Parashah # 47 Re’eh / See; Look at; Behold; Perceive; Consider
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July, 21, 2014 | by
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Parashah #47
Re’eh ~ / ~ See; Look at; Behold; Perceive; Consider
Torah: D’varim/Deuteronomy 11:26 ~ 16:17
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu/Isaiah 54:11 ~ 55:5
B’rit Hadashah: 1st Corinthians 5:9-13; Yochanan Aleph/1st John 4:1-6
This is Parashah (reh-eh) Re’eh. The Hebrew word re’eh means to see, look at or behold. However, it is not the emphatic use behold. If it were, we would use another Hebrew word (he-neh) hineh. Instead, Moshe used re’eh as a more practical call to understand the choice set before B’nei Isra’el/the children of Israel. I believe it was Moshe’s heart-felt plea, for Israel to see plainly (or behold) The Almighty was setting before them a choice:
• To obey and consequently enjoy the blessings or . . .
• To disobey and reap the consequences of disobedience.
CHAPTER 11
In verse 26, with regard to the word see, Rabbi Malbim, in the Artscroll Chumash, has this comment: “The blessing and curse are not simply promises for the future. One can actually see people who observe the Torah have a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment and spiritual growth. The blessing is there for all to see.”
Moshe told the B’nei Isra’el/Children of Israel the command- ments of Torah would prove to be either a blessing or a curse to them depending on whether or not they obeyed them. He told the Israelites to conduct a covenant ceremony after entering the land of Kena’an / Canaan. They were to hold the ceremony at Shechem – the place where Avraham / Abraham first received the promise of inheriting the land. Half the tribes would pronounce the curses for violating the Torah from atop one mountain while the other half pronounced the blessings for keeping Torah from on top of the opposite mountain. This ceremony is elaborated in D’varim/Deuteronomy 27. The purpose of the ceremony was to remind everyone although disobedience begets curses, obedi- ence brings Yehovah’s blessings. This ceremony is a reminder for us also . . . we CAN obtain Yehovah’s blessings in our lives IF we will commit ourselves to faithfully observe His command-ments. Great blessings are to be bestowed upon us IF we will keep the command-ments of Yehovah our God. It can and will change our lives to the extent we conform ourselves to its wisdom.
The presentation of both a blessing and a curse implies choice on the part of B’nei Isra’el and the imperative “SEE!” establishes a direct connection between vision and the ability to make such a choice. In order to choose, we need to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong, exile and redemption, embrac- ing the commands of the Holy One or shying away from His word, we MUST see clearly and behold the reality before us. Free will and the ability to make choices is what separates man from the rest of Yehovah’s creation.
In verses 27 & 28, different translations use the word harken or listen which is taken from the Hebrew root word Shema. We already know shema means more than just hear. It carries with it the directive of listening and obeying what is instructed. The prophet (Ah-mos) Amos says, in the future “. . . there will be not a hunger for bread and not a thirst for water, but only to hear the word of Yehovah” (Amos 8:11).
Verse 29 says “you are to put the blessing on Mount G’rizim and the curse on Mount ‘Eival”. In the past I have had trouble separating Mount G’rizim/Gerizim and Mount Eival/Ebal and which received the blessings and which received the cursings. Finally, it dawned on me. Mount Eival begins with an “E” like the word “evil”. It received the curses. On the other hand, Mount Gerizim begins with a “G” like the word “good”. It received the blessings.
CHAPTER 12
The sanctity of HaAretz/The Land is covered in verses 1-19. The instructions / commandments given in these passages are specific to Eretz Yisrael / The Land of Israel. They refer to the removal of every bit of idolatry from The Land and they refer to mitzvot / instructions which are performed there exclusively or primarily.
There is no doubt, according to verses 2 & 3, anything having to do with idols was to be completely destroyed.
• Destroy all the high places
• Break down their altars
• Smash their standing-stones to pieces
• Burn up their sacred poles completely
• Cut down their carved images
• Exterminate their name
Rashi commented it wasn’t enough to just chop down an (ah-sheh-rah) asherah or idolatrous tree; even its roots were to be removed from the ground. Additionally, B’nei Yishra’el / Children of Israel “. . . were not even to refer to pagan gods by their proper names. Instead, they should use derogatory nicknames for them.”
Verse 5 indicates sacrifices are to be made “. . . at the place Yehovah your God shall choose . . .” Initially, it would have been the Tabernacle and then, later on, the Temple. With regard to the Temple, (which was in Yerushalayim / Jerusalem, before it was destroyed) we are told, the Tetragrammaton (יהוה) is carved into the topography of the hills, surrounding Jerusalem. That would be a pretty good indicator Jerusalem is the place Yehovah has chosen.
There are seven (the number of divine perfection) different offerings mentioned in verse 6.
• Burnt or Elevation offerings, also known as Olah, are the ones which are burned completely on the Altar
• Sacrifice offerings are peace/shalom offerings generally shared with the family and guests of the one bringing the offering (what a cookout!!!)
• The tithes are the animal tithes brought as offerings (Vayikra/Leviticus 27:32)
• The “second tithe” from the crops is mentioned in D’varim/Deuteronomy 14:22-27.
• Offerings which you give
• Offerings you have vowed
• Voluntary offerings
Verse 7 says you shall eat in the presence of Yehovah your God and rejoice. Sounds like this is referring to our Oneg!!! Oneg is a Hebrew word meaning pleasure or delight.
In verse 10 Moshe continues to give Israel the assurance The Almighty will cause them to inherit the land. Additionally, HE will give them rest from their enemies all around, and they will dwell securely and in safety.
As we study Torah, we see Yehovah has made choices . . . He chose the children of Isra’el as His people, He chose the land of Isra’el for His people and in this Torah portion we “see” (read) He has chosen to have His name dwell where they are to bring everything He commands them to bring: their burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, voluntary and vow offerings (verse 11). This third choice refers to His chosen house – the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. So The Holy One has in fact made three distinct choices: His people, His Land and His dwelling place on earth. By making His choices, our Heavenly Father is teaching us, showing us, and guiding us to make right choices. Bringing our choices to fruition requires absolute dedication to Yehovah and devotion to the task. Making the choices should be easy. We need to open our eyes and see fully, all His goodness is ours to inherit the moment we choose to make His will our choice. For that matter, we should make His will our will!
Again, we are admonished to make offerings and not just anywhere but only where The Holy One chooses. Unlike the Canaanites who brought their offerings wherever they chose, Yehovah’s chosen people were to do so only in the places He designed (verses 13 & 14).
Verses 20-25 give permission to eat unconsecrated meat as long as the blood is poured out onto the ground. These verses very strongly indicate blood is not to be consumed because “life is in the blood”.
Again in verses 29-31, there is strong admonition not to follow after the Canaanites gods because it would be an abomination to The Holy One. They have offered their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods, which The Almighty hates!!! As a nation, we should “harken” to this admonition. Our Holy God is not pleased our sons and daughters have been sacrificed to our “god of lust”. Abortion is exactly that!!!
Before we leave Chapter 12, I want to share one commentary. Twelve times in this Torah portion the words this place (singular) are mentioned. They are in . . .
• 12:5 • 12:11 • 12:18 • 12:21 • 14:23 • 14:24
• 14:25 • 16:2 • 16:6 • 16:11 • 16:15 • 16:16
This is where Israel’s One God, Yehovah, chooses to put His name. It was first mentioned prophetically by Moshe, 40 years before in his Song, just after the crossing of the Sea of Suf (Sh’mot/Exodus 15:17). I believe the place being mentioned twelve times is very significant. Twelve is the number of divine government, divine power, rule and authority, and, of course, the sons of Ya’akov/Jacob.
CHAPTER 13
The Torah is complete and perfect! This is why we are told repeatedly not to “add to” or “subtract from” its instructions. (Verse 1) An interesting side note from the Stone Edition of the Artscroll Chumash indicates this verse, according to the Torah scrolls, was actually a part of the previous passage. Therefore, some translations show this passage to be in Chapter 12:32.
From time to time you have seen me mention my friend, Brother Lynn Greuter. Some time ago, he was ordained as a Messianic Pastor and truly, he does have a Pastor’s heart. His choice, however, is to be called “Brother Lynn” rather than “Pastor”. So . . . Brother Lynn it shall be! Here are his comments:
In Deut. 13:4 the word that is translated as “walk after” or “follow” is the Hebrew word “acharai”. Yet this word denotes a great distance away, not the closeness that the English language so poorly portrays. In this particular passage the Torah is giving Yisra’el instructions concerning false prophets. So suddenly, this word takes on a different aspect, one of suddenly realizing you are a great distance away because someone or something has caused a separation. The latter half of this verse speaks of keeping His mitzvot, (instructions) and being obedient to His voice, serving Him, and cleaving to Him. So a deeper look at this verse in context reveals a portrait of one who has been led away by one who is not true & suddenly realizing they can’t hear His voice, they are so far away He is barely visible. Yet this verse gives encouragement. In spite of this distance one should never give up; with all your power, you should strive to close the gap; never allowing any circumstance to govern your walk in the footsteps of the Master. Never let despair, never give up ground to a fault or weakness, never allowing anything to remain as a hindrance that cripples us and those around us needing support. Truly in this time, the false doctrines abound & Ha-Satan the propaga- tor of them all is busy deterring many from the closeness God intended for His people. So the words of Jeremiah 16:19 ring true today!! We have inherited lies, vanity, & things where within there is no profit. We all have a choice to make, do we allow an enemy to cut us off, single us out & destroy us or do we lay aside the trash & strive back to the safety of a protected flock; a flock having the true Shepherd, Messiah of Yisra’el, who has placed instructions that are a hedge safeguarding them. I pray that should this find anyone who is discouraged, that your hands & feet would again be strengthened, that your steps would be sure for it is meant that you should be close to His side. Shalom, Bro. Lynn
We receive a very profound warning concerning false prophets (verses 2-12). There are several issues here. One is quite clearYehovah is testing to see if, in fact, He is loved with all of our heart and being. Another is, regardless of who the false prophet is, he or she is to be stoned to death with the first stone being cast by the one who was approached. This is how to rid your community of wickedness. A true prophet of Yehovah will not advocate any form of idolatry nor would he suggest any of the Torah be abolished.
In light of the Biblical admonition for end-time believers to beware of false prophets and false christs and the warning of even the very elect being deceived. Torah proves to be as up to date as today’s headlines. To those who flock after the “feel good” antics of today, is The Holy One really “loved with all of their heart and being”?
It is no secret mainstream Judaism considers Jesus a false prophet. Given the “Jesus” many Christians try to convert Jews to, it is no wonder!!! In Deuteronomy 13 Yehovah warns about miracle working prophets who turn people away from Torah. Such a prophet is to be regarded a false prophet. He is to be put to death. Many followers of Jesus have taught He did away with Torah. Furthermore, they believe He set them free from keeping the commandments. Judaism responded by declaring this Jesus a false prophet. Rightly so! The church has consistently present- ed Jesus as a prophet teaching against Torah. They need to re- think this approach!!! As a Torah-breaking miracle-worker who encouraged others to abandon the commandments of Yehovah, the Jesus of today’s popular tradition IS a false prophet as de- fined in this Chapter of Deuteronomy. In fact, under these cir- cumstances, He is NO messiah at all!!!
However, the TRUTH is Yeshua KEPT AND LIVED Torah . . . every word of it. For starters, His living the Torah began when He came to Tabernacle with us at Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles. Then His parents took Him to the Synagogue on the eighth day for His B’rit Milah/Circumcision and naming according to Torah. In Luke 4:16 we learn he came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath (7th) day, and stood up to read. There is NO WAY Yeshua could have been sacrificed on Passover as the perfect Lamb of God if He had not lived by Torah. He was placed in the tomb on HaMatzot/Feast of Unleavened Bread, again because He was without sin (because He followed the Written Torah of Moshe NOT the Oral Torah of men). Then He rose from the grave on HaBikkurim/Feast of First Fruits. He has fulfilled the Spring Feasts of the Lord and when He returns He will finish fulfilling the Fall Feasts of the Lord!!!
However, according to a commentary in the Artscroll Chumash, “under extraordinary circumstances, a proven prophet has the right to override a commandment of the Torah temporarily, as Elijah did when he brought an offering at Mount Carmel, away from the Temple in Jerusalem (M’lakhim Alef/1st Kings 18).”
“The Wayward City” is addressed in verses 13-19 and refers to any city which Yehovah had given to Israel. If the majority of the city has become corrupt by idolatrous worship because of “certain scoundrels”; . . .
• the guilty parties are executed by the sword,
• as well as the city and
• all its property,
• including the livestock –
• The city must remain a desolate heap, never to be rebuilt.
This is just an example of the horrendous danger idolatry is to Israel’s national existence and to the United States, as well!
In the Complete Jewish Bible, verse 17 (16 in English), the word tel is used. Let’s read this verse now. Different translations render it as . . .
• “an eternal heap” (once),
• another as “ashes and ruins” (once),
• another as “waste” (once),
• and another as “heap” (seven times).
When I was in Israel, I learned there are two different Hebrew words used for mountain.
• One is har, as in Har Sinai/Mt. Sinai, which is natural or God made.
• The other is tel which is man-made or artificial.
Once a tel has been made, it is not to be rebuilt on again. Tel Aviv has some significance here. For those of you who have not been there, I can assure you it is a place which would rival Las Vegas or New Orleans as “Sin City”!!! It is for this reason, I believe the United States Embassy in Israel should be moved to Jerusalem.
CHAPTER 14
This chapter begins by telling Israel they are (Ahm Sehg-you -lah) Am Segullah/uniquely treasured people. This implies the laws given here are a direct reflection of their special status. In verse 1, self-mutilation is forbidden because our Heavenly Father doesn’t want “His children” to express their mourning by injuring themselves. Nor does He want them to shave their heads as is the practice for “other gods”. Oh my! There is scripture con- cerning tattoos and “skinheads”!
Verses 3-20 give a very extensive list of permitted and forbidden animals, fish and fowl to eat. There is an interesting website you might want to go to which also gives a very extensive list of clean and unclean foods. It is:
www.theisraelofgodrc.com/CUPL.html#Baking
The latter part of verse 21 is the very simple instruction . . . “You are not to boil a young animal in its mother’s milk.” . . . which is merely a repetition of Sh’mot/Exodus 23:19 and Sh’mot / Exodus 34:26. I don’t know why this particular verse has been “added to” SO much but it is a prime example of what NOT to do to Yehovah’s Holy Torah!!!
With regard to this verse, I would like to share a reported dialogue between The Almighty and Moshe. (Best read with Jewish dialect)
HaShem: “Moshe, in keeping Kosher, never cook a calf in its mother’s milk. It’s cruel.”
Moshe: “Lord, You are saying we shouldn’t eat milk and meat together.”
HaShem: “I’m saying never cook a calf in its mother’s milk.”
Moshe: “Lord, what You are saying is, we should wait after eating meat to take milk.”
HaShem: “Moshe, listen. I am saying, don’t cook a calf in its mother’s milk!!!”
Moshe: “Lord, You mean we should keep separate dish sets for milk and for meat, and . . .”
HaShem: “Oy vey Moshe, do whatever you want!”
By the way, at the time, there was a pagan culture close by which had a ritual where they boiled calves in their mother’s milk. It was a pagan practice. This is given as the reason why the Almighty said don’t do it!!!!
Okay, back to our Parashah reading!!! The “second tithe” is addressed in verses 22-27. After the (teh-roo-mah) terumah/the Kohen’s portion, and the L’vi’im tithe have been removed from the harvested crop, the owner must separate the “second tithe”. This tithe is taken in the first, second, fourth and fifth years. During the third and sixth years a tithe is taken for distribution to the poor and no tithes are taken during the seventh year.
Recently, I received some questions concerning the tithe or tithes and offerings. My reply has to do with this Torah portion. Several years ago, The Almighty put on my heart to set aside 25% of my income for Him and His purposes. Ten per cent, of course, goes to the storehouse or the place where I am being spiritually fed. Then there are ministries IN THE LAND (Israel) which The Father has directed me to support. Those ministries take care of the poor, needy, orphans and widows, as we are instructed to do. I have purposed in my heart to NEVER come before The Almighty empty-handed. I may not have much to give but I will ALWAYS have something to give to Him. As we read through Torah, we learn when the Children of Israel came to the Tabernacle or Temple, there was always an offering given. Should I do anything less than they?
Did you notice in verses 24-26 The Almighty gives free reign to P-A-R-T-Y????? . . . as long as it is you and your household in the presence of Yehovah. He even gives permission to purchase wine or other intoxicating liquor. For those of us who have come out of the bondage of worldly living, we felt it was okay for us to party. We just didn’t understand we were to do it with our family, in His presence!!! Okay, if I’ve offended anyone by my liberal interpretation of this scripture, please forgive me!!! However, read it for yourself!
This chapter ends with the encouragement to not forget or neglect “the Levite staying with you”. As a matter of fact, it has been repeated several times during this particular reading.
CHAPTER 15
The remission of loans is discussed in verses 1-6. Just as Torah declares the seventh year rest for fields and orchards, it does so for the individual as well. According to verse 3 this remission does not apply to gentiles (heathens/unbelievers). Additionally, it applies only to personal loans to a “brother”. Any loan secured by collateral does not fall into this category. Sh’mittah, (sh-meet -tah) is the Hebrew word for this seventh year rest and it also means release. Verse 7 says “if someone among you is needy . . . you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from giving to your needy brother.” So how would you know whether or not your brother is needy? Not everyone goes around with their hand out when they are in need! I have been taught when a person borrowed something and they had no other collateral, they were to give the lender their “outer garment”. Okay, so just what is the “outer garment”? I believe the “outer garment” is where the tzitzit/fringes were worn. So if a brother was seen without his tzitzit, one would know he was in need. We are told in verse 11 there will always be poor people in the land.
A story is told of when Rabbi Akiva got married. He and his wife were so poor they had only straw to sleep on. One night Heaven tested them and sent Elijah, disguised as a stranger, to knock at the door. He cried, “Please help me. My wife is in confinement and doesn’t even have straw to lay on.” Akiva got up and gave him the straw and said, “You see, there is a man who does not even have straw!” (Nedarim 50a)
Here’s a very interesting story entitled “The Power of Giving” by Chana Nestlebaum, Chofetz Chaim, Loving Kindness: Daily Lessons in the Power of Giving (Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, Ltd., 2007), 52–53.
“In the years before World War II, a small Jewish community in Hungary hired a rabbi to teach Torah to their boys, but the poor community was unable to afford to pay the man. Instead, the parents took turns providing the man’s family with a daily meal. After a few decades, the rabbi’s wife died, his children moved away, and he was alone. He was too old to teach any- more, so the community hired a new rabbi to educate their children. One woman, however, took pity on the old man who had taught her sons so well. For five years—until the rabbi died—she climbed the stairs to his small apartment every day and brought him lunch. Sometime later, the woman died. When the war began, the small Jewish community was deported. The woman’s grandchildren, however, were saved by a Christian woman who risked her life to hide them behind a false wall she built in her apartment. She provided meals for her hidden Jews every day. The Nazis raided and searched her apartment, but they never discovered her fugitives.
After the war, the children learned the apartment they had been hidden in had once belonged to a different tenant. It was the same apartment the old rabbi had lived in. The Christian woman who brought them food daily from the market had climbed the same stairs their grandmother had climbed to bring the old rabbi his daily lunch. The grandmother’s investment in heaven had paid dividends on earth.”
One of my favorite Hebrew quotes is:
“The world endures because of three activities:
Torah study, worship of God, and deeds of loving-kindness.”
Definitely, giving to the poor would fall into the category of deeds of loving-kindness or (kheh-sehd) chessed. Before we leave this subject, I need to address one more Hebrew word (tzah-dahk-ah) tzadakah which means charity and comes from the root word (tzah-dok) tzadok meaning righteous.
There is another belief the poor person is more righteous than those who are not because the poor person gives the others the opportunity to perform their mitzvot of giving to the poor. In Acts 20:35 Sha’ul/Paul reports Yeshua, Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
As we can see, tzadakah/charity is one of the central pillars of Torah. It is a reflection of The Almighty’s very nature. It is grace itself. Yeshua quotes D’varim/Deuteronomy17:11, “You always have the poor with you.” (Yochanan/John 12:8), and He expects us to give generously to them. Many of Yeshua’s teachings have to do with the subject of giving charity. He assumes we will give to charity, saying, “When you give to the poor . . .” (Mattityahu / Matthew 6:2), He points out even the hypocrites give charity. After all, giving charity is a mitzvot/commandment of Torah. Conversely, there is a prohibition, “not to deny charity to the poor.” We are under obligation to “freely open our hand to our brother, to the needy and the poor”.
All of the Apostolic Scriptures and Pauline Epistles, are packed with encouragement to give to the needy and to give generously. Giving generously was a natural reflex of the First Century believers. Sha’ul/Paul regards giving generously a proper response showing gratitude for the grace The Holy One has given us. When we give charity, it should be done subtly and quietly. Yeshua tells us when we give, we are not to announce with trumpets. In other words, we are not to make a show of it. Mattityahu/Matthew 6:3 says “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth” and “that your giving be in secret” (Mattityahu / Matthew 6:4). Perhaps the question arises, how much should I give? The true disciple asks “How much more can I give? How can I find a way to give more?”
Verses 12-18 address the bondsman or bondswoman. In the seventh year, they are to be released. (I’m gonna jump around in these scriptures for a few minutes.) Verse 18 says not to resent setting him free because he has been worth twice as much as a hired employee.
In the Hebrew culture, the length of time a worker could obligate himself to work was three years (Yesha’yahu/Isaiah 16:14). Therefore, the bondsman’s six years of service were twice as long as his master could have contracted from a private worker. (There is SO much more to this “Bond Servant” teaching!!! It’s all about love for the Master and the Master’s care and provision for His dedicated servant.) Now back up to verses 14 & 15. “Supply him generously”. One of the commen-taries said the master should feel an obligation, not merely to give his outgoing servant a “bonus” but, to be very generous and give him a gift which would raise his self-esteem and reputation. Could this be what “severance pay” is all about? So, it’s really a Hebrew thing . . . this severance pay thing!!!
The disciples/talmidim of Yeshua called themselves “bond-servants” of Yeshua although most translations do not faithfully render the concept. Examples in the King James are found in 2nd Peter 1:1 and Revelation 1:1 where the authors refer to them- selves as a “servant” which is a much different concept from “bondservant”. The New American Standard is finally becoming faithful to the actual meaning.
CHAPTER 16
The three pilgrimage festivals are addressed in this chapter.
• Pesach (Pay-sock) ~ Passover ~ Early Spring Harvest
• Sha’vuot (Shah-voo-oat) ~ Feast of Weeks / Pentecost ~ Late Spring Harvest
• Sukkot (Sue-coat) ~ Feast of Tabernacles ~ Fall Harvest
These are the three times B’nei Yisra’el/children of Israel are required to go to the Temple to make their offerings.
• These three festivals are significant because of their role in the agricultural cycle of the year.
• These three festivals are also significant because of their role in prophecy.
You shall observe the month of (Ah-veev) Aviv which means springtime. The actual month, the first of the Biblical year, is called Nissan (sounds like the car) which means blossom. The Pesach/Passover offering can only come from sheep and goats and no (hah-mehtz) hametz / leaven is to be eaten for seven days. Additionally, there is not to be any leaven anywhere around. Can’t you just see this picture. In the spring, the Hebrew women are cleaning out the hametz from their homes and the surrounding neighbor women, not wanting to be outdone or appear lazy get busy cleaning their houses and voila! we have spring house cleaning!!!! On the seventh day of this observance, there is to be a festive assembly and no work is to be done. (Verses 1-8)
When the first of the new crop is harvested, barley is gathered for the Omer-offering. Then we begin counting the seven weeks which is what the next festival (Shah-voo-oat) Sha’vuot meaning weeks is all about (verses 9-12). In later years, Sha’vuot would also be celebrated by Believers in Yeshua, as Pentecost. However, since this is traditionally the day the Torah was given, it is the day Israel was betrothed to Yehovah.
The Torah lists eight categories of people who should be included in ones joy. According to verse 11 four of them are . . .
• the Levite
• the proselyte
• the orphan and
• the widow
. . . and four are members of ones own household . . .
• Son
• Daughter
• Bondservant
• Maidservant
According to a commentary by Rashi, The Holy One says “Your four correspond to My four. If you gladden My four, I will gladden your four.”
The third pilgrimage festival, (sue-coat) Sukkot meaning booths and/or tents, also known as Feast of Tabernacles (verses 13-15) represents the Fall Harvest and also lasts seven days. (Z’kharyah / Zechariah 14:16-19 clearly states the importance of this Feast in the Millennium. Obviously it is not “just a Jewish thing”. The passage says it applies to ALL NATIONS.) Verses 16 & 17 say no one shall come empty handed to Yehovah and they should give in relationship to the blessing He has bestowed upon them. WOW!!! There it is in scripture, they are not to show up before The Almighty empty-handed but every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing Yehovah your God has given you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re’eh ~ / ~ See; Look at; Behold; Perceive; Consider
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu/Isaiah 54:11 ~ 55:5
As we learned a couple of weeks ago, according to the Stone Edition of the Artscroll Chumash, the (Hahf-tah-roat) Haftarot of the seven Sabbaths between Tisha B’Av and Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah are called “the seven of consolation”. They contain prophecies which offered the people comfort and hope after the Destruction of the First Temple. They are all taken from the latter chapters of Isaiah, whose prophecies were “half affliction, half consolation”. Just as the three Haftarot of affliction, the seven of consolation are not related to the weekly Haftarah.
This particular selection is prophecy of Messianic times, Yesha’yahu/Isaiah speaks of a world where . . .
• Currency will be righteousness
• The defense will be faith in the Holy One
• Sustenance will be bought with obedience to the Word of Yehovah
• The Leader of Israel will be the offspring of David
• The nations of the world will flock to Him and His nation
. . . because the entire world will recognize Yehovah has glorified Israel.
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Re’eh ~ / ~ See; Look at; Behold; Perceive; Consider
B’rit Hadashah: 1st Corinthians 5:9-13; Yochanan Aleph/1st John 4:1-6
1st Corinthians 5:9-13 One matter of interest many overlook, is the beginning of verse 9, “In my earlier letter . . .” which would indicate Sha’ul/Paul’s earlier letter to those in Corinth, didn’t make it into the Holy Scriptures. From this we can deduce not everything Sha’ul wrote was recorded for posterity.
The last sentence is the primary parallel to our Torah portion. In fact, “ . . . expel the evildoer from among yourselves.” is a direct quote from D’varim/Deuteronomy 13:6 (5). However, we shouldn’t overlook the rest of these verses. These verses, concerning association with people, are not referring to people in general but to those within the community of believers. In fact, the operative word here is “brother”, indicating one who is Torah Pursuant but falls into . . .
• Sexual immorality
• Greed
• Thievery/stealing
• Idol-worship
• Abusiveness
• Drunkenness
From those, Sha’ul/Paul says, we are to separate ourselves from them. As the last sentence says, Just “expel the evil doer from among yourselves.”
Yochanan Aleph/1st John 4:1-6 I believe the primary parallel to our Torah portion is found in verses 4-6 with regard to false prophets, both then and now. Many false prophets, base their pronouncements on their own imaginations and on what they think people want to hear. They are available to distract, miseducate and “milk” the public. You find them in the media, on the streets, in schools and universities, in many homes, and yes, unfortunately, in the pulpits.
Our corresponding Psalm for this Torah portion is: Psalm 97
