Study Notes Week 43

Torah Study Notes for Week 43 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) 43:1-34
  • Prophets (P): Jeremiah 42:7-17; Jeremiah 43:8-13
  • Apostolic (A): 1 Timothy 6:1-21
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 42:21-25; Jubilees 43:1-10
Bereshiyt (Genesis) 43:1-34

43:1 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.” 3 Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you'll send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy you food; 5 but if you don't send him, we won't go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.' ” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?” 7 They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down?' ” 8 Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we'll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones. 9 I'll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don't bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever; 10 for if we hadn't delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.” 11 Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds; 12 and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, get up, and return to the man. 14 May El Shaddai give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” 15 The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and prepare; for the men will dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to the house of Joseph. 18 The men were afraid, because they were brought to the house of Joseph; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we're brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” 19 They came near to the steward of the house of Joseph, and they spoke to him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food. 21 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hand. 22 We have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don't know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He said, “Peace be to you. Don't be afraid. Your Elohim, and the Elohim of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” He brought Shimon out to them. 24 The man brought the men into the house of Joseph, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder. 25 They prepared the gift for the coming of Joseph at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to him with their [face](LXX) to the ground. 27 Then he asked them of their peace, and said, "How is the peace of your father, the bearded man which you said, is he yet living?" 28 They said, peace to your servant, our father, he is yet living. [Then he said, "Blessed be that man by Elohim."](LXX)(SP) and he bowed the head and bent himself down. 29 He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “Elohim be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph hurried, for his bowels yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there. 31 He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, “Set the bread in place.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don't eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled with one another. 34 He sent portions to them from before him, but the portion of Benjamin was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and became drunk with him.

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

Review

  1. Genesis 42:7 Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”
  2. Genesis 42:8-9 Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him. 9 Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
    1. Spy = (H7270) means “to trample” in the sense of traveling to a foreign land and trampling and walking on foot through a foreign land in order to inspect it.
      1. Numbers 21:32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer. They took its villages, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
      2. Deuteronomy 1:24 They turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the valley of Eshcol, and spied out [the land].(DSS)
      3. Joshua 2:1 Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, including Jericho.” They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there.
      4. Joshua 6:22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman and all that she has out from there, as you swore to her.”
      5. Psalms 15:3 A Psalm by David. YHWH, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart; 3 he who doesn’t slander (trample) with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man.
  3. Genesis 42:17-20 He put them all together into custody for three days. 18 Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this, and live, for I fear [the Elohim].(MTT) 19 If you are [peaceable](LXX) men, then let one of your brothers be bound in your prison; but you go [and](LXX) carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 Bring your youngest brother to me; so will your words be verified, and you won’t die.” They did so.
  4. Genesis 42:21-22 They said to one another, “We are certainly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us, and we wouldn’t listen. Therefore this distress has come upon us.” 22 Reuben answered them, saying, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘Don’t sin against the child,’ and you wouldn’t listen? Therefore also, behold, his blood is required.”
  5. Genesis 42:23-24 They didn’t know that Joseph understood them; for there was an translator between them. 24 He turned himself away from them, and wept. Then he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Shimon from among them, and bound him before their eyes.
  6. Genesis 42:26-28 They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed from there. 27 As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that Elohim has done to us?”
  7. Genesis 42:29-34 They came to Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us [in custody](LXX) for spies of the country. 31 We said to him, ‘We are [peaceable](LXX) men. We are no spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are [peaceable](LXX) men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take [grain](LXX) for the famine of your houses, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are [peaceable](LXX) men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ”
  8. Genesis 42:35-36 As they emptied their sacks, behold, the bundle of each man bundle of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 Jacob, their father, said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Shimon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. All these things are against me.”
  9. Genesis 42:37 Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him to you again.”
  10. Genesis 42:38 He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”
    1. שְׁאוֹל sheol (H7585) is the place of the dead and often translated as grave, hell, pit, or underworld. שְׁאוֹל sheol is from the word שְׁאַל sha’al (H7592) meaning to ask, enquire, or seek something that is not known (cf. Genesis 24:47; Exodus 13:14; Deuteronomy 13:14). Sheol is sometimes written in the feminine form as שְׁאֹלָה sheolah (cf. Genesis 37:35). שְׁאוֹל sheol is equivalent to άδου Hades (G86) in Greek from G1 + G1492 literally meaning “not see” referring to the unseen realm in which all the dead reside.
    2. When a person dies, their soul goes down to Sheol (cf. Psalms 16:10), their spirit returns to Elohim (cf. Ecclesiastes 12:7), and their body decays (cf. Psalms 16:10) and their flesh returns to dust (cf. Genesis 3:19).
    3. In the Bible, Sheol is understood as the realm of the dead where all souls, both righteous and wicked, go after death (cf. 1 Samuel 28:9-15). It is not a place of reward or punishment but rather a neutral dwelling of the departed. According to the Bible, Sheol is a gated place (cf. Isaiah 38:10) guarded by Abaddon (Apollyon in Greek) the angel of the abyss (cf. Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11; Proverbs 27:20; Revelation 9:11). Sheol is a very far distance under the land and beyond the depth of the sea (cf. Deuteronomy 30:13; Romans 10:7) with separate chambers or rooms (cf. Proverbs 7:27).

Genesis 43:1-34

  1. Genesis 43:1-5 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.” 3 Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food; 5 but if you don’t send him, we won’t go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ ”
  2. Genesis 43:6-7 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?” 7 They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down?’ ”
  3. Genesis 43:8-10 Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones. 9 I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever; 10 for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”
    1. Genesis 42:37 Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him to you again.” 38 He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”
  4. Genesis 43:11-14 Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds; 12 and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, get up, and return to the man. 14 May El Shaddai give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
    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. Mercy חֶסֶד chesed (H2617) refers to the acts of kindness taken to help another. חֶסֶד chesed is equivalent to the Greek word ἔλεος eleos (G1656) which is kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.
  5. Genesis 43:15-17 The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and prepare; for the men will dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to the house of Joseph.
  6. Genesis 43:18 The men were afraid, because they were brought to the house of Joseph; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
  7. Genesis 43:19-22 They came near to the steward of the house of Joseph, and they spoke to him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food. 21 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hand. 22 We have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”
  8. Genesis 43:23-25 He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your Elohim, and the Elohim of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” He brought Shimon out to them. 24 The man brought the men into the house of Joseph, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder. 25 They prepared the gift for the coming of Joseph at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
    1. John 13:1-16 Now before the feast of the Passover, Yeshua, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judah Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Yeshua, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from Elohim and was going to Elohim, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Yeshua answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Yeshua answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Yeshua said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew him who would betray him; therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” 12 So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me, ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. 16 Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him.
  9. Genesis 43:26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to him with their [face](LXX) to the ground.
    1. Genesis 37:2-4 These are the birthings of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought [their](MTT) evil slander to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a tunic [of many colors].(LXX) 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn’t speak peaceably to him.
    2. Genesis 37:5-8 Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed rule over us?” They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words.
    3. Genesis 37:9-11 He dreamed yet another dream, and told it [to his father and](LXX) to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.” 10 He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to the land before you?” 11 His brothers envied him, but his father guarded the word.
      1. Though commonly translated as “jealous”, קַנָּא qana (H7067) means “zeal” referring to a single-minded person insistent on reaching the desired outcome; one who is protective over someone or something. קַנָּא qana is equivalent to the Greek word ζῆλος zēlos (G2205) which means excitement of mind, ardour, fervour of spirit; ardour in embracing, pursuing, or defending anything. Alternate translation: envious (when written in the piel [active intensive] form). A root of קַנָּא qana is קַן qan (H7064) and means “nest”—”The parent bird will guard over and protect the nest and eggs from predators. Man can guard over the family, wife, and possessions in a positive way (protect from an enemy) or a negative way (by not trusting or a desire to have another’s possessions).” – Jeff Benner
  10. Genesis 43:27-28 Then he asked them of their peace, and said, “How is the peace of your father, the bearded man which you said, is he yet living?”  28 They said, peace to your servant, our father, he is yet living. [Then he said, “Blessed be that man by Elohim.”](LXX)(SP) and he bowed the head and bent himself down.
  11. Genesis 43:29-31 He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “Elohim be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph hurried, for his bowels yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there. 31 He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, “Set the bread in place.”
    1. Bowels = מֵעֶה me’eh (H4578) and literally means “unknown eye” or “mighty eye” where the Hebrew letter מ mem was represented for thousands of years as water in the sense of being something unknown, chaotic, and mighty. When referring to literal bowels, מֵעֶה me’eh is the gut, internal organs, intestines, belly, organs of procreation, or womb (cf. Genesis 15:4; Genesis 25:23; Numbers 5:22; Ruth 1:11). Metaphorically, מֵעֶה me’eh refers to “inward parts” as the seat of the unconscious (or unknown) mind and emotion (cf. Psalms 22:14; Psalms 40:8; Song of Songs 5:4; Jeremiah 4:19). מֵעֶה me’eh is equivalent to the Greek word κοιλία koilia (G2836) which literally refers to the whole belly including the upper and lower belly; the gullet (esophagus) as the tube that food travels down in the body from the mouth to the stomach (cf. Mark 7:19); the womb, the place where the fetus is conceived and nourished until birth (cf. Luke 1:41). Metaphorically, κοιλία koilia refers to the innermost part of a man, the soul, heart as the seat of thought, feeling, or choice.
  12. Genesis 43:32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
    1. Abomination = תוֹעֵבָה to’ebah (H8441) means to hate something that is disgusting where the root of תוֹעֵבָה to’ebah literally means, “to feel intense or passionate dislike for someone or something.”
    2. Eating with Hebrews, Shepherds, and Lambs are each abominations to the Egyptians.
      1. Genesis 43:32 …the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
      2. Genesis 46:31-34 Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father’s house, “I will go up, and speak with Pharaoh, and will tell him, ‘My brothers, and my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’ 33 It will happen, when Pharaoh summons you, and will say, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
      3. Exodus 8:25-27 Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your Elohim in the land!” 26 Moses said, “It isn’t appropriate to do so; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to YHWH our Elohim. Behold, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, won’t they stone us? 27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to YHWH our Elohim, as he shall command us.”
  13. Genesis 43:33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled with one another. 34 He sent portions to them from before him, but the portion of Benjamin was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and became drunk with him.
    1. Firstborn = בְּכוֹר bekor (H1060) means “firstborn” of the womb of a woman or animal (cf. Leviticus 27:26; Deuteronomy 15:19) and בִּכּוּר bikur (H1061) means “firstfruits” of the crop (cf. Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 26:2); both Hebrew words signify the chosen or elected as belonging to YHWH. בִּכּוּר bikur comes from the root word בָּחַר bachar (H977) which means “to choose” in the sense of an examination to select, or elect, the choicest. בָּחַר bachar is equivalent to the Greek word ἐκλεκτός eklektos (G1588) means to be elected, chosen, or selected.

Prophets Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Jeremiah 42:7-17; Jeremiah 43:8-13

42:7 After ten days, the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him, says: 10 ‘If you will still live in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I grieve over the distress that I have brought on you. 11 Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Don’t be afraid of him,’ says YHWH: ‘for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you, and cause you to return to your own land. 13 But if you say, “We will not dwell in this land;” so that you don’t obey YHWH your Elohim’s voice, 14 saying, “No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we will see no war, nor hear the voice of the shofar, nor have hunger of bread; and there we will dwell:” ‘ 15 now therefore hear the word of YHWH, O remnant of Judah: YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, says, ‘If you indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to live there; 16 then it will happen that the sword, which you fear, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, about which you are afraid, will follow close behind you there in Egypt; and you will die there. 17 So will it be with all the men who set their faces to go into Egypt to live there. They will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. None of them will remain or escape from the evil that I will bring on them.’

43:8 Then the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 “Take great stones in your hand, and hide them in mortar in the brick work, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 and tell them, YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 He will come, and will strike the land of Egypt; such as are for death will be put to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword. 12 I will kindle a fire in the houses of the Elohim of Egypt. He will burn them, and carry them away captive. He will array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he will go out from there in peace. 13 He will also break the pillars of Beth Shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and he will burn the houses of the Elohim of Egypt with fire.’ ”

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

Today’s Apostolic portion brings us back to Paul’s first letter to Timothy – one of three epistles directed specifically to teachers (see also 2 Timothy and Titus). 

At the heart of all teaching is the Word of Elohim.

KEY POINT:

The Word of God is the supreme authority and source for all wisdom, laws, and teaching over human behavior.

  1. The Torah records and documents the teachings and instructions of our gracious Heavenly Father for His creation.
    1. “The sum of Your word is truth, and to eternity is every judgment of Your righteousness!” (Psa. 119:160).
  2. Covenant is the means by which God teaches His Word, equips us to obey it and inherit His promises of life and blessing.
    1. “Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you will live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you” (Deut. 4:1).
    2. “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. And the LORD your And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today. The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Covenant, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it” (Deut. 30:6–16).

KEY POINT:

Knowing and obeying His Word is God’s one and only ordained path for blessing in life. 

  1. This is a universal maxim (i.e. truth) for all humanity.
    1. “Then I will teach wrongdoers Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You” (Psa. 51:13).
    2. “He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see? He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, even He who teaches man knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath” (Psa. 94:9-11).
  2. God first implants His Word in His people and then uses them to scatter the seed among the nations. 
    1. “The Lord commanded me [Moses] at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, so that you would perform them in the land where you are going over to take possession of it” (Deut. 4:14).
    2. “The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying…make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses” (Lev. 10:8,10).
    3. “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
  3. The core of the Great Commission is teaching God’s Word – i.e. discipleship.
    1. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mat. 28:19-20).

KEY POINT:

God’s Word is the only solution for the despair and dysfunction in our world today and this must begin by establishing it to its proper place amidst the people of God.

  1. This is the true legacy of Charlie Kirk.
    1. With courage, conviction, and clarity, Charlie took truth from the Word of God into the public square and awakened an entire generation.
    2. He was a teacher and shepherd given to us for a short but impactful season of history.
  2.  This is why elder/overseers/pastors/shepherds must be able to teach the Word of God.
    1. “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2; see also 1 Tim. 3:2; 2 Tim. 2:24).
    2. The authority of God’s Word is the only true authority of a pastor.
      1. Scripture is their rod and staff, not titles, celebrity status or six-figure salaries. 
      2. See Week 36 for a review of our discussion about God’s judgment on shepherds who fail to care for the sheep as He prescribes. https://thecord.life/notes/week36/ 

KEY POINT:

Teachers are shepherds appointed to guide and protect the sheep using God’s Word. 

  1. In our Week 3 study on First Timothy, we focused on teaching in the community and the role it plays in protecting Believers and equipping them for service.
    1. The following are Paul’s key points:
      1. #1. Don’t teach strange doctrines.
      2. #2. Don’t pay attention to myths and endless genealogies.
      3. #3. Don’t turn aside to fruitless discussion that only leads to speculation and not to furthering the administration of Elohim.
      4. #4. Don’t teach the Law to assert your own authority; instead, teach it lawfully according to its intended purpose. 
    2. Remember the goal (telos) of teaching:
      1. “[F]urthering the administration of God which is by faith…[for] the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5). 
        1. “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and to the doctrine which is according to reverence, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions” (1 Tim. 6:3-4).

KEY POINT:

By definition, teaching (scripture) is an authoritative activity with an intended purpose defined by the Chief Administrator, not the teacher himself. The qualities of the teaching and the character of the teachers will establish order or disorder and brings function (Tov) or dysfunction (Rah) to the community of faith.

  1. One aspect of discipleship that Paul addresses in this portion is submission to authority.
    1. “Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. (1 Tim. 6:1-3).
      1. How is the name of God and doctrine (e.g. sound teaching) blasphemed when slaves don’t show honor to their masters?
      2. How is this relevant for us today?
    2. Like Timothy, we are called to “teach and exhort these things”.
  2. The concept of blasphemy cannot be understood apart from the concept of honor.
    1. “You shall not revile (#7403) God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Exo. 22:28).
      1. H7403. qalal – “curse; bring into contempt”.
        1. Lexicon: The root carries the idea of lightness in weight or status, and from that core meaning develops four dominant nuances: 1) something easy or slight, 2) treating a person or thing with contempt, 3) uttering a curse or imprecation, 4) swiftness or rapid motion. These senses overlap in that whatever is “light” may be regarded as trivial, despised, or quickly passed over.
    2. Although the scriptural concept is foreign to us, dishonoring someone in authority is equivalent to pronouncing a curse over them.
      1. Slave with masters (Gen. 16:5).
      2. Children with parents (Exo. 21:17).
      3. Against the deaf (Lev. 19:14).
  3. Because all authority belongs to YHWH, to dishonor or show contempt to any authority is equal to blaspheming the Name (i.e. authority) of God.
    1. “Therefore, the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your [Eli’s] house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me – for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed” (2 Sa. 2:30).
      1. Despise: “look down upon, scorn, disdain, treat with contempt”.
        1. From Latin de– “down” + specere “to look at” (see also, “despicable”.
  4. Interestingly, false teachers are characterized as those “who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. (2 Peter 2:10).
    1. “Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones” (Jude 8).
    2. Because God’s Word is what grants authority to teachers to teach falsely equates to despising God’s Word and His authority behind it.

KEY POINT:

When we show contempt to authority, dishonor those who deserve honor, and lightly esteem ones worthy of our respect, we place ourselves above them and invite the judgment of God.

  1. We live increasingly live in a culture of contempt.
    1. Honor is a foreign concept or at minimum, is completely subjective.
    2. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right (i.e. ascribed weight or importance) in his own eyes” (Jud. 21:25).
      1. Note that the void of godly authority is what leads to a culture of dishonor.
    3. Whether it’s fast fashion, the destruction of life in the womb, relegating our seniors to nursing homes, or simply wearing pajamas out in public, we seem to despise and discard everything of true value. 
      1. “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these” (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
        1. This warning is not primarily about the “End Times” but about the fruit of rejecting the Word of God.

KEY POINT:

Contempt for the good is the fruit of a society that has rejected the One who is good.

  1.  So, how do we make this practical? 
    1. Political zeal doesn’t make us holy, nor does the anger of man produce the righteousness of God (Jam. 1:20).
    2. What truly made Charlie Kirk a monumental figure was not how well he debated, how much he knew about politics, or how “right” he was.
      1. Rather it was his godliness – that undeniable virtue and character that properly represents the Most High God and His Messiah, Jesus Christ.
        1. “Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: Who was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory” (1 Tim. 3:16).
  2. Let’s talk about manners.
    1. Think about how manners have changed in just a couple of generations.
      1. “You shall stand up in the presence of the gray headed and honor elders, and you shall fear your God; I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:32).
        1. Note that respect for elders is respect for God.
  3. For my parents’ generation, manners equated to respect for authority and modifying behavior, particularly in public, in order to maintain order and tranquility.
    1. Books that taught manners were commonplace:
      1. “Courtesy books often took the form of an informal, practical guide written by an older man, based on his personal experience, for a younger man.  Some focused on the arts of worldly success, others on civility and deportment, but underlying them all was the assumption that manners and morals were inseparable and indistinguishable. The conduct book, whose underlying principle was that religion- not fashion, or custom, nor taste- was the basis of both manners and morals. Finally, there were etiquette books which were practical digests of rules and information to avoid vulgar behavior, and unlike the Conduct Books, they were largely indifferent to one’s internal nature and character, moral paradigms or the spiritual domain.  Instead, the focus was on outward visible indicators and display” (Plantzmatter.com).
    2. Manners were always connected to morals with the knowledge that outer behavior should reflect inner character.
      1. Manners without morals is hypocrisy.
      2. Morals without manners is pietism.
  4.  Modern views of manners emphasize feelings over morality.
    1. “Manners are the polite ways of treating others and behaving in social situations, reflecting respect for people’s feelings. Teaching kids good manners means more than telling them to say, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. It’s about showing them how their actions impact others. It tells them to communicate with kindness and empathy” (Wikihow.com).
    2. Note the emphasis on external behavior (“social skills”) with the highest goal being the other person’s feelings, which is a very subjective standard.
    3. This perspective teaches youth that objective standards for respect – i.e. authority, seniority, morality – are to be lightly esteemed (i.e. despised).
    4. At the same time, protecting and defending feelings creates a false image of victimhood.
      1. “I’m hurt, therefore you sinned”.
    5. This leads to a degradation of true manners, and an increase in injustice.
      1. “Pity, when untethered from charity, justice, and the moral law, leads through anger to cruelty. One only has to look at the various conflicts around the world to see the ease with which pity for one’s tribe leads to malice and hatred for another” (The Sin of Empathy). 
  5. As disciples of Yeshua, we need to model manners that flow out of God’s Word, not the culture that rejects it.
    1. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit and against it “there is no law” (Gal. 5:23). 
      1. Show kindness by being considerate, polite, helpful, and thoughtful to everyone – especially when they don’t act that way to you!
    2. Respect is an attitude of reverence, deference, and self-denial that we show to someone in authority.
      1. This would include a parent, a teacher, an elder, a person in law enforcement, an elected representative, etc. 
      2. It flows out of an ultimate respect for the One who has all authority.
        1. “For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor” (Rom. 13:6).
      3. The societal standard that we must respect someone’s feelings, though perhaps well-intentioned, amounts to idolatry and the disrespect of God and His authority.
  6. Above all, we need to place value upon and esteem what God has declared in His Word to be valuable.
    1. Value is not determined by the thing itself but rather by what it is used for (i.e. its purpose). 
      1. Scripture makes clear what God considers valuable – this includes marriage, family, attaining wisdom, serving others, defending the weak and vulnerable, upholding justice and fulfilling the dominion mandate through hard work, enterprise and innovation.
      2. Things like wealth, status, education, and influence are valuable only to the extent that they are used for a purpose that God values.

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. What has been your experience with false teachers and what have you learned?
    6. What does Paul mean when he charges Timothy “to keep the commandment without spot”?
    7. How are manners important to your witness as a Believer?

Additional Notes