Study Notes Week 68

Torah Study Notes for Week 68 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): Shemot (Exodus) 18:1-26
  • Prophets (P): 1 Samuel 8:1-22
  • Apostolic (A): Acts 6:1-7
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 1:1-29

Torah Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Shemot (Exodus) 18:1-26

18:1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, heard of all that Elohim had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how YHWH had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, received Zipporah, the wife of Moses, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”. 4 The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “The Elohim of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 5 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came with the sons of Moses and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of Elohim. 6 He said to Moses, “[Look, Jethro, your father-in-law],(DSS)(LXX)(SP) has come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that YHWH had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for the sake of Israel, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how YHWH delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which YHWH had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians [and out of the hand of Pharaoh].(LXX)(Syr) 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be YHWH, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that YHWH is greater than all elohim because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.” 12 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, took a burnt offering and slaughters for Elohim. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses before Elohim. 13 On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening. 14 When the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of Elohim. 16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of Elohim, and his Torot.” 17 The father-in-law of Moses said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone. 19 Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and Elohim be with you. You represent the people before Elohim, and bring the causes to Elohim. 20 You shall teach them the statutes [of Elohim](LXX) and the Torot, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover you shall provide [for yourself](LXX)(SP) out of all the people able men which fear Elohim: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. 23 If you will do this thing, and Elohim commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

Review

Review

  1. 17:1 All the congregation of the sons of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, starting according to the commandment of YHWH, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.
  2. 17:2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test YHWH?”
  3. 17:3 The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our sons, and our livestock with thirst?”
  4. 17:4 Moses cried to YHWH, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 YHWH said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
  5. 17:7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the sons of Israel quarreled, and because they tested YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us, or not?”
  6. 17:8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out to fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of Elohim in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But the hands of Mosheh were heavy; so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset. 13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people [and struck them](DSS) with the edge of the sword. 14 YHWH said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.” 15 Moses built an altar, and called its name “YHWH Nissi” [my refuge].(LXX) 16 He said, “Because [with a secret hand],(LXX) Yah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
    1. Exodus 36:12 Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek.
    2. 1 Chronicles 1:35 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Qorach. 36 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.

Exodus 18:1-26

  • רְעוּאֵל Re’uel (H7467) means “friend or companion of Elohim”, but may be closer connected to “shepherd of Elohim” which we will discuss later
    • Exodus 2:15-24 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, [and drew water for them,](LXX) and watered their flock. 18 When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter [in marriage].(LXX) 22 She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.” 23 In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to Elohim because of the bondage. 24 Elohim heard their groaning, and Elohim remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 Elohim saw the sons of Israel, and Elohim understood.
      • Josephus, Antiquities 2.11.2. For that country having but little water, the shepherds used to seize on the wells before others came, lest their flocks should want water, and lest it should be spent by others before they came. There were now come, therefore, to this well seven sisters that were virgins, the daughters of Raguel, a priest, and one thought worthy by the people of the country of great honor. These virgins, who took care of their father’s flocks, which sort of work it was customary and very familiar for women to do in the country of the Troglodytes, they came first of all, and drew water out of the well in a quantity sufficient for their flocks, into troughs, which were made for the reception of that water; but when the shepherds came upon the maidens, and drove them away, that they might have the command of the water themselves
  • 18:1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, heard of all that Elohim had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how YHWH had brought Israel out of Egypt.
    • Jethro = יִתְרוֹ Yitro (H3503) means “His remainder or excellency” from יֶתֶר yeter (H3499) which means, “what is left over or remains” (cf. Exodus 10:5; Exodus 23:11; Deuteronomy 3:11).
  • 18:2 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, received Zipporah, the wife of Moses, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”. 4 The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “The Elohim of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
  • 18:5 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came with the sons of Moses and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of Elohim.
  • 18:6 He said to Moses, “[Look, Jethro, your father-in-law],(DSS)(LXX)(SP) has come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.
    • They asked each other of their welfare = וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ־לְרֵעֵהוּ לְשָׁלוֹם Vayish’alu ish-lere’ehu leshalom = each inquired to his companion according to the completeness
    • רֵעַ rea (H7453) is made up of the Hebrew letters rosh (head) and ayin (eye) and literally means “man watches” in the sense of a shepherd who closely watches over his flock as his companions.
      • רָעָה reah (H7462) is the feminine noun form of רֵעַ rea and means “to pasture” tend, graze, or feed mainly in reference to sheep (i.e. a shepherd).
        • Genesis 4:2 Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper (רָעָה reah H7462) of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
        • Genesis 29:7 [Jacob] said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed (רָעָה reah H7462) them.”
        • Genesis 46:34 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 (רָעָה reah H7462) is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
  • 18:8 Moses told his father-in-law all that YHWH had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for the sake of Israel, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how YHWH delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which YHWH had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians [and out of the hand of Pharaoh].(LXX)(Syr) 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be YHWH, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that YHWH is greater than all elohim because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”
    • Targum Pseudo-Jonathan: And Jethro, prince of Midian, the father‑in‑law of Mosheh, heard all that the Lord had done for Mosheh and for Israel His people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel from Mizraim. And Jethro the father‑in‑law of Mosheh took Zipporah his wife, whom Mosheh had sent back from him after going into Mizraim, and his two sons, the name of the one of whom was Gershom, Because He had said, I am a dweller in a strange land which is not mine; and the name of the other Eliezer, For (he had said) the God of my fathers was my helper, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh. And Jethro the father‑in‑law of Mosheh, and the sons of Mosheh, and his wife came to Mosheh at the desert in which be was sojourning hard by the mountain upon which the glory of the Lord was revealed to Mosheh at the beginning. And he said to Mosheh, I, thy father‑in‑law Jethro, have come to thee to be a proselyte; and if thou wilt not receive me on my own account, receive me for the sake of thy wife and of her two sons who are with her. And Mosheh came forth from under the cloud of glory to meet his father‑in‑law, and did bow down, and kissed him and made him a proselyte; and they asked of each other’s welfare, and came to the tabernacle, the house of instruction. And Mosheh recounted to his father‑in‑law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Mizraee on behalf of Israel; all the hardship they had found in the way, at the sea of Suph, and at Marah, and at Rephidim, and how Amalek had fought with them, and the Lord had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced over all the good which the Lord had done unto Israel, and that He had given them manna, and the well, and that he had saved them from the hand of the Mizraee. And Jethro said, Blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath saved you from the hand of the Mizraee, and from the hand of Pharaoh, and hath saved the people from under the tyranny of the Mizraee. Now have I known that the Lord is stronger than all elohim; for by the very thing by which the Mizraee wickedly would have punished Israel by (drowning them in) the sea, upon themselves came the punishment, in being punished in the sea. And Jethro took burnt offerings and holy slaughters before the Lord, and Aharon and all the elders of Israel. came to eat bread with the father‑in‑law of Mosheh before the Lord; and Mosheh stood and ministered before them…And Mosheh parted from his father‑in‑law, and he went, and himself made proselytes of all the children of his land.
    • Josephus, Antiquities 3.3.1. Now when Raguel, Moses’s father-in-law, understood in what a prosperous condition his affairs were, he willingly came to meet him. And Moses took Zipporah, his wife, and his children, and pleased himself with his coming. And when he had offered slaughter, he made a feast for the multitude, near the Bush he had formerly seen; which multitude, every one according to their families, partook of the feast. But Aaron and his family took Raguel, and sung hymns to Elohim, as to Him who had been the author procurer of their deliverance and their freedom. They also praised their conductor, as him by whose virtue it was that all things had succeeded with them. Raguel also, in his eucharistical oration to Moses, made great encomiums upon the whole multitude; and he could not but admire Moses for his fortitude, and that humanity he had shewn in the delivery of his friends.

Exodus 18:12-26

  • 18:12 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, took a burnt offering and slaughters for Elohim. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses before Elohim. 13 On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening. 14 When the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of Elohim. 16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of Elohim, and his Torot.”
    • Genesis 26:4-5 I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and will give all these lands to your seed. In your seed all the nations of the land will be blessed, 5 because Abraham [your father](LXX) obeyed my voice, and guarded my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my Torot.”
  • 18:17 The father-in-law of Moses said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone. 19 Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and Elohim be with you. You represent the people before Elohim, and bring the causes to Elohim. 20 You shall teach them the statutes [of Elohim](LXX) and the Torot, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover you shall provide [for yourself](LXX)(SP) out of all the people able men which fear Elohim: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. 23 If you will do this thing, and Elohim commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
  • 18:12 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, took a burnt offering and slaughters for Elohim. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses before Elohim.
    • Numbers 1:50 but appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; and they shall take care of it, and shall encamp around it.
    • Numbers 3:11-13 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the sons of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am YHWH.”
    • Hebrews 10:19-23 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Yeshua, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, 21 and having a great priest over the house of Elohim, 22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water, 23 let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
    • 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Now you are the body of Messiah, and members individually. 28 God has set some in the assembly: first emissaries, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 29 Are all emissaries? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
  • 18:13 On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.
    • Most often translated as judge in both the verb and noun form, שָׁפַט shaphat (H8199) and means to rule over a case of dispute or wrong doing and make a decision on the case (i.e. make a judgment or ruling = mishpat). שָׁפַט shaphat is equivalent to the Greek word κριτής krites (G2923) and is a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter; an arbiter.
    • Judgment: Often translated as judgment or ordinance, מִשְׁפָּט mishpat (H4941) is from the root word שָׁפַט shaphat (H8199) and means to rule over a case of dispute or wrong doing and make a decision on the case. שָׁפַט shaphat is equivalent to the Greek word κριτής krites (G2923) and is a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter; an arbiter.
    • Judges. Must be able men who fear Elohim. Judges must be men of truth who hate unjust gain, wise men of understanding, and respected among the Congregation. Judges are also called “rulers” with the duty to judge those within the Congregation at all times by hearing cases between believers and judging righteously. (Exodus 18:21-26; Deuteronomy 1:1-18; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8) However, judges are to bring the hard cases to the council of apostles and/or elders overseeing the universal body of Messiah (Acts 15:22; Acts 16:4).
  • 18:14 When the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of Elohim. 16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of Elohim, and his Torot.” 17 The father-in-law of Moses said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone. 19 Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and Elohim be with you. You represent the people before Elohim, and bring the causes to Elohim. 20 You shall teach them the statutes [of Elohim](LXX) and the Torot, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover you shall provide [for yourself](LXX)(SP) out of all the people able men which fear Elohim: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. 23 If you will do this thing, and Elohim commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
    • 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the holy ones? 2 Don’t you know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly? 5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers? 6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers.
  • Josephus, Antiquities 3.4.1. The next day, as Raguel saw Moses in the midst of a crowd of business (for he determined the differences of those that referred them to him, every one still going to him, and supposing that they should then only obtain justice, if he were the arbitrator; and those that lost their causes thought it no harm, while they thought they lost them justly, and not by partiality); Raguel however said nothing to him at that time, as not desirous to be any hinderance to such as had a mind to make use of the virtue of their conductor. But afterward he took him to himself, and when he had him alone, he instructed him in what he ought to do; and advised him to leave the trouble of lesser causes to others, but himself to take care of the greater, and of the people’s safety, for that certain others of the Hebrews might be found that were fit to determine causes, but that nobody but a Moses could take of the safety of so many ten thousands. “Be therefore,” says he, “insensible of thine own virtue, and what thou hast done by ministering under Elohim to the people’s preservation. Permit, therefore, the determination of common causes to be done by others, but do thou reserve thyself to the attendance on Elohim only, and look out for methods of preserving the multitude from their present distress. Make use of the method I suggest to you, as to human affairs; and take a review of the army, and appoint chosen rulers over tens of thousands, and then over thousands; then divide them into five hundreds, and again into hundreds, and into fifties; and set rulers over each of them, who may distinguish them into thirties, and keep them in order; and at last number them by twenties and by tens: and let there be one commander over each number, to be denominated from the number of those over whom they are rulers, but such as the whole multitude have tried, and do approve of, as being good and righteous men; 8 and let those rulers decide the controversies they have one with another. But if any great cause arise, let them bring the cognizance of it before the rulers of a higher dignity; but if any great difficulty arise that is too hard for even their determination, let them send it to thee. By these means two advantages will be gained; the Hebrews will have justice done them, and thou wilt be able to attend constantly on Elohim, and procure him to be more favorable to the people.” 3.4.2. This was the admonition of Raguel; and Moses received his advice very kindly, and acted according to his suggestion. Nor did he conceal the invention of this method, nor pretend to it himself, but informed the multitude who it was that invented it: nay, he has named Raguel in the books he wrote, as the person who invented this ordering of the people, as thinking it right to give a true witness to worthy persons, although he might have gotten reputation by ascribing to himself the inventions of other men; whence we may learn the virtuous disposition of Moses: but of such his disposition, we will have proper occasion to speak in other places of these books.
  • Even though the first five books of the Bible are attributed to Moses as author through a cursory reading of the Torah, it’s fairly clear from a careful reading of chapters 33 and 34 of Deuteronomy that Moses did not pen the first 5 books of the Bible. the continual use of the term “he said” shows that someone else is writing.
    1. Acts 7:53 You received the Torah as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”
    2. Galatians 3:19 Then why is there the Torah? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
      1. διατάσσω diatásso (G1299) means to enjoin, order, decree, bid, dictate, or ordain. The KJV translates διατάσσω diatásso in the following manner: command (7x), appoint (4x), ordain (3x), set in order (1x), give order (1x).
      2. Thus, the Torah was commanded, appointed, ordained, and set in order by angels, not Moses.
        1. The Book of Jubilees makes this very clear. Jubilees 2:1 “And the angel of the face spake to Moses according to the word of the Lord, saying…”
        2. Genesis 1:26 Elohim said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
        3. Genesis 11:6-7 [Elohim](mss) said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. 7 Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
        4. Clearly, angels in the Bible, also called elohim , sons of Elohim, or sons of the Elohim, are able to make decisions and have free will. This makes sense because man was created in the image of Elohim (cf. Genesis 1:26) and man has free will and the ability to choose life or death. However, in modern Pharisaic Judaism, angels are said to have no free will or the ability to rebel or sin. “In other words, only man has been endowed with the inclination for both good and bad. And only man has been given free choice to choose either one. An angel, on the other hand, has no evil inclination and therefore no free choice. This would seem to mean that an angel is something like a robot, which cannot rebel or sin.” (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1055341/jewish/Can-Angels-Sin.htm)
        5. This doctrine is in direct contradiction to Genesis 6:1-2; “When the man began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, 2 The sons of [the Elohim](MTT) saw that daughters of the man were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives.”
      3. Deuteronomy 33:1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of Elohim blessed the sons of Israel before his death. 2 He said, “YHWH came from Sinai, and rose from Seir [upon us].(LXX) He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of [Kadesh; on his right hand were his angels with him].(LXX)
        1. 33:2 is where the Masoretic Text is missing an entire line which has been restored with the Septuagint translation of the original Hebrew to Greek around 250 B.C. Without the Septuagint (LXX), one would think Jude 1:14, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones…” is directly quoting Deuteronomy 33:2, which is actually a prevailing argument against the Book of Enoch. However, Jude 1:14-15 is clearly and directly quoting Enoch 1:9 and not Moses, “And behold! He comes with ten thousand Holy Ones; to execute judgment upon them and to destroy the impious, and to contend with all flesh concerning everything that the sinners and the impious have done and wrought against Him.”
        2. In Deuteronomy 33:2, we see the angels were at the right hand of YHWH. This is mentioned multiple times in Scripture. In the Bible, the right hand is often used as a symbol of strength, protection, and power. For example, the name בִּנְיָמִין Benyamin (Benjamin) means “son of the right hand” as the strength of Jacob’s old age and his protection from YHWH is given in Moses’ blessing in Deuteronomy 33:12, About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of YHWH will dwell in safety by him. He covers him all day long. He dwells between his shoulders.”
        3. Furthermore, the right hand as a symbol of power is shown in multiple verses and ultimately given to Yeshua. This will be discussed more during the Exhortation.
        4. Philippians 2:5-11 Have this in your mind, which was also in Messiah Yeshua, 6 who, existing in the form of Elohim, didn’t consider equality with Elohim a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore Elohim also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of Elohim the Father.
        5. Acts 2:32-35 This Yeshua Elohim raised up, to which we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of Elohim, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘YHWH said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ (cf. Psalms 110:1)
      4. Deuteronomy 32:43 [Rejoice, you heavens, with him, and let all the angels of Elohim worship him; (cf. Hebrews 1:6) rejoice you Nations, with his people, (cf. Romans 15:10) and let all the sons of Elohim strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and YHWH will cleanse out the land for his people.](DSS)(LXX)
        1. Compare to most translations from the Masoretic Text; “Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will take vengeance on his adversaries, and will make atonement for his land and for his people.”
          1. Missing Rejoice, you heavens, with him (Messiah)
          2. Missing “Let all the angels of Elohim worship him” as quoted in Hebrews 1:6 When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of Elohim worship him.”
          3. Missing “and let all the sons of Elohim (angels) strengthen themselves in him (Messiah)
          4. Changed blood of sons to blood of servants
          5. Missing “and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him”
          6. Changed “YHWH will cleanse out the land for his people” to “make atonement for his land and for his people”

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. Today’s portion from Acts 6 provides a small glimpse into the early church and some of the challenges they were facing.

    1. Specifically, how to ensure that the Apostles could ensure that all the qualified widows in the community were being cared for without neglecting their other responsibilities.

  2. Among its many contributions, the book of Acts provides us with important insight into how the Apostles organized and structured the burgeoning community of converts to the faith.

    1. Is there a structure for the Body of Messiah and where does it originate?

    2. What is the significance of the local community and how is it meant to be organized and structured?

    3. Is it voluntary or obligatory?

    4. Does this structure apply to a universal (lit., “catholic”) church?

  3. These questions are even more important because we live in a time characterized by a high degree of skepticism about church.

    1. Most of us have been hurt by it or know someone who has.

      1. It’s one thing to experience a personal conflict with another Believer, but when it happens in a local community, there is an added element of pain and anguish.

      2. Sometimes it’s not personal conflict but doctrinal disagreement that creates division.

        1. We end up in a situation where we feel like we have no choice but to separate ourselves from other people in the church.

          1. Whether we church hop looking for perfection, start attending a mega-church, where we can be anonymous, seek the purity and simplicity of a home group or abandon organized church altogether, we can end up circumventing the biblical design for the ekklesia.

    2. As Messianics, we don’t always explore these questions, in part because many of us have come out of more mainstream expressions of Christianity.

  4. Today we’ll explore this design and discover how scripture informs us of how God intended His people to organize and fellowship together.

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

  1. What is the “church” – i.e. the ekklesia?

    1. For those of you who want to dig really deep on this, there is an entire area of theology called Ecclesiology devoted to this question.

      1. Thankfully, each one of us can access and apply truth in our lives without a seminary degree.

        1. “At that time Yeshua said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants” (Mat. 11:25).

  2. The simplest metaphor that we can use to understand the meaning and purpose behind the ekklesia is that of a household.

    1. Every human being builds their life around the home.

      1. It’s where we eat, sleep, and spend time with family.

      2. A household provides protection, provision and shapes our identity as people.

  3. The household is the building block of civilization.

    1. “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).

      1. Husband and wife join together not just to pro-create children but also an entirely new household.

KEY POINT:

The household is a representation of God’s design and purpose for life itself.

  1. Even though the idea of a household began with Adam and Eve, the first one mentioned in scripture is Noaḥ’s.

    1. “Then the LORD said to Noaḥ, ‘Go into the ark, you and all your household (#1004), for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation’” (Gen. 7:1).

      1. H1004. bayith – “house”.

        1. Used 2056 times in the Tanakh, usually for a dwelling or habitation.

          1. Lexicon: Strongs 1004 carries the rich idea of a place prepared, protected, and ordered by God for His purposes and people. Whether denoting a tent, a palace, the temple, or an entire lineage, the term repeatedly anchors Israel’s experience of covenant, worship, and identity. The word’s frequency reinforces that biblical faith is lived in real spaces, among real families, under a real divine Master who dwells with His own.

  2. Households manifest (i.e. make known) God’s image and likeness, both for individuals and groups.

    1. Households are made up of individuals that together represent something unique and foundational to God’s order and design for His creation.

      1. A man becomes a husband and then a father – the progenitor (i.e. source) and head or ruler of the household.

      2. A woman becomes a wife and then a mother – the one who brings forth life into the household and then nurtures it and causes it to multiply 60-, 90-, and 100-fold.

      3. Sons and daughters are given life in the household and are then disciplined and nurtured to become men and women who will eventually leave their own household to go form a new one.

  3. A final category of people in households, at least in ancient times, were individuals who, for whatever reason, had not or could not form their own household.

    1. These people could be called “servants”, but the meaning is slightly different than what we think of today.

      1. Servants were full-fledged members of the household who shared the rights, responsibilities and privileges of the family unit.

        1. A good example of this is Abraham’s household.

          1. “The LORD said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him’” (Gen. 18:17-19).

      2. Note that Abraham’s father-rule extended to His servants and that they were also included in the covenant YHWH made with him (see also Genesis 17:23-27).

  4. Because households are the building block of God’s design for societal order and structure, He establishes covenant as the means to foster shalom (wholeness) and blessing within them.

    1. Each of the Ten Words convey a facet of His covenant for the household.

      1. In a household, there must be rest from work (#4), parents must be honored by the children (#5), husbands and wives must remain faithful to one another (#7), the persons and property in each household are not to be coveted (#10), etc.

    2. The rest of Torah expounds and provides clear teaching and instruction for each household member to understand their roles and responsibilities both inside and outside the home.

  5. As households divide and multiply, they form a community of households that also has torot to guide and govern it.

    1. Altogether, this community/congregation/collection is YHWH’s household – i.e. His ekklesia.

  6. God’s household displays the reality of what we experience in our families and in our communities of connected households.

    1. He is the Father and governs as the patriarch while management of His household is delegated to His servants.

  7. In the Tanakh, God sets the pattern for “household management” by choosing servants from the household of Amram.

    1. “The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram: Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.… Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, ‘Come out, you three, to the Appointed Tent.’ And the three of them came out. And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. And he said, ‘Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house’” (Num. 26:59; 12:6-7).

    2. [Father rule (e.g. patriarchy) in action!]

  8. From Moses and Aaron, God extends the management of His household to other servants, through the Levitical priests and the judges appointed by Moses.

    1. These men served Elohim in His household faithfully for the season in which they were called.

  9. The final point as it relates to the Tanakh is that the household of Elohim, which is His ekklesia, is corporately referred to as His servant, and assigned the name, “Israel”.

    1. “’But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your seed, and my blessing on your descendants. Remember these things, Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me’” (Isa. 44:1-3; 21).

  10. Ancient Israel revealed the pattern and picture of YHWH’s true servant, Messiah Yeshua.

    1. As the greater Moses, Yeshua brought to fullness the role of servant in God’s house.

      1. Also born under the threats of a despotic king, Yeshua was raised by His father and mother, Joseph and Mary, in a physical household.

    2. As the son of Jewish parents, young Yeshua was raised in the covenant of His parents according to the Torah that defined it.

    3. As an Israelite, He was one individual within the larger household of Elohim’s chosen servant, Israel.

  11. What distinguished Yeshua from Moses was that He was also born (i.e. begotten) from a heavenly Father.

      1. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

      2. “Now the birth of Yeshua the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Mat. 1:18–20).

        1. [Note: While we need not not press the metaphor too far, it is interesting that the Holy Spirit functions much like a mother in much of scripture, and is referred to with the feminine gender in both Hebrew and Greek.]

  12. Before Yeshua, everyone else in God’s household was a servant, even Moses.

    1. “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope” (Heb. 3:6).

  13. Yeshua’s unique status as the Son of God makes Him a Servant and an Heir over all the household of God, which is Israel.

    1. Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him—for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—he says: ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth’” Isa. 49:1-6).

KEY POINT:

In Yeshua, the household of God is raised up, established and made complete.

    1. With this as our backdrop, let’s look at how in Yeshua, the household of Elohim developed under the Apostles.

  2. One of the key chapters to answer this question is 1 Timothy 3.

    1. After explaining the role and qualifications of Elders and Deacons, Paul reminds Timothy of the overarching purpose for his instruction.

      1. “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church (ekklesia) of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15).

  3. Regardless of our own experience, scripture is clear that the church is God’s own home and chosen household.

    1. It is the place where He dwells as a Father with His children.

    2. It is the home where His Son and His spotless bride are meant to live in perfect shalom and unity.

    3. It is the structure – literally, the pillar and base – upon which truth stands throughout the generations.

  4. In His household, every individual has value and purpose.

    1. “On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Cor. 12:22–28.).

  5. In the Apostolic church, management of the household was assigned to elders and deacons.

    1. Elders were tasked with prayer and ministry of the Word.

      1. “So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”” (Acts 6:2,4).

      2. “Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2; cf. 2 Tim. 2:2;24).

      3. They were qualified to lead in God’s household because they were men that already led their own.

        1. “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (1 Ti 3:3–5).

    2. Deacons were men who desired to serve in critical ministry functions in God’s household outside of teaching and governance.

      1. “Deacons (#1249) likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Messiah Yeshua” (1 Tim. 3:8–13).

        1. G1249. diakonos – “attendant; servant”.

          1. 1249 diákonos (from 1223 /diá, “thoroughly” and konis, “dust”) – properly, “thoroughly raise up dust by moving in a hurry, as one running an errand.”

      2. “And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty” (Acts 6:2–3).

        1. As men, they are qualified to be the official representatives of deaconship in the ekklesia, but their service truly requires the partnership and balanced gifts that come with a married couple.

          1. “Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well” (1 Tim. 3:10–12).

  6. So, how do we apply these truths to our lives?

    1. #1 – Examine your heart to see if you have run away from home.

      1. We are a generation of runaways.

        1. As Christians who have been wounded and/or offended by “the church”, many of us have run away from home and chosen to live on our own.

          1. Like a son or daughter tired of the house rules, we’d rather be independent and live out our faith on our own terms.

      2. However, I believe that this grieves our heavenly Father’s heart, and He desires for His people to always strive for unity and fellowship.

        1. “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:1–6).

    2. #2 – Recognize that if you are a disciple of Yeshua, you are a part of His household, which is the church, both universal and local.

      1. Many Messianics have divorced themselves from the church altogether.

        1. We talk about Christians and Christianity as if we are separate from them, and that we can scrape the house and build something completely new.

          1. Coming into Torah can be like discovering mold in the drywall and the temptation is to not just demo down to the studs but gut the entire house.

        2. The risk is that we end up no longer abiding in the Vine because we fail to embrace the structure and connection of God’s household, which is Yeshua and His Body.

    3. #3 – Remember that Father knows best.

      1. Like children who in their pride and immaturity always blame the problem on someone else, we have failed to seek God’s Word for understanding on how to repair and restore the house of God.

        1. The first step is personal repentance and confession that as members of God’s household, we share responsibility for the current state of His church.

        2. Second, we need to acknowledge that as individuals, we cannot uphold the truth.

          1. The ekklesia is God’s base and pillar for truth, which is His Word.

          2. Rather than be divided against fellow Believers who disagree with us about Torah, why don’t we seek unity with those who love His Word and agree with us doctrinally on the majority of it?

        3. Third, we need to build strong and healthy congregations of faith – local households where we can live and serve together as brothers and sisters.

          1. This means establishing elders and deacons who will serve the people and provide the governance and ministry that God intends.

          2. It means investing in relationships within your own community but also with other households who need the support, as well.

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.  As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua the Messiah” (1 Pet. 2:1–5).

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. Where do you see yourself in relation to the church?
        6. What do you believe your role is the ekklesia? Are there particular gifts and talents you want to use to serve in the household of God?
        7. What is the role of a pastor and what leadership traits make them effective?

Additional Notes