Study Notes Week 46

Torah Study Notes for Week 46 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) 46:1-34
  • Prophets (P): Nehemiah 5:1-12
  • Apostolic (A): Matthew 2:1-23
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 45:1-12
Bereshiyt (Genesis) 46:1-34

46:1 Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the Elohim of his father, Isaac. 2 Elohim spoke to Israel in the [vision](LXX) of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.” 3 He said, “I am Elohim, the Elohim of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great nation. 4 I will go down with you into Egypt. I will also surely bring you up again. the hand of Joseph will close your eyes.” 5 Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They took their livestock, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt—Jacob, and all his seed with him, 7 his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and he brought all his seed with him into Egypt. 8 These are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob. 9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Shimon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Qohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and [Hamuel].(LXX)(SP) 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, [Puah],(LXX)(SP) [Yashub],(LXX)(SP)(mss) and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three. 16 The sons of Gad: [Zephon],(LXX) Haggi, [and](LXX)(mss) Shuni, Ezbon, [and](LXX) Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel, the wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, [and Ahiram],(cf. Numbers 26:38) [and Shuppim],(cf. 1 Chronicles 7:12; Numbers 26:39) and Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. 23 The son of Dan: [Shuham].(cf. Numbers 26:42) 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct seed, in addition to the sons of the wives of Jacob, all the souls were sixty-six. 27 The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were [seventy-five].(LXX) 28 Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Joseph prepared his chariot, and went up to meet Israel, his father, in Goshen. He presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” 31 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 feeders of sheep, 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 feeder of sheep is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Bereshiyt (Genesis) 47:1-31

47:1 Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” 2 From among his brothers he took five men, and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are feeders of sheep, both we, and our fathers.” 4 They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.” 7 Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” 9 Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil. They have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” 10 Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the face of Pharaoh. 11 Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all of his father's household with bread, according to the sizes of their families. 13 There was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. 14 Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your face? For our money fails.” 16 Joseph said, “Give me your livestock; and I will give you [bread](LXX) for your livestock, if your money is gone.” 17 They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year. 18 When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord how our money is all spent, and the herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. Give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land won't be desolate.” 20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe on them, and the land became Pharaoh's. 21 As for the people, [he brought them into bondage](LXX) from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end of it. 22 Only he didn't buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them. That is why they didn't sell their land. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of the field, for your food, for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.” 25 They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.” 26 Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. Only the land of the priests alone didn't become Pharaoh's. 27 Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got themselves possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly. 28 Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years. 29 The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don't bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” Joseph said, “I will do as you have said.” 31 Israel said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself [on the head of his staff].(LXX)

Bereshiyt (Genesis) 48:1-22

48:1 After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim[, he went to Jacob].(LXX) 2 Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “El Shaddai appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you an assembly of peoples, and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.' 5 Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Shimon, will be mine. 6 Your seed, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance (cf. Genesis 50:23; Numbers 27:1; Joshua 13:29-31). 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan [Aram],(LXX)(SP) Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, also called Bethlehem.” 8 Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom Elohim has given me here.” He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn't see well. Joseph brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I didn't think I would see your face, and behold, Elohim has let me see your seed also.” 12 Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the land. 13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him. 14 Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wisely, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 He blessed Joseph, and said, “[The Elohim](MTT) before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, [the Elohim](MTT) who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the land.” 17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it was evil in his eyes. He held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.” 19 His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his seed will become the fullness of the nations.” 20 He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in you, saying, ‘Elohim make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh' ” He set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but Elohim will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

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

Genesis 46:1-34

46:1 Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the Elohim of his father, Isaac. 2 Elohim spoke to Israel in the [vision](LXX) of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.” 3 He said, “I am Elohim, the Elohim of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great nation. 4 I will go down with you into Egypt. I will also surely bring you up again. the hand of Joseph will close your eyes.” 5 Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They took their livestock, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt—Jacob, and all his seed with him, 7 his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and he brought all his seed with him into Egypt. 8 These are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob. 9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Shimon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Qohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and [Hamuel].(LXX)(SP) 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, [Puah],(LXX)(SP) [Yashub],(LXX)(SP)(mss) and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three. 16 The sons of Gad: [Zephon],(LXX) Haggi, [and](LXX)(mss) Shuni, Ezbon, [and](LXX) Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel, the wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, [and Ahiram],(cf. Numbers 26:38) [and Shuppim],(cf. 1 Chronicles 7:12; Numbers 26:39) and Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. 23 The son of Dan: [Shuham].(cf. Numbers 26:42) 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct seed, in addition to the sons of the wives of Jacob, all the souls were sixty-six. 27 The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were [seventy-five].(LXX) 28 Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Joseph prepared his chariot, and went up to meet Israel, his father, in Goshen. He presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” 31 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 feeders of sheep, 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 feeder of sheep is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Exodus 1:1-5 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt, every man and his household came with Jacob [their father]:(LXX) 2 Reuben, Shimon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the souls who came out of Jacob’s body were seventy[-five](LXX) souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.

Acts 7:12-14 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 13 On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh. 14 Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his relatives, seventy-five souls.

Tribe Genesis 46 (Masoretic Text) Numbers 26 Genesis 46 (LXX Differences)
Reuben 4 sons Same 4 + Eliab’s line Same as MT
Shimon 6 sons 5 clans (Ohad missing) Often removes Ohad too
Levi 3 sons Not listed (Levitical census separate) Same as MT
Judah 5 sons + 2 grandsons Same + clan names Same as MT but counts differ
Issachar 4 sons Same Same
Zebulun 3 sons Same Same
Gad 7 sons Same Same
Asher 4 sons + 1 daughter + 2 grandsons Same Same
Dan 1 son Same Same
Naphtali 4 sons Same Same
Rachel → Joseph 2 sons Greatly expanded genealogy Adds 5 more names
Rachel → Benjamin 10 sons 7 clans LXX omits or renames some

Numbers 26:1-51

26:1 After the smiting, YHWH spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 “Lift up the head of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all who are able to go out to war in Israel.” 3 Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 4 “Lift up the head, from twenty years old and upward, as YHWH commanded Moses and the sons of Israel.” These are those who came out of the land of Egypt. 5 Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites; 6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the ones of Reuben; and the registered ones of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty. 8 The son of Pallu: Eliab. 9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram who were called by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Qorach when they rebelled against YHWH; 10 and the land opened its mouth, and [the land](DSS) swallowed them up together with Qorach when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men [who offered incense],(DSS) and they became a sign. 11 But, the sons of Qorach didn’t die. 12 The sons of Shimon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; 13 of [Zohar],(LXX) the family of the [Zoharites]; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 14 These are the families of the Shimonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred. 15 [And](DSS) the sons of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; 16 of [Ezbon],(LXX) the family of the [Ezbonites]; of Eri, the family of the Erites; 17 of [Arodi],(LXX) the family of the Arodites; of [Arel],(DSS) the family of the [Arielites].(DSS) 18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to the registered ones of them, forty thousand and five hundred. 19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. 21 The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of [Hamuel], the family of the [Hamuelites].(DSS)(LXX) 22 These are the families of Judah according to the registered ones of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred. 23 The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the [Puvites];(DSS) 24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to the registered ones of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred. 26 The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to the registered ones of them, sixty thousand five hundred. 28 The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead: of [Abiezer],(DSS) the family of the [Abiezerites];(DSS) of Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31 and Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 32 and Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and [Hopher],(DSS) the family of the [Hopherites].(DSS) 33 Zelophehad the son of [Hopher](DSS) had no sons, but daughters: and [these are the names](DSS) of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noaḥ, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh; [of](DSS) the registered ones of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred. 35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36 These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the [Edenites].(LXX)(SP)(Syr) 37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to the registered ones of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families. 38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; 39 of [Shuppim],(mss)(LXX) the family of the Shuppimites; of [Huppim],(mss)(LXX) the family of the Huppimites. 40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: [of Ard,](LXX)(SP) the family of the Ardites; and of Naaman, the family of the [Naamanites].(LXX) 41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and the registered ones of them were forty-five thousand six hundred. 42 These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to the registered ones of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred. 44 The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the [Imnaites];(mss)(LXX) of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to the registered ones of them, fifty-three thousand four hundred. 48 The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; 49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and the registered ones of them were forty-five thousand four hundred. 51 These are the registered ones of the sons of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.

Sukkot

  1. Deuteronomy 16:13-17 You shall guard the feast of booths (סֻכֹּת sukkot) seven days, after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your wine press. 14 You shall rejoice in your festival, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your maid, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. 15 You shall guard a festival to YHWH your Elohim seven days in the place which YHWH chooses, because YHWH your Elohim will bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful. 16 Three times in a year all of your males shall appear before YHWH your Elohim in the place which he chooses: in the festival of unleavened bread, in the festival of weeks, and in the festival of booths (סֻכֹּת sukkot). They shall not appear before YHWH empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to YHWH your Elohim’s blessing which he has given you.
    1. סֻּכּוֹת sukkot (H5521) is the feminine plural of סֻּכָּה sukkah, a temporary shelter; a small enclosure; dwelling place. Sukkah is from the root סֻּך suk (H5520) which means “protective covering” as a hedge or thicket of thorns or bushes for protection from the elements or predators (cf. Psalm 10:9; Psalm 27:5; Psalm 76:2; Jeremiah 25:38). “The watcher over the crops, flock or herd, would construct a covering (booth) as a shelter from the sun, wind or rain. These coverings were often constructed on an elevated position, and from materials readily available such as bushes, thorns and small trees.” – Jeff Benner, Ancient Hebrew Research Center
  2. Leviticus 23:1-2, 33-44 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘The appointed times of YHWH, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are my appointed times…33 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh new moon is the Festival of Booths (סֻכֹּת sukkot) for seven days to YHWH. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no work of service. 36 Seven days you shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. It is a closing assembly; you shall do no work of service. 37 These are the appointed times of YHWH which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to bring an offering made by fire to YHWH, a burnt offering, a grain offering, a slaughter, and libation offerings, each on its own day— 38 besides the Sabbaths of YHWH, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to YHWH. 39 So on the fifteenth day of the seventh new moon, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall celebrate the festival of YHWH seven days. On the first day shall be a rest, and on the eighth day shall be a rest. 40 You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before YHWH your Elohim seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a festival to YHWH seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh new moon. 42 You shall dwell in booths (סֻכֹּת sukkot) for seven days. All who are native in Israel shall dwell in booths (סֻכֹּת sukkot), 43 that your generations may know that I made the sons of Israel to dwell in סֻכֹּת Sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am YHWH your Elohim.’ ” 44 So Moses spoke to the sons of Israel the appointed times of YHWH.
  • “From Rameses to Sukkot”
    1. Genesis 33:1, 16-17 Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants…16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 Jacob traveled to Sukkot, built himself a house, and made booths (סֻכֹּת sukkot) for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Sukkot.
    2. Numbers 33:1-5 These are the journeys of the sons of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of YHWH. These are their journeys according to their starting points. 3 They traveled from Rameses in the first new moon, on the fifteenth day of the first new moon; on the next day after the Pesach, the sons of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom YHWH had struck among them. YHWH also executed judgments on their elohim. 5 The sons of Israel traveled from Rameses, and encamped in Sukkot.
      1. Sukkot is a place, not a thing
      2. Sukkot is a memorial of Israel’s first place of encampment after they left Egypt (Rameses)
      3. Sukkot is not a memorial that the sons of Israel dwelled in temporary dwellings in the wilderness. We know this because they actually lived in tents while in the wilderness.
        1. Numbers 1:52 The sons of Israel will pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own banner, according to their divisions.
        2. Tent = אֹהֶל ohel (H168) which is a permanent dwelling for nomads ≠ סֻּכָּה sukkah, which is a temporary shelter
      4. Sukkot was a fulfillment of prophecy from Genesis 15
    3. Genesis 15:1-6 After these words, the word of YHWH came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. [I will shield you. Your wage will be exceedingly much]”(LXX) 2 Abram said, “[Lord],(LXX) what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram said, “Behold, you have given no seed to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Behold, the word of [Elohim](LXX) came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come from your own bowels will be your heir.” 5 [And he](LXX) brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your seed will be.” 6 He believed [in Elohim],(LXX) and it was imputed to him for righteousness.
      1. Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds”, as of many, but as of one, “To your seed”, (cf. Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 24:7) which is Messiah.
        1. It was Abraham’s belief in Messiah that righteousness was imputed to him as there is no other way to righteousness by faith.
      2. John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.
    4. Genesis 15:7, 13-16 He said to Abram, “I am [Elohim](LXX) who brought you out of Ur Kasdim, to give you this land to inherit it.”…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. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth; 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”
    5. Exodus 12:35-37 The sons of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing. 36 YHWH gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They plundered the Egyptians. 37 The sons of Israel traveled from Rameses to Sukkot, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, in addition to little ones.
    6. Exodus 1:8-14 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and escape out of the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Rameses. 12 And as they afflicted them, so they increased and so they broke out [exceedingly, exceedingly].(LXX) [And the Egyptians](LXX) loathed the sons of Israel. 13 The Egyptians ruthlessly made the sons of Israel serve, 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.
    7. Nehemiah 8:14-18 They found written in the Torah how YHWH had commanded by Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths (סֻכֹּת sukkot) in the feast of the seventh month; 15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters (סֻכֹּת sukkot), as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters (סֻכֹּת sukkot), everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of the house of Elohim, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of the gate of Ephraim. 17 All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made temporary shelters (סֻכֹּת sukkot) and lived in the temporary shelters, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day the sons of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the Torah of Elohim. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a closing assembly, according to the judgment.
    8. Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen‡ them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore Elohim is not ashamed of them, to be called their Elohim, for he has prepared a city for them.
    9. 1 Peter 2:9-12 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for the possession of Elohim, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are the people of Elohim, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify Elohim in the day of visitation.
    10. Listen to the full “Rameses to Sukkot” message at https://thecord.life/audio/from-ramses-to-sukkot/

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. Today’s portion describes the miraculous events surrounding the birth of the Messiah.
    1. By exploring them in detail, we see the true wonder in the Father’s plan of redemption and make important connections with the fall festivals.

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

  1. The Magi (wise men) probably came from the Parthia Empire (a kingdom spanning modern Iraq and Iran).
    1. They had probably traveled a distance of 1000 to 2000 kilometers.
    2. They were likely astrologers and royal courtiers. In Matthew’s narrative, they are depicted as foreign dignitaries.
      1. Their knowledge of the stars (and comets) equipped them to understand the time and location of the Savior’s birth. 
  2. Herod was “troubled. The verb carries the idea of inner turmoil or outward commotion.
    1. “And all Jerusalem with him” most likely means that the city’s residents knew of Herod’s violence and were frightened at the prospect of further trouble. 
      1. His slaughter of children (Matt 2:16) shows that their fear is justified.
  3.  The priests and scribes answer Herod from the prophet Micah: 
    1. “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His origins are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Heb. olam). Therefore, He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth” (Mic. 5:2-4).
      1. The Hebrew in verse 2 describes “cosmic antiquity” — both ancient and eternal — “timeless”.
        1. “He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:2).
        2. “[H]aving neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like the Son of God” (Heb. 7:3).
  4. Yeshua is the eternal Son and king.
    1. From the Cord Statement of Faith:
      1. “Yeshua is the Eternal One in whom all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form, and who is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and whose glory we beheld, the glory of the only born Son of God, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14; Colossians 2:9)”.

KEY POINT:

The birth story of Yeshua surpasses all other fantasy and science fiction stories of superheroes.

  1. Before Superman or any story of a superhero from another dimension, we had the truth of this eternal king from cosmic antiquity, breaking into our world.
    1. Consider the wonder of the fact the King of Cosmic Antiquity manifested on earth as a baby, through the birth canal of a young girl probably no more than 15 years old!
    2. Yet in a parallel dimension, this humble human birth signified a momentous  event in the kingdoms of light and darkness. 
      1. “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” (Revelation 12:1-5).
  2. Verse 10 says that when the Magi saw the star, “they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy”.
    1. A literal translation reads: “They joyed a great joy, very much”.
      1. Why were they so joyful?
    2. Remember that they have traveled between 1000-2000 kilometers essentially chasing a hunch. 
      1. Great was their reward because great was their effort and sacrifice. 
  3. In every superhero story, there is an evil villain and in this one, his name is Herod.
    1. “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men” (Mat. 2:16).
    2. “Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.  And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child” (Rev. 12:3-4).
  4. Matthew then quotes from the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 31 verse 15:
    1. “Thus says the LORD, “A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more” (Jer. 31:15).
      1. This prophecy expresses both the despair and the hope in the plan of the Father.
      2. God intervenes for His people, but there is collateral damage. 
        1. [A]nd he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, ‘Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive’” (Exodus 1:16, 22).
    2. There is also a connection from the Torah for this reference.
      1. “So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)” (Gen. 35:19).
  5. This is the epic story of Messiah’s birth.
    1. For traditional Christian believers, this story is the focus and heart during the season of advent and Christmas
      1. Many of us are often asked, “How could you not want to celebrate the birth of Christ?”

KEY POINT:

Embracing the biblical festivals does not require us to reject the birth story of Yeshua, merely to reexamine its timing and application.

  1.  The popular date and practices for celebrating the birth of Messiah are rooted in tradition and not the scriptures.
    1. “The data seems rather conclusive – the celebration of the Christmas as a recognized holiday and festival of the Christian Church does not pre-date the fourth century. As far as any recorded history is concerned, for three centuries following the life of Messiah on this earth, no Christian group celebrated His birth in any organized way. Furthermore, when the fourth century Church decreed December 25 as the official and proper day for such a celebration, she did so under the influence and pressure of long-standing, pagan festivals celebrated at the same time. Clearly, the impetus for celebrating the birth of Messiah on December 25 was to give a substitute holiday for the masses who had not yet divested themselves completely of their pagan celebrations, she was not able to divest the new of the vestigial remains of the old, and many pagan customs therefore became attached to the newly formed celebration of Christ’s birth” (Hegg, T., Why I Don’t Celebrate Christmas; TorahResouce.com).
  2. The timing of Yeshua’s birth was likely during the festival of Sukkot.
    1. While it is impossible to know the exact date Yeshua was born, we can look to certain evidence in scripture to get close.
      1. “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense” (Luk. 1:5,9).
        1. The eighth course of Abijah, when Zechariah was ministering, was the week of Sivan 12 to 18. 
      2. “When the days of his priestly service were concluded, he went back home. Now after these days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, ‘This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among people’” (Luk. 1:23-24).
      3. Adding forty weeks for a normal pregnancy reveals that John the Baptist was born on or about Passover (Nisan 14). 
    2. We know that six months after John’s conception, Miriam conceived Yeshua.
      1. “Now in the sixth month [i.e. of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Miriam. And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was very perplexed at this statement and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month” (Luk. 1:26-29,35-36).
    3. What are some of the scriptural connections with the birth story and Sukkot?
        1. During the Feast of Tabernacles, God required all male Jews to come to Jerusalem (Deu. 16:16). 
          1. “The many pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for the festivals would spill over to the surrounding towns (Bethlehem is about five miles from Jerusalem). Moreover, due to the difficulties during travel, it was common for the officials to declare tax time during a temple feast” (Baker).
          2. Joseph and Mary were unable to find a room at the inn and had to use a dwelling designed for the animals (Luk. 2:7).
            1. “Jacob journeyed to Sukkot, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore, the place is named Sukkot” (Gen. 33:17).
        2. The shepherds still had their flocks in the fields, indicating it was not winter but some time in the fall (Luk. 2:8).

KEY POINT:

By letting scripture and not tradition inform us, we discover the true meaning and significance of the Father’s plan of redemption revealed in the miraculous story of Messiah’s birth. 

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 are some customs and practices for your family during Sukkot?
    6. Why is it important to give our children true stories about superheroes?
    7. How do these themes affect your understanding of the Fall Festivals? 
      1. For example, during Sukkot we remember our ancestors living in booths in the wilderness and celebrate God coming to dwell among the His people in the person of His Son, Yeshua. Now, we have become sukkahs for His indwelling presence (see 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:4-5). 

Additional Notes