Study Notes Week 5

Torah Study Notes for Week 5 of the Torah Reading Cycle

• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 5:1-32
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 30:8-15
• Apostolic (A): Hebrews 11:5-6; Jude 1:1-15
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 4:13-33; Enoch 1:1-9

Torah Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

1. Seth = Adam’s own likeness
   1. Genesis 5:1-3 This is the book of the births of Adam. In the day that Elohim created Adam, he made him in the likeness of Elohim. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam. 3 Adam lived [two hundred]^(LXX) thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
   2. Targum This is the book of the genealogy of Man. In the day that the Lord created man, in the likeness of the Lord He made him. Male and female He created them, and blessed them in the name of His Word; and He called their name Man in the day they were created. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat Sheth, who had the likeness of his image and of his similitude: for before had Hava born Kain, who was not like to him; and Habel was killed by his hand. And Kain was cast out; neither is his seed genealogized in the book of the genealogy of Adam. But afterwards there was born one like him, and he called his name Sheth.
   3. Josephus Now Adam, who was the first man, and made out of the earth, (for our discourse must now be about him,) after Abel was slain, and Cain fled away, on account of his murder, was solicitous for posterity, and had a vehement desire of children, he being two hundred and thirty years old;^(LXX) after which time he lived other seven hundred, and then died. He had indeed many other children, but Seth in particular…Now this Seth, when he was brought up, and came to those years in which he could discern what was good, became a virtuous man; and as he was himself of an excellent character, so did he leave children behind him who imitated his virtues. All these proved to be of good dispositions. They also inhabited the same country without dissensions, and in a happy condition, without any misfortunes falling upon them, till they died. They also were the inventors of that peculiar sort of wisdom which is concerned with the heavenly bodies, and their order…Now this posterity of Seth continued to esteem Elohim as the Lord of the universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for seven generations; but in process of time they were perverted, and forsook the practices of their forefathers; and did neither pay those honors to Elohim which were appointed them, nor had they any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made Elohim to be their enemy.
2. Sons and daughters were born
   1. Genesis 5:4-5 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were [seven hundred]^(LXX) years, and he became the father of other sons and daughters. 5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.
      1. All eight of the descendants of Adam also brought forth sons and daughters, though the daughters are not mentioned in Genesis 5 but Jubilees names six of them:
         1. Mualeleth (Cainan’s wife), Dinah (Mahalalel’s wife), Baraka (Jared’s wife), Edna (Enoch’s wife), Betenos (Lamech’s wife), and Emzara (Noaḥ’s wife)
3. Brothers and Sisters, but without incest?
   1. Incest = the crime of having intercourse with a parent, child, sibling, or grandchild is prohibited in Leviticus 18 & 20.
      1. Why was it allowed in Genesis 4 with Cain’s descendants and Genesis 5 with Adam’s descendants?
4. The Watchers descend during Jared’s days
   1. Jared’s names means “to descend” and provides a picture of what was happening during his time. Hebrew names in the Bible are often given to tell a true story of the events happening around them or to them. These names can even represent a future event or prophecy.
      1. Genesis 5:29 He named him Noaḥ, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which YHWH has cursed.” (cf. Genesis 3:17-18)
         1. The name נֹחַ Noach means “to guide to rest” (H5146) and, in ancient times, may have shared the same root as the word נָחַם nacham (H5162) which means “to give comfort or consolation in a time of difficulty or sorrow for an action.” When written in the niphil (passive) form, נָחַם nacham means to be sorrowful or regretful of an act.
            1. The difficult passage in Genesis 6:6 might be better understood being sorrowful or regretfull of a choice or action to which one would need to be comforted or consoled, since the word is נָחַם nacham (H5162).
               1. Genesis 6:6 [Elohim]^(LXX) was sorrowful that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.
                  1. Genesis 1:26 Elohim said, “[We will make]^(MTT) a man in our image, after our likeness…”
               2. Genesis 6:6 (LXX) And Elohim pondered that he made the man upon the land, and he considered it.
      2. Jubilees 4:15 And in the second week of the tenth jubilee Mahalalel took unto him to woman Dînâh, the daughter of Barâkî’êl the daughter of his father’s brother, and she bare him a son in the third week in the sixth year [461 A.M.], and he called his name Jared; for in his days the angels of the Lord descended the land, those who are named the Watchers, that they should instruct the children of men, and that they should do judgment and uprightness on the land.
5. Enoch
   1. The seventh born from Adam (Jude 1:14; Luke 3:36-38)
      1. Adam
      2. Seth
      3. Enosh
      4. Cainan (Kenan)
      5. Mahalalel
      6. Jared
      7. Enoch
      8. Methuselah
      9. Lamech
      10. Noaḥ̣
   2. Jubilees 4:16-19 And in the eleventh jubilee [512-18 A.M.] Jared took to himself a woman, and her name was Baraka, the daughter of Râsûjâl, a daughter of his father’s brother, in the fourth week of this jubilee, [522 A.M.] and she bare him a son in the fifth week, in the fourth year of the jubilee, and he called his name Enoch. 17. And he was the first among men that are born on land who learnt writing and knowledge and wisdom and who wrote down the signs of the heavens according to the order of their new moons in a book, that men might know the seasons of the years according to the order of their separate new moons. 18. And he was the first to write a witness and he witnessed to the sons of men among the generations of the land, and recounted the weeks of the jubilees, and made known to them the days of the years, and set in order the new moons and recounted the Sabbaths of the years as we made (them), known to him. 19. And what was and what will be he saw in a vision of his sleep, as it will happen to the children of men throughout their generations until the day of judgment; he saw and understood everything, and wrote his witness, and placed the witness on land for all the children of men and for their generations.
   3. Genesis 5:22-24 Enoch walked with [the Elohim]^(mss)(MTT) for [two hundred]^(LXX) years, and became the father of more sons and daughters. 23 All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with [the Elohim],^(mss)(MTT) and he was not found, for Elohim took him.

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Hebrews 11:5 In faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because Elohim transposed him. For he has had witness given to him that before his transposition he had been well pleasing to Elohim. 6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to Elohim must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

1. Faith אֱמוּנָה emunah (H530) means to have a firm and complete trust and confidence in someone or something. אֱמוּנָה emunah is the feminine noun form of אֵמוּן emun which means “to be firm” and is concretely represented as a pillar; something that grabs hold or supports something else. אֱמוּנָה emunah is equivalent to the Greek word πίστις pístis (G4102) means “conviction” which is a firmly held belief or opinion.
2. Transposed μετατίθημι metatithēmi (G3346) means to cause two or more things to change places with each other (cf. Genesis 5:24; Deuteronomy 27:17). It can also mean to transfer to a different place or context. μετατίθημι metatithēmi is equivalent to the Hebrew word לָקַח laqach (H3947) which means “to take” in the sense of laying hold of something figuratively or with one’s hands (cf. Genesis 2:15; Genesis 2:21-23) or tongs/snuffers (מַלְקָחַיִם malaqachayim cf. Numbers 4:9)
3. Witness עֵד ed (H5707) literally means “to repeat” in the sense that a witness is a person who recounts an event to another person. עֵד ed is equivalent to μάρτυς martys (G3144) simply means to be a witness who can provide a testimony as evidence of something they have seen (cf. Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6-7; Deuteronomy 19:15). A false witness (pseudomartyreō G5576) is a crime punishable by death (cf. Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Deuteronomy 19:16-21)

Jude 1:1 Judah, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Jacob, to those who are called, [loved]^(mss) by Elohim the Father, and kept for Yeshua the Messiah: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about [our]^(mss) common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. 4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: impious men, turning the grace of our Elohim into indecency, and denying our only [Master and Lord],^(mss) Yeshua the Messiah. 5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that YHWH, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. 6 Angels who didn’t guard their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. 9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason. 11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Qorach’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the root; 13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved. 14 About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the impious of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an impious way, and of all the hard things which impious sinners have spoken against him.”

1. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: impious men, turning the grace of our Elohim into indecency, and denying our only [Master and Lord],^(mss) Yeshua the Messiah.
   1. Impious is more than just “ungodly” as most translations have, impious is ἀσεβής asebēs (G765) which means to be destitute of reverential awe towards Elohim or having contempt of God that He is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.
2. Jude1:5-6 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that YHWH, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. 6 Angels who didn’t guard their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
   1. Jubilees 4:15 …for in (Jared’s) days the angels of the Lord descended the land, those who are named the Watchers, that they should instruct the children of men, and that they should do judgment and uprightness on the land.
3. Jude 1:10 But these (Jude 1:4) speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason. 11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain…
   1. Targum “And it was that when they two had gone forth into the field, Kain answered and said to Habel, I perceive that the world was created in goodness, but it is not governed (or conducted) according to the fruit of good works, for there is respect to persons in judgment; therefore it is that thy offering was accepted, and mine not accepted with good will. Habel answered and said to Kain, in goodness was the world created, and according to the fruit of good works is it governed; and there is no respect of persons in judgment; but because the fruits of my works were better than thine, my oblation, before thine, hath been accepted with good will. Kain answered and said to Habel, There is neither judgment nor Judge, nor another world; nor will good reward be given to the righteous, nor vengeance be taken of the wicked. And Habel answered and said to Kain, There is a judgment, and there is a Judge; and there is another world, and a good reward given to the righteous, and vengeance taken of the wicked. And because of these words they had contention upon the face of the field; and Kain arose against Habel his brother, and drave a stone into his forehead, and killed him”
4. Jude 1:14 About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the impious of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an impious way, and of all the hard things which impious sinners have spoken against him.”
5. Prophets Reading: Isaiah 30:8-17
   1. 30:8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever. 9 For it is a rebellious people, lying sons, sons who will not hear YHWH’s Torah; 10 who tell the seers, “Don’t see [for us]!”^(LXX) and the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits. 11 Get out of the way. Turn away from the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”

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. 1. What questions or comments came up during your family’s discussion of this week’s study?
   2. “What other related Scriptures did you find during your study of this week’s portion?”
   3. Have you ever experienced something from this study or something related to it?
   4. “What changes do you need to make in your life to align with what you learned during this week’s Torah Study?”

Additional Study Notes