RSEA.D. Notes Week 147

Torah Study Notes for Week 147 of the Torah Reading Cycle

thecord.life/notes/week147

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

  • Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 30:1 – 31:13
  • Prophets (P): Isaiah 48:17-19
  • Apostolic (A): Hebrews 13:1-9; 2 Timothy 3:1-17
  • Additional (ADD): Sirach 46:1-10

Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Deuteronomy 30:1-20

  1. 30:1 It will happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you will call them to mind among all the nations where YHWH your Elohim has driven you, 2 and return to YHWH your Elohim and obey his voice according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that then YHWH your Elohim will release you from captivity, have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples where YHWH your Elohim has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there YHWH your Elohim will gather you, and from there he will bring you back. 5 YHWH your Elohim will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you will possess it. He will do you good, and increase your numbers more than your fathers.
  2. 30:6 YHWH your Elohim will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
  3. 30:7 YHWH your Elohim will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
  4. 30:8 You will return and obey YHWH’s voice, and do all his commandments which I command you today. 9 YHWH your Elohim will make you prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb, and in the fruit of your ground, in the fruit of your livestock, for good; for YHWH will return the skipping with joy over you for good, as he skipped with joy over your fathers, 10 if you will obey YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to guard his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the Torah, if you turn to YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul.
  5. 30:11 For this commandment which I command you today, it is not too hard for you, it is not too distant [from you].(DSS) 12 It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to the heavens, bring it to us, and make us hear it, and do it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go [down into the deep](mss)(cf. Romans 10:7) for us, bring it to us, and make us hear it, and do it?” 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, [and in your hand],(DSS)(LXX) that you may do it.
  6. 30:15 Behold, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and evil. 16 [If you obey the commandments of YHWH your Elohim](LXX) that I command you today to love YHWH your Elohim, to walk in his ways and to guard his commandments, his statutes, and his judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that YHWH your Elohim may bless you in the land where you go in to possess it.
  7. 30:17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away and worship other elohim, and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you will surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you pass over the Jordan to go in to possess it.
  8. 30:19 I call the heavens and the land to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 to love YHWH your Elohim, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Deuteronomy 31:1-13

Not Just the Congregation, but to ALL Israel

  1. 31:1 Moses [finished speaking all](DSS)(LXX) these words to all Israel.

Chazak ve’emats! Be strong and courageous!

  1. 31:2 He said to them, “I am one hundred twenty years old today. I can no more go out and come in. YHWH has said to me, ‘You will not go over this Jordan.’ 3 YHWH your Elohim himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations from before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will go over before you, as YHWH has spoken. 4 YHWH will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. 5 YHWH will deliver them up before you, and you will do to them according to all the commandment which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for YHWH your Elohim himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.” 7 Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land which YHWH has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you will cause them to inherit it. 8 YHWH himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”

Moses Writes Torah in a Book, Commands it to be Read Every Seven Years

  1. 31:9 Moses wrote this Torah [in a book](DSS)(LXX) and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of YHWH’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.
  2. 31:10 Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, in the appointed time of the year of release, in the feast of booths, 11 when all Israel has come to appear before YHWH your Elohim in the place which he will choose, [you](DSS) will read this Torah before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and the sojourner who are within your gates, that they may hear, learn, fear YHWH [their](DSS) Elohim, and guard to do all the words of this Torah, 13 and their sons, who have not known, may hear and learn to fear YHWH your Elohim, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it.”
    1. Assemble the people = הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם haQahel et-haAm. The Greek Septuagint is εκκλησίασατε τον λαόν ekklisíasate ton laón literally translates to “you churched the people” where ekklisíasate literally translates to “you went to church”

The Structure of the Historic Church is Based on Deuteronomy 31:10 and Nehemiah 8 

  1. Nehemiah 8:1-18 All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Torah of Moses, which YHWH had commanded to Israel. 2 Ezra the priest brought the Torah before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh new moon. 3 He read from it before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until the middle of the day, in the face of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the Torah. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed YHWH, the great Elohim. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and did bow down to YHWH with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Yeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the Torah; and the people stayed in their place. 8 They read in the book, in the Torah of Elohim, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the convocation. 9 Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is holy to YHWH your Elohim. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Torah. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Don’t be grieved.” 12 All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 13 On the second day, the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, to study the words of the Torah. 14 They found written in the Torah how YHWH had commanded by Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh new moon; 15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of Elohim’s house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim’s gate. 17 All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day the sons of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the Torah of Elohim. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a closing assembly, according to the judgment.

Convocations and Holy Convocations 

  1. Convocation in Nehemiah 8:8 = מִקְרָא miqra (H4744) is most often translated as “convocation” or “meeting.” מִקְרָא miqra comes from the word קְרָא qara (H7121) which means to proclaim, call out, recite, or read. The word miqra has also been translated to mean “a public reading of Scripture.” This is demonstrated in Nehemiah 8:8; “They read in the book, in the Torah of Elohim, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood in the reading (miqra)” and Joshua 8:34-35, “Afterward he read (qara) all the words of the Torah, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the Torah. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua didn’t read (qara) before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the sojourners who were among them.”
  2. Holy Convocation of Leviticus 23 = מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ miqra qodesh (H4744 + H6944) is most often translated as “holy convocation” or “holy meeting.”
    1. “…in the Palestinian ritual מקרא קדש (miqra qodesh) in qedushath ha-yom appears as יום מקרא קדש (yom miqra qodesh) or in the sense of “a day whose sanctity is to be proclaimed” or “a day for the reading from the Sacred Scriptures.” – Liebreich, Leon J. “The Term Miqra’qodesh in the Synagogue Liturgy.” The Jewish Quarterly Review, vol. 57, 1967, pp. 381–397. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1453504. Accessed 1 Aug. 2021.
    2. During the 1st Century, teaching and the public reading of Scripture in synagogues on the Sabbath, introduced by Ezra, and detailed in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, was commonplace (cf. Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 6:6 compare to Leviticus 23:3 and Nehemiah 8:1-4). The synagogue structure was created to fulfill the commandment to have a “holy convocation,” which is more than “going to church,” and was understood to mean “a public reading of Scripture” which had always been understood to mean the Torah and Prophets as demonstrated in Acts 13:15; After the reading of the Torah and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
      1. Luke 4:16 (Yeshua) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
      2. Acts 13:42-44 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath…The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
      3. Acts 18:4 (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
    3. The Septuagint translates מִקְרָא miqra in Leviticus 23:2 as κλητός klētos (G2822) which means to be invited or summoned as a guest to a banquet (cf. 1 Kings 1:41; Zephaniah 1:7) or to be invited, summoned, or called by or of Yeshua the Messiah (cf. Matthew 20:16;  Matthew 22:14; Romans 1:1; Romans 1:6-7; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Jude 1:1; Revelation 17:14). κλητός klētos is not to be confused with “chosen” which is the word or ἐκλεκτός eklektos (G1588) which means to be elected, picked out, or chosen. Klētos comes from the same root as the word καλέω kaleō (G2564) which means to call or invite (cf. Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:7-24; John 2:1-11; Revelation 19:9).

KEY OBSERVATION: It is most likely that during the 1st Century, a 3 1/2 year Torah reading cycle was the traditional Torah reading schedule and matched to the 7th year Shmittah (year of release) commanded in Deuteronomy 31:10

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

Philippians 2:5-11 Have this in your mind, which was also in Messiah Yeshua, 6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore (διό dio G1352 = that is why, for this reason) God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Deuteronomy 30:6-20

It is YHWH Who Circumcises the Heart

  1. Deuteronomy 30:6 YHWH your Elohim will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

The Commandments and Statutes are Written in the Book of the Torah

  1. Deuteronomy 30:8 You will return and obey YHWH’s voice, and do all his commandments which I command you today. 9 YHWH your Elohim will make you prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb, and in the fruit of your ground, in the fruit of your livestock, for good; for YHWH will return the skipping with joy over you for good, as he skipped with joy over your fathers, 10 if you will obey YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to guard his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the Torah, if you turn to YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul.
      1. 2 Timothy 3:16 Every Scripture is inspired by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that each person who belongs to Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Commandment is Not Too Hard For You Because of Yeshua

The to commandment in Deuteronomy 30:8 to return and obey YHWH’s voice and do all his commandments which Moses commanded the people of Israel before the crossed over into the Promised Land is not too hard for you because of Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of the Living God:

  1. Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command you today, it is not too hard for you, it is not too distant [from you].(DSS) 12 It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to the heavens, bring it to us, and make us hear it, and do it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go [down into the deep](mss)(cf. Romans 10:7) for us, bring it to us, and make us hear it, and do it?” 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, [and in your hand],(DSS)(LXX) that you may do it.
    1. Romans 10:6-11 Now the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (cf. Deuteronomy 30:12), that is, to bring Messiah down; 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (cf. Deuteronomy 30:13), that is, to bring Messiah up from the dead.” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” (cf. Deuteronomy 30:14) that is, the word of faith which we proclaim: 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” (cf. Isaiah 28:16)
    2. Romans 10:13-20 For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (cf. Joel 2:32) 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a proclaimer? 15 And how will they proclaim unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (cf. Isaiah 52:7) 16 But they didn’t all listen to the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” (cf. Isaiah 53:1) 17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of [Messiah].(mss) 18 But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the land, their words to the ends of the world.” (cf. Psalms 19:4) 19 But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to zeal with that which is no nation. I will make you angry with a nation void of understanding.” (cf. Deuteronomy 32:21) 20 Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.” (cf. Isaiah 65:1)

Life and Prosperity is Found in the Flesh and Blood of Yeshua

  1. Deuteronomy 30:15 Behold, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and evil. 16 [If you obey the commandments of YHWH your Elohim](LXX) that I command you today to love YHWH your Elohim, to walk in his ways and to guard his commandments, his statutes, and his judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that YHWH your Elohim may bless you in the land where you go in to possess it.
    1. 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.
  2. Deuteronomy 30:17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away and worship other elohim, and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you will surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you pass over the Jordan to go in to possess it.
    1. Proverbs 28:9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.
  3. Deuteronomy 30:19 I call the heavens and the land to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 to love YHWH your Elohim, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
    1. John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
    2. Matthew 16:15-20 He (Yeshua) said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Yeshua answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven…20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Yeshua the Messiah.
    3. John 6:53-56 Yeshua therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. 54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.
      1. Yeshua is the Manna from Heaven and Bread of Life
      2. Exodus 16:14-15 When the dew that lay had gone, behold, on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing, small as the frost on the ground. 15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “what is he?” For they didn’t know what he was. Moses said to them, “He is the bread which YHWH has given you to eat…”
    4. John 6:57-69 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will also live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?” 61 But Yeshua knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Yeshua knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.” 66 At this, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. 67 Yeshua said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
    5. Luke 22:66-70 As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people were gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, 67 “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, 68 and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. 69 From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say it, because I am.”

There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of Elohim

  1. Deuteronomy 31:7 Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land which YHWH has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you will cause them to inherit it.
  2. Joshua 5:12 The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The sons of Israel didn’t have manna any more, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
    1. Hebrews 4:8-13 For if Joshua had given them rest, he (David cf. Psalms 95:7-8) would not have spoken afterward of another day. 9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God…11 Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. 12 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. 13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

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?”
Additional Study Notes

The Book of Enoch (also known as 1 Enoch) was written during the second century B.C. The older sections (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) of the text are estimated to date from about 300–200 B.C., and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably to 100 B.C. Various Aramaic fragments found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as Koine Greek and Latin fragments, were proof that The Book of Enoch was known by early Jews and Christians.

Yeshua, the Chosen (Elect) One

Enoch 40:1 And after that I saw thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand, I saw a multitude beyond number and reckoning, who stood before the Lord of Spirits. 2. And on the four sides of the Lord of Spirits I saw four faces, different from those that sleep not, and I learnt their names: for the angel that went with me made known to me their names, and showed me all the hidden things. 3. And I heard the voices of those four faces as they uttered praises before the Lord of glory. 4. The first voice blesses the Lord of Spirits for ever and ever. 5. And the second voice I heard blessing the Elect (Chosen) One and the elect (chosen) ones who hang upon the Lord of Spirits. 6. And the third voice I heard pray and intercede for those who dwell on the land and supplicate in the name of the Lord of Spirits. 7. And I heard the fourth voice fending off the Satans and forbidding them to come before the Lord of Spirits to accuse them who dwell on the land. 8. After that I asked the angel of peace who went with me, who showed me everything that is hidden: ‘Who are these four faces which I have seen and whose words I have heard and written down?’ 9. And he said to me: ‘This first is Michael, the merciful and long-suffering: and the second, who is set over all the diseases and all the wounds of the children of men, is Raphael: and the third, who is set over all the powers, is Gabriel: and the fourth, who is set over the repentance unto hope of those who inherit eternal life, is named Phanuel.’ And these are the four angels of the Lord of Spirits and the four voices I heard in those days.

Enoch 62:5-8 And one half of them will look at the other, and they will be terrified, and will cast down their faces, and pain will take hold of them when they see that Son of Man sitting on the throne of His Glory. 6 And the mighty kings, and all those who possess the land, will praise and bless and exalt Him who rules everything that is hidden. 7 For from the beginning that Son of Man was hidden, and the Most High kept him in the presence of His power, and revealed him only to the chosen. 8 And the community of the Holy and the chosen will be sown and all the chosen will stand before him on that day. 9 And all the mighty kings, and the exalted, and those who rule the dry ground, will fall down before him, on their faces, and worship; and they will set their hopes on that Son of Man, and will entreat him, and will petition for mercy from him.

בִּכּוּר bikur (H1061) means “firstfruits” of the crop (cf. Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 26:2) and בְּכוֹר bekor (H1060) means “firstborn” of the womb of a woman or animal (cf. Leviticus 27:26; Deuteronomy 15:19); both Hebrew words signify the chosen or elected as belonging to YHWH. בִּכּוּר bikur comes from the root word בָּחַר bachar (H977) which means “to choose” in the sense of an examination to select, or elect, the choicest. בָּחַר bachar is equivalent to the Greek word ἐκλεκτός eklektos (G1588) means to be elected, chosen, or selected.

Beloved and Chosen (Elect)

ἀγαπητός agapētos (G27) means beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love and comes from the root word ἀγαπάω agapaō (G25) which refers to devoted love and affection for someone or something. ἀγαπητός agapētos is equivalent to the Hebrew word אָהַב ahav (H157) literally means “I will give” (cf. Genesis 22:2; Genesis 25:28; Genesis 27:9; Genesis 29:18; Exodus 20:6; Exodus 21:5; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:19; 1 Samuel 20:17; Psalms 11:7; Psalms 119:47; Matthew 5:43-44; Matthew 6:24; Mark 12:30-31; John 3:19; John 11:5; John 14:15; Romans 13:8).

    1. Matthew 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
    2. Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
    3. Mark 1:11 A voice came out of the heavens, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
    4. Mark 9:7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
    5. Mark 12:6 Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
    6. Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the heavens, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”
    7. Luke 9:35-36 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.(mss) Listen to him!” 36 When the voice came, Yeshua was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

“The better [manuscripts] give “chosen.” (Comp. the use of a like word in 1Peter 2:4; 1Peter 2:6.) Assuming this to have been the original reading, the “beloved” of the received text must have originated in the wish to produce a verbal as well as a substantial agreement with the other Gospels.” Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

1 Kepha (Peter) 1:1-2 Peter, an emissary of Yeshua the Messiah, to the chosen ones (elect) who are living as foreigners in the Diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Yeshua the Messiah and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Matthew 22:11-14 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ 14 For many are called, but few chosen.” 14 For many are called (invited), but few chosen (elected).

1 Kepha (Peter) 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Yeshua, The First Fruits

1 Corinthians 15:20-24 But now Messiah has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep. 21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, then those who are Messiah’s at his coming. 24 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.

Yeshua, The Firstborn

Romans 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Born From Above

John 3:1-9 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Judeans. 2 He came to Yeshua by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3 Yeshua answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born from above, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Yeshua answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”

We Are His Harvest

Luke 10:1-2 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two before his face into every city and place where he was about to come. 2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.