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Nathan’s Commentary on Parashat V’zot HaBerachah (Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12)

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Deuteronomy 33

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. The ArtScroll 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). The ArtScroll 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?

 

Joyous Yom Kippur on Friday, October 3, 2025!

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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:

 

Matthew Chapters 16-25 Are A Timeline of End Time Prophetic Events

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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!

 

A Contextual Overview of the Matthew 24 Olivet Prophecy As It Relates to End Time Events

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Having a working knowledge of the Bible’s prophetic “blueprints” will not only help us to understand future events relating to the end times, but will also help us to discover who we are as a people in the eyes of YHVH, where we have come from, where we are presently, and where we are going—that is, what the future holds for us, and what our spiritual destiny and divine inheritance will be. Only then can we begin to understand the end-time prophetic events leading up to the second coming of Yeshua and what our divinely mandated mission as obedient disciples of Yeshua is to be during these times.

As we begin to examine Matthew chapters 24 and 25 (the Olivette Discourse), it is important first to note the chronological positioning of Yeshua’s prophecy in the context of the passages before and after Matthew chapteer 24. The chapters that precede Matthew 24 prophetically speak of precursory events leading up to the second coming of Yeshua, while the chapter that follows Matthew 24 prophetically delineate events that occur after his return.

With this larger context in view, it becomes evident that Matthew 24 sits like a diamond in the midst of a brilliant gold setting. The larger picture speaks of the order of end time events pertaining to the second coming of Yeshua the Messiah, our beloved King, Redeemer and Savior. What follows below is a chronology of events as Matthew lays them out, more or less, in the order in which they will occur prophetically in the end times.

  • Matthew 16:13–20, At last, the disciples openly recognize and confess that Yeshua is truly the Messiah. The lesson for us in this is that knowing the true identity of Yeshua is critical to understanding end time events, since he is the central figure in everything pertaining thereto. The location of Yeshua’s discussion with his disciples in Matthew 16 was Caesarea Philippi (v. 13), which was located at the base of Mount Hermon, the tallest mountain in that region of the Middle East. The pagans of that area viewed Mount Hermon as the mountain of their chief god Baal. Caesarea Philippi was also the location of the Grotto of Pan, a Greek god who was the lord of the mountains, sexual fertility, the wilderness, caves and grottoes. In ancient times at the Grotto of Pan there was located a temple dedicated to Pan and that grotto or cave was viewed as “the gate of hell” or hades. Yeshua makes reference to this in verse 18, when he declares that the gates of hell (Gr. hades) will not prevail against his church (Gr. ecclesia or “called out people”). What is going on here? Yeshua is literally throwing down the gauntlet and making a declaration to Satan and his demonic underlings that he is coming to establish his kingdom on earth and that the powers of darkness will never be able to prevail against him or his chosen people, and that he was giving power and authority to his servants to overcome Satan and his minions. Therefore, he was putting Satan on notice that his time is limited and that his tenure as the god of this world is coming to an end.
  • Matthew 16:21–28, Here Yeshua predicts his death and resurrection. Peter struggles to comprehend that Yeshua, the long-awaited Messiah, must first fulfill his mission as the Suffering Servant as man’s Redeemer as opposed to being the Conquering King to defeat Roman rule and oppression. As the Suffering Servant prophesied in Isaiah 53, Yeshua had to die at the hands of the people and then resurrect from the grave after the third day. It took a while for the disciples to hitch their wagon to the concept that Yeshua would first have to die, resurrect from the dead, before returning as the Conquering King. Yeshua then goes one to declare that all his disciples must likewise follow in his footsteps and embrace the way of the cross before they can rule and reign with him in his coming millennial kingdom (Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6 cp. Exod 19:6; Isa 66:21; Dan 7:18).
  • Matthew 17:1–13, This event, commonly called the transfiguration, likely occurred on Mount Hermon, recognized by the pagans as a satanic high place (as discussed previously above). Here Yeshua’s gives his disciples a further revelation about his second coming in power and glory. But first Yeshua shows his disciples that this will happen only after he has suffered at the cross and has risen again. Yeshua makes a clear delineation between his first coming and his second coming. As part of the transfiguration vision, Moses and Elijah appear. Many Bible students believe that these two notable Old Testament figures will be two witnesses who will precede Yeshua’s second coming as prophesied in Revelation 11:1–14. Thus, this seems to be yet another revelation about events that will occur before the second coming.
  • Matthew 17:14–21, In this episode, a young boy is healed of demonic possession. Yeshua’s disciples are unable to cast out the demon. Yeshua, on the other hand, quickly and easily sets the boy free and declares that some demonic entities cannot be overcome except through prayer and fasting. At Yeshua’s second coming and just prior to the establishment of his universal, millennial kingdom on earth, he will himself sublimate all demonic forces including his arch-enemy, Satan, who an unnamed angel will cast bound into the bottomless pit (Rev 20:1–3). There the devil will be imprisoned unable to torment or deceive humanity during the 1000 year-long Millennium. After the Millennium comes the White Throne Judgment where Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever (Rev 20:10).
  • Matthew 17:22–23, Yeshua predicts Judas’ betrayal. Likewise in the end times just prior to Yeshua’s second coming, many Christian believers, like Judas, will turn away from Yeshua in the great falling away or apostasy predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12.
  • Matthew 17:24–27, This is where Yeshua pays his taxes to Caesar and instructs his disciples to do the same. The predictive lesson here is that in the end times, YHVH’s people will be enslaved to the world’s economic system until the sounding of the jubilee trumpet (or shofar) on the Day of Atonement which signals the fall of Babylon the Great (Rev 18). This will occur at Yeshua’s second coming when the saints will once and for all be set free from the tyranny and slavery to this world’s satanic, antichrist system commonly known as The New World Order, or in Bible prophecy as Babylon the Great.
  • Matthew 18:1–5, Here Yeshua talks about the requirements for entering his kingdom. He points out that only those who have been converted from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, and who will become like little children in their spiritual demeanor can be members of the kingdom of Elohim.
  • Matthew 18:6–9, Yeshua then warns against offenses. Those who offend his little (spiritual) children, of whom is the kingdom of heaven, will be in danger of the Lake of Fire judgment.
  • Matthew 18:10–14, Next Yeshua teaches an important lesson in the Parable of the Lost Sheep. He is in the sheep regathering business including the lost sheep of the house of Israel, which he considers to be a main aspect of his ministry’s mission (Matt 15:24). The regathering of his sheep that had been lost and scattered among the nations began at Yeshua’s first coming, continued through the ongoing work of his disciples (Matt 10:6), and continues to this day as a fulfillment of the Great Commission (Acts 1:6–8 cp. Matt 28:18–20; Mark 16:14–18). This mission will continue up to his second coming and on into the Millennium, which in the Jewish sages refer to as “the final redemption” or that Isaiah alludes to like a second exodus (Isa 11:11) of the tribes of Israel in fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies.
  • Matthew 18:15–19:12, Now Yeshua goes into a long teaching about sins committed by one brother against another brother and how to bring about reconciliation between the opposite parties (Matt 18:15–20). After this, Yeshua talks about forgiveness between people who are at odds with each other. He teaches that forgiveness has no limits. Next, Yeshua discusses the subject of divorce and remarriage (Matt 19:1–10). In all of three of these teachings, Yeshua is alluding to the two houses of Israel, which have been at odds with each other ever since the united kingdom of Israel under David and Solomon divided under King Rehoboam . Their reuniting is prophesied in the Tanakh (most notably in Ezek 37:15–28), and is a key event that will coincide with the second coming of Yeshua, who is also known by his Hebraic title, Messiah Son of David. This long-awaited event has been written about by the Jewish sages for many years. However, this biblical truth has largely been ignored or forgotten by Christianity. This begs the question: who are the lost and scattered sheep of the two houses of Israel? They are the scattered descendents of the Northern Kingdom of Israel who, in a general sense, have become the modern Christians, and the Southern Kingdom who are the modern Jews. YHVH-Yeshua in his preincarnate state was married to Israel but divorced his wife (both the northern and southern kingdoms) because of their unfaithfulness to him (Ezekiel chapter 16). But when he returns, he will remarry a reunited Israelite bride comprised of both Jews and Christians.
  • Matthew 19:13–15, Next Yeshua blesses the little children and again stresses the point that only those of childlike demeanor will be members of his kingdom of heaven on earth.
  • Matthew 19:16–30, After this, we have Yeshua’s encounter with the rich young ruler who is a symbol of Torah-obedient Jews. The lesson here is that the Jews will have a place in Yeshua’s kingdom if they are both obedient to YHVH’s Torah and are also followers of Yeshua the Messiah.
  • Matthew 20:1–19, In the Parable of the Laborers, Yeshua talks about the landowner (i.e., Yeshua), the vineyard (i.e., Israel and the world) and those who have been laboring in his vineyard (i.e., his disciples). All disciples who are working to gather in the spiritual harvest of lost souls will receive the same “wages” for their labor, which is the free gift of salvations regardless of the length of their service.
  • Matthew 20:17–19, Yeshua again speaks of his crucifixion and resurrection. This must first happen before his millennial kingdom can come.
  • Matthew 20:20–28, Then Yeshua’s disciples query him about their positions of authority in his kingdom. They are still of the mindset that he is the Conquering King as opposed to the Suffering Servant. Yeshua informs them how positions of responsibility in his kingdom will be given to those who have a servant’s heart, and who are willing to lay down their lives for Yeshua even as he was about to lay down his life for everyone.
  • Matthew 20:29–34, Next Yeshua heals two blind men. This is a prophetic picture of Yeshua healing the two houses of Israel at his second coming, which are both blind in part spiritually (Isa 8:14; Rom 11:25). The
    Christians are largely blind to Elohim’s Written Torah, while the Jews are blind to Yeshua the Messiah who is the Living Torah-word of Elohim (John 1:1, 14; Rom 10:5–7 cp. Deut 30:11–14). When the eyes of both people-groups are unblinded and the see for the first time the fullness of who Yeshua is, they will unite in obedient worship of him. This is when the two divided kingdoms of Israel reunite under King Yeshua (see Ezekiel 37:15–28).
  • Matthew 21:1–11, After this, we have Yeshua’s famous triumphal entry into Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion. Yeshua enters Jerusalem riding on a colt, but with a mare accompanying the colt. This speaks prophetically of his second coming, when he will enter Jerusalem again riding a white war horse (Rev 19:11). The colt and mare speak of his duel messianic role as the Suffering Servant (Messiah Son of Joseph) at his first coming, and of his messianic role as the Conquering King (Messiah Son of David) at his second coming.
  • Matthew 21:12–22, In his journey to Jerusalem to confront the greedly spiritual leaders, Yeshua curses the fig tree, a picture of the fruitless and largely Torahless, Jewish religious system of his day. He then cleanses the temple of its secular defilement due to greed and the love of money when he upended the money-changers’ tables. Similarly, most modern religious leaders whether Jewish or Christian are hirelings and are controlled by their love of money and power. Yeshua will upend these corporate religious systems and raise up ministers after his own heart who have not given themselves over to greed and covetousness. Malachi prophesies that Messiah will cleanse his spiritual house at his second coming, when he suddenly comes to his temple to purify the sons of Levi—the Levites and priests (Mal 3:1–3).
  • Matthew 21:28–32, In the Parable of the Two Sons, Yeshua takes the Jewish leaders to task for being like a disobedient son, whereas the seemingly disobedient son is actually the more obedient son. Yeshua turned tables on the spiritually self-righteous Jews (of the house of Judah) who were smug in their spiritual self-assuredness. At the same time, the Christians (of the house of Israel) who they mockingly sneered at, demeaned, rejected and even murdered (they crucified Yeshua!) were actually the ones who would end up walking more faithfully in the “way of righteousness”—a Hebraic expression for “walking in the ways of Torah” (verse 32).
  • Matthew 21:33–46, The Parable of the Wicked Husbandman is a brief overview of YHVH’s dealings with Israel leading up to the second coming of Yeshua, where he will judge the wicked husbandmen (the hypocritical Jewish religious leaders of his day) for not faithfully tending his vineyard (i.e., the people of Israel). To this day, the religious Jews have largely refused to accept Yeshua the Messiah, who is the owner of the vineyard.
  • Matthew 22:1–14, In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Yeshua speaks of his upcoming wedding (at his second coming) between himself and those saints who are properly attired spiritually with robes of righteousness (Rev 19:7–9). This is a warning and wake up call to all disciples of Yeshua to get ready for his coming, for he is not coming back for a bride who is with spot and wrinkle (i.e., who have sin or Torahlessness in their lives; Eph 5:27).
  • Matthew 22:23–33, Next Yeshua teaches on the resurrection of the righteous dead, which occurs at his second coming and precedes his marriage to his bride (i.e., the saints who have adhered to both the Written and Living Word of YHVH according to Rev 12:17 and 14:12). The resurrection of the dead has been the great hope of the saints from the time of Job (Job 14:14; 19:25–27) until now.
  • Matthew 22:41–46, Yeshua then teaches about King David and the Messiah the Son of David, which is another reference to his second coming as the Conquering King.
  • Matthew 23, Now Yeshua gives a final rebuke to the leaders of the Jewish religious system of his day comprised of blind, greedy, self-serving and kingdom-building hypocrites. Prophetically, this is an end time warning to all spiritual leaders both Jewish and Christian to stop living as hypocrites, false teachers and duplicitous frauds, and humbly come into alignment with Yeshua and his word before the time of divine, fiery judgment comes on the earth that will reveal their true nature.
  • Matthew 24, This is an extensive teaching where Yeshua answers in chronological order three questions that the disciples ask him (Matt 24:3). First he discusses events that will occur during the tribulation period, then the great tribulation followed by the resurrection or “catching away” (also known as the “rapture”) of the saints (1 Thess 4:15–18), which does not occur before the tribulation as is mistakenly taught in many modern churches. The order of events found here corresponds with those found in the Book of Revelation chapter six. 
  • Matthew 25:1–13, In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Yeshua teaches that although all redeemed Christians are spiritual virgins, not all will qualify to be his bride. Only those who have properly prepared themselves spiritually will be given this higher reward of the being the greatest in his kingdom (Matt 5:19 cp. Rev 19:7–9). Elsewhere Yeshua taught that some Christians who are saved will be called the least in his kingdom while others will be called the greatest (Matt 5:19). Obviously there are levels of rewards in the kingdom of Elohim.
  • Matthew 25:14–30, The Parable of the Talents teaches us that there will be different levels of rewards in the kingdom of Elohim based on one’s spiritual profitability or works of righteousness. Yeshua will hand out these rewards at his second coming (Rev 11:15–18). Again, rewards are separate from the free gift of salvation that one receives at the beginning of one’s spiritual relationship with Yeshua. Salvation is a free gift based on trusting faith in Yeshua the Messiah (Eph 2:8–9; Rom 10:9–10), while heavenly or eternal rewards are based on meritorious (Torah) works (Matt 5:19; 16:27; Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10; Eph 6:8; 1 Pet 1:17; Rev 2:23; 19:8; 22:17).
  • Matthew 25:31–46, Finally as a conclusion to Yeshua’s Olivette Discourse, we come to what is often called “The Judgment of the Sheep and Goat Nations.” This too will occur after Yeshua’s second coming and perhaps at the white throne judgment (Rev 20:11–15). The sheep are the nations of the world that will likely exist during Yeshua’s millennial reign. The Greek word goats in this passage is referring to young goats or kids. Kids may refer to spiritually immature people who appear to be Christians in name only but who have failed to live up to the most minimal standards of being a true follower or disciple of Yeshua. At the Great White Throne Judgment that will occur after the Millennium, all people who have ever lived will appear and some will be given salvation and the rest will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11–15).

After this quick overview these chapters in Matthew’s Gospel, hopefully it is becoming apparent that beneath the Gospel narrative contained in chapters 16 through 25 listing a series of events and teachings in Yeshua’s life, there is a more or less chronologically-ordered subtext prophesying end time events. These will surround his second coming and beyond. In these chapters and just before his crucifixion, Yeshua leaves a blueprint or overview with his disciples of events pertaining to the kingdom of heaven, which he had just initiated and instituted among them and begun promoting, and about his regathering the lost sheep of Israel and reuniting the divided kingdoms of Israel (the house of Judah who are the Jews, and the house of Israel or Ephraim who are, loosely speaking, the Christians). These activities will be occurring up until his second advent. Then from Matthew 24 through 25, we see Yeshua prophesying about events that will occur just prior to and after his return including end-times tribulations, the great tribulation, his second coming, and his giving out rewards and judgments to his servants. 

Having a basic understanding of the events leading up to Yeshua’s second coming, as sketchy as our understanding may be, will hopefully spur Yeshua’s disciples onward and upward in the hope of their faith (Heb 11:1) and as an anchor to their soul (Heb 6:19) in troublous perilous ahead.

 

Nathan’s Commentary on Parashat Ha’Azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1–52)

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Deuteronomy 32

An Overview of Deuteronomy 32

The Poetic Song of Moses: A Prophetic History of the Rise, Fall and Redemption of YHVH’s People

  • Deuteronomy 32:1–4, The supremacy and perfection of YHVH and his Torah. The Torah, like rain, produces life. The great and perfect YHVH Elohim is the rock upon which Torah is founded, and he is the source of Truth, righteousness and justice. For this reason man should to ascribe greatness to and worship YHVH.
  • Deuteronomy 32:5–6, By contrast to Elohim, man is totally sinful and corrupt. Alhough Elohim made man in his image, in his sinful and corrupt state, man cut himself off spiritually from his Creator. Man may still be the physical children of Elohim, but in his cut off state, is YHVH still the spiritual Father of such a fallen, perverse, crooked, foolish and unwise people?
  • Deuteronomy 32:7–14, A history lesson—learn the lessons of history from your ancestors, or else you will repeat their mistakes. 
  • Deuteronomy 32:15–18, Israel’s apostasy was a result of their blessings and wealth. Like the Laodicean church of Revelation chapter three, their prosperity and comfort led to them for YHVH Elohim. 
  • Deuteronomy 32:19–22, YHVH is provoked to anger when his people’s sins.
  • Deuteronomy 32:23–27, Divine judgment—like a loving father, YHVH will disciplines his wayward children hoping they will come to their senses and repent of their sins. 
  • Deuteronomy 32:28–35, YHVH grieves over his wayward children—chastisement is inevitable. 
  • Deuteronomy 32:36–38, YHVH’s judgments for his people are judgments unto repentance, not judgments unto death. 
  • Deuteronomy 32:39–42, YHVH pleads with his people to return to him, then lists the consequences of sin. 
  • Deuteronomy 32:43, YHVH promises to redeem his people and provide atonement for their sins.

Deuteronomy 32:1–2, Words of my mouth…rain. Note the phrases: “words of my mouth,” “my doctrine,” “rain,” “my speech shall distill as the dew,” “small rain” and “showers.” Now compare these phrases with Ephesians 5:26. What is Scripture talking about here? Israel spent 40 years in a dry wilderness. By contrast, the Promised Land was a land flowing with milk and honey, was agriculturally fruitful and well-watered. Immediately before and after the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai (Exod 20), there are several references to human thirst and YHVH needing to provide water for his people (Exod 15:22–27; 17:1–7 Num 20:2–13). During the Messianic Age (or the Millennium), living waters will flow from Jerusalem (Zech 14:8), and those who refuse to come up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) will receive no rain on their land (Zech 14:16–19). As you relate all these scriptures together, what is the bigger lesson YHVH is trying to teach us here pertaining to water and the word of YHVH? Basically, as we cannot survive without physical water, neither can we survive without the water of his Word.

Deuteronomy 32:2, Teachings droop as rain. Like the dew, the Torah is a gift from heaven and waters the ground of men’s hearts to help bring forth a bountiful harvest of righteousness. (See also Eph 5:26; Isa 55:1–11 cp. Mic 5:7.)

Deuteronomy 32:6, Do you thus repay or you are unmindful. The Hebrew letter hey at the beginning of this verse in the phrase “do you thus repay” is written larger and is separated from the surrounding words by a space making it the only one-letter word in the entire Tanakh. The Jewish sages tell us that this is part of Moses’ concealed signature in the Torah text—a Hebrew poetic device by which authors weave their signatures in the texts they have written in the form of an acrostic (Tikkun, p. 488).

Deuteronomy 32:8, Children of Israel. The Septuagint (LXX) has “angels of God”, the ESV has “sons of God”, and the Dead Sea Scrolls Bible (DSS) has “children of God”. The LXX and ESV references could be a reference to the fallen angel, demon-nephilim or the sons of Elohim reference found in Genesis 6:2 who along with their descendants founded kingdoms and empires that were opposed to Elohim. This alternate rendering possibly makes more sense, since Israel was not yet a nation when the Almighty assigned the nations to the heathens and the demon-gods or elohim that he placed over them and that they worshipped in place of the true YHVH Elohim. Or alternatively, perhaps YHVH arranged the heathen in their countries around the future land of Israel, and those heathen living therein were merely squatters illegally inhabiting the Promised Land before the children of Israel were a nation.

Deuteronomy 32:14, Blood of the grapes. What is the Torah referring to in this interesting, rather arcane phrase? Compare this with a parallel passage found in Genesis 49:11, which is clearly Messianic in nature. Now add into the mix Leviticus 17:11; Revelation 1:5; 7:14; Matthew 26:27–28; Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; John 15:1–5 and finally John 6:53–56. In the last scripture listed, is Yeshua advocating some bizarre cultic rite involving cannibalism, or is he relating back to these Torah passages that are messianic in nature and then relating them to his redemptive work at the cross, which believers commemorate when they take communion at Passover? I think so.

Deuteronomy 32:15, Yeshurun. The name Yeshurun is a poetic appellation for Israel and means “upright, straight or just.” YHVH ascribed this august title to Israel indicating that Israel was not to deviate from the high spiritual standards demanded by YHVH (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 1103). This is a prophecy about what would happen to Israel once they were in the Promised Land. Sadly, eventually they would forsake the one who had redeemed and blessed them. Compare this with Yeshua’s admonition to the Laodicean believers in Revelation 3:14–21 (especially note verse 17), which is a description of the contemporary American and Western Christian church, much of which preaches an “easy-believism,” health and wealth, pop-psychology, “come to Jesus and everything will be all right” humanistic gospel message. Just because you may now be inclined to a more Torah-oriented lifestyle or part of a congregation that uplifts YHVH’s Torah to one degree or another does not mean that you have shed off this kind of thinking and its accompanying lifestyle. These warnings still apply to all of us. Selah (ponder and reflect).

Deuteronomy 32:18, You are unmindful. Abraham’s steadfastness in surviving ten tests of his faith eventually saved his descendants, who tested Elohim on ten different occasions in the wilderness. This is alluded to by the specially small yud (which in the Hebrew alphabet signifies the number 10) in the phrase teshyr tzor y’ladkha, the Rock Who gave birth to you, have forsaken (The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet, by Michael Munk p. 129).

Deuteronomy 32:21, I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. The term not a people is the Hebrew phrase lo-am.Curiously this same phrase occurs in two other places in the Tanakh (Isa 7:8;Hos 1:9) in reference to the Northern Kingdom or house of Israel (or Ephraim) and is repeated by Peter in reference to the “Gentiles” or “peoples of the nations” (which is the meaning of the Greek word ethnos translated as gentiles; 1 Pet 1:1; 2:9–10). Moreover, in Romans 9:25 Paul equates the “Gentiles” with the same people-group to which Hosea makes reference in Hosea 2:23. To whom is Hosea referring in his prophecy? (Read Hos 1:4,6; 4:15–17, chapter 5; 6:10–11; 7:1–11; chapter 8; etc.). Remember that the nation of Israel split into two groups at the time of Jeroboam and Rehoboam: the Northern Kingdom comprised of the ten northern tribes of Israel and was colloquially known in Scripture as Ephraim, house of Israel and Samaria, while the Southern Kingdom was known as Judah, the house of Judah and Jerusalem. 

Where are these Ephraimites of the house of Israel today? The answer can be found in Genesis 48:14 and 16 where the patriarch Jacob is prophesying over the two sons of Joseph: Ephraim and Manasseh. There we find some clues that point us to a religious people-group in existence today. When praying over his grandsons whose descendents would make up the largest number of people of the house of Israel or Northern Kingdom, Jacob with his arms he makes an interesting sign. He crosses his arms forming a cross? Then in verse 16, Jacob recounts his experiences with the Angel or literally Heavenly Messenger who “redeemed me from evil.” This is a reference to Genesis 31:1–11 where, while fleeing from Laban, Jacob’s adversary, he had a dream where the Messenger of Elohim calls himself the El of Bethel (or the El/God of the House of El/God). Who else is the Messenger of Elohim who is also a Redeemer but Yeshua the Messiah? (See Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 9:12.)

Finally, Jacob prophesies that his grandsons’ descendants would grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. The word grow is the Hebrew word dagah/VDSfrom which the Hebrew word dag/DSor fish derives. This is why the ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach translates this phrase as “may they proliferate abundantly like fish within the land.”

The question is then begged, what religious people-group on earth today can be associated with a cross, a Redeemer and a fish? Knowing this will give us a clue as to whom Paul and the other writers in the Testimony of Yeshua (NT) were referring when they equated the “Gentiles” with “a foolish nation” and “not a/my people.” Only the Christians fit the prophetic descriptions listed here.

Deuteronomy 32:22, The lowest sheol. The Scriptures in numerous places mentions sheol (a Hebrew word meaning “the grave”), but in several instances the Bible refers to the lowest sheol (e.g., Ps 86:13; Isa 14:15, NKJV). What is the difference between the grave and the lowest grave? It appears that sheol or the grave is where the bodies of mortal men go to await their resurrection either to immortality or to eternal death in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). The lowest sheol appears to be the place where the devil and evil spirits (that rebelled at Lucifer’s fall and or prior to Noah’s flood) are confined awaiting the white throne judgment and their ultimate fate in the lake of fire. If this interpretation is correct, this may explain the enigmatic “spirits in prison” passage of 1 Peter 3:19. This would also be the pit or abyss into which Satan is cast and confined for 1000 years at Yeshua’s second coming (Rev 20:3). This may be what Isaiah 14:14–15 is referring to when it describes the fall of Lucifer and prophesies his being brought down into the lowest sheol, the pit or abyss.

This lowest sheol or lowest level of the grave is likely the same place that YHVH cast the angels that rebelled in the time of Noah where they are confined in chains of darkness awaiting their judgment at the end of the Millennium. This is probably the same “prison” or pit (Gr. tartaroo, pronounced tar-tar-ah-ohw, see notes at 2 Pet 2:4)that Satan will be cast into at the beginning of the Millennium and then briefly released from at the end of it to go forth and to deceive the nations (Rev 20:7–8). After that, Satan (presumably along with his demons) will be cast into the lake of fire where they will be tormented for eternity (Rev 20:10).The lake of fire is a different place than the pit, sheol or tartaroo, which is a temporary place of restraint or prison where YHVH places rebellious angelic beings to await their final judgment, which is the lake of fire. 

Deuteronomy 32:26, I will scatter them into the corners. How was this prophecy fulfilled by Israel? Who in Israel was scattered and forgotten? Certainly not the Jews. They were scattered, but not forgotten. Verses 28–29 say of these people that they are void of counsel and understanding and lacked wisdom. These are all terms relating to the Torah. Who today has forgotten the Torah and says it is “done away with”? What religious group says that it brings death not life (in contradistinction to verse 47)? Who has inherited (theological) lies from their spiritual fathers (Jer 16:19, read verses 14–21 for context), and who say that “the law has been done away”? Malachi the prophet tells us that in the last days that YHVH will rise up people in the spirit of Elijah who will go forth and turn the scattered and backslid children’s heart back to their spiritual fathers. This involve returning to the Torah of Moses (Mal 4:4–6). It is interesting to note that The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash in its rabbinical Jewish commentary states that this verse “refers to the exile of the Ten Tribes who were scattered to an unknown place where they were never heard from again” (p. 1105).

It is important to note that the ten northern tribes of Israel or Ephraim, as Scripture often shortened their name to, were scattered over the face of the whole earth after they were taken into captivity by the Assyrians (Ezek 34:6,12; 36:19; 37:21; John 11:52). In regards to Deuteronomy 32:26 which says, “I said, I would scatter them into the corners…,” the Orthodox Jewish The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach Chumash comments, “This refers to the exile of the Ten Tribes who were scattered to an unknown place where they have never been heard from again.” On the phrase of the same verse, “I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men…” the same Chumash states, “This is a reference to the exile of Judah and Benjamin, the Davidic kingdom from which today’s known Jews are descended.” It goes on to say that though nations would seek to destroy Israel entirely YHVH would never allow Israel to become extinct or disappear. Israel’s perpetual existence is a constant reminder of YHVH’s plan and eventually Israel will thrive and fulfill YHVH’s intention for it (pp. 1105–1106). Samson Raphael Hirsch in his commentary on the Pentateuch on the same verse translates the phrase, “I would scatter them into the corners…” as, “I would relegate them into a corner” and then says that the Hebrew here refers to the “extreme end of a surface, the side or corner…” He, too, relates this fate to the ten tribes who would be scattered “to some distant corner of the world, where, left entirely to themselves, they could mature towards serious reflection and ultimate return to Me…” (p. 650).

Deuteronomy 32:43, Let all the angels of Elohim. (LXX) The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible (DSS) and Septuagint (LXX) vary greatly from the Masoretic Text (MT) on how this verse reads: 

Rejoice, O heavens, together with him; and bow down to him all you gods, for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and will render vengeance to his enemies, and will recompense those who hate him, and will atone fro the land of his people. (DSS)

Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him, and the Lord shall purge the land of his people. (LXX)

Interestingly, the phrase in Hebrew 1:6, “Let all the angels of God worship him” (NKJV) is a direct quote from the LXX (or the more ancient Hebrew manuscript from which the LXX derives), and not the MT, which is a later version of the Tanakh. 

Will be merciful or will provide atonement. The key Hebrew root word in this phrase is kaphar meaning “to cover, purge, make atonement.” Yom Kippur and the kapporeth, which is erroneously translated as “mercy seat” in many English Bibles derive from kaphar. These Hebrew words are expressive and descriptive ways of showing the mechanics of YHVH’s mercy on sinful man. He literally covers their sins ultimately in the blood of Yeshua as the payment for the death penalty each person incurs because of his or her sins. Thus, this verse is a forward-looking prophecy pointing to Yeshua’s death on the cross.

Deuteronomy 32:47, It is your life. YHVH’s Torah-words or commandments (i.e., YHVH’s instructions in righteousness) are life for those who follow them. Do you really believe this? If so, are you living out YHVH’s Torah instructions to your best capability, or are you just playing religious games by not taking his Word seriously? If you really were convicted that YHVH’s Torah “is your life,” what changes would you make in your life to conform your life actions to these words? What things would you stop doing or start doing? How much more would you seek Yeshua, the Living Torah in daily prayer and the study of his Word? How much more would you contribute to YHVH by supporting his work on earth through your time, talent and treasure? How committed to him are you now compared to where he would have you to be? The answer to these questions and your action-based response thereto will determine your eternal fate vis-à-vis your relationship with your Creator, and eventually your eternal fate. The Song of Moses is a warning for those who stray from YHVH’s path of truth and righteousness as outlined in his Torah as well as the rest of the Bible. This song also offers hope to those who return to YHVH and receive his forgiveness for their sins, and then continue to walk in his paths of light, truth and righteousness that lead to a forever relationship with him.

 

Sameach Yom Teruah! Joyous Day of Trumpet Blowing 2025!

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Happy Yom Teruah! Let the season of our joy begin!!!

Learn more about Yom Teruah (the Jewish name is Rosh HaHashana) and how it predicts history in advance (also known as Bible prophecy) as it relates to the end times and the second coming of Yeshua the Messiah, was well as what we as the saints must do to prepare to meet our coming Heavenly Bridegroom.

We invite you to check out our following free resources from someone who has been celebrating Yom Teruah for nearly 60 years and who has been teaching about it for 25 years. There is something here for everyone whether this is your first time celebrating Yom Teruah or whether you have been doing it for years. 

May these resources be a blessing to you, bring you closer to Yeshua the Messiah, strengthen your spiritual walk, and bring glory to YHVH Elohim and our Lord and Saviour Yeshua!

My blog articles

https://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/?s=Yom+Teruah&submit=Search.

My website articles

https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/teaching.html#feast

My YouTube videos on the biblical feasts including Yom Teruah:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5EzE5DQnrHfWWbczzkRo6IOnglxhbRfM