A Study of Torah from Gen. - Rev.

[SarahLaLuz]

Communication needs to lead to understanding. Proverbs 4:5-6 tells us "[SUP]5 [/SUP]Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee." So in working through the subject matter the one thing that is important also is to always prefer or think of the other person as higher or more important than yourself. This way both will keep their hearts in check and not be in that contentious way one toward the other, until complete understand unfolds. Remember your partner is not your enemy. Show them love and honor in communication and true reconciliation will occur.
lastly, if you cannot come to a reconciliation, sometimes it is good to step away from a situation and come back to it later on, think it through and rethink it through. Pray over it together, and let the Holy Spirit teach you what or how it ought to be done. There is an answer, somewhere. Patience is key here. God bless.

 

[Rainrider]

Exo 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Exo 3:2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.




Exo 3:3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

My personal observation. Have we noticed that HaShem seems to always pick a shepherd when it comes to finding a leader? Even Yeshua is called a shepherd.
The sages teach us that HaShem sees a man that will pity even a helpless beast will surly show compassion for a nation.
Exo 3:4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

As this was Moses first prophetic vision, HaShem first sent an angle, Moses like many of us wanted to see why the bush was not burned up. After the angle had set Moses at ease, HaShem spook to him. It is kind of like taking a person from a dark room, after some time, you don't lead them straight into the sunlight, rather you slowly bring up the light, so they can adjust their eyes to it.
Exo 3:5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”







The removal of his sandals may have been to show respect, however one should also consider that this was due to the place being so Holy. The removal of his shoes implied that Moses was to give himself up unreservedly, with out any impediment between himself and the Holy ground, to the sanctity of the place upon which he stood.
Exo 3:6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.


Exo 3:7 And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.

Seen, heard, and know their sorrows. Knowing is the climax of seeing and hearing. if one doesn't understand and draw the necessary conclusions of what they see and hear, their perception is of no value at all.
Exo 3:8 “So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

One may make note that only 6 of Canaanite nations are named. Girgeshites may not be named as they may have left before Israel came into the land. Out of fear that they would be killed. It may also be that their land was not so rich.
Exo 3:9 “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Exo 3:10 “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Exo 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”










Exo 3:12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

In the Chumash, both verse 9 and 10 start with the words AND NOW. This gives us the idea that Moses' mission was a matter of urgency. Despite the odds of just one man being able to prevail over the greatest nation on earth, HaShem assures Moses that he will succeed. Both in the words you shall, and in letting him know he will not be going alone. HaShem going with him should have removed any fear.
Exo 3:13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”




Exo 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”



The 4 letter name of HaShem. (As I am unsure to say it, much less spell it, I will leave it tat that.) This name represnts compassion. It also shows the eternity of HaShem, The Hebrew letters that are used, YOD HAY VAV HAY, are also used to spell He was, He is, and He will be. This name however is more than a descriptive name, it is a proper noun. After all it is the actual name of HaShem. When asked how to say it, I was told, "In respect for it's great sanctity, it is not pronounced as it is written. Instead, it is pronounced Adonoy, during prayer, and when reading from Torah the word HaShem is used.
Exo 3:15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
Exo 3:16 “Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;

Some teach that the 4 letter name was unknown until now, this is why HaShem told Moses to tell them that the God of their fathers sent him. It is my hope that someone that truly knows the reasoning behind the use of the different names here, will please inform us.
Exo 3:17 “and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’
Exo 3:18 “Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’








Exo 3:19 “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.
Exo 3:20 “So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.
Exo 3:21 “And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed.
Exo 3:22 “But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Israel haveing been forced into slavery, would have been entitled to both their freedom and compensation for the years of free labor. Another teaching is that they were seen as spoils of war. No mater what form of justifaction one uses, HaShem had done all He could to give Pharaoh the chance to let Israel leave. First by offer reasonable requests, then by actting to show Pharaoh His power in a way that did no real harm to anyone, and finily, an act that one would only see as an act of war.

 

[MarcR]

Exo 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Exo 3:2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.




Exo 3:3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

My personal observation. Have we noticed that HaShem seems to always pick a shepherd when it comes to finding a leader? Even Yeshua is called a shepherd.
The sages teach us that HaShem sees a man that will pity even a helpless beast will surly show compassion for a nation.
Exo 3:4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

As this was Moses first prophetic vision, HaShem first sent an angle, Moses like many of us wanted to see why the bush was not burned up. After the angle had set Moses at ease, HaShem spook to him. It is kind of like taking a person from a dark room, after some time, you don't lead them straight into the sunlight, rather you slowly bring up the light, so they can adjust their eyes to it.
Exo 3:5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”







The removal of his sandals may have been to show respect, however one should also consider that this was due to the place being so Holy. The removal of his shoes implied that Moses was to give himself up unreservedly, with out any impediment between himself and the Holy ground, to the sanctity of the place upon which he stood.
Exo 3:6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.


Exo 3:7 And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.

Seen, heard, and know their sorrows. Knowing is the climax of seeing and hearing. if one doesn't understand and draw the necessary conclusions of what they see and hear, their perception is of no value at all.
Exo 3:8 “So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

One may make note that only 6 of Canaanite nations are named. Girgeshites may not be named as they may have left before Israel came into the land. Out of fear that they would be killed. It may also be that their land was not so rich.
Exo 3:9 “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Exo 3:10 “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Exo 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”










Exo 3:12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

In the Chumash, both verse 9 and 10 start with the words AND NOW. This gives us the idea that Moses' mission was a matter of urgency. Despite the odds of just one man being able to prevail over the greatest nation on earth, HaShem assures Moses that he will succeed. Both in the words you shall, and in letting him know he will not be going alone. HaShem going with him should have removed any fear.
Exo 3:13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”




Exo 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”



The 4 letter name of HaShem. (As I am unsure to say it, much less spell it, I will leave it tat that.) This name represnts compassion. It also shows the eternity of HaShem, The Hebrew letters that are used, YOD HAY VAV HAY, are also used to spell He was, He is, and He will be. This name however is more than a descriptive name, it is a proper noun. After all it is the actual name of HaShem. When asked how to say it, I was told, "In respect for it's great sanctity, it is not pronounced as it is written. Instead, it is pronounced Adonoy, during prayer, and when reading from Torah the word HaShem is used.
Exo 3:15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
Exo 3:16 “Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;

Some teach that the 4 letter name was unknown until now, this is why HaShem told Moses to tell them that the God of their fathers sent him. It is my hope that someone that truly knows the reasoning behind the use of the different names here, will please inform us.
Exo 3:17 “and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’
Exo 3:18 “Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’








Exo 3:19 “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.
Exo 3:20 “So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.
Exo 3:21 “And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed.
Exo 3:22 “But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Israel haveing been forced into slavery, would have been entitled to both their freedom and compensation for the years of free labor. Another teaching is that they were seen as spoils of war. No mater what form of justifaction one uses, HaShem had done all He could to give Pharaoh the chance to let Israel leave. First by offer reasonable requests, then by actting to show Pharaoh His power in a way that did no real harm to anyone, and finily, an act that one would only see as an act of war.

The English word 'pastor' has the root meaning of 'shepherd'; and his job is to lead and spiritually provide for the well being of the flock (people) under his leadership.

 

[Rainrider]

Exo 4:1 Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”
Exo 4:2 So the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”




Exo 4:3 And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.


Exo 4:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),


Exo 4:5 “that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”


Exo 4:6 Furthermore the LORD said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow.


Exo 4:7 And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh.
Exo 4:8 “Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign.
Exo 4:9 “And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.”

It seems difficult to think that Moses would doubt HaShem. We are given 3 thoughts on this by the sages.
Moses understood HaShem to say the people should believe him, though it was no guarantee.
Once HaShem told him that Pharaoh would not obey, Moses argued logically that the people would would be convinced that a true emissary of HaShem would not be defiles by a king.
Moses felt that he lacked the prerequisites of prophecy.
The 3 signs that HaShem had shown him were at first glance for the people that they would believe Moses. However the first 2 may well have been for Moses' benefit. The snake to that he had spoken slander against the Jewish people, the leprosy to pension him for this act.
Exo 4:10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
Exo 4:11 So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?










Exo 4:12 “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

There are many theories as to why Moses would say he was slow of speech. Most point to him stuttering. The sages however teach that it may have been that Moses had forgotten much about the Egyptian language, and thought it seemed starnge for HaShem send someone that couldn't express them self well.
Moses may have also lacked the ability to make pronouns some sounds. Ever heard some one try to do the Ch sound? It sounds kind of like clearing your throat. Yet to do that I the middle of a word, is something some people can't do.
HaShem refuted any argument Moses may find with his speech. He did this by pointing out that He made man kind, He makes how he wants us, and has the power to correct any shortcomings we may have when He needs it removed.
Exo 4:13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”




Exo 4:14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.


Exo 4:15 “Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.

As a parent, I am sure we have faced that time in life when we become angry with our kids. Maybe even had something planned for our kid, had they just done what was asked of them. Then when one of the other kids did it, with out asking why, or telling the first kid, "I had to, all because you wouldn't." The gift we had planned was given to the second child.
The sages say this is what happen with Moses. Had Moses simply done what was asked of him, then the priesthood would have been through Moses, and not Arron.
Exo 4:16 “So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.
Exo 4:17
“And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.
Exo 4:18 So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
Exo 4:19 Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”






Exo 4:20 Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
Exo 4:21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

The wonders that HaShem has shown Moses already were to shown to Israel, any that were meant for Pharaoh would be shown to him at the time they were needed. Though some may say that isn't right, ( after all the staff did become a serpent in front of Pharaoh). True as that is, when we get to chapter 7 you will see that it was a bit different.
Exo 4:22 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.
Exo 4:23 “So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” 

HaShem is always willing to warn the people of what will come. Many time it is done in hopes of getting us to do what is right. HaShem tells Moses to let Pharaoh know what will come. This may have been so that when it did happen, Pharaoh would know it was HaShem's hand at work. One other teaching is that HaShem told Moses to help build his confidence. This teaching works off the idea that HaShem said then you will tell. Showing that HaShem didn't intend for Moses to say this until He was told to.
Exo 4:24 And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him.










Exo 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!”
Exo 4:26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

Though failure to perform a circumcision on time does not incur the death penalty, the most righteous people are held to a higher standard of divine accountability. the sages say, Zipporah understood why the angle was going to kill Moses, by the way the angle garbed hold of him.
Exo 4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him.
Exo 4:28
So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him
Exo 4:29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.








Exo 4:30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people.
Exo 4:31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

We know that at some point Zipporah returned home to her father. The sages say it was at mount Sinai that Aaron convinced them to return. It may have been that Aaron told them of what was going to happen, or that Aaron made a point of what was going on in Egypt at theat time. Both would have placed a fair in the heart of Zipporah. One habd, Pharaoh may kill them, on the other, they may also become enslaved.
The idea placed in ones mind by the words, "The people believed" is insuficant. This was not meant to convay a simple belief that somethin is real. Rathe it speaks to the conviction that a princile is at the essence of their faith. By bowing their heads they signify that their intellect would be subservient to HaShem, by prostrating them selves, they show that all of their physical faclties are HaShem's to use as he sees fit.
Kid of gives a new understanding as to why we bow when we pray. many don't understand it in this manner, we see it as nothing more than a sign of respect.

 

[MarcR]

Exo 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Exo 3:2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.




Exo 3:3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

My personal observation. Have we noticed that HaShem seems to always pick a shepherd when it comes to finding a leader? Even Yeshua is called a shepherd.
The sages teach us that HaShem sees a man that will pity even a helpless beast will surly show compassion for a nation.
Exo 3:4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

As this was Moses first prophetic vision, HaShem first sent an angle, Moses like many of us wanted to see why the bush was not burned up. After the angle had set Moses at ease, HaShem spook to him. It is kind of like taking a person from a dark room, after some time, you don't lead them straight into the sunlight, rather you slowly bring up the light, so they can adjust their eyes to it.

And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush
After the angle had set Moses at ease

I believe that the words "the Angel of the LORD" always signal a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus; and if any other angel is intended, an angel rather than the Angel of the Lord will be spoken of; or the specific angel will be named.

 

[MarcR]

Exo 4:24 And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him.


Exo 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!”
Exo 4:26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

Though failure to perform a circumcision on time does not incur the death penalty, the most righteous people are held to a higher standard of divine accountability. the sages say, Zipporah understood why the angle was going to kill Moses, by the way the angle garbed hold of him.

.

26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.
26 So He let him go: then she said, A bridegroom of blood thou art, because of the circumcision.

Zipporah was the first to use the phrase (chatan damim) in connection with circumcision. (It is currently in use in that way in every orthodox and conservative synagogue in the world.)
So He let him go God removed the illness.

 

[Rainrider]

Exo 5:1 After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.”
Exo 5:2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

Pharaoh's defiance took on 3 forms.
1. Do you think this HaShem of your is so mighty I must obey Him?
2. I have never heard of this HaShem.
3. Even if I had I would not send a nation of slaves away at His behest.
Exo 5:3 But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”






Exo 5:4 Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work!


Exo 5:5 Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.”

This may have been a warning to Pharaoh about the death of the first born. Some do teach it as that, in their teaching the sages say it was out of respect that Moses say it directly. Rather He let it sound as though it was Israel that would suffer. Though Pharaoh may have understood the intent of what was said, he still would have no part of it. In his reply however, he did show a hint of respect, in that he called them by name. The KJ and NKJ agree with the wording of the Chumash, in that Pharaoh tells them to get back to their work. Indicating that the Levis may not have been enslaved, explaining why Moses and Aaron were free to come and go as they wished.
Exo 5:6 That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen:




Exo 5:7 “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!
Exo 5:8 But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’
Exo 5:9 Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”

Pharaoh being convinced that the people were seeking a way to get out of working, Placed an even heavier load on them. It may have been his hope that they would stop listening to Moses. Or it may be that Pharaoh thought they weren't working as hard as they use to, so they wanted to go and give thanks for their light work load.
Exo 5:10 So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: “This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you.


Exo 5:11 Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!”
Exo 5:12 So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.
Exo 5:13 Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard. “Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded.
Exo 5:14 Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. “Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded.

At first it seems counterproductive to force a people to do twice as much work, yet demand the same results. Yet if one looks at this from Pharaohs mind set, this was not about what they got done, rather it was about their willingness to lessen to Moses. If he worked them harder, they would not have the time or energy to lesson to this man. So when changes the way they look at a thing, the meaning may take on a new light.
Exo 5:15 So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged.










Exo 5:16 “We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!”

Although the Israelite foremen had placed the blame on Pharaoh and his people, pointing out the sin of this action. They did so under the knowledge that they would suffer for their actions. Yet this shows us the strain being placed on the people. It also shows us a glimpse of things to come. We are told that we will bepersecuted for our faith, just as now the we read how Israel was. Mat. 5:10, Mt. 13:21, Mt. 24:9 and others make this clear to us.
Also when one hears of how believers are being beheaded for their faith today, do we not see that this is coming to be?
Exo 5:17


But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.’




Exo 5:18
Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.”


Exo 5:19
The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.”








Exo 5:20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them.
Exo 5:21 The foremen said to them, “May the LORD judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!”
Exo 5:22


Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me?
Exo 5:23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!”

The foremen complain to Moses, leaving some doubt in his mind. Moses may have thought that HaShem would bring about the plagues much sooner. The use of the word Lord and not the 4 letter word of HaShem, shows that Moses seen no mercy in the actions of Pharaoh. Some say Moses may have understood this as HaShem's plan, and so he felt he had the right to complain. However it does seem clear that Moses understood the evil doer was Pharaoh, and he wished to understand why HaShem would let this go on. After all Pharaoh had shown nothing but contempt for HaShem, and His people.

 

[Rainrider]

As we look at the plagues, I am going to speak to only one at a time. We will look at their counter part in Rev. And lets hope I don't mess it up to badly. LOL
This will start this after noon, sorry I just have some thing I need to do today.

 

[Rainrider]

Exo 6:1 Then the LORD told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”
Exo 6:2


And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the LORD.’




Exo 6:3
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them.


Exo 6:4
And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners.


Exo 6:5
You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.

The last chapter ended with Moses asking HaShem why, He had done evil to His people. Here we find HaShem letting Moses know that he will now see what will happen to Pharaoh. being human we don't see the whole pitcher, and like Moses we may ask why when something bad come about. Just as HaShem let the Canaanites live out their sinful lives, until the full measure of their sin was know, and only then He bring them to distinction.
As to His Name, some may already know that in Jewish teachings He has 72 names. Every one showing a different aspect of His nature. El Shiddai is the name that was given to Abraham, and Isaac. To many this name means God Almighty. The sages however point out that it denotes, The one Who sets limits. In creation this was done by the Laws of Nature, that limit the ocean to it's place, as well the success, and suffering one finds in life.
The 4 letter name on the other hand is said to show that He is the one that carries out His promises. And although some may urn back to Gen. 15:7 and say, Abraham know that name. The sages teach that though Abraham did hear the 4 letter name, he didn't know it. As Abraham never seen HaShem in practice as having kept His promise. So like many words we heard as children, we didn't know that word, until we learned what it truly meant. In this way Abraham had heard the Name, yet he didn't know The Name.
Exo 6:6


“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the LORD. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment.
Exo 6:7 I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.






Exo 6:8 I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the LORD!’”

In 6&7 we find the 4 expressions of redemption. "I will free you (or as it reads in the Chumash, I shall take you out.) This gives us the idea that HaShem will free us from sin. As sinners we were bound as slaves to sin.
I will redeem you. Just as HaShem rescued His people from Egypt, He does the same for us today, by resuming us from Satan.
I will claim you. When one turns their life over to Yeshua, and walks in faithfulness, and obedience, are not then claimed by HaShem as His own?
Freed you. Just as HaShem took Israel as His people, we to are called His people.
The idea of giving them the land as a heritage implies that the Land will forever be a part of the people. This helps to explain why for close to 2000 years, the Hebrew people longed to re-tune to Israel.
Exo 6:9 So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

Many times we hear, read, or think that this passage is telling us the people had no faith. However, they had been so demoralized, that their spirit may well have been insufficient.
Exo 6:10 Then the LORD said to Moses,






Exo 6:11 “Go back to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and tell him to let the people of Israel leave his country.”
Exo 6:12 “But LORD!” Moses objected. “My own people won’t listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I’m such a clumsy speaker!”

The Chumash ends this passage with, I have sealed my lips. One of the sages points out that this may well be showing us that Moses was refusing to speak anymore. He may have felt it was his fault that the people wouldn't lesson, or that he was some how at fault for the added work.
This chapter now turns to a genealogy of sorts. I do understand that the Torah doesn't tell us anything we don't need. However, I am not big on this, and hold little understanding of it, so for me to try and tell you anything about it, would be a shame to the lest.

Also, When I sat down this morning, I said we were going to start looking that the plagues. That I must say, was due mostly to me forgetting where we were. I am sorry, and I will do my best not to make that kind of mistake from here out.

 

[Rainrider]

Exodus 7
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet.

2 Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country.
3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment.

The Chumash uses the phrase, My legions, in verse 4. True many translations use other forms that bring to mind military, in some way. It is interesting that the Chumash would chose to use the same word we see most often associated with angles. could it be that HaShem wished to impress on us that Israel like the angles are a part of His legion of servants? Yet it may also indicate that Israel would leave Egypt with a common purpose, to receive the Torah, and serve HaShem.


5 When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD .”
6 So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them.
7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.
8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
9 “Pharaoh will demand, ‘Show me a miracle.’ When he does this, say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent. ’”

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the LORD had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent!
11 Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic.
12 They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
13 Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the LORD had predicted.

Most of the time we think of Aaron's staff swallowing the others when it was still a snake. The wording here may tell us a different story. Rashi and Mizrachi both say that it was after it became a staff once more that it the staff it's self did the swallowing, rather than the snake. Something that would be much greater show of power, and would surely make most people sit up and pay attention. Yet if what they say is true,Pharaoh remaining steadfast, becomes even more mind boggling.
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go.
15 So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake.
16 Then announce to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.” Until now, you have refused to listen to him.
17 So this is what the LORD says: “I will show you that I am the LORD .” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood.
18 The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”
19 Then the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt—all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to blood. Everywhere in Egypt the water will turn to blood, even the water stored in wooden bowls and stone pots.’”

One should take note that in 18 we are told the Egyptians won't be able to drink the water. The Nile was just one of the gods of Egypt, As Israel didn't worship the river, they were able to drink from it. I once heard a teaching that said the plagues that didn't affect Israel would be repeated in the end days. When one reads Rev. 8:8-9, 11:6, and Rev 16:3-6 we find this same plague being repeated.
Also Aaron was task with striking the water, and not Moses. This is said to be due to the Moses being protected by the water as a baby. If the Torah shows that it is wrong to show ingratitude to a river, surely we must be even more cafful not to slight our fellow man.
20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood!
21 The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt.
22 But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.
23 Pharaoh returned to his palace and put the whole thing out of his mind.
24 Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn’t drink the water from the Nile.
25 Seven days passed from the time the LORD struck the Nile.


As can be seen, there was no water to drink in Egypt. Yet we would do well to note that even here, only Egypt is named as not having water to drink.

 

[Rainrider]

Ex. 8: 1-15
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.
2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land.
3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls.
4 Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’”
5 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.’”
6 So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land!
7 But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

Frogs were also worshiped in Egypt, In fact they had something like 5 gods depicted as frogs. Some were seen as the creator of the earth, and at lest one was the goddess of futility.


8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD .”
9 “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”
10 “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said. “All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God.

Tomorrow, really? I would have asked this, after all, why would any want to sleep with frogs for even one night? The sages however teach that Pharaoh had picked the morning as a way to test HaShem. If HaShem couldn't remove the frogs when Pharaoh said to, it would stand as prof that HaShem had no real power. After all, one can be sure that Pharaoh would have told his magicians to remove them before asking Moses.


11 The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.”
12 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s palace, and Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh.
13 And the LORD did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died.
14 The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land.
15 But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.

Had Pharaoh asked that every frog in Egypt be remove, it would have happened that way. However, in a somewhat wise manner, he only asked that they be removed from the houses of the people. So it was that some of the frogs returned to the river, any that would have over populated the river, died on land. So many that the smell filled the whole land. though one teaching answers this by saying that it was the burning of the dead frogs that could be smelled any were you went in Egypt. Yet the Hebrew people couldn't smell it.

Some say that in Rev. 16: 13-14, this plague is played out once more. So lets take a look at this. I do pray that anyone better versed in prophecy will give their insight, I am sure that most of you by now know that I can make no claim to this. I have just been looking into prophecy for a short time now.
Rev 16
13 And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.

I find nothing in this chapter to show a plague of frogs. 3 in my mind does not make a plague. However, in at lest one teaching we find, the 3 frogs dominated the world, and should be seen as a plague. If anyone sees this as wrong, please let us know. I will give this 2 days at lest, as I would really like an answer.

 

[Rainrider]

As it seems no one wished to say anything about the frogs, it must mean we need to move on. As there is such a vast difference in both wording and meaning, I am going to step out side my little comfy box, and post 2 translations on the rest of this chapter. This post will be a bit longer than I really like, as it may be hard for some to read it all, and that I simply don't like the idea of. However, to post just one, and not show them both, would make it hard to show the differences. The Chumash will have a C before it, and the NLT will have an N
Ex. 8:16-28
N. 16 So the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’” C.
16 And the Lord said to Moses, "Arise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, behold, he is going out to the water, and you shall say to him, 'So said the Lord, "Let My people go out and serve Me.

As with every other plague HaShem gives a warning. Why has that been changed in the western Bibles? The Idea that HaShem would change how He does things, in every Book of the Bible just this one time should give reason to question. Also I am at a loss to explain why the major departure from both context and meaning in this one plague. The teaching I am going to offfer up will follow the Chumash, as I have found it to best translate both the Hebrew wording, and thoughts of this plague. No I can read Hebrew, I simply have a host of teachers that can. Many were my teachers when it came to the Torah.
In the above, we find that HaShem did first give warning with this, just as He did with ll the plagues. Though it is not told in any of the western Bibles I have looked at, HaShem does not change, so one would safe to conclude that this is how it should be.
N.
17 So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats.

Should we follow that HaShem never told Moses to tell Pharaoh anything, that He simply placed this plague on Egypt without any reason being given? I think not.
C.
17 For if you do not send out my people, behold I shall incite against you, your servants, your people, and your houses, the swarms of wild beast; and the houses of Egypt shall be filled with the swarm, and even the ground upon which they are.

In the Chumash we find that as was the case with every plague, HaShem did give warning, and ever had Moses tell Pharaoh why. Also you may note that the swarm is not made up of gnats, rather of beast. The sages tell us that this swarm was made up of every form of aggressive beast, snake and scorpion. They covered the ground, and filled the houses, in this manner the people of Egypt didn't feel safe out side or behind closed doors.

N.
18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.
19 “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.
C.

18 And on that day I shall set apart the land of Goshen up on which My people stands, that there shall be no swarm there; so that you will know I am HaShem in the midst of the land.
19 I shall make a distinction between My people and yours-tomorrow this sign will come about.

Though HaShem tells Pharaoh for the first time that Israel will not be harmed by the beast, this doesn't change the idea that Israel was also spared from other plagues as well. It does however show HaShem's grace and authority over the beast. Though this idea can be seen in the western Bibles, by the idea that magicians couldn't pull this off, and in the idea that they told Pharaoh it was the hand of God. At this point the western Bible move to the next plague, it never tells us this plague was ever removed. Rather it would leave one to think that this plague remained on Egypt, never being removed. Having looked at some 17 English, (what I call western) translations, none tells us this plague was removed. So I will follow this through with only the Chumash. At the end, I will pick up with the NLT, as it moves to a Plague not mentioned in the Chumash.

C.
20 HaShem did so and a severe swarm of wild beast came to the house of Pharaoh, and to the house of his servants; and throughout the land of Egypt.
21 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Go bring your offerings to your God in the land."
22 Moses said, "It is not proper to do so, for we will offer the deity of Egypt to HaShem, our God- behold if we were to slaughter the deity of Egypt in their sight, will they not stone us?
23 We will on a three-day journey in the wilderness, and bring offerings to HaShem, our God.
24 Pharaoh said, "I will send you and you shall bring offerings to HaShem your God, in the wilderness; only do not go far off- entreat me!"

For the first time we find Pharaoh began to break. Only he wanted things done His way. So long as they don't leae Egypt, they could bring offerings to HaShem. After Moses pointed out what they would offer, Pharaoh seen that it would be wrong, So he tells them not go far, an indication that they were only to go someplace in Egypt that would keep them from the eyes of the people of Egypt. Moses didn't contest this, though he did tell Pharaoh not to go back on his word.
25 Moses said, "Behold I leave you and I shall entreat HaShem- and the swarm will depart from Pharaoh and his servants, and from his people tomorrow. Only let Pharaoh not continue to mock, by not sending out the people to bring offerings to HaShem.
26 Moses left Pharaoh's presence and entreated HaShem.
27 HaShem did in accordance with Moses' word and He removed the swarm from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people- not one remained.
28 But Pharaoh made his heart stubborn even this time, and he did not send out the people.

This plague is also seen in Rev. 6:8. Leading to just one more question of why the western Bible and Chumash differ so widely on this. I am going to ask for some help on that, so I will leave this for now. With luck, there will be an answer given, and we can move on tomorrow.

 

[MarcR]

As it seems no one wished to say anything about the frogs, it must mean we need to move on. As there is such a vast difference in both wording and meaning, I am going to step out side my little comfy box, and post 2 translations on the rest of this chapter. This post will be a bit longer than I really like, as it may be hard for some to read it all, and that I simply don't like the idea of. However, to post just one, and not show them both, would make it hard to show the differences. The Chumash will have a C before it, and the NLT will have an N
Ex. 8:16-28
N. 16 So the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’” C.
16 And the Lord said to Moses, "Arise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, behold, he is going out to the water, and you shall say to him, 'So said the Lord, "Let My people go out and serve Me.

As with every other plague HaShem gives a warning. Why has that been changed in the western Bibles? The Idea that HaShem would change how He does things, in every Book of the Bible just this one time should give reason to question. Also I am at a loss to explain why the major departure from both context and meaning in this one plague. The teaching I am going to offfer up will follow the Chumash, as I have found it to best translate both the Hebrew wording, and thoughts of this plague. No I can read Hebrew, I simply have a host of teachers that can. Many were my teachers when it came to the Torah.
In the above, we find that HaShem did first give warning with this, just as He did with ll the plagues. Though it is not told in any of the western Bibles I have looked at, HaShem does not change, so one would safe to conclude that this is how it should be.
N.
17 So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats.

Should we follow that HaShem never told Moses to tell Pharaoh anything, that He simply placed this plague on Egypt without any reason being given? I think not.
C.
17 For if you do not send out my people, behold I shall incite against you, your servants, your people, and your houses, the swarms of wild beast; and the houses of Egypt shall be filled with the swarm, and even the ground upon which they are.

In the Chumash we find that as was the case with every plague, HaShem did give warning, and ever had Moses tell Pharaoh why. Also you may note that the swarm is not made up of gnats, rather of beast. The sages tell us that this swarm was made up of every form of aggressive beast, snake and scorpion. They covered the ground, and filled the houses, in this manner the people of Egypt didn't feel safe out side or behind closed doors.

N.
18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.
19 “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.
C.

18 And on that day I shall set apart the land of Goshen up on which My people stands, that there shall be no swarm there; so that you will know I am HaShem in the midst of the land.
19 I shall make a distinction between My people and yours-tomorrow this sign will come about.

Though HaShem tells Pharaoh for the first time that Israel will not be harmed by the beast, this doesn't change the idea that Israel was also spared from other plagues as well. It does however show HaShem's grace and authority over the beast. Though this idea can be seen in the western Bibles, by the idea that magicians couldn't pull this off, and in the idea that they told Pharaoh it was the hand of God. At this point the western Bible move to the next plague, it never tells us this plague was ever removed. Rather it would leave one to think that this plague remained on Egypt, never being removed. Having looked at some 17 English, (what I call western) translations, none tells us this plague was removed. So I will follow this through with only the Chumash. At the end, I will pick up with the NLT, as it moves to a Plague not mentioned in the Chumash.

C.
20 HaShem did so and a severe swarm of wild beast came to the house of Pharaoh, and to the house of his servants; and throughout the land of Egypt.
21 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Go bring your offerings to your God in the land."
22 Moses said, "It is not proper to do so, for we will offer the deity of Egypt to HaShem, our God- behold if we were to slaughter the deity of Egypt in their sight, will they not stone us?
23 We will on a three-day journey in the wilderness, and bring offerings to HaShem, our God.
24 Pharaoh said, "I will send you and you shall bring offerings to HaShem your God, in the wilderness; only do not go far off- entreat me!"

For the first time we find Pharaoh began to break. Only he wanted things done His way. So long as they don't leae Egypt, they could bring offerings to HaShem. After Moses pointed out what they would offer, Pharaoh seen that it would be wrong, So he tells them not go far, an indication that they were only to go someplace in Egypt that would keep them from the eyes of the people of Egypt. Moses didn't contest this, though he did tell Pharaoh not to go back on his word.
25 Moses said, "Behold I leave you and I shall entreat HaShem- and the swarm will depart from Pharaoh and his servants, and from his people tomorrow. Only let Pharaoh not continue to mock, by not sending out the people to bring offerings to HaShem.
26 Moses left Pharaoh's presence and entreated HaShem.
27 HaShem did in accordance with Moses' word and He removed the swarm from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people- not one remained.
28 But Pharaoh made his heart stubborn even this time, and he did not send out the people.

This plague is also seen in Rev. 6:8. Leading to just one more question of why the western Bible and Chumash differ so widely on this. I am going to ask for some help on that, so I will leave this for now. With luck, there will be an answer given, and we can move on tomorrow.

The Chapter break is in different places. The Chumash (Jewish translation of the Torah in English organized by weekly Torah readings for a one year cycle with selected readings from the prophets) begins Chapter 8 at what is Ex 7:26 in the western Bible. Therefore All verses in the Chumash in Chapter 8 are 4 verses out of phase with other English translations.

 

[Rainrider]

As noted in my last post, there is such a vast difference in the Western Bible and the Chumash, that I felt lead to show both. Though what MarcR said does ad up, there is still something that seems off in my mind. I am going to follow through as I said, however when this comes up next time, as I am sure it will, I am going just follow through with the western Bible, and explain the changes as they come up. After all, this did distract from the teaching, and I do ask your forgiveness for that.
Ex chapter 8
20 Then the LORD told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.

21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them.
22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the LORD and that I am present even in the heart of your land.

One can make the argument that this is the same plague as the gnats. Yet when we count them in the western Bible, we have 10, only if we count the gnats as one, and the flies as one. If they are seen as the same plague then you would only have 9. One day I may find an answer to this,, you can bet I am not going to spend countless hours on it though.


23 I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’”

Following what MarcR posted, this would seem to line up with verse 19 from the Chumash. Yet as I pointed out, and still hold the question in my mind, This reads as a new plague, and leaves the gnats still unmoved. Maybe I am just confusing my self, and others. If so I am sorry.


24 And the LORD did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos by the flies.

25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”
26 But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the LORD our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the Egyptians can see us, they will stone us.
27 We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, just as he has commanded us.”
28 “All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God. But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray for me.”
29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your officials and all your people. But I am warning you, Pharaoh, don’t lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD .”
30 So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the LORD to remove all the flies.
31 And the LORD did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained.
32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.

As this does seem to follow the closing of this chapter, in much the same manner as the Chumash, I can only say that the narrative I gave in that post fits this as well. The uncertainty in my heart and mind, leaves me some what frustrated however. Once more I find it funny how the easiest answer may be the right one. It seems that when I was looking for one thing, it hide the truth from my eyes. The gnats in the translation I am using, replaced the Lice that is found most translations. My bad, sorry for making a mountain out of ant hill.

 

[Rainrider]

My bad posted the wrong here.

 

[Rainrider]

Ex. 9:1-7

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

2 For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them,
3 behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep--a very severe pestilence.
4 And the Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel." ' "
5 Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, "Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land."
6 So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.
7 Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

One move we find a plague that struck at the gods gods Egypt. Also one may not the change in how HaShem told Moses to speak to Pharaoh. Rather than, "say to, we now see, "Tell" this may due the fact that once the livestock was dead their was no recall on this plague. For this reason Pharaoh had no need t lie to Moses, saying he will let them go and warship, Upon hearing that none of the livestock of Israel were harmed, Pharaoh become even more stubborn.
As to the gods of Egypt that were assaulted by this plague.
1 BA this was a ram, it was the the counter part to Heqet, in that it was a god.
2 RRY a pig The god of chaos.
3 Hathor, Isis, Nut. All cows, linked to female fertility, and came to be a symbole of pharaohs mom. They were also solar icons and Nut carried the sun across the sky.
4 Osiris a bull a god of creation I think it was. This one if I remember right changed names, and it's reason for being. I may be wrong on that.

There may be others that simply don't come to mind. I am listing them, as it was brought to my attention that not everyone may know this. On that note,
I know it is late, yet the lest of gods that may have been used in the plague of swarms.
1 Baboon- called Thoth the god of writing, and Khonsu the moon god.
2 cat both wild and domestic. I don't rmember what they were a god of sorry.
3 Renenet cobra a fertility goddess.
4 ammut a crocodile god of judgment
5 Set a hippopotamus said to protective of pregnant women.
6 Sab a jackal or dog the god of embalming
7 May a lion guardians of the horizen.
8 khepir a scarab beetle thought to push the sun.
9 Serqet a scorpion known as the savior.

I will do my best to list them when a plague uses or attacks any of the gods of Egypt from now on.

 

[Rainrider]

Ex. chpater 9:8-12
8 So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt."
10 Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast.
11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.
12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

The sages etach that Moses held 4 handfulls of dust in one hand, so that he could scatter all of it in one motion. This idea comes the fact that HaShem, "Take for yourselves", this would indicate that both Moses, and Aaron were to fill both hands.
No mater how one looks at this, the idea that such a small amount of dust would cover all of Egypt, is a miracle in it's self.
Pharoh's magicians most likely lost their arrogance by this, as they were not olny covered with the boils themselves, they were powerless to do anything about it.

This plague is also found in Rev. 16:2. However this one, (at lest I haven't seen) doesn't attack any of Egypt's gods.

 

[Rainrider]

Ex 9: 13 - 35
13 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me,
14 for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.
15 Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth.
16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

HaShem wanted Pharaoh to know what was going on, and why HaShem had spared him. We must admit that if Pharaoh had given glory to HaShem, that would have been more significant than him simply cowing. True the known world would have seen both, and would have made note of both. Yet to see Pharaoh turn from his own gods, and worship HaShem, now that would be, as we say to day, Headline News. Front page top center world wide.


17 As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.
18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now.
19 Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die." ' "
20 He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses.
21 But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field.

In 20 we are shown a glimpse that the people are starting to trust HaShem. If we don't call it trust, only fear, then are we not missing the point? They had seen what was done in the past, and know in their hearts, i.e. trusted that if Moses said HaShem said, it was going to come, and they couldn't stop it. Please keep this in mind, as it will be seen twice more.


22 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt--on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt."
23 And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.
24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked.

When Pharaoh said, hay you go get Moses, how many do think jumped up and said I will go? Not having been there to see it, I would think most said no way, you go if you want him.
Ok all silliness a side. It may well be that he sent more than one, and that they were the people that headed the warning. You see, HaShem having seen that in their hearts, they had turned to Him in trusting faithfulness, would have spared them. Also they most likely would have asked for His protecting hand over them, as they went to get Moses. True this is not stated in the Word, and I have not seen any form of teaching to back this idea. Yet in my heart, I feel that is may hold more truth then to think they just ran out and hoped for the best.


28 Entreat the Lord, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer."
29 So Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord's.

Moses wouldn't pray in side the city, as it was full of idols. This may be why he told Pharaoh as soon I am out side the city. As Pharaoh wanted this to end right now, and didn't want to wait until tomorrow as in the plagues before this.


30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God."

Moses know that as soon the hail stopped, Pharaoh would once more retract his words, once the danger was over. What better way to make it clear that HaShem also know this, than to point out what would happen?


31 Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud.
32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops.

Moses it seems wish Pharaoh to know what had happened. Also he wanted Pharaoh to know that what had been destroyed, wouldn't be replace, and what had made it through the hail, would be left a lone.


33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

One may note that now we see rain as a part of the plague, even though it hadn't been named before now. The sages teach that when Moses prayed for a suspension of the plague, any hail that not gotten to earth was suspended in the air, as they melted, the water came down as rain, yet even that never fell to earth.
One other teaching, that is based on our human understanding, tells us that it rains before it hails, as the rain has not had time to freeze at first. Also when the hail stops, it never does so with out some rain. In that same teaching, we may hear that Hail and rain fall together at times, so there was no need to name the rain, as even then it was not uncommon to see both at the same time.

The counter part to this plague can be found in Rev. 8:7. It is interesting to note, that here we are told a heavy hail, and in Rev. we are told it had blood mixed in it. Also here we not told anything was burned, Rev. tells us that a third of all the trees and grass were burned up. In both cases however, the sight of fire and water working together are made clear. Not something that the hand of man can do, or the mind of man understand in any secular manner.

 

[Rainrider]

Sorry, I didn't bring up Ex. 38:22. Here we find that the armies of Gog will face disease, blood shed, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur. Even to a novas when it comes to the study of prophecy like me, Gog and his armies atact Israel towrd the end of the trib.
So if we take that, and look at Rev. 11:19 and, Rev 16:21.
In 11 we find this comes as a judgment on all that have caused destruction on the earth.
In 16 we find that just as in Egypt, evil spirits guided the hearts of men. Some translations say the hail stones weighed 75 pounds. Would this not be a heavy hail?

Sorry I didn't get this in the post above, It slipped my mind, Yet here it is, so alls good right? Your not going to stone me or anything I hope.

 

[Johnny_B]

The old wine should be tasted.... then one can enjoy the great taste of the New wine. I hope many have studied the Bible like they read other books. It is page upon page.. precept upon precept. Glory to the Almighty GOD.

Sister you missed his main point of this thread. He is going to push his belief on everyone and if you do not agree with him, he will be condesending towards you. Even thou he said it was only a study in the Torah and explained what the Torah is, then he posts Scripture that is not in the Torah but in the New Testament, that should show you where his misunderstanding lies.