Weekly Parsha Discussion - 1 & 3 Year Cycles [Archive]

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iitb

3rd January 2004, 05:29 PM

Okay, since we're all trying to grow in Torah, we're going to start discussing each weeks Torah portion. Before getting started, I figured we should lay down a few ground rules.

1) Each portion will be discussed the week preceeding it's reading in the synagogue(so, if Parsha Va'yechi is scheduled for 1/10, our discussion of it would begin 1/4)

2) In order to keep this from getting too messy, we're going to limit each discussion to 1 week in duration. Please try to wrap up by the end of Shabbat. :)

3) Please try to avoid heated arguments. It is quite alright if you "agree to disagree."

4) Whenever possible, please cite scripture and/or rabbinic writings that support your view.

5) Sometime after the end of Shabbat(I'm in the Mountain time zone) I'll try to post the verses and daily breakdown for the next reading. Please note that, even though I'm including the daily portions, any part of the Parsha can be discussed at any point during the week.

6) Although I'm organizing this, in no way am I leading any sort of discussion. It is up to you all to make this work.

iitb

4th January 2004, 01:23 AM

We're starting with the end of the beginning. Odd. ;) Anyway, this text comes from the Judaic Classics Library Tanach(off of the Soncino Talmud CD-ROM). The separation comes from http://www.mishkon.org/triennial.htm
Day 1
Genesis Chapter 47
28. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the whole age of Jacob was a hundred and forty seven years.
29. And the time drew nearer that Israel must die; and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, If now I have found grace in your sight, put, I beg you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I beg you, in Egypt;
30. But I will lie with my fathers, and you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place. And he said, I will do as you have said.
31. And he said, Swear to me. And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.
Day 2
Genesis Chapter 48
1. And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
2. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, your son Joseph comes to you; and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
3. And Jacob said to Joseph, God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
Day 3
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 will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.
5. And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you to Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
6. And your issue, born to you after them, shall be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.
7. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath; and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; which is is Beth-Lehem.
8. And Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
9. And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I beg you, to me, and I will bless them.
Day 4
10. Now the eyes of Israel were dim from age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
11. And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face; and, lo, God has shown me also your seed.
12. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed with his face to the earth.
13. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him.
Day 5
14. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, changing his hands; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long to this day,
16. The Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Day 6
17. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he held up his father’s hand, to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18. And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head.
19. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
Day 7
20. And he blessed them that day, saying, In you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh; and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
21. And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
22. And I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

iitb

4th January 2004, 12:10 PM

Here you go. Have at it :)

Henaynei

4th January 2004, 02:05 PM

[Day 1]
Genesis Chapter 47
28. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the whole age of Jacob was a hundred and forty seven years.
29. And the time drew nearer that Israel must die; and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, If now I have found grace in your sight, put, I beg you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I beg you, in Egypt;
30. But I will lie with my fathers, and you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place. And he said, I will do as you have said.
31. And he said, Swear to me. And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.
Questions I have had about this section:

Why does G-d use both of Ya'acov's names (Ya'acov and Yisrael) in the first two sentences?

Can some one shed some light on the oath ritual used here?

Why does Ya'acov call for Yosef rather than the first born, who's responsibility this should have been?

Thoughts??

Shiphrah

4th January 2004, 04:20 PM

"Ya'akov lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years"

The rabbis say that Jacob never really LIVED until He reached Egypt and had his family together and yet you see in the next part it says that He wants to leave Egypt.

"Carry me out of Egypt"

Although Jacob was living in the the best conditions He still did not forget the land that God promised His decedents. I can say that I have felt like this on many occasions, Even though I live in comfortable surroundings and I am well provided for I want to be 'carried out of Egypt' and go to my true home.

iitb

4th January 2004, 10:59 PM

Why does G-d use both of Ya'acov's names (Ya'acov and Yisrael) in the first two sentences?
It's also that way in the second section, and it doesn't seem to have any sort of pattern. At least not one I can find.

Henaynei

5th January 2004, 06:51 AM

Questions I have had about this section:

Can some one shed some light on the oath ritual used here?

Why does Ya'acov call for Yosef rather than the first born, who's responsibility this should have been?
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_5_1.gif (http://tzion.org/devarim/va-Yechi.html) Y'akov (Jacob) became ill and Yoseph (Joseph) was sent for a second time to bless Manasheh and Ephraim. The normal procedure for blessing the children was to first call the eldest as in the case of Yitzchak (Isaac) and Esav. Y'akov's eldest was Rubayn (Ruben) followed by Shimon (Simeon). Y'akov was not following tradition. He counted Manasheh and Ephraim as his own children. Normally the first born son would receive a double portion of the inheritance but by counting Manasheh and Ephraim equal with his other children and giving Yoseph a portion as well, Yoseph's portion was three times that of the other sons.
Thoughts??

Shiphrah

5th January 2004, 08:11 AM

I have heard that because Ruben ( him sleeping with his fathers concubines)and the others in line had sinned and therefore the blessing passed to the one who hadn't. Supposedly some people believe that Joseph never sinned because there is no written account of his sin in the bible.

What I personally think is that so many times people get set in their ways, that things have to be just so and God comes along and shakes things up a bit. I also find it kind of ironic that the youngest again got the best blessing. Think about it Issacs blessing over his older half brother Ishmael, Jacob receiving the first born's blessing over Esau and now Joseph over his brothers and we see even further in the reading that it's ephriam over mannasah.

As far as placing the hand on ones thigh turns out to be a custom of the time. Ibn Ezra says that Jacob sat on Josephs hand as a symbol that Jacob was the master. Professor Nahum Sarna thinks that because Joseph is receiving instruction, that placing the hand near the reproductive organs it is saying that the last wish "of a superior symbolizes an involvement of posterity in faithful implementation of the instructions" Some rabbis say that when a person would take an oath they would have to swear on some holy object ( think of today and the bible in court)

BenTsion

5th January 2004, 08:30 AM

I remember a rabbi at a congregation I used to attend (before moving) explaining how the expression translated as "under my thigh" could also mean "on my genitals" of course, "under my thigh" sounds a lot more politically correct than "on my genitals" - but he said that the second translation is the most likely one. Why? Keep in mind that the circumcision was the sign of the promise seed of G-d. The first occurance of such practice was with Avraham when he wanted his servant to promise he would bring a bride to Itzak that would not break their blood lineage. Since Yosef was Israel's son, it would be as if he were swearing on his descendants. Makes a lot more sense to me than placing the hand under the thigh (which sounds meaningless to me).

In Messiah,
Ben Tsion

Henaynei

5th January 2004, 09:06 AM

Achichem

5th January 2004, 12:29 PM

In my Internet search, I came across these and thought they were interesting.
"Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt for seventeen years, vayehi yemei Yaakov / and the days of Yaakov - the years of his life - were 147 years." (47:28)
R' Menashe Klein shlita (the "Ungvar Rav" in Brooklyn) asks: The word "vayehi" usually introduces a sad or troublesome event; thus, the phrase, "vayehi yemei Yaakov / and the days of Yaakov - the years of his life - were 147 years" could be understood to mean that all of Yaakov's days were unhappy. Indeed, we know that Yaakov had a difficult life, but the Sages say that Yaakov's last seventeen years were filled with good. Why then is the word "vayehi" used?

R' Klein answers: Yaakov's life in Egypt was good by any objective standard, but in Yaakov's eyes, being dependent on his son, an Egyptian prince, was not good. After all, Yaakov grew up in the homes of Avraham and Yitzchak. Avraham was called by his gentile neighbours "a prince of G-d" (Bereishit 23:6). And, the Sages say that Pharaoh preferred that his daughter Hagar be a maidservant in Avraham's household rather than a princess in his own palace. Avraham and Yitzchak were not dependent on Pharaoh to give them the status of royalty! (Mishneh Halachot)"Yosef saw that his father was placing his right hand on Ephraim's head and it displeased him; so he supported his father's hand to remove it from upon Ephraim's head to Menashe's head. And Yosef said to his father, `Not so, Father, for this is the firstborn; place your right hand on his head'." (48:17-18)
R' Eliyahu Capsali z"l (Crete; early 17th century) observes: The Torah does not suggest that Ephraim objected to or resisted his father's attempt to deprive him of Yaakov's primary blessing. Remaining silent would be a challenge for most people. Thus, this demonstrates the extent to which Ephraim excelled in observing the mitzvah of Kibud Av Va'em / honoring parents.

This may be the reason that Ephraim's descendant, Yehoshua bin Nun was chosen to led the war against Amalek. Amalek was a descendant of Esav, who also excelled at honoring his father. Only someone who shared in the merit of honoring parents could overcome the protection that Esav enjoyed because of that mitzvah. (Me'ah She'arim: end of Sha'ar 26)Source: http://www.holylaw.org.uk/Hagesher286.doc

Henaynei

5th January 2004, 10:03 PM

Day 2
Genesis Chapter 48
1. And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
2. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, your son Joseph comes to you; and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
3. And Jacob said to Joseph, God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
This is the beginning of an awesome display of the restoration of "what the canker worm has eaten" and "the latter estate was greater than the first!!":cool:

ShirChadash

6th January 2004, 01:45 PM

11. And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face; and, lo, God has shown me also your seed.

I just wanted to say that this verse is such a beautiful reminder to me of how HaShem is a restorer of not only what was taken, but also a provider of what is over and above our expectations and hopes. How faithful is our G-d! :bow:

ShirChadash

6th January 2004, 01:47 PM

This is the beginning of an awesome display of the restoration of "what the canker worm has eaten" and "the latter estate was greater than the first!!":cool:
Um, maybe I should read all the posts in the thread before I respond, eh? LOL. Anyway, yeah what Henaynei said! Awesome awesome!!!

Henaynei

6th January 2004, 08:46 PM

Um, maybe I should read all the posts in the thread before I respond, eh? LOL. Anyway, yeah what Henaynei said! Awesome awesome!!!
LOL goofy girl!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/37.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001)

koilias

8th January 2004, 08:44 PM

You know...whatever sage or sages came up with these seven day partitions is a genius. I couldn't help noticing that they follow the seven day creation account themes as used by Yohanan. I wonder if Yinonyavo can bear in on this. Anyone know who created these partitions?

Just some quick observations:

Day 1
Genesis Chapter 47
28. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the whole age of Jacob was a hundred and forty seven years.
29. And the time drew nearer that Israel must die; and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, If now I have found grace in your sight, put, I beg you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I beg you, in Egypt;
30. But I will lie with my fathers, and you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place. And he said, I will do as you have said.
31. And he said, Swear to me. And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

"I have found grace in your sight" corresponds to "And God saw that (the light) was good", his Memra, dearly beloved son, whose radiance filled the whole world. Joseph swears to perform the ultimate act of lovingkindness, burying his father, showing Hesed (a Day One theme).

Day 2
Genesis Chapter 48
1. And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
2. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, your son Joseph comes to you; and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
3. And Jacob said to Joseph, God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

"Sickness and strength", "one told" and the "other told": several dualities are being expressed here...day two themes.

Day 3
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 will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.
5. And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you to Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
6. And your issue, born to you after them, shall be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.
7. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath; and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; which is is Beth-Lehem.
8. And Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
9. And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I beg you, to me, and I will bless them.

"Seed" is a day three theme, as is "Lehem", bread.

Day 4
10. Now the eyes of Israel were dim from age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
11. And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face; and, lo, God has shown me also your seed.
12. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed with his face to the earth.
13. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him.

The relationships between parents and children, the themes of sight and blindness are day four themes. So is primacy and authority to rule (just as the sun rules over the day and the moon over the night--one being greater than the other), herein being expressed in the intended blessing of one son to have primacy over the other.

Day 5
14. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, changing his hands; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long to this day,
16. The Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

Walking, growing and prospering are day five themes...so is multiplication of life, which spreads and teems with activity. The same Hebrew word that describes the teeming growth of life in the sea on Day 5 is also used in Shemos to describe the teeming growth of the children of Israel in the land of Egypt...they literally "swarmed" over the land.

Day 6
17. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he held up his father’s hand, to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18. And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head.
19. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

The Adam was created on the sixth day, the progenitor of all peoples, the shepherd of all the creatures.

Day 7
20. And he blessed them that day, saying, In you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh; and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
21. And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
22. And I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

The Shabbat and the land of Eretz Yisrael are both Israel's "portion".

iitb

11th January 2004, 02:11 PM

For some reason, the site Henaynei provided with the triennial portions is down today, so I used http://www.geocities.com/rmenes/torah.htm as my reference. Scripture is still from the Soncino Talmud CD-ROM.

Day 1
Exodus Chapter 1
1. And these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came to Egypt, with Jacob, every man with his household.
2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4. Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5. And all the souls who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy souls; for Joseph was in Egypt already.
6. And Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.
7. And the people of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
Day 2
8. And there arose up a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
9. And he said to his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we;
10. Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it may come to pass, that, when there would be any war, they should join our enemies, and fight against us; and so get them out of the land.
11. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were mortified because of the people of Israel.
Day 3
13. And the Egyptians made the people of Israel serve with rigor;
14. And they made their lives bitter with hard slavery, in mortar, and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field; all their service, which they made them serve, was with rigor.
15. And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, and the name of one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah;
16. And he said, When you do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.
17. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.
Day 4
18. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have you done this thing, and have saved the male children alive?
19. And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and deliver before the midwives come to them.
20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.
21. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
22. And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son who is born you shall throw into the river, and every daughter you shall let live.
Day 5
Exodus Chapter 2
1. And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took for his wife a daughter of Levi.
2. And the woman conceived, and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a handsome child, she hid him three months.
3. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark made of reeds, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child in it; and she laid it in the rushes by the river’s brink.
4. And his sister stood far away, to see what would be done to him.
5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6. And when she had opened it, she saw the child; and, behold, the baby wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
7. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call for you a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?
8. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the girl went and called the child’s mother.
9. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
10. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses; and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
Day 6
11. And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brothers, and looked on their burdens; and he spied an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
12. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13. And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews struggled together; and he said to the one who did the wrong, Why do you strike your fellow?
14. And he said, Who made you a prince and a judge over us? do you intend to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Certainly this thing is known.
15. And when Pharaoh heard this matter, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
Shabbat
16. And the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17. And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18. And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that you have come so soon today?
19. And they said, An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and also drew enough water for us, and watered the flock.
20. And he said to his daughters, And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.
21. And Moses was content to dwell with the man; and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22. And she bore him a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
23. And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died; and the people of Israel sighed because of the slavery, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the slavery.
24. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25. And God looked upon the people of Israel, and God apprehended.

Henaynei

11th January 2004, 04:13 PM

Day 1Sh'mot Chapter 1
1. And these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came to Egypt, with Jacob, every man with his household.
2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4. Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5. And all the souls who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy souls; for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Thought: while there were only 70 who were direct decedents of Ya'acov who came to Mitzryim, with them came all their "households"- these would include both male and female servants and their children - may of whom doubtless had chosen to serve Yisrael's G-d also. It would not be too far fetched to say that there were likely 1-2 hundred or more total persons who came with the "children of Yisrael" who came into Mitzryim.

6. And Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.
7. And the people of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Even given a starting number of 1-2 hundred and the span of 100 years (about a generation in that time) it is doubtful that the decedents of the original sojourners "filled" all of Mitzryim. However, they could have easily have filled the "land of Goshen" which had been the area to which they had originally moved as it was the section of Mitzryim best suited for livestock. In G-d's wisdom the Yisraelites were herders, an occupation abhorred and shunned by the Egyptians - thus it would serve to do a fairly good job of keeping the Yisraelites from intermarrying with the Egyptians and therefore keeping the tribes intact.

iitb

11th January 2004, 04:54 PM

In G-d's wisdom the Yisraelites were herders, an occupation abhorred and shunned by the Egyptians - thus it would serve to do a fairly good job of keeping the Yisraelites from intermarrying with the Egyptians and therefore keeping the tribes intact.Interesting!

Henaynei

16th January 2004, 08:46 AM

So sorry I haven't kept up with this thread!!

When I get my puter back I will do better, promise!!

So, let me say.............

SHABBAT SHALOM MISHPOKHA!!!

iitb

16th January 2004, 08:51 PM

Henaynei

18th January 2004, 01:41 PM

Actually, I'm thinking of altering the format slightly so that both the annual and triennial cycles can be discussed. I think it might increase the participation in this thread; now I just need to figure out how to do it without making a big ol' mess of things. ;)Hey, if you think the annual reading cycle will engender more participation - by all means do it - and setting the triennial cycle aside for another study would be ok.

I thought there would be more "chewing and gnawing" on the passages and that the smaller sections might make more managable bites - but perhaps they are not enough to whet the appetite??

I say - go for it!:wave:

iitb

18th January 2004, 02:08 PM

Okay, since the annual and triennial cycles cover the same Torah portion, I'm going to include the information for both. The section highlighted in red is the triennial; those on the annual cycle cover the whole portion(but I'm sure everyone knew that ;) ). The daily readings are after the Torah text.
Chapter 6
2. And God spoke to Moses, and said to him, I am the Lord;
3. And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name The Lord was I not known to them.
4. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojourning, in which they sojourned.
5. And I have also heard the groaning of the people of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant.
6. Therefore say to the people of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you from their slavery, and I will redeem you with a outstretched arm, and with great judgments;
7. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8. And I will bring you in to the land, concerning which I swore to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage; I am the Lord.
9. And Moses spoke so to the people of Israel; but they listened not to Moses because of their anguished spirit, and because of the cruel slavery.
10. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
11. Go, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the people of Israel go out of his land.
12. And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?
13. And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the people of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
14. These are the chiefs of their fathers’ houses; The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.
15. And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Saul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.
16. And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were a hundred and thirty seven years.
17. The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
18. And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were a hundred and thirty three years.
19. And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi; these are the families of Levi according to their generations.
20. And Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty seven years.
21. And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
22. And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.
23. And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, to wife; and she bore him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
24. And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.
25. And Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bore him Phinehas; these are the chiefs of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.
26. These are Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.
27. These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the people of Israel from Egypt; these are Moses and Aaron.
28. And it came to pass on the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
29. That the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, I am the Lord; speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.
30. And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?
Chapter 7
1. And the Lord said to Moses, See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
2. You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he send the people of Israel out of his land.
3. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4. But Pharaoh shall not listen to you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the people of Israel from among them.
6. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they.
7. And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8. And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
9. When Pharaoh shall speak to you, saying, Show a miracle; then you shall say to Aaron, Take your rod, and throw it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10. And Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and they did as the Lord had commanded; and Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12. For they threw down every man his rod, and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13. And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he listened not to them; as the Lord had said.
14. And the Lord said to Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go.
15. Go to Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the river’s brink until he comes; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shall you take in your hand.
16. And you shall say to him, The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness; and, behold, till now you would not hear.
17. Thus said the Lord, In this you shall know that I am the Lord; behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water of the river.
19. And the Lord spoke to Moses, Say to Aaron, Take your rod, and stretch out your hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in utensils of wood, and in utensils of stone.
20. And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21. And the fish that were in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22. And the magicians of Egypt did likewise with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, nor did he listen to them; as the Lord had said.
23. And Pharaoh turned and went to his house, nor did he set his heart to this.
24. And all the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25. And seven days were completed, after that the Lord had struck the river.
26. And the Lord spoke to Moses, Go to Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus said the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
27. And if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your borders with frogs;
28. And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, and into your bed chamber, and upon your bed, and into the house of your servants, and upon your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs;
29. And the frogs shall come up both on you, and upon your people, and upon all your servants.
Chapter 8
1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, Say to Aaron, Stretch forth your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
2. And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
3. And the magicians did likewise with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
4. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice to the Lord.
5. And Moses said to Pharaoh, Command me when shall I entreat for you, and for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.
6. And he said, Tomorrow. And he said, Be it according to your word; that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.
7. And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people; they shall remain in the river only.
8. And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh; and Moses cried to the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
9. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died in the houses, in the villages, and in the fields.
10. And they gathered them together upon heaps; and the land stank.
11. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and listened not to them; as the Lord had said.
12. And the Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron, Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
13. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
14. And the magicians did likewise with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not; so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
15. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he listened not to them; as the Lord had said.
16. And the Lord said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he comes forth to the water; and say to him, Thus said the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
17. Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon you, and upon your servants, and upon your people, and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they are.
18. And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
19. And I will put a division between my people and your people; tomorrow shall this sign be.
20. And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt; the land was devastated because of the swarm of flies.
21. And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.
22. And Moses said, It is not proper to do so; for we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God what is abomination for the Egyptians. Shall we sacrifice what is abomination for the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
23. We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us.
24. And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away; entreat for me.
25. And Moses said, Behold, I go out from you, and I will entreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.
26. And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord.
27. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
28. And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
Chapter 9
1. Then the Lord said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus said the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2. For if you refuse to let them go, and will hold them still,
3. Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon your cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep; there shall be a very grievous plague.
4. And the Lord shall separate between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt; and nothing shall die of all that is the children’s of Israel.
5. And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land.
6. And the Lord did that thing in the morning, and all the cattle of Egypt died; but of the cattle of the people of Israel died not one.
7. And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the people of Israel dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
8. And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, Take handfuls of ashes from the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9. And it shall become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and boils shall break out with sores upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
10. And they took ashes from the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became boils breaking out with sores upon man, and upon beast.
11. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.
12. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he listened not to them; as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
13. And the Lord said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus said the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon your heart, and upon your servants, and upon your people; that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.
15. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may strike you and your people with pestilence; and you shall be cut off from the earth.
16. And in very deed for this cause have I raised you up, to show in you my power; and that my name may be proclaimed throughout all the earth.
17. If you still exalt yourself against my people, that you will not let them go,
18. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause to rain a very severe hail, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now.
19. Send therefore now, and gather your cattle, and all that you have in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20. He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses;
21. And he who regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22. And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23. And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24. So there was hail, and fire mixed with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25. And the hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field.
26. Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.
27. And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, I have sinned this time; the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28. Entreat the Lord, for it is enough, that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.
29. And Moses said to him, As soon as I am gone from the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, nor shall there be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.
30. But as for you and your servants, I know that you still do not fear the Lord God.
31. And the flax and the barley were ruined; for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bud.
32. But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined; for they were late ripening.
33. And Moses went out from the city, from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the Lord; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was no longer poured upon the earth.
34. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders had ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, nor would he let the people of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

Annual
Day 1 - 6:2-13
Day 2 - 6:14-28
Day 3 - 6:29-7:7
Day 4 - 7:8 - 8:6
Day 5 - 8:7-18
Day 6 - 8:19-9:16
Day 7 - 9:17-35

Triennial
Day 1 - 6:2-5
Day 2 - 6:6-9
Day 3 - 6:10-13
Day 4 - 6:14-19
Day 5 - 6:20-25
Day 6 - 6:26-28
Day 7 - 6:29-7:7

Henaynei

18th January 2004, 04:23 PM

Sh'mot Chapter 6 :wave:
2. And G-d spoke to Moses, and said to him, I am the L-rd;
3. And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of G-d Almighty, but by my name The L-RD was I not known to them. (His special Name reserved for now - why?)
4. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojourning, in which they sojourned.
5. And I have also heard the groaning of the people of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant. (had He forgotten the covenant that He then remembered it?? What does He mean here?)
6. Therefore say to the people of Israel, I am the L-rd, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you from their slavery, and I will redeem you with a outstretched arm, and with great judgments;
7. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a G-d; and you shall know that I am the L-rd your G-d, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (on these four "I will" statements are based the four cups of the Seder @ Pesakh)
8. And I will bring you in to the land, concerning which I swore to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage; I am the L-rd. (this was the covenant He made with all the forefathers, right?)
9. And Moses spoke so to the people of Israel; but they listened not to Moses because of their anguished spirit, and because of the cruel slavery. (can't say that I blame them, I probably would not have listened at this point either)
10. And the L-rd spoke to Moses, saying,
11. Go, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the people of Israel go out of his land.
12. And Moses spoke before the L-rd, saying, Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? (good question it seems to me, and then I remember what G-d said last week: "And Pharaoh will not listen that I might show mighty works" or something to that effect ;) )
13. And the L-rd spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the people of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. (almost sounds like "don't talk back to ME young man! Go clean your room!"):D

iitb

20th January 2004, 08:35 PM

Henaynei

20th January 2004, 09:26 PM

Sh'mot 7:3 - And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
This verse gives a lot of people grief. So, I'll throw this out for discussion: Why did G-d do this? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_5_1.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001) Let's really review the issue - read here....
Sh’mot 3:18 Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, 'The L-rd G-d of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the L-rd our G-d. 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.

Sh’mot 4:21 And the L-rd said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the L-rd: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn." ' "

Sh’mot 7:3 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+7:3&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.

Sh’mot 7:13 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+7:13&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)And Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the L-rd had said.

Sh’mot 7:14 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+7:14&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)So the L-rd said to Moses: "Pharaoh's heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.

Sh’mot 7:22 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+7:22&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the L-rd had said.

Sh’mot 8:15 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+8:15&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the L-rd had said.

Sh’mot 8:19 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+8:19&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of G-d." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the L-rd had said.

Sh’mot 8:32 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+8:32&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.

Sh’mot 9:7 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+9:7&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

Sh’mot 9:12 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+9:12&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)But the L-rd hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the L-rd had spoken to Moses.

Sh’mot 9:34 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+9:34&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Sh’mot 9:35 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+9:35&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the L-rd had spoken by Moses.

Sh’mot 10:1 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+10:1&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)Now the L-rd said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him,

Sh’mot 10:20 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+10:20&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)But the L-rd hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.

Sh’mot 10:27 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+10:27&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)But the L-rd hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.

Sh’mot 11:10 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+11:10&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the L-rd hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Sh’mot 14:4 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+14:4&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the L-rd." And they did so.

Sh’mot 14:8 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ex+14:8&version=nkj&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1)And the L-rd hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.

I am sure you noted the number of times it said G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart. Did you note the number of times Pharaoh hardened his own heart??

Does this describe Mitzryim/Egypt and Pharaoh??

Romanim 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible G-d into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore G-d also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Had Pharaoh not proved himself an evil man when he ordered the murder of the Hebrew infants?? Does not a man who does such things ALREADY have a hard heart??

Pr 17:11 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=pr+17:11&version=kjv&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

My opinion is that Pharaoh set himself up for this judgement, and as King he set his people up in that he enticed him into his evil and rebellion and they followed him. G-d used this situation - even to harden further a heart that was already hard.

G-d used that hard heart to bring about the circumstances that turned the Hebrew people from a nation of slaves into a nation fit to be forged into the nation of G-d as free men. G-d had to show Himself to the Hebrews as the Only and True G-d much more than He had to show Himself to the Egyptians!!

koilias

21st January 2004, 08:01 PM

My opinion is that Pharaoh set himself up for this judgement, and as King he set his people up in that he enticed him into his evil and rebellion and they followed him. G-d used this situation - even to harden further a heart that was already hard.

G-d used that hard heart to bring about the circumstances that turned the Hebrew people from a nation of slaves into a nation fit to be forged into the nation of G-d as free men. G-d had to show Himself to the Hebrews as the Only and True G-d much more than He had to show Himself to the Egyptians!!

Adonai manifested his power on the third plague. Adonai hardened Pharaoh's heart in the sixth plague. To the ancients, especially to the Egyptian priests, everything divine manifested itself in cycles. If something is repeated, it was seen as a proof of HaShem's power. The Egyptians would have recognized that Adonai works in patterns. The pattern of the plagues is easy to see:

First Cycle:
1st plague: Moses gets up early to warn Pharaoh as he goes to the water.
2nd plague: Moses simply warns Pharaoh.
3rd plague: Plague comes unannounced. The "finger of God" is manifested. (cf. Luke 11:something: "...but if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of HaShem is upon you..."

Second Cycle:
4th plague: Moses gets up early to warn Pharaoh as he goes to the water.
5th plague: Moses simply warns Pharaoh.
6th plague: Pharaoh and his priests should know better by know. They have seen the finger of God work three times already. The sixth plague comes without warning is simply HaShem's justice for hardening their own hearts until now. HaShem hardens Pharaoh's heart and the priests can no longer stand, because they have to now bow perpetually before HaShem as a sign to Pharaoh. With the completion of the second cycle the will of Adonai is completely proved to the Egyptians. HaShem however, shows his mercy, He gives Egypt three more chances to repent. If they have the hutzpah to rebel against HaShem's will for three complete cycles, Egypt gets the mother of all plagues:

3rd cycle:
7th plague: Moses gets up extra early to forewarn Pharaoh. Pharaoh hasn't even begun to go to the water yet.
8th plague: Moses simply warns Pharaoh.
9th plague: Unannounced. Pharaoh has run out of chances. HaShem's will is proved with two cycles, HaShem's mercy is proved with the third cycle. Now Egypt has earned the final plague:

10th plague: The Egyptians get up extra, extra early (midnight) to give a great cry. In Jewish tradition, this is vengeance for the cry HaShem heard from Israel. Getting up at midnight is vengeance for ignoring HaShem's mercy.

Henaynei

21st January 2004, 09:39 PM

Good observation!http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1/1_4_39.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001)

Adonai manifested his power on the third plague. Adonai hardened Pharaoh's heart in the sixth plague. To the ancients, especially to the Egyptian priests, everything divine manifested itself in cycles. If something is repeated, it was seen as a proof of HaShem's power. The Egyptians would have recognized that Adonai works in patterns. The pattern of the plagues is easy to see:

First Cycle:
1st plague: Moses gets up early to warn Pharaoh as he goes to the water.
2nd plague: Moses simply warns Pharaoh.
3rd plague: Plague comes unannounced. The "finger of God" is manifested. (cf. Luke 11:something: "...but if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of HaShem is upon you..."

Second Cycle:
4th plague: Moses gets up early to warn Pharaoh as he goes to the water.
5th plague: Moses simply warns Pharaoh.
6th plague: Pharaoh and his priests should know better by know. They have seen the finger of God work three times already. The sixth plague comes without warning is simply HaShem's justice for hardening their own hearts until now. HaShem hardens Pharaoh's heart and the priests can no longer stand, because they have to now bow perpetually before HaShem as a sign to Pharaoh. With the completion of the second cycle the will of Adonai is completely proved to the Egyptians. HaShem however, shows his mercy, He gives Egypt three more chances to repent. If they have the hutzpah to rebel against HaShem's will for three complete cycles, Egypt gets the mother of all plagues:

3rd cycle:
7th plague: Moses gets up extra early to forewarn Pharaoh. Pharaoh hasn't even begun to go to the water yet.
8th plague: Moses simply warns Pharaoh.
9th plague: Unannounced. Pharaoh has run out of chances. HaShem's will is proved with two cycles, HaShem's mercy is proved with the third cycle. Now Egypt has earned the final plague:

10th plague: The Egyptians get up extra, extra early (midnight) to give a great cry. In Jewish tradition, this is vengeance for the cry HaShem heard from Israel. Getting up at midnight is vengeance for ignoring HaShem's mercy.

iitb

25th January 2004, 04:11 PM

Exodus Chapter 10
1. And the Lord said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him;
2. And that you may tell in the ears of your son, and of your grandson, what things I have done in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am the Lord.
3. And Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and said to him, Thus said the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
4. Else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow will I bring the locusts into your border;
5. And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field;
6. And they shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither your fathers, nor your grandfathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth to this day. And he turned, and went out from Pharaoh.
7. And Pharaoh’s servants said to him, How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God; Do you not know yet that Egypt is destroyed?
8. And Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh; and he said to them, Go, serve the Lord your God, but who are they who shall go?
9. And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast for the Lord.
10. And he said to them, Let the Lord be with you, if I will let you go, and your little ones. Look, evil is before you.
11. Not so, go now you who are men, and serve the Lord; for that is what you desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12. And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, all that the hail has left.
13. And Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
14. And the locusts went over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt; very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, nor after them shall be such.
15. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left; and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
16. Then Pharaoh called hurriedly for Moses and Aaron; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.
17. Now therefore forgive, I beg you, my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
18. And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord.
19. And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and threw them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the borders of Egypt.
20. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the people of Israel go.
21. And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may be felt.
22. And Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days;
23. They saw not one another, nor any rose from his place for three days; but all the people of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24. And Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds stay; let your little ones also go with you.
25. And Moses said, You must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.
26. Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind; for we must take it to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come there.
27. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
28. And Pharaoh said to him, Get out from me, take heed to yourself, see my face no more; for the day you see my face you shall die.
29. And Moses said, You have spoken well, I will see your face again no more.
Exodus Chapter 11
1. And the Lord said to Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here; when he shall let you go, he shall certainly thrust you out from here altogether.
2. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow from his neighbor, and every woman from her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
3. And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
4. And Moses said, Thus said the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt;
5. And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maidservant who is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
6. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
7. But against any of the people of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast; that you may know that the Lord does put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
8. And all these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, Get out, and all the people who follow you; and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.
9. And the Lord said to Moses, Pharaoh shall not listen to you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the people of Israel go out of his land.
Exodus Chapter 12
1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2. This month shall be to you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house;
4. And if the household is too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the souls; according to every man’s eating shall you make your count for the lamb.
5. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats;
6. And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, in which they shall eat it.
8. And they shall eat the meat in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9. Eat it not raw, nor boil with water, but roast it with fire; its head with its legs, and with its inner parts.
10. And you shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire.
11. And thus shall you eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.
12. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am the Lord.
13. And the blood shall be to you for a sign upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
14. And this day shall be to you for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
15. Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
16. And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you; no kind of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, only that may be done by you.
17. And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt; therefore shall you observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever.
18. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening.
19. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger, or born in the land.
20. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall you eat unleavened bread.
21. Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, Draw out and take a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb.
22. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out from the door of his house until the morning.
23. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not let the destroyer come into your houses to strike you.
24. And you shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever.
25. And it shall come to pass, when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he has promised, that you shall keep this service.
26. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say to you, What do you mean by this service?
27. That you shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and saved our houses. And the people bowed their heads and worshipped.
28. And the people of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
29. And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said.
32. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
33. And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We shall all be dead men.
34. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
35. And the people of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed from the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and garments;
36. And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent them such things as they required. And they carried away the wealth of the Egyptians.
37. And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot, who were men, beside children.
38. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, and very many cattle.
39. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not remain, neither had they prepared for themselves any provision.
40. Now the sojourning of the people of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even on that very day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
42. It is a night of watchfulness to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.
43. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the Passover; No stranger shall eat of it;
44. But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it.
45. A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it.
46. In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry anything of the meat out of the house; neither shall you break a bone of it.
47. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with you, and will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one who is born in the land; for no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.
49. One law shall be for him who is native born, and for the stranger who sojourns among you.
50. Thus did all the people of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
51. And it came to pass the same day, that the Lord did bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
Exodus Chapter 13
1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2. Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast; it is mine.
3. And Moses said to the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
4. This day came you out in the month Abib.
5. And it shall be when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.
6. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.
7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen with you in all your quarters.
8. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.
9. And it shall be for a sign to you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s Torah may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand has the Lord brought you out of Egypt.
10. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
11. And it shall be when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you,
12. That you shall set apart to the Lord all that opens the matrix, and every firstling that comes of a beast which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.
13. And every firstling of an *** you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break his neck; and all the firstborn of man among your children shall you redeem.
14. And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that you shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of slavery;
15. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast; therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that opens the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
16. And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes; for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.

Daily Sections
Annual
1 - 10:1-11
2 - 10:12-23
3 - 10:24-11:3
4 - 11:4-12:20
5 - 12:21-28
6 - 12:29-12:51
7 - 13:1-16

Triennial
1 - 10:1 – 10:3
2 - 10:4 – 10:6
3 - 10:7 – 10:11
4 - 10:12 – 10:15
5 - 10:16 – 10:23
6 - 10:24 – 10:29
7 - 11:1 – 11:3

Henaynei

7th February 2004, 08:37 PM

Forgive me for not responding to P'rasha Bo or B'shalakh.

The p'rasha for this coming week is Yitro - and is the same for both the annual and triennial cycles. Each read the full sidra because this the sidra in which we are given the Ten Sayings.

I hope this week's readings will spark both healthy study and discussion!!!

iitb

21st February 2004, 10:12 PM

Since the parasha schedule now finds us in the midst of scriptures specifically dealing with the ordinances handed down at Sinai, I figured I would fire this thread back up and see what happens. I'll try and post this weeks reading sometime later tonight.

iitb

21st February 2004, 11:45 PM

Exodus Chapter 25

1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2. Speak to the people of Israel, that they bring me an offering; from every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering.
3. And this is the offering which you shall take from them; gold, and silver, and bronze,
4. And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
5. And rams’ skins dyed red, and goats’ skins, and shittim wood,
6. Oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
7. Onyx stones, and stones to be set on the ephod, and on the breastplate.
8. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
9. According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all its utensils, so shall you make it.
10. And they shall make an ark of shittim wood; two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
11. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and shall make upon it a rim of gold around it.
12. And you shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; and two rings shall be in one of its sides, and two rings in its other side.
13. And you shall make poles of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
14. And you shall put the poles into the rings by the sides of the ark, so that the ark may be carried with them.
15. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.
16. And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.
17. And you shall make a cover of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.
18. And you shall make two kerubim of gold, of hammered workmanship shall you make them, in the two ends of the cover.
19. And make one kerub on one end, and the other kerub on the other end; of the cover shall you make the kerubim on its two ends.
20. And the kerubim shall stretch out their wings on high, covering the cover with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the cover shall the faces of the kerubim be.
21. And you shall put the cover upon the ark; and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you.
22. And there I will meet with you, and I will talk with you from above the cover, from between the two kerubim which are upon the ark of the Testimony, of all things which I will give you in commandment to the people of Israel.
23. You shall also make a table of shittim wood; two cubits shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
24. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make for it a rim of gold around it.
25. And you shall make for it a border, one hand breadth wide, and you shall make a golden rim around its border.
26. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet.
27. Opposite the border shall the rings be as places for the poles to carry the table.
28. And you shall make the poles of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
29. And you shall make its dishes, and its spoons, and its covers, and its bowls, to cover it with; of pure gold shall you make them.
30. And you shall set the bread of display upon the table before me always.
31. And you shall make a lampstand of pure gold; of hammered workmanship shall the lampstand be made; its shaft, and its branches, its bowls, its bulbs, and its flowers, shall be of the same.
32. And six branches shall come from its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side, and three branches of the lampstand from the other side;
33. Three bowls made like almonds, with a bulb and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a bulb and a flower; so for the six branches that come from the lampstand.
34. And in the lampstand shall be four bowls made in the shape of almonds, with their bulbs and their flowers.
35. And there shall be a bulb under two branches of the same, and a bulb under two branches of the same, and a bulb under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed from the lampstand.
36. Their bulbs and their branches shall be of the same; it shall all be one hammered work of pure gold.
37. And you shall make for it seven lamps; and they shall light its lamps, that they may give light opposite it.
38. And its tongs, and its trays, shall be of pure gold.
39. Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these utensils.
40. And see that you make them after their pattern, which was shown to you in the mount.

Exodus Chapter 26

1. And you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet; with kerubim of skilful work shall you make them.
2. The length of one curtain shall be twenty eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits; and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
3. The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4. And you shall make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain that is at the edge of the first coupling; and likewise shall you make in the uttermost edge of the curtain, that is outmost in the second coupling.
5. Fifty loops shall you make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shall you make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
6. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps; and it shall be one tabernacle.
7. And you shall make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make.
8. The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
9. And you shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double the sixth curtain at the front of the Tent.
10. And you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which couples the second.
11. And you shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12. And the remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
13. And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the Tent on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14. And you shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of goats’ skins.
15. And you shall make upright boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood.
16. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
17. Two tenons shall there be in one board, connected one with the other; thus shall you make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18. And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
19. And you shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
20. And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards;
21. And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22. And for the sides of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
23. And two boards shall you make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
24. And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above its head to one ring; thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25. And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26. And you shall make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27. And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
28. And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
29. And you shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold.
30. And you shall erect the tabernacle according to its fashion, which was shown to you in the mount.
31. And you shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of skilful work; with kerubim shall it be made;
32. And you shall hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33. And you shall hang up the veil from the clasps, that you may bring in there inside the veil the ark of the Testimony; and the veil shall separate for you between the holy place and the most holy.
34. And you shall put the covering upon the ark of the Testimony in the most holy place.
35. And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.
36. And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, decorated with embroidery.
37. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold; and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

Exodus Chapter 27

1. And you shall make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be square; and its height shall be three cubits.
2. And you shall make it horns upon its four corners; its horns shall be of the same; and you shall overlay it with bronze.
3. And you shall make pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels, and its basins, and its forks, and its firepans; all its utensils you shall make of bronze.
4. And you shall make for it a grating, a network of bronze; and upon the net shall you make four bronze rings in its four corners.
5. And you shall put it under the ledge of the altar, so that the net may extend to the midst of the altar.
6. And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of shittim wood, and overlay them with bronze.
7. And the poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to carry it.
8. Hollow with boards shall you make it; as it was shown to you in the mount, so shall they make it.
9. And you shall make the court of the tabernacle; for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of a hundred cubits long for one side;
10. And its twenty pillars with their twenty sockets shall be of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their joints shall be of silver.
11. And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of a hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their joints of silver.
12. And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
13. And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
14. The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
15. And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
16. And for the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, decorated with embroidery; and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
17. All the pillars around the court shall be bound with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
18. The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty everywhere, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of bronze.
19. All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of bronze.

Henaynei

22nd February 2004, 11:35 AM

This must have been an awesome sight when set up - although from the outside it looked very "plain." Inside it was breath-taking.

iitb

8th March 2004, 08:05 PM

Hmm...I'm doing a horrible job of keeping this thread going.

Anyway, here's this weeks Parsha can be found at http://www.chabad.org/parshah/TorahReading.asp?AID=15567 . I might post it here later, but I don't have the time right now. :)

iitb

8th March 2004, 08:13 PM

Henaynei

8th March 2004, 08:23 PM

Something from today's section that's always bugged me:21. Moses said to Aaron: "What did this people do to you that you brought [such] a grave sin upon them?" 22. Aaron replied: "Let not my lord's anger grow hot! You know the people, that they are disposed toward evil. 23. They said to me, 'Make us gods who will go before us, because this man Moses, who brought us up from the land of Egypt we do not know what has become of him.' 24. I said to them, 'Who has gold?' So they took it [the gold] off and gave it to me; I threw it into the fire and out came this calf."
Why did Aaron do what he did?
Well, for one thing he was no more immune to the pressures and doubts about leaving Egypt (the only home and lifestyle these people had known for 3 generations) than the rest of the people. Moshe was the strong one, who had spoken to G-d. I am sure Aharon was beset by both internal and external pressures. The only gods they had known, the ones that ruled their daily lives, were those of Egypt who were represented by various statues.

Israel had just had the wits scared out of them by their encounter with the voice of G-d - how desperately did they need a G-d they could touch??

The narritive of the Exodus clearly expresses G-d's awareness that this people were not yet ready to stand, that they were indeed still weak and crawling (see ther reason G-d says He took them the long way to reach the Reed Sea). Here is another example of the spiritual immaturity of the people, individually and corporately.

They had not yet "come of age."

1Faith1

20th March 2004, 02:04 PM

I just want you to know that I'm new to this website and forum, but I'm watching this thread and reading. When I get up the nerve to jump in with my comments, I will! Thank you for keeping up with the Parsha readings and commentary!

Blessings to you! Shabbat Shalom!

iitb

29th March 2004, 01:08 AM

I'll have to try harder to keep this discussion going ;)

Chapter 6
First Portion
1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2. Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the Torah of the burnt offering; It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night to the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
3. And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire has consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
4. And he shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
5. And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
6. The fire shall be burning always upon the altar; it shall never go out.
7. And this is the Torah of the meal offering; the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, before the altar.
8. And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is upon the meal offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, the memorial part of it, to the Lord.
9. And its remainder shall Aaron and his sons eat; with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the Tent of Meeting they shall eat it.
10. It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it to them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and the guilt offering.
11. All the males among the sons of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire; every one who touches them shall be holy.
Second Portion
12. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
13. This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to the Lord in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for an everlasting meal offering, half of it in the morning, and half of it at night.
14. In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baked, you shall bring it in; and the baked pieces of the meal offering shall you offer for a sweet savor to the Lord.
15. And the priest, who is, of his sons, anointed in his place, shall offer it; it is a statute forever to the Lord; it shall be wholly burned.
16. For every meal offering for the priest shall be wholly burned; it shall not be eaten.
17. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
18. Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the Torah of the sin offering; In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord; it is most holy.
19. The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it; in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the Tent of Meeting.
20. What ever shall touch its flesh shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of its blood upon any garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in the holy place.
21. But the earthen utensil in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
22. All the males among the priests shall eat of it; it is most holy.
23. And no sin offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to be sprinkled in the holy place, shall be eaten; it shall be burned in the fire.
Chapter 7
1. Likewise this is the Torah of the guilt offering; it is most holy.
2. In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the guilt offering; and its blood shall he sprinkle upon the altar.
3. And he shall offer of it all its fat; the rump, and the fat that covers the entrails,
4. And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the appendage above the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take it away;
5. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire to the Lord; it is a guilt offering.
6. Every male among the priests shall eat of it; it shall be eaten in the holy place; it is most holy.
7. As the sin offering is, so is the guilt offering; there is one Torah for them; the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it.
8. And the priest who offers any man’s burnt offering, the priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered.
9. And all the meal offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is prepared in the frying pan, and in the pan, shall be the priest’s who offers it.
10. And every meal offering, mixed with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
Third Portion
11. And this is the Torah of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer to the Lord.
12. If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil, of fine flour, fried.
13. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving.
14. And of it he shall offer one out of each offering for an offering to the Lord, and it shall be the priest’s who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings.
15. And the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
16. But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice; and on the next day also the remainder of it shall be eaten;
17. But the remainder of the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.
18. And if any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, nor shall it be credited to him who offers it; it shall be an abomination, and the soul who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
19. And the flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire; and as for the flesh, all who are clean shall eat of it.
20. But the soul who eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that belongs to the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.
21. Moreover the soul who shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which belongs to the Lord, that soul shall be cut off from his people.
22. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
23. Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no kind of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
24. And the fat of the beast that dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn by beasts, may be used in any other use; but you shall in no wise eat of it.
25. For whoever eats the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, the soul who eats it shall be cut off from his people.
26. Moreover you shall eat no kind of blood, whether it is of bird or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
27. What ever soul it is who eats any kind of blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people.
28. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
29. Speak to the people of Israel, saying, He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
30. His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he brought, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the Lord.
31. And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar; but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
32. And the right shoulder shall you give to the priest for an offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
33. He, among the sons of Aaron, who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.
34. For the waved breast and the offered shoulder have I taken from the people of Israel, from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons by a statute forever from among the people of Israel.
35. This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, from the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to the Lord in the priest’s office;
36. Which the Lord commanded to be given to them by the people of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute forever throughout their generations.
37. This is the Torah of the burnt offering, of the meal offering, and of the sin offering, and of the guilt offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
38. Which the Lord commanded Moses in Mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the people of Israel to offer their offerings to the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Chapter 8
Fourth Portion
1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2. Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bull for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
3. And gather all the congregation together to the door of the Tent of Meeting.
4. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together to the door of the Tent of Meeting.
5. And Moses said to the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done.
6. And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
7. And he put on him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the finely done girdle of the ephod, and bound it to him with it.
8. And he put the breastplate on him; also he put on the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
9. And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, upon its front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the Lord commanded Moses.
10. And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the Tabernacle and all that was in it, and sanctified them.
11. And he sprinkled it upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils, both the basin and its pedestal, to sanctify them.
12. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
13. And Moses brought the sons of Aaron, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put turbans upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses.
Fifth Portion
14. And he brought the bull for the sin offering; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bull for the sin offering.
15. And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar around with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement upon it.
16. And he took all the fat that was upon the entrails, and the appendage above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar.
17. But the bull, and its hide, its flesh, and its dung, he burned with fire outside the camp; as the Lord commanded Moses.
18. And he brought the ram for the burnt offering; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
19. And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
20. And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burned the head, and the pieces, and the fat.
21. And he washed the entrails and the legs in water; and Moses burned the whole ram upon the altar; it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savor, and an offering made by fire to the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.
Sixth Portion
22. And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
23. And he slew it; and Moses took of its blood, and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
24. And he brought the sons of Aaron, and Moses put blood on the tip of their right ear, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet; and Moses sprinkled the blood on the altar.
25. And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the entrails, and the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder;
26. And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder;
27. And he put all upon Aaron’s hands, and upon his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the Lord.
28. And Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar upon the burnt offering; they were consecrations for a sweet savor; it is an offering made by fire to the Lord.
29. And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord; for of the ram of consecration it was Moses’ part; as the Lord commanded Moses.
Seventh Portion
30. And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.
31. And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the Tent of Meeting; and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.
32. And that which remains of the meat and of the bread shall you burn with fire.
33. And you shall not go out of the door of the Tent of Meeting in seven days, until the days of your consecration are ended; for seven days shall he consecrate you.
34. As he has done this day, so the Lord has commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.
35. Therefore shall you remain at the door of the Tent of Meeting day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the Lord, that you die not; for so I am commanded.
36. So Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

iitb

29th March 2004, 01:13 AM

I was going to try and put a few discussion questions together, but good ol' Yashanet beat me to it. I got the following from http://www.yashanet.com/shabbat/parsha/tzav.htm

Questions and Concepts for Parsha Tzav
(Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36)

Why did God punish Egypt for enslaving the Jewish people? Had they not merely fulfilled God's master plan, as the verse prophesized in Genesis 15:13?
God brought His people out of the bondage of Egypt into freedom, via Mount Sinai where He gave them the commandments of His Torah. How do the Torah's commandments increase our free-will and not reduce it?
We all have an evil inclination within us called the "yetzer hara." How does the yetzer hara promise free-will when in fact it delivers just the opposite?
The yetzer hara cannot be made to "disappear." In fact, it is said that the greatest men and women of God also have a greater yetzer hara. How can we channel the yetzer hara to doing God's will in our lives?
God could bring His own fire from heaven upon the altar, so why did He have the priests kindle the fire every day? How do "actions below" stimulate a response from above?
The priests were to keep the altar's fire going, even working on Shabbat to do this. This of course did not abrogate the laws concerning Shabbat. Yeshua made mention of this when His disciples were accused of picking grain on the Sabbath. How is His "defense" valid?
Every aspect of the physical Sanctuary has its counterpart in the inward Sanctuary within the soul. How do we keep our "fire going continually" as such? How does this relate to the three aspects of faith as found in the "Great Commandment" of Deuteronomy 6:5?
Consider this concept:
During the seven days of consecration, the Sanctuary was continually being constructed and taken apart. Only on the eighth day did the Divine presence descend and become permanent. The seven days were a week, the measure of earthly time. The eighth was the day beyond human time, the number which signifies eternity. This is associated with the feast of Sukkot and God's plan for human history.

WildCelt

29th March 2004, 09:45 AM

I think the only thing that quelled my nausea from reading of the bloodshed (and the reason for the bloodshed), was the thought of Yeshua offering Himself for me, and how grateful I am because of it. Baruch HaShem! :clap:

visionary

29th March 2004, 10:51 PM

5. And I have also heard the groaning of the people of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant. (had He forgotten the covenant that He then remembered it?? What does He mean here?)
6. Therefore say to the people of Israel, I am the L-rd, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you from their slavery, and I will redeem you with a outstretched arm, and with great judgments;
7. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a G-d; and you shall know that I am the L-rd your G-d, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (on these four "I will" statements are based the four cups of the Seder @ Pesakh)
8. And I will bring you in to the land, concerning which I swore to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage; I am the L-rd. (this was the covenant He made with all the forefathers, right?)

"And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place." Acts 7:6,7

"But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God has sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt. ... And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not......and when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina and angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.....This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers, who received the lively oracles to give unto us....howbeit the most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands saith the prophet....behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Acts 7:6-56

Who taught Moses the prophecy promise? Why did he think he was chosen? We know that it took another 40 years to prepare Moses in the church in the wilderness. There is another who flys into the wilderness Rev 12:14