Study Notes Week 13

Read
Aloud together to hear the Word (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)

13:1 Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on the name of [Elohim].^(LXX) 5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn't live together. 7 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time. 8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives. 9 Isn't the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before [Elohim]^(LXX) destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of [Elohim],^(LXX) like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose [all the region round about the plain of]^(LXX) Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against [Elohim].^(LXX) 14 And [Elohim]^(LXX) said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your seed forever (cf. Galatians 3:16). 16 I will make your seed as the dust of the land, so that if a man can count the dust of the land, then your seed may also be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to [your seed, into the eon].”^(LXX) 18 Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to [Elohim].^(LXX)

1. Genesis 13:1 Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
2. Genesis 13:3 He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on the name of [Elohim].^(LXX)
3. Genesis 13:5-6 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.
   1. Jubilees 13:14-21 And Abram was very glorious by reason of possessions in sheep, and cattle, and donkeys, and horses, and camels, and menservants, and maidservants, and in silver and gold exceedingly. And Lot also, his brother’s son, was wealthy. 15. And Pharaoh gave back Sarai, the wife of Abram, and he sent him out of the land of Egypt, and he journeyed to the place where he had pitched his tent at the beginning, to the place of the altar, with Ai on the east, and Bethel on the west, and he blessed the Lord his Elohim who had brought him back in peace. 16. And it came to pass in the forty-first jubilee, in the third year of the first week, that he returned to this place and offered thereon a burnt sacrifice, and called on the name of the Lord, and said: “Thou, the most high Elohim, art my Elohim for ever and ever.” 17. And in the fourth year of this week Lot parted from him, and Lot dwelt in Sodom, and the men of Sodom were sinners exceedingly. 18. And it grieved him in his heart that his brother’s son had parted from him; for he had no children. 19. In that year when Lot was taken captive, the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot had parted from him, in the fourth year of this week: “Lift up thine eyes from the place where thou art dwelling, northward and southward, and westward and eastward. 20. For all the land which thou seest I will give to thee and to thy seed for ever, and I will make thy seed as the sand of the sea: though a man may number the dust of the land, yet thy seed will not be numbered. 21. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it, and see it all; for to thy seed will I give it.” And Abram went to Hebron, and dwelt there.
   2. Genesis Apocryphon 1Q20 Column 21 I went to all my old campsites until I reached Bethel, the place where I once built an altar, and then I built another one and offered up burnt offerings and a grain offerings to the Elohim of Most High, and invoked the name of the Lord of the Universe there. I praised Elohim’s name and blessed Elohim and gave thanks to Him there for all the flocks and goods and wealth which he has given me, for the good he has done for me, and because He had returned me to this land safely. After this day, Lot left me on the account of our shepherd’s behavior. He went to live in the Valley of Jordan taking all his flocks with him. And I also added greatly to what he had. He pastured his flock and kept moving until he reached Sodom and bought a house there, while I still lived in the mountain of Bethel. It bothered me that Lot and I had separated. Elohim came to me in a dream and said to me: Go up to Ramat Hazor which is north of Bethel, the place you are living now, and look to the east, west, south and to the north. Look at the land which I am giving you and your descendants forever.
   3. Genesis Chapter 13 from Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan …And Abram went up from Mizraim, he and his wife (and) all that he had; and Lot with him, to go to the south. And Abram had become very strong in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he proceeded in his journeyings from the south unto Bethel, and returned to the place where he had outspread his tabernacle at the first, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at the beginning; and Abram prayed there in the Name of the Lord. And also unto Lot, who was remembered through the righteousness of Abram, there were sheep and oxen and tents. And the land could not sustain them to dwell together, because their possessions were great, and they were not able to dwell together. And contentions arose between the shepherds of Abram’s flock, and the shepherds of the flocks of Lot; for the shepherds of Abram had been instructed by him not to go among the Kenaanaee and the Pherizaee, who, as yet, had power in the land, and to restrain the cattle that they should make no depredation in going to the place of their pasture: but the shepherds of Lot would go and feed in the grounds of the Kenaanaee and Pherizaee who yet dwelt in the land. [JERUSALEM. 6. Their treasures. 7. And there was strife between the shepherds of Abram’s cattle and the shepherds of the cattle of Lot. The shepherds of Abram restrained their beasts until the time of their coming to the place of their pasture; but the shepherds of Lot did not restrain their beasts, but turned them free, and went. But Abram’s shepherds had been instructed by Abram their righteous master, Go not to the Kenaanaee and Pherizaee; for as yet they have possession in the land.] And Abram said to Lot, Between me and thee let there not now be controversy, nor between my shepherds and thy shepherds; for we are brother-men. Is not all the land before thee? Separate then from me….
   4. Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.7.1. Now Abram, having no son of his own, adopted Lot, his brother Haran’s son, and his wife Sarai’s brother…1.8.3. As soon as Abram was come back into Canaan, he parted the land between him and Lot, upon account of the tumultuous behavior of their shepherds, concerning the pastures wherein they should feed their flocks. However, he gave Lot his option, or leave, to choose which lands he would take; and he took himself what the other left, which were the lower grounds at the foot of the mountains; and he himself dwelt in Hebron, which is a city seven years more ancient than Tunis of Egypt. But Lot possessed the land of the plain, and the river Jordan, not far from the city of Sodom, which was then a fine city, but is now destroyed, by the will and wrath of God, the cause of which I will show in its proper place hereafter.
4. Genesis 13:7-9 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time. 8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives. 9 Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
   1. Strife = רִיב riyv (H7379) comes from the root word רַב rav or raba (H7227) which literally means “head of the house” in reference to the master (rav), “rabbi” (cf. Matthew 10:24-25), or great one who has an abundance of authority and wisdom. When referring to strife or contention, רִיב riyv speaks of a master or head of the house striving for survival and protection of the house or his possessions. This master that rules all cases, trials, conflicts, and contests as the representative for the whole tribe or family.
      1. The Sin of Strife
         1. Exodus 17:1-7 All the congregation of the sons of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, starting according to YHWH’s commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test YHWH?” 3 The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” 4 Moses cried to YHWH, saying, “What will I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 YHWH said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You will strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the sons of Israel quarreled, and because they tested YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us, or not?”
            1. מְרִיבָה Merivah (H4809, H4808) means “strife” or “contention” “…because the sons of Israel quarreled, and because they tested YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us, or not?””
         2. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.
   2. The Rule of the Rabbis
      1. The Difference Between a Rabbi and a Rav: “In common parlance, “rabbi” is the catch-all term for anyone who has semichah, rabbinical ordination (read more about that here). “Rav” on the other hand, has come to refer to someone who has had more extensive training and experience in providing guidance related to practical halachah (Jewish law). A rav also gets appointed by a community to answer halachic questions.” Think a nurse (rabbi) vs. a doctor (rav) https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3753331/jewish/The-Difference-Between-a-Rabbi-and-a-Rav.htm
      2. Definition of rabbi “A rabbi is a Jewish spiritual leader who is a scholar of Torah laws and customs. The word rabbi comes from the Hebrew raba, meaning “great” or “revered,” as seen in the Hebrew expressions saba raba (great grandfather) or hatzlacha raba (a blessing for much success).” https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/rabbi
      3. “Rabbi literally means “great one”, But I think the best way to describe the education of the rabbi is that he is a “Judaism Lawyer” with a Ph.D in social work and education. On a the most basic level, a rabbi is one that has studied Torah sufficiently to teach and issue rulings on issues of Torah law. On a deeper level, a rabbi, through his efforts and erudition in Torah, has developed wisdom – the ability to analyze events and their effects without any bias. In other words, he is a man of Truth. This ability has made rabbis our community leaders, the ones we turn to in all areas of the human experience, even those which have nothing to do with Torah law per se. The full requirements for a rabbi are explained by Maimonides (Laws of Sanhedrin 2:1,7): “Only wise and understanding people are to be appointed to the Sanhedrin. They must be experts in Torah law, with a wide breadth of knowledge. They must also know secular subjects like medicine, mathematics, astrology and astronomy. They must also be familiar with magic and idolatry, in order to know how to judge such cases…” https://aish.com/who-is-a-rabbi/
      4. Matthew 10:24-25 “A disciple is not above his rabbi, nor a servant above his lord. (Hebrew parallelism: disciple = servant, rabbi = lord) 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be like his rabbi, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! (Hebrew parallelism: disciples = household, rabbi = master of the house) 26 Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehinnom. 29 “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven. 34 “Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 38 He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. 39 He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.”
      5. John 13:13-17 You call me, ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. 16 Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
      6. Matthew 23:1-12 Then Yeshua spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5 But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the fringes of their garments, 6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by men. 8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for one is your Rabbi, the Messiah, and all of you are brothers. 9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Messiah. 11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
   3. How to deal with strife and conflict
      1. Matthew 18:15-20 If your brother sins against you,^(mss) go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. 18 Amen, amen, I tell you, whatever things you bind on land will have been bound in the heavens, and whatever things you release on land will have been released in the heavens. 19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on land concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in the heavens. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
      2. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the holy ones? 2 Don’t you know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly? 5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between [a brother and his brother]?^(mss) 6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers. 9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. 11 Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua, and in the Spirit of our Elohim.
5. Genesis 13:10-13 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before [Elohim]^(LXX) destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of [Elohim],^(LXX) like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose [all the region round about the Plain of]^(LXX) Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other. 13 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against [Elohim].^(LXX)
   1. The words “before Elohim destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah” show that Genesis as a book of Scripture was written AFTER the events it’s recording.
   2. Sinners = חָטָא chatta (H2398) means to “to miss the target,” whether a literal target or a goal that is aimed for. חָטָא chatta comes from a root word that means “to measure with a cord.” In ancient Israel, cords were used for binding as well as measuring. As a measuring device, knots were placed incrementally then the cord was stretched between two points to measure and the knots were counted.
   3. Genesis 10:19 The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon—as you go toward Gerar—to Gaza—as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim—to Lasha.
   4. Matthew 10: 5-15 These twelve Yeshua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and enter ye not into any city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, proclaim, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; 10 Nor bag for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor a staff: for the workman is worthy of his food. 11 And into whatever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into a house, salute it. Tools 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart from that house, or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily, I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for that city.
6. Genesis 13:14-17 And [Elohim]^(LXX) said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your seed forever (cf. Galatians 3:16). 16 I will make your seed as the dust of the land, so that if a man can count the dust of the land, then your seed may also be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to [your seed, into the eon].”^(LXX)
7. Genesis 13:18 Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to [Elohim].^(LXX)