Torah Study Rosh Hashanah/Yom Terurah

Bereshit/Genesis 21:1-34; 1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:10, Matthew 24:29-36

Torah Portion Bereshit/Genesis 21:1-34

Genesis 21:1 “Then Adonai visited Sarah just as He had said, and Adonai did for Sarah just as He had spoken.”

1.Some versions use the word remembered instead of visited. The word in Hebrew is פקד (pqd) what does this word mean?

a. out of the the 301 uses of this word in the Tanach only 7 times is it translated as visit the most common usage is counted followed by punished, appointed, summoned, inspect, command, and avenge. What do all of these words have in common?

2.If Adonai Judged Sarah; what was she judged for and what was the verdict?

a. The previous portion was about Abimelech and Sarah being kept in his dwelling.

b. she was innocent of any adultery or inappropriate behavior.

3.Compare this to the ritual involving the woman suspected of Adultery in Bamidbar/Numbers 5:11-31. If Sarah was judged in a similar manner what is the result of the innocent woman?

a. She cannot be accused ever again

b. she will be able to bear children

Genesis 21:12 “But God said to Abraham, “Do not be displeased about the boy and your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For through Isaac shall your seed be called.”

4.What could the sentence “Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her voice.” indicate?

a. it could indicate Sarah had a greater level of prophecy that Avraham.

b. Avraham had to go and inquire of HaSham when Sarah already knew or had inquired about already.

Genesis 21:14 “So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away. She went and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.”

5.Avraham is know for his Chessed and generosity, to the point that HaShem had to stop Avraham from being too generous and charitable, is this an instance in which he was not?

a. he was obidient to HaShem

b. the Bread and water could have been enough to get to the next town but Hagar chose to wander the wilderness.

Genesis 21:17 “Then God heard the boy’s voice and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and He said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, because God has heard the boy’s voice where he is.”

6.What does it reveal that God heard the boy’s voice?

a.HaShem was taking care of Ishmael.

b.HaShem telling Avraham to send away Hagar and Ishmael did not mean he was dooming them or rejecting them.

7.Why is God and the Angel of God spoken of separately here? Why does the Angel of God tell Hagar that God has heard the boy’s voice?

a.They are seperate entities.

b. The Angel of God simply delivers the messages of God to his creation as his creation cannot hear his voice.

Genesis 21:22–26 “Now it came about at that same time that Abimelech—with Phicol the commander of his army—said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. So now, make a pledge to me here, by God, that you will not violate your word with me or with my descendants or with my offspring. As I have shown loyalty to you, show the same to me, and to the land in which you have lived as an outsider.” Abraham said, “I make a pledge.” Now Abraham had rebuked Abimelech because of the well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized. So Abimelech said, “I don’t know who did this thing. Nor did you tell me, nor did I hear about it until today.””

8.Abimelech just made an oath of peace with Avraham after Avraham prayed for his healing, and now Avraham catches his men taking the wells that he dug. and Abimelech makes the excuse that he did not know about it and so he is not responsible. What does the reveal about the character of Abimelech and the philistines? How similar of an experience has this been between Yisrael and gentiles through out history?

Haftorah Portion 1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:10

1 Samuel 1:1–2 “Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim—his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.”

9.What is known about Elkanah?

a. He is a levite 1 Chronicles 6:18-23.

b. His name means “God creates a son”

c. He traveled around the Ephraimite tribal Territory, performing priestly services.

d. He was known for encouraging people to make the pilgramages to the Tabernacle at Shiloh, even taking a different route each time to encounter new people.

10. What is known about Hannah?

a. She was a pious woman and barren as Sarah and Rachel.

b. The model of Jewish Prayer is largely based on her example.

c. name means grace

d. she is the first to use the term Lord of Hosts 1 Samuel 1:11

11. What is known about Peninnah?

a. She provoked Hannah either out of meaness or out of concern.

b. Some say as Hannah’s children where born her, Peninnah’s children died.

c. Peninnah was taken as a second wife by Elkanah at Hannah’s urging after 10 years of not having children.

d. name means ruby, red, pearls, and is a word play for fruitfulness.

1 Samuel 1:12–17 “It came to pass, as she prayed long before Adonai, that Eli was watching her mouth. Now Hannah was praying in her heart—only her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” But in response Hannah said, “No, my lord, I am a woman with an oppressed spirit! I haven’t been drinking wine or beer. Instead I’ve been pouring out my soul before Adonai. Don’t consider your handmaid a wicked woman. For out of my great anguish and grief I’ve been praying until now.” Then Eli responded, “Go in shalom, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you asked of Him.””

12. What can we learn from Hannah in this interaction?

a.Though she was bein admonished by the High-Priest she was still humble and explained her actions humbly.

b.She had abstained from wine and beer to offer her prayers in the purest of intent. I do not think it is out of the realm of possibility she had fasted of food as well.

13.What can we learn from Eli?

a. Even as High Priest when he realized he falsely accused a person he not only corrected himself but also blessed the person he wrongly accused.

b. he was guarding the Tabernacle in this instance from what he thought was an inappropriate approach to prayer before Adonai.

Besorah Portion Matthew 24:29-36

Matthew 24:29 ““But immediately after the trouble of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’”

14.What Prophetic books are quoted here?

a.Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Zephania

15.Why does Yeshua tell the people a quote from these books when they ask about the end times? Why does Yeshua not tell them anything new?

a. Nothing new is needed to be said

b.Luke 16:22-31.

16. What shofar is it that the Angels blow?

a. The horn from Yitzaks Ram.