The New Moon

The biblical month begins in the evening at the first visible sighting of the sliver of the new moon (we have proven this point in other articles that we have written on this subject available at www.hoshanarabbah.org). The evening marks not only the beginning of a biblical month, but also the beginning of the first day of that month. It all begins in the evening. If the day begins in the morning, and the Sabbath begins in the morning, then this is incongruous with the pattern of the month beginning in the evening with the sighting of the new moon. For example, if the Sabbath begins in the morning, what happens to the remaining twelve hour portion of the day after the close of the sixth day (ending at evening) while waiting for the Sabbath to supposedly begin the next morning? Is that twelve hours a part of the sixth or seventh day? This is a anomaly that makes no sense if one begins the day, including the Sabbath, in the morning. 

The Burial of Yeshua

Those responsible for interring Yeshua after his death were attempting to have the task completed by the end of the Passover and just before the setting of the sun marking the beginning of the first Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31)

This shows that the righteous disciples of Yeshua were hurriedly attempting to get Yeshua in the tomb before the setting of the sun, since this began the next day—a high holy day Sabbath day.

Your Sabbaths

YHVH declares that he hates it when men tamper with his appointed times and substitute them with man-made religious celebrations on the wrong day.

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts (moedim) my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. (Isa 1:15–14)

I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. (Amos 5:21)

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. (Isa 66:3)

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Genesis 1:26, Let Us. (Also see Gen 3:22; 11:7.) This verse shows that the Godhead is a plurality—the Father, the Son and the Set-Apart Spirit. (Some, but not all Heb mss. show plural references to the deity where the MT does not: see Isa 6:8; Isa 54:5; [in Heb. Maker and Husband are both plural]; Eccl 12:1 [in Heb. Creator is plural]; Job 35:10 and Ps 149:2 [in Heb. Maker is plural].).

Some biblical scholars see the us in this verse referring to Elohim’s divine council (i.e., the cherubim, seraphim and angels), and not specifically to the Godhead itself, since, they reason, the Father, Son and the Set-Apart Spirit are not specifically or overtly referenced here, but are only revealed much later in the Bible—specifically in the NT. To understand this to be a reference to the “Trinity” is back-reading into the text, they argue. As a counter-argument to their point, perhaps this us passage is prophetic in that it contains the seed or kernel of truth that would eventually become what the Bible later reveals as the fuller revelation of the Godhead. This mode of incremental or progressive divine revelation can be applied to other biblical truths as well, which are incrementally revealed to man as the biblical narrative progresses. This includes the gospel message of salvation, the truth of Messiah the Redeemer, as well as the sacrificial system and the Tabernacle of Moses, which all point forward to the fuller revelation of Yeshua the Messiah that was yet to come. Moreover, it can be argued that the three Divine Beings of the Godhead are indeed revealed in the first two verses of the Bible: YHVH Elohim the Father in verse one, YHVH-Elohim also in verse one as the Aleph and Tav (or Alpha and Omega) in the Hebrew grammatical particle et, and, finally, the Spirit that hovered over the waters in verse two. Thus and for these reasons, we cannot dismiss the idea that the Us in this verse refers to the tripartite aspect of one true Elohim.

Genesis 1:27, Male and female. (See also Gen 5:2; see notes at Acts 8:16.) Elohim is both male and female. If the Father is the Father, and the Yeshua is the Son, then that leaves the Spirit of Elohim as the female side of the “Godhead.” Indeed, the Hebrew word for spirit is ruach, which is a feminine gendered noun.

Genesis 1:28, Subdue it. 

Dominion over the fish…birds…[the land animals]. Elohim gave man dominion over the animals. Elohim, however, never gave man the authority to take dominion over other people, which is what Cain, Nimrod and their descendants did when they started cities, states and kingdoms. 

YHVH’s government is patriarchal and tribal in nature and is built on the foundation of the family, which is something the devil and his servants have been attacking and trying to destroy from time immemorial. 

Yeshua echoes this same divine prohibition of man ruling other men in Matthew 20:25–26 where he tells his disciples that the Gentiles rule each other through oppression, but that was not how the kingdom of Elohim was to operate. Government was to be based on servant-leadership. 

Elohim created man to work the land and to live free, and he designed humans to be more or less self-sufficient and to help each other in loving service to one another when and where needed. The Scriptures decry and even pronounce woe upon those who form urban communities as they “join house to house,” so that people no longer “dwell alone in the midst of the land” on ten acre farms (Isa 5:8–10). 

Men’s cities and the hierarchial Babylonian system of government they require to keep them operational is opposed to Elohim’s system of family farms and patriarchal servant-leadership. This is because the urbanization of men results in the collectivization of humans by human overlords ostensibly for the purpose of making life easier for the underlings, but in reality, it enslave them to oppressive human-led governmental systems where humans are forced to look to human leaders for their sustenance and for handouts instead of relying on the Creator. This bondage is forcibly financed through legalized extortion called taxation, and enforced through draconian government regulations that control nearly every aspect of a person’s life. 

This transferral from a rural to an urban-based society model not only reduces man’s freedom and self-sufficiency as he becomes increasingly dependent on government for his sustenance, but it also tends to facilitate spiritual apostasy, the breakdown of the family and the stratification or splitting apart of society. In other words, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, class distinctions occur, which further divide and separate people causing racism and prejudice as men slide downward morally and spiritually away from Elohim. The family on the micro and macro levels fall apart and disintegrate, and foundation and building blocks for the advancement of the kingdom of are destroyed to Satan’s glee. 

Moreover, such a system promotes institutionalized religious systems and personally enriches those who are at the pinnacle of those religious-corporate entities. Out of this false, non-biblical system, religious construction projects such as temples, cathedrals, churches and the like along with educational institutions abound allegedly to enhance the worship of Elohim, but in reality, they’re usually monuments to the glory of men, not unlike the ziggurat Tower of Babel. They highlight men’s achievements as men are attempting to reach Elohim through their own humanistic efforts and turn themselves into their own self-promoting and self-adulating demigods. Elohim does not require the construction of such projects for men to have a personal, spiritual relationship with him, as Paul states in his epistle to the Romans, which is a rephrasing of a passage from Deuteronomy 30, “But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?’’’ (that is, to bring Messiah down from above) or,”, “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Messiah up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach)” (Rom 30:6–8). The construction of denominations and buildings are primarily for the benefit of the ruling elite who have found a way to insert themselves as middlemen between man and his Creator largely for the purposes of money and power. 

All of these things are a result of the man’s move from a rural to an urban living environment and taking dominion over one his fellow instead of stewarding the earth and its animals and serving one another in love as Elohim originally instructed him to do.

Genesis 1:29, Every green herb for food. This verse is often used to justify the use of marijuana for illicit purposes. The problem with this argument is that the word every in this verse is the Hebrew word kal, which in the Scriptures doesn’t have same meaning as does every or all in English. There are numerous examples in the Bible where the broad meaning of all is either restricted by its context, or it is used in hyperbolic fashion. Thus, this phrase can’t be used to justify the human consumption (or smoking) of herbs that are deleterious to our physical or psychological health.

Furthermore, food is for consumption for nourishment purposes. Smoking marijuana is not eating food, nor is it for nourishment purposes. It is for the purpose of recreation, escapism, or altering one’s consciousness. This does not fit the biblical criteria as consuming plants for food. Moreover, the misuse of chemicals or plants other than for physical nourishment or for healing is an aspect sorcery or magic, which the Bible condemns.

It shall be for food. The animals were herbivores at this time. When the carnivores ceased being herbivores is not clear from the Scriptures.

Genesis 1:31, Very good. The creation was good (Heb. tov), not perfect. If it had been perfect, the writer would have used the Hebrew word tom meaning “complete or perfect.” Eden, the habitation or mountain of Elohim (see Gen 2:8) was perfect, but not the rest of the earth, which is why he commanded man to fill the earth and to subdue it (Gen 1:28). On the other hand, the garden was to be tended (or worked, tilled and dressed) and kept (to guard, preserve, protect and to observe; Gen 2:15). The distinction between the perfect Eden—the place of Elohim’s abode—and the rest of the earth that was good, but not perfect or complete—suggests that Elohim gave man the mission of making the rest of the earth like Eden. The garden represented the kingdom of Elohim, and man, who was created in the image of Elohim, was tasked with extending that kingdom throughout the entire earth. The redeemed saints along with Yeshua will eventually accomplish this task, which is why the Bible ends with a vision of the Edenic earth or the New Jerusalem on the new earth surrounded by the new heavens (Rev 21 and 22).

Genesis 2

Genesis 2:2, The seventh day. Sabbath. Though this is not a direct command to keep the Sabbath (Heb. Shabbat); rather, YHVH was leading his people by example, when he sanctified the Sabbath and then rested from his work on this day. In Hebraic thought, one leads by example, without necessarily stating the command to do something. YHVH blessed the family first (Gen 1:28), then next the Sabbath. This is because the Sabbath keeps the family together that keeps it. The imperative command to keep the Sabbath is first found in Exodus 16–30 and then repeated in 20:8–11. Moreover, it is on the Sabbath that parents typically instruct their children in the ways of YHVH’s Torah. Thus the Sabbath is a pivotal and foundational aspect of not only keeping the family together, but in transmitting YHVH’s Torah instructions from one generation to the next, thus helping to keep the family on the biblically straight and narrow path.

Genesis 2:3, All his work which he had made. Setting man an example of how to rest on the Sabbath, Elohim ceased all his work, workmanship, occupation, or business (Heb. melawkaw/ Vftkn) and that which he did, produced, prepared or made (Heb. asah/Våt).

Genesis 2:4, The LORD/YHVH. This is the first mention in the Scriptures of the personal name of Elohim. He wants us to use his Hebrew names (YHVH, Elohim, Adonai and Yeshua). If not, then why is “YHVH” found in the Tanakh nearly 7000 times? True, we are not to use his Hebrew name carelessly as the third commandments teaches us (Exod 20:7). YHVH’s people have forgotten his name (Ps 44:20; Jer 23:27). His name will be restored and used again (Jer 23:6; 31:23; Ezek 39:7). His name was so precious to his people in ancient times that it was used in common greeting (Ruth 2:4; Ps 129:8; Jer 31:23). The Hebrew name YHVH will be applied to Yeshua at his second coming (Ps 118:26; Matt 23:39). The prohibition of the rabbinic Jews about using God’s Hebrew names is not supported biblically, but is a more recent man-made tradition. Therefore, I believe and teach that the sacred names of t are to be used.

Genesis 2:5, Plant…herb. 

Genesis 2:5, Till. Heb. abad meaning “to labor, work, serve, work or till the land.”

Genesis 2:8, A garden. The Hebrew word gan meaning “garden or enclosure protected by a wall” is related to the word magen meaning “shield” in that they share the common root word ganan, a verb meaning “to defend, to protect, to put a shield about” (TWOT 267). The etymological connection between garden and shield imbues the biblical concept of a garden with a whole new meaning and purpose. A garden in the biblical view is an enclosed place of protection (for plants, animals and humans) as well as a place for a husband and wife to live and commune with each other (Gen 2:8–25), and for them both to relax and commune face to face with Elohim (Gen 3:8). Add to gan the name Eden meaning “pleasure, delight, finery, luxury” and the whole idea of a garden takes on an even higher physical and spiritual significance.

The Garden of Eden was Elohim’s throne room, temple or habitation on earth and was a picture of heaven on earth patterned after his heavenly temple or dwelling place. For example, as Elohim has cheruvim (cherubs) around his heavenly throne, so, he had cheruvim guarding Eden. This further points us to the holy of holies in the Tabernacle of Moses, which also was Elohim’s dwelling place among his people on earth (Exod 25:8), which contained the ark of the covenant guarded by the cheruvim with the glory cloud hovering above. Eden and the holy of holies both point to the garden city of the New Jerusalem, which is coming down from heaven, and which Scripture calls the temple of Elohim and is filled with his glory (Rev 21:22–23).

Elohim placed man in the midst of the garden, which is another way of saying that man was made in the image of Elohim to dwell in the presence, holy of holies or throne room of Elohim (Gen 2:8).

Assuredly, there is a connection between the Garden of Eden and the New Jerusalem. Both are gardens with the latter being a city garden (not unlike Babylon’s counterfeit Hanging Gardens of Babylon of the ancient world) full of redeemed Israelites, as opposed to merely the two people of the original garden. These Redeemed Israelites are descendants of Adam and Eve through our father Abraham (Gal 3:29) by way of Yeshua, the Second Adam.

The word till in Genesis 2:5 is abad, is the generic Hebrew word meaning “to serve or to work.” The work of the Levitical priests was described as such, and a cognate of avad is the noun avodah meaning “service” and can also refer to the “worship service of the Levites” (i.e., worship is an act of service, as opposed to just throwing one’s emotions at Elohim as is often the case in the church world; e.g., Num 4:19; 2 Chron 8:14). It may not be too much of a logical stretch to assert the idea that when man works in a garden, he is doing so for the glory of Elohim and is communing with his Creator while doing so, and by getting married and raising a family to do the same, he is fulfilling his Elohim-ordained priestly responsibility.

This shows that YHVH’s patterns of redemption for sinners including the need for a Redeemer originates from the very beginning of man’s tenure on this earth.

It is also interesting to note that in the old city of Jerusalem to this day, the only gate that is permanently sealed and not currently in use is the Eastern Gate. When Yeshua returns, he will enter the city by way of that gate, thus ushering in his kingdom on earth culminating in the New Jerusalem. This points to Jerusalem as prophetically representing Eden, the east entrance to which was guarded by cherubs with flaming swords after the fall of man (Gen 3:24).

Eden. In Heb. Eden means “pleasure, delight.” Eden was the mountain of Elohim—the place of his abode on this earth (see notes at Ezek 28:13–14).

Genesis 2:9, The tree life.See notes at Gen 3:1.

The tree knowledge. 

Are you Feeding from the Tree of Knowledge?

Are you addicted to your smart phone (and computer)? Think about it for a minute. Maybe, in reality, you’re addicted to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Even one of our most popular electronic devices has as its symbol an apple with a bite out of it. Interesting! Symbols are often carefully designed symbolic representations of the ideas and philosophies behind them. The masses of people are usually oblivious to their meanings, but the enlightened initiates understand full well what they mean. This is one of the means by which those of the dark side communicate with each other—through arcane and mystical symbols. 

Everywhere I go I see it…and so do you. People walking down sidewalks, smart phone in hand, hunched over their device. Just the other day, I saw four mom’s crossing a busy street on their way to pick up their kids from school. The eyes of three of the four were glued to their smart phones. They didn’t even look up see if traffic was coming!

“Smart phone” may be the oxymoronic label of the day…don’t you think?

At our finger tips, we have all the knowledge of the world—both good and evil. Sounds like the biblical tree of the knowledge of good and evil to me.

Remember the tree in the Garden of Eden that Elohim told Adam and Eve not to eat from? The same tree that the serpent hid in and lured the first humans into eating from?

We don’t know what kind of fruit it was. The Bible doesn’t tell us. Tradition tells us, however, that it was an apple. Hmm. Apple. The most popular “smart” phone on the planet has as its logo an apple with a bite out of it. Now connect the dots.

Look, I love my Apple I-Phone, my Apple I-Pad and my Apple computer. I don’t exactly live in a cave and grunt my way through life. But do these things master us or do we master them? Do you spend time with your electronic devices that you should be spending with YHVH? Are you spending more time feeding from the tree of knowledge or the tree of life?

I know, no one reading this is guilty of the concerns I’m positing. Each of us has a myriad justifications why the shoe doesn’t fit me. We’re all right in our own eyes. But what does YHVH thing about it? We can’t fool him. He sees through our human machinations and excuses.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed YHVH and ate from the tree of knowledge instead of being faithful to his instructions in righteousness, they sinned. This was their first step on the proverbial downward spiral, slippery slope away from the Creator. Do you really think the devil has stopped attempting to deceive humans away from Elohim? Do you really think that in these modern times he’s going to take you to an actual tree that is labeled “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil”? Get real. He’s smarter than that. But I can’t think of anything that fits the bill better than a beautiful device you can hold in your hand, that you can get in any color you want, and that has an apple logo on it (or whatever logo it may be) that more qualifies.

When Adam and Eve ate from the wrong tree, they fell into idolatry. Anything we put above Elohim becomes an idol to us. When our phone or laptop becomes more important to us than our Bible—there’s a problem.

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Genesis 2:15, Took…put. Took is the Hebrew word laqach meaning “to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.” Put is the Hebrew word yanach meaning “to rest, settle down and remain, to repose, have rest, be quiet, to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet, to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down, to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place.” The implication here is that Elohim created man somewhere else and then brought him to and settled him in the Garden of Eden where he settled down in quiet rest.” Perhaps Elohim briefly allowed the first man to experience life outside the garden first before “planting” them therein, so that they would better appreciate the beauty, rest and peacefulness of the garden. In this way, Adam, the first father, head and priest of his family would have some personal experience out the garden and be able to accurately communicate to both his wife and children that life was better in the garden than outside the garden, thus encouraging them to stay obedient to YHVH and to walk in his ways, so that they could continue to enjoy the privileges thereof.

Tend/dress and keep it. Tend is the Hebrew word avad meaning “to work or serve.” Being a gardener was Adam’s occupation. Yeshua was the second Adam. After Yeshua’s resurrection, interestingly, he was mistaken as the gardener (John 20:15). 

The Torah teaches sustainable living and stewardship of the earth. The terms sustainability or sustainable living along with green, eco-friendly, etc. are currently fad concepts that are bandied about by those seeking to be politically correct—whatever that is supposed to mean. Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, defines sustainability as follows: 

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of responsibility, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible management of resource use. In ecology, sustainability describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time, a necessary precondition for the well-being of humans and other organisms.

As the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes said, there is nothing new under the sun. In the beginning, Elohim placed man in the idyllic paradise called the Garden of Eden instructing him “to tend” (serve, work, till, dress) and “to keep” (guard, observe, protect) the garden (Gen 2:15). Man was commanded to become the steward of what Elohim had created—to preserve, maintain and to care for it.

To this day, YHVH has never rescinded these instructions to man even though modern environmentalists and conservationists may think they originated the idea of responsible stewardship of the environment. Long before Rosseau, Thoreau, the Sierra Club, Earth First, Nature Conservancy, Germany’s Green Party, and the Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) in America along the New Green Deal being promoted by the leftist US politicians and their United Nations, World Economic Forum leftist backers, the Torah was preaching sustainable living and responsibly caring for the environment—YHVH’s creation, but on Creator’s terms, not Satan’s terms or those of his human useful idiot minion stooges. Let’s note how:

• For the overall health and vigor of fruit trees, they were to be allowed to become established for three years before commercially harvesting their fruit (Lev 19:23–25).
• So as not to deplete the soil’s fertility, agricultural land was to lay fallow every seventh year (Lev 25:2).
• Fruit trees were to be preserved in times of war (Deut 20:19).
• So as not to mongrelize similar types of fruits and vegetables through cross pollination, mixed seeds were not to be sowed together (Lev 19:19; Deut 22:9).
• Interbreeding of diverse kinds of livestock was prohibited (Lev 19:19).
• Work animals were allowed to eat the grain that they helped to thresh (Deut 25:4).
• If a farm animal was injured or in danger, one was obligated to help the animal even if it belonged to someone else (Deut 22:4).
• For the safety and well-being of work animals, an ox and donkey were not to be yoked together when plowing (Deut 22:10).
• Work animals were to be allowed to rest on the Sabbath (Exod 20:8–11; Deut 5:14).
• Humans are to rescue animals that are hurt, lost or that have fallen into a pit, even on the Sabbath (Matt 12:11, 12; Exod 23:4).
• Bird’s nests and young hatchlings were to be cared for (Deut 22:6–7).
• Humans were to care for the earth (and prevent diseases) by burying their excrement (Deut 23:13).
• The establishment of toxic waste dumps for disease-contaminated materials (Lev 14:43–47).

Genesis 2:16, YHVH Elohim commanded. This was the Torah (YHVH’s instructions, teachings, precepts and laws) that Eohim was giving to Adam and Eve. It was a one commandment Torah. Once they sinned, man needed many more Torah-instructions and laws to regulate a fallen world so that men would know how to treat each properly other instead of destroying the human race. In addition, man needed Torah-instructions to bring man into a right spiritual relationship with Elohim through the process of redemption eventually leading to the Messiah, to which the Levitical and sacrificial systems pointed along with the Sabbaths and feasts.

Genesis 2:17, In the day [Heb. yom]. Yom means “day, time, year.” The context in which yom is used determines its exact meaning. In this verse, man died spiritually (his spirit become estranged from Elohim) the moment he sinned (partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge) and died physically before the end the first 1000 years of his physical existence, for “a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Ps 90:4).

Shall surely die. The Law of Sin and Death. In Gen 2:17 Elohim gave man his first law: Do not eat of the tree of knowledge. He pronounced upon man a curse of death if he violated this law. Man broke the law and ate from the forbidden tree. To go against the law of Elohim is sin (1 John 3:4). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). The soul that sins shall die (Ezek 18:4). This is the law of sin and death that Paul talks about in Rom 8:2. When man obeys the laws Elohim, he will neither sin nor bring upon himself the wages of that sin which is death.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. See notes at Gen 3:1.

Genesis 2:24, A man shall leave his father and mother. Adam’s father and mother were YHVH the Father and the Spirit or Ruach of Elohim. Adam was created to become a separate entity from his Heavenly Parents and to reproduce himself by becoming one with his wife. However, Adam leaving his parents and creating his own family in no way implies or suggests that Adam was being instructed to leave the wise counsel and righteous ways of his Heavenly Parents—the Father and the Ruach anymore than a young man should forsake the righteous upbringing of his godly parents when marrying his wife. Sadly, though, this is exactly what Adam did when he listened to his wife and sinned at the tree of knowledge.

Genesis 3

Genesis 3:1, The serpent.

The Activities of Satan the Devil

• He has a false trinity/godhead (i.e. the beast, false prophet and whore). Rev 13:2–10; 16:13; 17:1–2
• He is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
• He comes to kill, steal and destroy. John 10:10
• He has his own synagogue. Rev 2:9
• He has his doctrines. 1 Tim 4:1
• He has his mysteries. Rev 2:24
• He has his throne. Rev 2:13
• He has his kingdom. Luke 4:6
• He has his worshipers. Rev 13:4
• He has his miracles. 2 Thess 2:9
• He has his angles. Rev 12:7
• He has his ministers. 2 Cor 11:15
• He has his sacrifices. 1 Cor 10:20
• He has his fellowship. 1 Cor 10:20
• He has his armies. Isa 24:21
• He sows his tares (workers) among Elohim’s wheat (people). Matt 13:24–30
• He instigates false doctrine. 1 Tim 4:1–3
• He perverts the word of Elohim. Gen 3:1–4
• He hinders the work of Elohim’s servants. 1 Thess 2:18
• He resists the prayer of the Elohim’s servants. Dan 10:12–13
• He blinds men to the truth. 2 Cor 4:4
• He steals the word of Elohim from human hearts. Matt 13:19
• He accuses the saints before Elohim. Job 1:7–12
• He lays snares for men. 2 Tim 2:26
• He tempts people to sin. Matt 4:1
• He afflicts people with pain and suffering. Job 2:7
• He deceives. Rev 12:9
• He undermines the sanctity of the home. 1 Cor 7:3–5
• He prompts both saints and sinners to transgress against the holiness of Elohim. Matt 16:22–23
• He lurks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet 5:8

Genesis 3:1–7, The serpent was more cunning.Satan tempted the first humans in all three areas of his makeup: spirit, soul and body (1 Thess 5:23). John quantifies these three areas as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, and everything in the world that is not of Elohim falls into one of these three categories.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [the body, that is, the five senses], the lust of the eyes [the soul, that is, the mind, will and emotions], and the pride of life [the spirit, that is, the desire to live forever]—is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:15–16)

When we examine the words that Satan used in tempting the first humans to sin, we see that everything he said fell into one of these three categories which corresponds to the three part make up of man—spirit, soul and body. Satan used these three approaches to subvert and trick man into rebellion and sin against the Creator—a path that leads to death, not life. This is no wonder, for Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy and he is the father of all lies, as Yeshua informed us in the Gospels. When we are aware of Satan’s approach to subvert or lure man into sin, that is, his weaponry, we will be better able to resist his trickery, because we will not be ignorant of his devices (2 Cor 2:11).

Now let’s examine the serpents words as we discover how he tricked the first humans into sinning against YHVH.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the YHVH Elohim had made. And he said [the lust of the eyes, i.e., hearing which is the mind or soul] to the woman, “Has Elohim indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, Elohim has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ “Then the serpent said [the lust of the eyes, i.e., hearing, which is the mind or soul] to the woman, “You will not surely die [the pride of life, i.e., the spirit of man]. For Elohim knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened [the lust of the eyes, i.e., hearing, which is the mind or soul], and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil [the lust of the eyes, i.e., hearing, which is the mind or soul; also the pride of life which is the spirit].” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food [the lust of the flesh, i.e., the taste, which is the body, that it was pleasant to the eyes, [the lust of the eyes, i.e., seeing, which is both the body and the mind or soul] and a tree desirable to make one wise [the lust of the eyes, i.e., the mind or soul], she took of its fruit and ate [the lust of the flesh, i.e., taste, which is the body]. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate [the lust of the flesh, i.e., taste, which is the body]. Then the eyes of both of them were opened [the lust of the eyes, i.e., seeing, which is the mind or soul].

Satan used this same three pronged approach when he tempted Yeshua, the Second Adam, in the wilderness. (See notes at Matt 4:1–11.

Genesis 3:3, Touch. Not only were they not to eat of the forbidden fruit, but they were not to even touch it. The path that leads to sin often starts in a seemingly innocent and innocuous manner, yet, in reality, it is the first step down the proverbial slippery slope. 

Genesis 3:4, You shall not surely die. This is the nascence of the unbiblical and pagan concept of the immortality of the soul which is endemic to all false religions including Greco-Roman Christianity and rabbinic Judaism. It is a subtle, deceptive and nefarious way for note to have to deal with his own sin, to avoid the consequences of sin and eventually a way to circumvent the need to come by way of the cross to gain access to immortality. 

Your eyes will be opened. How is it possible that eating a piece of fruit could open their eyes to knowing good and evil? The fruit tree of itself didn’t have this power. The violation of YHVH’s command not to eat of it is what did it. When Adam and Eve crossed the boundary line YHVH had set for them, and they sinned by violating YHVH’s command, they now became experientially acquainted with the knowledge of sin, which is evil. For the first time, they experienced guilt, shame and the penalty for violating YHVH’s Word. They had known only good before they sinned. Now they had a knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:6–7, Satan’s temptation of man—soul over spirit. See notes at 1 John 2:15 on how the devil-serpent tempted Adam and Eve in the area of the lust of the flesh (the body of man), the lust of the eyes (the soul of man) and the pride of life (the spirit of man) in his attempt to lure humans into sinful rebellion against Elohim, that is, to subvert the soul of man to dominate man’s spirit by feeding from the tree of knowledge instead of the tree of life.

Genesis 3:6, Wise [Heb. sakal]. Sakal means “to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.” There is good understanding and bad understanding. For example, too much understanding about something can lead to pride. Similarly, too much understanding about sin and evil can tempt or lure a person into sin. Sometimes it is best not to know certain things to protect one’s innocence and to reduce sin’s allurement. Too much bad understanding can taint our conscience or our spirit man therefore affecting our walk with Elohim. Let the wise man ponder this. The eargate, eyegate and mindgate must be guarded at all times. May we be those who feed from the tree of life rather than the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:7, Naked…fig leaves. Guilt and shame. Guilt and shame are different. Guilt is a result of sin and brings conviction of sin leading to confession, forgiveness and cleansing from sin. Shame, on the other hand, drives us to hide from our Creator and tells us that we cannot truly be forgiven—that we run away from personal accountability for our sin and the consequences thereof. We have to hide behind something. Usually it’s a religious mask to make people think we’re different than we really are—to hide our true identity, who we really are. Adam and Eve used fig leaves. There was no church to hide in where they could play childish religious games of pretend. Religious people are especially adept at play-acting with masks. This is often fueled by a sincere but misguided desire to please Elohim and others. In reality, we’re hiding our guilt, shame, scars, imperfections, hurts and sins without dealing with them. The reality is that the shame and condemnation of sin doesn’t lift until one confesses sin and trusts Elohim to forgive them and then let him provide them with his own sin-covering. Elohim covered Adam and Eve in skins—probably a sheep skin, which was a picture of Yeshua—YHVH’s Lamb—dying for them at the cross. Likewise, our sin must be covered in the atoning blood of Yeshua. Wearing masks instead of dealing with sin causes us to become smug, self-sufficient, dishonest, self-righteous and arrogant. This was the spiritual state of the Laodiceans.

The first sin. Sin has results. When we sin or someone sins against us, YHVH has programmed in us to respond automatically and involuntarily. If we sin, our automatic response is guilt (a guilty conscience). (Covering over that guilt results in shame, while confessing the sin and trusting YHVH leads to forgiveness.) If were sinned against, the result is hurt. Elohim designed these two automatic responses in us to let us know that we’re broken—that something is wrong or sick in us and needs fixing or healing.

Genesis 3:8, Elohim walking in the garden.

22 Practical Tips to Walking in the Presence of Elohim 

It is time to extricate YHVH Elohim from our religious boxes to which we have confined him and to set him free, at least in our thinking. These boxes are the times and places where we go and do our “God-thing.” This can be church or other religious services, grace at meals, and even our personal devotional times. After having thrown a bit of religious ritualism at Elohim, too often we toss our hair back, adroitly slip him onto the back burner and then go our way as if he weren’t much of a part of our lives. In this way, we keep Elohim confined to a few small boxes that we have labeled “religion.” It ends up that we live our lives how we want to without having to think too much about him. In this way, we keep him trapped in these closet prisons of our own contrivances, when, in reality, he wants and demands to be part of every aspect of our lives. Too many of us have no problem with Elohim being our Savior—but being the Lord and Master over every area of our lives all the time, well, that’s another thing! To experience the blessings and riches of Elohim’s river of life, each of us must immerse ourselves in his river and stay in it continually. The following tips will help you to do that.

Here are 22 practical tips for bringing YHVH into every aspect of your daily life:

• In all thing, be thankful to YHVH (1 Thess 5:18). Throughout the day, be aware of all your blessings and thank YHVH for them. Even thank him for the trials.
• Pray in the Spirit (in your heavenly prayer language, 1 Cor 14:2, 15, 18).
• Meditate on a Bible verse (Pss 1:2; 119:78, 148).
• Prayerfully intercede for people during the course of the day as they come to your mind.
• Ask YHVH questions and then wait for him to bring you the answer. He may download the answer into your mind, or it may come through someone else or in some other way.
• Pray for divine appoints each day and then wait for them to come and give YHVH thanks when they come. A divine appointment is a “chance” meeting of someone with whom you can share the word of Elohim or in some way be a spiritual light to them by pointing them to Elohim.
• Worship and praise YHVH throughout the day by singing songs to him.
• Pray before and after meals, or even after taking a drink of water. Before the meal, praise and worship YHVH. After the meal, thank him for the meal you’ve just had (Deut 8:10 cp. Matt 14:19; 15:36; 26:26; John 6:11; Acts 27:35).
• View yourself as an ambassador for the kingdom of Elohim in everything you do and say that involves others. Endeavor to be salt and light to those around you for the glory of Elohim (Matt 5:13–16; Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:5).
• Practice the 16 attributes of YHVH’s love as found in 1 Corinthians 13 — especially when you find yourself in difficult situations where being loving is hard to do.
• Live each moment and day as if it were your last.
• Express joy in the face of adversity.
• Endeavor to plant spiritual seeds wherever you go.
• When bad things happen to you, count your blessings, express joy, be thankful, bless your enemies, pray for those who despitefully use you (Matt 5:44).
• Always practice the golden rule (Matt 7:12).
• Practice being a peacemaker especially in difficult situations when you want to defend yourself, or fight back (Matt 5:9; Rom 12:18).
• Do something selfless or altruistic for someone each day. It’s more valuable spiritually if it cost you something and no one knows you did it.
• Do everything including the most minimal and menial task for YHVH’s glory and out of love for him. Work as if you were working for YHVH, not for men.
• Read your Bible and pray after you get up in the morning and as you’re going to sleep each night even if it’s only for a few minutes.
• Put the audio Bible on your iPod, smart phone or similar electronic device and listen to it during your day.
• Wear biblical tzitzits or fringes on the four corners of your garments as the Torah commands to help remind you of your relationship with YHVH and to obey his commands (Num 15:37–41; Deut 22:12).
• Fast periodically even if it’s only for a meal or two. Among the many spiritual benefits of fasting, when you feel the hunger pangs, it will remind you to think about YHVH Elohim and the need to grow closer to him by controlling and sublimating the carnal appetites.
• Always ask yourself this before you are about to do, say or think anything: What would Yeshua do? If it’s not something he’d so, say or think, then don’t do it.

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Genesis 3:10, I was afraid. Adam and Eve hid from Elohim because fear due to their having sinned against their Creator and the resulting shame and guilt that sin brought upon them. This is an unhealthy fear of Elohim, and not the fear of YHVH that is brought forth by wisdom and knowledge resulting in love him and his Truth. This is the fear of 1 Timothy 1:8 that is the opposite of love, power and a sound mind. When we sin, we should go running to our loving Heavenly Father to seek his forgiveness instead of running away from in shame and fear.

Genesis 3:9–13, Where are you? Elohim asks Adam and Eve direct and specific questions, but instead of taking personal responsibility and answering the questions, they defend themselves, make excuses, justify themselves, blame shifting, and accuse others including blaming Elohim. When confronted with their sin, humans have been doing this ever since—defending self and ego at all expenses. This is the result of the taint of sin and this behavior has been passed on from one generation to the next. The Spirit-led person must counter this proclivity of the soul to justify, excuse and obfuscate one’s sin.

Furthermore, when YHVH asked the first humans where they were after they had sinned, he wasn’t asking them where they were physically. Being omniscient, he knew this already. Instead, he was asking them, “Where are you spiritually in your relationship with me in regards to obedience to the instructions in righteousness I gave you to obey?” This is the same questions the Creator is still asking men to this day.

Genesis 3:14, On your belly. This phrase doesn’t say that snakes had either wings or legs previous to the fall, but now it was cursed to slither on the ground. Figuratively, this could refer to the fall of Satan the serpent who was cast down from heaven as a member of Elohim’s divine council to the earth or ground as a divine judgment (Isa 14:11–12, 15; Ezek 28:8, 16–17). The idea that this curse is more figurative than literal is revealed by the fact that snakes don’t literally eat dust as a part of their natural diet, as this verse states if a literal interpretation is taken. The fact that snakes are the lowest of creature—even lower than the beasts of the field—suggests the ultimate judgment of Satan, which is to be cast into the bottomless pit or abyss.

Genesis 3:14–15, Enmity between. 

The Seed of the Woman Versus the Seed of the Serpent

The genesis of spiritual warfare goes back to this prophecy Elohim made about the enmity that would occur between the serpent and the woman, and between their offspring. This spiritual conflict between Satan, the Serpent, and his seed or offspring and that of the woman would continue down through the ages. Who are the seed or offspring of the devil to which Elohim makes reference here? Today, redeemed Israelite saints are in battle with these people whose spiritual father is the devil (he is not their biological father). Yeshua, in rebuking the antichrist spirit of the Jewish leaders of his day, referred to the devil as “your father” (John 8:44). Perhaps Yeshua’s statement may shed some light on who the sons of the devil are today; namely, hypocritical religious leaders. Furthermore, Yeshua referred to Judas as “a devil” (John 6:70), and Paul called Simon the magician “you child of the devil” (Acts 13:10), and John refers to those who commit sin (the violation of the Torah, 1 John 3:4) as “of the devil” (1 John 3:8). The Scriptures teach that there are those who are spiritual children of the devil and those who are children of Elohim (1 John 3:10). Abraham has children that are his spiritual seed or offspring (Gal 3:29), as does Elohim (1 John 3:9). The demarcation between these two spiritual families is that the children of Elohim practice righteousness (i.e., Torah-obedience, Ps 119:172) and love their neighbors (the Torah defines what love is; see Mark 12:29–31), and are therefore not sinning, which is the opposite of Torah and love, while the children of the devil do not.

Your seed. What is the serpent’s seed? Some Bible teachers believe that this suggests that Satan would have literal children that would inhabit the earth along with humans. From this comes the idea that the fallen angels or demons copulated with the daughters of men or humans in Genesis 6 producing a fallen race of half-men half-demon hybrids called the nephilim or anikim. This idea is based on a literal interpretation of the Hebrew word for seed which is zera. However, according to The TWOT, zera also has figurative or metaphorical meanings as well (e.g., Isa 17:11). It has other meanings than that of literal, biological offspring. If seed in this verse is metaphorical, rather than literal, then the literal offspring of Satan, nephilim argument crumbles. In this verse, the difference between a literal and a metaphorical application of zera would be the difference between the literal biological descendants of Satan versus his spiritual descendants (i.e.,those who follow him spiritually). In reality, perhaps Satan has both literal, in a spirit sense, and metaphorical, spiritual or symbolic children. The two can be true at the same time.

Her seed. Seed is the Hebrew word zera meaning “seed” and figuratively means “posterity (offspring), fruit, plant, sowing time.” In the KJV it is translated as seed 221 times of its 229 usages. The word zera is used to denote planting seed, the product of a plant, an entire harvest, semen or a man’s seed (Lev 15:16) or an animal’s seed (Jer 31:27), a specific offspring (Gen. 4:25), or one’s entire family of descendants (Gen 46:6), or YHVH’s spiritual offspring (Isa 65:23; 53:10; Prov 11:22; Jer 2:21). 

Though certain main rabbinical commentaries (e.g., The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, The ArtScroll Beresheis/Genesis Torah Commentary, Samson Raphael Hirsch’s Torah commentary and others) fail to link this passage with a prophetic Messianic theme, Santala says the Jewish Aramaic Targums find a central Messianic prophecy in this verse (Messiah In the Old Testament In Light of Rabbinical Writings, by Risto Santala, pp. 37-38, Keren Ahava Meshihit, Jerusalem, 1992). He quotes the Targum of Jonathan Ben Uzziel: “[I]f the woman’s offspring observes the Law they will be in a position to crush the serpent’s head: ‘And they will finally make peace in the days of the Messiah-King’. The Targum plays on the words aquev, or heel, and iqvah, end.”

We see then that the term seed can refer to offspring and that certain rabbinical scholars of the past did see a Messianic theme in Gen. 3:15. Now what about the virgin birth? In our verse YHVH makes reference to “her (Eve’s) seed” or offspring. The first point to observe about this short phrase is that the seed specifically belongs to the woman, and not to the man (Adam) who was standing next to her at that very moment. In other words, YHVH specified that this seed or offspring would come from her and would not originate from a physical male.

Secondly, some virgin birth proponents will note that our text says, her seed, as opposed to a man’s seed (i.e., semen). We know that women do not possess seed or semen, only men do. Therefore, it is reasoned, if her offspring had no earthly father, then who was the father, or the source of the seed? Could this not be referring to an offspring of Eve whose mother was a woman and whose father was Elohim? A miracle to be sure, but no less hard to believe than any one of a number of other miracles we find recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures which defy human understanding. We agree that this text is a prophetic reference to the virgin, but only because the text refers to the offspring as uniquely hers and not Adam’s, and not because of the fact that women do not possess seed or semen. Indeed, they can not generate semen, however, the word zera, as noted above, is not limited in its meaning to just semen, but can mean offspring, as well. So our verse could just as easily read, her offspring which is exactly how the Stone Edition Tanach renders this passage. Likewise, The Complete Jewish Bible by David Stern reads, her descendant.

It is interesting to note that the ancient Babylonians have a story about a virgin (Semiramis) giving birth to a son (Tamuz) who was supposed to be deity or the son of Elohim, as well, as do other ancient pagan religions (The Two Babylons, by Alexander Hislop, p. 58ff). Some anti-virgin birth proponents have used this historical evidence to discredit the Christian belief in the virgin birth as relating to Miriam (Mary) and Yeshua (Jesus) saying that the Christians simply borrowed the story from the ancients and Christianized it. They claim there is no reference to be found in the Hebrew Scriptures to the Messiah being born of a virgin—a point this paper hopes to refute. But if we believe the biblical account of Gen. 3:14-15, then we find YHVH speaking to the serpent, who is generally recognized to be Satan. If Satan were the inspiration and instigator behind Nimrod (the founder of Babylon) who led a revolt against YHVH in constructing the Tower of Bavel, then it should not be too difficult to see the serpent taking the virgin birth idea and attempting to prevent the future crushing of his own head by introducing a counterfeit religious system whose purpose it would be to oppose YHVH’s Messianic and redemptive plan’s and purposes on this earth. This is certainly what the serpent attempted to do in nailing the Messiah to a cross.

In conclusion, we maintain that the virgin birth was foretold in Gen. 3:15 and that the serpent stole the idea, perverted it and when the time came for this divine prophecy to be fulfilled the religious waters were already muddied and many Jews then failed (and still do fail) to recognize the Messiah, born of a virgin, in the person of Yeshua of Natzereth.

Her seed. This is the first Messianic prophecy in Scripture and it specifically predicts the coming of Yeshua the Messiah who will reverse the evil curse of sin that Satan the serpent brought upon man at the tree of knowledge. Encrypted in this verse is the gospel message of redemption through the Messiah. Though this is one verse, it gives us some specific details about the Messiah, that only Yeshua ever fulfilled.

First, this verse tells us that the Messiah is a single individual, not more than one person, or an entire nation as some of the non-believing Jewish sages say.

Second, this prophecy tells us that Messiah will be a man, not a woman, a child, not an idea, philosophy, a group of people or a nation.

Third, this divine prediction tells us that the Messiah would be born of a single woman, and not an alien or extraterrestrial, some other form of life, or, again, a multiple people or a nation.

Fourth, this verse tells us that the Messiah will be conceived without male sperm because it calls him “her seed,” “not his seed.” Woman don’t have seed, so the seed originates from a source outside the physical realm, and not from a human father.

Fifth, this prophecy predicts that the Messiah will totally destroy the serpent (Satan) by crushing its head.

Sixth, we learn that the serpent will wound the Messiah (but not kill him). 

Seventh,The Messiah will suffer at the hands of the serpent, will recover from his bruising, and will go on to totally crush or destroy the serpent in the long run.

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Genesis 3:15, I will put enmity. (Cp. Col 2:15 and Rev 1:18.) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it [by resurrecting from the grave]. This verse prophetically speaks of Yeshua’s resurrection.

Bruise [Heb. shûph] his heal. The Hebrew word shûph means “to snap at, crush, seize, strike at” and refers to what Satan the serpent did to Yeshua and will also do to those who are followers of Yeshua. That is to say, the fangs of the snake will snap or strike at the heals of the saints and will pierce the skin potentially injecting therein some venom. These are the fiery darts of the wicked one to which Paul refers in Ephesians 6:16, or the evil thoughts which the saint must opposed (see 2 Cor 9:4–6). If a snake strikes a person, it is likely that it will inject a little venom into the hapless person. But what overcomes the serpent’s venom? Scripture tells us

And they [the saints] overcame him [Satan the serpent, v. 9] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev 12:11)

The blood of the Lamb overcame the serpent’s bite. Interestingly, the blood of sheep actually contains antibodies that resist snake venom and is used in formulating antidotes thereto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_antivenom; https://calpoison.org/news/use-rattlesnake-crotaline-antivenom; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-05-23/sheeps-blood-provides-rattlesnake-anti-venom/1576314; https://allanimalsguide.com/are-sheep-naturally-immune-to-snake-venom/; https://careshealthy.com/are-sheep-immune-to-snake-venom/; http://www.sheep101.info/bloodsheep.html; https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-sheep-that-save-lives-1349335.html).

Genesis 3:23, To till/work [Heb. abad] the ground [Heb. adamah] from which he was taken. The generic Hebrew word for man is adam meaning “man, mankind, ground, land, and is a cognate to adom meaning “red,” and relates to the reddish color or ruddiness of man’s complexion. According to the Bible, man was created in Elohim’s image and as the crown of his creation. In this verse, Elohim commissioned Adam to work or to serve the earth (Heb. adamah). In a homiletic sense, this command of YHVH could be construed to mean that Adam or man who is spiritually rough and ruddy, yet who is created in the image of Elohim, has been commissioned to work on himself, to work on and to conquer his [base] sin nature and to bring himself into conformity with the image of YHVH. Another facet of this idea could be that through the experiences and struggles of hard work, man will learn to overcome his fallen sin nature and rise to the higher calling of becoming like Elohim in nature. In a sense, hard work is part of man’s redemption process. In a most fundamental sense, YHVH created man to serve or take care of the earth. Therefore, agriculture and horticulture are high callings or professions in the Creator’s view, and are higher than most professions.

Genesis 4

Genesis 4:4, Fat. Heb. cheleb meaning “choicest, best part, abundance (of the products of the land).”

Genesis 4:10, Cries unto me from the ground. The earth not only witnesses against man because of his sins, but reacts adversely in judgment against man (verse 12 and 3:17–19; Lev 26:19; Deut 28:23). If a man obeys YHVH, then the earth will bless man (Lev 26:4; Deut 11:14; 28:12; Isa 30:23; Joel 2:22–24). If man fails to praise YHVH, then even the stones will cry out (Luke 19:40). See also 1 John 5:8 where the earth along with the water and the Spirit bears witness to YHVH’s plan of redemption for men.

The earth has also acted as a witness against Israel when they have sworn a covenant with Elohim (Deut 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1).

Because the earth has been a witness to so much sin and bloodshed, and to Israel’s unfaithfulness to YHVH, this is why the earth has to be first cleansed (by the blood of wicked men to atone for their sins, Rev 14:20) and then by fire (2 Pet 3:7,12), and a new heavens and earth will arrive that has not been a witness to man’s sin and rebellion.

Genesis 4:16–24, Cain’s and Seth’s lineages. After Cain’s sin, he went out from the presence or face of Elohim and became the patriarch of a sinful and rebellious lineage of descendants, who lived separately and apart from Elohim. By contrasts, Genesis 5:3 records the birth of Seth who Adam “begot in his own likeness, after his image.” From Seth’s lineage came the righteous Enoch and Noah (Gen 5:6–28). The lineages of both Seth and Cain contain personages with similar names (e.g., Enosh and Enoch, Yared and Irad, Mahalalel and Mehuyael, Methuselah and Methusael) and two identical names (Enoch and Lamech). What is going on here? There are some scholars in modern Freemasonry who trace their speculative and mystical knowledge back to Enoch the righteous, the son of Seth. However, perhaps it was Enoch the evil, the son of Cain, who was really the source this mystical knowledge thus allowing Freemasonry to hide under the cloak of Enoch the righteous, when in reality it derives much of its belief system from Enoch the evil.

Genesis 4:17–18, Enoch. This Enoch (the evil) is from Cain. The righteous Enoch (the righteous) was from Seth (Gen 5:18) and was in the lineage of Yeshua (Luke 3:37). Modern Freemasonry credits the biblical Enoch as the source of much of its mystical, occultic, esoteric and gnostic revelations. At issue is to which biblical Enoch are they referring? Enoch the Evil or Enoch the Righteous? Due to the unbiblical, even Luciferian penchant of Freemasonry, the answer should be obvious.

This same Enoch was possibly the near eastern god Enki of the Babylonians, Sumerians and Akkadians. He was the god of magic, craftsmanship and wisdom. Enoch’s son was Irad and likely the founder of Eridu, perhaps the oldest city in Mesopotamia if not the world (The Great Inception, by Gary Wayne, pp. 22–23). 

Genesis 4:17–19, Lamech…two wives. Lamech was a descendant of Cain, and was the first polygamist, since he took two wives. He also killed a man and was boastful about it (see note at verse 23–24).

Genesis 4:22, Naamah. According to Jewish tradition, she was the righteous wife of Noah (The ArtScroll Tanach Series Bereishis/Genesis Commentary, vol 1, p. 161).

Genesis 4:23–24, And Lamach said to his wives. According to Keil and Delitzsch, the words of Lamach in the Hebrew express “confident assurance” that “whoever injures me, I will put to death, and my vengeance will be more than ten times that which YHVH put on those who would murder Cain.” Adam Clarke notes that Lamach killed in self defense, and was therefore innocent of the man’s blood, but lest the family of the deceased attempt retribution against him, he was warning them to do so at their own risk. 

This is the Bible’s first poetry. Lamach son’s invented musical instruments and weapons of warfare as well as domestic implements (verses 21–22). Here we see the first example of poetic propaganda used to express self-assuredness in a boastful way to assert one’s sovereignty over one’s enemies and to intimidate them. This is another example of men’s spiritual declension away from Elohim and descent into depravity that occurred in pre-flood world, whereby man took the abilities and gifts Elohim had given him and perverted them to his own self-exalting purposes. 

Genesis 5

Who Did Adam and Eve’s Children Marry?

How did Adam and Eve’s children have children without committing incest, which is a sin according to the Torah (Deut 27:22). Does this fact prove the inconsistency of the Torah, thus invalidating it as a standard to be followed today?

As an example of this belief, one Christian teacher claims that YHVH’s law, “changes all the time.” As ‘proof’ he points to incest between Adam and Eve’s sons who had to marry their sisters for life to continue. Another example of this, the teacher claims, is Abraham marrying his half sister. Theses examples of incest appear to be direct contradiction of Deuteronomy 27:22, where we see the command that those who lie with their close family members will be cursed.

My response is as follows:

This teacher’s logic is very weak. This is arguing from a weak position and trying to leverage it into a strong argument. This a fallacious or specious argument, and shows little understanding of the rules of Biblical interpretation or basic logic. To take a weak or obscure verse out of the Bible and to use it as a pretext to disprove the validity of the rest of Scripture is a dishonest method of interpretation and fails to pass the scrutiny of solid scholarship.

First, it’s fallacious to take one obscure example out of the Scriptures and then use it to attempt to invalidate thousands of others strong, direct passages about the validity and inviolate nature of the Torah. There are so many scriptures to the last book of the Bible that shows that Torah is the standard of righteousness by which all humans are to live and by which YHVH will judge humans.

Second, underlying the whole of Torah is the heart, mind and will of Elohim. Torah reflects the character and nature of the Creator. Torah is a vast ocean or universe because it’s the mind of Elohim, which is limitless. Humans only have the part of Torah (or the mind of Elohim) that Elohim deems that we need to come into relationship with him and to keep us from annihilating ourselves. Is there more of YHVH’s instructions, teachings and precepts that haven’t been revealed to men yet? Of course, for the mind of Elohim is limitless. He gives us what we need when we need it, and the subsequent revelation never contradicts the previous revelation. Never ever(!), for YHVH doesn’t change.

Third, YHVH gave to Adam and Eve only the aspects of Torah they needed at that time. He gave them the Sabbath and said not to eat of the tree of knowledge, to keep the garden and be fruitful and multiply. They weren’t given laws about stealing, adultery, coveting, idols, sacrifices, tzitzits, tithing and so on, since those laws were irrelevant at that time. Once man sinned and began to populate the earth, more laws were given to protect man from self destruction. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge, they sinned and separated themselves from Elohim. This set humans on a trajectory of self destruction leading to death, which is the wages of sin. At that time, more laws were needed and thus were given on an as-need basis.

Fourth, incest is self destruction. Why? Because it can result in diseases and weakening of the gene pool. When men were genetically pure, this was not an issue. This was the case with Adam and Eve’s children. However, eventually, for man’s protection, he made laws against incest, because it is a destructive practice. Just ask the royal families of Europe who interbred resulting in many unique diseases. Some of Queen Victoria’s children had this disease as did Czar Nicholas II’s son who was the crown prince of Russia before the Russian revolution of 1917.

Fifth, laws were added to the Torah to address situations that arose as needed. This was the case with the inheritance laws of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27. Moses didn’t know how to address their problem, so he went to YHVH for the answer. YHVH pulled the answer out of the vast reservoir of his wisdom and understanding and gave Moses the answer. The Torah was amended then and there from the mind of Elohim. The same is true with the Levitical and sacrificial systems. They were added after the golden calf incident because of Israel’s sin. Paul infers this in Galatians 3:19. 

The Torah is basically the Word and will of Elohim. It is much more than a scroll with writing on it, or two tablets of stone, or even the Bible. Yes, the two tablets of stone are the cornerstone of the written Torah, while the books of the law are the foundation. Ultimately, the whole Bible is the Torah or instructions in righteousness of Elohim. But there’s doubtless more that hasn’t been revealed yet to men, for, again, Torah is the heart, instructions, teachings, and precepts of Elohim.

Sixth, Yeshua talks about a higher Torah, or the weightier matters of the Torah-law (Matt 23:23). Behind every Torah law there is a spiritual principle that overarches everything. Behind all the Torah laws on sexuality is the preservation of the family, which points us to Elohim. The family is a reflection of the Godhead or Elohim: Father, Mother and Son. Does this rock your boat? Elohim is both male and female, so says Genesis into two places and YHVH created humans in his image—both male and female (Gen 1:27; 5:2). YHVH, in a sense, is recreating himself among humans to become part of his eternal, spiritual and immortal forever family. When Adam’s children had sex with each other to start the human race, preservation of the family wasn’t an issue. It eventually became a health a disease issue, hence the laws against incest.

By the way, Abraham and Sarah weren’t brother and sister. They were cousins. In Hebraic thought, sister and brother were often a colloquial terms for any member of one’s family or tribe including cousins, even as in the church world today we’ll say sister so and so when referring to someone in our church group. 

Those who attempt to invalidate the Scriptures by claiming that Adam and Eve’s children sinned when they married each other, or that Abraham sinned when he supposedly married his sister reveal their ignorance of the Scriptures in their whole context and they show a basic lack of understanding of the Hebraic culture and background of the Bible.

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Genesis 5:6–33, Seth…begot. See notes at Gen 4:16–24.

Genesis 5:24, Enoch walked with God/Elohim. The Hebrew actually reads, “Enoch walked with the gods/haElohim (םיﬣﬥﬡﬣ). The Hebrew word Elohim in this verse is preceded by the definite article ha (the).This is a reference to the angels or watchers who inhabited the earth in those days along with humans to watch over the affairs of men on behalf of Elohim (The Bible at Qumran, p. 134 in an article by James C. Vanderkam; Peter W. Flint edit.). We see another reference to these heavenly beings in Psalm 82:1 in reference to Elohim’s heavenly council. It was some of these angels or sons of Elohim (Gen 6:2, 4; Job 1:6, 2:1; 38:7), who rebelled against Elohim, or as Jude puts it, “which kept not their first estate” (KJV) or “did not keep their proper domain” (NKJV) (Jude 6), and mated with women to produce the nephilim (Gen 6:4).

Genesis 5:25, And God/Elohim took him. The definite article ha is not present in front of Elohim in this case as it is in the previous verse. This then refers to Elohim God, not to the sons or angels of Elohim. 

Genesis 6

Genesis 6:2, Sons of God. We find here an interesting construction in the Hebrew text. Literally, the Hebrew reads, “sons of the gods” or beney–ha-elohim. Usually, the word elohim, when referring to the Creator, doesn’t have the definite article, but simply Elohim. The word elohim not only can refer to the Godhead, but can also mean “angels, gods, rulers or judges.” The phrase, “the gods/ha-elohim” referring to pagan demon-deities is also found in Exod 18:11, “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods/ha-elohim; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” Is it possible then that the phrase, “sons of the gods” in this verse can refer to fallen angels? I believe so.

Genesis 6:3, My Spirit shall not strive [Heb. deen]. The LXX, Targums, Aramaic and Latin Vulgate all say abide instead of strive, which isan alternate translation from the MT. This is the translation that Philo presumes in his commentary on this passage (Allegorical Interpretation, “On the Giants,” chap. V.19). From this verse based on this alternate translation, it appears that the Spirit of Elohim was endeavoring to convict man of sinfulness and bring him back to the paths of righteousness, but that man was so evil and reprobate that Elohim gave up on this endeavor and had no choice but to pronounce divine judgment upon man as the final solution in dealing with the problem. Perhaps this gives us a clue as to what the “restrainer” of 2 Thess 2:7 is that Elohim will take away from the earth before the apotheosis of evil occurs in the last days just prior to Elohim pouring out his divine wrath on mankind as foretold in the Book of Revelation and elsewhere.

One hundred and twenty years. Does this mean that YHVH decreed that from now on men would live only to 120 years of age, or that he was giving them 120 years to repent of their godlessness before bring the flood earth as a judgment against the wicked? It seems that the latter is true, since the Bible records that for hundreds of years after the flood, humans lived much longer than 120 years (q.v., Gen 11:10ff.). Scripture also records that Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5), thus we can Noah likely preached to that evil generation for 120 years while building the ark. Is so, this gives us some idea as to how wicked the people of that time, since only Noah and his immediate family heeded his warnings and were saved. It is even amazing that his family listened to Noah and was saved from divine judgment, since a prophet is not without honor except in his own town.

Genesis 6:4, Giants. Heb. Nephilim. This Hebrew word is found only one other place in the Bible. This is in Numbers 13:33 where it is used twice and where the nephilim are called the descendants of Anak (see also Num 13:28; Deut 9:2; Josh 15:14; Judg 1:20). Some scholars translate nephilim either as giants, mighty ones or fallen ones. At the same time, other scholars disagree as to meaning of the root form of this verb and whether the stem means “those that cause others to fall down” or “fallen ones.” BDB confesses that the basic etymology of the word is questionable. At issue, according to The TWOT, is whether the root of nephilim is nepel meaning “untimely birth or miscarriage” (resulting in the production of superhuman monstrosities), or the more likely from the root napal, which relates to other Hebrew words meaning “be wonderful, strong or mighty.” The LXX (as apparently do the majority of the Targums) translates nephilim as giants, though The TWOT admits this may be misleading. This word is of unknown origins and may even mean “heros” or “fierce warriors.”

Adding to the confusion of this passage is the ambiguity as to whether the nephilim are the sons of Elohim or their offspring.

Whatever the meaning of nephilim and/or sons of Elohim may be, two schools of thought have prevailed in Jewish and Christian circles as to who these people were. One line of reasoning asserts that they were the children of Seth, while another presents the idea that the sons of Elohim were the offspring of sexual unions between fallen angels and the daughters of men (called incubus) resulting in half-breed demon-humans (called cambion). This idea has its origins in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Enochic literature and the Old Testament pseudepigraphal writings including the Book of Jubilees (Jub 7:21–24). Some early church historians (e.g., Tertullian) shared this belief as do the Aramaic Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephilim). Some Bible commentators view Jude 1:6–7 as substantiating this viewpoint. 

Many scholars have taken the term “sons of Elohim” to mean “angels,” and in this case fallen angels thus ostensibly substantiating the fallen angel-women union idea. Every other place in the Takakh beside Genesis 6:2 where the actual term “sons of Elohim” is found, the phrase refers to angels. This is the case in Job 1:6, 2:1; and 38:7. On the other hand, there are several passages in the Tanakh that have terms similar to “sons of Elohim” but that refer to men (e.g., “children your Elohim,” Deut 14:1; “sons of the most high”; and Ps 82:6; “sons of the Living El,” Hos 1:10). Beyond that, there are numerous passages where Elohim refers to the nation of Israel or certain Israelites as his son (Exod 4:22–23; 2 Sam 7:14; 1 Chr 17:14; 22:10; 28:6; Jer 31:20, etc. ). In several biblical passages in the Testimony of Yeshua, the term “sons of God/Elohim” refers to humans (John 1:12; Rom 8:14, 19; Phil 2:15; 1 John 3:1, 2). Based on this, some biblical researchers take the term “sons of Elohim” to be synonymous with other similar, but not exact biblical terms. Whether these terms are equivalent in the minds of the biblical writers or not is a debate that has been raging among biblical scholars for hundreds of years.

On the meaning of the term nephilim, since the biblical linguistic evidence seems unclear to some scholars as to the exact meaning of the word nephilim, let us now consider the opinion of the ancients on this subject to see how they understood the meaning of the word. Perhaps this will bring some light onto this confusion.

The idea that nephilim is a result of the union between demons and women is largely promoted in the Ethiopian Book of 1 Enoch, which, though mentioned in the Scriptures (Jude 14), the version that is currently extant is barely 500 years old and is of questionable origins and, in some instances, contradicts the Bible. The biblical Enoch lived more than 5000 years before the oldest extant copy of the modern book that bears his name. Therefore, some modern scholars reason that it is highly unlikely that the current book of 1 Enoch is the same as the one that is mentioned in the Bible, and, therefore, discredit its content. 

On the other hand, modern biblical scholars such as the late Dr. Michael Heiser in his recent well-researched books, The Unseen Realm—Recovering the Supernatural View of the Bible and Reversing Hermon—Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ, gives strong and eye-opening linguistic, historical and biblical evidence that validates the book of 1 Enoch’s assertions concerning the supernaturalistic view of the nephilim.

Moreover, in further substantiation of the ancient origins of the book of 1 Enoch and the veracity of its account pertaining to the sons of Elohim being fallen angels, confirming Heiser’s assertions, the first century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus assumes that the nephilim were evil giants and the offspring of the union of angels and women. He writes,

…for many angels of God accompanied with women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength, for the tradition is that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants [i.e. the demigod Titans].” (Ant. 1.3.1)

Here Josephus indicates that the idea that the fallen angels were the fathers of the giants is the general opinion of antiquity and thus favors the idea that the word nephilim should carry the meaning of giants. Philo of Alexandria, the first century Jewish philosopher, expresses the same opinion (Allegorical Interpretation, “On the Giants,” chap. IV.16; XIII.32). 

Moreover, the Jewish scholars who translated the Hebrew Tanakh into Greek during the intertestamental period (called the Septuagint or LXX) translated the Hebrew word nephilim from Genesis 6:4 as giants (Gr. gigantes) and not as “fallen ones.”

More importantly, however, is clear evidence that Paul the apostles was of the same opinion as the other Jews of his day that the nephilim were the forefathers of the Greek gods of mythology. We see this when he was debating the philosophers of Athens on Mars Hill. There he referred to their gods as daimonian, a Greek word meaning “demonic beings or demigods,” that is, entities that are half god and half man or beings that are the offspring of a god and a mortal human (Acts 17:18). Was Paul merely speaking figurative when using the appellation daimonian, or did he have in his mind the fallen angels, who had carnal relations with the daughters of men resulting in nephilim of half god half human who were the literal ancestors of the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology? Likely the latter, since this was the prevailing view of the Jews of his day, and only several hundred years later did the non-supernaturalistic view of the nephilim come into vogue and work its way into mainstream Christianity. 

Points to consider regarding the giants or nephilim:

Humans mating with humans couldn’t have produced the nephilim giants unless all biblical references to the great height of the giants is a hyperbolic exaggeration. The fact is that many ancient cultures are rife with fabulous mythologies of hero giants with great statures and strength, who possess superior physical abilities than normal humans, and who were worshipped by humans as gods or demigods (e.g., the Titans in Greek mythology, the Anunnaki of the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh). These mythologies record that these super humans derived their supernatural abilities from the sexual union of aliens or gods and humans. While the Bible doesn’t overtly say this, Genesis 6:2–4 implies that the angels who mated with human women to produce hybrid offspring it refers to as the nephilim (also the anakim, zamzummim, emim and rephaim) were of superior stature and strength such as King Og of Bashan and Goliath the Philistine.

In intertestamental literature (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Book of 1 Enoch), the angels that YHVH commissioned in the pre-flood world to watch over the earth were called watchers (Dan 4:13, 17 cp. Dan 10:20; 1 Tim 5:21; Ps 103:20; Eph 6:10–12). The evil watchers are under Satan, the ruler of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2). The fallen angels who mated with women were also called by the same name. Their offspring were the demigod nephilim beings and after the human part died, the spirit part continued to exist in the form the demons that exist to this day.

Genesis 6:5, Intent/imagination [Heb. yetzer] of the thoughts [Heb. machashabah] of his heart [Heb. lev].These combination of Hebrew words refer to the very essence of who a human being is in his natural, spiritually unregenerated state. The wicked men of the pre-flood world were totally and thoroughly sold out to evil.

Yetzer means “form, framing, purpose, intellectual framework.”

Machashabah means “thought, device, plan, purpose, invention.”

Lev refers to “the inner man, mind will, understanding, thinking, reflection, memory, inclination, resolution, determination, conscience, moral character, emotion or appetite” of man.

Genesis 6:8, Noah found grace [Heb. chen]. The story of Noah is the story of YHVH’s redemption or salvation of mankind. The biblical pattern is this: Man finds grace (preciousness, favor, kindness) in the eyes of YHVH (Gen 6:8), which leads to faith in YHVH and obedience to his instructions (Gen 6:9). This results in man living a set-apart life from the evil world around him (Gen 6:9–12; 2 Pet 2:5), which results in his deliverance from Elohim’s judgments upon the wicked (Gen 6:13–14).

Grace. Grace is the Hebrew word chen meaning “favor, graciousness or beauty.” The root verb is chanan meaning “literally to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (that is, move to favor by petition.” By comparison, the Greek word for grace is karis meaning “graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude).”