Yitro
Yitro | ???? | “Jethro “- Repent and Fear of Most Ancient Holy one of Israel – “Fearers of Heaven”
The Seventeenth reading from the portion of Torah is named Yitro (????), It comes from the e first verse of the reading, which says, “Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that G-d had done for Moses and for Israel His people” ( Exodus 18:1 ). This portion tells the story of Jethro’s visit to the camp of Israel and he plays a vital role in assisting Moses in setting up a System of Judges. And further this portion explains about the Ten Commandments which was given to Israel by inviting the people to enter into a special covenant relationship with him.
Yitro’s Name :
Yitro’s name was changed. And his name Yeter (???) ( Exodus 4:18 ) received a “Vav” (?) from the Holy Name and became Yitro (????). And just as Abraham is always known as Abraham and not “Abram”, Yitro is always known as Yitro and not Yeter.
Priest of Midian:
And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that G-d had done for Moses and for Israel His people – that HaShem had brought Israel out of Egypt. -Exodus 17:14-18:1
Jethro……He was a pagan Universalist priest (mid. Mekhilta Yitro 1:1). But his belief that the G-d of Hebrews was first among many g-ds.
Rabbi Aba said, It was not written that Jethro was a priest of On, but rather of Midian. He said to him, It is all one. At first the father-in-law of Joseph was called a priest of On; afterwards, the father-in-law of Moses was called a priest of Midian. For all are of the same secret. The priest of MIDIAN is similar to the priest of on. For these two, Moses and Joseph, are at the same grade of secret.
Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven:
A true returning to G-d (ie. Teshuva / repentance) is the most fundamental concept in order to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. Our Sages say that reciting the Shema , in the book of Deuteronomy equals accepting the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore we find that Yeter received a name which in Gematria stands for “The Torah” (haTorah), as in the verse: “this is The Torah that Moses set before the sons of Israel” (Deuteronomy 4:44). The pagan priest was elevated to the level of “Torah”, for certainly the instruction he gave to Moses became Torah.
In rabbinical phrase : ” The Yoke of the Kingdom of heaven”, describes a man must first take upon him the Yoke of the kingdom of heaven everyday and after that take upon him the “Yoke” of the commandment.
Yeshua Words: …….Take my Yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart – Matthew 11:29
Saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.“ – Matthew 3: 2
G-d-fearer:
In the scriptures we encounter the term ?? ???? (yirei HASHEM), those who fear the LORD and ????? ???? (yirei Elokim), those who fear G-d. The term used in Talmudic and Rabbinic literature is ???? ???? (yirei shamayim), Fearers of Heaven.
the first and foremost point of Wisdom is the fear of Adonai; all those living by it gain good common sense.His praise stands forever. – Psalm 111:10
In our life we should overcome the evil Inclination we are bringing into our lives the Spirit of Messiah and bringing the Kingdom of Heaven down to the earth, as our sages taught that in the days of Messiah ‘G-d will remove the spirit of uncleanness from the earth’ (Zechariah 13:2).
In the secret of “Breathed into his nostrils” (Genesis 2:7) Here we find a very good connection between the “Nose” and “Messiah”. Holiness comes by the merits of the Soul of Messiah, for it is written ‘The Breath of our Nostrils is the Messiah of HaShem’(Lam 4:20). With the Soul of Messiah we will seek connection with the Creator; for it is written: “He will breathe the fear of G-d” (Isaiah 11:3). How can be Messiah the Spiritual connection of mankind even before Adam! For it’s written: ‘His name is forever, before the Sun Yinon is his name’ (Psalm 72:17). Messiah is higher than the order of Creation (cf. Ohr haTorah, Mikets p. 2202). And whoever breathes the fear of G-d is participating of the Spirit of Messiah. For greatly the Psalmist says about him: “Your throne, G-d, is forever… you love righteousness and reject wickedness, therefore G-d, your G-d, has anointed you (ie. Has made you Messiah); oil of joy above your fellows” -Psalms 45:7.
……..so that all the peoples of the earth will know your name and fear you, as does your people Isra’el, and so that they will know that this house which I have built bears your name. –I Kings 8:41-43,
Job fears G-d ( Job 1:8 )and in Psalms 22:24 , as it is written: You who fear Adonai, praise him! All descendants of Ya‘akov, glorify him! All descendants of Isra’el, stand in awe of him!
There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Regiment. He was a devout man, a “G-d-fearer,” as was his whole household; he gave generously to help the Jewish poor and prayed regularly to G-d. – Acts 10 : 1-2
So Sha’ul stood, motioned with his hand, and said: “Men of Isra’el and G-d-fearers, listen! – Acts 13 : 16
Amalek did not Fear but Jethro Feared:
Here we find the very good piece of information that all the pagan nations had heard how Israel came out of the Egypt, And the Response of Amalek, “He did not fear G-d” (Deuteronomy 25:18) and “Made war with Israel” – Exodus 17:8.
But Yitro’s responded, “He came to Moses…. To the mount of HaShem” ( Exodus 18:5 ), “rejoiced” and declared: “Now I know that Havaya is greater than all the g-ds” – Exodus 18:11.
Jethro came, the great and supreme priest of Midian, appointed ruler over the whole pagan world, and acknowledged the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: “I now know that Hashem is supreme over all Elohim.” Then the Holy One, blessed be He, was exalted in His glory from above and below, and afterwards He gave the Torah in the completeness of His dominion.
Zohar writinings: “When Jethro” HE ASKS, Only Jethro heard, while the rest of the world did not hear? Is it not written, “The people shall hear, and be afraid” (Shemot 15:14)? HE ANSWERS, Indeed, the whole world did hear, but they were not broken. THEREFORE, IT WAS AS IF THEY DID NOT HEAR. But he heard, and was broken and yielded before the Holy One, blessed be He, and was brought near to fearing Him.
For when the people of the entire world heard of the wonders of the Holy One, blessed be He, they trembled. Then they looked up to Jethro, who was the wisest and was appointed over all of the heathen deities. When they saw that he came to worship the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: “Now I know that Hashem is greater than all the Elohim,” they gave up their idol worship, realizing their idols were worthless. At that time, the glory of the Holy Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, was exalted on all sides.
When the Holy One, blessed be He, desired that His name be glorified on earth as it is above, after He struck him and his nation, he came and acknowledged the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written, “Hashem is righteous” (Exodus 9:27). The instant he, who was the most important king in the world, acknowledged Him, all the other kings acknowledged, as it is written, “then the chiefs of Edom shall be amazed” (Exodus 15:15).
Rabbi Elazar notes with the following verse, “Let the peoples praise You, Elohim, let all the peoples give thanks to You” (Psalms 67:3). Come and behold, King David rose and praised and thanked the Holy King.
“Men! Why are you doing this? We’re just men, human like you! We are announcing Good News to you — turn from these worthless things to the living G-d who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them! – Acts 14:15
And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea — yes, everything in them — saying,“To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb belong praise, honor, glory and power forever and ever!” – Revelation 5:13
Amalek at Rephadim :
Amalek, was the son of Esau. All throughout Israel’s history, Amalek was and is the enemy of G-d’s people. Amalek, and Esau represent the opposite of the Ruel [“Friend of G-d”] by opposing G-d’s chosen people.
Then HaShem said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, HaShem-Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because HaShem has sworn: HaShem will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Amalek at Rephadim (Exodus 17:8). And in Exodus 19:2 we are told of Israel “leaving Rephidim.” The term “rephidim” is associated by the sages with a lack of Torah learning, something they had been directed toward back at the bitter waters of Marah. Thus, the hidden meaning to this verse is that the people had improved in the area of Torah. And also find some of the scriptures which is mentioned in the below statements.
- Amalek at the City of Palms – Judges 3:13.
- Saul, told to wipe out Amalek, but sinned is not listening- 1 Samuel 15.
- Haman, a descendant of Amalek in Persia attempts to obliterate Israel ( in the book of Esther).
Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: “Amalek was first among the nations, but shall be last until he perishes.” -Numbers 24:20
Wings of Eagles:
Most High tells Moses that He brought the people to Him “on the wings of eagles.” You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. – Exodus 19:4
There is a similar expression of wings of eagles which is described in the chapter of Revelation, where Israel is protected by G-d from her enemies.
But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where she is taken care of for a season and two seasons and half a season,[a] away from the serpent’s presence. – Revelation 12: 14
Torah
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Exodus 18:1-20:23
Exodus 17:8 ; 19:4
Exodus 20:15
Deuteronomy 4:12
Haftarah Portion
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Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6
Habbakuk 2:4
Psalms 67:3
Isaiah 2:3
Micah 4 : 1 – 4
Ha-Berit ha-Hadashah
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Matthew 6: 1-8:1
Revelation 1 : 12; 12: 14 ; 14 : 1
Revelation 5 : 13
Hebrews 12 : 22-24
Notes:
In this week Torah portion, Moses tells his father-in-law, Jethro (Yitro), about the miracle of the exodus. Jethro proclaims that the Israelite G-d is greater than all other g-ds. Jethro then advises Moses to delegate leadership roles in order to setting up a system of Judges. The Israelites camp at the bottom of Mount Sinai and After three days, the mountain was fills with smoke and G-d delivers the Ten Commandments to His people.
And in chapter of (Exodus 19), Moses not only ascended a physical mountain, he was also “elevated” spiritually. The first of the “Ten Commandments” is the most important. Simply put, we are to recognize the existence of G-d and put our trust (“faith”) in Him. Unless one proceeds from this point, following the ensuing commandments will become an exercise in futility, “for the just will live by his faith” -Habbakuk 2:4.
When Moses began his journey of redemption, he was destined to meet Jethro his future father-in-law. By the time Moses left the house of Jethro, the Torah and commentary makes mention that Moses succeeded in obtaining the staff of Jethro that was embedded upon his soil.
Pharaoh’s three Men: Bilaam, Job, and Jethro
We read of the three advisors to the Pharaoh: Jethro, Job and Bilaam. Bilaam was a sorcerer, but Job had fear, and we are told of the great power of fear to draw down the spirit from above, whether it be Holy or from the Other side. While Job converted to worship of the Holy One due to the fear generated by his witnessing of the miracles, Jethro did not convert until after the drowning in the Red Sea. However, Bilaam neither repented nor converted. And he was a sorcerer in all manner of enchantments, whether by act or by word.
Mountain of Most High:
G-d chose to give the Torah on a mountain because a mountain expresses the ideal of elevating and raising upward the physical world (cf. Sefer haMaamarim 5700, p. 114). “And they gathered underneath the mountain” -Exodus 19:17. “The lower realms may ascend to the higher realms, and the higher realms may descend to the lower realms… as it’s written: HaShem descended on Mount Sinai; and then, He said to Moses: Go up to HaShem” (Midrash Tanhuma; cf. Exodus 19:20; 24:1).
Zohar writings: “And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law came” (Exodus 18:5). He opened the discussion with the verse, “And many nations shall go and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain of Hashem’” (Isaiah 2:3). Yet, the time will come when the other nations will strive to come under the wings of the Shechinah. “Let us go up” All idol worshippers of the world pertain to descent, but those who cleave to the Holy One, blessed be He, will achieve an ascent. Therefore, it is written, “Let us go up.”
“the mountain of Hashem” refers to Abraham, as written, “as it is said to this day: In the mount Hashem will appear” (Genesis 22:14). For Abraham called it ‘a mountain’. Just as the mountain is abandoned property, free to all who care for it, so is this holy place, THE TEMPLE, open to all those who desire it on earth. “to the house” (Isaiah 2:3) is Jacob, who called this place a “house,” as it is written, “This is no other than the house of Elohim” -Genesis 28:17.
The Third Day:
“And it came to pass in the third day” -Exodus 19:16
“Blessed be the Merciful One who on the third day in the third month gave a three-fold Torah (Torah, Prophets and Hagiographa) to a three-fold people (Priests, Levites and Israelites) through a third-born (Moses, the third child of Amram)” (Shabbat 88a).
Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 120a – ON THE THIRD DAY ABRAHAM LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND SAW THE PLACE AFAR OFF. As we have already been told that Abraham went to the place, all this seems superfluous. But the truth is that “the third day” means the third generation, i.e. Jacob, and the words “he saw the place from afar” are parallel to the expression “from afar the Lord appeared unto me” (Jeremiah 31, 3). Or again, “the place” alludes to Jacob, of whom it is written, “and he took one of the stones of the place” (Gen. XXVIII, 11). For Abraham scrutinized the “third day”, which is the third grade, and he beheld Jacob, who was destined to descend from him. “Afar off”, to wit, at some distant time, and not soon. R. Eleazar said to R. Judah: ‘What credit is herein ascribed to Abraham, if whilst about to bind Isaac he saw that Jacob was destined to descend from him?’ R. Judah replied: ‘Indeed Abraham did see Jacob, since even before that Abraham was endowed with the higher Wisdom; and now he scrutinized the third day, which is the third grade, in order to make sure. And indeed he did see him, but now only “from afar”, for the reason that he was going to bind Isaac, and he did not wish to question the ways of the Holy One. “Afar off”, that is, he saw him through a “dim glass” only, and therefore only partially; for if the “clear glass” had been resting upon the “dim glass”, Abraham would have seen him properly. The “clear glass” did not function on this occasion, because this is the grade of Jacob, who, not yet being born, had not reached that grade; and also in order that Abraham’s reward might be all the greater. AND THEY CAME TO THE PLACE WHICH GOD HAD TOLD HIM OF, ETC. Here it is intimated that although Abraham had some vision of Jacob, yet he said to himself, “Assuredly the Holy One knows another way which will serve.’ Forthwith, therefore, ABRAHAM BUILT THE ALTAR THERE. Before this it is written: AND ISAAC SPOKE UNTO ABRAHAM HIS FATHER, AND SAID, MY FATHER. As explained elsewhere, the reason why Abraham did not respond to him immediately was because the normal compassion of a father towards a son left him, and hence he simply said: ‘Here I am, my son”, implying that the quality of mercy in him had been transmuted into rigour. AND ABRAHAM SAID. It is not written: “and his father said”, which shows again that he was regarding him not as his father but as his adversary. G-D WILL PROVIDE FOR HIMSELF THE LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING, MY SON. He should have said: “provide for us”, but what he meant was, “G-d will provide for Himself when necessary, but for the present it is going to be my son and nothing else.”
As the above portion of the Zohar speaks of Abraham looking “forward” to the day of Messiah. And it also involving the Akeidah. Here the ram that Abraham sacrificed at a particular point in time. So the element of sacrifice existed since the foundation of the world, work of sacrifice/atonement. And it is written in new testament, “lamb slain since the foundation of the world.” – Revelation 13:8
Abraham “looking into the future, upon the “third day,” also called the “third grade,” which is the third Sephirah of Binah-Understanding. The Sephirah of Binah is associated with several concepts in which includes:
Teshuva, Understanding, Jubilee, New Jerusalem, Yom Kippur and establishment of G-d's kingdom on earth relates to all the days of Messiah.
But the Jerusalem that is above is free... ( Galatians 4 : 26 ) and in Hebrews 9:28 - So Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. ( i.erelates to Yom Kippur which deals with salvation and establishment of the New Covenant).
Yeshua mentioned Abraham’s vision : John 8:56-58 – Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Yeshua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. -Luke 24:44-47
Saw the Voices:
Torah tells us that they “saw the voices (of the thunder),” did they literally see a sound, or did they only hear it? The voice heard by Moses at Mount Sinai, was also said to be one of seven voices: “This teaches us that the Torah was given (at Sinai) with seven voices. In each of them the Master of the Universe revealed Himself to them, and they saw Him. It is thus written, “And all the people saw the voices.” -Bahir 45
At first they saw the voices. What did they see? The seven voices mentioned by David. But in the end they heard the word that emanated from them all. -Bahir 48
The Voice of Adonai is over the waters;the G-d of glory thunders, Adonai over rushing waters, the voice of Adonai in power,the voice of Adonai in splendor. The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars; Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon
and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf,Siryon like a young wild ox. The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames ; the voice of Adonai rocks desert, Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert. The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth and strips the forests bare — while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!” – Psalm 29:3-9
“GO THOU NEAR AND HEAR, ETC. When the Law was given to Israel, all the Voices were present and the Holy One, blessed be He, was sitting on His throne, and one was seen within another, and the utterance of each came forth from the one above it, wherefore it is said, “The Lord spake to you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire” (Deuteronomy 5:4), which means that the utterance came forth from the midst of fire and flame, which thrust it forth by the force of spirit and water; and fire,spirit and water all issued from the trumpet which contained them all.” -Zohar, Devarim 261a
Midrash Rabbah tells us that the voice of waters, is the Torah: Midrash Rabbah – The Song of Songs I:19 – Just as water is from heaven, as it says, At the sound of His giving, a multitude of waters in the heavens (Jeremiah. X, 13), so the Torah is from heaven, as it says, I have talked with you from heaven (Exodus 20, 19). Just as [the downpour of] water is accompanied by loud thunderings, as it says, the voice of the Lord is upon the waters (Psalms XXIX, 3), so the Torah was given with loud thunderings, as it says, And it came to pass on the third day when it was morning that there were thunders and lightnings (Exodus 19, 16).
“At Every word which went forth from the mouth of the Blessed Holy One, the souls of Israel departed, for it is said, ‘Nafshi Yatzah veDabero”; My soul went out with his Words (Song 5:6). Then G-d brought down the dew with which He will resurrect the dead and revived them, as it’s said: You sent a plentiful rain, G-d; you refreshed your inheritance when it was weary [or fainted]” (Psalms 68: 10 [9]) (cf. Shabbat 88b). And again: “Your dead shall live… for your dew is a dew of illumination” ( Isaiah 26:19).
The voice emanating from the fire and flame, mentioned in the above Zohar passage, has a direct connection to Moses, who also “saw” G-d in the form of a voice, which is called “the messenger (angel) of YHVH”: In Exodus 3:2-4 – and there appeareth unto him a messenger of YHVH in a flame of fire, out of the midst of the bush, and he seeth, and lo, the bush is burning with fire, and the bush is not consumed. And Moses saith, `Let me turn aside, I pray thee, and I see this great appearance; wherefore is the bush not burned?’ and YHVH seeth that he hath turned aside to see, and G-d calleth unto him out of the midst of the bush, and saith, `Moses, Moses;’ and he saith, `Here [am] I.’
As the Zohar states, in the stuff of Moses, in the column of fire, in the ascending of Enoch… and of course Messiah is the highest human manifestation of this spiritual force. ( ie. The Word became flesh and lived with us,and we saw his Sh’khinah(glory)…., – John 1 : 14)
His voice is G-d’s word ( Exodus 23:22). And Yeshua Words: For I have not spoken on my own initiative, but the Father who sent me has given me a command, namely, what to say and how to say it. -John 12: 49 ; And of Messiah it is written: “hear my words which he shall speak in my Name” –Deuteronomy 18:19.
The Messenger of His Presence is not a mighty one/or whatever else between HaShem and us were we have to appear before we can come to HaShem!
And scriptures says: Exodus 20:1 And Elohim spoke all these Words, saying, Exo 20:2 “I am ???? your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. Exo 20:3 “You have no other mighty ones against My face. Exo 20:4 “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, Exo 20:5 you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, ???? your Elohim am a jealous El, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, Exo 20:6 but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands. Exo 20:7 “You do not bring the Name of ???? your Elohim to naught, for ???? does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.
But The Word that became flesh and ‘Circumcise the foreskin of your hearts’…….
Became flesh: Phillipians 2:5-8 For, let this mind be in you which was also in Messiah ?????, who, being in the form of Elohim, did not regard equality with Elohim a matter to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and came to be in the likeness of men. And having been found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, death even of a stake.
When HaShem spoke the Word, ‘that the Word may become flesh’ that Messiah Ben Yoseph received the soul of, The Messenger of His Presence – ???? ????,
Isaiah 63:7-9 Let me recount the kindnesses of ???? and the praises of ????, according to all that ???? has done for us, and the great goodness toward the house of Yisra’el, which He has done for them according to His compassion, and according to His many kindnesses. And He said, “They are My people, children who do not act falsely.” And He became their Savior – ?????? Mossiah.
Isaiah_63:9 In all their distress He was distressed, and the Messenger of His Presence –????? ???? ??????? ?????? – saved them. In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them, and He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Deut 30:10 if you obey the voice of ???? your Elohim (The Voice of the Messenger of His Presence ( Yeshayahu 63:9, Shemot 25:22), to guard His commands and His laws which are written in this Book of the Torah, if you (that is!) turn back to ???? your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being.
Yahweh’s Corban, ‘My offering’, who, Heb 9:11-14 But Messiah, having become a High Priest of the coming good matters, through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, entered into the Most Set-apart Place once for all, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, having obtained everlasting redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?
‘My Offering’, Messiah Ben Yoseph : Please obey VOICE of Most High and Come let us gather together to understand about Mashiach ben Yosef and his divine Mandate - Deut 30 : 1- 10
And as it is written: Zep_3:10 “From beyond the rivers of Kush my Worshippers, the daughter of My dispersed ones,(Ephraim/Manasseh) shall bring My offering.
And when we are willing to accept and follow the Torah as it actually is — fulfilling NA’ASEH VE-NISHMAH, “we will (first) DO it and (then) HEAR (and understand) it” (Exodus 24:7) — then we can come to understand how the Torah lifts us out of our slavery to this-worldliness, with its many false gods. Then we can hear the Voice of redemption that calls to us every day: “I am HASHEM your G-d who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves” (Ex. 20:2).
– Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Greenbaum
“From India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty – seven provinces” –Esther 1:1
As it is written in Zephaniah and Esther, xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from india to cush. A note from rabbi Avraham Greenbaum on Zep. 3:‘V 12: The commentators indicate that the KOOSHIM mentioned in this verse (and in Tzephaniah 3:10) as a people who come not from Africa, as many believe, but rather from beyond the rivers of India (the Indus??? see Rashi on this verse and Targum Yonasan on Tzeph. 3:10). This would conform to the opinion in the Talmud that KUSH mentioned in Esther 1:1 was adjacent to India and not in far off Africa (Megillah 11a). It was to Kush that the Ten Tribes were exiled.
Ariel, The Watchmen from Israel notes: ‘from behind the rivers of India’ where many of the tribes are still settled. The navi also state: Zep_3: “From beyond the rivers of Kush my worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones (Ephraim), shall bring my offering. That is needed to liberate us from the dead sentence that we loaded on ourselves with our sins, the reason why our forefathers were exiled. The daughter of my dispersed ones (Efrayim) repented before the presence of Most High. Our Heavenly Father accepted this ‘Mincha’.
Saw the Voice – We can find the same expression in Revelation
And I did turn to See the voice that did speak with me, and having turned, I saw seven golden lamp-stands… -Revelation 1 : 12
John says he turns to see the voice. How does one see a voice? The same question may be asked regarding the events of Mt. Sinai, as read about in the Torah:
And all the people are seeing the voices, and the flames, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mount smoking; and the people see, and move, and stand afar off, and say unto Moses, `Speak thou with us, and we hear, and let not G-d speak with us, lest we die. -Exodus 20:18-19
We are told that “all the people Saw the voices (of the thunder) and the lightning”—very interesting, for how can voices be seen? – and in Revelation 1:15 , His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. And Brass is a symbol of judgment that the Zohar relates to “powers and principalities” (i.e., Ephesians 6:12) that lie behind the nations, whom Messiah is coming to judge.
Brass is symbolic of the days of the Sacrifices of the Feast of Tabernacles which alluded to the powers and principalities of the heathen nations, who are designated “mountains of brass.” -Zohar, Shemoth 135a
Ezekiel’s vision:
“Then I saw, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his waist and downward, fire; and from his waist and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.” -Ezekiel 8:2
“Behold, the glory of the G-d of Israel came from the way of the east: and his Voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shined with his glory.” -Ezekiel 43:2
Nation of Priests:
“And G-d spoke all these words” (Exodus 20:1). According to our sages, this extraordinary event in which people heard the voice of G-d by themselves was so sublime that brought them into a new life. They literally died to their old life of slavery, and were born again, not as servants, but as a Nation of priests and Kings.
As it is written: and you will be a Kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.’ These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra’el.” -Exodus 19:6
You made them into a kingdom for G-d to rule, cohanim to serve him; and they will rule over the earth.” -Revelation 5:10
WE ARE ALL CONVERTS: — Studies from Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Greenbaum
It is fitting that the parshah which tells of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai is named after Yisro (Jethro), Moses’ father-in-law — a convert. Indeed, all those who witnessed the Giving of the Torah were “converts”. Thus (as noted in the commentary on Parshas SHEMOS) the Covenant at Sinai was accompanied by the three components of conversion: circumcision (Rashi on Exodus.12:6), ritual immersion in the waters of the Mikveh (Exodus. 19:10) and burned offerings (Exodus. 24:5). For before G-d, we are all converts — GERIM, “dwellers” in a land and on an earth that is not ours but G-d’s. We are all here only by the grace of G-d, utterly dependent upon His kindness and compassion.
Thus no one can claim that the Torah belongs to him by right through ancestral or other merit. There is no room for pride, arrogance or the exploitation of the Torah for worldly advantage. The Torah is not the property of an exclusive caste. It “belongs” only to one who keeps it. The Torah was given in the Wilderness, no man’s land, on the lowest of all mountains — Sinai, the eternal symbol of humility. For only through humility can we “receive” and accept the Torah, which belongs to G-d alone. Receiving the Torah means having the humility to accept it as it is, the way it has come down to us, without trying to “modify” it according to our own ideas and wishes.
And when we are willing to accept and follow the Torah as it actually is — fulfilling NA’ASEH VE-NISHMAH, “we will (first) DO it and (then) HEAR (and understand) it” (Ex. 24:7) — then we can come to understand how the Torah lifts us out of our slavery to this-worldliness, with its many false gods. Then we can hear the Voice of redemption that calls to us every day: “I am HASHEM your G-d who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves” (Ex. 20:2).
Thus Jethro the Convert was accorded the honor of having the parshah narrating the Giving of the Torah named after him, and of contributing the hierarchical system of “captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties and captains of tens” through which the Children of Israel are governed. Jethro’s name also contains and alludes to the name of another humble convert who was accorded the greatest honor: Ruth the Moabitess, who was the great grandmother of King David, MELECH HAMASHIACH.
— Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Greenbaum
Haftarat Yitro – ‘Jethro’ (Isaiah 6:1-13)
Isaiah’s revelation begins with an Warning: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw HaShem sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the Temple…………… – Isaiah 6:1-13
In these Haftarat portion studies , Lets have a notes of the difference’s between the Prophet Isaiah and King Uzziah:
- Uzziah barged into the Temple to offer incense to G-d
- Isaiah was taken by G-d into the invisible scene in the Temple.
- Isaiah saw G-d in the Temple. His lips were unclean.
- G-d makes the prideful Uzziah unclean with leprosy.
- Uzziah did not see G-d in the Temple. He was struck with leprosy ( ultimate in uncleanness in a living person).
- G-d purges Isaiah’s unclean lips.
- Uzziah becomes unable to serve as king.
- Isaiah becomes usable to G-d, A servant of Most High.
Yet Once More:
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve G-d acceptably with reverence and G-dly fear. For our G-d is a consuming fire. -Hebrews 12:18-29
You are holy, and Your Name is holy, and holy ones praise You every day, forever. Blessed are You, HaShem, the holy G-d.
Gaddi – President
A Servant of Most Ancient Holy one of Israel and Disciple of Yeshua HaMashiach
email : efrayim.gaddi@betyisrael.org
Bet Yisrael international 