FFOZ Weekly eDrash:
The portion begins with Moses ... Read more
FFOZ Weekly eDrash:
The portion begins with Moses assembling the whole Israelite congregation. The verb used for assemble here is qahal (???), one of the words which in its noun form passes into the Greek version of the Bible as ekklesia, which, in turn, is the word that is mistranslated in our English Apostolic Scriptures as 'church.' Similarly, the word translated as 'congregation' is the Hebrew word adat, (???). It is from root adah (???) which has to do with something which is appointed. For example, another word derived from this same root is mo'ed (????), which is the word used in Leviticus 23:1 to designate the biblical festivals--the appointed times. In the Greek, adat is also frequently translated as ekklesia, 'assembly.' Sometimes, as in this instance, it is translated as 'synagogue,' an equivalent term which means 'assembly.'
Too often in today's individualistic world, even believers forget the importance of the community. This is especially true for those who desire to follow the Torah. The Torah was given to Adat Yisrael, to the appointed community of Israel. Its precepts were carefully crafted by the Holy One to be lived out as a team, as a community, as a holy partnership where everyone works together as a group to live out God's calling. Thus, no matter how so-called "Torah observant" one may call himself, he will only be able to fulfill a biblical "Torah observance" when it is done within a community.
The Holy One gave His Torah to the holy community, not to any one individual. God purposely involved the whole community in fulfilling the Torah about the Tabernacle. The calling of Torah cannot be fulfilled only by single individuals. It was designed by God to be fulfilled by each individual living out that calling both individually but also together as a Holy Community. Accordingly, they were called upon to receive Moses' instructions together, as a group, as a community. The construction of the Tabernacle was to be accomplished with the cooperation of all the people. No one individual could take the credit for the finished project. The real beauty of it was the cumulative effort of Adat Yisrael. In the Apostles, the Tabernacle is identified with the ekklesia, the "Body of Messiah." I Corinthians chapter six refers to us as the "Temple." Corporately, we are the place where the Holy One desires to dwell. Read less
The centurion says that he is a man ALSO under aut... Read more
The centurion says that he is a man ALSO under authority: he recognized Jesus was operating under the authority of God the Father just as the centurion operated under the authority of Ceaser. This was how he understood that whatever Jesus did, it was under the power, authority, grace, and orders of God the Father. This is how he understood faith, and Christ honored that as a right view by calling it faith. Read less
His days are summed up as none of the rest are in ... Read more
His days are summed up as none of the rest are in this genealogy, that it might be observed; his death being the time of Abram's leaving Chaldea and coming into the land of Canaan, given to him and his seed for an inheritance; see ( Acts 7:4 Acts 7:5 ) and Terah died in Haran:
the Arabic historian says, he died in Haran in the month Elul, in the year of his age two hundred and sixty five; but he gives him sixty years too many: a Jewish chronologer says he died in the thirty fifth year of Isaac. Perhaps he gave the name to this place, where he dwelt a while, in memory of his son Haran, which before might be called by another name, Padanaram, as it seems to be called even after this; see ( Genesis 24:10 ) ( 25:20 ) ( Genesis 28:2 Genesis 28:5 Genesis 28:10 ) ( Genesis 29:4 Genesis 29:5 ) . Read less
(1) He makes mention first of Abram, not because h... Read more
(1) He makes mention first of Abram, not because he was the first born, but for the history which properly belongs to him. Also Abram at the confusion of tongues was 43 years old, for in the destruction of Sodom he was 99 and it was destroyed 52 years after the confusion of tongues Read less
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