Study Notes Week 28

Torah Study Notes for Week 28 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) 28:1-22
  • Prophets (P): Micah 1:1; Micah 5:1-15; Hosea 12:12-14
  • Apostolic (A): John 1:43-51
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 27:19 – 28:10
Bereshiyt (Genesis) 28:1-22

28:1 Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. 3 May El Shaddai bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of peoples, 4 and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your seed with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which Elohim gave to Abraham.” 5 Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;” 7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn't please Isaac, his father. 9 So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.10 Jacob went out from Be'ersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took from of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the land, and its top reached to the heavens. Behold, the angels of Elohim were ascending and descending on it. 13 [And Elohim](mss) stood above it, and said, “[I am](LXX)(mss) the Elohim of Abraham your father, and the Elohim of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your seed. 14 Your seed will be as the dust of the land, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed, all the families of the land will be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.” 16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely [Elohim](mss) is in this place, and I didn't know it.” 17 He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than the house of Elohim, and this is the gate of the heavens.” 18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If Elohim will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and [He](mss) will be my Elohim, 22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be the house of Elohim. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”

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

Review

  1. Genesis 26:34-35 When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife oman Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a bitterness of spirit to Isaac and Rebekah.
    1. Jubilees 25:1-23 And in the second year of this week in this jubilee, [2109 A.M.] Rebecca called Jacob her son, and spake unto him, saying: “My son, do not take thee a woman of the daughters of Canaan, as Esau, thy brother, who took him two wives of the daughters of Canaan, and they have embittered my soul with all their unclean deeds: for all their deeds are fornication and coveting, and there is no righteousness with them, for (their deeds) are evil. 2. And I, my son, love thee exceedingly, and my heart and my affection bless thee every hour of the day and watch of the night. 3. And now, my son, hearken to my voice, and do the will of thy mother, and do not take thee a woman of the daughters of this land, but only of the house of my father, and of my father’s kindred. Thou wilt take thee a woman of the house of my father, and the Most High Elohim will bless thee, and thy children will be a righteous generation and a holy seed.” 4. And then spake Jacob to Rebecca, his mother, and said unto her: “Behold, mother, I am nine weeks of years old, and I neither know nor have I touched any woman, nor have I betrothed myself to any, nor even think of taking me a woman of the daughters of Canaan. 5. For I remember, mother, the words of Abraham, our father, for he commanded me not to take a woman of the daughters of Canaan, but to take me a woman from the seed of my father’s house and from my kindred. 6. I have heard before that daughters have been born to Laban, thy brother, and I have set my heart on them to take a woman from amongst them. 7. And for this reason I have guarded myself in my spirit against sinning or being corrupted in all my ways throughout all the days of my life; for with regard to coveting and fornication, Abraham, my father, gave me many commands. 8. And, despite all that he hath commanded me, these two and twenty years my brother hath striven with me, and spoken frequently to me and said: ‘My brother, take to wife a sister of my two wives’; but I refuse to do as he hath done. 9. I swear before thee, mother, that all the days of my life I will not take me a woman from the daughters of the seed of Canaan, and I will not act wickedly as my brother hath done. 10. Fear not, mother; be assured that I will do thy will and walk in uprightness, and not corrupt my ways for ever.” 11. And thereupon she lifted up her face to the heavens and extended the fingers of her hands, and opened her mouth and blessed the Most High Elohim, who had created the heavens and the land, and she gave Him thanks and praise. 12. And she said: “Blessed be the Lord Elohim, and may His holy name be blessed for ever and ever, who hath given me Jacob as a pure son and a holy seed; for He is Thine, and Thine will his seed be continually and throughout all the generations for evermore. 13. Bless him, O Lord, and place in my mouth the blessing of righteousness, that I may bless him.” 14. And at that hour, when the spirit of righteousness descended into her mouth, she placed both her hands on the head of Jacob, and said: 15. “Blessed art thou, Lord of righteousness and Elohim of the ages; And may He bless thee beyond all the generations of men. May He give thee, my son, the path of righteousness, And reveal righteousness to thy seed. 16. And may He make thy sons many during thy life, And may they arise according to the number of the new moons of the year. And may their sons become many and great beyond the stars of the heavens, And their numbers be more than the sand of the sea. 17. And may He give them this goodly land–as He said He would give it to Abraham and to his seed after him always — And may they hold it as a possession for ever. 18. And may I see (born) unto thee, my son, blessed children during my life, And a blessed and holy seed may all thy seed be. 19. And as thou hast refreshed thy mother’s spirit during †my† life, The womb of her that bare thee blesseth thee, [My affection] and my breasts bless thee And my mouth and my tongue praise thee greatly. 20. Increase and spread over the land, And may thy seed be perfect in the joy of the heavens and land for ever; And may thy seed rejoice, And on the great day of peace may it have peace. 21. And may thy name and thy seed endure to all the ages, And may the Most High Elohim be their Elohim, And may the Elohim of righteousness dwell with them, And by them may His sanctuary be built unto all the ages. 22. Blessed be he that blesseth thee, And all flesh that curseth thee falsely may it be cursed.” 23. And she kissed him, and said to him “May the Lord of the world love thee As the heart of thy mother and her affection rejoice in thee and bless thee.” And she ceased from blessing.
  2. Genesis 27:41-46 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 The words of Esau, her elder son, were made known to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, hear in my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran. 44 Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away— 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?” 46 Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?”
    1. Jubilees 27:1-8 And the words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebecca in a dream, and Rebecca sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 2. “Behold Esau thy brother will take vengeance on thee so as to kill thee. 3. Now, therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise and flee thou to Laban, my brother, to Haran, and tarry with him a few days until thy brother’s anger turneth away, and he remove his anger from thee, and forget all that thou hast done; then I will send and fetch thee from thence.” 4. And Jacob said: “I am not afraid; if he wisheth to kill me, I will kill him.” 5. But she said unto him: “Let me not be bereft of both my sons on one day.” 6. And Jacob said to Rebecca his mother: “Behold, thou knowest that my father hath become old, and doth not see because his eyes are dull, and if I leave him it will be evil in his eyes, because I leave him and go away from you, and my father will be angry, and will curse me. I will not go; when he sendeth me, then only will I go.” 7. And Rebecca said to Jacob: “I will go in and speak to him, and he will send thee away.” 8. And Rebecca went in and said to Isaac: “I loathe my life because of the two daughters of Heth, whom Esau hath taken him as wives; and if Jacob take a wife from among the daughters of the land such as these, for what purpose do I further live; for the daughters of Canaan are evil.”
Genesis 28:1-22
  1. Genesis 28:1 Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan…”
    1. THE COMMAND:
      1. Genesis 28:2 “…Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother…”
        1. Paddan Aram = “Field of Aram”
        2. Genesis 10:22 The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
      2. Jubilees 27:9-10 And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and admonished him and said unto him: 10. “Do not take thee a wife of any of the daughters of Canaan; arise and go to Mesopotamia, to the house of Bethuel, thy mother’s father, and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban, thy mother’s brother.
    2. THE BLESSING:
      1. Genesis 28:3-4 “…May El Shaddai bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of people, 4 and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your seed with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which Elohim gave to Abraham.”
        1. Often translated as “God Almighty,” אֵל שַׁדַּי El Shaddai (H410 +  H7706) literally means “Mighty Breasted One” where שַׁדַּי shaddai is derived from שָׁדַיִם shadayim (H7699 & H7700) which means “breasts” (cf. Genesis 49:25) and figuratively represents “abundant provision,” thus El Shaddai can be translated as “God of abundant provision.” The Old Akkadian word for breast was shadwi. The hypothetical derivation of Hebrew shaddai from Akkadian shaddu’a “mountaineer” or shaddu “mountain” is based on phonetic association rather than philology. The Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translated shaddai as “all powerful”.
      2. Jubilees 27:11 And El Shaddai bless thee and increase and multiply thee that thou mayest become a company of nations, and give thee the blessings of my father Abraham, to thee and to thy seed after thee, that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings and all the land which Elohim gave to Abraham: go, my son, in peace.”
      3. לִקְהַל עַמִּים leqahal amim (H6951 + H5971) assembly of people = συναγωγὰς ἐθνῶν synagōgē ethnos (G4864 + G1484) = gathering of nations
        1. This particular wording points to a “gathering” of an assembly as opposed to the assembly itself.
        2. The blessing of Isaac to Jacob is also a prophecy of the nations gathering at the Synagogue which was to come and fulfilled in the first century.
          1. Matthew 16:13-20 Now when Yeshua came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 They said, “Some say Yochanan the Immerser, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Elohim.” 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. 18 I also tell you that you are Kepha and on this rock I will build my assembly (ἐκκλησία ekklesia G1577), and the gates of Sheol will not prevail against it. 19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Yeshua the Messiah.
        3. The Synagogue had to become the gathering place of the nations at some point for the blessing of Isaac to become true
          1. Acts 13:42-45 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles (ἔθνος ethnos G1484) begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of Elohim. 44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together (συνήχθη synagō G4863) to hear the word of Elohim. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
          2. Acts 18:1-4 After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. 2 He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by ethnicity, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers. 4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
  2. Genesis 28:5 Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.
    1. Jubilees 27:12-18 And Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Mesopotamia, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebecca, Jacob’s mother. 13. And it came to pass after Jacob had arisen to go to Mesopotamia that the spirit of Rebecca was grieved after her son, and she wept. 14. And Isaac said to Rebecca: “My sister, weep not on account of Jacob, my son; for he goeth in peace, and in peace will he return. 15. The Most High Elohim will preserve him from all evil, and will be with him; for He will not forsake him all his days; 16. For I know that his ways will be prospered in all things wherever he goeth, until he return in peace to us, and we see him in peace. 17. Fear not on his account my sister, for he is on the upright path and he is a perfect man: and he is faithful and will not perish. Weep not.” 18. And Isaac comforted Rebecca on account of her son Jacob, and blessed him.
  3. Genesis 28:6-9 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;” 7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father. 9 So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
  4. Genesis 28:10-19 Jacob went out from Be’ersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took from of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the land, and its top reached to the heavens. Behold, the angels of Elohim were ascending and descending on it. 13 [And Elohim](mss) stood above it, and said, “[I am](LXX)(mss) the Elohim of Abraham your father, and the Elohim of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your seed. 14 Your seed will be as the dust of the land, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed, all the families of the land will be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.” 16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely [Elohim](mss) is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” 17 He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than the house of Elohim, and this is the gate of the heavens.” 18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
    1. Genesis 22:14-18 Abraham called the name of that place, [Elohim](DSS) Yireh. As it is said to this day, “On a mountain [Elohim](DSS) appeared.” 15 The angel of [Elohim](mss) called to Abraham a second time out of the heavens, 16 and said, I have sworn by myself,’ says YHWH, ‘because you have done this word, and have not withheld your son, your [beloved](LXX) one, [from me](LXX) 17 I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. 18 All the nations of the land will be blessed by your seed, because you have obeyed my voice.’ ”
      1. I will bless you greatly
        1. Genesis 12:1 [Elohim](LXX) [had](LXX) said to Abram, “…I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing…”
      2. I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore.
        1. Only “stars” was mentioned in Genesis 15:5
        2. Genesis 22:17 still has “stars”, but ADDS the sand of the seashore.
        3. This means that Abraham’s faithfulness and obedience, his faith with works, caused an entirely new number of people multiplied in the blessing of Abraham (see #4 below)
      3. All the nations of the land will be blessed by your seed (Yeshua)
        1. In Genesis 12:3, we are told that “[Elohim](LXX) [had](LXX) said to Abram when he was in Mesopotamia before he went to Haran (cf. Acts 7:2-3), “I will make of you a great nation…All the families of the land will be blessed through you.”
          1. Families = mishpachah
        2. Because of Abraham’s faithfulness and obedience to sacrifice his beloved, only son, Isaac, ALL THE NATIONS OF THE LAND will now be blessed by Yeshua (cf. Galatians 3:16)
          1. Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds”, as of many, but as of one, “To your seed”, which is Messiah.
          2. Nations = Goyim
  5. Genesis 28:20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying…
    1. נֶדֶר neder (H5088) means “to vow” and is when one promises to perform an act if another performs a certain act (cf. Genesis 28:20-22; Numbers 21:2-3; Judges 11:30)
    2. Numbers 30:1-16 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the word which YHWH has commanded. 2 When a man vows a vow to YHWH, or swears a swearing to [tie up a bond](MTT) upon his soul, he will not profane his word. He will do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 3 Also, when a woman vows a vow to YHWH and she will [tie up a bond](MTT) in her father’s house, in her youth, 4 and her father hears her vow and her bond, which she [tied up upon her soul],(MTT) and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows will stand, and every bond with which she [tied up upon her soul];(MTT) [he will establish it].(DSS) 5 But if her father forbids her in the day that he hears, none of her vows or of her bonds, which she [tied up upon her soul],(MTT) will stand. YHWH will forgive her, because her father has forbidden her. 6 If she has a husband, while her vows are on her, or the rash utterance of her lips with which she has [tied up upon her soul],(MTT) 7 and her husband hears it, and says nothing to her in the day that he hears it; then her vows will stand, and her bonds, which she [tied up upon her soul](MTT) will stand. 8 But if her husband [forbid her sign](MTT) in the day that he hears it, then he makes void [all](DSS) her [vows and her bonds](DSS) which are on her and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has [tied up upon her soul].(MTT) YHWH will forgive her. 9 But the vow of a widow, or of her who is divorced, everything with which she has [tied up upon her soul],(MTT) will stand against her. 10 If she vowed in her husband’s house or [tied up upon her soul],(MTT) by a bond with an oath, 11 and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her and didn’t disallow her, then all her vows will stand, and every bond, which she [tied up upon her soul],(MTT) will stand. 12 But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, will not stand. Her husband has made them void. YHWH will forgive her. 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. 14 But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her bonds which are on her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her in the day that he heard them. 15 But if he makes them null and void after he has heard them, then he will bear her iniquity.” 16 These are the statutes which YHWH commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father’s house.
  6. Genesis 28:20-22 “…If Elohim will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and [He](mss) will be my Elohim, 22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be the house of Elohim. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. Today our Apostolic portion is in the first chapter of the Gospel of John and details the following:
    1. The narrative on the choosing of Philip and Nathaniel as Yeshua’s disciples.
      1. Who were they as men?
      2. What expectations did they have of the Messiah?
    2. Yeshua’s reference to Genesis 28 and Jacob’s dream at Bethel. 
      1. What can we learn from this passage about Yeshua, His ministry and how we can apply these truths in our lives?
  2. The Gospel of John is unique among the synoptic gospels in how it reveals Yeshua.
    1. In the first chapter alone, we learn that Yeshua is:
      1. The Word of Elohim (vs. 1).
      2. The Lamb of Elohim (vs. 29).
      3. The Son of Elohim (vs. 34).
      4. The Messiah of Elohim (vs. 41).
      5. The King of Israel (vs. 49).
      6. The Son of Man (vs. 51).
  3. Our ultimate goal in studying God’s Word is to know Him.
    1. “[T]hat their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Messiah Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments” (Col. 2:2-4).
    2. “More than that, I consider all things to be loss in comparison to the surpassing value of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things; and I consider them garbage in order that I might gain Messiah” (Phil. 3:8).

KEY POINT:

Discipleship is the pursuit of knowing Yeshua/Jesus.

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

  1. Let’s look briefly at John 1 and explore who the disciples were and how they came to follow Yeshua.
    1. Scripture speaks of two specific disciples of John the Baptist – one is Andrew and the other is anonymous (vs. 35).
    2. John records that after Yeshua’s baptism in the Jordan, Andrew tells his brother Peter that “we have found the Messiah” (vs. 41) and then brings Peter to meet Yeshua.
      1. Matthew’s gospel describes it slightly differently in Matthew 4:18-22 where Andrew and Peter are fishing together at the lake of Galilee and Yeshua calls them both to follow him. 
      2. These versions are easily reconciled since John records Yeshua going to Galilee immediately after meeting Andrew and Peter (vs. 43).
    3. In Galilee, Yeshua meets Philip who is from the same hometown as Peter and Andrew (vs. 44). Philip then finds Nathaniel and introduces him to Yeshua (vs. 45-50).
  2. The narrative in John is unique in that it describes the events which led to four of Yeshua’s disciples being chosen.
    1. A key question is: “How did they know that Yeshua was the Messiah and that they should follow Him?” 
      1. We often assume that these men were knowledgeable about all the prophecies from the Tanakh that reveal Messiah.
        1. “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Yeshua the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!’” (John 1:45).
      2. However, these men were fisherman, and scripture makes it clear that they were “uneducated and untrained men” (Acts 4:13).
  3. I believe that Andrew is a key individual in terms of understanding how the other disciples knew to follow Yeshua.
    1. As a disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew knew that he was not only a prophet, but the first prophet to Israel in 400 years.
    2. Andrew had already heard his master answer three important questions to the religious authorities. 
      1. “Are you the Messiah?” (John 1:20).
      2. “Are you Elijah?” (vs. 21).
        1. “The prophet Elijah’s miraculous ascent into heaven on a fiery divine chariot (2 Kgs 2:11) fueled the belief that he would return as a forerunner of the Messiah” (Faithlife Study Bible).
        2. “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5).
      3. “Are you the Prophet?” (vs. 22).
        1. “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him” (Deut. 18:15, 18-19).

KEY POINT:

Although Peter, Philip, Nathaniel and the other disciples responded with faith to Yeshua’s calling, it is likely that Andrew’s ministry to John the Baptist laid the foundation for their commitment to follow the mysterious Rabbi from Nazareth.

  1. Our portion describes how Nathaniel comes to follow the Lord and records a surprising comment from this disciple-to-be.
    1. “Nathanael said to [Philip], ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?’” (John 1:46).
      1. Before we look at how we should understand Nathaniel’s comment, it’s interesting to consider that in Matthew’s Gospel, there is a very different reference to the town of Nazareth.
      2. “[Joseph] came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene'” (Mat. 2:23). 
      3. Matthew records this statement almost as a direct quote from scripture, but what exactly is the reference?
        1. Isaiah 11:1-5 A rod will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of YHWH will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YHWH. 3 His delight will be in the fear of YHWH. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.
        2. Specifically, verse 11:1 is where the prophecy is because the word branch is נצר netser and where the word Natsarene comes from as multiple prophecies attest that “He shall be called a Natsarene” or Branch. (Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 60:2)
        3. Zechariah 3:6-8 The angel of YHWH solemnly assured Joshua, saying, 7 “YHWH of Armies says: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by. 8 Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign; for, behold, I will bring out my servant, the Branch.
          1. Tsemach צֶמַח (H5780) = “to sprout” and refers to the springing forth of a plant, bud, or branch.
        4. Jubilees 16:16-27 And we returned in the seventh new moon, and found Sarah with child before us] and we blessed him, and we announced to him all the things which had been decreed concerning him, that he should not die till he should beget six sons more (cf. Genesis 25:1-6), and should see (them) before he died; but (that) in Isaac should his name and seed be called: 17. And (that) all the seed of his sons should be Nations, and be reckoned with the Nations; but from the sons of Isaac one should become a holy seed, and should not be reckoned among the Nations. 18. For he should become the portion of the Most High, and all his seed had fallen into the possession of Elohim, that it should be unto the Lord a people for (His) possession above all nations and that it should become a reign and priests and a holy nation. 19. And we went our way, and we announced to Sarah all that we had told him, and they both rejoiced with exceeding great joy…26. And he blessed his Creator who had created him in his generation, for He had created him according to His good pleasure; for He knew and perceived that from him would arise the plant (צֶמַח) of righteousness for the eternal generations, and from him a holy seed, so that it should become like Him who had made all things. 27. And he blessed and rejoiced, and he called the name of this festival the festival of the Lord, a joy acceptable to the Most High Elohim.
    2. So, who is Nathaniel and how do we reconcile what seems like a dig against Nazareth with the fact that the Messiah calls him a “true Israelite in whom there is no deceit (#1388)” (John 1:47)?
      1. G1388. dolos — “deceit, guile, treachery”.
        1. Usage: 1388 /dólos (“deceit motivated by guile”) uses decoys to snare (deceive) people which implies treachery to exploit the naive (undiscerning) – baiting them through (with) their own greed.
  2. Yeshua describes Nathaniel as a “true Israelite” (i.e. Jew).
    1. Perhaps the Lord means that he was without pretense or fear of man and was circumcised in his heart and not just his flesh.
      1. “For he is not a Jew (i.e. Israelite) who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Rom. 2:28-29).
  3. Nathaniel seems to have been a person who is “real” — e.g. honest and transparent — which would imply that his comment about Nazareth was sincere and not sarcastic, genuine and not derogatory.
    1. Maybe you’re also one of those people who gets misjudged for being blunt and honest and often misses some of the softening of language that social customs impose on us.
      1. From the article, “13 (Surprising) Truths About Blunt Personality You Need to Know”:
        1. Bluntness is often misunderstood.
        2. Honesty doesn’t always mean meanness.
        3. Blunt people value directness.
        4. Sugarcoating is seen as unnecessary.
        5. Bluntness often comes from care.
    2. Nathaniel validates Yeshua’s assessment of his character by exclaiming without reservation: “Rabbi, you are the Son of Elohim! You are King of Israel!”
      1. Aren’t these words what all of us would want recorded in scripture as coming from our lips when we first met Yeshua?
      2. This also proves that there was no deep prejudice in his heart about people from Nazareth.
  4. To finish out our study, let’s now explore verse 51 and Yeshua’s statement regarding what we commonly call, “Jacob’s Ladder”.
    1. “Yeshua answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” He said to him, ‘Amen, amen, I tell you hereafter, you will see the heavens opened, and the angels of Elohim ascending and descending on the Son of Man’” (John 1:51).
    2. After studying this out, here is what I believe is the best literal translation of the Greek:
      1. “Truly, truly I say to both/all of you – from hereafter, both/all of you will see the heaven standing opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”.
        1. Key points: 
          1. The “you” is plural, the article (“ho”) is included before “heaven”, and “opened” is the Perfect Participle (i.e. made and continuing action).

KEY POINT:

Yeshua is telling the disciples that something profound had begun and would continue regarding Himself and His ministry.

  1. Before we can understand what Yeshua means, we need to look more closely at the type and shadow found in the Torah.
    1. In Jacob’s dream, the Torah describes a path or passage for angelic beings from heaven to the earthly realm.
      1. “[Jacob] dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the land, and its top reached to the heavens. Behold, the angels of Elohim were ascending and descending on it. And Elohim stood above it, and said, ‘I am the Elohim of Abraham your father, and the Elohim of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your seed’… He was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome this place is! This is none other than Elohim’s house, and this is the gate of the heavens”” (Gen. 28:12-13,17).
    2. The following are two aspects that I want to focus on:
      1. #1 – The parallel between this description and the tower of Babel.
      2. #2 – The phrase, “the gate of the heavens”.
  2. In the Hebrew, Genesis 28:12 is almost identical to Genesis 11:4:
    1. “They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven” (Gen. 11:4a).
H7218 [e]

wə·rō·šōw

וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ

“and its top”

 H5060 [e]

mag·gî·a‘

מַגִּ֣יעַ

“reached”

 H8064 [e]

haš·šā·mā·yə·māh;

הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה

“to heaven”
H7218 [e]

wə·rō·šōw

וְרֹאשׁ֣וֹ

“and the top [is]”

 H8064 [e]

ḇaš·šā·ma·yim,

בַשָּׁמַ֔יִם

“in the heavens”

 H4026 [e]

ū·miḡ·dāl

וּמִגְדָּל֙

“and a tower”
  1. As we learned in Week 11, the goal in the building of the Tower of Babel was to reach the angelic realm and create access for the sons of Elohim to interact with humanity.
    1. Fallen man believe that the angelic realm offered them all the power, protection and provision that they had received on the earth before the flood.
  2. In his dream, Jacob is shown the true and righteous place of access between heaven and earth, and is promised by YHWH that through covenant, he would receive all the blessings promised to his father and grandfather.
  3. When Jacob refers to the “gate of the heavens”, he is using his natural understanding to describe a spiritual reality.
    1. Gates were much more significant in ancient times.
    2. Unlike modern cities which are unwalled and designed to allow open access from any direction, ancient cities were completely secure and built to prevent access apart from a guarded gate.
      1. Think of Denver or Colorado Springs in the early 1800s.
        1. There was a single road into town, and everyone came in same “gate”.
          1. All the action was there, all the potential customers, all the threats to safety.
          2. By design, if the gates were closed, you could not get in or get out to access provision or protection.
  4. Throughout scripture, gates are metaphors for points of access to what exists in the natural and spiritual realms, both good and evil. 
    1. “Have the gates of death been revealed to you, and have you seen the gates of deep darkness?” (Job 38:17).
    2. “Open the gates of righteousness to me; I will enter through them; I will give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter through it” (Psa. 118:19-20).
    3. “And her gates will lament and mourn, and she will sit deserted on the ground” (Isa. 3:26).
    4. “Your gates will be open continually; they will not be closed day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession” (Isa. 60:11).
    5. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Mat. 16:18).
    6. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed… Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the city by the gates” (Rev. 21:25; 22:14)

KEY POINT:

The Torah reveals the type and shadow of a gate or access point to the heavenly realm through which angelic beings can descend and ascend to earth to minister to humanity. 

  1. Remember that as disciples of Yeshua, our focus should be on knowing Him, not exploring the angelic realm.
    1. “Therefore, do not let anyone pass judgment on you in matters of food or drink, or in respect to a festival or new moon or Shabbat. These are a foreshadowing of things to come, but the reality is Messiah. Let no one disqualify you by insisting on false humility and worship of angels—going into detail about what he has seen, puffed up without cause by his fleshly mind” (Col. 2:16-18).
  2. In scripture, the opening of heaven releases YHWH’s power in the form of material and spiritual blessings. 
    1. “YHWH will open for you His good storehouse—the heavens—to give rain for your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow” (Deut. 28:12).
    2. “And it shall come to pass: whoever flees from the sound of panic will fall in the pit, and whoever climbs up out of the pit will be caught in the trap. For the windows of heaven are opened and the foundations of the earth shake” (Isa. 24:18).
    3. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. Then there will be food in My House. Now test Me in this’—says YHWH of Hosts—’if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out blessing for you, until no one is without enough” (Mal. 3:10).
  3. The Tower of Babel affirmed that the heavenly realm was not accessible to the sons of Adam, yet the desire for the heavens to be “opened” remained in the heart of mankind.
    1. “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!” (Pro. 30:4).
  4. In fulfillment of the type and shadow in Jacob’s dream, Yeshua’s declares Himself to be the first and only son of man (e.g. Adam) to have access to both earth and heaven.
    1.  “Yeshua answered and said to [Nicodmeus], ‘Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man who is in heaven’” (John 3:10-13).

KEY PREMISE:

As the Son of Man and Son of God, Yeshua is the means of access – i.e. the gate, staircase, and ladder — from heaven to the earthly realm. In Him and through Him, YHWH provides for the material and spiritual needs of humanity.

  1. Let’s look at one example of how this profound mystery manifested in Yeshua’s ministry.
    1. You’ll recall that Yeshua promised to both Phillip and Nathaniel that they themselves would see angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man (John 1:51).
      1. In John 6, Yeshua and His disciples are ministering in Galilee.
        1. Vs. 2 — A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.
          1. Yeshua had been bringing resources from heaven in the form of physical healing, and the people wanted more.
      2. The other Gospel accounts record the same statement from the disciples: “And when it grew late, his disciples came to [Yeshua] and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat” (Mar. 6:35; ref. Mat. 14:15; Luk. 9:12).

KEY POINT:

When we only use our physical senses, this world seems desolate and barren of provision from heaven. Naturally, we are drawn to look for a solution from our own strength and resources.

  1. Vs. 5 — Therefore Yeshua, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.
    1. Yeshua knows the people need material provision from heaven in the form of food.
    2. He asks Philip as a test of faith in the promise He had made to him at the start of His ministry.
  2. Vs. 7-9 — Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
    1. It’s interesting that Andrew and his childlike faith is at the center of this miracle.
  3. Vs. 10-11 — Yeshua said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Yeshua then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise, also of the fish as much as they wanted.
    1. The other gospel accounts have a text similar to the following: “he looked up to heaven and said a blessing” (Mar. 6:41; ref. Mat. 14:19; Luk. 9:16).
      1. “To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He is gracious to us” (Psa. 123:1-2).
    2. Can’t you just see the angelic beings serving bread and fish to the Son of Man up and down the staircase to heaven? 
  4. Vs. 14 — Therefore, when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
  1. John then describes the miracle of Yeshua walking across the sea of Galilee.
    1. Were the angelic beings carrying him? Or perhaps supporting Him from underneath?
      1. Regardless, the Son of Man had provision from heaven for what He needed – a way to cross a lake without a boat!
  1. To close our study on this portion, we need to look at what Yeshua teaches us about the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
    1. Remember, our mission as disciples is the pursuit of knowing Yeshua, not just marveling at what He did.
    2. Vs. 26 – Yeshua answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
      1. The people have affirmed that Yeshua is the Prophet spoken of by Moses but their faith in Him is still weak.
    3. Vs. 30  — So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREA.D. OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’ “
      1. It’s not clear if these critics were not aware of the miracle of the loaves and fishes or if they needed yet another sign in order to believe.
    4. Vs. 32-35,49-51 Yeshua then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst…Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

KEY POINT:

Like all of His miracles, the feeding of the five thousand were performed to confirm that Yeshua Himself is YHWH’s provision from heaven for mankind. He Himself is the gate and stairway where we can access an open heaven of provision and blessing.

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. If Yeshua has truly opened the heavens and provided you with access, what does this mean for your life?
    6. What conditions, actions, and/or covenant expectations does the Father place on those who would access the open heavens?
    7. What are some of the ways these concepts have been misunderstood and misapplied? 
Additional Study Notes