{"id":22757,"date":"2025-09-22T06:30:39","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T13:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=22757"},"modified":"2025-09-23T06:45:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T13:45:42","slug":"nathans-commentary-on-parashat-vaylekh-deuteronomy-311-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2025\/09\/22\/nathans-commentary-on-parashat-vaylekh-deuteronomy-311-30\/","title":{"rendered":"Nathan’s Commentary on Parashat Vaylekh (Deuteronomy 31:1\u201330)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Deuteronomy 31<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deuteronomy 31:3, YHVH your Elohim\u2026will go over before, and he will destroy these nations. <\/em><\/strong>YHVH promised to destroy Israel\u2019s enemies before them. Will he not do the same for us, since we too are en route to our spiritual Promised Land of which the physical Promised Land is but a prophetic picture? Who or what are your enemies? The authors of the Psalms identify many types of \u201cenemies\u201d other than people. Examples of a non-human enemies may be poverty, sickness, depression, lack of faith, discouragement, spiritual, satanic attacks or even our own sin natures that war against the Word and will of YHVH. Some of our enemies are a result of our own sinning and our repentance will result in our deliverance from them. But what about attacks that come against us through no fault of our own? What do we do about them? Do you realize who you are in<\/em> Yeshua, and that you have the spiritual power to be a victorious overcomer by the name and through the blood of Yeshua? (Read Ps 91; Luke 9:1; 10:19; Rom 8:37; Eph 6:10-18; Jas 4:7\u201310; 1\u2009Pet 5:6\u201310; 1\u2009John 4:4; Rev 12:11.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deuteronomy 31:10\u201313,<\/strong> You shall read this Torah before all Israel.<\/em><\/strong> Verses like this tend to expose the theological confusion that occurs in the minds of many Christian Bible teachers. For example, about this verse, Christian commentator Matthew Henry writes about the need to read the Word of Elohim and that doing so will \u201chelp us to keep his commandments.\u201d Yet elsewhere in the same commentary he says that the commandments or laws of YHVH \u201care done away with.\u201d It is not possible for both of these statements be true at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statements like these are representative of a split and incongruous, \u201cdouble-speak\u201d thinking on the part of many Christians when it comes to the commandments or laws of Elohim. Some laws, we are told, we are to keep (e.g., thou shalt not murder, lie, commit adultery, which are often referred to as \u201cthe moral law\u201d\u2014a non-biblical term), but other laws we can disobey (e.g., the Sabbath, dietary laws, and biblical feasts, which are referred to as \u201cthe ceremonial law\u201d\u2014another non-biblical term). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it possible to have it both ways? That is, to believe that we need to keep the Creator\u2019s commandments, yet, at the same time, believe that they are done away with? If so, then what is the meaning of such biblical phrases pertaining to YHVH\u2019s Torah or Word as \u201cforever,\u201d \u201cfor a thousand generations,\u201d \u201cthe same yesterday today and forever,\u201d \u201ctill heaven and earth pass away,\u201d \u201cI change not,\u201d and \u201cthink not that I came to destroy the Torah-law?\u201d Is \u00adYHVH\u2019s Word inconsistent and contradictory? Or is men\u2019s false theologies and traditions at fault?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, we need to ask ourselves an important question. Do we have a high enough view of YHVH Elohim and fear him and tremble at his Word (Isa\u202f66:2), or have we, in reality, demoted the veracity of his commandments by contorting YHVH and his Word to fit the mindset of changeable and inconsistent man (which the Scriptures define as idolatry)? Idolatry occurs when we put something else above the will of YHVH instead of submitting to him as the Lord of our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, have we, by denying the validity of some aspects of YHVH\u2019s Word, bought into the lie that the serpent proffered at the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden? There he told the man and the woman that YHVH really did not mean what he said and that humans can take the \u201chave it your own way\u201d and \u201cpick and choose\u201d approach when it comes to obeying the Word of YHVH. In reality, this is the same philosophy that forms the basis for the religious movement called secular<\/em> humanism<\/em>, which is at the heart of all the religions of the world including much of the theology of mainstream Christianity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truthfully, how many aspects of Christian theology are no more than a thinly veiled version of the religion of humanism? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are tough questions that the saints who are citizens of the nation of Israel (Eph 2:11\u201319) need to seriously ponder. At the same time, let\u2019s not forget the words of Yeshua in John 14:15, \u201cIf you love me, keep my [Torah] commandments\u201d and the words of the apostle in 1\u2009John 2:5\u20135, \u201cHe that says, \u2018I know him,\u2019 and does not keep his [Torah] commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whosoever keeps his Word in him truly is the love of Elohim perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be honest with ourselves. The bottom line reason why man has a hard time submitting to YHVH\u2019s commandments is nowhere stated more concisely in the Bible than in Romans 8:7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[T]he carnal mind is enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, neither indeed can be.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 31:12, <\/strong>Gather together the people\u2026and the small children.<\/em><\/strong> A fundamental aspect of Hebrew culture is the teaching of the children. This is the primary responsibility of the parents as stated in the Shema<\/em> (Deut 6:7) and secondarily that of the community of faith. Many parents have all but handed their YHVH-ordained charge in this area over to others such as the church, the government educational system, day care providers, the baby sitter and the like. Many if not most parents spend little time daily with their children. Additionally, often the children take the backseat in the education in many churches congregations. Typically, church pastors struggle to find volunteers to help in the children\u2019s ministry. Is this right? Is this the heart of the Father? It certainly is not the heart of Yeshua who went out of his way to minister to the little children (Mark 10:13\u201316; see also Matt 18:1\u20135 and Mark 9:33\u201337).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Idolatry in ancient times\u2026<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy<\/strong> 31:16,<\/strong> This people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land. <\/em><\/strong>Israel\u2019s departure from her covenantal agreements with YHVH was assured, for Moses prophesied it. But repentance (verse 2) was always an option\u2014an open door of return back to a right relationship with YHVH. Let us all repent of our having strayed from his commands whether ignorantly or intentionally. For example, have you repented of breaking his Sabbath command, of not observing and sanctifying his annual feasts, of desecrating the temple of your body by not following his biblical dietary laws, to list a few things? Though you may have broken YHVH\u2019s laws in ignorance, doing so is still sin whether done in ignorance or not and repentance is still needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Modern idolatry!<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 31:16, <\/strong>Behold you will rest.<\/em><\/strong> Should this verse read as it is written, \u201cBehold you will lie with your forefathers, but this people will rise up \u2026\u201d <\/em>or, \u201cYou will [die and] lie with your forefathers you will [then] rise up.\u201d <\/em>According to the Talmud this verse is so ambiguous in its grammatical construction that were it not for the Masoretic cantillation marks (which are not found on a Torah scroll, but are based on scribal tradition) the latter reading could just as easily be the correct one and thus giving another scriptural source for the concept of the resurrection of the dead (this is according to The<\/em> ArtScroll Kestenbaum Edition Tikkun\u2014the Torah Readers Compendium<\/em>, p. 485). Adding additional insight into this passage is the Aramaic Targum Pseudo Jonathan<\/em>,which renders this text as follows: \u201cAnd YHVH said to Mosheh, \u2018Behold, thou wilt lie down in the dust with thy fathers, and thy soul shall be treasured in the treasury of eternal life with thy fathers: but this wicked people will rise up and go astray \u2026\u2019\u201d What are the implications of the alternate rendering of this verse with regard to the resurrection of the dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 31:18, <\/strong>And I will conceal my face.<\/em><\/strong> YHVH making his face to shine upon his people (Num 6:25; Ps 80:3,\u200919) or conversely concealing or turning his face away from his people is a Hebraism meaning \u201cto be in the favor or disfavor of YHVH.\u201d How sad it is to consider that our loving Heavenly Father will hide his face from those who disobey him and do evil (Deut\u202f31:17, 18; 32:20; Ps 132:10; Ezek 7:22; 39:29). But what else can a holy YHVH Elohim do with regard to those who over their own free will choose to go against him?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are your prayers being answered? Or do you sense that the heavens are brass (a symbol of judgment)? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If things are not going well for you in your life, perhaps you need to search out those areas in your life where sin still exists. Ask YHVH to reveal them to you. Then repent, make changes and bring your life back into alignment with YHVH\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 31:20,<\/strong> They shall have eaten and filled themselves.<\/em><\/strong> Compare this verse with Yeshua\u2019s admonition to the Laodicean believers in Revelation 3:14\u201322.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAnd to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, \u2018These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: \u201cI know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, \u2018I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing\u2019\u2014and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked\u2014I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. \u201cHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.\u201d \u2019 \u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What are the parallels between these two Scripture passages? To what degrees do these prophetic warnings apply to Christians in the American and Western church?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 31:23,<\/strong> He gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge.<\/em><\/strong> Upon Moses\u2019 passing, YHVH didn\u2019t leave the children of Israel in a leadership vacuum to wander about aimlessly in a confused state. YHVH isn\u2019t the author of confusion! YHVH is the author of godly leadership. He prepares and trains leaders and then raises them up to lead his people in the paths of righteousness as they make their way to his spiritual Promised Land.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beware of leaders who raise themselves up and promote themselves. To ensure that we don\u2019t follow unrighteous, self-promoting and greedy leaders, let\u2019s ask ourselves the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n