are literally in His Presence in the Sukkah, shielded from the world outside…what could be more important to each of us today especially in light of 2023? The Sukkah is the embodiment of our fullest faith and trust in HaShem that only He provides greater protection than “Battlements and armies. We have experienced the days of joy that stem from awareness that only HaShem cares for us and provides us our sustenance. Such feelings and experiences produce love for HaShem. And in the long run, love and joy accomplish far more than fear. So we move immediately to channel this love and joy into a celebration of the Torah, a celebration which is simultaneously a covenant between ourselves and HaShem to remain loyal to Him and His teachings.”

It is here at Sukkot we are commanded by HaShem in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:33-34 says “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the Children of Israel, saying: ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month (Month of Tishrei) is the Festival of Sukkot, a seven day period for HaShem. On the first day is a holy convocation, you shall not do any laborious work. For a seven day period you shall offer a fire offering (Olah/Burnt Offering) to HaShem; on the eighth (Eighth day of the Feast) there shall be a holy convocation as an assembly, you shall not do any laborious work.'” So the first day of Sukkot is a Shabbat as is the eighth day of the Feast is a Shabbat. In the days in between, we are to rejoice, celebrate and experience HaShem and His Presence! What King do you know of in history that actually commands His people to rejoice, experience and celebrate His mercy, kindness and goodness?

This is why when we read in His Word where various scriptures discuss ‘The Feast’ or ‘The Festival’ it is a Hebrew idiom pointing to Sukkot, THE Great Feast of celebration and rejoicing which has very strong prophetic implications connected to the return of Yeshua to Jerusalem at the end of the seven year Birth Pains. It will be on that Yom Kippur, Yeshua will march into Jerusalem and defeat the False Messiah and all of his followers once and for all. Then He will gather all of Israel to Jerusalem and we will embark on the greatest celebration in human history five days later on that Sukkot!

On a side note, this is precisely why the doctrine of Replacement Theology and its Torah hating theology is so infuriating to me because it accuses HaShem of being a liar and a cruel despotic monster Who has deceived Israel into accepting His Torah and then in turn creates a brand new group of people completely devoid of the Torah and then claims this new group is exactly what He wanted from the very beginning…..its not only very confusing but it is the height of blasphemy and idolatry. I digress.

Per Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:12-34, seventy bulls were offered as Olah (Burnt) Korbonot on Sukkot in the Temple. These korbonot were to protect the seventy nations of the world from suffering, to seek atonement for them and to seek peace for all peoples. These seventy bulls were offered in a diminishing fashion i.e. thirteen bulls offered on the first day, twelve the second day, and so on until there were only seven bulls offered on Hoshana Rabbah i.e. the last day of Sukkot.

On the Eighth Day of the Feast of Sukkot is ‘Simchat Torah’, it is the completion of the Torah reading cycle for that year. In other words a day of celebration and rejoicing over the Torah of HaShem! Why is His Torah something to rejoice and celebrate when we have Replacement Theology constantly going on about how the Torah is the epitome of bondage, death, destruction and enslavement? The following excerpt from the Book ‘Simchat Torah – Its Significance, Laws and Prayers’ it says “The deeper significance of Rabbi Hillel’s famous teaching that the primary commandment of the Torah is ‘Love your fellow as yourself, the rest is commentary; now go and study!’ per Tractate Shabbat 32a from the Talmud Bavli. Hillel meant to say that the Torah and its commandments are the means to bring Jews together as one, and when there is the proper kind of unity among Jews, then the Torah can achieve its purpose of bringing about unity between Israel and HaShem. So it was that the Torah could be given at Sinai only when Israel had banished strife from itself and gathered at Sinai which is based upon the verse ‘Like one person with one heart’ in Shemot (Exodus) 19:2.”

This is another reason why Yeshua MUST come in the likeness of Moshe because it was Moshe, who was HaShem’s Agent i.e His Sheliach/Sent One, who brought the Torah to Israel. Remember as we have discussed in previous Op’s, an agent is likened to the one who sent him in the first place, therefore when read the words of Yeshua where He says “When you see Me, you have seen the Father” per John 14:9, now it makes much more sense in that Yeshua is re-affirming He is the AGENT of HaShem i.e. the Sheliach of HaShem and NOT literally HaShem in the flesh as that is just not possible for so many, many reasons.

The following is from the article ‘The Law of Agency’ from the Jewish Encylopedia and it states: “The Law of Agency deals with the status of a person (known as the agent) acting by direction of another (the principal), and thereby legally binding the principal in his connection with a third person. The person who binds a principal in this manner is his agent, known in Jewish law as sheluaḥ or sheliaḥ (one that is sent): the relation of the former to the latter is known as agency (sheliḥut). The general principle is enunciated thus: A man’s agent is like himself (Ḳid. 41b).”

How does this fit into our discussion here in this Op? It fits because it is a reminder of Who is and who the Messiah cannot be in light of the Word of HaShem! Yeshua is the embodiment of the Word of HaShem and as such can only teach the Torah of HaShem! Any message devoid of the Torah and Yeshua has been disqualified as being the Messiah! Very, very serious topic but I digress.

I could keep going on and on with this Op, but for the sake of time, I will sum it up here in that Sukkot is the time we are to rejoice and celebrate HaShem and His Torah! Especially in light of all the terrible news and experiences people are enduring this very troubled year, now more than ever we need to be reminded and encouraged to draw near to HaShem for He is good, He is kind, He is compassionate and His mercies endure forever. Further, when we are suffering, I truly believe HaShem is right there right next to us suffering with each of us! And think about it, right now our Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) is preparing to officiate the Sukkot Temple Services in the Heavenly Domain i.e. Yeshua, so while we are unable to fully experience Sukkot via the Temple in Jerusalem, our Messiah and Kohen HaGadol in the order of Melchizedek Yeshua, will be officiating on our behalf before HaShem! Baruch HaShem!

With this said, let me quickly input that during the morning daily Tamid services, i.e. the (Burnt) korbonot offerings, it is during the days of the Sukkot Feast in the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem is the Water Libation Ceremony where the Kohanim go down to the Shiloach Pools, a fresh water spring in the City of David and draw water to bring up to the Altar and offer the water before HaShem. They sounded a ‘Tekiah, Teruah and Tekiah’ Shofar blasts as the Kohanim reached the Water Gate. Isaiah 12:3 says “And with joy, shall you draw water!” which is in reference to this ceremony. There is a very well known saying in the Mishnah Tractate Sukkah 5.1 discussing the Water Libation Ceremony in which it says “Whoever had not seen the rejoicing of the Bet Ha-Sho’eva (Rejoicing of the House of Drawing) had never seen rejoicing in his life.”

Why is this important? Because there is a famous event recorded in the Book of John chapter 7 verses 37-39 in which Yeshua is in the Temple and He suddenly and loudly calls out to the people “And on the last day, the great day of the Festival, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink. As the Scripture said, ‘Out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water. And this He said concerning the Ruach (Spirit), which those believing in Him were about to receive, for the Set-apart Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet esteemed.” Can you see the significance of what Yeshua is saying here? He is likening Himself to the water of HaShem i.e. another famous idiom describing His Torah! Another reason why we need to know everything about HaShem’s Feasts because those same idioms are used in the Apostolic Writings!!

Consider the prophecy in Zechariah 14:16 about Sukkot which says “It shall be that all who are left over from all the nations (At the end of the seven year Birth Pains and destruction wrought by the False Messiah), who had invaded Jerusalem will come up every year to worship the King HaShem, Master of Legions, and to celebrate the Festival of Sukkot. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the land does not go up to Jerusalem to bow down before the King, HaShem, Master of Legions, there will be no rain upon them.” Very interesting, so after Yeshua returns, destroys the False Messiah, then all those nations which remain who invaded Jerusalem, as part of their formal surrender agreement, MUST agree to come up to Jerusalem each Sukkot to bow before HaShem the Great King. Those who refuse, He will withhold the rain and they will go into drought until they do surrender. Interesting connection between the rain and the water ceremony on Sukkot, not a coincidence!

So again in summary, now more than ever before, we need to understand, study and learn all there is about Sukkot because these principles He is teaching us are what will strengthen, encourage and fill us with the fortitude, courage and drive to press forward in this very difficult year. Remember He says His Torah is a tree of life to those who take hold of it!! He either really means it or was just making a statement for effect. Each of us will have to decide how to apply this to our own lives.

Be encouraged and enjoy HaShem this Sukkot and dwell in His Presence in His ‘Shelter of Faith!’ Even if you have crushing health, financial or other problems and or received crushing health news recently, HaShem is not defeated by any of this! We have much to fear from this vile, wicked, cruel world, but Baruch HaShem, He is far above this world and nothing is impossible with Him! May our Final Redemption be so VERY soon in our days!

I will close with this reminder from Psalms 9:10 “HaShem will be a tower of strength for the oppressed, a tower of strength in times of distress.” Draw near to Him today!

Shalom

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scriptures Research
• The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
• The Rubin Edition The Prophets by Artscroll
• Tehillim by Artscroll
• The Schottenstein Edition Sukkot Machzor by Artscroll
• The Kehati Mishnah Tractate Sukkot

“He sent redemption to His nation, He commanded His covenant for eternity; holy and awesome is His Name!” Psalms 111:9

Today as I quickly put this Op together, it is 25 August 2023, deeper into the time of Teshuavah (Repentance) as we approach The Day of Judgement i.e. Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur next month! We know during this time of Teshuvah, HaShem makes Himself ever more available i.e. the King is in the field! He is ever more willing to accept our Teshuvah and help us get on the right path in our service to Him

This said, as we literally watch our world tear itself apart around us and society crumbles ever closer to total chaos, many may be thinking to themselves, ‘How are we going to get through this in one piece? How are we going to not be overwhelmed, overcome and smothered by the constant assault of the filth, debauchery, idolatry and insanity?’

Each of us today is facing trials and tribulations in our own personal lives unlike anytime before! The pressures of daily life seem to have become much more intense and occur more often. We get one issue resolved and immediately four more take its place combined with the added issue of not having enough funds just to live each day! In the carnal world it does indeed look hopeless and is utterly frustrating!

But this morning HaShem reminded me of a very important concept which each of us need to be reminded of as He reminded me! He reminded me of the simple verse in Proverbs 3:6 “In ALL your ways KNOW HaShem, and He WILL direct your paths!”

What does this mean exactly and how can we apply this to our daily lives? We will discuss this in this Op, but as always, never forget the eternal characteristics of HaShem and His Torah:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

The significance of this verse in Proverbs 3:6 cannot be underestimated! This one single verse, seemingly insignificant and glossed over, encapsulates the entirety of the Torah of HaShem! Berachos 63a from the Talmud Bavli describes this verse with the following statement: “This verse (Proverbs 3:6) encapsulates ALL the main ideas of the Torah!” Meaning, we all need to train ourselves to see HaShem in every part of our day and night, to include the seemingly meaningless and mundane parts! And further, to train ourselves to know what we do in our days and nights, are all in the service of HaShem! We have to learn to our lives are not our own, but each of us has been put here today in this world, for the service of the Great King, HaShem, the Sovereign of the universe!

A statement from the Perkei Avos (Ethics of our Fathers) 2:17 expounds on Proverbs 3:6 and says “Let all your deeds be for the sake of Heaven. Even matters of choice, such as eating or drinking, sitting or standing, walking or resting, marital obligations, your conversation, and the needs of one’s physical body, they should all be for the service of our Creator.”

This is to reinforce just how close of a relationship HaShem desires to have with each of us on a personal level! When we can train ourselves to keep HaShem as our focus in everything we do, to include the mundane, we can always be reminded, He is in control over everything going on in the world and He promises to shelter, provide and protect His people even in the midst of raging storms of insanity, such as what we are seeing today!

HaShem gives us the recipe for how to succeed in this life! He says in Deuteronomy 6:1-3 “This is the commandment, and the decrees, and the ordinances that HaShem, your Elohim, commanded to teach you, to perform in the Land to which you are crossing, to possess it, so that you will fear HaShem, your Elohim, to observe all His decrees and commandments that I command you, you, your child, and your grandchild, all the days of your life, so that your days will be lengthened. You shall hearken, O Israel, and beware to perform, so that it will be good for you, and so that you will increase very much, as HaShem, the Elohim of your forefathers, spoke for you, a land flowing with milk and honey.” In other words, we are to have reverence and respect for HaShem and strive to keep Him as the focus of lives in everything we do and then we will succeed in this life, here and now in this world, regardless of what is going on around us! Keep this in mind!

What is very interesting is the commentary concerning Proverbs 3:6 all point to one very important prayer which we are commanded to recite twice a day, every day as a foundation of our walk and faith in HaShem! I am referring to ‘The Shema’ as given to us by HaShem in Deuteronomy 6:4 and following!

The Shema begins with “Hear, O Israel: HaShem is our Elohim, HaShem is the One and Only. You shall love HaShem, your Elohim, with all your heart, with all your soul, and will your resources. And these matters that I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children and you shall speak of them while you sit in your home, and while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise. Bind them as a sign upon your arm and let them be ornaments between your eyes. And write them on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.”

First and foremost when we recite ‘The Shema’, we must understand we are choosing to accept HaShem as our King and afterward accept the yoke of His Torah! “We must internalize the understanding HaShem is the only One, Who has created all that is in existence, and is the Master of everything, with no partnership!”

Is this an easy thing to do? Unfortunately no, it isn’t! We must take small steps towards the goal, each and every day and yes, we will fall, but HaShem in His mercy and compassion, will pick us up and clean us of the garbage and we choose to keep walking forward, one small step at a time. HaShem doesn’t expect us to run like an Olympic athlete, but we take just one small step at a time.

Is this something Yeshua supported and taught? Absolutely yes! Remember, if He didn’t teach the Torah of HaShem, He isn’t Messiah! Yeshua said in Mark 12:29-31 “And Yeshua answered him (The Scribe asking Him what the greatest commandment is), the first of all the commands is ‘Hear, O Yisrael, HaShem our Elohim, HaShem is One (Quoting Deuteronomy 6:4), and you shall love HaShem your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength (Quoting Deuteronomy 6:5). This is the first command. And the second, like it, is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other command greater than these!”

The command to love your neighbor as yourself is derived from Leviticus 19:18. But more importantly, this command is encapsulated in the Oral Torah, specifically tractate Nedarim 9.4 from the Talmud Yerushalmi states “And you shall love your fellow as yourself. This verse is the great principle of the Torah. One who complies with this principle will obey all of HaShem’s commandments, just as a person wants others to obey his wishes. By following the dictate of this verse, a person frees himself from selfishness and egotism and is capable of properly fulfilling all of HaShem’s commands.”

My point for highlighting this verse is Yeshua is not only pointing to HaShem but also to HaShem’s Torah….His entire Torah i.e. Written and Oral, as the means to learn to walk with HaShem!

So, to sum this short Op up, is to reiterate what HaShem said in the beginning…learn His Torah and walk in His commandments, not perfectly, and then we will succeed in this life. Does this imply there won’t be trials and problems and storms to endure? Not at all, but it means by staying close to HaShem, holding onto Him and His Torah, we will better endure the storms which strike in our lives! Remember He says it rains on the just and the unjust per Matthew 5:45!

This Op is meant solely to be a helpful reminder for all of us to include myself! There is hope and we cannot let go of this fact! Study His Torah and see how many times He saved Israel from disaster even when they didn’t merit His favor, He still saved them! He is unchanging and reveals the end from the beginning! Thank HaShem His Word is firmly established and His Torah is still today a tree of life to those who take hold of it! Thank HaShem His Torah was NOT done away with nor tossed aside and replaced but is available for all of us today!! Much to consider!

In all our ways KNOW HaShem and He WILL direct our paths! May it be so very soon in our days!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• Artcroll Tanach
• Artscroll Talmud Yerushalmi Nedarim
• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
• Perkei Avos by Artscroll

“For one who finds me (Torah) has found life and he has elicited favor from HaShem. But one who sins against me (Torah) despoils his soul; all who hate me (Torah) love death.” Proverbs 8:35-36

We are now entering the end phase of this study of Shir HaShirim! There are eight chapters to this book and this Op is the sixth chapter which has a total of twelve verses to it. I hope and pray thus far you find this book to be amazing and shows the astounding relationship between HaShem and His Bride i.e. Israel, in a much more significant light!

When studying His Tanakh (Erroneously called the Old Testament), there is a very tangible and noticeable difference between being immersed in His Word and immersed in the news/world around us! One is life and the other is death. One produces hope and the other produces despair!

Unfortunately there is much opposition against HaShem and His Torah which in turn causes intense conflict as those who rail against Him fight tooth and nail to silence anyone espousing the greatness of HaShem, His Torah and His Messiah, the real one!

We will see shortly as we begin to get into chapter six of Shir HaShirim, the nations of the world are continuing to rail and taunt Israel to attempt to get Israel to reject HaShem and His Torah and to embrace the nations gods in exchange for promised favor and peace. The irony is while this same concept is alive and well today, even if a person does give up HaShem and His Torah in favor of embracing the gods of the nations to include Christendom and its Replacement Theology doctrine and messiah, that person will still not be accepted. The truth is, there will still not be any favor nor will there be any peace! The Adversary and his minions hate anyone who belongs to HaShem and who embrace His Torah, and will continue to hate them even if that person gives up on HaShem and His Torah! They hate simply because you exist!!

There is a profound statement from the Perkei Avos (Ethics of our Fathers) which is even more relevant today than ever before, in my opinion. It states “Be diligent in the study of Torah and know what to answer a heretic. Know before Whom you toil; and know that your Employer can be relied upon to pay you the wage of your labor.” In other words, always be ready because the heretics are everywhere and they are on a feeding frenzy to attempt to not just silence those who belong to HaShem but to humiliate, discredit and destroy their reputation for in doing so they will silence the Torah of HaShem. Guard yourself from being influenced by the nonsense they spew and instead be the influencer! Keep this in mind as we proceed.

Keep in mind, Shir HaShirim Chapter four allegorizes the First Temple period in Jerusalem and Shir HaShirim Chapter six allegorizes the Second Temple period in Jerusalem in which Israel was lacking many of the qualities it had during the First Temple period.

Always remember the following eternal characteristics of HaShem and His Torah for in remembering these facts, will expose and destroy the doctrine of Replacement Theology:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

Now let’s dive deep into chapter six of Shir HaShirim and further see the state of the relationship between HaShem and His Bride i.e. Israel!

Shir HaShirim 6:1 says “Where has your Beloved gone, O forsaken fairest among women? Where has your Beloved turned to rejoin you? Let us seek Him with you and build His Temple with you.” The nations continue to taunt Israel!

The following excerpt from The Illuminated Shir HaShirim on verse one states: “The last chapters (Shir HaShirim) speak of the yearning for closeness that we feel toward our Beloved, HaShem. We heard Him knocking, reaching out to us, and when we finally wanted to reciprocate His love for us, we went to find Him, and He was gone. In this chapter we are chided by the nations of the world, ‘Where is your Elohim, and why has He forsaken you?’ The nations recognize us as the fairest of women, they see the internal qualities that should make us beloved to HaShem. If so, they ask, ‘Where is your Elohim, and why has He abandoned you to the predatory nations?'”

“The wiles of the nations are such that they even offer to help us look for Him; and in that camaraderie lies perhaps the greatest danger of all. At the time of Ezra and Nechemiah and the gathering of the Jews to rebuilt the Beit HaMikdash (Temple), we were graciously offered the opportunity of the assistance of the nations in its rebuilding.” The nations had zero interest in legitimately helping with rebuilding the Temple, they simply wanted to disrupt and ultimately stop the rebuilding from taking place!

The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book says “Where has He gone? Why has He left you alone, widowed? The inference here is, ‘If He is as you say He is, tell us where He has gone. We will help you in your quest and no longer attempt to sway you from Him.’ This query refers to the period of 52 years after the Destruction of the First Temple during which Judah lay desolate; the roads and villages were deserted, not even cattle or birds inhabited the land.'”

“Several commentators, however, detect in these words a sincere appreciation and recognition of Israel’s superior moral and ethical qualities. Although bereft of HaShem, and subject to Exile, beaten, downtrodden, and oppressed, Israel’s sterling qualities shine forth. Even if the appreciation is tinged with envy and disdain, her qualities must be acknowledged.”

“Where has your Beloved turned, that we may seek Him with you? This verse refers to the period when Cyrus, was inspired by HaShem to allow the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. When the Jews commenced construction, the heathens harrassed them and said, ‘Where has your Beloved turned? If He is returning to you, we will help you look for Him?’ In this manner it is recorded in Ezra 4:1-2 ‘Now, when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the exiles were building the Temple to HaShem, Elohim of Israel, they approached Zerubavel and said ‘Let us build with you, for we seek your Elohim as you do…’ But their intention was sinister, designed to disrupt the construction.”

Very interesting! The taunts of the nations directed at Israel sound eerily familiar. Let’s see what the Midrash Shir HaShirim says on this verse: “The idolatrous nations of the world say to the people of Israel tauntingly, ‘Where has your Beloved gone? Has He perhaps gone to Egypt, to the Sea of Reeds, or to Mount Sinai? Where has your Beloved turned, that we may seek Him with you?’ What does the Congregation of Israel answer the idolatrous nations of the world? She answers ‘What business do you have asking about HaShem when you have no portion in Him? As for me, once I became attached to Him, do you think I can ever separate from Him? And once He became attached to me, do you think He can ever separate from me? Certainly not! Wherever He is, He will one day come back to me.'”

To sum up the tauntings of the nations to Israel: “If He had indeed gone to perform miracles for you, we would join you in seeking Him. But since this is not the case, it would appear that HE HAS ABANDONED YOU IN FAVOR OF US. THEREFORE, YOU SHOULD BE FOLLOWING IN OUR WAYS!” This right here is Replacement Theology Christendom which constantly teaches Israel has been tossed aside and replaced by Christendom and its Torah abolishing Jesus, therefore the only way to truly walk with G-d requires to dump everything associated with Israel and embrace Christianity and its lawless doctrine. My point for highlighting this, this taunting of Israel is nothing new and the doctrine of Replacement Theology is the common tactic used to try and separate Israel from HaShem! Truly HaShem reveals the end from the beginning and there is nothing new under the sun! Keep this in mind while proceeding!

The Shir HaShirim Judaica Press commentary goes further and says “The nations taunt and provoke Israel, ‘Where has your Beloved gone? Why has He left you abandoned like a widow? When He returned and caused His Spirit to rest on Cyrus, and sanctioned the rebuilding of the Temple (Second Temple), and they commenced to build, they came and said to them, ‘Where has your Beloved turned? If He is returning to you, we will seek Him with you, as is stated per Ezra 4:1 ‘Now the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a Temple. And they approached Zerubbabel. Let us build with you, for like you we seek your G-d.’ But their intentions was for evil, in order to stop the work.”

Shir HaShirim 6:2 says “My Beloved has descended to His Temple garden, to His Incense Altar, yet still He grazes my brethren remaining in gardens of exile to gather the rose fragrance of their words of Torah.”

Again, we see HaShem likening His Temple to a spectacular garden to include the fragrance of the roses in His garden! He likens the pleasing aroma of roses to His Torah! Additionally, a rose is an allegorical allusion to righteousness!

The commentary from the Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim says “Since HaShem commanded us to build the Temple, He will surely be with us. The prophets refer to Israel as HaShem’s Own vineyard per Isaiah 5:7 ‘Now the vineyard of HaShem, Master of Legions, is the House of Israel, and the people of Judah are the shoot of His delight; He had hoped for justice, be behold, affliction! For righteousness, but behold, an outcry!’ HaShem descends to the yeshivos (Study halls) and synagogues to enjoy the sweet sound of Torah study. The deeds of the righteous are like the fragrant aroma of spices, in that they set an example and have an influence on others, like an aroma that spreads. Israel says HaShem rests His Shechinah on the exiled Jews wherever they are. He only appears to have abandoned Israel, but in reality, He remains with them, though He is concealed.“

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah expounds further and says “The nations of the world have taunted Israel with their oft repeated jeer, ‘Where has your Beloved gone? Has He not abandoned you?’ Israel’s response in the preceding section of the Midrash is not quite finished. It is our Midrash that completes it. My Beloved has gone down to His garden, to the world at large, to revel, as it were, in His creations. But He does not find the people in the world at large to be as He wished them to be. So, He turns to the beds of spices i.e. the people of Israel, who accepted the Torah and made themselves fitting abodes for the resting of the Divine Presence. But there, too, all is not as it should be. So, He turns to graze in the gardens i.e. to stroll in hallowed precincts of the synagogues and study halls, filled with prayer and Torah study; surely there will be found those whose lives proclaim the glory of Heaven. But even there He finds true Torah life to be lacking among many. And so, in place of grazing in those wonderful gardens, He turns to pick roses, to remove some of the finest and most beautiful flowers i.e. the righteous ones among Israel, whose disappearance will jolt the holy nation from its reverie and rouse it to true repentance. His true desire, however, is not to pluck the roses but to graze among them. Thus, when Israel repents fully and the objective of plucking the roses is achieved, the next verse concludes, ‘I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine, Who grazes among the roses.’ HaShem will no longer pluck the roses but graze among them, in the wondrous floral gardens of this earthly world.”

The next time you happen to see a rose garden or see roses sold at the store, remember what special significance roses have to HaShem and remember the pleasant aroma of a rose is likened to the aroma of His Torah and to His people Israel!

Shir HaShirim 6:3 says “I alone am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine, He Who grazes His sheep in rose like pastures.”

This verse has very special, personal meaning to me as this verse was the favorite verse of my grandmother, and is etched into her grave stone as a testament to who she was in HaShem! May we see each other very soon!

The commentary from the Artscroll Five Megillah concerning this verse says “Israel responds to its enemies insincere offer to help build the Temple. I alone am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine. The acrostic of this phrase spells ‘Elul’, the month of repentance and preparation for the Days of Awe. It is a time when Israel proclaims its allegiance to HaShem, even though it has stumbled, and HaShem responds with longing for Israel’s return. Thus, Metzudos writes, ‘Israel declares, just as I have never forsaken Him for another god, so He has never forsaken me.'”

“He Who grazes His sheep in rose like pastures. A dedicated shepherd grazes his flock in pleasant surroundings. HaShem, too, cares for Israel by rewarding it for its Torah study and good deeds, even though He is unseen when His people is in exile.”

It is not a coincidence this verse spells, in Hebrew, the acrostic ‘Elul’. Elul is the name of the sixth month in the Biblical calendar when the year begins with Nissan! It is the last month of the year when the year begins with Tishrei. It is the month of teshuvah (Repentance/returning to HaShem and His Torah). If we are going to draw near to HaShem we must first repent of our sins! On a quick side note there are several calendars in the Torah, with two major ones: From Genesis 1 – Exodus 11 it is the Civil Calendar i.e. Tishrei through Elul. From Exodus 12 – Revelation 22 it is the Religious Calendar i.e. Nissan through Adar. But this is a whole Op in itself to try and explain. I digress.

The commentary from ‘The Book of Our Heritage’ referencing Elul says “Since Elul is the last month of the year and immediately precedes Rosh HaShanah the Day of Judgment for all the world’s inhabitants, it was established as a time for repentance.” It further says “Although true repentance is always accepted, the days of Elul are especially suited for repentance, for during this period Divine mercy is aroused and HaShem’s Hand is outstretched to welcome those who return to Him.”

The following excerpt from the Illuminated Shir HaShirim sums it up best by saying “The statement of I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me is perhaps the most poignant answer to the nations of the world. While they claim that He has forsaken us, we issue a firm declaration of our connection to Him. The Jewish nation, particularly during the auspicious month of Elul, makes the first gesture of return to HaShem. Because I am for my Beloved, I reach out to Him in repentance, therefore He is for me, showing me reciprocal love.”

Shir HaShirim 6:4 says “You are beautiful, My love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, awe inspiring as bannered hosts.”

Now, here in verse four, HaShem responds to Israel. It should be noted, Israel at this time is divided between two kingdoms i.e. the Southern Kingdom which is comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The Northern Kingdom which is comprised of the remaining ten tribes. Jerusalem is the capitol of the Southern Kingdom and the city of Tirzah is the capitol of the Northern Kingdom.

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse is very interesting. It says “You are beautiful, My love, as Tirzah. Allegorically interprets Tirzah not as a reference to a place, but as a form of the Hebrew word which means ‘Pleasing, desirable and comments ‘You are beautiful, My love, when you are desirable i.e. when you perform deeds that please Me.’ You are beautiful when you appease My anger as Rashi comments on the verse per Leviticus 26:34 ‘Then the land will appease the wrath of HaShem.’ The Midrash renders in consonance with this: ‘You are beautiful, My beloved, when you desire. When you desire to serve HaShem, you have no need to learn from anyone else. Literally, Tirzah, as explained by the commentators, refers to the ancient Canaanite city of that name per Joshua 12:24 which was captured by Joshua. It was subsequently made a royal city by Jeroboam per I Kings 16:24, and served as the capital of Israel i.e. the Northern Kingdom until the time of Omri who replaced it with Samaria per II Kings 16:23.”

“You are comely as Jerusalem i.e. you are as comely now as was Jerusalem in its prime. Jerusalem the city which was referred to as perfect in beauty per Psalms 50:2 and Lamentations 2:15. As the Targum paraphrases ‘Beautiful is the Second Temple which you have built for Me, as was the First Temple which King Solomon built for Me in Jerusalem.”

“Awe inspiring as bannered hosts. Israel’s dread is upon all the people now, just as it was when their regiments marched in the desert.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah on this verse says “Rabbi Yehudah bar Simone interprets this verse with regard to the sacrificial offerings brought in the Holy Temple. HaShem says to Israel ‘You are beautiful, My love, as Tirzah, these being a reference to the sacrificial offerings, as it states regarding sacrificial offerings, ‘And it shall become accepted for him, to atone for him’ per Leviticus 1:4. Comely as Jerusalem, this being a reference to the consecrated offerings that are eaten throughout Jerusalem.”

It should be noted there are two classes of korbonot (Offerings) i.e. Most Holy Offerings and Less Holy Offerings:

• Most Holy Offerings may be eaten ONLY inside of the Temple Courtyard or they must be completely burned on the Altar.
• Less Holy Offerings are slaughtered inside the Temple but may be eaten anywhere within the walls of Jerusalem.

This is all connected to the concept of Holiness i.e. Kedusha. The best definition of what Kedusha is, is from Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries which says “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!”

Kedusha is the key to growing in our relationship with HaShem! We are saved per se by faith but then we put that faith into action per learning and walking in the Torah. Are we capable of being kadosh (Holy) by our own merits and actions? Not at all. It takes HaShem and His Ruach (Spirit) to get is there, but we have to choose to pursue being kadosh. Torah and His Temple are the tools He has given us so we can see, learn and live what kedusha is. Its a life long effort! Baruch HaShem for His unwavering mercy, compassion and grace!

Shir HaShirim 6:5 says “Turn your pleading eyes from Me lest I be tempted to bestow upon you holiness more than you can bear. But with all your flaws, your most common sons are as dearly beloved as the children of Jacob in the goat like procession descending the slopes of Gilead Mountain.”

The Artscroll Five Megillos commentary says “According to Rashi, it is as if a bridegroom tells his adored fiancée that when he sees her eyes he is overwhelmed beyond control with conceit at his good fortune. Alternatively, the Beloved pleads with His bride to turn her gaze back to Him as she had in the past. Allegorically, the eyes are the Sages, whose intense Torah study increases the strength of the Heavenly realm. Although Rashi and Metzudos appear to contradict each other, both are based on the principle HaShem craves the spiritual devotion of Israel.”

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary explains this verse by saying “Allegorically, HaShem addresses the Jews concerning the appurtenances (Accessories) of the Second Temple. Truly you are as beautiful to Me now as you always were. But beware, in this Temple, it will be impossible to return to the Ark, Cherubim and Curtain, those things which excessively endeared you to Me in the First Temple and inspired Me to manifest a special love to you, until you were faithless to Me. That excess of love caused you to take Me for granted and led you to betray Me. It was more love than you could bear.”

“Another interpretation: ‘Turn your pleading eyes from Me’ says HaShem. Endure the exile and don’t anticipate the End because there is an appointed time for every event. Your eyes overwhelm Me and fill Me with compassion, but the Edict has already been proclaimed; until the pre-established time, you must faithfully bear the yoke. Rather, turn away your eyes, and if you repent, I will respond accordingly by redeeming you sooner.”

The reference to the ‘Goat like procession…’ is believed to be a reference to those who have taken a Nazarite Vow per Numbers 19. In taking a Nazarite Vow, the person is prohibited from shaving his hair for at least 30 days as he sets himself apart to HaShem i.e. holiness (Kedusha). “In Exile they (A Nazarite) could not offer a sacrifice at the completion of their period of Nazarite Vow, nevertheless, they were beloved of HaShem.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah commentary on this verse enlightens the meaning in a parable. It says “This can be compared to a king who became angry at the matron i.e. his queen, and expelled her and sent her out of the palace. What did she do? She went and hid her face behind the pillar outside the palace. When the king passed and saw her, the king said, ‘Remove her from before my face, for I cannot bear to see her pain.’ The king in the parable said to remove the matron because her presence aroused his love for her, yet he could not bring her back because of her misconduct.”

In my opinion, this enhances what Yeshua did on Pesach with His death and resurrection. As the Agent of HaShem, Yeshua’s death released HaShem from His Own law which says He could not remarry the bride He divorced for adultery i.e. idolatry. By Yeshua, as His Agent, dying, this released HaShem from this prohibition in His Torah and thus He could restore and renew the marriage contract with His Bride! My point is, once more this completely and utterly destroys Christendom’s Replacement Theology doctrine. HaShem did NOT toss out His Torah nor His Temple and He certainly didn’t toss Israel aside and replaced Israel with a new entity i.e. the Church which is free to make all the same mistakes and more which Israel did, only this time HaShem supposedly blesses this entity and tosses Israel into Hell and blesses the Church for its utter rebellion and idolatry. Its utter madness and insanity and why per Scripture, this doctrine does NOT work! I digress.

It should be noted, HaShem says He gave wayward/rebellious Israel a bill of divorce for her adultery i.e. Idolatry per Jeremiah 3:7-8. At this point, this is where Israel became a divided kingdom i.e. the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. In doing so, the bill of divorce was for the Northern Kingdom i.e. the ten tribes of Israel. The Southern Kingdom comprised of Judah and Benjamin was not considered to have been divorced by HaShem! This backs up precisely what Yeshua said in Matthew 15:24 which He said He came ONLY for the lost sheep of the House of Israel i.e. the Northern Kingdom! Can you again see understanding the Temple and the Torah will absolutely put the pieces of the puzzle of the Apostolic Writings in their proper places? By Christendom tossing out the Torah and the Temple, results in very incorrect understandings and allows for idolatry and Replacement Theology to flourish! Moving on.

The Shir HaShirim commentary from Judaica Press says regarding this verse: “The allegorical meaning is as follows ‘In this Temple (Second Temple), it is impossible to restore to you the Ark, the Ark cover and the Cherubim, which made Me proud in the First Temple, to show you great affection, until you betrayed Me.'”

Shir HaShirim 6:6 says “Your mighty leaders are perfect, as a flock of ewes come up from the washing, all of them unblemished with no miscarriage of action in them.”

The Shir HaShirim Artscroll commentary on this verse expounds further and explains “Your teeth (Literal Hebrew translation) i.e. leaders are entirely good like a flock of ewes (Female sheep). The simile of Israel to the ewe is appropriate because the ewe can be utilized entirely for holy purposes. Its wool is used for the purple thread of tzitzis; its flesh for sacrifice; its horns for the shofar; its leg bone for the flutes; its sinews for harp strings; its skin for the timbrel i.e. the musical instruments in the Temple. The heathen nations (Idolatrous/Pagan worshiping nations) are compared to dogs, for they are entirely unusable for holy purposes.”

As has been previously discussed in earlier chapters of Shir HaShirim, concerning kedusha (Holiness), just as a quick review of being kadosh/kedusha really means, its being set apart to HaShem and reserved to service unto Him by formal, legal restrictions! Its not a quick prayer and then just a thought/concept as were taught in Christendom, its physical and literal and has spiritual applications as well. Shabbat is kadosh i.e. separated unto Him and separate from the rest of the week. Not one person is ever called ‘kadosh’ in His Word, but the people of Israel, collectively are called ‘kadosh’. HaShem, Himself IS the epitome of being kadosh! His Temple is called the ‘House of Kedusha’, because the closer one draws unto HaShem, the higher level of kedusha is required! In fact there is a direct link between Shabbat and His Temple per Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:30 in which HaShem commands ‘Keep My Shabbat AND reverence My Sanctuary!’

For example, consider the following list of ten levels of kedusha referenced from Tractate Kelim 1.6-9 from the Mishnah:

1. Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) is more sanctified than any of the other lands. And what is its sanctity? That we may bring from it the omer and the first fruits and the two loaves of bread, which we may not bring from any of the other lands.
2. Cities (Within Israel) surrounded by a wall are more sanctified than this, for we send the metzora’im out of them, and they may carry a dead body around within them until they decide. Once out, they not bring it back.
3. Within the walls of Jerusalem is more sanctified than these, for we may eat there kodashim kalim (Lesser holy korbonot i.e. offerings) and ma’aser sheni (Tithes of produce).
4. Har HaBayit (Temple Mount) is more sanctified for zavim, zavot, niddot and yoldot may not enter there.
5. The Cheil (Outside area of the Temple) is more sanctified than this, for Gentiles and one rendered impure by a corpse may not enter there.
6. Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women in the Temple) is more sanctified than this, for a tevul yom may not enter there.
7. Ezrat Yisrael (Court of Israel in the Temple) is more sanctified than this for one lacking atonement may not enter there. Ezrat Kohanim (Court of the Priests in the Temple) is more sanctified than this as they may only enter there for laying hands, for slaughtering or heaving.
8. Between the Ulam and the Altar is more sanctified than this, for those with a blemish and those with wild hair may not enter there.
9. The Heikhal (Sanctuary building in the Temple) is more sanctified than this, for one may not enter there without washing hands and feet.
10. The Holy of Holies is more sanctified than these, for only the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) may enter there on Yom Kippur at the time of the service.

Can you see the progression? The closer one draws to the Throne of HaShem i.e. the Most Holy Place in the Temple, the higher level of kedusha is required! Remember, this is ALL given by HaShem to teach us and simply for our benefit!! I recently did an Op on this topic if you wish for more info, refer to the following link: https://torahandtempleinvestigations.com/2023/03/01/for-your-benefit/

Shir HaShirim 6:7 says “As many as a pomegranate’s seeds are the merits of your unworthiest within your modest veil.”

The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse expounds and discusses how HaShem is discussing the Temple in Jerusalem and likening it to a pomegranate: “Your temple is like a split pomegranate. The disciples, who reached the level of giving instruction in the Torah, who were near the eyes of the community i.e. the Sanhedrin, as the temple is near the eyes, were like a split pomegranate, which, although not a complete pomegranate, is tasty and beautiful. So were they full of knowledge of the Master in study and in deed.”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim book highlights this verse and enhances its translation: “Your temple is like a split pomegranate, containing seeds as numerous as mitzvot (Commandments in the Torah), which even the least worthy among you possess, from behind your veil.”

The following excerpt from an article from Chabad concerning the pomegranate:

“Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol of righteousness because it is said to have 613 seeds, which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot, or commandments, of the Torah. For this reason and others, it is customary to eat pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah. Moreover, the pomegranate represents fruitfulness, knowledge, learning and wisdom.”

From the book ‘Koren Tanach of Israel Samuel ‘ discussing the pomegranate says the following “The pomegranate is counted among the seven species with which the land of Israel is blessed per Deuteronomy 8:8, and the spies brought back a pomegranate to demonstrate the quality of the land’s produce per Numbers 13:23. Pomegranate trees bloom in the beginning of the summer. The beauty of the fruit and its form has served as a source of inspiration for objects and decorations. Elohim commanded that their shapes be affixed to the hem of the High Priest’s garment per Exodus 28:33-34, and four hundred were placed on the top of the pillars in the Temple per I Kings 7:42.”

Again we see how HaShem uses His creation to teach us His principles of life and His Torah!

Shir HaShirim 6:8 says “There are sixty queens, representing the descendants of Abraham, and eighty concubines, the generations of Noah, and countless maidens, like the nations of the world.”

There is a ton of information to unpack in this single verse!! Remember nothing is a coincidence and nothing is in His Word just because! There is a purpose for everything in His Word! Remember, this verse is HaShem addressing His bride Israel!

Let’s first start off exploring the reason behind the numbers 60 and 80 and what they represent:

“There are many peoples in the world, but for Elohim, there is only one, His ‘dove’, the perfect one, Israel!”

The Artscrol Shir HaShirim commentary explains this verse “There are sixty queens i.e. the family heads who descended from Abraham:

• The sixteen of Keturah
• Isaac and his two children
• Ishmael and his twelve family heads
• The twelve sons of Jacob
• The sixteen family heads of Esau
• A total of 60!

“The eighty concubines refers to Noah and his descendants until Abraham. The family heads descending from those leaving the Ark to rebuild and repopulate the earth add up to eighty. And just as queens are superior to concubines, so are Abraham and his descendants more esteemed than all others.”

“And maidens without number. Each of the above having branched out into many families. Allegorically, therefore, render ‘nations without number’. The use of ‘Maidens’ for ‘Nations’ is consistent with its use in Shir HaShirim 1:3 which says ‘Therefore have maidens i.e. nations, loved you.'”

Now we will explore what the meaning of the numbers sixty and eighty represent! I think you will be amazed!!

From the book Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers, it explains the significance of sixty:

“The complete expression into the natural world within the number six extends to 60. Whereas six is completion on an individual scale, 60 is a synonym for the complete k’lal (Assembly of Israel). The number 60 relates to the full expression of the Jewish congregation. The count of Israelites assembled at Sinai, as numbered in the category of men between the ages of 20 and 60, was 600,000 strong, often termed 60 myriads. The symbol of the collective general roots of Israel, the number 60 myriads was the hallmark of HaShem’s Chosen Nation. Significantly, this number is said to constitute the perfect, unified national identity of Israel.”

So, we see the number 60 relates to the entirety of Israel which is comprised of everyone, Jew and Non-Jew, who have CHOSEN to serve HaShem and walk in His Torah as His people!!

Further, this book says “60 Tractates: The expansion of six into 60 is similarly apparent in the acquisition of Torah wisdom in the Oral Torah. The six orders of the Mishnah, that were formulated by Rabbi Yehudah the Prince are subdivided and arranged as a total of 60 tractates. This, too, serves as an extension of the Torah laws that are then to be enacted in the physical realm. The 60 tractates are the completed works of the six orders of the Mishnah.”

“The number 80 is associated with ‘Gevurah’ or ‘Might’. The quality associated with man reaching the age of 80 years of that of power or might. Obviously, the ultimate gevurah is wielded only by HaShem, Who, in rabbinic literature, is described with the phrase, from the Almighty. In other words, HaShem is the One with Absolute Might. He called Creation into existence and can easily overpower any force at will by negating its existence or by other Divine means.”

Creation itself is only in existence because HaShem has desired and willed it! Likewise, the strength we each have in our bodies to include heart beats, breathing, walking, etc, is all because HaShem has willed it and there is nothing any of us can do to thwart His plans!

Shir HaShirim 6:9 says “Unique is she, My constant dove, My perfect one. Unique is she, this nation striving for the truth; pure is she to Jacob who begot her. Nations saw her and acclaimed her; queens and concubines and praised her.”

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim sums it up best by saying “Of all the nations mentioned above, she i.e. Israel, is My chosen one, like a perfect dove, wholehearted with her mate.” Remember, doves have one mate for life! They do not jump around from one mate to another. They pair up with a mate and remain wholeheartedly faithful to that one mate, thus we see in the allegory, HaShem choses Israel i.e. His Bride and remains faithful to her for eternity! Again, destroys the doctrine of Christendom and its Replacement Theology! Moving on.

“As it is written per II Samuel 7:23 ‘And what nation is there on earth unique like Your people Israel?’ My perfect one. The Jews, children of Jacob i.e. the perfect man per Genesis 25:27, the nation which wholeheartedly endures punishment without complaint. One is this nation which has followed Me into the desert without questioning from where their sustenance will come, trusting in Me implicitly. This is the meaning of My perfect one, the one who has accompanied in absolute perfection.”

Israel isn’t perfect in the sense of being free of sin, but Israel is perfect as HaShem defines it, because true Israel shares one lofty motive: to comprehend Torah in its fundamentals and its truth!

Remember the Torah is likened to The Tree of Life in the Garden! The following excerpt from the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah says “Tree of Life is a metaphor for the Torah, i.e. It is a Tree of Life to those who grasp it per Proverbs 3:18. HaShem looked into the Torah and created the world. Since the world was created through the Torah, it follows that the entire world and everything therein is incorporated in the Torah. This includes even intangibles i.e. All wisdom, disciplines, and skills. These too may be found in the Torah.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah expounds on this verse further and says: “One is My dove, My perfect one. This is a reference to Abraham, as it is stated, Abraham was but one per Ezekiel 33:24. Abraham is called ‘one’ because he was unique before HaShem in His world, in that he was the only one who publicized His Oneness. The dove metaphor is apt for Abraham, because a dove clings to its mate, and Abraham clung faithfully to HaShem. He is likewise called ‘My perfect one’, because he was tested with ten trials and was found perfect.”

“Unique is she, this is a reference to Isaac, who was an only son to his mother, but not to his father, for Abraham had other children. She is pure to the one who begot her. This is a reference to our forefather Jacob, who was known with certainty by she who begot him to be completely righteous. Nations saw her and extolled her. These are a reference to the twelve progenitors of the Tribes, as it is stated, ‘The news was heard in Pharaoh’s palace saying Joseph’s brothers have come and it was pleasing in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants per Genesis 45:16. Queens and concubines. This is a reference to Joseph, as it is stated, Pharaoh said to his servants ‘Could we find another like him, a man in whom is the Spirit of HaShem?’ per Genesis 41:38. With this, Pharaoh was saying, ‘If we travel from one end of the world to the other, we will not find another like him!'”

On a side note, remember there are two terms for Messiah: Messiah ben Yosef (Messiah son of Joseph) and Messiah ben David (Messiah son of David). Messiah son of Joseph i.e. the suffering Messiah, like Joseph who was sold to the Egyptians and suffered enormously. Then there is Messiah ben David, i.e. the Messiah who rules on His throne from Jerusalem. Messiah ben Joseph has already shown up with Messiah Yeshua and His death and resurrection. We are currently waiting for Messiah ben David to arrive and rule from Jerusalem!

Shir HaShirim 6:10 says “Who is this that gazes down from atop the Temple Mount, brightening like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, brilliant as the sun, awesome as the bannered hosts of kings?”

The Artscroll Shir Shirim commentary says “This verse also contains an allusion to HaShem, Himself, recalling the verse per Psalms 14:2 ‘HaShem looked down from heaven upon the children of men’; also Deuteronomy 26:15 ‘look down from Your holy habitation from Heaven.’ Beautiful as the moon, pure as the sun. Israel in the days of the building of the Second Temple, was granted self government at the pleasure of King Cyrus. Therefore, it is compared to the moon which does not possess the power of illumination, but can only reflect the light of the sun.” Can you see once more HaShem uses His creation to teach us His principles? HaShem is likened to the sun and Israel His bride to the moon because the moon reflects the light of HaShem i.e. the sun!

Consider Judges 5:31 which says “So may all Your enemies be destroyed, O HaShem! And let those who love Him be like the powerfully rising sun. And the land was tranquil for forty years.” The commentary explains “Just as the sun rises with a powerful display of light and climbs to the top of the sky at midday, so may those who love HaShem always rise in splendor. The Sages interpret this term as an illusion to Torah scholars. The true source of light is the Torah; therefore, its wise men are likened to the sun, for it is only through their teachings that people can see the world as it truly is.”

This verse is summed up with the following “Who is this nation that arose from greatness like the dawn’s increasing light, being like the dawn’s increasing light, being first a pale reflection like the moon, and then becoming as pure as the strength of the sun itself, until it became as awe inspiring as an army with banners i.e. its fear was upon all the nations, as it is written per Deuteronomy 28:10 ‘And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the Name of HaShem, and they will be afraid of you.’ For when the Jews marched in the desert, banners held high, surrounded by the Pillar of Cloud and Fire, smoke rising the nations witnessed this awesome sight and were filled with fear. And this is the meaning of awesome as an army with banners, for in heathen eyes, the camps of the Jews were like camps of the Shechinah (Presence of HaShem).”

Once more, can you again see the importance of the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem as it pertains to Israel today? Again, the rebuilt Temple is NOT the domain of the False Messiah, this is just more anti-Semitic/Replacement Theology garbage doctrine Christendom spews out.

Shir HaShirim 6:11 says “I descended upon the deceptively simple holiness of the Second Temple to see your moisture laden deeds in valleys. Had your Torah scholars budded on the vine, had your merit laden righteous flowered like the pomegranates filled with seeds?”

The commentary explains “The Master of the Universe spoke: ‘At the beginning of the Second Temple, built through the hands of Cyrus, I caused My presence to dwell in order to see the goodly actions of My people, to see if perchance the wide men had increased and multiplied, those who are compared to the vine, and if their scions filled with good deeds like pomegranates. Israel is compared to a nut, one sees only a shell, but its nutritious content is not visible. When it is opened, however, it is full with nutritious food. Similarly, Israel is modest and unpretentious; her scholars are not conspicuous, nor do they praise themselves publicly. But, when they are examined, they are found to be full of wisdom. Also, when a nut falls in dirt, its contents are not defiled. So, too, although Israel, exiled among the nations, endures great tribulation, its actions are not defiled.”

In other words, HaShem is looking for people who are not just confessing with their mouths their faith in Him, He is looking for that confession to be married up to action i.e. Torah study and Torah implementation as a way of life!! Remember that verse from the Apostolic Writings per James 2:18 “I will show you my faith BY MY WORKS!” What is he referring too? He is referring to living a life of Torah while believing Yeshua is the Messiah!

Shir HaShirim 6:12 says “Alas, I knew not how to guard myself from sin! My own devices harnessed me, like chariots subject to a foreign nation’s mercies”

This is the last verse of chapter six and it is Israel responding to HaShem! The commentary says “Hearing HaShem’s praise of her glorious past, reflects on her current plight and responds sadly. I did not know; my soul set me as chariots of a noble nation. In the literal sense, this verse, both in continuity and translation is difficult, nearly incomprehensible. But the allegory is clear; ‘I did not know how to avoid sin in order to remain in my glory and greatness. Instead, I stumbled into the sin of causeless hatred and controversy which reached a peak in the time of the Hasmonean Kings Hyrkenos and Aristoblus, two brothers who battled one another for the throne, until one them invited Rome to enter the land. He accepted the throne from Rome, and became its vassal. From that point on, my own soul caused me to become as a chariot ridden upon i.e. persecuted by the nobility of foreign nations.”

“Just as you are astonished at me, she replied, ‘I, too, am astonished!’ Applying this verse, I am astounded at my elevation. It applies to the Jews in Egypt: When they became free men, the nations asked them, ‘Yesterday you were repulsive and worked with brick and mortar, and today you are free and master it over the whole world!’ I too, am astonished i.e. I don’t know by what merit I was liberated and achieved this elevation. It is only to HaShem’s mercy that this can be attributed.”

“It applies to David: ‘Yesterday he was fleeing from the land, and today he reigns over all of Israel per II Samuel 8:15.'”

“It applies to the righteous Joseph: ‘Yesterday per Psalms 105:18, his feet were hurt with fetters, his person was lid in irons’, and today per Genesis 42:6 Joseph was the governor over the land.”

“It applies to Mordechai: ‘Yesterday per Esther 4:1 ‘He put on sackcloth with ashes’ today per Esther 8:15 Mordechai left the Kings presence clad in royal apparel.'”

Can you see the theme of chapter six in totality? HaShem is able to take that which was intended for evil and work it to the good, our good and our benefit, but we must make the choice to serve Him, not just with our mouths but with our actions, decisions and time! We may not completely understand how to walk in the totality of His Torah, especially here and now in exile in Babylon i.e. America, but our hearts desire to walk perfectly with Him and reflect His light, like the moon! He takes this into consideration and is able to work with our circumstances. But, one day, may it be so very soon, we will be gathered to Him and then we can finally learn to walk in the totality of His Torah!! Again, may it be so very soon!

Much to consider!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• Shir HaShirim by Artscroll
• Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah by Artscroll
• The Illuminated Shir HaShirim by Artscroll
• The Steinsaltz Chumash by Koren Publishers
• Talmud Bavli by Artscroll
• Talmud Bavli by Steinsaltz and Koren Publishers
• Yerushalmi Talmud by Artscroll
• The Writings by Artscroll
• The Prophets by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition of The Chumash with the teaching of the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Midrash Kehati Edition
• The Stone Edition Tanach by Artscroll
• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research