Torah Study Ekev

Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25, Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3, Matthew 16:13-20

Torah Portion D’varim/Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

7:12“Then it will happen, as a result of your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them, that Adonai your God will keep with you the covenant kindness that He swore to your fathers.

The name of this portion is Ekev and is where the the phrase “will happen...” is translated from. It comes from the root word for heel or end of something. Examples of the end of a person is the heel the example of the end of an animal is typically the tail. With this in mind what can you gather from verse 12 in terms of keeping ordinances and HaShem keeping the covenant?

And if you do obey. Literally, “if you obey the heel.” If you obey the trivial commandments, which a man is tempted to dash under his heels. The Lord your God will maintain faithfully. Literally, He will “keep” (OJPS)—His promise to you.

Nahmanides The commentators say that the Hebrew word implies something that will happen as an ultimate reward: “Your servant pays them heed; in obeying them there is much reward” (Ps. 19:12)

7:16“You will devour all the peoples Adonai your God gives over to you. Your eye is not to pity them. You are not to serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

We read in verse 16 that we are not to have pity on them. In Hebrew this literally reads “ not eye troubled on them”. Is this a commandment about how to feel?

It could be a miztvah on how to feel and this is tough. Taming our emotions is probably the greatest struggle for mankind.

It could be a mitzvah associated with action. Though you might feel bad that this is happening to them let it be known it has to be done.

How do you reconcile this with verses such as Lk 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of Elyon, for He is kind to the ungrateful and evil ones.”

In D’varim HaShem is instructing a national directive/Mitzvah that does affect individuals but is a national matter. Yeshua is addressing individual relationships and actions and not addressing national issues.

7:18You are not to be afraid of them.... 7:21You should not be terrified of them...

Once again it appears we have HaShem commanding the people to not feel an emotion. How do you understand this?

To me it seems a matter of maturity and good, better, and best.

Do not feel fear and terror if not that then do not act as if fearful and terrified and if not that do not act upon ones own fear and terror.

In chapter 8 we read of all the blessings and goodness that will be poured out on Israel. They will have an over abundance not just of what they need but also what they want. Then in verse 11 the warnings begin. Then in verse 17 we read: 8:17You may say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand has made me this wealth.’ 18Rather you are to remember Adonai your God, for it is He who gives you power to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant that He swore to your fathers—as it is this day.

How does this warning compare to “National Pride” especially through out history and especially in America?

We absolutely as a people claim to have made this land great and through our efforts “blood, sweat, and tears” created this country.

We should have responded with acknowleding that there is nothing we have that has been gained in any way other than what was allowed by HaShem.

9:5It is not by your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to possess their land. Rather, because of the wickedness of these nations, Adonai your God is driving them out from before you, and in order to keep the word Adonai swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 6So you should understand that it is not because of your righteousness that Adonai your God is giving you this good land to possess—for you are a stiff-necked people.

How is this connecting back to the concepts discussed earlier about ekev and its root in heel?

What is happening is the result of the faithfulness of HaShem to the convenant made with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

As well it is to remove the idolaters from the land.

It is for 2 reasons this is done.

Is there anything in this that we could perhaps learn from today?

Perhaps the goodness that we experience is not a merit of our righteousness but instead of the righteousness of one who has come before us. Ancestors.

Truly living as righteous as possible is not for our benefit but for the benefit of those that come after us.

10:16“Circumcise the foreskin of your heart therefore, and do not be stiff-necked anymore.

This has been the whole point of Circumcision from the beginning it did not change later or at any time.

10:20Adonai your God you will fear—Him will you serve. To Him will you cling, and by His Name will you swear.

How do you reconcile this with “Mt 5:34 But I tell you, do not swear at all—not by heaven, for it is the throne of God;”

Yeshua is building a fence just like other Rabbis. The prohibition is not one that is a SIN in so much as defined by Torah but is to prevent the transgressing of a SIN.

Could mean to not swear frivilously.

Could be to not swear as they have been doing. Matthew 23:22

Could be in this instance they swear an oath of loyalty.

11:1“Therefore you are to love Adonai your God and keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances and His mitzvot at all times.

How do you understand at all times in this verse?

Through out our day.

At every event in our life.

Forevermore.

Haftorah Portion yešǎʿyāʹhû/Isaiah 49:14-51:3

50:1Thus says Adonai: “Where is the divorce certificate, by which I sent your mother away? Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you? See, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. 2Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one to answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, I dry up the sea at My rebuke, I make rivers a wilderness— their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

As I read this the first part of verse 2 it seems to me HaShem is asking why the people did not continue to wait on him even thought they where punished for their SIN. How do you understand this part of the chapter?

As individuals how do we relate to this in our lives?

even when we are disciplined or even when we have strayed from HaShem we should have faith and expect his return and deliverance.

Basorah Portion Matthew 16:13-20

16:19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will have been forbidden in heaven and what you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven.

Who is Yeshua speaking to? ( the word for you is σύ sy and is the singular you.)

I think Simon son of Jonah; Peter.

What do you understand the last part of verse 19 to mean? (the word for whatever is ὅς hos and is actually more often used for who, whoever, whom, whomever, and they)