A Study of Torah from Gen. - Rev.
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Gen 48:1 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Gen 48:2 And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.
Gen 48:3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,
Gen 48:4 “and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’
Gen 48:5 “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
Gen 48:6 “Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.
Gen 48:7 “But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
Joseph wished for his children to be blessed by Jacob, this was his reason for taking them to see him. The blessing included a major change in the composition of the Jewish people. in that Jacob elevated Joseph's son's to the status of the first born, by placing on them a double portion. In effect he adopted them, just as he said he had told Joseph he was going to.
As we are told later in the Torah, the land was into 12 portions, Rashi said, the amount of land given depended on the size of the tribe. Where as Ramban tells us the portions were all equal, so that the larger tribes had smaller portions for every family.
The above is a brief summery of the 2 views. To look them over in detail may take upwards of a year in this format.
It may be that Jacob wished Joseph to understand why his mom was not buried at Hebron? Weather he thought Joseph may be harboring resentment, or if he simply wish to set his own mind at ease we rally don't know. Then their is also the possibility that Jacob may have felt he had no right to ask to be buried in Hebron, after placing Rachel on the side of the road, when they were just a short distance from Hebron. On foot they may have been at the out side 2 days away.
As noted earlier, that Torah doesn't wast words, so there must some reason it wished us to know it was just outside of Bethlehem. Having had many discussions on this, I find it comes to 2 teachings, once all the fluff is removed. One is that for some reason Jacob was rushed to reach Bethlehem. The other is that when Nebuchadnezzar took Judah into captivity, her spirit returned to that place and prayed for them. This teaching comes from
Jer 31:15
Thus says the LORD: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”
Gen 48:8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”
Gen 48:9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”
Gen 48:10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
Gen 48:11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”
It has been said that Jacob being almost blind, could only see that 2 young men stood before him, so he had to ask, as he couldn't see that they were joseph's. Yet one other teaching tells us that Jacob had seen prophetically that evil kings would come from them. i.e. Jerobboam and Ahab from Ephraim; Jehu and his sons from Manasseh. This came a shock to Jacob, so that he asked who are these? Meaning where did thees sons that are unworthy of being blessed come from?
Gen 48:12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth.
Gen 48:13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.
Gen 48:14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
When blessing someone it is done by placing your hand on their head. The right hand has spiritual primacy, and is the preferred hand. So by rights, (as man thinks) this hand should have been on Manasseh. This was Joseph's reason for bring them forward as he did. By crossing his hands, Jacob would place the better part of the blessing on Ephraim.
Gen 48:15
And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day
Gen 48:16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
Though some have claimed this prayer was made to Abraham ,and Isaac, this is wrong. We do good to note that it opened by addressing HaShem. The use of the names of his fathers, was to bring glory to HaShem, for all He had done for the family as a whole. The angel also was named, and not prayed to, this was to make note of the works HaShem had done for the family, through this angle.
Gen 48:17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
Gen 48:18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
Gen 48:19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”
At one point in my life, I found the idea that all English speaking nations were of Ephraim decent, a bit wishful. I went so fare as to do a DNA test to show this point. You see it has been said, and shown, that people of Israeli, (or Hebraic) decent had a marker that set them apart from all others on earth. That marker was not found in my DNA. Still the idea may hold truth than I give credit. As we know the blood line of most English speaking nations, is a mix of many peoples, and so that marker may have gotten lost. Yet this is the go to passage for any that wish to teach this. I would still need a bit more solid ground than someone once said. History makes no note of the 10 northern tribes once they were removed from Israel, so any claim of tracing them to this land or that is more speculation ,and wishful, than fact. Yet the Torah does not say a thing, that doesn't come to pass, so I will also not take the stand that it is can't be.
It is my own thinking on this, that it is through ones faith in Yeshua's sacrifice that we as gentiles, become grafted into the family tree of Abraham, as noted in Romans 11. HaShem, knowing that this was coming, lead to Him telling Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.
Gen 48:20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Gen 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Gen 48:22 “Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
It is said that the last verse speaks to the city of Shechem, taken by Simeon and Levi, when they slew the inhabitants. Though we know that Jacob had no hand in that, and was upset about their actions. The city became his, after he defeated the surrounding nations, that came gathered against him.
One other teaching, tells us that Jacob referred to the birth right, as well as the blessing of the first born, if so the use of the words can be seen as figurative. The Sword in this case should be seen as sharp wisdom, and the bow as pray.
Why would one see a weapon of war as prayer? Prayer works kind of like a bow. The more faith,(pull) you have, (or place) the greater the power of the prayer.
Gen 48:2 And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.
Gen 48:3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,
Gen 48:4 “and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’
Gen 48:5 “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
Gen 48:6 “Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.
Gen 48:7 “But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
Joseph wished for his children to be blessed by Jacob, this was his reason for taking them to see him. The blessing included a major change in the composition of the Jewish people. in that Jacob elevated Joseph's son's to the status of the first born, by placing on them a double portion. In effect he adopted them, just as he said he had told Joseph he was going to.
As we are told later in the Torah, the land was into 12 portions, Rashi said, the amount of land given depended on the size of the tribe. Where as Ramban tells us the portions were all equal, so that the larger tribes had smaller portions for every family.
The above is a brief summery of the 2 views. To look them over in detail may take upwards of a year in this format.
It may be that Jacob wished Joseph to understand why his mom was not buried at Hebron? Weather he thought Joseph may be harboring resentment, or if he simply wish to set his own mind at ease we rally don't know. Then their is also the possibility that Jacob may have felt he had no right to ask to be buried in Hebron, after placing Rachel on the side of the road, when they were just a short distance from Hebron. On foot they may have been at the out side 2 days away.
As noted earlier, that Torah doesn't wast words, so there must some reason it wished us to know it was just outside of Bethlehem. Having had many discussions on this, I find it comes to 2 teachings, once all the fluff is removed. One is that for some reason Jacob was rushed to reach Bethlehem. The other is that when Nebuchadnezzar took Judah into captivity, her spirit returned to that place and prayed for them. This teaching comes from
Jer 31:15
Thus says the LORD: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”
Gen 48:8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”
Gen 48:9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”
Gen 48:10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
Gen 48:11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”
It has been said that Jacob being almost blind, could only see that 2 young men stood before him, so he had to ask, as he couldn't see that they were joseph's. Yet one other teaching tells us that Jacob had seen prophetically that evil kings would come from them. i.e. Jerobboam and Ahab from Ephraim; Jehu and his sons from Manasseh. This came a shock to Jacob, so that he asked who are these? Meaning where did thees sons that are unworthy of being blessed come from?
Gen 48:12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth.
Gen 48:13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.
Gen 48:14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
When blessing someone it is done by placing your hand on their head. The right hand has spiritual primacy, and is the preferred hand. So by rights, (as man thinks) this hand should have been on Manasseh. This was Joseph's reason for bring them forward as he did. By crossing his hands, Jacob would place the better part of the blessing on Ephraim.
Gen 48:15
And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day
Gen 48:16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
Though some have claimed this prayer was made to Abraham ,and Isaac, this is wrong. We do good to note that it opened by addressing HaShem. The use of the names of his fathers, was to bring glory to HaShem, for all He had done for the family as a whole. The angel also was named, and not prayed to, this was to make note of the works HaShem had done for the family, through this angle.
Gen 48:17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
Gen 48:18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
Gen 48:19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”
At one point in my life, I found the idea that all English speaking nations were of Ephraim decent, a bit wishful. I went so fare as to do a DNA test to show this point. You see it has been said, and shown, that people of Israeli, (or Hebraic) decent had a marker that set them apart from all others on earth. That marker was not found in my DNA. Still the idea may hold truth than I give credit. As we know the blood line of most English speaking nations, is a mix of many peoples, and so that marker may have gotten lost. Yet this is the go to passage for any that wish to teach this. I would still need a bit more solid ground than someone once said. History makes no note of the 10 northern tribes once they were removed from Israel, so any claim of tracing them to this land or that is more speculation ,and wishful, than fact. Yet the Torah does not say a thing, that doesn't come to pass, so I will also not take the stand that it is can't be.
It is my own thinking on this, that it is through ones faith in Yeshua's sacrifice that we as gentiles, become grafted into the family tree of Abraham, as noted in Romans 11. HaShem, knowing that this was coming, lead to Him telling Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.
Gen 48:20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Gen 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Gen 48:22 “Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
It is said that the last verse speaks to the city of Shechem, taken by Simeon and Levi, when they slew the inhabitants. Though we know that Jacob had no hand in that, and was upset about their actions. The city became his, after he defeated the surrounding nations, that came gathered against him.
One other teaching, tells us that Jacob referred to the birth right, as well as the blessing of the first born, if so the use of the words can be seen as figurative. The Sword in this case should be seen as sharp wisdom, and the bow as pray.
Why would one see a weapon of war as prayer? Prayer works kind of like a bow. The more faith,(pull) you have, (or place) the greater the power of the prayer.
I understand we can't ask them, but do they ever write about it? Usually when believers are writing about spiritual topics, Jesus is talked about sometimes.
why look in the horse's mouth?
and of course, you can do whatever you want
,
14 their minds were hardened.
15 to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
what they write may sound wise, but they are unable to see the glory of the Lord.
why look in the horse's mouth?
and of course, you can do whatever you want
,14 their minds were hardened.
15 to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
what they write may sound wise, but they are unable to see the glory of the Lord.
I understand we can't ask them, but do they ever write about it? Usually when believers are writing about spiritual topics, Jesus is talked about sometimes.
why look in the horse's mouth?
and of course, you can do whatever you want ,
14 their minds were hardened.
15 to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
what they write may sound wise, but they are unable to see the glory of the Lord.
why look in the horse's mouth?
and of course, you can do whatever you want
,14 their minds were hardened.
15 to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
what they write may sound wise, but they are unable to see the glory of the Lord.
Like if a child told you a better way to do something, do you reject the idea, simply over age?
Or if a blind man told you a shorter way to get some place close to his home of 60 years, do we reject that, simply because he can't see?
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RE posts 458-60:
Although the brothers certainly didn't recognize it; it is plainly obvious to the reader that Joseph is testing the brothers to determine whether the resentment the brothers harbored toward himself extended to Benjamin as well.
Upon discovering that it in fact did not, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. It was NEVER Joseph's intention to deprive his father of Benjamin or any of his other sons.
Although the brothers certainly didn't recognize it; it is plainly obvious to the reader that Joseph is testing the brothers to determine whether the resentment the brothers harbored toward himself extended to Benjamin as well.
Upon discovering that it in fact did not, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. It was NEVER Joseph's intention to deprive his father of Benjamin or any of his other sons.
It really is not our place to say they were blind, or if they were not. Even when it comes to a pastor that tells me they follow Yeshua, I consider what they say, then I test it by the Word, and what the Holy Spirit places in my heart. After all, saved or not, believe in Yeshua or not, we are all human, and that means we can be wrong.
Gen 49:1
And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
Gen 49:2
“Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.
Jacob now wished to bless his kids. By calling them together, he may have wished to imprint on them, that is by staying together that they can face any and all challenges they may face. The use of the phrase, "last days" may also be meant to show that this about the end times. Although their need to remain united, as critical then, as they were just starting to become a nation, and would face many challenges. Not unlike today.
Gen 49:3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
Gen 49:4
Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it— He went up to my couch.
Although Reuben was the first born, and had the right to be the head of the family, Jacob seen that he had ungoverned impulses, he would fail as a leader. Jacob may not have rebuked his son until now, for fear of pushing him away, for fear that he may leave and stay with Esau. This also implies a general rule that we should all follow. If we wish to use constructive criticism, is that we need to wisely, less their sincere comments do more harm than good.
Gen 49:5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
Gen 49:6 Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
Gen 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel.
Though there are many teachings on just what Jacob meant by, "Let not my soul enter their council." The one that stands out in my mind is, that Jacob made it clear when they attacked Shechem. Rashi points out, Jacob was speaking to things yet to come. He tells us that Jacob was speaking of the 2 rebellions in the wilderness.
A little know fact is that Simeon's land was mostly absorbed into Judah's, Josh. 19:1-9. We all know that Levi, seen a more honorable future. In that they became the priestly tribe, though they were given no land of their own, save land set aside foe them out side of the towns in Israel.
Gen 49:8 “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you.
Gen 49:9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
Gen 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
Gen 49:11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
Gen 49:12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.
I have heard once, (let's pray I get this right) that Jacob seen a time when all of his kids would be called by the tribe of Judah. In other words, they would all be called Jews. I found this odd at first, yet now I see it may well have came to pass. Also one can find that Mordechai was called by Judah, yet he was from the tribe of Benjamin. This is found in the book of Esther.
At one time Jacob may have thought Judah had a hand in what happen with Joseph, only to find later that Judah had spared Joseph's life. So it is that Judah had elevated himself.
Jacob must have seen that Yeshua would come from Judah. Although Judah didn't give Israel their first king, it was from this tribe that the most notable;e of Israel's kings did arise. If it was due to the mercy shown to Joseph or not, we can't really say. Yet HaShem seen fit for the King of kings to come from this blood line. Yeshua, now holds the Kingship of not only Israel, the world as a whole is His Kingdom. As we know Yeshua is a King of Peace. We know that wars will fought on His behalf, yet it will be the power of HaShem that wins them, not the use of military force.
Gen 49:13
“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.
Although Zebulun was the 10th born, he is placed here with the other son's of Leah. Still he was named before his next oldest brother, Issachar. This may have been done to note that Zebulun, helped to suprot his brother, so that Issachar could study Torah.
Gen 49:14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;
Gen 49:15
He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves.
It has been said that Issachar often found them selves in service of the other tribes. At times selling himself into slavery, for a time, so that he would have the funds needed to keep his family going when he went back to studying Torah.
Gen 49:16 “Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.
Gen 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward.
Gen 49:18
I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!
Though it is true that many have seen this as pointing to Dan being involved in idolatry. The claim of Dan bring the rest of Israel to shame in doing so.
There is however a much nicer way to see this. As pointed out before, the name Dan means judge. From this tribe we are given Samson. A man that waged a guerilla like war against the Philistines on his own. At the same time he became a unifing factor for Israel.
Gen 49:19
“Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.
Though Gad's land was east of the Jordan, they crossed over, and fought side by side with their brothers.
Gen 49:20
“Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.
Asher's land was so right that his olive presses ran with oil like a fountain. His produce was so good that kings sought it out for their tables.
Gen 49:21 “Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
Naphtali, was said to have crops that ripened faster than another place in Israel. He sang songs of thanks to HaShem for his harvest, as it is said that he would harvest more than once from a field.
Gen 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.
Gen 49:23
The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him.
Gen 49:24
But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
Gen 49:25
By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
Gen 49:26
The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
Although Joseph had to face the arrow like tongues of many, he became a great leader in a land that was not his own. Being blessed to lead a people that hated him, and his family.
Gen 49:27
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.”
It has been debated if Benjamin, or Levi held the strongest worriers. In that debate, one will hear of the affair of Concubine at Gildeah, (Jud. 19-20) stories of King Saul, and others. The one that has always stood out for me is told every year for Perum. (Most likely spelled that wrong sorry) The story of Mordecai's victory over Haman, and being awarded Hamean's estate.
Gen 49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.
Gen 49:29 Then he charged them and said to them: “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
Gen 49:30 “in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place.
Gen 49:31 “There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah.
Gen 49:32 “The field and the cave that is there were purchased from the sons of Heth.”
Gen 49:33 And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
Gen 49:2
“Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.
Jacob now wished to bless his kids. By calling them together, he may have wished to imprint on them, that is by staying together that they can face any and all challenges they may face. The use of the phrase, "last days" may also be meant to show that this about the end times. Although their need to remain united, as critical then, as they were just starting to become a nation, and would face many challenges. Not unlike today.
Gen 49:3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
Gen 49:4
Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it— He went up to my couch.
Although Reuben was the first born, and had the right to be the head of the family, Jacob seen that he had ungoverned impulses, he would fail as a leader. Jacob may not have rebuked his son until now, for fear of pushing him away, for fear that he may leave and stay with Esau. This also implies a general rule that we should all follow. If we wish to use constructive criticism, is that we need to wisely, less their sincere comments do more harm than good.
Gen 49:5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
Gen 49:6 Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
Gen 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel.
Though there are many teachings on just what Jacob meant by, "Let not my soul enter their council." The one that stands out in my mind is, that Jacob made it clear when they attacked Shechem. Rashi points out, Jacob was speaking to things yet to come. He tells us that Jacob was speaking of the 2 rebellions in the wilderness.
A little know fact is that Simeon's land was mostly absorbed into Judah's, Josh. 19:1-9. We all know that Levi, seen a more honorable future. In that they became the priestly tribe, though they were given no land of their own, save land set aside foe them out side of the towns in Israel.
Gen 49:8 “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you.
Gen 49:9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
Gen 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
Gen 49:11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
Gen 49:12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.
I have heard once, (let's pray I get this right) that Jacob seen a time when all of his kids would be called by the tribe of Judah. In other words, they would all be called Jews. I found this odd at first, yet now I see it may well have came to pass. Also one can find that Mordechai was called by Judah, yet he was from the tribe of Benjamin. This is found in the book of Esther.
At one time Jacob may have thought Judah had a hand in what happen with Joseph, only to find later that Judah had spared Joseph's life. So it is that Judah had elevated himself.
Jacob must have seen that Yeshua would come from Judah. Although Judah didn't give Israel their first king, it was from this tribe that the most notable;e of Israel's kings did arise. If it was due to the mercy shown to Joseph or not, we can't really say. Yet HaShem seen fit for the King of kings to come from this blood line. Yeshua, now holds the Kingship of not only Israel, the world as a whole is His Kingdom. As we know Yeshua is a King of Peace. We know that wars will fought on His behalf, yet it will be the power of HaShem that wins them, not the use of military force.
Gen 49:13
“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.
Although Zebulun was the 10th born, he is placed here with the other son's of Leah. Still he was named before his next oldest brother, Issachar. This may have been done to note that Zebulun, helped to suprot his brother, so that Issachar could study Torah.
Gen 49:14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;
Gen 49:15
He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves.
It has been said that Issachar often found them selves in service of the other tribes. At times selling himself into slavery, for a time, so that he would have the funds needed to keep his family going when he went back to studying Torah.
Gen 49:16 “Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.
Gen 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward.
Gen 49:18
I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!
Though it is true that many have seen this as pointing to Dan being involved in idolatry. The claim of Dan bring the rest of Israel to shame in doing so.
There is however a much nicer way to see this. As pointed out before, the name Dan means judge. From this tribe we are given Samson. A man that waged a guerilla like war against the Philistines on his own. At the same time he became a unifing factor for Israel.
Gen 49:19
“Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.
Though Gad's land was east of the Jordan, they crossed over, and fought side by side with their brothers.
Gen 49:20
“Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.
Asher's land was so right that his olive presses ran with oil like a fountain. His produce was so good that kings sought it out for their tables.
Gen 49:21 “Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
Naphtali, was said to have crops that ripened faster than another place in Israel. He sang songs of thanks to HaShem for his harvest, as it is said that he would harvest more than once from a field.
Gen 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.
Gen 49:23
The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him.
Gen 49:24
But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
Gen 49:25
By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
Gen 49:26
The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
Although Joseph had to face the arrow like tongues of many, he became a great leader in a land that was not his own. Being blessed to lead a people that hated him, and his family.
Gen 49:27
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.”
It has been debated if Benjamin, or Levi held the strongest worriers. In that debate, one will hear of the affair of Concubine at Gildeah, (Jud. 19-20) stories of King Saul, and others. The one that has always stood out for me is told every year for Perum. (Most likely spelled that wrong sorry) The story of Mordecai's victory over Haman, and being awarded Hamean's estate.
Gen 49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.
Gen 49:29 Then he charged them and said to them: “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
Gen 49:30 “in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place.
Gen 49:31 “There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah.
Gen 49:32 “The field and the cave that is there were purchased from the sons of Heth.”
Gen 49:33 And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
respectfully, if they were not followers of Christ,
14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the
same veil remains, because
in Christ
it passes away. 15 But to this day, when Moses is read,
a veil lies on their heart.
16 But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the
same veil remains, because
in Christ
it passes away. 15 But to this day, when Moses is read,
a veil lies on their heart.
16 But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Gen 50:1 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him.
Gen 50:2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
Gen 50:3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
It has been said that this embalming, was mummification. Although the Word does say this, a look at some facts of the process, does lean in that direction. Although it would seem that this was only about 1/2 done. As the Torah tells us that we shouldn't have done to our body, (At lest by some interpretations.) this was most likely done to keep the body for the trip back to Hebren.
One may also wish to note that this was a pagan practice. Yet in this case, it did have more of a practical application
Gen 50:4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,
Gen 50:5
‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’
It is made clear that Joseph didn't go to Pharaoh himself. Rather he first had a 3rd party intercede for him. This may have been out of respect, or as a way to lessen any opposition he thought may come. After all Joseph was a key member of the government, and his absence may form a void, and slow down the word of the government. This is also why he had to get permission. Also so that Pharaoh would not think that Joseph seen Cannan as his true home, Joseph let it be known he would return as soon as possible.
Gen 50:6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”
Gen 50:7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
Gen 50:8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen.
Gen 50:9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
Pharaoh made it known that had Joseph not sworn to do this, he wouldn't be going. Some think that the people of Egypt were sent to make sure they all returned. This was also why Pharaoh wouldn't let the kids go along. Yet it may well be they went to show respect for Joseph, and no other reason.
Most that follow the first teaching, also say that this was when enslavement started. At lest to some degree, they may well be right.
Gen 50:10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father.
Gen 50:11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
Although they had already spent some 70 days in morning, this time of mourning was the 7 days after the body was burred. The idea that people that seen this a day of great mourning Egypt, held a some what prophetic truth, that was not seen at first. You see, when Egypt welcomed Jacob, they, with out know it, brought a blessing upon their nation. Think back to Gen. 12:3. However, as they forgot about Joseph, and enslaved the Hebrew people, they also brought on a curse promised in that same verse. One that destroyed them as a nation.
Gen 50:12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them.
Gen 50:13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.
Gen 50:14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.
What I find of interest is that the sages say Jacob had assigned his their place in this action. Placing them in the same places as they would later be assigned to camp in the wilderness. It does seem a little thing, yet if correct, would show the foresight of a great man of HaShem.
Gen 50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.”
Gen 50:16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying,
Gen 50:17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
It is highly likely that something had changed in the interaction of the 11 brothers, and Joseph. It may have been that they had spent their Sabbath meals together, and that has stopped for some untold reason. So now the brothers had sent someone to speak on their behalf. Only after that did they go see him on their own. It must have broke Joseph's heart to know that his brothers didn't trust him not to bring harm on them.
Gen 50:18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
As noted above, some teach it was at the death of Jacob that enslavement started. Yet others see it as this point in time. As Joseph was the head of the Egyptian government. it was with this pledge that they gave themselves into slavery.
Gen 50:19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
Gen 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Gen 50:21 “Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
As we know, back then no one eats with out working. I am sure that they made some money along the way, though they most likely spent their share of time also working for Pharaoh.
Gen 50:22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.
Gen 50:23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.
Most likely this added to show that Joseph had a good, long, and happy life. This can also be seen as the Torah showing us that if we walk in all that HaShem has told us, we to will live long, and happy lives. One should take note that no not one place in the Bible ever tells us there wouldn't be thorns in our lives, though for the most part, they will be happy days.
Gen 50:24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
Gen 50:25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
Gen 50:26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Some teach that Jacob had told Joseph of a redeemer that would lead his people out of Egypt, though no time was given as to when. Though we may never know why Joseph wished his bones removed from Egypt,there are many reasons given by the sages. Some have been pointed out, and at this point, I feel it best to just leave it at that.
This chapter of Torah ends on a somewhat sad note. Though it is seen as ending on a note of consolation as well. The sages say that with Joseph's remains being in Egypt, symbolized that his spirit would be with Israel as a nation.
With the closing of Gen. I pray that it has given at lest some insight as to the intent of this book. That in some way, it has opened your eyes to somethings you may never taken time to look at on your own. I make no claim of being an expert or scholar. Yet it has been said that I see things from a point of view, that seems odd at first, and though I do follow a lot of the sages teach, keep in mind, I do so only after much reading, and study. There are many things that come from the sages that are posted here, and many more that will not be posted in time to come. I do wish to thank you for staying with this as long as you have, and pray that there will be some insights to come that will open the eyes of us all.
Gen 50:2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
Gen 50:3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
It has been said that this embalming, was mummification. Although the Word does say this, a look at some facts of the process, does lean in that direction. Although it would seem that this was only about 1/2 done. As the Torah tells us that we shouldn't have done to our body, (At lest by some interpretations.) this was most likely done to keep the body for the trip back to Hebren.
One may also wish to note that this was a pagan practice. Yet in this case, it did have more of a practical application
Gen 50:4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,
Gen 50:5
‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’
It is made clear that Joseph didn't go to Pharaoh himself. Rather he first had a 3rd party intercede for him. This may have been out of respect, or as a way to lessen any opposition he thought may come. After all Joseph was a key member of the government, and his absence may form a void, and slow down the word of the government. This is also why he had to get permission. Also so that Pharaoh would not think that Joseph seen Cannan as his true home, Joseph let it be known he would return as soon as possible.
Gen 50:6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”
Gen 50:7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
Gen 50:8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen.
Gen 50:9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
Pharaoh made it known that had Joseph not sworn to do this, he wouldn't be going. Some think that the people of Egypt were sent to make sure they all returned. This was also why Pharaoh wouldn't let the kids go along. Yet it may well be they went to show respect for Joseph, and no other reason.
Most that follow the first teaching, also say that this was when enslavement started. At lest to some degree, they may well be right.
Gen 50:10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father.
Gen 50:11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
Although they had already spent some 70 days in morning, this time of mourning was the 7 days after the body was burred. The idea that people that seen this a day of great mourning Egypt, held a some what prophetic truth, that was not seen at first. You see, when Egypt welcomed Jacob, they, with out know it, brought a blessing upon their nation. Think back to Gen. 12:3. However, as they forgot about Joseph, and enslaved the Hebrew people, they also brought on a curse promised in that same verse. One that destroyed them as a nation.
Gen 50:12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them.
Gen 50:13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.
Gen 50:14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.
What I find of interest is that the sages say Jacob had assigned his their place in this action. Placing them in the same places as they would later be assigned to camp in the wilderness. It does seem a little thing, yet if correct, would show the foresight of a great man of HaShem.
Gen 50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.”
Gen 50:16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying,
Gen 50:17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
It is highly likely that something had changed in the interaction of the 11 brothers, and Joseph. It may have been that they had spent their Sabbath meals together, and that has stopped for some untold reason. So now the brothers had sent someone to speak on their behalf. Only after that did they go see him on their own. It must have broke Joseph's heart to know that his brothers didn't trust him not to bring harm on them.
Gen 50:18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
As noted above, some teach it was at the death of Jacob that enslavement started. Yet others see it as this point in time. As Joseph was the head of the Egyptian government. it was with this pledge that they gave themselves into slavery.
Gen 50:19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
Gen 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Gen 50:21 “Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
As we know, back then no one eats with out working. I am sure that they made some money along the way, though they most likely spent their share of time also working for Pharaoh.
Gen 50:22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.
Gen 50:23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.
Most likely this added to show that Joseph had a good, long, and happy life. This can also be seen as the Torah showing us that if we walk in all that HaShem has told us, we to will live long, and happy lives. One should take note that no not one place in the Bible ever tells us there wouldn't be thorns in our lives, though for the most part, they will be happy days.
Gen 50:24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
Gen 50:25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
Gen 50:26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Some teach that Jacob had told Joseph of a redeemer that would lead his people out of Egypt, though no time was given as to when. Though we may never know why Joseph wished his bones removed from Egypt,there are many reasons given by the sages. Some have been pointed out, and at this point, I feel it best to just leave it at that.
This chapter of Torah ends on a somewhat sad note. Though it is seen as ending on a note of consolation as well. The sages say that with Joseph's remains being in Egypt, symbolized that his spirit would be with Israel as a nation.
With the closing of Gen. I pray that it has given at lest some insight as to the intent of this book. That in some way, it has opened your eyes to somethings you may never taken time to look at on your own. I make no claim of being an expert or scholar. Yet it has been said that I see things from a point of view, that seems odd at first, and though I do follow a lot of the sages teach, keep in mind, I do so only after much reading, and study. There are many things that come from the sages that are posted here, and many more that will not be posted in time to come. I do wish to thank you for staying with this as long as you have, and pray that there will be some insights to come that will open the eyes of us all.
As we move into Ex, there will some things that some may not find as ringing true to them. Once more I wish to point out in no way will this ever say or try to show my own thoughts. You will not be told that you must follow the laws, that will be spoken of, as every one must work that out in their own hearts. Most of you know how I think on that, and I know how many of you think, so please leave that to the threads that have been killed due to being over ruin by that topic. This is not the place for that, and I am sure that you all know by now, I will not stand by and this thread be taken over by some that seem to think every thread must be telling you to follow the law. I am going to change the translation I use this time. So please don't try to make a deal out of that. It is just that I follow the idea that the best one anyone can use is the one that speaks to them.
Exo 1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel (that is, Jacob) who moved to Egypt with their father, each with his family:
Exo 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,
Exo 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin,
Exo 1:4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Exo 1:5 In all, Jacob had seventy descendants in Egypt, including Joseph, who was already there.
Exo 1:6 In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation.
Exo 1:7 But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land.
As HaShem had told Abraham, his offspring would be in a land they didn't own for 400 years. This was the time HaShem had given for the sins of the Canaanites to bring their sins to fruition. One may also note that Israel had grown larg and powerful in Egypt. By divine design, this came to be, as they would soon be moving to take Canaan as their land, and so would be in need of great army.
Exo 1:8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.
Exo 1:9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are.
Exo 1:10
We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.
Around 1650 to 1550 bc, the northern part of Egypt where Israel lived was thought to be ruled by a Semitic people. Some say it was Esau's off spring, others Ishmael's. Israel may well have been allied with them, and this is why Pharaoh was a bit jumpy. Israel was already enslaved by this point, and had good reason to dislike the Egyptians.
Exo 1:11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king.
Exo 1:12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became.
Exo 1:13 So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy.
Exo 1:14 They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.
This labor was meant to slow the birth rate of Israel. Oddly it didn't work that way. Ramban makes note that this growth rate was HaShem,s answer to Egypt's plan of population control. He sights the censuses in the book of numbers. making note of the lower number of Levites. As the Levites were not enslaved, and so were not treated badly, HaShem didn't intervene to increase their numbers. At some point the Egyptians went from work as birth control, to doing everything they could to demoralize Israel. To brake them in both body and spirit.
Exo 1:15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah:
Exo 1:16 “When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.”
Exo 1:17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.
There is one teaching that tells us the midwives were from the tribe of Levi, and not only let the boys live, they did everything they could to make sure they were healthy and strong. Though Pharaoh thought he had a good idea, one can never assume that a person will act in the way they hope. A person's faith when it true faithfulness, leads them to act as HaShem would wish for them to, even if it means placing their own life on the line.
Exo 1:18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. “Why have you done this?” he demanded. “Why have you allowed the boys to live?”
Exo 1:19 “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.”
Exo 1:20 So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.
Exo 1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
Exo 1:22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.”
It is thought that Pharaoh know that a child would be born that would free Israel. It was this that motivated his actions. Due to the actions of the midwives their to had kids. It is said that one of the midwives was Moses mom, and the other his sister. Though we can't say this is right, we also can't show it wrong.
With Pharaoh's last order in this chapter, we see a shadow of what Herod did. Although we are not told here that Pharaoh had ordered the death every boy 2 years and under. This may well be,(as the sages teach) that Pharaoh's astrologers had given him the date for the boy to born. They may have also said the boys down fall would by water. If they seen the idea of NEW BORN in the same light as we do today, this may well have been up to the age of 1 at lest. If this teaching is correct, then the astrologers did a good job. After all, know that Moses was born when this order was given. We also know that Moses didn't entering the land, due to a sin that involved water.
Exo 1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel (that is, Jacob) who moved to Egypt with their father, each with his family:
Exo 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,
Exo 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin,
Exo 1:4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Exo 1:5 In all, Jacob had seventy descendants in Egypt, including Joseph, who was already there.
Exo 1:6 In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation.
Exo 1:7 But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land.
As HaShem had told Abraham, his offspring would be in a land they didn't own for 400 years. This was the time HaShem had given for the sins of the Canaanites to bring their sins to fruition. One may also note that Israel had grown larg and powerful in Egypt. By divine design, this came to be, as they would soon be moving to take Canaan as their land, and so would be in need of great army.
Exo 1:8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.
Exo 1:9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are.
Exo 1:10
We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.
Around 1650 to 1550 bc, the northern part of Egypt where Israel lived was thought to be ruled by a Semitic people. Some say it was Esau's off spring, others Ishmael's. Israel may well have been allied with them, and this is why Pharaoh was a bit jumpy. Israel was already enslaved by this point, and had good reason to dislike the Egyptians.
Exo 1:11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king.
Exo 1:12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became.
Exo 1:13 So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy.
Exo 1:14 They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.
This labor was meant to slow the birth rate of Israel. Oddly it didn't work that way. Ramban makes note that this growth rate was HaShem,s answer to Egypt's plan of population control. He sights the censuses in the book of numbers. making note of the lower number of Levites. As the Levites were not enslaved, and so were not treated badly, HaShem didn't intervene to increase their numbers. At some point the Egyptians went from work as birth control, to doing everything they could to demoralize Israel. To brake them in both body and spirit.
Exo 1:15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah:
Exo 1:16 “When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.”
Exo 1:17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.
There is one teaching that tells us the midwives were from the tribe of Levi, and not only let the boys live, they did everything they could to make sure they were healthy and strong. Though Pharaoh thought he had a good idea, one can never assume that a person will act in the way they hope. A person's faith when it true faithfulness, leads them to act as HaShem would wish for them to, even if it means placing their own life on the line.
Exo 1:18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. “Why have you done this?” he demanded. “Why have you allowed the boys to live?”
Exo 1:19 “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.”
Exo 1:20 So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.
Exo 1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
Exo 1:22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.”
It is thought that Pharaoh know that a child would be born that would free Israel. It was this that motivated his actions. Due to the actions of the midwives their to had kids. It is said that one of the midwives was Moses mom, and the other his sister. Though we can't say this is right, we also can't show it wrong.
With Pharaoh's last order in this chapter, we see a shadow of what Herod did. Although we are not told here that Pharaoh had ordered the death every boy 2 years and under. This may well be,(as the sages teach) that Pharaoh's astrologers had given him the date for the boy to born. They may have also said the boys down fall would by water. If they seen the idea of NEW BORN in the same light as we do today, this may well have been up to the age of 1 at lest. If this teaching is correct, then the astrologers did a good job. After all, know that Moses was born when this order was given. We also know that Moses didn't entering the land, due to a sin that involved water.
Exo 2:1 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married.
Exo 2:2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.
Exo 2:3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.
Exo 2:4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.
The sages teach that this man was Levi's grandson, and the women was his doughtier. This does sound strange at first, until one slows down to think about it. Ex 6 tells us that Levi was 137 year old when he passed. Meaning that it is likely they were of the same age. What it was that she seen that gave her the understanding of Moses being special, is not told to us. The sages however say that it may have been that he had a light around him that filled the house, or that he may have been born circumcised. The first can not be shown one way or the other. However as the Torah makes no note of Moses ever being circumcised, the later of them, can be seen as having at lest some truth in it. No mater what we think, or teach, this passage is a text book of HaShem's hidden works. Our most intelligent analyses will always come up short, if not thwarting His divine will.
Exo 2:5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her.
Exo 2:6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.
Looking at the plain text, one see's that someone went into the water to get the basket. Ever see a Nile crook on tv? Going into the water, was not a good idea. So how is it they got the basket? The sages tell us that she reached out for it, and HaShem enabled her to reach her goal.
One other points that needs to be looked at here, is that knowing it was a Hebrew child, and that her father had ordered them all killed, why would she save the child? When handed over to a Hebrew wet nurse, what keep Pharaoh's men from killing him then> There are many things we can't answer in this. It is when one learns that HaShem can do anything, we can also exsept that He also does things with telling us why, or how. We must except in faith the workings of HaShem, that we can't see, or explain.
Exo 2:7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked.
Exo 2:8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother.
In our minds we see a lady that had no kids, and was unable to feed this child. Though that does add up, is it the only answer to this? The sages say that Moses wouldn't nurse from an Egyptian women. HaShem had place in this child an aversion to unclean milk. In this way He removed the right of any Egyptian women to say she feed the mouth that spook with HaShem.
Exo 2:9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.
This may seem to tell us that she simply nursed him, and that was that. however, when we feed a child in the proper manner, do we not also feed the mind? So it may well be that Moses got a foundation in Jewish beliefs during that time as well.
Exo 2:10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”
Exo 2:11 Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews.
Exo 2:12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.
Exo 2:13 The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight.
Exo 2:14 The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.”
Exo 2:15 And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.
Though Moses had been raised in the splendor and anti-Semitism of the palace, he remained Jewish in his heart. This shows just how well his mother succeeded in imbuing him with love and loyalty for his true people. When Moses sow the mistreatment of his fellow man, he looked this way and that. The sages give us an understanding of this, that we may learn no other place. They say that Moses looked and seen that no proselyte would descend from this man, he killed him. They also teach that Moses recited the name of HaShem, understanding that if this man didn't not warrant the death penalty, this name would not kill him.
We are not told at what age Moses left Egypt, we do know however that he may have been gone for some 60 years or better. Much of this time is missing, and many see this as showing Moses keep a low profile for the most part.
Exo 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks.
Exo 2:17 But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks.
Although this translation uses the word priest, the Chumash uses the word Minister. Although in some minds they hold the same meaning, this may not be wholly true. A minister, can a person that adds in the needs of others, and doesn't take part in religious work of any kind. Yet here we find the word being used to show both sides of the coin. Jethro was both a priest and a leader. The sages, and many others say that he had turned his back on idolatry, at which time he was ostracized, and persecuted. This may well be why his daughters stayed together when out in the field with the sheep. It also helps to explain why the men ran them off.
We can see that Moses still held his sense of justice, as can be seen in his reaction to how the men treated the women.
Exo 2:18 When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, “Why are you back so soon today?”
Exo 2:19 “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered. “And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.”
Exo 2:20 “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.”
Exo 2:21 Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife.
It may be, as said by the sages, that Moses was looking for a wife, so he followed the example of Isaac and Jacob. Sotries he most likely learned under his mothers nursing. This may tell us why he was sitting by a well. One may also note that we now told Reuel was the father of the girls. This may have been just one of the 7 names Jethro was known by, or it may be that Reuel was their grandfather. as noted in Num.10. He asked why they had invited Moses to eat with them, after all it was seen as rude to except a substantial favor and not at lest extend the invitation.
When we see that Moses accepted, do we see only that he invite of food? The sages tell us that Jethro had asked Moses to stay with them, and to please not leave with out first asking permission. It was both of the invites that Moses excerpted in this passage.
Exo 2:22 Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
The Chumash uses the word stranger, rather than foreigner. Though they can be seen as holding about the same meaning, the added insight from the word stranger helps to see many facets of the passage. The one that I learn from my rabbi's is that Moses like any true follower of HaShem, doesn't ever feel at home on this earth. Rather they long to go home, and be with their true father in heaven. One other teaching on this is that like all Jews they longed to return to the land that HaShem had given them.
Exo 2:23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.
Exo 2:24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Exo 2:25
He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.
The death of an opperser is normally followed by joy, and a hope for a better times to come. Yet as Israel seen the new king was no better, they groaned in pent-up disprair. Thire out cry may not have been souly one of repentance and pray, as it may have been mixed with the cries of pain.
The idea that HaShem SAW may lead some to think that He simply seen the same things we may have. Yet the idea goes well beyond that. The lives of the Jewish people had been disrupted in many ways. From their family life to their worship of HaShem. HaShem seen the things that were both done in the open, as well what the Egypians shought to hide.
Exo 2:2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.
Exo 2:3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.
Exo 2:4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.
The sages teach that this man was Levi's grandson, and the women was his doughtier. This does sound strange at first, until one slows down to think about it. Ex 6 tells us that Levi was 137 year old when he passed. Meaning that it is likely they were of the same age. What it was that she seen that gave her the understanding of Moses being special, is not told to us. The sages however say that it may have been that he had a light around him that filled the house, or that he may have been born circumcised. The first can not be shown one way or the other. However as the Torah makes no note of Moses ever being circumcised, the later of them, can be seen as having at lest some truth in it. No mater what we think, or teach, this passage is a text book of HaShem's hidden works. Our most intelligent analyses will always come up short, if not thwarting His divine will.
Exo 2:5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her.
Exo 2:6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.
Looking at the plain text, one see's that someone went into the water to get the basket. Ever see a Nile crook on tv? Going into the water, was not a good idea. So how is it they got the basket? The sages tell us that she reached out for it, and HaShem enabled her to reach her goal.
One other points that needs to be looked at here, is that knowing it was a Hebrew child, and that her father had ordered them all killed, why would she save the child? When handed over to a Hebrew wet nurse, what keep Pharaoh's men from killing him then> There are many things we can't answer in this. It is when one learns that HaShem can do anything, we can also exsept that He also does things with telling us why, or how. We must except in faith the workings of HaShem, that we can't see, or explain.
Exo 2:7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked.
Exo 2:8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother.
In our minds we see a lady that had no kids, and was unable to feed this child. Though that does add up, is it the only answer to this? The sages say that Moses wouldn't nurse from an Egyptian women. HaShem had place in this child an aversion to unclean milk. In this way He removed the right of any Egyptian women to say she feed the mouth that spook with HaShem.
Exo 2:9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.
This may seem to tell us that she simply nursed him, and that was that. however, when we feed a child in the proper manner, do we not also feed the mind? So it may well be that Moses got a foundation in Jewish beliefs during that time as well.
Exo 2:10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”
Exo 2:11 Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews.
Exo 2:12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.
Exo 2:13 The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight.
Exo 2:14 The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.”
Exo 2:15 And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.
Though Moses had been raised in the splendor and anti-Semitism of the palace, he remained Jewish in his heart. This shows just how well his mother succeeded in imbuing him with love and loyalty for his true people. When Moses sow the mistreatment of his fellow man, he looked this way and that. The sages give us an understanding of this, that we may learn no other place. They say that Moses looked and seen that no proselyte would descend from this man, he killed him. They also teach that Moses recited the name of HaShem, understanding that if this man didn't not warrant the death penalty, this name would not kill him.
We are not told at what age Moses left Egypt, we do know however that he may have been gone for some 60 years or better. Much of this time is missing, and many see this as showing Moses keep a low profile for the most part.
Exo 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks.
Exo 2:17 But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks.
Although this translation uses the word priest, the Chumash uses the word Minister. Although in some minds they hold the same meaning, this may not be wholly true. A minister, can a person that adds in the needs of others, and doesn't take part in religious work of any kind. Yet here we find the word being used to show both sides of the coin. Jethro was both a priest and a leader. The sages, and many others say that he had turned his back on idolatry, at which time he was ostracized, and persecuted. This may well be why his daughters stayed together when out in the field with the sheep. It also helps to explain why the men ran them off.
We can see that Moses still held his sense of justice, as can be seen in his reaction to how the men treated the women.
Exo 2:18 When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, “Why are you back so soon today?”
Exo 2:19 “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered. “And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.”
Exo 2:20 “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.”
Exo 2:21 Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife.
It may be, as said by the sages, that Moses was looking for a wife, so he followed the example of Isaac and Jacob. Sotries he most likely learned under his mothers nursing. This may tell us why he was sitting by a well. One may also note that we now told Reuel was the father of the girls. This may have been just one of the 7 names Jethro was known by, or it may be that Reuel was their grandfather. as noted in Num.10. He asked why they had invited Moses to eat with them, after all it was seen as rude to except a substantial favor and not at lest extend the invitation.
When we see that Moses accepted, do we see only that he invite of food? The sages tell us that Jethro had asked Moses to stay with them, and to please not leave with out first asking permission. It was both of the invites that Moses excerpted in this passage.
Exo 2:22 Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
The Chumash uses the word stranger, rather than foreigner. Though they can be seen as holding about the same meaning, the added insight from the word stranger helps to see many facets of the passage. The one that I learn from my rabbi's is that Moses like any true follower of HaShem, doesn't ever feel at home on this earth. Rather they long to go home, and be with their true father in heaven. One other teaching on this is that like all Jews they longed to return to the land that HaShem had given them.
Exo 2:23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.
Exo 2:24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Exo 2:25
He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.
The death of an opperser is normally followed by joy, and a hope for a better times to come. Yet as Israel seen the new king was no better, they groaned in pent-up disprair. Thire out cry may not have been souly one of repentance and pray, as it may have been mixed with the cries of pain.
The idea that HaShem SAW may lead some to think that He simply seen the same things we may have. Yet the idea goes well beyond that. The lives of the Jewish people had been disrupted in many ways. From their family life to their worship of HaShem. HaShem seen the things that were both done in the open, as well what the Egypians shought to hide.