Torah Study Beha'alotcha

Matthew 14:16-18 16But Yeshua said to them, “They don’t need to leave—you give them something to eat.” 17“We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish,” they said to Him. 18“Bring them here to Me,” He said.

Why do you think Yeshua told his Talidim to give them something to eat? Specifically if he knew they would not be able to do so, why did he tell them to feed the people?

As with all things it is a teaching moment. Yeshua is not asking questions or giving commands that he does not already know the answers too or that he does not know if his Talidim can do them. He may be asking questions and giving commands to cause his Talidim to think and to respond approrpiately.

This might have caused the Talidim to respond with “How can we feed them?”

We see numbers included in this particular chapter. the 12 baskets of broken pieces could clearly be imagery of the broken people in the 12 tribes being gathered back up. What could the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish represent then?

The 5 loaves of bread could be the 5 books of Moshe or the Torah. The loafs of bread where most likely not baggets or even Challah loaves but in fact small round barely wafers as was the custom of the Galilieans, similar to pita bread. 1 wafer was probably about 2 or 3 bites. This was the food of the commoner. Might have had a very gritty texture.

The 2 fish could be the 2 tablets of stone or it could be an image of the blessing that Yisrael prayed of Menasha and Ephriam. Genesis 48:16 may the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they multiply abundantly like fish, in the midst of the land." Rashi commentary. It could be an image of the Talidim as fishers of men and they where also fisher men. It could be symbolic of the leviathan that will be served at the wedding banquet of the Messiac in the messianic reign. It has also been suggested it could be that the fish symbol relates to Yehoshua ben Nun (Joshua son of Nun). The name Yeshua is the Aramaic version of the Hebrew name Yehoshua. Moreover, in Aramaic, the word nun means “fish.”

Nevi’im/Haftorah Portion Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Zechariah 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the kohen gadol standing before the angel of Adonai and the satan, standing at his right hand to accuse him.

Who is Joshua the Kohen Gadol that is referred to here?

Ezra 10:18-19 18Among the sons of the kohanim it was found that the following had married foreign women: The sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah. 19They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt, they offered a ram of the flock as a guilt offering.

Zechariah 3:3-5 3Now Joshua was wearing filthy garments and standing before the angel 4who answered and spoke to those standing before him saying, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ Then to Joshua he said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you and will dress you with fine clothing.’ 5Then I said, ‘Place a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a pure turban on his head and clothed him with garments while the angel of Adonai stood by.

What types of garments are usually referred to as fine clothing and when else do we read about a turban being part of a set of clothing?

The garb of the Kohen Gadol is described in Exodus 39 27Then they made the sashes of fine linen, woven work for Aaron and for his sons, 28the turban of fine linen, the headwear, the linen undergarments of finely twisted linen, 29along with the tunic of checkered work, in blue, purple and scarlet, the work of a color weaver, as Adonai commanded Moses.

As well it is used to describe the garments of the bride in Revelation 19:8 8She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean! For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the kedoshim.

Zechariah 3:7-10 7‘Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then you will judge My House and watch over My courts and I will give you a place to walk among these standing here. 8Listen well, Joshua kohen gadol, both you and your companions seated before you, because they are men who are a sign—behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch. 9For behold! The stone I have laid before Joshua is one stone with seven facets. On it I will engrave an inscription,” declares Adonai-Tzva’ot, “that I will remove the iniquity of this land in one day. 10In that day,” declares Adonai-Tzva’ot, “every man will invite his neighbor to sit under the vine and under the fig tree.’ ”

We can see this is a prophecy about Joshua Son Jozadak but as well this is a very messianic prophecy. What elements do we see that connect this directly to Yeshua as the messiah?

Yeshua is aramaic for Yehoshua which translates to Joshua in english.

He is appointed to watch over HaShem’s courts or to be a judge.

We read that there are men who sit before him who are a sign.

The bringing forth of servant of HaShem, Yeshua, who was the branch of David.

What significance can we see when Adonai states “Every man will invite his neighbor to sit under the vine and under the fig tree.”?

Mic 4:4 But each man will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one causing terror, for the mouth of Adonai-Tzva’ot has spoken. 1 Ki 4:25 So Judah and Israel lived securely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. Jn 1:48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Yeshua answered, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Sitting under the fig tree or under the vine is an expression of true shalom. Shalom does not just mean peace but it also means health, prosperity, neigborly love and it requires all of your neighbors to have Shalom as well.

So it is another reference to the coming of Messiah with the notion of world peace or true shalom.

Torah Portion Bamibar/Numbers 8:1-12:16

Numbers 8:17 17“For every firstborn among Bnei-Yisrael is Mine, whether human or animal. On the day I struck down the firstborn of the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for Myself.

In this verse we read about a reference to the consecration ritual for the 1st born Male. Where in the Basorah do we also read about this in regards to Yeshua?

Luke 2:21-24 21When eight days had passed for His brit-milah, He was named Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the Torah of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present to Adonai. 23As it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Adonai.” 24So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the Torah of Adonai: “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”

Why would Yeshua need to have the consecration ritual performed? How could he be made Holy unto himself?

Yeshua was still born of a woman and thus had a human component. This component required this ritual.

HaShem is Holy unto himself.

Numbers 9:6-8 6However, there were some men who could not celebrate Passover because of being defiled by a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron on that same day, 7and these men said to him, “We have become unclean because of a dead man’s body. Why should we be kept from presenting the offering of Adonai at the appointed time with the rest of Bnei-Yisrael?” 8Moses answered them, “Wait, and I will inquire what Adonai commands concerning you.”

Why would Moshe need to get inquire of Adonai? Adonai would know these men where caring for a dead body when this Mitzvah was given, why was it not addressed then?

This was to the merit of these men who where doing a righteous thing. It is commonly thought they where the ones caring for the bones of Joseph.

Ge 50:25 Then Joseph made Israel’s sons swear an oath saying, “When God takes notice of you, you will bring my bones up from here.”

Ex 13:19 Moses also took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made Bnei-Yisrael swear an oath saying, “God will surely remember you, and then you are to carry my bones away with you.”

Jos 24:32 Joseph’s bones, which Bnei-Yisrael had brought up from Egypt, they buried in Shechem, in the parcel of ground that Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for 100 pieces of silver. It became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the exodus of Bnei-Yisrael and gave instructions about his bones.

Numbers 10:35-36 35Whenever the Ark would set out, Moses would say: “Arise, Adonai! May Your enemies be scattered! May those who hate You flee from before You!” 36Then whenever it came to rest, he would say: “Return, Adonai, to the myriad thousands of Israel!”

Is Moshe commanding HaShem here? Why would Moshe speak in this way?

It could be a way of just letting everyone know it was time to go forth, but HaShem would know when everyone was ready.

In the Talmud/Mishna the sages discuss that this was given to Moshe to say so that he could maintain the authority and respect of Binei Yisrael.

Numbers 11:28-30 28Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses since his youth, cried out and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous on my behalf? If only Adonai would make all the people prophets! If only Adonai would put the Spirit on all of them!” 30Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

The 2 men Eldad and Medad did not obey Moshe and come to the tent of meeting and yet the Ruach still fell on them. What does Moshe’s reaction reveal to us about him?

That Moshe is humble.

More interested in HaShem’s glory and Yisrael’s redemption/wellbeing than his own.

Numbers 12:6-8 6“Hear now My words!” He said. “When there is a prophet of Adonai, I reveal Myself in a vision, I speak to him in a dream. 7Not so with My servant Moses. In all My house, he is faithful. 8I speak with him face to face, plainly and not in riddles. He even looks at the form of Adonai! Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

Considering HaShem sees all of time and knows all that will be, how do you understand this scripture?

There is no other prophet like Moshe. He is considered the most faithful servant. He is the only prophet that HaShem spoke plainly too.

We should not consider Moshe as just another man or Prophet.

If John was Yeshua’s most favored Talidim. Then Moshe is HaShem’s most favored Servant.

Numbers 12:13 13 So Moses cried to Adonai saying, “O God, heal her now!”

This is a very short prayer and is really evidence of Moshe and HaShem’s realtionship. In Hebrew this reads אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ(el na repa na ah ) and tranlates directly to “God please heal please her.” What are your thought on this?