Shemot | ???? | “Names ” of the Patriarchs

Shemot (????) is both the title for the second book from the scroll of the Torah and the title of the first Torah portion therein. Shemot means “Names.” The Hebrew title for the book comes from the opening phrase of the book:

“Now these are the names (shemot) of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob” (Exodus 1:1)

Zohar Writings: “These are the names of the children of Israel” (Shemot 1:1). “The tribes of the children of Yisrael” (Joshua 4:5), “Speak to the children of Yisrael.”

And HaShem spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying… “

“And these are the names of the children of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, every man came with his household” (Shemot 1:1). “And they who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). “And they who are wise,” are those who observe the secret of wisdom; “shall shine,” means they illuminate and sparkle with the shine of supernal Chochmah(Wisdom); and “as the brightness,” MEANS the brightness and sparkle of the river that emanates from Eden.

Moses feared that he would not be recognized as a hebrew, as did his wife-to-be, Zipporah, daughter of a Midianite priest, when she and her sisters told their father that they had met ‘an Egyptian’ ( Exodus 2:15 ). He would not be seen as sharing the ancient Hebrew culture, because he spent all his life among Gentiles. He grew up as a child and lived in the household of an Egyptian Pharaoh. After he killed an Egyptian soldier for beating a he brew slave, he had a very bad experience when, in trying to make peace between two fellows fighting, that one turned on him for killing the Egyptian soldier. He realized that his life was now in danger and he fled to the land of Midian where he spent the next 60 years among Gentiles, even marrying into a Gentile family, and now – this Calling by G-d.

So here was a man who grew up as an Egyptian, and lived a non-Hebrew life among the Gentiles all his life – now called on to go and rescue the nation of his birth in the Name of the G-d of their forefathers.

By trusting, the parents of Moshe hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and they weren’t afraid of the king’s decree.

By trusting, Moshe, after he had grown up,refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose being mistreated along with G-d’s people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. He had come to regard abuse suffered on behalf of the Messiah( i.e Voice of Most High) as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes fixed on the reward.

By trusting, he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered as one who sees the unseen.

By trusting, he obeyed the requirements for the Pesach, including the smearing of the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Isra’el. – Hebrews 11:23-30

Hear Most High Words:

If there is a prophet among you, I, Most High, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of HaShem. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses. –Numbers 12:6-8

Without the Torah of Moses, we would have no hope of knowing the Messiah.

Yeshua Words:

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

-John 5:46

What we remember Moses for is what Most High calls Him: “My servant” and “faithful.” Knowing what we know about Moses, it seems likely that this is how he would want to be remembered. He simply did his duty. A humble servant, a faithful servant, only wants to know that he has done his duty.

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth- Numbers 12:3

Torah

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Exodus 1:1-6:1

Exodus 2:15

Numbers 12:6-8

Numbers 12 : 3

Haftarah Portion

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Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23

Jeremiah 1:1-2:3

Ha-Berit ha-Hadashah

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Luke 5:12-39

John 5 : 46

Acts 7 : 22

Hebrews 11 : 23 – 28

Notes:

This week begins a studies from the book of Torah, entitled Shemot (Names),With the beginning of a new book, so much has changed in the lives of the Israelite people living in Egypt. Jacob’s sons have all died. A new Pharaoh comes to power who does not know of Joseph and his family and fears the large number of Jewish people who have come to live in Egypt. The Jews are enslaved. And Moses is born. Some time goes by and Moses is asked by G-d to lead the Jewish people out of Egyptian slavery and into freedom.

The message that G-d was telling Moses by showing him a burning thorn bush, which was not consumed by the fire, is as follows: As long as the “fire of G-d” (Song of Songs 8:6) is burning within the Jewish People, even within the lower elements, represented by the thorns, no exile or power on earth could destroy them.The tzaddik is the one who has the fire of G-d burning within him and transmits it the common people. In effect, G-d was telling Moses that if a person could find and attach himself to a true tzaddik he would be able to have the proper guidance in finding G-d.

When G-d appeared to Moshe at the Burning Bush, He called him saying, “Moshe, Moshe.” The Zohar – Kabbala explains that he was called twice by his name to represent that he was complete both in the spiritual and physical realm. The Ramban – Nachmanidies explains that it is a special and beloved gesture by G-d to repeatedly call his cherished ones by their names.

Noach’s righteous son was given an interesting name, Shem – which means, name! The Sfas Emes explains that the name Shem represents his good name, for through his good deeds he led others to recognize G-d. Avraham was a descendant of Shem and Shem studied with and had great influence on our forefathers.

The Midrash tells us that earlier generations who were granted Ruach Hakodesh – Divine Inspiration – would give names according to events. However, we give our children names of our ancestors. There is a spiritual connection between the name of an individual and his soul, and interestingly the middle letters of the Hebrew word Neshama – soul, spells the word Shem – name!

Also, Moshe was faithful in all G-d’s house, as a servant giving witness to things G-d would divulge later. But the Messiah, as Son, was faithful over G-d’s house. And we are that house of his, provided we hold firmly to the courage and confidence inspired by what we hope for. Therefore, as the Ruach HaKodesh says, “Today, if you hear G-d’s voice, – Hebrews 3:5-8

Hear O Israel ! Please Listen and Obey His VOICE

As King David says: “Redemption will come today – if you hearken to His voice.”

The Talmud speaks about the Messiah, some of which represent famous Talmudic rabbis as receiving personal visitations from Elijah the Prophet and the Messiah.

Joshua b. Levi met Elijah standing by the entrance of R. Simeon b. Yohai’s tomb. He asked him: “Have I a portion in the world to come?” He replied, “if this Master desires it.” R. Joshua b. Levi said, “I saw two, but heard the voice of a third.” He then asked him, “When will the Messiah come?” — “Go and ask him himself,” was his reply. “Where is he sitting?” — “At the entrance.” “And by what sign may I recognise him?” — “He is sitting among the poor lepers: all of them untie [them] all at once, and rebandage them together, whereas he unties and rebandages each separately, [before treating the next], thinking, should I be wanted, [it being time for my appearance as the Messiah] I must not be delayed [through having to bandage a number of sores].” So he went to him and greeted him, saying, “Peace upon thee, Master and Teacher.” “Peace upon thee, O son of Levi,” he replied. “When wilt thou come, Master?” asked he. “Today,” was his answer. On his returning to Elijah, the latter enquired, “What did he say to thee?” — “peace Upon thee, O son of Levi,” he answered. Thereupon he [Elijah] observed, “He thereby assured thee and thy father of [a portion in] the world to come.” “He spoke falsely to me,” he rejoined, “stating that he would come today, but has not.” He [Elijah] answered him, “This is what he said to thee, To-day, if ye will listen to his voice.”

Four-Letter and Forty Two Letter’s Holy Name

The very interesting part would be the four-letter Name of G-d, YHWH. There are also other “names” of G-d referred to in Judaism, including one with twelve letters, one with forty-two letters, and another containing seventy-two letters Name

We find that the “Most Ancient Holy one of Israel” seen my Moses and the others was that emanation of G-d represented by the forty-two letter Name.

The example of 42 letters Name discussed in early commentators that the forty-two letters are a combination of the first forty-two letters of the Torah. The Name may also be associated with the phrase God used to reply to Moses, “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh”, (“I Am that I Am”), which comes out to 42 in gematria .

As scripture states: G-d said to Moshe, “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh [I am/will be what I am/will be],” and added, “Here is what to say to the people of Isra’el: ‘Ehyeh [I Am or I Will Be] has sent me to you.- Exodus 3:14

Talmud – Mas. Kiddushin 71a – The forty-two lettered Name is entrusted only to him who is pious, meek, middle-aged, free from bad temper, sober, and not insistent on his rights. And he who knows it, is heedful thereof, and observes it in purity, is beloved above and popular below, feared by man, and inherits two worlds, this world and the future world.

Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 30a – AND THE EARTH WAS VOID AND WITHOUT FORM. This describes the original state-as it were, the dregs of ink clinging to the point of the pen-in which there was no subsistence, until the world was graven with forty-two letters, all of which are the ornamentation of the Holy Name.

Forty-two heavenly attendants:

Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 5a – Said R. Simeon: ‘When the Shekinah went down to Egypt, a celestial “living being” (Hayah, cf.Ezek. 1, 5), called “Israel”, in form like the patriarch Jacob, went down with Her, accompanied by forty-two heavenly attendants, each of whom bore a letter belonging to the Holy Name. They all descended with Jacob to Egypt, and hence it says “and these are the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt… with Jacob”.’ … When R. Isaac was once studying with R. Eleazar, the son of R. Simeon, he asked him: ‘Did the Shekinah go down to Egypt with Jacob?’ Said R. Eleazar: ‘Surely! Did not God say to Jacob, “I will go down with thee into Egypt” (Gen. XLVI, 4)?’

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD( i.e heavenly attendants) went out from the land of Egypt. – Exodus 12:40-41 –

Journeys of Children of Israel

These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD and these are their journeys according to their goings out. – Numbers 33:1-2

Forty-two generations that led to Messiah

All the generations, therefore, from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations, and from David unto the Babylonian removal fourteen generations, and from the Babylonian removal unto the Messiah, fourteen generations – Matthew 1:17

Forty-Two Stages – Bread From Heaven

As we learned from the sages Mashiach ben Yosef is the heavenly Tzaddik , And He is the Bread of Life.

Midrash Rabbah – Exodus XXV (25) :5 – and God said, BEHOLD, I WILL CAUSE TO RAIN BREAD FROM HEAVEN FOR YOU. R. Judah b. Shalom the Levite said in the name of R. Jonah, and also R. Levi in the name of R. Hama b. R. Hanina said: The manna descended after [they had travelled] forty-two stages.

We can find the words of “bread from heaven” from the new testament:

For the bread of G-d is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world – John 6:33

Haftarat (Shemot – ‘Names’ ) – Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23

The haftarah this week is linked to this week’s Torah portion because it begins with a remembrance of the descendants of Jacob. G-d remembers His promises. He will never cast off His people, whom He foreknew. Our reading from the Prophets begins this way:

Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. – Isaiah 27:6

Compare this to the promise that G-d made to Abraham regarding his offspring:

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” -Genesis 15:5

Therefore thus says HaShem, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now grow pale; but when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will hallow My Name, and hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the G-d of Israel.” -Isaiah 29:22-23

As it is written:

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.- Deuteronomy 6:7, 11: 19

 

O, Awesome Creator! You are the Most Holy One of Israel and Your Holy Name will be gloried.

And Place these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul; bind them for a sign upon your arm and let them be tefillin between your eyes.

Teach them to your children, to discuss them, while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise.

 

And write them on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates. In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that Most High has sworn to your ancestors to give them, like the days of the heaven on the earth.

May His Holy Name be blessed