From October 8–14 we will be celebrating the biblical Feast of Tabernacles (or Chag haSukkot in Hebrew) and the Eighth Day (or Shemini Atzeret in Hebrew) on October 15. To help you to plumb the depths of meaning of these most joyous biblical celebrations which memorialize in advance the final steps in YHVH’s plan of redemption for mankind, we invite you to avail yourselves of these free resources available through this ministry.
Deuteronomy 33:1–5,Spiritual attributes of Israel. In the opening remarks of this chapter, we note three outstanding qualities of Israel: (a) Elohim dwelt among them through the presence of his divine glory; (b) they accepted his Torah; (c) they acknowledged his sovereignty. Can these things be said of you?
Deuteronomy 33:1,Now this blessing. One of the most important things a righteous saint can do before he or she dies is to leave a prophetic blessing and some words of wisdom with their loved ones—especially children and grandchildren—that one is leaving behind. It is one thing to gift one’s loved ones with a legacy of righteous living, but it is another thing, at such a crucial, tender and poignant moment as the end of one’s life to plant one’s last verbal will and testament into the tender ground of the hearts, minds and emotions of those who are about to grieve the loss of a family member. This is what Moses did for the children of Israel before he passed from the scene.
Deuteronomy 33:2,From his right hand. Yeshua as the Living Torah-Word of Elohim is at the right hand of the Father. As the Word of Elohim, he is the one who gave the Torah to the children of Israel before he was incarnated as the Messiah.
A fiery law. There are two main aspects of YHVH’s Torah-law. This is implicated in the cloven tongues of fire that fell on the saints on Shavuot (the Day of Pentecost) in Acts 2:3), and relates to a curious statement that Yeshua made in John 4:23–24,
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Spirit and truth are two aspects of the Torah that may be characterized as law and grace, judgment and mercy, or letter of the law and spirit of the law. Our Father in heaven is seeking those who will understand his Torah in both of its aspects—Spirit and Truth—and then worship and obey him accordingly.
Additionally, YHVH’s Torah-law is like a fire which both consumes and purifies. Of the fiery law, Matthew Henry says in his commentary on this verse, “If received, it is melting, warming, purifying, and burns the dross of corruption; if rejected, it hardens, sears, causes pain, and destroys.”
The Jewish sages have another explanation for the two-part aspects of YHVH’s Torah. TheArtScroll Kestenbaum Edition Tikkun—The Torah Reader’s Compendium states, “This verse contains an example of a keri uchesiv, that is, a word spelled one way in the Torah scroll, but pronounced differently. Here we find…eshdote, waterfalls…[pronounced] as two words, esh daht, literally, fire of law. The Torah states that when [Elohim] presented the Torah to Israel, all of Mount Sinai was smoking because [YHVH] had descended upon it in fire (Exod 19:18). Additionally, King David writes of that event: “The earth trembled, even the heavens dripped…this is Sinai…A generous rain did You pour down, of [Elohim],” (Ps 68:9–10). Thus the Torah was given through fire and rain” (p. 495). Discuss the implications of YHVH’s Word being like both water and fire. (See Eph 5:26; Deut 5:5; Isa 5:24; Jer 5:14; 23:29 for further insights.)
Deuteronomy 33:3, All his saints. In verse two, the right hand of Elohim (i.e., Yeshua) that gave the Israelites the Torah is mentioned. In this verse we read that “all his saints are in your right hand.” This seems to be allusion to two components of the Godhead: the Father and the Son who is the Father’s right hand and who is also the Word of Elohim, and from whom came the Torah-law. Moreover, when the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, the children of Israel were at the foot of that mountain, or that is to say, they had sat “down at your feet.” That is to say, they were literally sitting at the feet of YHVH-Yeshua was speaking to them from the mountian. Similarly, when we sit at the feet of Yeshua to learn of him, he will teach us his Torah—both the spirit and Truth aspects of it with the help of his Spirit, the Comforter or Helper who will lead and guide us into all Truth.
An alternate translation of this verse reads: For they planted themselves at [YHVH’s] feet bearing [the yoke] of [YHVH’s] utterances. This is speaking of the children of Israel when they received the YHVH’s Torah instructions at the foot of Mount Sinai. Can this be said of you? Have you firmly placed yourself at YHVH’s feet and declared (not only through your words, but also your actions) to those around you (e.g., your spouse, children, family, employer, spiritual leaders), “All that YHVH has spoken we will do” (Exod 19:8)? Yeshua states that such a determination is a response of love for him (John 14:15), and John states in his epistle that the only way to intimately know YHVH is to keep his [Torah] commandments (i.e., obey him, 1 John 2:3–6).
Deuteronomy 33:4,The Torah…is the heritage of the congregation of Jacob. The Bible is clear. If one has the faith of Abraham, then you are his children and are therefore a part of the congregation of Jacob (Gal 3:7, 29). TheArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash states, “The Torah is an inalienable possession of Israel, transmitted from generation to generation,” and the difference between an inheritance and a heritage is that “[a]n inheritance belongs to the heirs to use and dispose of as they please. A heritage, however, is the property of generations before and after; it is incumbent upon the heirs to preserve it intact” (p. 1113). How can one keep one’s heritage intact if one believes parts of one’s heritage “were nailed to the cross,” “done away with,” “fulfilled,” “is a curse and burden” or has otherwise been done away with as the mainstream church teaches?
Deuteronomy 33:5,He was a king. There were three leadership positions in Israel: the priest, the prophet and the king. Moses was the only other person besides Yeshua the Messiah who held all three positions. For example, Samuel was a Levite and prophet, and David king and a prophet. In a loose sense, the patriarchs as tribal heads held all three positions, but not in the full sense, since they were merely the heads of a family unit or tribe, and not an entire nation per se. In the same sense and ideally, a righteous and saintly father is to be a priest, prophet and king over his family as well under Yeshua, who is the King of kings, the great High Priest over everyone. How many fathers as heads of their households do you know who take this position and divine mission seriously—or are even aware of their responsibility if fulfilling this divinely mandated heavenly calling?
Deuteronomy 33:7–12,Judah…Levi…Benjamin. Judah was the bearer of national power, Levi was responsible for teaching of the Torah and the maintaining the temple, and it was in the territory of Benjamin that the temple (or at least the holy of holies) was located. That is why these three tribes are grouped together (The Pentateuch/Deuteronomy, by R. Hirsch, pp. 672–673).
Deuteronomy 33:8,Thummim…Urim. To this day, no one knows exactly what these objects were that the Levites used for determining the will of YHVH in specific matters. One thing we can learn from this, however, is that YHVH has tasked his ministers with determining his will and then passing this on to his people.
Deuteronomy 33:8–11, Purpose of Levitical priesthood. (Also see Lev 10:11; Num 3:11–13; Deut 24:8; Neh 8:7 cp. 1 Chron 6:48–49; 23:27–32.) Here, the four main functions of the Levitical priesthood are outlined: to discern oracles or to understand the will of YHVH (verse 8), to teach Torah (verse 10a), to intercede before YHVH on behalf of the people through their ministry in the tabernacle (verse 10b), and to offer sacrifices (verse 10b).
Deuteronomy 33:13–17,And of Joseph he said. “Power, service of the Torah and the Sanctuary, and the site of the sanctuary were the distinguishing specialities that marked the tribes of Judah, Levi and Benjamin respectively” (ibid., by R. Hirsch p. 674). However, Hirsch notes that the richest abundance of the blessing of the soil followed the tribe of Joseph, since Joseph inhabited the largest, richest and most productive farmland in Israel (ibid.). In light of the richness of Joseph’s material blessings, it is interesting to note that the two tribes descended from Joseph (i.e., Ephraim and Manasseh) at the height of their material richness at the time of King Solomon were afterwards responsible for dragging ten-twelfths of Israel down into idolatry (under Jeroboam). Is this a warning to modern Ephraim (the Christian church, loosely speaking)? What has happened morally and spiritually in America and England (as well as to some of the other rich western, Christian nations)? One by one, the western Christian nations have all fallen from their greatness morally, economically and politically and America stands alone in these areas, but is sinking quickly. What is the spiritual state of the church in America, despite the false peace and comfort message of many Christian “prophets” who say otherwise? The strength (or weakness) of the church is no more or less than that of the individual. (Read and reflect on Revelation 3:14–22.) How easy it is to apply these admonitions to others, but ASK YOURSELF whether your spiritual walk (or level of obedience) is based on convenience or upon discipline, duty and obedience? Do you fit YHVH and loyalty to his Word around your finances, pleasures, convenience (i.e., the foreign gods or idols of your life), or do you obey him without regard to your physical circumstances based on a heart of devotion, dedication, service and love for him? Have we become so rich with material blessings, as ancient apostate Israel did, that we have become blind to YHVH’s higher spiritual purposes for our lives? Are our lives more a reflection of the hedonistic and materialistic culture around us than of the light of YHVH’s Word and Spirit? Let’s pass over these questions lightly, for history repeats itself, and we may be the very generation upon whom it repeats itself. Let’s search our hearts and minds and ask the Father for revelation in these areas.
Deuteronomy 33:22, Leap from Bashan. (On Dan see notes at Matthew 16:13.) Dan’s tribal territory was in northern Israel near the base of Mount Hermon in the land of Bashan. This geographical area was too small for their tribe, so they took to the sea and began to explore other lands in which to settle. This was likely in conjunction with the seafaring Phoenicians who lived in the coastal areas of modern Lebanon which was adjacent to the tribal territory of Dan.
Lion’s whelp. As Yeshua was the lion of the tribe of Judah, some Bible commentators see Dan in this prophecy as the opposite of Yeshua in that this is an indication that Antichrist will be the antithesis of Yeshua will come from the tribe of Dan. This is because the tribe of Dan is not mentioned among the 144,000 righteous saints in Revelation 7 and 14, and because Dan settled in northern Israel near Mount Hermon and in the region of Bashan where the heathen inhabitants embraced the religion of Baalism and worshipped the nephilim.
Deuteronomy 34
Deuteronomy 34:1,and 7. Moses passes from the scene in a condition of spiritual strength. Moses died in the wilderness, though prior to his death YHVH in his grace gave Moses a view of the Promised Land. Most of YHVH’s servants died without having obtained their promised inheritance. All await the glory of their future spiritual state. Despite not being able to enter the Good Land, Moses stayed faithful to the call and mission that YHVH had given him to the very end, and Torah records that “Moses was 120 years old when he died: “his eye had not dimmed, and his vigor had not diminished” (verse 7). Can this be said of you in your walk of faith before YHVH? Hebrews 11 chronicles those notable saints who all “having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise” of their heavenly inheritance. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua…laid his hands on him. This is an example of apostolic succession through the laying on of hands to accomplish the symbolic, YHVH-ordained transference of ministry anointing, blessing, power and authority.
Deuteronomy 34:5, So Moses…died. Even at age 120, Moses never retired; he died with his spiritual boots on, while continuing faithfully in the spiritual mission that YHVH had given him. Retirement, as in sitting around doing little or nothing productive once one has reached a certain age, is not a biblical concept. Yeshua instructed his saints to occupy until he returns (Luke 19:13). Elsewhere, Paul tells the followers of Yeshua to stand (not sit) as they battle against the forces of darkness (Eph 6:14). Moreover, the Bible characterizes the spiritual journey toward the kingdom of Elohim as a walk, not a sit and not doing little or nothing. The concept of retirement as is commonly promoted in our modern culture is a recent one, and not a biblical one as I discuss in the article below.
Where is retirement mentioned in the Bible?
Here is a challenge. Show me in the Bible where the word retirement or the concept is even mentioned? The idea of retirement, as it is now commonly understood to mean ceasing to work and doing little or nothing after a certain age, is not found anywhere in the Bible. What the word of Elohim teaches, however, it that we are to work six days each week and to rest on the seventh day (the Sabbath or Shabbat, Exod 20:8–11). Moreover, because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the Creator told man that the “free lunch” had ended and he had to get to work (Gen 3:17–19). What does this mean for you and me if we claim to be Bible followers—especially after we reach the age where due to health and age regular physical work may be a challenge?
Only in our overindulgent, materialistic and wealthy western society is retirement an option.
For many who are lacking in a spiritual faith and who have no concept of biblical truth, retirement has become their “heaven on earth.” Retirement, in fact, is a sort of humanists’ replacement “heaven” in that it becomes a sort of heaven on earth until one dies and goes back into the soil.
Admittedly, as one becomes elderly, the body doesn’t function as it once did. But that doesn’t mean one has to resort to a life of inert, non-productive inactivity and lassitude. For example, in ancient Israel, when the Levites reached the age of fifty, they presumably took on more of an advisory role in helping to train the next generation of Levites (Num 8:25). This rule didn’t, however, may not have applied to those in the priesthood who likely served until death. The kings and prophets of Israel served until their death as well. Likewise, Moses never retired and served YHVH and the Israelites until age 120! Neither did Joshua, David or the apostles retire from the ministry. As they grew older, they obviously slowed down, but they never quit their work and retired to life on a golf course, or sitting in front of the television watching old re-runs of Western movies or the daytime soap operas and game shows. No! They all died with their spiritual boots while doing YHVH’s work.
Once we reach a certain age where hard physical labor becomes impractical or even impossible, we are faced with two choices: we can either rust out or burn out. Like an automobile or piece of equipment, it can sit there rust away inactively, or it can be used until the engine wears out. Wouldn’t you rather burn out then rust out? Similarly, Yeshua commended the wise servants in the Parable of the Talents for being profitable with the talents the master had given them while he was away in a far country. Conversely, the master sternly rebuked the servant who did nothing but bury his talents in the soil (Luke 19:11–27).
Moreover, the elders (wise and older people) were to serve as leaders of the congregational assembly in the New Testament era (see 1 Tim 5:5–15). To be sure, the older generation was busy during their so-called retirement years.
These things being the case, why is it that so many Bible followers and even supposedly Torah-obedient individuals don’t work six days a week, but stop working in their 60s and even their 50s and acquiesce to the concept of what our humanistic society calls “retirement age”? What’s more, why do so many woman, even in the church, nowadays support their husbands, who proudly laud their new status as “house husbands”? Why are there so many men on welfare feigning a disability, so they can collect a check from the government, when, for many of them, there is something they could do to help support their families. Instead, they proudly live off the labors of others? In reality they’re lazy bums—thieves! This is hardly a godly virtue. To be sure, unless one is bed-ridden due to severe health issues, there is something everyone can do to be a profitable servant rather than a lazy couch potato bum.
Even those who have worked hard and have the financial resources to be able to “retire” , is it biblical to resort to a life of laziness and self-indulgent ease? Hardly! The biblical model is for the older folks to be using their resources including their time, knowledge and wisdom to help others—especially the younger generation. Kudos to those who are doing so. Shame on those who aren’t!
Sadly, we have become a society of lazy bums all too often living off of the labor of and resources of others. Is this something to be proud of? If this is our lifestyle, do we really think we will hear YHVH’s words on the day of judgment, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”?
Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua…Moses. Moses brought the Israelites to the border of Canaan, but it was the divine mission of Joshua (or Yehoshua) actually to take them into the Promised Land. This prophetically points to Yeshua the Messiah, who leads the way for his saints into the kingdom of Elohim (see Hebrews chapters 3 and 4). After all,
As we close out the Book of Deuteronomy and this commentary on the whole Torah, we leave you with a number of questions to ponder.
Is it possible to enter the kingdom of Elohim or the Promised Land of our spiritual inheritance through the works of the Torah-law, or by grace through faith alone? (See Eph 2:4–10.) Was it Moses (the vehicle through which the Torah-law came) who led the Israelites into their inheritance or Joshua (Yehoshua) who is a prophetic picture of Yeshua the Messiah? The name Yehoshua means “salvation of YHVH” and the name Yeshua is a shortened version of Yeshoshua and means “salvation.” Will we enter into the rest (or salvation) of Yeshua (whose name means salvation) through our own efforts or through faith (Heb 4:2, 10)?
We see the answer to this question in the fact that Joshua and not Moses led the Israelites into the Promised Land, which is a picture of eternal life in the kingdom of Elohim. Furthermore, did Joshua annul the Torah-law given through Moses or did he strengthen and confirm it as the path of righteousness they were to follow to stay in possession of the land, to receive the blessings of the land and to stay in right relationship with YHVH, the Possessor of the land? Who or what led the Israelites into the Promised Land? (Read Josh 3:6.) What were Joshua’s first instructions to the Israelites? (See Josh 1:8.)
What was one of the first things the Israelites did after crossing the Jordan River into the land to confirm their allegiance to YHVH’s Torah (his instructions in righteousness)? (Note Josh 8:30–35.) What will determine our level of reward—not our salvation—in YHVH’s kingdom of heaven? (See Matt 5:19.) What is the point here? If Joshua confirmed and strengthened the validity of the Torah upon entering the Promised Land, will not Yeshua, who is a prophetic picture of Joshua do the same thing for the saints who will be entering into his spiritual kingdom?
What do the Garden of Eden’s lost paradise, the Sabbath rest, the Promised Land, the Millennium and the New Jerusalem have to do with each other in Bible prophecy as it relates to the saints’ spiritual destiny? Actually all of these things relate to each other and are part of a grand spiritual thematic flow that began in Genesis with the Garden of Eden, the creation of the Sabbath and culminates in the Book of Revelation’s millennial reign of King Yeshua the Messiah from the garden city of the New Jerusalem. This teaching will ignite your spiritual turbo thrusters and will help to rekindle the flames of your zeal and passion for YHVH-Yeshua and the plans and purposes he has for those who love and obey him.
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What would you hear if you were to ask the average Christian to summarize the basic gospel message in one sentence? You might hear something like “Jesus loves you and has wonderful plan for your life.” Or you might hear, “Jesus died for your sins, so that you might go to heaven.” Some of the more “modern and progressive” or so-called “seeker friendly” Christians might say, “Come to Jesus and he’ll improve your self-esteem,” or “If you want good health and lots of wealth, come to Jesus.” But how does the Bible summarize the gospel message? That’s a question that almost nobody asks and no one knows or preaches about, even though the answer should be obvious to anyone who has read the Gospels. The truth is shocking and radically different from what most modern Christians think!
Matthew in his Gospel after describing the circumstances around the birth of Yeshua the Messiah, opens up by introducing the ministry of John the Baptist, the anointed prophet from heaven who came to prepare the way for the Messiah. The Gospel writers summarizes the preaching of John as “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 3:2). In the next chapter after his brief introduction to John’s ministry, Matthew then brings Yeshua the Messiah onto the scene. After Yeshua’s temptation in the wilderness, Matthew records, “From that time Yeshua began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matt 4:17). Mark in his gospel records the same event as follows: “Now after John was put in prison, Yeshua came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of Elohim, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of Elohim is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14–15). Finally, on the day of Pentecost after being pricked in their hearts by Peter’s convicting sermon, the crowd asked the apostle what they should do next. His answer was, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yeshua the Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). A central and recurring theme in all of these passages is the idea of repentance from sin—a biblical concept that is understood by few modern Christians, and a message that is seldom preached in modern pulpits anymore. All of this is in spite of the fact that the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews refers to “repentance from dead works” as “one of the [six] elementary principles of Messiah [or the gospel message]” (Heb 6:1–3).
So what is repentance? How does Scripture define repentance? It is a Hebraic concept, so we must go back to the Hebrew Scriptures to discover the answer.
Hebrew Word Definitions
There are two biblical Hebrew words that together present the complete picture of what true biblical-based repentance is. The first word is nacham meaning “to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.” According to The Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (The TWOT), the origin of the root of this word seems to reflect the idea of “breathing deeply,” hence the physical display of one’s feelings, usually sorrow, compassion, or comfort. The root occurs in the Ugaritic…and is found in Old Testament (OT or Tanakh) proper names such as Nehemiah, Nahum and Menehem. The Greek Septuagint (or lxx) translates the Hebrew word nacham by the two Greek words metanoeo and metamelomai. The Greek word metanoeo means “to change one’s mind, that is, to repent or to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins.” Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies says this of nacham:
In regard to others, to pity, to have compassion…in regard to one’s own doing, to lament, to grieve; hence to repent; in English, to rue; often of one who repents, grieves, for the evil he has brought upon another.” The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance says of nacham: to breathe strongly, by implication, to be sorry…to repent means to make a strong turning to a new course of action. The emphasis is on turning from a less desirable course. Comfort is derived from ‘com’ (with) and ‘fort’ (strength). Hence, when one repents, he exerts strength to change, to re-grasp the situation, and exert effort for the situation to make a different course of purpose and action. The stress is not upon new information or new facts which cause the change as it is upon the visible action taken.
The second Hebrew word is shuv (from which the Hebrew word teshuvah derives, which means “repentance”) meaning “to return, turn back, refresh, repair, restore.” The TWOT in its discussion of the Hebrew verb shuv states,
The Bible is rich in idioms describing man’s responsibility in the process of repentance. Such phrases would include the following: “incline your heart unto [YHVH your Elohim]” (Josh 24:23); “circumcise yourselves to YHVH” (Jer 4:4); “wash your heart from wickedness” (Jer 4:14); “break up your fallow ground” (Hos 10:12); and so forth. All of these expressions of man’s penitential activity, however, are subsumed and summarized by this one verb shub. Far better than any other verb it combines in itself the two requisites of repentance: to turn from evil and to turn to the good.
In order to repent according to biblical criteria, one must understand that Scripture defines sins in the most basic terms as the violation of YHVH’s Torah, or instructions or teachings in righteousness (1 John 3:4). This basic concept can be expressed in several other ways as well. For example, all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17). To fail to do what is right is also sin (Jas 4:17). It is also sin not to believe in Yeshua the Messiah (John 16:9).
The main Hebrew word for sin is chet, which in its loosest sense means “a failure in our relationship with Elohim.” Our goal should be to continually move closer to Elohim, but chet is any behavior (i.e. word, thought or deed or the failure to do what is right) that causes us to move away from Elohim.
If YHVH requires his people to repent of or to turn away from sin and then turn to righteousness, which is obedience to his commandments (Ps 119:172), then we must know what is involved in repentance. Repentance as expressed in the Hebrew word teshuvah, which comes from the Hebrew word shuv meaning “to return.” In the biblical context, it means “to return to Elohim” by returning to the righteous behavior that he requires of his people. In other words, repentance means a return to obeying his word or his commandments, which is the opposite of sin. While we must deeply regret our movement away from Elohim (i.e., nacham), we must not despair, for YHVH has provided the way for us to return to him, and he promises us that when we repent, he will forgive us without delay (Ps 103:3, 8–12; 1 John 1:9)
According to Scripture, there are, several basic steps to repentance. They are:
Recognize our sin. We must first recognize that we have a problem—that we are sinful to the core (Jer 17:9; Rom 8:7; Rom 3:10–18, 23; Isa 64:6). For this to happen, we have to come to grips with the fact that we have broken Elohim’s laws, which define sin (1 John 3:4; Jas 2:10; Rom 3:23). Human pride makes this step the hardest one to take (1 John 1:8).
Confess our sin. We must next confess our sin before YHVH (Lev 5:5; Num 5:7; Ps 32:5; 1 John 1:9).
Be sorry for our sins. We must manifest heartfelt regret for our wrong actions by evidencing remorse and contrition before YHVH and our fellow man, if applicable. The Hebrew word for this is nacham and according to TheTWOT and as already noted above means, “to reflect the idea of ‘breathing deeply,’ hence the physical display of one’s feelings, usually sorrow, compassion, or comfort.” We see David expressing nacham in his thirty-eighth psalm.
For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.… For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. (Ps 38:4–8, 18)
Turn from our sins. After this, we must turn from our sins and resolve to stop sinning. This is expressed in the Hebrew word teshuvah meaning “to repent,” which is from the root word shub or shuv. The TWOT defines shuv as follows:
The Bible is rich in idioms describing man’s responsibility in the process of repentance. Such phrases include the following: “incline your heart unto [YHVH your Elohim]” (Josh 24:23); “circumcise yourselves to YHVH” (Jer 4:4); “wash your heart from wickedness” (Jer 4:14); “break up your fallow ground” (Hos 10:12); and so forth. All of these expressions of man’s penitential activity, however, are subsumed and summarized by this one verb shub. Far better than any other verb it combines in itself the two requisites of repentance: to turn from evil and to turn to the good.
The penalty price must be paid for our sins. Whenever a law is broken, a penalty must be paid. This is true with men’s civil laws as well as Elohim’s moral and spiritual laws. When a person breaks Elohim’s spiritual laws he comes under the penalty of the law and a penalty price has to be paid. That price is death (Ezek 18:4; Rom 6:23). There is only one way to circumvent the death penalty for breaking Elohim’s laws, that is to make an offering of the legally prescribed sacrifice to pay for the sin (Lev 5:1–20). Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel, became that sacrifice for our sin once and for all when he died on the cross (Isa 53:5; Heb 4:14–5:10; 7:14–8:6; 9:11–10:22). By accepting his paying the death penalty for our sins, his righteous, sin-free life can be credited to our spiritual account in the courts of heaven. This occurs when we believe in him and come into a spiritual relationship with him (John 3:16–18; 5:24–29; 6:40, 47; Rom 6:3–11; 10:9–13).
Make restitution. When we have sinned against our fellow man, not only is confession and forsaking that sin required, but we must make restitution in full of whatever has been wrongfully obtained or withheld something from our fellow man (Lev 5:14–19; Matt 5:23–25).
Believe and receive. We must then accept our Heavenly Father’s unconditional mercy and grace (Ps 103:3–4, 10–17).
After the reset, begin the new walk of righteousness. Once biblical repentance has occurred, it is time to begin a new sin-free life of walking in righteous obedience to YHVH Elohim (Deut 10:12–13; John 14:15, 21–24; 15:10–14; 1 John 2:3–5; 5:2–3).
Scriptures on Repentance
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent [nacham] in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith YHVH Elohim; repent [shuv] , and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. (Ezek 14:6)
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith YHVH Elohim. repent [shuv] and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. (Ezek 18:30)
Repentance is a foundation doctrinal truth of our faith
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Messiah, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward Elohim. (Heb 6:1)
The preaching of repentance is a fundamental aspect of the gospel message
From that time Yeshua began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt 4:17)
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matt 9:13)
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of Elohim is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
When Yeshua heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:17)
And they went out, and preached that men should repent. (Mark 6:12)
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Luke 3:3)
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)
Repentance of sin and faith toward Yeshua go hand-in-hand
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward Elohim, and faith toward our Lord Yeshua Messiah. (Acts 20:21)
There is no salvation without repentance
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.… I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.…I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 13:3, 5, 7)
Elohim commands (and desires) all men to repent (of sin)
And the times of this ignorance Elohim winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. (Acts 17:30)
YHVH is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)
Repentance brings relief (from sin, guilt, fear of death)
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing [or cooling] shall come from the presence of YHVH. (Acts 3:19)
Repentance leads to eternal life
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified Elohim, saying, Then hath Elohim also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (Acts 11:18)
Repenting and accepting repentance is an on-going aspect of the believer’s walk
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. (Luke 17:3)
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:4)
Repentance is more than words…it must be backed up with action
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. (Matt 3:8)
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That Elohim is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Luke 3:8)
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to Elohim, and do works meet [corresponding to, congruous with, worthy of, befitting] for repentance. (Acts 26:20)
Elohim prepares the way for repentance in a person’s heart
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness [virtue] of Elohim leadeth thee to repentance? (Rom 2:4)
Elohim can give the gift of repentance
Him hath Elohim exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if Elohim peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. (2 Tim 2:25)
Repentance is a first step one takes toward Elohim in the conversion process
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing [or cooling] shall come from the presence of YHVH. (Acts 3:19)
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Cor 7:8–10)
Repentance is necessary in preparation for Yeshua’s coming
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt 3:2)
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire. (Matt 3:11)
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Mark 1:4)
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Messiah Yeshua. (Acts 19:4)
When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (Acts 13:24)
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev 2:5)
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Rev 2:16)
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Rev 2:22)
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Rev 3:3)
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3:19)
It is here! A day of joy or sorrow depending on whose spiritual team you are on—YHVH’s our the devil’s.
On Friday, October 3, 2025 we will be celebrating Yom Kippur according to the visible crescent new moon, abib barley, ancient Torah-based calendar. Leviticus 23:26commands YHVH’S people to celebrate Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of the seventh month on the biblical year. Exactly 10 days ago, the new moon was spotted in Israel making October 14, then, the tenth day of the seventh month. In five days we will begin celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles (Chag haSukkot). HalleluYah! To learn more about the Day of Atonement so that you can celebrate it with meaning and joy, please read on.
But before we proceed to our list of links to a whole boatload of free instructional materials on Yom Kippur, so that you can celebrate it with purpose and meaning, we must first address some destructive heresies regarding some erroneous so-called biblical calendars out there. The sword of the Spirit is sharp and two-edged, for it divides soul and spirit, between lies and truth, between fact and fiction, between the Word of Elohim and the traditions of men. Some people may find the truth to be offensive, but who are we aiming to please here? YHVH or men? Let us be those who prefer the praise of YHVH Elohim over those of men! Selah.
In the Messianic, Hebraic roots or pro-Torah Christian community there is much debate, strife and confusion over biblical calendars, sadly. We refuse to be part of this. We give the biblical reasons for why we adhere to the biblical visible new moon, abib barely calendar by giving you the most accurate information from the Bible that is possible, then we allow you to decide for yourself what you will do. We are not your judge in these matters. We speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may. Each us is eventually and ultimately answerable to YHVH for our actions be they good or bad with regard to serving and obeying him.
That said, I can say with full assurance and authority that all the various designer, flavor of the month calendars out there except one are based on ignoring Scriptures that disagree with their premise, twisting Scriptures including Hebrew word meaning, or relying on the traditions of men and extra-biblical sources without which none of these non-biblical calendars will stand against the Truth of the Bible. Let me give you some examples of what I mean.
In my articles and videos on the new moon, abib barley calendar, I prove the validity of this calendar solely from the Bible. Yes, I quote a few extra-biblical sources as confirmation, but these are not needed to prove the point as you will see if you read or watch the materials that I present. This is not the case with the any of the other calendars out there. For example,
The rabbinic Jewish calendar currently in use by Judaism worldwide was created in the fourth century AD and was approved by Emperor Constantine. It is an inaccurate calendar. This year, for example, the Jews are celebrating a pseudo Yom Kippur on the eighth day of the seventh month, not on the tenth day as the Torah commands. So discard this calendar.
Then there is the calendar based on the astronomical conjunction of the new moon. This too is a non-biblical calendar. Those who adhere to this calendar either twist or ignore the Scriptures that prove that the new moon must be seen. It is a visible, not an invisible, sign in the heavens that determines the beginning of the new month.
Then there is the calendar that is based on the sun’s equinox. Again, no matter how you search or twist the Scriptures, the Bible makes no mention of the equinox.
Then there is the Zadok, Qumran or Enoch calendar. Again, this calendar relies solely on extra-biblical sources as well as the twisting of Scriptures, the deliberate mistranslating of Hebrew words to mean something that they do not mean or the flat-out ignore of Scriptures that render this calendar invalid.
There are bevy of other calendars out there too such as the Noah calendar, the eternal truth calendar, the lunar Sabbah calendar and too many more to mention here.
Enough said. Either we follow the whole Truth of the Bible based on solid biblical and linguistic research or we don’t. The choice is yours.
For those who want to learn more about both the biblical calendar, the biblical feasts and Yom Kippur, we invite you to check out these free resources:
Also look for our podcasts on Yom Kippur on Apple and Spotify podcasts. In the search engine on each site, type in “Hoshana Rabbah” and you will find us. May YHVH bless YOU as you seek him and his Truth!
The more we study the Bible, the more amazing it becomes! You have the written words on the physical page, but beyond that there are numerous levels of multidimensional understanding beneath those words that one discovers as one digs deeper. One example of this are Yeshua’s words and actions between Matthew chapters 16 to 25 which the Gospel writer at the prophetic allegorical level, whether he knew it at the time or not, lays out in a perfect chronological timeline of end time events that lead up to and proceed the long anticipated second coming of Yeshua the Messiah. In this video Nathan reveals and discusses these events. These are things that have been wonderfully hidden in plain sight all along to be discovered by those who know the times and season in which they are living and have eyes to see and ears to hear. Come along with us on this adventure and may your faith be strengthened!
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If this message has been a blessing to you, please consider showing your appreciation by making a donation to Hoshana Rabbah at http://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/. Thank you!
