Matot (מַּטּוֹת‎)— "tribes" and Mas’ei (מַסְעֵי‎) — "journeys" Voice Podcast Aug 6, 2022

Bamidbar  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  3:12:34
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Introduction

Torah Portion
This Torah Portion goes from Numbers 30:1-36:13
Matot= tribes (מַּטּוֹת‎) and Masei= journeys (מַסְעֵי‎)
Overall view of the Torah portion for this week:
Numbers 30: Vows
Numbers 31: Vengeance
Numbers 32: Vulnerability
Numbers 33: View the Past
Numbers 34: View Future
Numbers 35: Vindication
Numbers 36: Value
Content in each Torah Portion
CHAPTER Numbers 30
VOWS
GOD’S WAY: COVENANT
MAN’S WAY: CONTRACT
CHAPTER Numbers 31
VENGEANCE
GOD’S WAY: GIVE UP TO GOD
MAN’S WAY: TAKE FROM GOD
CHAPTER Numbers 32
VULNERABILITY
GOD’S WAY: TRUST GOD
MAN’S WAY: TRUST SELF
CHAPTER Numbers 33
VIEW OF THE PAST
GOD’S WAY: SEE HOW GOD LEADS
MAN’S WAY: SEE SELF LEAD
CHAPTER Numbers 34
VIEW OF THE FUTURE
GOD’S WAY: LOOKING AT GOD
MAN’S WAY: SELF-SEEKING GRATIFICATION
CHAPTER Numbers 35
VINDICATION
GOD’S WAY: ACCIDENTS
MAN’S WAY: INTENTIONAL MURDER
CHAPTER Numbers 36
VALUE
GOD’S WAY: CARE FOR INHERITANCE
MAN’S WAY: NOT CARE FOR HERITAGE
In this Torah portion we will take a general view of the content in all the chapters, but we will alter the order to focus on 2 key chapters
Key Chapters
CHAPTER Numbers 30
VOWS
GOD’S WAY: COVENANT
MAN’S WAY: CONTRACT
CHAPTER Numbers 35
VINDICATION
GOD’S WAY: ACCIDENTS
MAN’S WAY: INTENTIONAL MURDER
We will focus in on more extensively on these two important chapters, in light of their application to the end times, and the practicality of our time, but will start with a short reading of the first chapter for context only

Presentation

Numbers 30:1 NKJV
Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded:
The heads of the tribes - name of Torah portion
Numbers 33:1 NKJV
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Journeys is the second Torah portion
In chapter 30, God commands Israel to make vows in correlation to the appointed feasts in chapter 29
Numbers 29:39–40 NKJV
‘These you shall present to the Lord at your appointed feasts (besides your vowed offerings and your freewill offerings) as your burnt offerings and your grain offerings, as your drink offerings and your peace offerings.’ ” So Moses told the children of Israel everything, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
God also explains the possible outcomes of keeping and not keeping the vows. We will discuss this in more detail later in our study.
Chapter 31
CHAPTER Numbers 31 VENGEANCE
GOD’S WAY: GIVE UP TO GOD
MAN’S WAY: TAKE FROM GOD
Numbers 31:1–3 (NKJV)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.”
So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm some of yourselves for war, and let them go against the Midianites to take vengeance for the Lord on Midian.
It is their responsibility to take, as they compromised by taking Moebite women and worshiping Baal.
to wreak the Lord’s vengeance on Rather, “to exact the Lord’s retribution on.” For the exact idiom, see Ezekiel 25:14, 17. Whereas the Israelites seek redress or compensation from the Midianites for causing the devastating plague of Baal-peor, the Lord desires to exact retribution from them for the sacrilege they committed (v. 16) by seducing the Israelites into worshiping Baal-peor.
Jacob Milgrom, Numbers, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990), 256.
Ezekiel 25:14 (NKJV)
I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance,” says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 25:17 NKJV
I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I lay My vengeance upon them.” ’ ”
Rashi:
Whoever attacks Israel attacks the Lord.
Numbers 31:4–7 NKJV
A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.” So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. Then Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from each tribe; he sent them to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the holy articles and the signal trumpets in his hand. And they warred against the Midianites, just as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed all the males.
There were now 12 tribes plus Manasseh.
They exclude the Levites since they did not serve in the armed forces. They would do spiritual war fare
Jacob Milgrom, Numbers, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990), 256.
Numbers 31:8–10 NKJV
They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of those who were killed—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also killed with the sword. And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captive, with their little ones, and took as spoil all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods. They also burned with fire all the cities where they dwelt, and all their forts.
They procured vengeance for God; giving something to God, and sacrificing their own men in war
But took something in return: all the spoil and booty
Again
Chapter 31
CHAPTER Numbers 31 VENGEANCE
GOD’S WAY: GIVE UP TO GOD
MAN’S WAY: TAKE FROM GOD
Let’s move on to chapter 32
Chapter 32
CHAPTER Numbers 32
VULNERABILITY
GOD’S WAY: TRUST GOD
MAN’S WAY: TRUST SELF
Numbers 32:1–5 NKJV
Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock, the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, the country which the Lord defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” Therefore they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.”
They also took half the children of Manasseh
Numbers 32:33 NKJV
So Moses gave to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with its cities within the borders, the cities of the surrounding country.
Numbers 32:6–10 NKJV
And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them? Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them. So the Lord’s anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying,
Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh trusted in themselves more than trusting God
Numbers 32:11–13 (NKJV)
‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me,
except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.’
So the Lord’s anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone.
Not trusting in the Lord puts us on a very vulnerable situation. Trusting ourselves will reveal a sin we are contending with, when the sin is exposed.
Once again Chapter 32 speaks about trusting either God or ourselves
Chapter 32
CHAPTER Numbers 32
VULNERABILITY
GOD’S WAY: TRUST GOD
MAN’S WAY: TRUST SELF
Let’s move on to chapter 33
Chapter 33
CHAPTER Numbers 33
VIEW OF THE PAST
GOD’S WAY: SEE HOW GOD LEADS
MAN’S WAY: SEE SELF LEAD
Journeys
Numbers 33:1–3 NKJV
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points: They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians.
When you walk with the Lord as He leads, you are able to keep His feasts (they kept Unleavened bread and passover), Your confidence is easily observed (they went out with boldness)
Numbers 33:4 (NKJV)
For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgments.
When you walk with the Lord as He leads, He executes judgements on your behalf
When man leads it all ends in destruction most of the time
When you look back you can see the Lord at work in your own past
So,
Chapter 33
CHAPTER Numbers 33
VIEW OF THE PAST
GOD’S WAY: SEE HOW GOD LEADS
MAN’S WAY: SEE SELF LEAD
Let’s move on to chapter 34
Chapter 34
CHAPTER Numbers 34
VIEW OF THE FUTURE
GOD’S WAY: LOOKING AT GOD
MAN’S WAY: SELF-SEEKING GRATIFICATION
Numbers 34:1–2 NKJV
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries.
God can foresee how the land of Canaan is going to be divided amount the children
He has also included boundaries
Boundaries are essential for the ways of God
Man does not like boundaries, because they (the boundaries) keep him from seeking his own gratification
In most of the verses in this Chapter God starts with boundaries:
Numbers 34:3 NKJV
Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea;
Numbers 34:10 NKJV
‘You shall mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan to Shepham;
At the end, every part of the Land was distributed as this:
Numbers 34:13–15 NKJV
Then Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the Lord has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe. For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and the half-tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance. The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, across from Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.”
It makes a whole lot of difference when we do it God’s way than our way
So,
Chapter 34
CHAPTER Numbers 34
VIEW OF THE FUTURE
GOD’S WAY: LOOKING AT GOD
MAN’S WAY: SELF-SEEKING GRATIFICATION
Let’s move on to chapter 36
Chapter 36
CHAPTER Numbers 36
VALUE
GOD’S WAY: CARE FOR INHERITANCE
MAN’S WAY: NOT CARE FOR HERITAGE
Anything God gives us, entrusts to us, we must consider it of great value
The sacrifice on the cross must be our greatest value which will produce gratitude
At the end of the journey there is a destination and an end result
Like God said to Abraham:
Genesis 15:1 NKJV
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Moses cares for the inheritance well in the following account:
Numbers 36:1–7 NKJV
Now the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the chief fathers of the children of Israel. And they said: “The Lord commanded my lord Moses to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. Now if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance. And when the Jubilee of the children of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.” Then Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying: “What the tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks is right. This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father’s tribe.’ So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
So,
Chapter 36
CHAPTER Numbers 36
VALUE
GOD’S WAY: CARE FOR INHERITANCE
MAN’S WAY: not to care for Inheratance
Let us take a look at our key chapters:
Key Chapters
CHAPTER Numbers 30
VOWS
GOD’S WAY: COVENANT
MAN’S WAY: CONTRACT
CHAPTER Numbers 35
VINDICATION
GOD’S WAY: ACCIDENTS
MAN’S WAY: INTENTIONAL MURDER
Chapter 30
CHAPTER Numbers 30
VOWS
GOD’S WAY: COVENANT
MAN’S WAY: CONTRACT
Numbers 30:1–2 NKJV
Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
5623 נָדַר (nā·ḏǎr): v.; ≡ Str 5087; TWOT 1308—LN 33.463–33.469 (qal) make a vow, i.e., make a binding promise to God, possibly with sanctions if the promise is not kept
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
[שָׁבַע S7621, 7650 TWOT2318, 2319, 2319a GK8678]186 vb. swear (prob., so to say, seven oneself, or bind oneself by seven things
Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 989.
אִסָּר S632 TWOT141d GK674 n.m. Nu 30:8 bond, binding obligation
Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 64.
Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 NKJV
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
Consider again
Numbers 30:2 NKJV
If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Men are covered by God in this divine oath
But women are covered by men
Numbers 30:3–5 NKJV
“Or if a woman makes a vow to the Lord, and binds herself by some agreement while in her father’s house in her youth, and her father hears her vow and the agreement by which she has bound herself, and her father holds his peace, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement with which she has bound herself shall stand. But if her father overrules her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows nor her agreements by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the Lord will release her, because her father overruled her.
1 Corinthians 11:7–15 NKJV
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
Numbers 30:15 NKJV
But if he does make them void after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt.”
The man bears the responsibility for himself, his wife and household
This is a good thing: covering
Single woman: covering of the father
Married woman covering of the husband
This is also a picture of Messiah: bridegroom and us, the bride
Which means that if we make the mistake to go astray, He can overturn it that agreement, by paying for the penalty Himself.
The Covenant of God
Genesis 17:7 NKJV
And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
Exodus 6:7 NKJV
I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Ezekiel 34:24 NKJV
And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.
Jeremiah 30:22 NKJV
‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’ ”
1382 בְּרִית (berîṯ): n.fem.; ≡ Str 1285; TWOT 282a—1. LN 34.42–34.49 covenant, treaty, compact, i.e., an agreement between two parties (Ge 6:18; 14:13), note: the exact relationships of the two parties will vary according to context; 2. LN 34.42–34.49 pledge, a binding oath of promise (2Ki 11:4); 3. LN 34.66–34.78 marriage (Pr 2:17); 4. LN 34.43 unit: כָּרַת
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
The covenant of God is not like the contract of man
The contract of Man
Matthew 5:33–37 NKJV
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Consequences
Deuteronomy 23:23 NKJV
That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.
Numbers 30:9 NKJV
“Also any vow of a widow or a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her.
Matthew 5:31–32 (NKJV)
“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Numbers 15:37–41 (NKJV)
Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
“Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.
And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined,
and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Zana
זָנָה S2181 TWOT563 GK2388, 2389 vb. commit fornication, be a harlot (Arabic زَنَى (zanā) commit fornication, Aramaic
Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 275.
Deuteronomy 24:1 NKJV
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house,
4135 כְּרִיתוּת (kerî·ṯûṯ): n.fem.; ≡ Str 3748; TWOT 1048a—1. LN 34.66–34.78 divorce, i.e., the act. of ending a marriage (Dt 24:1, 3; Isa 50:1; Jer 3:8+); 2. LN 33.35–33.68 unit: סֵפֶר כְּרִיתוּת (sē·p̄ěr kerî·ṯûṯ) written certificate of divorce, i.e., a deed giving notice by a husband to a wife of impending divorce, thus releasing the woman to marry (Dt 24:1, 3; Isa 50:1; Jer 3:8+)
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Somebody abandons their spouse because of fornication (harlotry) or adultery.
Matthew 5:31–32 (NKJV)
“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
686 ἀποστασία (apostasia), ας (as), ἡ (): n.fem.; ≡ Str 646; TDNT 1.513—LN 39.34 rebellion, an abandonment, an apostasy (Ac 21:21; 2Th 2:3+)
687 ἀποστάσιον (apostasion), ου (ou), τό (to): n.neu.; ≡ Str 647—LN 33.41 βιβλίον ἀποστασίου (biblion apostasiou), notice of divorce, certificate of d. (Mt 19:7; Mk 10:4); without βιβλίον (biblion), (Mt 5:31)+
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Acts 21:21 (NKJV)
but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV)
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
2 Corinthians 6:11–18 NKJV
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
So,
Chapter 30
CHAPTER Numbers 30
VOWS
GOD’S WAY: COVENANT
MAN’S WAY: CONTRACT
Onto our second chapter of interest CH 35
Chapter 35
CHAPTER Numbers 35
VINDICATION/ Vengeance
GOD’S WAY: ACCIDENTS
MAN’S WAY: INTENTIONAL MURDER
Numbers 35:1–4 NKJV
And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying: “Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession, and you shall also give the Levites common-land around the cities. They shall have the cities to dwell in; and their common-land shall be for their cattle, for their herds, and for all their animals. The common-land of the cities which you will give the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around.
Numbers 35:6 NKJV
“Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you shall appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. And to these you shall add forty-two cities.
Basic level of understanding (Pasach) a protection for someone who killed somebody accidentally who may need to be taken away as he may be a victim of revenge from family members
This Ch speaks of unintentionally murdering someone; but what if we do it intentionally?
Bible is prophetic and it always point to Jesus, especially to the things He has and will fulfill
Chapter 35 is before Ch 36 where the promise and reward has already been given. This chapter (35) then refers to a moment before Jesus returns to establish His kingdom
Are we prepared when He comes back?
Numbers 35:9–12 NKJV
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there. They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.
Numbers 35:15 NKJV
These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.
Have we killed unintentionally the gospel message Yeshua preached for Greek stories and fables?
Have we killed the identity of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, making Him a Greek entity rather than a Jewish Messiah?
Have we betrayed Messiah?
Revelation 9 speaks of the 6th trumpet and judgment
Revelation 9:20–21 NKJV
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Matthew 7:21–24 NKJV
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
Talking to believers
On that day - the day He returns - these are not qualified and prepared to meet the man of war
Many years we have been told- just say the prayer, life insurance, you’re in- oversimplification- a good start but no ready for Him yet. We do not stay in salvation, but move - more revelation is given. The time is near. SHATUL (uprooted/ replanted)
Deuteronomy 20:12 NKJV
Now if the city will not make peace with you, but war against you, then you shall besiege it.
Deuteronomy 20:10 NKJV
“When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.
Exodus 15:3 NKJV
The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name.
The Lord is not coming as a child in a manger
He is not coming on a donkey making peace
He is coming as the Man of War
Ish Milechamah
Isaiah 63:1–4 NKJV
Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?— “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.
As believers what do we need to do at His second coming?
Repent and Believe
Mark 1:15 NKJV
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Back to the Basics of Messianic belief
We do not want to commit the sin of the Edomites
Numbers 20:14–21 (NKJV)
Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us,
how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.
When we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border.
Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ”
Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.”
So the children of Israel said to him, “We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”
Then he said, “You shall not pass through.” So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand.
Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.
Obadiah 1 NKJV
The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom (We have heard a report from the Lord, And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle”):
Antisemitism
Israel comes to Edom asking for access to pass - The spirit of Edom tries to keep Israel from entering the Promised Land and the fullness of the covenant with God- His rest
This is the spirit of the antichrist fighting against the plan of God
Paul talks about this is 2The 2 as we discussed CH 30
Antisemitism and Replacement theology are at the forefront of the Antichrist
This spirit is not about turning Christians away from Jesus, but about turning people away from the authentic Jewish Messiah- keeping Jewish people from entering the fullness of God
Obadiah 10–14 NKJV
“For violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, And you shall be cut off forever. In the day that you stood on the other side— In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, When foreigners entered his gates And cast lots for Jerusalem— Even you were as one of them. “But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress. You should not have entered the gate of My people In the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction In the day of their calamity, Nor laid hands on their substance In the day of their calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads To cut off those among them who escaped; Nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained In the day of distress.
Isaiah 63:1 (NKJV)
Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?— “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
Genesis 36:31–33 (NKJV)
Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel:
Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
Isaiah 63:1–2 NKJV
Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?— “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
Rashi on Isa 61:1
This One - who was stately in His attire, and girded with the greatness of His strength. And the Holy One, blessed be He, replies to him, “it is I, upon whom the time has come to speak of the righteousness of the Patriarchs, and of the righteousness of the generation of religious persecution, and My righteousness, too, is with them, and I have revealed Myself as being great to save.” And they say, “why is your clothing red? What are your garments red?
Lbn (Even) Ezra on Isa 63:1-2
Who is. This that cometh. Some refer to this to Messiah, others to the angel Michael; but more correctly it may be referred to God. This prophecy contained the decree made against Edom, that is, agains the empire of Rome and Constantinople, who are called Edomites, because they adopted the Edomite religion- that is, the Christian religion- which was first established among the Edomites.
Rome the birth place of Catholicism and eventually Christianity - The institution known as Christianity will probably end. You are going to have a choice now. Revelation of the mystery of His kingdom. Some people will say, I did not know. I want to restore your old garment. Grace of God.
Restoration of the Kingdom of God - those who realize they are wearing the wrong garment who want to wear His garment.
Numbers 35:15 NKJV
These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.
Two purposes: safe place for the killer and city open to Israel and Foreigner both. Six cities - there will be more cities of refuge in the end times when Messiah comes to establish the Messianic era
Isaiah 2:4 NKJV
He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
Why is there a need for cities of refuge?
Prior to the coming of the Man of War there’s got to be a city of refuge for the remnant and for those who are leaving the old city (Rome) and desire to go to the new city (Jerusalem)
Why do people need to enter the city of refuge when the city is for unintentional killing?
For those who destroyed unintentionally the image of Yeshua the Messiah. They grasped Jesus the Christ but killed Yeshua the Messiah. The grace of God
Which is the new City:
Jerusalem
Isaiah 2:2–3 NKJV
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Zechariah 14:16 NKJV
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
This shall be the remnant that repented in the war
Malbim on Zechariah 14:16:11
And all the rest will always go up to Jerusalem on the Feast of Tabernacles, because Gog's fall will be on the Feast of Tabernacles, and they will go up to the Feast of Tabernacles in memory of the miracle that was done on that day:
Psalm 2:6 NKJV
“Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
Have you set your King on the hill of Zion?
Shabbat Shalom
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