Study Notes Week 25

Torah Study Notes for Week 25 of the Torah Reading Cycle

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

  • Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 25:1-34
  • Prophets (P): 2 Samuel 5:17 – 6:1
  • Apostolic (A): Hebrews 12:14-29
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 19:11-29; Jubilees 20:1-13; Jubilees 23:1-10; Jubilees 24:1-13
Bereshiyt (Genesis) 25:1-34

25:1 Abraham added and took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all that he had to [his son](LXX) Isaac, 6 but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham's concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country. 7 These are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years. 8 Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, a bearded man, and full [of days],(LXX)(Syr)(SP) and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre, 10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife. 11 After the death of Abraham, Elohim blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi. 12 And these are the birthings of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations (cf. Genesis 17:20). 17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He [dwelled in the face of all his brothers].(LXX) 19 And these are the birthings of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham brought forth Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 21 Isaac interceded to the LORD(LXX)(mss) for his wife, because she was barren. [And his Elohim listened],(LXX) and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The sons struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She walked to seek [Elohim].(LXX) 23 [He](LXX) said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.” 24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 26 Afterwards, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. 27 The boys grew. Esau was a knowing hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a perfect man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his wild game. Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau devalued his birthright.

Torah Portion Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. Genesis 25:1 Abraham added and took a woman, and her name was Keturah.
    1. Woman = אִשָּׁה ishah (H802) is translated as “woman” from the root אִישׁ ish (H376) which means “man.” “…She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23 cf. 1 Corinthians 11:7-12). אִישׁ ish is equivalent to the Greek word γυνή gynē (G1135) which also translates as both “woman” or “wife.” Neither Biblical Hebrew or Greek have a definitive word for “wife.”
  2. Genesis 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
    1. Jubilees 19:11-12 And Abraham took to himself a third wife, and her name was Keturah, from among the daughters of his household servants, for Hagar had died before Sarah. 12. And she bare him six sons, Zimram, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah, in the two weeks of years.
  3. Genesis 25:5 Abraham gave all that he had to [his son](LXX) Isaac, 6 but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country.
    1. “Concubines” הַפִּילַגְשִׁים hapilagshim (H6370) is plural, which means Abraham is referring to Hagar AND Keturah.
      1. παλλακών pallakōn (G3825.1) comes from a Greek word that means anew or again in the sense of renewal or repetition of the action. Probably from the same as πάλη palē (G3823) (through the idea of oscillatory repetition)
    2. How do we know Genesis 25:5 refers to the sons of Hagar and Keturah?
      1. Jubilees 20:1-13 And in the forty-second jubilee, in the first year of the †seventh† week, [2052 A.M.] Abraham called Ishmael, and his twelve sons, and Isaac and his two sons, and the six sons of Keturah, and their sons. 2. And he commanded them that they should observe the way of YHWH; that they should work righteousness, and love each his neighbour, and act on this manner amongst all men; that they should each so walk with regard to them as to do judgment and righteousness on the land. 3. That they should circumcise their sons, according to the covenant which He had made with them, and not deviate to the right hand or the left of all the paths which the Lord had commanded us; and that we should keep ourselves from all fornication and uncleanness. 4. And if any woman or maid commit fornication amongst you, burn her with fire (cf. Leviticus 21:9), and let them not commit fornication with her after their eyes and their heart; and let them not take to themselves wives from the daughters of Canaan; for the seed of Canaan will be rooted out of the land. 5. And he told them of the judgment of the giants, and the judgment of the Sodomites, how they had been judged on account of their wickedness, and had died on account of their fornication, and uncleanness, and mutual corruption through fornication. 6. “And guard yourselves from all fornication and uncleanness, And from all pollution of sin, Lest ye make our name a curse, And your whole life a hissing, And all your sons be destroyed by the sword, And ye become accursed like Sodom, And all your remnant as the sons of Gomorrah. 7. I implore you, my sons, love the Elohim of the heavens, And cleave ye to all His commandments. And walk not after their idols, and after their uncleannesses, 8. And make not for yourselves molten or graven elohim; For they are vanity, And there is no spirit in them; For they are work of (men’s) hands, And all who trust in them, trust in nothing. Serve them not, nor worship them, 9. But serve ye the Most High Elohim, and worship Him continually: And hope for His countenance always, And work uprightness and righteousness before Him, That He may have pleasure in you and grant you His mercy, And send rain upon you morning and evening, And bless all your works which ye have wrought upon the land, And bless thy bread and thy water, And bless the fruit of thy womb and the fruit of thy land, And the herds of thy cattle, and the flocks of thy sheep. 10. And ye will be for a blessing on the land, And all nations of the land will desire you, And bless your sons in my name, That they may be blessed as I am.” 11. And he gave to Ishmael and to his sons, and to the sons of Keturah, gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, and he gave everything to Isaac his son. (cf. Genesis 25:5) 12. And Ishmael and his sons, and the sons of Keturah and their sons, went together and dwelt from Paran to the entering in of Babylon in all the land which is towards the East facing the desert. 13. And these mingled with each other, and their name was called Arabs, and Ishmaelites.
        1. Often translated as “mixed multitude” אֲסַפְסֻף Aspesuph (H628) is a gathering of people; collection, rabble, collected multitude.  “Mixed multitude” is sometimes translated from עֵרֶב erev (H6154) which is mixture of cords when weaving (woof or weft), mingled, mixed people, mixed company; also translated as Arabia in some versions of Ezekiel 30:5. In the Greek Septuagint, both אֲסַפְסֻף (aspesuph) and עֵרֶב (erev) are translated to the same Greek word επίμικτος epímiktos meaning intermixed or mixed multitude.
          • Generally, “Arab” refers to the people. “Arabic” refers to the language of Arabs, whereas “Arabian” refers to the geographic location of Arabia. Arabia, also known as the Arabian Peninsula, is the largest peninsula in the world, located in West Asia. It’s situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian plate. The region encompasses several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, and others.
          •  
        2. Galatians 4:24-25 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
  4. Genesis 25:7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years. 8 Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, a bearded man, and full [of days],(LXX)(Syr)(SP) and was gathered to his people.
  5. Genesis 25:9-10 Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre, 10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife.
    1. Genesis 23:12-20 Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. 13 He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard. 17 So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded 18 to Abraham for a possession in the face of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, that is, Hebron, in the land of Canaan. 20 The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as a possession for a burial place.
      1. Jubilees 19:1-9 And in the first year of the first week in the forty-second jubilee [2010 A.M.], Abraham returned and dwelt opposite Hebron, that is Kiriath Arba, two weeks of years. 2. And in the first year of the †third† week of this jubilee the days of the life of Sarah were accomplished, and she died in Hebron. 3. And Abraham went to mourn over her and bury her, and we tried him [to see] if his spirit were patient and he were not indignant in the words of his mouth; and he was found patient in this, and was not disturbed. 4. For in patience of spirit he conversed with the sons of Heth, to the intent that they should give him a place in which to bury his dead. 5. And the Lord gave him grace before all who saw him, and he besought in gentleness the sons of Heth, and they gave him the land of the double cave over against Mamre, that is Hebron, for four hundred pieces of silver. 6. And they besought him, saying, “We will give it to thee for nothing”; but he would not take it from their hands for nothing, for he gave the price of the place, the money in full, and he bowed down before them twice; and after this he buried his dead in the double cave. 7. And all the days of the life of Sarah were one hundred and twenty-seven years, that is, two jubilees and four weeks and one year: these are the days of the years of the life of Sarah. 8. This is the tenth trial wherewith Abraham was tried, and he was found faithful, patient in spirit. 9. And he said not a single word regarding the rumour in the land how that Elohim had said that He would give it to him and to his seed after him, and he begged a place there to bury his dead; for he was found faithful, and was recorded on the heavenly tables as the friend of Elohim (cf. James 2:23).
  6. Genesis 25:11 After the death of Abraham, Elohim blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.
    1. Genesis 16:1-16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a maidservant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, “See now, [Elohim](LXX) has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my maidservant. It may be that I may obtain children from her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her maidservant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was belittled in her eyes. 5 Sarai said to Abram, “[My violence is upon you].(MTT) I gave my maidservant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was belittled in her eyes. May [Elohim](LXX) judge between me and you.” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maidservant is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face. 7 The angel of [Elohim](LXX) found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. 8 And [the angel of YHWH](LXX) said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maidservant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of YHWH said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” 10 The angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be counted for multitude.” 11 Then the angel of [Elohim](LXX) said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because [Elohim](LXX) has heard your affliction. 12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.” 13 She called [his name, the one](mss) who spoke to her, “You are El Roi,” for she said, “Here I have seen the one who sees me” 14 Therefore the well was called Be’er Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
    2. Genesis 24:62-66 Isaac came from the way of Be’er Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the Negev. 63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming. 64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel. 65 She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my lord.” She took her veil, and covered herself. 66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
  7. Genesis 25:12 And these are the birthings of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations (cf. Genesis 17:20).
    1. Genesis 16:9-12 The angel of YHWH said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” 10 The angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be counted for multitude.” 11 Then the angel of [Elohim](LXX) said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because [Elohim](LXX) has heard your affliction. 12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will [dwell before the face of](LXX) all his brothers.”
    2. Genesis 17:1-27 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, [Elohim](LXX) appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk before me and be perfect. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Abram fell on his face. Elohim talked with him, saying, 4 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be an Elohim to you and to your seed after you. 8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their Elohim.” 9 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall guard, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin [on the eighth day],(LXX) that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.” 15 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” 18 Abraham said to [the Elohim],(MTT) “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 Elohim said [to Abraham],(LXX) “Truly, [behold],(LXX) Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant [and](LXX) for his seed after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this appointed time next year.” 22 When he finished talking with him, Elohim went up from Abraham. 23 Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as Elohim had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. 27 All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
  8. Genesis 25:17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He [dwelled in the face of all his brothers].(LXX) (cf. Genesis 16:12).
    1. Some translations say “he died” in Genesis 25:18 because the Hebrew word נָפַל naphal (H5307), which is the singular form of nephillim (cf. Genesis 6:4), means “to fall”. However, the Septuagint translation shows us the meaning of “fall” here is not related to death or a physical falling.
  9. Genesis 25:19 And these are the birthings of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham brought forth Isaac.
  10. Genesis 25:20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 21 Isaac interceded to the LORD(LXX)(mss) for his wife, because she was barren. [And his Elohim listened],(LXX) and Rebekah his wife conceived.
    1. Genesis 24:62-66 Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. 63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming. 64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel. 65 She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my lord.” She took her veil, and covered herself. 66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
    2. Genesis 24:67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
  11. Genesis 25:22-23 The sons struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She walked to seek [Elohim].(LXX) 23 [He](LXX) said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.”
  12. Genesis 25:24-26 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
    1. 20 years of barrenness for Rebekah since Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah (cf. Genesis 25:20)
  13. Genesis 25:27-34 The boys grew. Esau was a knowing hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a perfect man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his wild game. Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau devalued his birthright.

Prophets Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. 2 Samuel 5 – Chapter Summary
    1. Verses 1-5: David Anointed King Over Israel
    2. Verses 6-10: David Captures Jerusalem
    3. Verses 11-12: Hiram’s Alliance and David’s Palace
    4. Verses 13-16: David’s Growing Family
    5. Verses 17-25: Defeat of the Philistines
  2. Related scriptures:
    1. “And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, so that his heart does not turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself” (Deut. 17:17).
    2. “The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained” (Exo. 14:28).
    3. “They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order, and they were burned with fire” (1 Chr. 14:12).
    4. “Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven” (1 Sam. 13:5).
    5. “And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Sam. 5:24 KJV).

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

  1. The Epistle to the Hebrews is called “a word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22).
    1. “But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation (#3874), for I have written to you briefly” (Heb. 13:22).
      1. G3874. paraklésis – “comfort, encouragement, exhortation, consolation”.
        1. The author’s intent is to provide paraklesis for a community of Jewish Believers being tested by persecution and by the political and religious turmoil in Israel. He seeks to strengthen their wavering faith by affirming the centrality of Yeshua, and establishing His deity and divine authority. 
  2. The hope is that the community would follow Yeshua faithfully and not fall away. 
    1. “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away (#3895), to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt” (Heb. 6:4-6).
      1. G3895. parapiptó – “to fall away, to deviate, to turn aside”. 
        1. Usage: from 3844 /pará, “from close-beside” and 4098 /píptō, “to fall”) – properly, fall away, after being close-beside; to defect (abandon).
  3. While we often think of apostasy as falling into immoral behavior or abandoning our faith in God, it can also be understood as a “following” away. 

KEY PREMISE: Faith is following.

  1. Follow (def.): “to accompany (especially as a disciple), move in the same direction as; follow after, pursue, move behind in the same direction”; also, “obey (a rule or law), conform to, act in accordance with; apply oneself to (a practice, trade, or calling); to “serve, go with as an attendant; to accept as leader or guide, obey or be subservient to”.
  2. “Following” involves several things:
    1. #1 – Someone or something to follow.
    2. #2 – A choice to align our path (i.e. our will) with that someone or something.
    3. #3 – Trust or confidence to follow that someone or something.
  3. Following is an act of submission – i.e. sub (“under”) + mission 
    1. Whether a person acknowledges it or not, the choice to follow someone or something is a choice to submit to that person or thing.
    2. A person who chooses not to follow someone or something is often considered a leader and not a follower.
      1. A life of autonomy, independence and self-determination appeals to us precisely because following involves submission. 
      2. We view it as the choice for freedom.

KEY POINT:

One of the oldest and deepest lies man has ever believed is that he can live a life that doesn’t involve following.

  1. Scripture teaches us that because of indwelling sin, every human being is born a follower.
    1. “Yeshua answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin’” (John 8:34).
    2. “Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16).
  2. Thus, to be human is to follow after sin. 
    1. #1 – Someone or something to follow – the Flesh.
    2. #2 – The choice of our will – yielded in obedience to sin.
    3. #3 – Confidence to follow – blind trust in oneself to ensure the outcomes we desire.

KEY POINT:

At its root, sin can be defined is following anyone or anything other than God.

  1. With this definition in mind, let’s consider our ancestors – both the Exodus generation and the community to whom Hebrews was addressed.
    1. By keeping the Passover, the people chose to follow YHWH out of Egypt. However, the fullness of salvation for the exodus generation was not physical but spiritual deliverance.
      1. This required submission of the will (i.e. circumcision of the heart) and obedience to His commandments (i.e. physical circumcision).
        1. “So, circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer” (Deut. 10:16).
        2. “So, you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them; I am YHWH” (Lev. 18:5).
    2. A true follower of YHWH listens to His Voice (i.e. Spirit) and keeps His commandments.
      1. “Today you have declared the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice” (Deut. 26:17).
    3. All but two in the exodus generation failed to follow YHWH as He commanded them.
      1. “None of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; for they did not follow Me fully, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun; for they have followed the Lord fully” (Num. 32:11-12).
  2. The epistle to the Hebrews reinforces the Torah’s message of what it means to truly follow YHWH with the additional revelation that Yeshua the Messiah is the “Someone” who must be the center and focus.
    1. “Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, ‘Today,’ saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”” (Heb. 4:1-2, 6, 7).
    2. “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:11-12).
    3. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful…For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins… However, we are not those who withdraw into destruction, but those who follow faith to the preservation of the soul..” (Heb. 10:23,26,39).
  3. The epistle to the Hebrews was an exhortation to the community to continue following the Lord despite the cost.
    1. This required them to overcome sin, which at its root is failing to follow Yeshua. 
      1. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles (#2139) us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).
        1. G2139. euperistatos – “easily surrounding, encircling, easily distracted”.
          1. Usage: a serious hindrance that “encircles” (hampers) someone who desperately needs to advance — i.e. a competitor thwarting a racer in every direction.
  4. The sin that entangled them was the temptation to fall (e.g. follow) away through fear, idolatry, obstinance or apathy.
    1. “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (Heb. 12:4).
      1. This verse refers to sin as something other than vice or immorality.
    2. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled” (Heb. 12:15).
      1. This verse is a reference to Deuteronomy 10 where the context is apostasy through idolatry and an obstinate (i.e. uncircumcised heart).
        1. “There will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to follow after and serve the gods of those nations; that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood. It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry’. The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven” (Deut. 29:18-20).
    3. “That there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears“ (Heb. 12:16-17).
      1. In this example, the people are warned not to sin by following after the flesh and its seduction unto temporal pleasure and reward.

KEY POINT:

Even as Believers, we can fall away from Yeshua through the many entanglements of sin – all of which are rooted in the pride of self-will and autonomy from God’s authority in our lives.

  1. But, Cord Community, we are convinced of better things concerning us, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way (Heb. 6:9).
  2. If faith is following, what does it mean to have faith?
    1. #1 – We have Someone to follow – Yeshua, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2).
      1. Discipleship means following His Words as revealed in scripture through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
    2. #2 – We submit our will and the desires of our flesh to His mission and kingdom (i.e. rule and authority).
    3. #3 – We hold fast to our confidence regardless of our circumstances or the temporal results of our obedience and sacrifice.

Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; Hebrews 10:23

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?”
    5. How do we know who or what we are actually following?
    6. Are there areas of your life where the Lord is testing your obedience to follow after Him?
    7. Do you have a testimony in these areas that might encourage someone in the community?
Additional Study Notes