Study Notes Week 31

Torah Study Notes for Week 31 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) 31:1-55
  • Prophets (P): Jeremiah 30:10-16
  • Apostolic (A): Ya’aqov (James) 4:1-12
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 29:1-12
Bereshiyt (Genesis) 31:1-55

31:1 Jacob heard Laban's sons' words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father's. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father's.” 2 Jacob saw the expression on Laban's face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3 [Elohim](mss) said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” 4 Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see the expression on your father's face, that it is not toward me as before; but the Elohim of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all of my strength. 7 Your father has deceived me, and [changed my wages for the ten lambs],(LXX) but Elohim didn't allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,' then all the flock bore streaked. 9 Thus Elohim has taken away your father's livestock, and given them to me. 10 During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 11 The angel of [the Elohim](MTT) said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,' and I said, ‘Here I am.' 12 He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban does to you. 13 I am the Elohim of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.' ” 14 Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? 15 Aren't we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money. 16 For all the riches which Elohim has taken away from our father are ours and our sons. Now then, whatever Elohim has said to you, do.” 17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels, 18 and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan. 19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's. 20 Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, in that he didn't tell him that he was running away. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead. 22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days' journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead. 24 Elohim came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad.” 25 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead. 26 Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; 28 and didn't allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now have you done foolishly. 29 It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the Elohim of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad.' 30 Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father's house, but why have you stolen my elohim?” 31 Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.' 32 Anyone you find your elohim with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 Laban went into Jacob's tent, into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two maids; but he didn't find them. He went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn't find them. 35 She said to her father, “Don't let my lord be angry that I can't rise up before you; for for the way of women is on me.” He searched, but didn't find the teraphim. 36 Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 Now that you have felt around in all my belongings, what have you found of all your household belongings? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two. 38 “These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven't eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 That which was torn of animals, I didn't bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you [falsely rated my wages for ten lambs].(LXX) 42 Unless the Elohim of my father, the Elohim of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. Elohim has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.” 43 Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the sons are my sons, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their sons whom they have borne? 44 Now come, let's cut a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.” [And he said to him, "Look, there is no one with us; see, Elohim is witness between me and you."](LXX) 45 Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Gal'ed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Gal'ed 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “[Elohim](LXX) watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, Elohim is witness between me and you.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you. 52 May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The Elohim of Abraham, and the Elohim of Nahor, [the Elohim of their father,](mss)(LXX) judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac. 54 Jacob offered a slaughter in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain. 55 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.

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

Review

  1. Genesis 30:25-28 When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have served you.” 27 Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that [Elohim](mss) has blessed me for your sake.” 28 He said, “Appoint me your wages, and I will give it.”
    1. Genesis 29:26-29 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill the week of this one, and [I](LXX) will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.” 28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. 29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
    2. Genesis 26:26-28 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We saw plainly that [Elohim](LXX) was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between us and you, and let’s cut a covenant with you
    3. “Appoint me your wages, and I will give it.” נָקְבָה שְׂכָרְךָ עָלַי וְאֶתֵּנָה naqevah sekharkha ‘alai we’eynah literally means, “pierce through your wage upon me and I will give” where the word נָקְבָה naqevah (H5344) means to make a hole by piercing (cf. Numbers 1:17; 2 Kings 12:9). It also means to curse or blaspheme in the sense of piercing through the name or character of someone (cf. Leviticus 24:11).
  2. Genesis 30:29-31 Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me. 30 For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. [Elohim](mss) has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?” 31 Laban said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it.
  3. Genesis 30:32-43 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire. 33 So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be considered stolen.” 34 Laban said, “Behold, let it be according to your word.” 35 That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 He set three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks. 37 Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 38 He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink. 39 The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks produced streaked, speckled, and spotted. 40 Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in Laban’s flock. He put his own droves apart, and didn’t put them into Laban’s flock. 41 Whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, Jacob laid the rods in front of the eyes of the flock in the watering troughs, that they might conceive among the rods; 42 but when the flock were feeble, he didn’t put them in. So the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, maids and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Genesis 31:1-55

  1. Genesis 31:1-2 Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.” 2 Jacob saw the expression on Laban’s face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
  2. Genesis 31:3 [Elohim](mss) said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
    1. Genesis 28:11-16 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.”
  3. Genesis 31:4-13 Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the Elohim of my father has been with me (cf. Genesis 28:15). 6 You know that I have served your father with all of my strength. 7 Your father has deceived me, and [changed my wages for the ten lambs],(LXX) but Elohim didn’t allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked. 9 Thus Elohim has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me. 10 During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 11 The angel of [the Elohim](MTT) said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban does to you. 13 I am the Elohim of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me (cf. Genesis 28:18-22). Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’ ”
    1. Genesis 28:16-22 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.”
      1. Peace = שָׁלוֹם shalom (H7965) which means “to be complete” in the sense of being made whole by adding or subtracting. Can is most often translated to completeness, soundness, welfare, or peace. “Is he shalom?” in Genesis 29:6
        1. שְׁלָמִים shelamim (H8002) means to be in a state of wholeness or to restore or make right through payment or restitution. When referring to a sacrifice (also called a “peace offering”), שְׁלָמִים shelamim is a sacrifice or offering given to bring about wholeness, restoration, restitution, or peace. שְׁלָמִים shelamim is translated as “offerings of restitution” in Jeff Benner’s Mechanical Translation of the Torah and “sacrifice of deliverance” in Charles Vanderpool’s Apostolic Bible Polyglot where the Greek Old Testament translates שְׁלָמִים shelamim as σωτηρίου sotiríou (G4992).
  4. Genesis 31:14-16 Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money. 16 For all the riches which Elohim has taken away from our father are ours and our sons. Now then, whatever Elohim has said to you, do.”
  5. Genesis 31:17-18 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels, 18 and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.
  6. Genesis 31:19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s.
    1. תְּרָפִים teraphim (H8655) is a household idol of a god, possibly believed to have a healing power. According to Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Teraphim were made from the heads of slaughtered first born male adult humans, shaved, salted, spiced, with a golden plate placed under the tongue, and magic words engraved upon the plate; it was believed that the Teraphim, mounted on the wall, would talk to people.
    2. Genesis 31:34-35 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them. 35 She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.
  7. Genesis 31:20 Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead. 22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead. 24 Elohim came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
    1. Good = טוֹב tov (H2896) means “functional” and can be literally translated as “to contain the house.” טוֹב tov is represented as something that functions properly (cf. Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:18). טוֹב tov is equivalent to the Greek word καλός kalos (G2570) and means good, excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends; beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy. “A dysfunctional family is a family that doesn’t function as expected, and is characterized by conflict, instability, and a lack of routine.”
    2. Bad = רָעַע ra’a (H7489 or H7451) which means “dysfunctional” in the sense of something not working properly or as intended; evil, wicked, or grievous.
  8. Genesis 31:25-30 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead. 26 Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; 28 and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now have you done foolishly. 29 It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the Elohim of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’ 30 Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my elohim?”
  9. Genesis 31:31-35 Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’ 32 Anyone you find your elohim with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two maids; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them. 35 She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for the way of women is on me.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.
    1. Leviticus 15:19-27 If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she will be in her impurity seven days. Whoever touches her will be unclean until the evening. 20 Everything that she lies on in her impurity will be unclean. Everything also that she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23 If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he will be unclean until the evening. 24 If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he will be unclean seven days; and every bed he lies on will be unclean. 25 If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her seperation, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her seperation, all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness will be as in the days of her seperation. She is unclean. 26 Every bed she lies on all the days of her discharge will be to her as the bed of her seperation. Everything she sits on will be unclean, as the uncleanness of her seperation. 27 Whoever touches these things will be unclean, and will wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
    2. Genesis 35:1-4 Elohim said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to Elohim, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” 2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the strange elohim that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3 Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to Elohim, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.” 4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign elohim which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
  10. Genesis 31:36-42 Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 Now that you have felt around in all my belongings, what have you found of all your household belongings? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two. 38 “These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you [falsely rated my wages for ten lambs].(LXX) 42 Unless the Elohim of my father, the Elohim of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. Elohim has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night. (cf. Genesis 31:12)”
    1. Genesis 15:13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your seed will live as sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.
  11. Genesis 31:43-53 Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the sons are my sons, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their sons whom they have borne? 44 Now come, let’s cut a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.” [And he said to him, “Look, there is no one with us; see, Elohim is witness between me and you.”](LXX) 45 Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Gal'ed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Gal’ed 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “[Elohim](LXX) watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, Elohim is witness between me and you.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you. 52 May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The Elohim of Abraham, and the Elohim of Nahor, [the Elohim of their father,](mss)(LXX) judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac.
  12. Genesis 31:54 Jacob offered a slaughter in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain. 55 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

After the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are followed by the life and letters of Sha’ul, who was also (not changed) called Paulos or Paul, many people automatically think the Book of Acts then the Letter to the Romans were the first and earliest published Apostolic Writings (erroneously called the New Testament). This is far from the truth. In fact, as we’re told in James 1:1, “James,” a servant of Elohim and of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, wrote his letter to the twelve tribes which were in the Diaspora around 45 to 48 A.D. Distribution of the letter to the twelve tribes in the diaspora likely began around 50 A.D.

The book of “James”?

The book of James was not named after King James I. While the 1611 King James Version of the Bible is named after King James I of England, the Book of James was not named after him, as it was already known by that name since the 13th century.

So how did the Jewish name Ya’akov become so Gentilized as James? Since the 13th century, the form of the Latin name Iacomus began its use in English. In the 14th century, John Wycliffe made the first Bible translation into English and translated Iakobus as James. (However, in both the Old and New Testaments he arbitrarily used the name Jacob for the patriarch). In all future English translations the name stuck, especially after 1611, when King James I sponsored the translation then called the Authorized Version. Since 1797 it has been called the King James Bible. – James or Jacob in the Bible? Giving Jacob his due by Mark Wilson

We must respectfully restore James to Jacob (or even Ya’aqov if you’re up to it) because, in my (Corey’s) opinion, it’s just the right thing to do.

Who was Jacob? The “brother” debate

It is debatable amongst scholars to whether Jacob was the actual biological brother of Yeshua as mentioned in or Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3.

Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary and teach that Jacob (James), along with others named in the “New Testament” as brothers of Yeshua, were not the biological children of Miriam, mother of Yeshua, but were cousins of Yeshua, or step-brothers from a previous marriage of Joseph (as related in the non-canonical Gospel of James). Others consider Jacob to be the biological son of Mary and Joseph.

What do the Scriptures say?

  • Matthew 13:53-57 When Yeshua had finished these parables, he departed from there. 54 Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Miriam, and his brothers Jacob, Yosi, Simon, and Judah? 56 Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?” 57 They were offended by him.
  • Mark 6:2-3 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Miriam and brother of Jacob, Yosi, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended at him.
  • Galatians 1:11-18 But I (Sha’ul) make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. 12 For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Yeshua the Messiah…when it was the good pleasure of Elohim, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might proclaim him among the Nations, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were emissaries before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Kepha (Peter), and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But of the other emissaries I saw no one except Jacob, the Lord’s brother. (cf. Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3)
  • Jude 1:1 Judah, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Jacob (cf. Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), to those who are called, sanctified by Elohim the Father, and kept for Yeshua the Messiah

I do believe that both Jacob and Judah were the biological brothers of Yeshua, obviously half-brothers since they had a different father than Yeshua, but it is either incredibly confusing, or incredibly reverent, that neither Jacob nor Judah said they were brothers of Yeshua in their letters. I believe this was out of reverence and humility:

  • 1 Corinthians 1:28-31 Elohim chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, 29 that no flesh should boast before Elohim. 30 Because of him, you are in Messiah Yeshua, who was made to us wisdom from Elohim, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in YHWH.” (cf. Jeremiah 9:24)
  • Ephesians 2:8-10 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Elohim, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which Elohim prepared before that we would walk in them.
  • John 7:1-5 After these things, Yeshua was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Judeans sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish festival, the Feast of Sukkot, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
    • Who were Yeshua’s brothers? Jacob, Yosi, Simon, and Judah (cf. cf. Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). It could be that Jacob and Judah weren’t Believers saved by grace due to being biological brothers of Yeshua, since they didn’t initially believe Yeshua was the Messiah. They were saved because they came to believe in Yeshua just as everyone else did, so they could not use their pedigree to boast.
      • 1 Timothy 1:4 Do not “pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than stewardship of Elohim, which is in faith.”
      • Titus 3:3-11 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of Elohim our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the mikveh of rebirth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Yeshua the Messiah our Savior; 7 that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist confidently, so that those who have believed Elohim may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; 9 but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a one is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.

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

Ya’aqov (James) 4:1-12

  1. Ya’aqov 4:1-10 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members? 2 You covet, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. 3 You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward Elohim? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit [which he made to dwell](mss) in us yearns with zeal”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “Elohim resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (cf. Proverbs 3:34) 7 Be subject therefore to Elohim. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to Elohim, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of YHWH, and he will exalt you.
  2. Ya’aqov 4:11 Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother [or](mss) judges his brother, speaks against the Torah and judges the Torah. But if you judge the Torah, you are not a doer of the Torah, but a judge.
    1. What does it mean to “speak against one another?”
      1. Exodus 20:16-17 You will not give false witness against your neighbor. 17 You will not covet your neighbor’s house. You will not covet your neighbor’s house. You will not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
      2. Deuteronomy 5:20-21 “Do not give false witness against your neighbor. 21 “Do not covet your neighbor’s wife. Do not [covet](DSS) your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his maid, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.
        1. witness = עֵד ed (H5707) literally means “to repeat” in the sense that a witness is a person who recounts an event to another person. עֵד ed is equivalent to μάρτυς martys (G3144) simply means to be a witness who can provide a testimony as evidence of something they have seen (cf. Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6-7; Deuteronomy 19:15). A false witness (pseudomartyreō G5576) is a crime punishable by death (cf. Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Deuteronomy 19:16-21)
      3. Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
      4. Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.
      5. Matthew 18:16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
      6. 2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
      7. 1 Timothy 5:19 Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.
      8. Hebrews 10:28 A man who disregards the law of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
    2. Leviticus 19:1-37 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘You will be holy; for I, YHWH your Elohim, am holy…15 You will do no injustice in judgment. Do not lift up the face of the helpless and do not give honor to the face of the great one; but you will judge your fellow in righteousness. 16 Do not go around as a talebearer among your people. Do not stand upon the blood of your neighbor. I am YHWH [your Elohim].(LXX) 17 Do not hate your brother in your heart. You will surely rebuke your fellow and not lift up sin upon him. 18 [Your hand](LXX) will not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people; but you will love your neighbor as yourself. I am YHWH. 19 You will guard my statutes…32 You will rise up before the gray-head and honor the face of the bearded and you will fear your Elohim. I am YHWH [your Elohim].(LXX) 33 If a stranger sojourns with you in your land, do not oppress him. 34 The sojourner who sojourns with you will be to you as the native among you, and you will love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am YHWH your Elohim. 35 You will do no injustice in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity. 36 You will have righteous balances, righteous stones, a righteous ephah, and a righteous hin. I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 You will guard all my statutes and all my judgments, and do them. I am YHWH [your Elohim].’ ”(LXX)
      1. Do not stand upon the blood of your neighbor =  לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל דַּם רֵעֶךָ lo ta’amod ‘al dam re’ekha
        1. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Thou shalt not hinder the acquittal of thy neighbour in witnessing against him in the judgment
        2. Jerusalem Targum Do not be silent about thy neighbour’s blood, what time in the judgment thou knowest the truth
        3. Complete Jewish Bible Don’t stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake
      2. Talebearer = רָכִיל rakhil (H7400) comes from the root word רכל rakal (H7402) which means to trade or be a merchant. Thus, a talebearer (also translated slander) is portrayed as a traveler selling stories and songs.
    3. Remember, Jacob was the brother of Yeshua and one of His disciples. He knew Yeshua’s teachings:
      1. “…You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war…” (James 4:2)
      2. Matthew 5:21-26 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘Do not murder’ (cf. Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) and ‘whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Reka!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘Naval!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehinnom. 23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
        1. Reka is an Aramaic insult, related to the Hebrew word רֵק rek (H7386) which means empty of contents. As an insult it means vain, worthless, or good-for-nothing.
        2. נָבָל naval (H5036) means foolish, senseless
  3. Ya’aqov 4:12 Only one is the lawgiver [and judge],(mss) who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge [your neighbor]?(mss)
    1. The lawgiver = הָמְחֹקֵק hamechuqeq which can be translated as lawgiver, but is better defined as a person with authority “with the ruler’s staff” (i.e. a governor as in Judges 5:9,14) since the requirements, commandments, statutes, and Torah instructions are already firmly established by YHWH (cf. Genesis 18:19, Genesis 26:5; Deuteronomy 6:1-2; Psalm 19:7-9; Psalm 119:152; Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:17-18) and not to be added to or taken away from (cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19).
      1. הָמְחֹקֵק hamechuqeq is from חָקַק chuqaq (H2710) which means to inscribe or appoint a law, statute, decree, custom, etc. which is to be obeyed and followed. Thus the ruler or governor has the “ruler’s staff” (cf. Genesis 49:10)
    2. Genesis 49:8-10 (Law of First Use) “Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes. The obedience of the peoples will be to him.
      1. Ruler’s staff, lawgiver, the one who rules. Means the Messiah must come through the tribe of Judah (cf. Genesis 40:10; Isaiah 11:10; Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:2-3; Luke 3:33-34; Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5
    3. Numbers 21:16-18 From there they traveled to Be’er; that is the well of which YHWH said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, well! Sing to it, 18 the well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people dug, with the lawgiver, and with their staffs.” From the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah
      1. This is the actual picture of הָמְחֹקֵק hamechuqeq, the lawgiver and the staffs (shepherds) of this lawgiver.
      2. In Numbers 21:18, staffs = מַשְׁעֵנָה masenah (H4938) which comes from a root word which means to lean on the shepherd’s staff for support. The staff carried by a shepherd had multiple purposes. One was to lean on the staff for support while walking, much like a cane (cf. Exodus 21:19; Hebrews 11:21). Another use of the staff of the shepherd was to discipline his sheep.
        1. Proverbs 13:24 One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
        2. Rod = שֵׁבֶט shebet (H7626) which is an actual branch which was used as a staff, scepter (cf. Genesis 49:10), spear, writing implement, or measuring rod. שֵׁבֶט shebet used to refer to the “tribes” of Israel (cf. Genesis 49:16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes (שֵׁבֶט shebet) of Israel because tribes are “branches” of a family tree.
        3. Discipline = מוּסָר musar (H4148) which means “to rule as a ruler” and literally translates to “turn the head,” because one who rules turns the people in his direction. When referring to discipline or correction, מוּסָר musar means to turn the head of a child or student into the correct direction.
        4. “Spare the rod, spoil the child” is often attributed to Proverbs 13:24, however, the exact wording “Spare the rod, spoil the child” is not in the Bible but found in the 17th-century satirical poem Hudibras by Samuel Butler during the English Civil War.
    4. Jeremiah 23:5-6 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: YHWH our righteousness.
    5. Deuteronomy 33:20-21 30:1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of Elohim blessed the sons of Israel before his death…20 About Gad he said, “He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm and the crown of the head. 21 He saw the beginning for himself, given that there the parcel of the inscriber is boarded up, and he arrived with the heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of YHWH, His judgments with Israel.”
      1. Shlomo Yitzchaki was a French rabbi who authored comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud and Hebrew Bible. He is commonly known by the Rabbinic acronym Rashi. His 11th-century commentary explained the meaning of Deuteronomy 33:20-21 as: BECAUSE THERE WAS THE PORTION — i.e., because he knew that there in his territory was the portion of the field where was the grave of the מחקק, THE LAWGIVER, viz., Moses, HIDDEN — i.e. that field was hidden and concealed from every creature, as it is said (Deuteronomy 34:6) “And no man knows his burial place” (Sifrei Devarim 355:6).
    6. Isaiah 33:20-22 Look at Zion, the city of our appointed festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tent that won’t be removed. Its stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. 21 But there YHWH will be with us in majesty, a place of wide rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will go, neither will any gallant ship pass by there. 22 [For my Elohim is great].(LXX) YHWH is our lawgiver. YHWH is our king. He will save us.
      1. YHWH is the ultimate ruler, governor, the King of King of Kings.

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

Week 31 CY3: Study notes – Von

Torah (T)

  1. 1. 31:1-4,5-7:
  2. 1. YHWH showed up as Jacob perceived the impending danger.
  3. 2. YHWH kept His end of the promise made to Jacob that He would grant him a safe return for his devotion and allegiance ( 28:20-22[read]).
  4. a.  [ABEn] 31:24 [3came 1And   2God] to Laban the Syrian during sleep in the night, and he said to him, Guard! lest at any time you should speak [2against 3Jacob 1evil].   
  5. 3. Laban was warned by the Most High not to so much as speak evil of Jacob.   
  6. 2. 31:8-13:
  7. 1. Laban also perceived that his foul behavior toward his nephew brought YHWH’s judgment.
  8. a. [Targum] And there came an angel with a word from before the Lord; and he drew the sword against Laban the deceitful in a dream of the night, and said to him, Beware lest thou speak with Jakob from good to evil.
  9. 2. Laban transgressed the commands of YHWH in multiple ways. 
  10. a. Idol worship
  11. i. 31:19 & 30, 34 – 19 – Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s….30Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my elohim?”34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim.
  12. ii. The Targum gives further context. 1) Laban was unable to know of Jacobs plan without his oracle. 2) The well ran dry.
  13. 1. And Laban had gone to shear his flock; and Rahel stole the images.[ For they had slain a man, a firstborn, and had cut off his head; they salted it with salt and balsams, and wrote incantations on a plate of gold, and put it under his tongue, and set it up in the wall, and it Spake with them; and unto such their father bowed himself.] And Jakob stole the knowledge of Laban the Aramite, in that he did not show him when he went…What hast thou done? Thou hast stolen my knowledge, and led away my daughters like captives of the sword. Why didst thou hide from me that thou wouldst go, and steal my knowledge, and not tell me?…(but) why hast thou stolen the images of my idols? This makes sense why Laban accused Jacob with stealing his idol. It was missing, and he was unable to receive revelation from it which appears it would have revealed Jacobs plan to escape.
  14. 2. But after Jakob had gone, the shepherds went to the well, but found no water; and they waited three days, if that it might (again) overflow; but it overflowed not ; and then came they to Laban on the third day, and he knew that Jakob had fled; because through his righteousness it had flowed twenty years [the entire time Jacob worked for Laban, 1.19.9 AOTJ].
  15. b. Withholding wages 10x.
  16. i. 19:13 – ‘Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of him who is hired is not to remain with you all night until morning (TS2009).
  17. Prov 3:28 – Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do him good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth (Brenton).
  18. c. Kidnapping. 
  19. Exo 21:16 – “And he who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall certainly be put to death.
  20. Deu 24:7 – “When a man is found kidnapping any of his brothers of the children of Yisra’el, and treats him harshly or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die. Thus you shall purge the evil from your midst.        
  21. d. Rachael and Leah were mistreated as well ( 31:16-18).
  22. i. “Can there now be yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house; are we not considered by him as foreigners. For he hath sold us, and eating he hath eaten our money. Therefore, all the wealth that the Lord hath taken from our father is ours and our children’s” (Targum).
  23. Gen. 31:43-44:
  24. 1. Laban is changing his tune toward Jacob. I believe he originally pursued Jacob intending to due him harm. The visit from the Most High’s messenger impacted Laban’s decision (ref 2.1 above). He used the pretense of needing his house deity as the reason for intervening on Jacob’s journey. He knew very well that his motives had been exposed. Yet to save face, because Laban was a very prideful man, he sought to cut a covenant with Jacob. He wanted to save face with Jacob’s return, and the report of his behavior to his sister which would not have been well received. Issac, and the well-respected Abrahams’ displeasure of the mistreatment of Jacob would have resulted in very stern rebuke by them and their Elohim.
  25. Gen. 31:45-47 – Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap. 
  26. a. This is an interesting description of building and alter? I never gave alter construction much thought. But it says he took “a” stone and “set it up” for a pillar. That is an odd way to describe building an alter otherwise thought to be constructed of many stones. This seems to depict a “cap” stone of sorts, with the chosen stone a the pinnacle.
  27. i. Stone – líthos; apparently a primary word; a stone (literally or figuratively):—(mill-, stumbling-)stone. 
  28. ii. eben; from the root of H1129 through the meaning to build; a stone:— carbuncle, mason, plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). 

iii. bânâh; a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively):—(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), × surely.

  1. b. also see verses 28:18-22[H68] – H1530 – gal gâlal, gaw-lal’; a primitive root; to roll (literally or figuratively):—commit, remove, roll (away, down, together), run down, seek occasion, trust, wallow. 
  2. also see verses Zec 4:7-14 – Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and He shall bring forth the headstone (H68 H7222) thereof with shouting’s, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
  3. i. This is associated with idol worship as of an image [H4676] ( 23:24; 34:13; Lev. 26:1; Deut. 7:5; Jer. 43:13). This is an offensive abomination to Elohai. Could this point to 1) The patriarchs were paying homage to the coming Messiah each time they built an altar in this manner. One could argue this was indeed shown to them during their conversionary experience with YHWH. 2) The other usage of the word indicates YHWH’s instructions to the Israelites to destroy the nations idols, matstsêbâh (H4676). 

Jacob was essentially elevating YWHW before Laban, who bowed down to teraphim, to now bow before the true creator of all things? Showing dominance of the Most High’s superiority over all elohim (Mic. 5:13).                

  1. Mic 5:13 – Thy graven images (H6456) also will I cut off, (H3772) and thy standing images (H4676) out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship (H7812) the work of thine hands.

Key notes: 

  1. According to Jubilee’s 29:4-5, the timeframe of his departure puts Jacob leaving with three years remaining before the Year of Jovel, the year of release.
  2. Rachel had just conceived Joseph during the departure (Jub. 29:1).

Apostolic (A)

  1. Jam. 4:1 – “Where do wars and fighting’s among you come from?”…”pleasures (G2237) that war in your members (Rom. 7:23-25)?”
  2. hēdonḗ, hay-don-ay’; from ἁνδάνω handánō (to please); sensual delight; by implication, desire:—lust, pleasure.   
  3. Luk 8:14 –  And the one [2into 3the 4thorn-bushes 1falling]; these are the ones having heard, and by anxieties and riches and pleasures   of existence going along are choked, and do not bring to perfection. 

b. Tit 3:3 – For we were at some time or other also ourselves unthinking, resisting persuasion, erring, being a slave to desires and [2satisfactions 1various], [2in 3evil 4and 5envy 1leading], odious, detesting one another.