Study Notes Week 9

Torah Study Notes for Week 9 of the Torah Reading Cycle

• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 9:1-29
• Prophets (P): Ezekiel 1:22-28
• Apostolic (A): 1 Timothy 4:1-16
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 6:5 – 7:13

Torah Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

1. 9:1 Elohim blessed Noaḥ̣ and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the land. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every [wild]^(LXX) animal of the land, [and on all livestock of the land,]^(LXX) and on every bird of the heavens. All that creep along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand.
   1. Genesis 8:13-17 In the six hundred first year [of Noaḥ’s life],^(LXX) in the first new moon, the first day of the new moon, the waters were dried up from the land. Noaḥ removed the covering of the ark, and looked. He saw that the face of the ground was dry. 14 In the second new moon, on the twenty-seventh day of the new moon, the land was dry. 15 Elohim spoke to Noaḥ, saying, 16 “Go out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping that treads on the land, that they may breed abundantly in the land, and be fruitful, and multiply on the land.”
      1. Genesis 1:21-22 Elohim created the great sea animal and every living soul that treads, with which the waters swarm, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good. 22 Elohim blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and birds multiply on the land.”
      2. Genesis 9:1-3 Elohim blessed Noaḥ and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the heavens. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you.
         1. Genesis 1:27-31 Elohim created the man in his own image. In the image of Elohim he created him; male and female he created them. 28 Elohim blessed them, [saying],^(LXX) “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the land, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, [and over all the wild animals of the land],^(syr) [and over all the souls that crawl]^(LXX) on the land.” 29 Elohim said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed, which is on the face of all the land, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30 To every wild animal of the land, [and to every livestock of the land],^(mss) and to every bird of the heavens, and to every treader upon the land, in which there is a living soul, I have given every green plant for food.” 31 Elohim saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
   2. Genesis 8:18-22 Noaḥ went out, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives with him. 19 [And all the wild beasts and all the livestock],^(LXX) every creeping, and every bird, whatever moves on the land, after their families, went out of the ark. 20 Noaḥ built an altar to [Elohim],^(LXX) and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 YHWH smelled the pleasant aroma. YHWH said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake for the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. I will never again strike every living, as I have done. 22 While the land remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
   3. “Every moving thing that lives”?
   4. There are broadly three types of Bible versions (Source)
      1. Word-for-Word
      2. Thought-for-Thought
      3. Paraphrased.
      4. I would add an additional type of “Literal” to this list.

1. 1. Even though some would view “word-for-word” as literal, comparing Genesis 9:3 show an important distinction and why “Literal” should be a seperate type from “Word-for-Word”:
      1. Good News Translation (Paraphrased) “Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food.”
         1. Who’s “them”? In this paraphrased version, you have to read verse 9:2 to understand: “All the animals, birds, and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food.”
      2. New International Version (Thought-for-Thought) “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
      3. Holman Christian Standard Bible (Thought-for-Thought) “Every living creature will be food for you; as [I gave] the green plants, I have given you everything.”
      4. English Standard Version (Word-for-Word) “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”
      5. King James Version (Word-for-Word) “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
      6. New American Standard Bible (Word-for-Word) “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.”
      7. The Scriptures (Literal) “Every moving creature that lives is food for you. I have given you all, as I gave the green plants.”
      8. Young’s Literal Translation (Literal) “Every creeping thing that is alive, to you it is for food; as the green herb I have given to you the whole;”
      9. Literal Standard Version (Literal) “Every creeping thing that is alive, to you it is for food; as the green herb I have given to you the whole;”
      10. Brenton Septuagint Translation (Literal): “And every reptile which is living shall be to you for meat, I have given all things to you as the green herbs.”
   2. What is Elohim allowing Noaḥ and his sons to eat? Is it all the animals, everything that lives, every living creature, every moving thing, every moving creature, every creeping thing, or every reptile? Let’s take a closer look:
      1. The Hebrew word בְּהֵמָה behemah (H929) is sometimes translated as “beast” in the King James Version (KJV) and other Bibles (cf. Genesis 6:7; Genesis 7:2; Genesis 8:20; Genesis 34:23; Genesis 36:6; Exodus 8:17-18; Exodus 9:9-10; Leviticus 7:21,25,26; Leviticus 11:2-3,26,39,46; Leviticus 18:23; Leviticus 20:16,25; Leviticus 24:18,21), but בְּהֵמָה behemah refers to both wild and domestic animals including cattle and livestock. בְּהֵמָה behemah is equivalent to the Greek word κτῆνος ktēnos (G2934) which is defined as a “beast of burden” mainly referring to cattle or livestock and often used to define four-legged animals as opposed to fish and birds.
      2. Genesis 7:1-3 YHWH said to Noaḥ, “Come with all of your household into the ark, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. 2 You will take seven pairs of every clean animal (בְּהֵמָה behemah H929) with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. 3 Also of the birds of the heavens, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the land.
         1. The reference to clean and unclean “animals” is significant because if we look at the Hebrew word used (בְּהֵמָה behemah H929), we get closer to understanding that YHWH is referring to certain types of animals since the word refers to wild and domestic animals including cattle and livestock.
            1. The Septuagint translates בְּהֵמָה behemah to cattle or livestock: “And of the clean cattle take in to thee sevens, male and female, and of the unclean cattle pairs male and female.”
      3. Genesis 8:18-20 Noaḥ̣ went out, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives with him. 19 [And all the wild beasts and all the livestock],^(LXX) every creeping, and every bird, whatever creeps on the land, after their families, went out of the ark. 20 Noaḥ̣ built an altar to [Elohim],^(LXX) and took of every clean animal (בְּהֵמָה behemah H929), and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
         1. We now have more context to the clean “animals” referenced in Genesis 7:2 since Noaḥ took every clean animal and offered them on the altar. We can assume that the seven pairs of clean animals were ones that could be placed on the altar which would obviously exclude clean animals that live in the water or clean insects since water animals were not taken on the ark and insects (e.g. locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper Leviticus 11:22) are not called “animals” in the Bible nor are they ever sacrificed on an altar. We know Noaḥ, “took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird”.
            1. The word “animal” is בְּהֵמָה behemah (H929) is most often translated as “beast” in the Bible, but refers to both wild and domestic animals including cattle and livestock. בְּהֵמָה behemah is equivalent to the Greek word κτῆνος ktēnos (G2934) which is defined as a beast of burden and used to define four-legged animals as opposed to fish and birds.
         2. We’re also given other types of living animals in Genesis 8:19: wild beasts, livestock,^(LXX) creeping, bird, and whatever creeps on the land
      4. Genesis 9:1 Elohim blessed Noaḥ̣ and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the land. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every [wild]^(LXX) animal of the land, [and on all livestock of the land,]^(LXX) and on every bird of the heavens. All that creep along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3 Every creeping that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green plants (cf. Genesis 1:29-30), I have given all to you.
         1. “Creeping thing”
            1. One of three Hebrew words: רֶמֶשׂ remes (H7431), רָמַשׂ ramas (H7430), or שֶׁרֶץ sherets (H8318).
               1. רֶמֶשׂ remes (H7431) comes from a root word that means “to tread” and refers to any rapidly moving animal that crawls or creeps on the ground. רֶמֶשׂ remes is only used in Genesis (cf. Genesis 1:24-26; Genesis 6:7; Genesis 6:20; Genesis 7:14; Genesis 7:23; Genesis 8:17; Genesis 8:19; Genesis 9:3).
               2. רָמַשׂ ramas (H7430) is used throughout the Bible to refer to animals that creep (רָמַשׂ ramas) which the waters brought forth (cf. Genesis 1:21; Psalm 69:34) and living animals that creep (רָמַשׂ ramas) upon the land (cf. Genesis 1:28; Genesis 7:21; Genesis 9:2; Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 20:25; Deuteronomy 4:18).
               3. שֶׁרֶץ sherets (H8318) means “to swarm,” and refers to insects, animals, or small reptiles that teem, swarm, or creep (cf. Genesis 1:20; Genesis 7:21; Genesis 7:21; Leviticus 5:2; Leviticus 11:20; Leviticus 11:21-22; Leviticus 11:23-29; Leviticus 11:31; Leviticus 11:41-44; Deuteronomy 14:19).

               These three Hebrew words are all equivalent to the Greek word ἑρπετόν herpeton (G2062) defined as a creeping animal or reptile, as opposed to quadrupeds and birds (cf. Acts 10:12; Acts 11:6; Romans 1:23; James 3:7).

               In Leviticus רָמַשׂ ramas and שֶׁרֶץ sherets are both used to describe certain detestable animals forbidden to be eaten:

            2. Leviticus 11:10-12; All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas and rivers, all that swarm (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) in the waters, and all the living souls that are in the waters, they are detestable to you, 11 and you will detest them. You will not eat of their flesh, and you will detest their carcasses. 12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters is detestable to you.
            3. Leviticus 11:20-23; All flying that swarm (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) on all fours are detestable to you. 21 Yet you may eat these: of all winged swarmers (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the land. 22 Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper. 23 But all winged swarmers (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) which have four feet are detestable to you. 24 By these you will become unclean. Whoever touches their carcass will be unclean until the evening. 25 Whoever carries any part of their carcass will wash his clothes [and wash himself in water],^(DSS) and be unclean until the evening.
            4. Leviticus 11:29-31; These are they which are unclean to you among the swarmers (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) that swarm on the land: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. 31 These are they which are unclean to you among all that swarm (שֶׁרֶץ sherets). Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until the evening.
            5. Leviticus 11:41-47; Every swarmer (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) that swarms on the land is detestable. It will not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all swarmers (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) that swarm on the land, them you will not eat; for they are detestable. 43 You will not make your souls detestable with any swarmer (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) that swarms. You will not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled by them. 44 For I am YHWH your Elohim. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I [YHWH your Elohim]^(LXX) am holy. You will not defile your souls with any kind of swarmer (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) that creeps (רָמַשׂ ramas) on the land. 45 For I am YHWH who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim. You will therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the Torah of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living soul that creeps (רָמַשׂ ramas) in the waters, and of every soul that swarms (שֶׁרֶץ sherets) on the land, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living that may be eaten and the living that may not be eaten.’ ”
2. Genesis 9:4-7 But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat. 5 I will surely seek accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will seek it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will seek the soul of man. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for Elohim made man in his own image. 7 Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the land, and multiply in it [and have dominion over it]”^(LXX)(mss)
   1. Leviticus 3:17 It will be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you will eat neither fat nor blood.
   2. Leviticus 7:22 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You will eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat. 24 The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you will in no way eat of it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal which men bring as an offering made by fire to YHWH, even the soul who eats it will be cut off from his people. 26 You will not eat any blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whoever it is who eats any blood, that soul will be cut off from his people.’ ”
   3. Leviticus 17:10 Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I have said to the sons of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.” 13 Whatever man there is of the sons of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten, he will pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, “You will not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it will be cut off.”
   4. Ezekiel 33:23 YHWH’s word came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, those who inhabit the waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, ‘Abraham was one, and he inherited the land; but we are many. The land is given us for inheritance.’ 25 Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. So should you possess the land? 26 You stand on your sword, you work abomination, and every one of you defiles his neighbor’s woman. So should you possess the land?” ‘
   5. Deuteronomy 12:13 Be careful that you don’t cause your burnt offerings to ascend in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which YHWH chooses in one of your tribes, there you will cause your burnt offerings to ascend, and there you will do all that I command you. 15 Yet you may kill and eat meat within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to YHWH your Elohim’s blessing which he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer. 16 Only you will not eat the blood. You will pour it out on the land like water.
   6. Deuteronomy 15:19 You will dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to YHWH your Elohim. You will do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You will eat it before YHWH your Elohim year by year in the place which YHWH will choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you will not sacrifice it to YHWH your Elohim. 22 You will eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean will eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only you will not eat its blood. You will pour it out on the ground like water.
   7. 1 Samuel 14:23-35 So YHWH saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven. 24 The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Shaul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ ” So the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.” 31 They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint; 32 and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against YHWH, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!” 34 Shaul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against YHWH in eating meat with the blood.’ ” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there. 35 Shaul built an altar to YHWH. This was the first altar that he built to YHWH.
   8. Acts 15:19-21 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Nations who turn to Elohim, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from whoring, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who proclaim him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
   9. Jubilees 4:2-5 And in the first year of the third jubilee, Cain slew Abel because Elohim accepted the sacrifice of Abel, and did not accept the offering of Cain. 3. And he slew him in the field: and his blood cried from the ground to the heavens, complaining because he had slain him. 4. And the Lord reproved Cain because of Abel, because he had slain him, and he made him a fugitive on the land because of the blood of his brother, and he cursed him upon the land. 5. And on this account it is written on the heavenly tables, “Cursed is he who smiteth his neighbour treacherously, and let all who have seen and heard say, So be it; and the man who hath seen and not declared it, let him be accursed as the other.”
   10. Jubilees 7:30 There will be no blood seen upon you of all the blood there will be all the days in which ye have killed any beasts or cattle or whatever flies upon the land,
   11. Jubilees 11:1-2 And in the thirty-fifth jubilee, in the third week, in the first year thereof, [1681 A.M.] Reu took to himself a woman, and her name was ‘Ôrâ, the daughter of ‘Ûr, the son of Kêsêd, and she bare him a son, and he called his name Sêrôḫ, in the seventh year of this week in this jubilee. [1687 A.M.] 2. And the sons of Noaḥ began to war on each other, to take captive and to slay each other, and to shed the blood of men on the land, and to eat blood, and to build strong cities, and walls, and towers, and individuals (began) to exalt themselves above the nation, and to found the beginnings of reigns, and to go to war people against people, and nation against nation, and city against city, and all (began) to do evil, and to acquire arms, and to teach their sons war, and they began to capture cities, and to sell male and female slaves.
   12. Jubilees 21:5-7 And do thou, my son, observe His commandments and His ordinances and His judgments, and walk not after the abominations and after the graven images and after the molten images. 6. And eat no blood at all of animals or cattle, or of any bird which flieth in the heavens. 7. And if thou dost slay a victim as an acceptable peace offering, slay ye it, and pour out its blood upon the altar, and all the fat of the offering offer on the altar with fine flour (and the meat offering) mingled with oil (cf. Leviticus 2:4), with its libation offering–offer them all together on the altar of burnt offering; it is a sweet savour before the Lord (cf. Leviticus 3:7-10).
   13. Jubilees 21:16-20 And at all times be clean in thy body, and wash thyself with water before thou approachest to offer on the altar, and wash thy hands and thy feet before thou drawest near to the altar; and when thou art done sacrificing, wash again thy hands and thy feet (cf. Exodus 30:19-21). 17. And let no blood appear upon you nor upon your clothes; be on thy guard, my son, against blood, be on thy guard exceedingly; cover it with dust (cf. Leviticus 17:13). 18. And do not eat any blood, for it is the soul; eat no blood whatever (cf. Leviticus 17:13-14, Deuteronomy 12:23-25). 19. And take no gifts for the blood of man, lest it be shed with impunity, without judgment; for it is the blood that is shed that causeth the land to sin, and the land cannot be cleansed from the blood of man save by the blood of him who shed it (cf. Numbers 35:33). 20. And take no present or gift for the blood of man: blood for blood, that thou mayest be accepted before the Lord, the Most High Elohim; for He is the defence of the good: and that thou mayest be preserved from all evil, and that He may save thee from every kind of death…
3. Genesis 9:8-17 Elohim spoke to Noaḥ and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you, 10 and with every living soul that is with you: the birds, [and]^(LXX) the livestock, and every animal of the land with you, [of all that go out of the ark].^(LXX) 11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the land.” 12 Elohim said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set my bow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the land. 14 When I bring a cloud over the land, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, 15 I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living soul of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The bow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between [me]^(LXX) and every living soul of all flesh that is on the land.” 17 Elohim said to Noaḥ, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the land.”
   1. Jubilees 6:1-4 And on the new moon of the third new moon he went forth from the ark, and built an altar on that mountain. 2. And he made atonement for the land, and took a kid and made atonement by its blood for all the guilt of the land; for everything that had been on it had been destroyed, save those that were in the ark with Noaḥ̣. 3. And he placed the fat thereof on the altar, and he took an ox, and a goat, and a sheep and kids, and salt, and a turtle-dove, and the young of a dove, and placed a burnt sacrifice on the altar, and poured thereon an offering mingled with oil, and sprinkled wine and strewed frankincense over everything, and caused a goodly savour to arise, acceptable before the Lord. 4. And the Lord smelt the goodly savour, and He cut a covenant with him that there should not be any more a flood to destroy the land; that all the days of the land seedtime and harvest should never cease; cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not change their order, nor cease for ever.
   2. Did YHWH establish the Noaḥide Laws here?
      1. In Judaism, the Seven Laws of Noaḥ are a set of universal moral laws which, according to the Talmud, were given by God as a covenant with Noaḥ and with the “sons of Noaḥ”—that is, all of humanity. The Seven Laws of Noaḥ include:
         1. Prohibitions against worshipping idols,
         2. Cursing God,
         3. Murder,
         4. Adultery and sexual immorality,
         5. Theft,
         6. Eating flesh torn from a living animal,
         7. Obligation to establish courts of justice.
      2. According to Jewish law, non-Jews (goy/gentiles) are not obligated to convert to Judaism, but they are required to observe the Seven Laws of Noaḥ to be assured of a place in the World to Come (Olam Ha-Ba), the final reward of the righteous. The non-Jews that choose to follow the Seven Laws of Noaḥ are regarded as “Righteous Gentiles” or “Pious People of the World”.
   3. Did the First Century Historian Josephus speak of Noachide Laws?
      1. The Seven Noaḥide Laws are not explicitly stated in the Torah, but were interpreted by rabbis in the second century.
      2. “Josephus excelled in his studies of Jewish law and studied with the Sadducees, Pharisees, and the Essenes, eventually aligning himself with the Pharisees.”
      3. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 1.3.8 However, I require you to abstain from shedding the blood of men, and to keep yourselves pure from murder; and to punish those that commit any such thing. I permit you to make use of all the other living creatures at your pleasure, and as your appetites lead you; for I have made you lords of them all, both of those that walk on the land, and those that swim in the waters, and of those that fly in the regions of the air on high, excepting their blood, for therein is the life.
   4. What did Noaḥ teach is sons and their sons? Did he teach them the Noachide Laws?
      1. Jubilees 7:20-39 And in the twenty-eighth jubilee [1324-1372 A.M.] Noaḥ̣ began to enjoin upon his sons’ sons the ordinances and commandments, and all the judgments that he knew, and he exhorted his sons to observe righteousness, and to cover the shame of their flesh, and to bless their Creator, and honour father and mother, and love their neighbour, and guard their souls from fornication and uncleanness and all iniquity. 21. For owing to these three things came the flood upon the land, namely, owing to the fornication wherein the Watchers against the law of their ordinances went a whoring after the daughters of men, and took themselves wives of all which they chose: and they made the beginning of uncleanness. 22. And they begat sons the [Nephilim], and they were all unlike, and they devoured one another: and the Giants slew the Naphil, and the Naphil slew the Eljo, and the Eljo mankind, and one man another. 23. And every one sold himself to work iniquity and to shed much blood, and the land was filled with iniquity. 24. And after this they sinned against the beasts and birds, and all that moves and walks on the land: and much blood was shed on the land, and every imagination and desire of men imagined vanity and evil continually. 25. And the Lord destroyed everything from off the face of the land; because of the wickedness of their deeds, and because of the blood which they had shed in the midst of the land He destroyed everything. 26. ‘And we were left, I and you, my sons, and everything that entered with us into the ark, and behold I see your works before me that ye do not walk in righteousness: for in the path of destruction ye have begun to walk, and ye are parting one from another, and are envious one of another, and so it comes that ye are not in harmony, my sons, each with his brother. 27. For I see, and behold the demons have begun their seductions against you and against your children and now I fear on your behalf, that after my death ye will shed the blood of men upon the land, and that ye, too, will be destroyed from the face of the land. 28. For whoso sheddeth man’s blood, and whoso eateth the blood of any flesh, will all be destroyed from the land. 29. And there will not be left any man that eateth blood, or that sheddeth the blood of man on the land, Nor will there be left to him any seed or descendants living under the heavens; For into Sheol will they go, And into the place of condemnation will they descend, And into the darkness of the deep will they all be removed by a violent death. 30. There will be no blood seen upon you of all the blood there will be all the days in which ye have killed any beasts or cattle or whatever flies upon the land, and work ye a good work to your souls by covering that which has been shed on the face of the land. 31. And ye will not be like him who eats with blood, but guard yourselves that none may eat blood before you: cover the blood, for thus have I been commanded to testify to you and your children, together with all flesh. 32. And suffer not the soul to be eaten with the flesh, that your blood, which is your life, may not be required at the hand of any flesh that sheds it on the land. 33. For the land will not be clean from the blood which has been shed upon it; for only through the blood of him that shed it will the land be purified throughout all its generations. 34. And now, my children, harken: work judgment and righteousness that ye may be planted in righteousness over the face of the whole land, and your glory lifted up before my Elohim, who saved me from the waters of the flood. 35. And behold, ye will go and build for yourselves cities, and plant in them all the plants that are upon the land, and moreover all fruit-bearing trees. 36. For three years the fruit of everything that is eaten will not be gathered: and in the fourth year its fruit will be accounted holy [and they will offer the first fruits], acceptable before the Most High Elohim, who created the heavens and land and all things. Let them offer in abundance the first of the wine and oil as first fruits on the altar of the Lord, who receiveth it, and what is left let the servants of the house of the Lord eat before the altar which receiveth it. 37. And in the fifth year make ye the release so that ye release it in righteousness and uprightness, and ye will be righteous, and all that you plant will prosper. (cf. Leviticus 19:23-25) 38. For thus did Enoch, the father of your father command Methuselah, his son, and Methuselah his son Lamech, and Lamech commanded me all the things which his fathers commanded him. 39. And I also will give you commandment, my sons, as Enoch commanded his son in the first jubilees: whilst still living, the seventh in his generation, he commanded and witnessed to his son and to his sons’ sons until the day of his death.”
4. Genesis 9:18-23 The sons of Noaḥ who went out from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noaḥ, and from these the whole land was populated. 20 Noaḥ began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the indecency of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the indecency of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s indecency.
   1. Jubilees 7:1-13 And in the seventh week in the first year [1317 A.M.] thereof, in this jubilee, Noaḥ̣ planted vines on the mountain on which the ark had rested, named Lubar, one of the Ararat Mountains, and they produced fruit in the fourth year, [1320 A.M.] (cf. Leviticus 19:23-25) and he guarded their fruit, and gathered it in this year in the seventh new moon. 2. And he made wine therefrom and put it into a vessel, and kept it until the fifth year, [1321 A.M.] until the first day, on the new moon of the first new moon.
      1. Leviticus 19:23-25 When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. For three years it shall be reckoned as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, for giving praise to YHWH. 25 In the fifth year you shall eat its fruit, that it may yield its increase to you. I am YHWH your Elohim.
   2. 7:3 And he celebrated with joy the day of this feast, and he made a burnt sacrifice unto the Lord, one young ox and one ram, and seven sheep, each a year old, and a kid of the goats, that he might make atonement thereby for himself and his sons. 4. And he prepared the kid first, and placed some of its blood on the flesh that was on the altar which he had made, and all the fat he laid on the altar where he made the burnt sacrifice, and the ox and the ram and the sheep, and he laid all their flesh upon the altar. 5. And he placed all their offerings mingled with oil upon it, and afterwards he sprinkled wine on the fire which he had previously made on the altar, and he placed incense on the altar and caused a sweet savour to ascend acceptable before the Lord his Elohim. 6. And he rejoiced and drank of this wine, he and his children with joy.
   3. 7:7 And it was evening, and he went into his tent, and being drunken he lay down and slept, and was uncovered in his tent as he slept. 8. And Ham saw Noaḥ̣ his father naked, and went forth and told his two brethren without. 9. And Shem took his garment and arose, he and Japheth, and they placed the garment on their shoulders and went backward and covered the shame of their father, and their faces were backward. 10. And Noaḥ̣ awoke from his sleep and knew all that his younger son had done unto him, and he cursed his son and said: “Cursed be Canaan; an enslaved servant will he be unto his brethren.” 11. And he blessed Shem, and said: “Blessed be the Lord Elohim of Shem, and Canaan will be his servant. 12. Elohim will enlarge Japheth, and Elohim will dwell in the dwelling of Shem, and Canaan will be his servant.” 13. And Ham knew that his father had cursed his younger son, and he was displeased that he had cursed his son, and he parted from his father, he and his sons with him, Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.
5. Genesis 9:24-27 Noaḥ awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” 26 He said, “[Blessed be the Elohim]^(LXX) of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant. 27 May Elohim enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”
   1. Exodus 33:1-3 YHWH spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’ 2 I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 3 Go to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.”
   2. Deuteronomy 9:4-5 Don’t say in your heart, after YHWH your Elohim has thrust them out from before you, “For my righteousness YHWH has brought me in to possess this land;” because YHWH drives them out before you because of the wickedness of these nations. Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations YHWH your Elohim does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
   3. Deuteronomy 20:10-18 When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it. 11 It shall be, if it gives you answer of peace and opens to you, then it shall be that all the people who are found therein shall become forced laborers to you, and shall serve you. 12 If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13 When YHWH your Elohim delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword; 14 but the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you shall take for plunder for yourself. You may use the plunder of your enemies, which YHWH your Elohim has given you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations. 16 But of the cities of these peoples that YHWH your Elohim gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes; 17 but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as YHWH your Elohim has commanded you; 18 that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done for their elohim; so would you sin against YHWH your Elohim.
   4. Deuteronomy 19:14 You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit, in the land that YHWH your Elohim gives you to possess.
      1. Week 10 Sneak Peek from Jubilees 10:29-34 And Canaan saw the land of Lebanon to the river of Egypt that it was very good, and he went not into the land of his inheritance to the west that is to the sea, and he dwelt in the land of Lebanon, eastward and westward from the border of Jordan and from the border of the sea. 30. And Ham, his father, and Cush and Mizraim, his brothers, said unto him: “Thou hast settled in a land which is not thine, and which did not fall to us by lot: do not do so; for if thou dost do so, thou and thy sons will fall in the land and be accursed through sedition; for by sedition ye have settled, and by sedition will thy children fall, and thou shalt be rooted out for ever. 31. Dwell not in the dwelling of Shem; for to Shem and to his sons did it come by their lot. 32. Cursed art thou, and cursed shalt thou be beyond all the sons of Noaḥ̣, by the curse by which we bound ourselves by an oath in the face of the holy judge, and in the face of Noaḥ̣ our father.” 33. But he did not hearken unto them, and dwelt in the land of Lebanon from Hamath to the entering of Egypt, he and his sons until this day. 34. And for this reason that land is named Canaan.
   5. Matthew 15:21-28 Yeshua went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” 23 But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.” 24 But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Yeshua answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
6. Genesis 9:28 Noaḥ lived three hundred fifty years after the flood. 29 All the days of Noaḥ were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

1. This week in our Apostolic portion we return to Paul’s first letter to Timothy.
   1. Quick review of our discussion from our study in Week 3 (1 Timothy 2:1-15).
      1. Premise:
         1. By definition, teaching (scripture) is an authoritative activity with an intended purpose defined by the Chief Administrator, not the teacher himself. The qualities of the teaching and the character of the teachers will establish order or disorder and bring function (Tov) or dysfunction (Rah) to the community of faith.
      2. Key Points:
         1. The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Tim. 1:5)3606. We desire a righteousness from God, free of speculation and an assertion of our authority over His.
         2. Scripture teaches that the authority for men to lead and teach in the community is integral to the design of creation, and not a condition imposed by God as a result of the Fall.
         3. Authority structures in the community are intended to reflect the creation order where leadership and authority to teach is assigned to men. The intention of Elohim is to establish order that is functional and results in blessing and life, instead of disorder and dysfunction.
2. Before we look at our portion, let’s review the preceding context in 1 Timothy 3:
   1. Paul presents the qualifications for leaders in the community of faith.
      1. “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer (#1984), it is a fine work he desires to do” (1 Tim. 3:1).
         1. G1984. episkopé – “oversight, visitation, office of a bishop”.
            1. Word Origin: a feminine noun, derived from 1909 /epí, “on,” which intensifies 4648 /skopéō, “look intently”).
         2. Most translators add the word “office” and translate G1489 as “bishop”.
            1. “Faithful is the saying, if a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (ASV).
            2. “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (KJV).
         3. Probably a reflection of the hierarchical structure established in the Catholic church. 
      2. This translation emphasizes the position/office over the function and creates confusion around the primary role defined for biblical leadership – i.e. the elder (see G425. presbuteros – ref. Titus 1, 1 Timothy 5:17-20; also H2205 zaqen).
         1. “Steadfast [is] the word: If anyone the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth” (1 Tim. 3:1 YLT).
   2. Both Paul and Peter seem to use the terms elder and overseer interchangeably.
      1. “And from Miletus [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. When they had come, he said to them, ‘Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the ekklesia of God’” (Acts 20:17,18,28).
      2. “I exhort the elders who are among you…to shepherd the flock of God which is among you, overseeing them. (1 Pet. 5:1-2).

KEY POINT: 

The leadership function common throughout the Bible is oversight and is pictured by the shepherd and his flock of sheep. This function is identified by different words – e.g. “pastor”, “shepherd, “overseer”, and “bishop” – but is encompassed in the position of the elder. 

1. Why is this important? 
   1. The theme throughout Paul’s first letter to Timothy is leadership
      1. “These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly, but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15).
      2. Leadership sets the tone and establishes the culture of the community.
         1. Keeps the flock safe from wolves and those unfit to be part of God’s household.
   2. Three leadership principles from 1 Timothy 3:
      1. #1 – A leader must rule his own house well (vs. 4-5).
      2. #2 – A leader must not be a new convert (vs. 6).
      3. #3 — A leader must be tested first to be proven blameless (#410). (vs. 10).
         1. G410. anegklétos – “blameless, above reproach, unaccused”.
   3. Why these three leadership requirements?
      1. “So they will not fall into the fall judgment (#297), reproach (#3680) …and the snare (#3803) of the devil” (vs. 6-7)
         1. G297 – krima – “judgment, verdict, condemnation”.
         2. G3680. oneidismos – “reproach, insult, disgrace”.
         3. G3803. pagis – “snare, trap”.

KEY POINT:

The Accuser/Devil/Satan’s goal is to sift, test, and ultimately defeat leaders. This is an assignment from YHWH to purify His shepherds so that they might be qualified and prepared to protect His flock.

1. If you are being tested, take heart! The Lord’s purpose is to remove that which gives the enemy grounds to bring accusation and demand God’s righteous judgment in our lives. If we remain faithful, the end result is boldness and confidence in your faith (1 Tim. 3:13) that will bring glory to His Name.

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

1. Now that we understand the genuine, we are equipped to discern the counterfeit.
   1. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:1-5).
      1. It’s helpful to look at consider can happen to the sheep and to the (false) shepherds.
2. Responsibility always begins with leadership.
   1. “Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment” (Jam. 3:1). 
   2. In 1 Tim. 4:1-5, Paul is speaking of men who have failed or avoided the testing of Elohim and “fallen into the judgment, reproach and the snare of the devil”.
      1. They have become servants of Satan to teach lies under the influence of his spirits/demons.
         1. “[I]n which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2; see also Eph. 6:12).
         2. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
   3. Our conscience is the God-given mechanism to separate truth from error and discern Holy Spirit from spirits that are unholy.
      1. In these false teachers, it is seared – i.e. rendered dead and without nerves like scar tissue.

KEY POINT:

Unregenerated men who fail to repent in their conceited pursuit of reputation and self-appointed authority become vessels of HaSatan to bring evil, dysfunction and judgment into the household of God.

1. The people have a choice which shepherd(s) they will follow. 
   1. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times (#5306) some will fall away (#868) from the faith, paying attention (# to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 3:1)
      1. G5306 — husteros – “latter, afterward”.
         1. Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root “ὕστερον” (husteron), meaning “later” or “afterward.”
         2. What time is Paul speaking about?
            1. Placing in the context of the “end times” – i.e. just prior to Yeshua’s second coming – does not fit the context nor the Greek words used.
      2. G868 –  aphistémi – “to depart, withdraw, remove, desert, fall away”.
         1. Opposite of G2476 –histémi – “to stand, to set, to establish, to place”.
            1. “Not that we domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. “ (2 Cor. 1:24; see also Eph. 6:12-14) 

KEY POINT:

Our victory in Messiah is complete by His work of atonement on our behalf. We are simply called to stand firm and maintain our faith(fulness) in the midst of suffering and the testing of Satan.

1. Note that the apostasy described by Paul in this passage occurs inside the house of God.
   1. People submitting themselves to teachers of false doctrine because they could not or would not see through their hypocrisy.
   2. The Good Shepherd has already warned us:
   3. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit” (Mat. 7:15-17).

KEY POINT:

If we pay attention to fruit, we can all discern the spirits.

1. What were these false doctrines?
   1. “[M]en who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” (1Tim. 4:3).
      1. “Forbid marriage”
         1. Common belief in Gnostic religions where the body and that which is earthly and material is less holy or pure than what is immaterial and heavenly—i.e. spirit.
         2. “This false morality was very early introduced into the church, being taught first by the Encratites and Marcionites, and afterward by the Manicheans, who said marriage was the invention of the evil god; and who considered it as sinful to bring creatures into the world to be unhappy, and to be food for death” (Benson).
         3. This is a demonic doctrine because it contradicts the primary dominion mandate given to mankind – “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28).
      2. “Abstain from foods”
         1. The Greek word is used in reference to all types of foods but seems to be referring here to meat (see also Mat. 9:10; Mat 13:9; Rom. 14:15, 20; 1 Cor. 8:8, 1 Cor. 8:13).
         2. Many commentators point to the commands established by the Catholic church.
            1. Excerpt from Butler’s Roman Catholic Catechism:
               1. “Question: Are there any other commandments besides the Ten Commandments of God? Answer: There are the commandments or precepts of the church, which are chiefly six. Question: What are we obliged to do by the second commandment of the church? Answer: To give part of the year to fast and abstinence. Question: What do you mean by fast-days? Answer: Certain days on which we are allowed but one meal, and “forbidden flesh meat.”
               2. Question: What do you mean by days of abstinence? Answer: Certain days on which we are forbidden to eat flesh meat; but are allowed the usual number of meals. Question: Is it strictly forbidden by the church to eat flesh meat on days of abstinence? Answer: Yes; and to eat flesh meat on any day on which it is forbidden, without necessity and leave of the church, is very sinful.”
         3. Abstinence from meat was also practiced by certain 1st-century Jewish religious communities including the Essenes and Therapeutæ, who were precursors of the monastic systems of Christianity, who practiced asceticism.

KEY POINT:

The doctrines of demons described by Paul seem to relate to man-made doctrines of righteousness that set-aside or contradict the commandments of God. They appeal to a heart that has fallen away from the Gospel instead of standing firm in Yeshua’s yoke of covenant faithfulness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the shepherding of righteous leaders.

1. Closing exhortations to Timothy.
   1. “Be diligent…pay attention…instruct others…put them into practice”.
      1. “[P]ersevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16).
         1. Salvation is a process, not an event.
         2. Salvation is not by works but we are called to “work it out” (Phi. 2:12).
         3. God‘s purpose in salvation is not to save us in our sins (Mat.1:21), but from them. Messiah saves us from our sinful nature and transforms us into His image (Ga. 4:19).
   2. “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially (#3122) of believers” (1 Tim. 4:10).
      1. How are we to understand this statement?
         1. Does Paul mean “exclusively” those who believe?
            1. This does not reflect the meaning of the Greek word used.
               1. 3122. malista – “especially, chiefly, most of all”.
                  1. “Let us do good to all, especially (#3122) to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:9-10).
                  2. “All the saints greet you, but especially (#3122) those who are of Caesar‘s household (Phil 4:20-23).

1. Consider this idea:
   1. YHWH is in the process of saving all people, with a special work or focus on believers (e.g. the Elect).
      1. “Especially”: (adj.) late 14c., from Old French especial “pre-eminent, important”; from Latin specialis “belonging to a particular kind or species,” from species “kind” (see species). 
   2. Thus, believers are “especially saved” because they have been justified by faith and are presently working out their salvation as God empowers them (Phi. 2:13). Their salvation is being perfected (made complete) for all to see (1Tim. 4:15-16).
   3. Please see our notes from Week 145 for a more thorough discussion on the Elect/First-Fruits (https://thecord.life/notes/145/)

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