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PARASHA SHELACH "For Adonai your God --He is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

6/21/2022

כו ראו את־הארץ ואת־יריחו
"Go, inspect the land and Yericho."
(Joshua 2:1)

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
In every haftarah we've studied recently, one theme has reoccurred: the inclusion of Gentiles in the covenant that HaShem cut with Israel.

The reason for that is quite simple. From the covenant HaShem cut with Abraham (Genesis 12:3) through Yeshua's Great Commission, going through Tamar, Ruth, and Rahab, the purpose of HaShem's doing so has always been the same: the redemption of all of humanity!

From HaShem choosing Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his family, the redemption of Gentiles has been the focus and the goal of the whole program from the beginning!

HEBREW NOTE: The name Joshua, or Yehoshua, is the full version of the Aramaic Hebrew name Yeshua. Yeshua is to Yehoshua as Rick is to Richard.

THE SETTING
We have a repeat of what happened forty years before. Joshua and Caleb are the only adult survivors from the forty-year wandering in the desert as a result of the previous failed spy mission (see parasha Shelach). In fact, by that time, they are the only witnesses who were adults at the time of the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, and of all that transpired from the very beginning. I would say that Joshua really wanted to get it right this time. Thankfully, they had had forty years to think about these events.

MESSENGERS OR ANGELS?

Y'hoshua the son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Sheetim with these instructions: "Go, inspect the land and Yericho." (Joshua 2:1)

In Joshua 2:1, the two anonymous envoys from Joshua are called spies. In Joshua 6:17, they are called "messengers", a word that is synonymous with the word "angel." This invites a beautiful midrash that those "spies" were like the two angels that went before HaShem to Sodom and Gomorrah to warn them. As the angels were received by Lot, the messengers from Joshua were received by Rahab. Both cities were destroyed and both hosts survived.

But surely the messengers from Joshua were not angels. They were real flesh and blood people.

They left and came to the house of a prostitute named Rachav, where they spent the night. (Joshua 2:1)

Rahab's house of ill-repute was expected to report to the authorities of the passages of strangers.

The king of Yericho was told about it -- "Tonight some men from Isra'el came here to reconnoiter the land." The king of Yericho sent a message to Rachav, "Bring out the men who came to you and are staying in your house, because they have come to reconnoiter all the land." (Joshua 2:2-3)

RACHAB LIES
From Abraham and Isaac protecting their wives from Pharaohs to Jacob and Esau lying to Isaac (Esau by not telling that he had sold his birthright, and Jacob by pretending to be Esau); continuing with Joseph's brothers lying to their father and Joseph disguising himself so he would not be recognized, the "cloak and dagger" saga of the Genesis text continues with Rahab sending the king's men on a wild goose chase.

However, the woman, after taking the two men and hiding them, replied, "Yes, the men did come to me; but I didn't know where they had come from. The men left around the time when they shut the gate, when it was dark. Where they went I don't know; but if you chase after them quickly, you will overtake them." Actually she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax she had spread out there. The men pursued them all the way to the fords at the Yarden; as soon as the pursuit party had left, the gate was shut. The two men had not yet lain down when she returned to the roof and said to them, "I know that Adonai has given you the land. Fear of you has fallen on us; everyone in the land is terrified at the thought of you. We've heard how Adonai dried up the water in the Sea of Suf ahead of you, when you left Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Emori on the other side of the Yarden, Sichon and `Og, that you completely destroyed them. (Joshua 2:4-10)

These issues of seeming justified lying are a great subject of controversy in Judaism and Christianity. In 1804, the Kentucky Baptist Church split over the issue. The group who justified Rahab's lying ended up being called "The Lying Baptists."

What we have here are two moral imperatives that collide. 1. To tell the truth 2. To save a life. As life often reminds us, hyper-moral absolutism doesn't work in Torah law. In many cases, the Master taught us to weigh matters (Mat 12:4). In any case, whatever we think of Rahab must be weighed with James' comment about her. As the apostle was teaching about faith justified by either obedience to Torah or by the grace of HaShem he says:

You see that his faith worked with his actions; by the actions the faith was made complete; and the passage of the Tanakh was fulfilled which says, "Avraham had faith in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness." He was even called God's friend. You see that a person is declared righteous because of actions and not because of faith alone. Likewise, wasn't Rachav the prostitute also declared righteous because of actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another route?
(James 2:22-25)

RAHAB'S BEAUTIFUL CONFESSION OF FAITH
Then the most beautiful thing happened. The reports of HaShem's works have caused fear to come on the whole city.

As soon as we heard it, our hearts failed us. Because of you, everyone is in a state of depression (Joshua 2:11).

This is the fulfillment of Moshe's prophetic song after the crossing of the Red Sea:

The peoples have heard, and they tremble; anguish takes hold of those living in P'leshet; then the chiefs of Edom are dismayed; trepidation seizes the heads of Mo'av; all those living in Kena`an are melted away.
(Exodus 15:14-15)

The whole thing has been a great witness to Rahab who now confesses her faith to the God of Israel:

For Adonai your God -- he is God in heaven above and on the earth below. So, please, swear to me by Adonai that, since I have been kind to you, you will also be kind to my father's family. Give me some evidence of your good faith, (Joshua 2:12)that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers and sisters and all who are theirs, so that we won't be killed." The men replied to her, "Our lives are certainly worth yours, provided you don't betray our mission. So when Adonai gives us the land, we will treat you kindly and in good faith." Then she lowered them by a rope through the window; since her house abutted the city wall, indeed was actually built into it. She told them, "Head for the hills, so that the pursuit party won't get their hands on you; and hide yourselves there for three days, until the pursuers have returned. After that, you can go on your way."
(Joshua 2:11-16)

In the face of impending doom, Rahab not only took refuge in the God of Israel, but she received his messengers. This is just like Yeshua said of those who receive His disciples:

"Whoever receives you is receiving me, and whoever receives me is receiving the One who sent me.
(Matthew 10:40)

A PROMISE OF HOPE
The men said to her,
"We will not be guilty of violating the oath you made us swear, provided that when we enter the land, you tie this piece of scarlet cord in the window you let us down from; and you gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and your father's entire household. (Joshua 2:17-18)

In Hebrew, the words "scarlet cord" are written as תקות חוט, Tikvat chot, meaning "Cord of Hope.

The scarlet cord reminds us of the red blood painted on the sides of the doors of the Children of Israel for death to pass over them. It also reminds us of the scarlet thread attached to the horn of the Yom Kippur goat that will serve as an atonement to purify the nation. As with Passover, the walls of Jericho fell and her house was spared, along with all who were in it.

If anyone goes out the doors of your house into the street, he will be responsible for his own blood, and we will be guiltless. But everyone who stays with you in the house -- we will be responsible for his blood if anyone lays a hand on him. (Joshua 2:19)

However, if you say a word about this business of ours, then we will be free of your oath that you made us swear." "According to your words, so be it," she said, and sent them away. As they departed, she tied the scarlet cord in the window. They left, arrived in the hills, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers had searched for them all the way but hadn't found them. Then the two men returned. Descending from the hills they crossed over and came to Y'hoshua the son of Nun, and reported everything that had happened to them. "Truly Adonai has handed over all the land to us," they told Y'hoshua. "Everyone in the land is terrified that we're coming." (Joshua 2:25)

RAHAB IN HISTORY
According to Jewish history books, Rahab and her family converted and intermarried with Israel. Her descendants were blessed with ten priests and a prophetess. While Jewish tradition claims that she married Joshua, messianic tradition claims that she married Salmon, the son of Nachshon, one of the princes of Judah, and became part of the kingly dynasty of the kings of Israel.

Salmon was the father of Bo`az (his mother was Rachav),
Bo`az was the father of `Oved (his mother was Rut), `
Oved was the father of Yishai,
(Matthew 1:5)

Very few women are mentioned in the biblical genealogies, but Rahab and Ruth are some of them as part of the making of the DNA of Yeshua. Along with Tamar, they seem to be a genetic firstfruit for the salvation of humanity!

AS WE THANK HIM FOR OUR PERSONAL REDEMPTION,
MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT AS IT WAS JUST FOR US,
IT WAS NOT JUST, JUST FOR US,
BUT FOR THE REST OF HUMANITY.

IF HE WANTS TO RECEIVE THEM, SO SHOULD WE!

SHABBAT SHALOM

R' GABRIEL LUMBROSO

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BEHA'ALOTCHA "Not by force,and not by power,but by my Spirit,'says Adonai-Tzva'ot."

6/21/2022

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ויען ויאמר אלי לאמר זה דבר־יהוה אל־זרבבל לאמר לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם־ברוחי אמר יהוה צבאות׃

Not by force, and not by power, b
ut by my Spirit,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
(Zec 4:6

THE SETTING
King Cyrus the Great decreed a release for captive Israelites to be given permission to return to their land in Israel. The people of Jerusalem returned to an uninhabitable rubble without walls or defenses. They want to build the Temple, but is it expedient to start that project without walls to protect the work? HaShem has a say in it. He promises:

'Yerushalayim will be inhabited without walls because there will be so many people and animals; "for," says Adonai, "I will be for her a wall of fire surrounding her; and I will be the glory within her.
(Zec 2:4-5)

THE MESSIANIC AGE
The prophet Zechariah encourages the people to take heart and apply themselves. He tells them the Words of God that encourages the people to do the work in view of His soon return, the return of the indwelling presence, the return of the Shechinah השכינה. God Himself will return and rule from Jerusalem.

"Sing, daughter of Tziyon; rejoice! For, here, I am coming; and I will live among you," says Adonai. (Zec 2:10)

The prophet gives the people a sign that will herald HaShem's arrival among His people. He says,

When that time comes, many nations will join themselves to Adonai. "They will be my people, and I will live among you." Then you will know that it was Adonai-Tzva'ot who sent me to you. Adonai will take possession of Y'hudah as his portion in the holy land, and he will again make Yerushalayim his choice. (Zec 2:11-12)

The sign is the inclusion of the nations in the covenant of Israel, with the Messiah among the Israelite nation, ruling from Jerusalem. This Gentile inclusion was fulfilled when just before He ascended to His Father, Yeshua commanded the disciples to proclaim the Good News to all creation as they went throughout all the world. (Mark 16:15.) Ten days later, at the time of Shavuot in Jerusalem, the Shechinah came and rests on the disciples giving them the ability to speak in several languages they
At that time, the persecutor of Israel will be silenced:

(2:17) Be silent, all humanity, before Adonai; for he has been roused from his holy dwelling.' " (Zec 2:13)

THE ACCUSER OF THE SAINTS
Joshua the high priest represented the renewed priesthood. As such, he represented the nation before HaShem. Joshua was very concerned about rebuilding the Temple, but the enemy was against it and objected to it. HaSatan, the adversary of HaShem and of everything that is godly, had to find some reason to stand against Joshua. He had to find something that he could throw at him in the court of divine justice.

He showed me Y'hoshua the cohen hagadol standing before the angel* of Adonai, with the Accuser [Hebrew: Satan] standing at his right to accuse him. (Zec 3:1)

*Angel: In the Haftarah last week, we talked about how whenever the Torah mentions the Angel of the Lord, it is most likely a reference to a messianic theophany. The same idea is presented here. The angelic being in this passage is not a created angel but Messiah, as we will see in the next passage.

As the priestly representative of Israel, Joshua represents the nation. As such, HaSatan throws at him all the sins--past, present, and future--of the nation. This is the role of the priest. The priest represents HaShem to the nation, but he also represents the nation to HaShem and HaSatan knows it.
HaSatan knows that our sins separate us from HaShem's presence. He knows that our disobediences plug His ears to our pleas and prayers. The reality of it is that he is right. The sad reality of it is that he does not even need to produce lies against us. We give the devil plenty of ammunition to accuse us just by telling the truth about us and by the way we lead our lives. Each of us could certainly appropriate what King Daivd said:

For I know my crimes, my sin confronts me all the time. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil from your perspective; so that you are right in accusing me and justified in passing sentence.
(Psa 51:3-4)

MESSIAH'S DEFENSE OF JOSHUA

Adonai said to the Accuser, "May Adonai rebuke you, Accuser! Indeed, may Adonai, who has made Yerushalayim his choice, rebuke you! Isn't this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" (Zec 3:2)

The Angel of the Lord in Yeshua the Messiah rebukes the devil. He has the power to do so, as well as to bring an atonement defense to the Judge of the universe for Joshua because He has already paid for the sins from before the foundation of the earth

Everyone living on earth will worship it except those whose names are written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb slaughtered before the world was founded. (Rev 13:8)

Then, just as He did when He challenged the Torah-teachers of Israel when they questioned Him about forgiving sin with the question:

"Tell me, which is easier to say -- 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'? But look! I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." He then said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your mattress, and go home!" (Mat 9:5-6)

He looks at Joshua's garments, soiled with the sins of Israel and of its priesthood, and commands a change of garments. He clothes Joshua with the garments of messianic redemption.

Y'hoshua was clothed in garments covered with dung; and he was standing before the angel, who said to those standing in front of him, "Take those filthy garments off of him." Then to him he said, "See, I am taking your guilt away. I will clothe you in fine robes." I said, "They should put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and gave him fine robes to wear, while the angel of Adonai stood by. (Zec 3:3-5)

As He would also tell the woman caught in adultery, "Now go, and don't sin any more" (Joh 8:11), He also gives a warning to Joshua:

Then the angel of Adonai gave Y'hoshua this warning: "Adonai-Tzva'ot says this: 'If you will walk in my ways, obey my commission, judge my house and guard my courtyards; then I will give you free access among these who are standing here. (Zec 3:6-7)

In all this, the Spirit of God in the prophet Zechariah was giving a message of messianic encouragement to Israel. It was telling them about a future Joshua, who would be called Yeshua as a latter Aramaic version of the name Joshua, who would stand up and defend Israel in front of the devil. The prophetic vision of the prophet was about a latter High Priest who took upon himself the filth of Israel's sin (Ps 110:4; eb 5:6) and received absolution from HaShem because of His own virtue.

PROMISE OF THE MESSIANIC ERA
Those returnees from Babylon expected the Messianic era to start with their return. They were extremely disappointed when reality smacked them in the face. Thus, it often is when we listen to false prophets with erroneous doctrines peddling good news that the Lord has not spoken.

The Angel of the Lord rectifies the situation by explaining to Joshua and his colleagues that while their time was not the time of the great redemption, it serves as a sign; a type and foretelling shadow of the future great redemption brought on by the "Branch", who is our Messiah, Yeshua; a time described in the messianic age description with the words, "you will all invite each other to join you under your vines and fig trees.

The Angel speaks of a stone. Medieval commentator Rashi explains that this stone is the "foundation stone of the Temple that was laid immediately after Cyrus permitted the reconstruction of the Temple." Seven eyes watch over the stone from above. Zachariah will later describe them as, "The eyes of Adonai that range about over all the earth." (Zec 4:10; Rev 5:6)

Listen, cohen gadol Y'hoshua, both you and your colleagues seated here before you, because these men are a sign that I am going to bring my servant Tzemach [Sprout]. For look at the stone I have put in front of Y'hoshua: on one stone are seven eyes; I will engrave what is to be written on it,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot; 'and I will remove the guilt of this land in one day. When that time comes,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot, 'you will all invite each other to join you under your vines and fig trees.' " (Zec 3:8-10)

THE VISION OF THE MENORAH
Our "Angel" had one more sign to show our tired prophet. A beautiful Temple lampstand made of pure gold, pure gold thus signifying that the dross had been removed.

Then the angel that had been speaking with me returned and roused me, as if he were waking someone up from being asleep, and asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I've been looking at a menorah; it's all of gold, with a bowl at its top, seven lamps on it, and seven tubes leading to the lamps at its top. (Zec 4:1-2)

The pure gold menorah was flanked by two olive trees from where it drew its olive oil.

Next to it are two olive trees, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left."I then asked the angel speaking with me, "What are these, my Lord?" The angel speaking with me said, "Don't you know what these are?" I said, "No, my Lord." (Zec 4:3-5)

Who are they indeed? As the Angel was showing the establishment of the messianic age to Zechariah, He was also showing him that for that to happen, both the "anointed" ministres of priest and king needed to be present and functional. In the days of Zechariah, these two anointed ministries were represented by Joshua as the priesthood and Zerubbabel as the legal descendant of the Davidic dynasty. Their presence fulfills the inter-generational cosmic pre-exilic Jeremiah prophecy that:

For this is what Adonai says: "There will never be cut off from David a man to occupy the throne of the house of Isra'el. Nor will there ever be cut off from the cohanim who are L'vi'im a man before me to offer burnt offerings, burn grain offerings and offer sacrifices every day." (Jer 33:17-18)

THE SPIRITUAL DYNAMICS OF HOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ESTABLISHED ON EARTH
Having uttered this beautiful and hope-filled promise, the "Angel" carefully warns that the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven does not come through the power, strength, anger, nor the wrath of man but by the workings of the Spirit of God.

Then he answered me, "
This is the word of Adonai to Z'rubavel: '
Not by force, and not by power, b
ut by my Spirit,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
(Zec 4:6)

Then HaShem promises to move mountains before Zerubbabel so that he can accomplish the goal of rebuilding the Temple.

'What are you, you big mountain? Before Z'rubavel you will become a plain; and he will put the capstone in place, as everyone shouts, "It's beautiful! Beautiful!" ' (Zec 4:7)

After the work of Zerubbabel, Herod enhanced the second Temple to the point that it became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Both the Romans who hated the Jews and the Pharisees who hated Herod marveled at it and complimented its beauty.

WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US?
In much the same way as the returning captives from Babylon, as the body of Messiah, we are today on earth rebuilding His spiritual Temple. We must not be discouraged at the mountains of difficulty and opposition that this project brings us against. We must remember that all the promises of HaShem are on our side.

Therefore, may we not try to accomplish this daunting task in the arm of the flesh, using political, mediatic, economic, or strategic means, while forgetting what he has previously said through Zechariah as a foreshadow of this present-day redemption:

"'Not by force,
and not by power,
but by my Spirit,'

says Adonai-Tzva'ot."

SHABBAT SHALOM

R' GABRIEL LUMBROSO

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PARASHA NASSO: "Why are you asking about my name? It is wonderful.

6/7/2022

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למה זה תשׁאל לשׁמי

"Why are you asking about my name? It is wonderful."
Jdg 13:1

THE SETTING
The tribe of Dan was given a fertile northern territory.

The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the descendants of Dan according to their families. The territory of their inheritance included Tzor`ah, Eshta'ol, `Ir-Shemesh, Sha`alabin, Ayalon, Yitlah, Eilon, Timnah, `Ekron, Elt'keh, Gib'ton, Ba`alat, Y'hud, B'nei-Brak, Gat-Rimmon, Yarkon Springs and Rakon, with the border fronting Yafo. The territory of the descendants of Dan was too small for them, so the descendants of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, defeated it by the sword, took possession of it and lived there, calling Leshem "Dan" after Dan their ancestor. (Jos 19:40-47)

But we also read that:

... the tribe of Dan was looking for a place to claim ownership of and settle in, since they had not yet been given any land of their own among the tribes of Isra'el. (Jdg 18:1)

They had indeed received an allotment, but they had not totally subdued it due to the constant battles with the superior Amorites in the East, and the Philistines in the South.

After the death of Joshua, Israel was left without central leadership. It became a loose federation of tribes. Three times the Book of Judges laments the sad situation with this statement:

At that time there was no king in Isra'el; a man simply did whatever he thought was right.
(Jdg 17:6)

Indeed, without leadership, we are like Yeshua rightly said, like sheep without a shepherd (Mat 9:36). In that kind of situation, everyone does what is right in their own eyes, establishing righteousness for themselves and thereby becoming judge, jury, and executioner of his neighbor. Much of that is described in vivid details in the Book of Judges.
The situation will eventually be remedied by the arrival of a strong king, Saul, who centralized the government and got everyone to behave.

The situation in the Book of Judges resembles much the situation in the world today. May our strong King come soon so He can organize us, teach us to work in harmony and behave more like human beings rather than predatory animals, all while establishing His own superior righteousness on earth as it is in Heaven.

THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL AND MESSIAH
The time of the Judges was a time of constant battles and oppressions for one side to the other. Nehemiah describes that time in the following words:

" 'Yet they disobeyed and rebelled against you, throwing your Torah behind their backs. They killed your prophets for warning them that they should return to you and committed other gross provocations. So you handed them over to the power of their adversaries, who oppressed them. Yet in the time of their trouble, when they cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and in keeping with your great compassion, you gave them saviors to save them from the power of their adversaries. But as soon as they had gotten some relief, they went back to do evil before you. So you left them in the power of their enemies, who came down hard on them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven many times and saved them, according to your compassion. You warned them, in order to bring them back to your Torah; yet they were arrogant. They paid no attention to your mitzvot, but sinned against your rulings, which, if a person does them, he will have life through them. However, they stubbornly turned their shoulders, stiffened their necks and refused to hear. Many years you extended them mercy and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets; yet they would not listen. Therefore you handed them over to the peoples of the lands. (Neh 9:26-30)

The Book of Hebrews speaks of HaShem's people in these terms:

and thus set free those who had been in bondage all their lives because of their fear of death.
(Heb 2:15)

In every generation, the people of God have been oppressed, but in every generation, HaShem in His great mercy has sent us a messianic deliverer.

Each of the judges of Israel typified the final Messianic Deliverer in some way, and Samson does not escape the comparison.

At the time of our story, the Philistines had oppressed the tribes of Israel for about 40 years. HaShem seems to have a plan to save His people.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY AN ANGEL

There was a man from Tzor`ah from the family of Dan, whose name was Manoach; his wife was barren, childless. The angel of Adonai appeared to the woman and said to her, "Listen! You are barren, you haven't had a child, but you will conceive and bear a son. (Jdg 13:2-3)

Much like the narrative of Myriam in the Book of Matthew and Luke, an angel comes to a woman to proclaim to her that she will give birth to a child. Also, just like the narrative of Myriam required a miracle because she was a virgin, the narrative in Judges 13 will also require a miracle because the wife of Manoah was barren.

A CHILD DEDICATED TO HASHEM

Now, therefore, be careful not to drink any wine or other intoxicating liquor, and don't eat anything unclean. For indeed you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, because the child will be a nazir for God from the womb. Moreover, he will begin to rescue Isra'el from the power of the P'lishtim." (Jdg 13:4-5)

The narrative resembles the proclamation made to Myriam:

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means 'Adonai saves,'] because he will save his people from their sins." (Mat 1:21)

The following chapters provide us with other similarities. Here are a few:

Just as the Sadducean leadership wanted Yeshua dead because they were afraid He would bring the wrath of Rome upon them, the people of Dan gave up Samson because he was bringing the wrath of the Philistines upon them.
Just as Yeshua saved the people by giving His own life, Samson also saved his people by sacrificing his own life.
The strength of Samson also typifies the strength of Messiah to annihilate he who is compared to a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour.
Like with Yeshua, the revelation came to the woman who had to face an unbelieving man who only believed after he received the revelation himself.

The woman came and told her husband; she said, "A man of God came to me; his face was fearsome, like that of the angel of God. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name. But he said to me, 'Listen! You will conceive and bear a son, so now don't drink any wine or other intoxicating liquor, and don't eat anything unclean, because the child will be a nazir for God from the womb until the day he dies.' " Then Manoach prayed to Adonai, "Please, Adonai, let the man of God you sent come again to us and teach us what we should do for the child who will be born." God paid attention to what Manoach said, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field, but her husband Manoach wasn't with her. The woman hurried and ran to tell her husband, "Here! That man, the one who came to me the other day, he's come again!" Manoach got up, followed his wife, went to the man and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to the woman?" He answered, "I am." Manoach asked, "Now, when what you said comes true, what are the guidelines for raising the child? What should be done for him?" The angel of Adonai said to Manoach, "The woman should take care to do everything I said to her. She shouldn't eat anything that comes from a grapevine, she shouldn't drink wine or other intoxicating liquor, and she shouldn't eat anything unclean. She should do everything I ordered her to do." (Jdg 13:6-14)

THE FOOD TEST
It was traditional in those days to reward a prophet, a seer, or an adviser with a gift or even food. Manoah offers food to the "man of God." Manoah knows that angels do not eat. Was it because he still didn't know it was an angel or was it a test of identity?

The same events occur with another judge, Gideon:

Gid`on replied, "If indeed you favor me, would you mind giving me a sign that it is really you talking with me? Please don't leave until I go and return with a gift and present it to you." He replied, "I'll wait till you come back." Gid`on went in, cooked a young goat and made matzot from a bushel of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them out to him under the pistachio tree and presented them. The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and matzot, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth." Gid`on did so. Then the angel of Adonai reached out with the stick he was holding, touched the meat and matzot, and fire shot up out of the rock and burned up the meat and matzot. Then the angel of Adonai disappeared before his eyes. Gid`on realized that he was the angel of Adonai and said, "Oh no! My Lord! Adonai! Because I've seen the angel of Adonai face-to-face!" But Adonai reassured him, "Shalom to you, don't be afraid, you won't die!" Then Gid`on built an altar there to Adonai and called it "Adonai-Shalom"; to this day it remains in `Ofrah of the Avi`ezri. That very night Adonai said to him, "Take your father's bull and the other bull, the seven-year-old. Destroy the altar to Ba`al that belongs to your father, cut down the sacred pole next to it, and build a proper altar to Adonai your God on top of this strong-point. Then take the second bull; and offer it as a burnt offering, using the wood of the sacred pole you cut down." Gid`on took ten of his servants and did what Adonai had told him to do. He didn't do it by day, because he was afraid of the men in his father's household and those from the city, so he did it at night.
(Jdg 6:17-27)

In the case of Abraham, the angel did eat. Talmudic texts say that the angels only pretended to eat in order to respect Abraham. The theme of respect is often mentioned in Talmudic texts as an attribute of the angels.

Another angelic attribute to note here is that in both the cases of Myriam and of the wife of Manoah, the angel was concerned not to bring division between a husband and a wife, so they appeared to both.

Manoach said to the angel of Adonai, "Please stay with us a bit longer, so that we can cook a young goat for you." The angel of Adonai said to Manoach, "Even if I do stay, I won't eat your food; and if you prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to Adonai." For Manoach did not know that he was the angel of Adonai. (Jdg 13:15-16)

THE NAME AND THE WONDERFUL
Yeshua says that no one can see God and live (John 1:18, as repetition of Ex 33:20). When the Biblical text says, "The Angel of God," it often refers to a messianic theophany of the expression of HaShem.

Manoah pushed some more about the identity issue:

Manoach said to the angel of Adonai, "Tell us your name, so that when your words come true we can honor you." The angel of Adonai answered him, "Why are you asking about my name? It is wonderful." (Jdg 13:18)

The Messianic appellation "wonderful"/Peli/פלאי, which also means "incomprehensible," is derived from:

Who is like you, Adonai, among the mighty? Who is like you, sublime in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exo 15:11)

For this mitzvah which I am giving you today is not too hard for you, it is not beyond your reach. (Deu 30:11)

Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me, far too high for me to reach. (Psa 139:6)

"[You asked,] 'Who is this, hiding counsel, without having knowledge?' Yes, I spoke, without understanding, of wonders far beyond me, which I didn't know. (Job 42:3)

This word is also associated with the word "pala/פלא", the word referring to the Nazarite vow in this week's parahsa (Num 6:2).

Manoach took the kid and the grain offering and offered them on the rock to Adonai. Then, with Manoach and his wife looking on, the angel did something wonderful (פלא)-- as the flame went up toward the sky from the altar, the angel of Adonai went up in the flame from the altar. When Manoach and his wife saw it, they fell to the ground on their faces. But the angel of Adonai did not appear again to Manoach or his wife. Then Manoach realized it had been the angel of Adonai. (Jdg 13:19-21)

BUT FOR A WISE WOMAN, WE MIGHT DIE!
Manoah and his wife understood that this was more than a mere angel. It was the Angel of the Lord! Then they were scared!

Manoach said to his wife, "We will surely die, because we have seen God!" But his wife said to him, "If Adonai had wanted to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from us, and he wouldn't have shown us all this or told us such things at this time." (Jdg 13:22-23)

ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL!

The woman bore a son and called him Shimshon. The child grew, and Adonai blessed him. The Spirit of Adonai began to stir him when he was in the Camp of Dan, between Tzor`ah and Eshta'ol. (Jdg 13:24-25)iel

PS: While we know established and undisturbed peace in Jerusalem belongs to a future time, please pray for the peace of Jerusalem at this present time.

Here is a link for valuable information about current events. This is an Israeli messianic magazine, from Israel. Click on its name: Israel Today

MAY we remember that the writer of the book of Hebrews (The epistle to the Messianic Jews) tells us to not neglect showing hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
(Heb 13:2)

SHABBAT SHALOM

RABBI GABRIEL LUMBROSO

1 Comment

PARASHA SHELACH "For Adonai your God --He is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

BEHA'ALOTCHA "Not by force,and not by power,but by my Spirit,'says Adonai-Tzva'ot."

PARASHA NASSO: "Why are you asking about my name? It is wonderful.

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