RSEA.D. Week 141

Torah Study Notes for Week 141 of the Torah Reading Cycle

thecord.life/notes/week141

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

  • Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 20:10 – 21:9
  • Prophets (P): Joshua 24:1-15
  • Apostolic (A): 1 John 2:1-29
  • Additional (ADD): 1 Maccabees 1:29-40

Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8).

Deuteronomy 20

  1. Do not be afraid, YHWH Saves
    1. Deuteronomy 20:1-4; When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, [and](DSS) a people more numerous than you, you will not be afraid of them; for YHWH your Elohim, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you. 2 It will be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest will approach and speak to the people, 3 and will tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them; 4 for YHWH your Elohim is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
  2. The judges judge
    1. Most often translated as judge in both the verb and noun form, שָׁפַט shaphat (H8199) and means to rule over a case of dispute or wrong doing and make a decision on the case. is equivalent to the Greek word κριτής krites (G2923) and is a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter; an arbiter.
    2. Deuteronomy 20:5-9; The [judges](DSS) will speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 What man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit. 7 What man is there who has pledged to be married to a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.” 8 The [judges](DSS) will speak further to the people, and they will say, “What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.” 9 It will be, when the [judges](DSS) have finished speaking to the people, that they will appoint captains of armies at the head of the people.
    3. What’s the dispute? 
      1. You have built a new house, but have not dedicated it. Go dedicate it. Why? “Lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it”
      2. You have planted a vineyard, but have not used its fruit. Go use the fruit. Why? “Lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit.”
      3. You have pledged to be married to a woman, but have not taken her. Go marry your wife. Why? “Lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.”
      4. You are afraid to fight in battle. Go home. Why? “Lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.”
      5. The heart reason why?
        1. “Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.” (Psalms 119:23)
        2. “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
  3. Proclaim peace to cities which are very far off, not the cities of the Canaanites
    1. Deuteronomy 20:10-15; When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it. 11 It will be, if it gives you answer of peace and opens to you, then it will be that all the people who are found therein will become forced laborers to you, and will serve you. 12 If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you will besiege it. 13 When YHWH your Elohim delivers it into your hand, you will strike every male of it with the edge of the sword; 14 but the 1) women, the 2) little ones, the 3) livestock, and 4) all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you will take for plunder for yourself. You may use the plunder of your enemies, which YHWH your Elohim has given you. 15 Thus you will do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.
      1. טַפָּם tapam (H2945) is often translated as little ones, infants, or babies. However, the Greek Septuagint often uses the word αποσκευήν aposkeuazó (G643) which refers to personal property such as belongings, baggage, or chattel. In 2 Chronicles 20:13, טַפָּם tapam is used along with sons (children); “All Judah stood before YHWH, with their little ones, their wives, and their sons.”
  4. No peace for the Canaanites
    1. Deuteronomy 20:16-18; But of the cities of these peoples that YHWH your Elohim gives you for an inheritance, you will save alive nothing that breathes; 17 but you will utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, [and](mss)(LXX) the Canaanite, [and the Girgashite](SP)(LXX) the Perizzite, [and](mss)(LXX) the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as YHWH your Elohim has commanded you; 18 that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done to their elohim; so would you sin against YHWH your Elohim.
      1. Genesis 9:18-27; The sons of Noaḥ̣ who went out from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noaḥ̣, and from these the whole earth was populated. 20 Noaḥ̣ began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness. 24 Noaḥ̣ awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” 26 He said, “Blessed be YHWH, the Elohim of Shem. Let Canaan be his (Shem’s) servant. 27 May Elohim enlarge Japheth. Let him (Japheth) dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his (Japheth’s) servant.”
      2. Jubilees 7:10-13; And Noaḥ̣ awoke from his sleep and knew all that his younger son had done unto him, and he cursed his son and said: “Cursed be Canaan; an enslaved servant will he be unto his brethren.” 11. And he blessed Shem, and said: “Blessed be the Lord Elohim of Shem, and Canaan will be his servant. 12. Elohim will enlarge Japheth, and Elohim will dwell in the dwelling of Shem, and Canaan will be his servant.” 13. And Ham knew that his father had cursed his younger son, and he was displeased that he had cursed his son, and he parted from his father, he and his sons with him, Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.
      3. Jubilees 10:28-35; And Ham and his sons went into the land which he was to occupy, which he acquired as his portion in the land of the south. 29. And Canaan saw the land of Lebanon to the river of Egypt that it was very good, and he went not into the land of his inheritance to the west (that is to) the sea, and he dwelt in the land of Lebanon, eastward and westward from the border of Jordan and from the border of the sea. 30. And Ham, his father, and Cush and Mizraim, his brothers, said unto him: “Thou hast settled in a land which is not thine, and which did not fall to us by lot: do not do so; for if thou dost do so, thou and thy sons will fall in the land and (be) accursed through sedition; for by sedition ye have settled, and by sedition will thy children fall, and thou shalt be rooted out for ever. 31. Dwell not in the dwelling of Shem; for to Shem and to his sons did it come by their lot. 32. Cursed art thou, and cursed shalt thou be beyond all the sons of Noaḥ̣, by the curse by which we bound ourselves by an oath in the face of the holy judge, and in the face of Noaḥ̣ our father.” 33. But he did not hearken unto them, and dwelt in the land of Lebanon from Hamath to the entering of Egypt, he and his sons until this day. 34. And for this reason that land is named Canaan. 35. And Japheth and his sons went towards the sea and dwelt in the land of their portion…
        1. Inheritance of the sons of Noaḥ (Shem, Ham, Japheth) (cf. Genesis 10:1-32; Jubilees 8:1 – 9:15)
        2. Journeys of Paul’s preaching to the Nations (Gentiles) (cf. Acts 18:6; Galatians 2:9)
        3. Isaiah 42:1-4 Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring judgment to the nations…He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands wait for his Torah.
        4. Isaiah 42:1-4 (LXX) Jacob is my servant, I will help him: Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles…He shall shine out, and shall not be †discouraged, until he have set judgment on the earth: and in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
  1. Canaanite curse still active during 1st century. Only faith in Yeshua breaks the curse
        1. Matthew 15:21-28; Yeshua went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” 23 But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.” 24 But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Yeshua answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
  2. Instructions for building a defensive wall (i.e. bulwark or fortress) in times of war
    1. Deuteronomy 20:19-20; When you will besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you will not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; for you may eat of them. You will not cut them down, for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged by you? 20 Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you will destroy and cut them down. You will build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.

Deuteronomy 21

  1. Deuteronomy 21:1; If someone is found slain in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you to possess, lying in the field, and it isn’t known who has struck him, 2 then your elders and your judges will come out, and they will measure to the cities which are around him who is slain.
    1. The elders and judges work together
      1. Most often translated as elder or old man, זָקֵן zaqen (H2205) literally means one who has a long beard as a sign of old age. זָקֵן zaqen is equivalent to the Greek word γερουσία gerousia (G1087) which means a senate or council of elders (i.e. the Sanhedrin).
      2. Most often translated as judge in both the verb and noun form, שָׁפַט shaphat (H8199) and means to rule over a case of dispute or wrong doing and make a decision on the case. is equivalent to the Greek word κριτής krites (G2923) and is a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter; an arbiter.
        1. What’s the dispute in Deuteronomy 21? Someone is found slain in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you to possess, lying in the field, and it isn’t known who has struck him.
          1.  Genesis 9:5-6; I will surely seek accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will seek it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will seek the soul of man. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for Elohim made man in his own image.
          2. A Commentary on the Law of Moses 4Q251, Fragment 13 [… and they will break the heifer’s neck there in the wad]i in return for the life [of the slain..] [… ] it is a substitution which is put to death for [the slain…]
    2. The elders and the priests work together
      1. Deuteronomy 21:3 It will be that the elders of the city which is nearest to the slain man will take a heifer of the herd, which hasn’t been worked with and which has not drawn in the yoke. 4 The elders of that city will bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and will break the heifer’s neck there in the valley. 5 The priests, the sons of Levi will come near, for YHWH your Elohim has chosen them to minister to him, and to bless in YHWH’s name; and according to their mouth is every dispute and every plague. 6 All the elders of that city which is nearest to the slain man will wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. 7 They will answer and say, “Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. 8 Atone, YHWH, your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and don’t allow innocent blood among your people Israel.” The blood will atone for them. 9 So you will put away the innocent blood from among you, when you will do that which is right in YHWH’s eyes.
        1. 1 John 2:1-2; My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Yeshua the Messiah, the righteous. 2 And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

Exhortation
Counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15)

  1. Deuteronomy 20:1-4; “…you will not be afraid of them, for YHWH your Elohim…is with you…Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them; for YHWH your Elohim is he who goes with you…to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” In summary…YHWH Saves!
  2. The Name of YHWH יהוה YHWH (H3068) is the name of our Heavenly Father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, and Father of our Master and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah (cf. Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 1:3). יהוה YHWH is a form of אֶהְיֶה Ehayeh which means “I will exist” or “I will be” found in Exodus 3:14 when Mosheh was given the name by YHWH Himself. The name יהוה YHWH literally translates to “He Exists” or “He Will Be.”
  3. YHWH is Unchanging The word ‘Be” is not to be confused with ‘Become’ as in “I will Become” or “He Will Become” since the word ‘become’ means to grow to be something or to turn into something. This contradicts the meaning of “exist” since the word ‘be’ means “to stay in the same place or condition” (cf. Malachi 3:6; Psalm 102:27; James 1:17).
    1. Malachi 3:6; For I, YHWH, don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
    2. Psalm 102:26–27; They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed. 27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
    3. James 1:17; Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow.
  4. Numbers 13:1-16; YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, one man, one man to the tribe of his fathers you will send, all lifted up from among them.” … 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun… 16 These are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Yehoshua.
    1. יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yehoshua (H3091) means “YHWH delivers” or “YHWH saves.” Moses gave this name to Hoshea son of Nun (cf. Numbers 13:16) and became a very popular name. The name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yehoshua was later modified and shortened to יֵשׁ֨וּעַ Yeshua in later books of the Hebrew Bible and among Jews of the Second Temple period (cf. Nehemiah 8:17). The name corresponds to the Greek spelling Ιησού Iesous, from which, through the Latin Iesus, comes the English spelling Jesus (Matthew 1:21 – She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Yeshua, for it is he who will save his people from their sins.)
  5. Yeshua is Unchanging “Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
    1. John 17:1-5; Yeshua said these things, then lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; 2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Yeshua the Messiah. 4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.”
  6. 1 John 1:21-25; I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? This is the Anti-messiah, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son doesn’t have the Father. 24 As for you, let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son, and in the Father. 25 This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life.

Does anyone have specific questions or need any clarification from what was said during the Summary or Exhortation?

Application & Discussion
Living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13)
Questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)

Romans 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

    1. What questions or comments came up during your family’s discussion of this week’s study?
    2. “What other related Scriptures did you find during your study of this week’s portion?”
    3. Have you ever experienced something from this study or something related to it?
    4. “What changes do you need to make in your life to align with what you learned during this week’s Torah Study?”