Parshat 'Bo' (Exodus 10)
Some basic teachings contained in Parshat Bo:
•Parshat Bo begins with an important concept: G-od's interactions with the nations instruct us about our task in life, which is to grow in awareness of G-o'ds presence. In order that G-od's will might be done, He takes away a measure of free will from the world leaders (specifically from Pharaoh in this parsha). The Hebrew phrase for this concept is ''LEV MELAHHIM B'YAD HASHEM'' (Heart of kings /is/ in G-od's hand).
•parshat Bo states that Hashem 'hardened' Pharaoh's heart, so he would not be moved by G'ods display of might in bringing the ten plagues upon Egypt. The verse states the purpose of this 'hardening': it was to show to all the nations how Hashem shapes and manipulates the natural world to bring Israel to Him.
•(Some commentaries note that the 'hardening of the heart' was to RETURN Pharaoh's free will, not remove it~ only through 'hardening of the heart' would pharaoh be able to retain his free will when faced with G'ods might in the form of the ten plagues. The revelation of G'ods might in Egypt was so OVERWHELMING that only through 'hardening of the heart' was Pharaoh able to retain his free will).
•Remembering Israel's slavery in Egypt is a CONSTANTLY binding commandment, a sign for all the generations. The mitzvas of Tefillin, of Passover and of Shabbat are all ways to remember the egyptian slavery. (Parshas Bo ends with the mitzva of Tefillin).
•Exodus 12:2 uses a very surprising word toward the egyptians: rayekha רעיך ''your friend/neighbor/fellow human being. The word ''reish-ayen'' is found in the iconic ''Love your /neighbor/ as yourself'' (Lev.19:18). Though it might be understood as refering only to our 'friends' or brothers, we see that even the EGYPTIANS who had after all ENSLAVED us, are nevertheless referred here as 're'ah', towards whom we are supposed to act with love.
(of course ''loving one's neighbor'' does not mean allowing ourselves be abused or killed. It means that we need always to relate to others with JUSTICE, not with vengefulness.)
•We see that G-od gives all nations a CHANCE to join Israel in serving Him, as a number of Egyptians DID join Israel during Exodus. However, those who seek to harm Israel will be punished, even though it might take a long time...
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
ETERNAL LIFE IN TORAH
Eternal Life in the Torah
•Job had the assurance that although he was going to be eaten by worms, he would receive a new body and in that body would actually see God face to face, obviously conscious.
In Job 19:25-27 he says that “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
•Isaiah 26:19: “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You, who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”
•Dan 12:1-3, is clear: “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book— will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
•The wicked are like ‘the beasts that perish’ (Ps 49:12, 20) without any hope that they ‘should live on forever’ (Ps 49:9). However, the righteous have the triumphant expectation that ‘God will redeem [them] from the grave [ Sheol]; he will surely take [them] to himself’ (Ps 49:15).
•Genesis 5:24: God will snatch, take or receive us to himself when we die.
•Psalm 73:23-25 makes contrast between the wicked and the righteous. ''You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory’ (Ps 73:24).”
•Daniel 12:1-3 clearly refers to life after death and a bodily resurrection.
In the 73rd Psalm a man named Asaph describes “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:24-26).
•Other Psalms too mention the existence after death and affirm continued existence after death, such as: Ps.16:10 “... will not abandon me to the grave... will... fill me with... eternal pleasures at your right hand.”;
•Ps. 21 “surely you have granted him eternal blessings.”;
•Ps. 49:15 “but God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.”
•Other verses assuring us of eternal life and ressurection for those who observe the commandments:
*Isaiah 26:19.
*Daniel 12:2.
*Ezekiel 37:12-14.
*Psalm 16:10.
*Psalm 86:13.
*Psalm 71:20.
•Torah speaks of several noteworthy people being "gathered to their people." See, for example, Gen. 25:8 (Abraham), 25:17 (Ishmael), 35:29 (Isaac), 49:33 (Jacob), Deut. 32:50 (Moses and Aaron) II Kings 22:20 (King Josiah). This gathering is described as a separate event from the physical death of the body or the burial.
•Belief in resurrection of the dead is one of Rambam's13 Principles of Faith. The second blessing of theShemoneh Esrei prayer, which is recited three times daily, contains several references to resurrection.
•Job had the assurance that although he was going to be eaten by worms, he would receive a new body and in that body would actually see God face to face, obviously conscious.
In Job 19:25-27 he says that “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
•Isaiah 26:19: “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You, who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”
•Dan 12:1-3, is clear: “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book— will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
•The wicked are like ‘the beasts that perish’ (Ps 49:12, 20) without any hope that they ‘should live on forever’ (Ps 49:9). However, the righteous have the triumphant expectation that ‘God will redeem [them] from the grave [ Sheol]; he will surely take [them] to himself’ (Ps 49:15).
•Genesis 5:24: God will snatch, take or receive us to himself when we die.
•Psalm 73:23-25 makes contrast between the wicked and the righteous. ''You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory’ (Ps 73:24).”
•Daniel 12:1-3 clearly refers to life after death and a bodily resurrection.
In the 73rd Psalm a man named Asaph describes “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:24-26).
•Other Psalms too mention the existence after death and affirm continued existence after death, such as: Ps.16:10 “... will not abandon me to the grave... will... fill me with... eternal pleasures at your right hand.”;
•Ps. 21 “surely you have granted him eternal blessings.”;
•Ps. 49:15 “but God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.”
•Other verses assuring us of eternal life and ressurection for those who observe the commandments:
*Isaiah 26:19.
*Daniel 12:2.
*Ezekiel 37:12-14.
*Psalm 16:10.
*Psalm 86:13.
*Psalm 71:20.
•Torah speaks of several noteworthy people being "gathered to their people." See, for example, Gen. 25:8 (Abraham), 25:17 (Ishmael), 35:29 (Isaac), 49:33 (Jacob), Deut. 32:50 (Moses and Aaron) II Kings 22:20 (King Josiah). This gathering is described as a separate event from the physical death of the body or the burial.
•Belief in resurrection of the dead is one of Rambam's13 Principles of Faith. The second blessing of theShemoneh Esrei prayer, which is recited three times daily, contains several references to resurrection.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
king David in quran
muslims are ignoring the fact that the ONLY Allah-approved ruling monarchy in Israel was JEWISH/israelite/hebrew dynasty of King David, of whom many leading Jewish Torah scholars of today are unquestioningly descended from. Many independent DNA studies confirm the written geneological family tree histories of Jewish descendants of king David. see quran •2:246-251• •38:26•
so because Muhamed had a dream about a flying horse, muslims feel justified to occupying the JEWISH promised Land, which quran ADMITS was given to jews?
so because Muhamed had a dream about a flying horse, muslims feel justified to occupying the JEWISH promised Land, which quran ADMITS was given to jews?
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Judaism & Islam
Allah keeps changing his mind about his laws, (sura 2:106, 16:101). But G-od of Israel's word is ETERNAL, (ex. Genesis 9:16, 17:7, 31:13, 31:16, psalm 119:91...)
Nevertheless Quran mentions that he will preserve his word from corruption, ex. sura 10:64, 20:123
According to quran, previous revelation, Torah, was G-od's true guidance, ex. sura 2:40-50, 2:121, 3:3-4, 5:43-48, 7:145, 7:154, 7:159, 7:170, 10:94, 46:12...
According to Quran, ALL G-od's messangers lead to the same DESTINATION- sura 2:285.
And Moses was the ONLY prophet who conversed with G-od DIRECTLY, sura 4:163-164, Numbers 12:5-8.
Muhamed only claimed to have spoken with Gibril, sura 2:97...
IMHO if both islam and xtianity affirms the truth of the Torah, one is much better off following G-od's DIRECT word.
Nevertheless Quran mentions that he will preserve his word from corruption, ex. sura 10:64, 20:123
According to quran, previous revelation, Torah, was G-od's true guidance, ex. sura 2:40-50, 2:121, 3:3-4, 5:43-48, 7:145, 7:154, 7:159, 7:170, 10:94, 46:12...
According to Quran, ALL G-od's messangers lead to the same DESTINATION- sura 2:285.
And Moses was the ONLY prophet who conversed with G-od DIRECTLY, sura 4:163-164, Numbers 12:5-8.
Muhamed only claimed to have spoken with Gibril, sura 2:97...
IMHO if both islam and xtianity affirms the truth of the Torah, one is much better off following G-od's DIRECT word.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Grace & Salvation in Torah
•Grace in Torah•
G-od's grace or salvation does not depend on 'accepting' some dead idol on a stick. Go-d is our merciful Father. He is Gracious and Merciful to those who try their best to follow His Torah.
2 Kings 13:23. ''But the Lord showed grace to them, displayed his compassion toward them, and turned to them due to his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would not destroy them or evict them from his presence up until that time.''
2 Chronicles 6:24. “If your people Israel are defeated in a battle with their enemy because they have sinned against you, when they return to you and confess to you, pray, and in this Temple they ask you to show grace to them''
2 Chronicles 30:12. ''God also poured out his grace throughout Judah, giving them a dedicated heart to do what the king and princes had decreed according to the message from the Lord.''
Ezra 9:8. ''Though now, for a moment, grace has been shown from the Lord our God, leaving a few survivors to escape, and providing us a secure hold in his Holy Place, so that our God might enlighten us and give us relief from our servitude.''
Nehemiah 9:31. ''Nevertheless, in your great compassion you did not completely destroy them or abandon them, because you are a God of grace and you are merciful.''
Psalm 84:11. ''For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord grants grace and favor; the Lord will not withhold any good thing from those who walk blamelessly.''
Proverbs 3:34. ''Though God scoffs at scoffers, he gives grace to the humble.''
Isaiah 63:7. ''I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his gracious love.''
Daniel 1:9. ''God granted to Daniel grace and compassion on the part of the chief officer.''
Zech. 12:10. ''And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplications. And they shall look to me because of those who have been thrust through, and they shall mourn over it as one mourns over an only son and shall be in bitterness, therefore, as one is embittered over a firstborn son.''
•SALVATION•
Exodus 15:2. ''The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God and I’ll praise him, the God of my father and I’ll exalt him.''
2 Samuel 22:3. ''He is my God, my strong stone— in him I will find my refuge— my shield, the strength of my salvation, my high tower, my way of escape, and the one who is saving me. You will save me from violence.''
2 Samuel 22:47. ''The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock, and may my God be exalted, the Rock who is my salvation!''
2 Samuel 22:51. ''Great is the salvation he brings to his king, showing gracious love to his anointed, to David and to his offspring forever.''
2 Samuel 23:5. ''Is not my dynasty like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete salvation, has he not? He has been of continual help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?''
2 Chronicles 20:17. ''You won’t be fighting in this battle. Take your stand, but stand still, and watch the Lord’s salvation on your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem! Never fear and never be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, since the Lord is with you.’”
Psalm 18:2. ''The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my stronghold in whom I take refuge, my shield, the glory of my salvation, and my high tower.”
Psalm 24:4-6. ''The one who has innocent hands and a pure heart;
the person who does not delight in what is false
and does not swear an oath deceitfully.
5 This person will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation that seeks him.
Those who seek your presence
are the true seed of Jacob.''
Psalm 27:1. ''The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom will I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom will I be afraid?''
Psalm 27:9. ''Do not hide your face from me; do not turn away in anger from your servant. You have been my help, therefore do not abandon or forsake me, God of my salvation.''
Psalm 149:4. ''For the Lord is pleased with his people; he beautifies the afflicted with salvation.''
Isaiah 12:2. “Look! God—yes God—is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid. For the Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 33:6. ''He will be a sure foundation for your times, abundance and salvation, wisdom and knowledge — the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.”
Isaiah 45:17. ''But Israel will be saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you won’t be put to shame or disgraced ever again.”
Isaiah 46:13. ''My righteousness is brought near and it’s not far off, and my salvation won’t delay. I’ll grant salvation in Zion, and to Israel, my glory.”
Isaiah 49:8. “This what the Lord says: “I’ll answer you in a time of favor, and on a day of salvation I’ll help you. I have watched over you, and given you as a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to reassign the inheritances that have been devastated.''
Isaiah 51:6. “Lift up your eyes, you heavens and look to the earth beneath; and see who created these. Its inhabitants will die just like this; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never fail.''
Isaiah 51:8. ''For moths will eat them up just like a garment, and worms will devour them like wool; but my deliverance will last forever, and my salvation to all generations.''
Isaiah 52:10. ''The Lord has bared his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.''
Isaiah 56:1. ''For this is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and soon my deliverance will be revealed.''
Isaiah 59:17. ''He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury like a cloak.''
Isaiah 60:18. ''Then violence will no longer be heard in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you’ll call your walls ‘Salvation’, and your gates ‘Praise’.''
Isaiah 62:1. “And I won’t remain silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t stay quiet, until her vindication shines out like brightness, and her salvation like a burning torch.''
Jeremiah 3:23. ''Truly the hills are a deception, and the mountains are confusion. Truly, in the Lord our God is Israel’s salvation.”
...
Isaiah 1:
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.''
G-od's grace or salvation does not depend on 'accepting' some dead idol on a stick. Go-d is our merciful Father. He is Gracious and Merciful to those who try their best to follow His Torah.
2 Kings 13:23. ''But the Lord showed grace to them, displayed his compassion toward them, and turned to them due to his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would not destroy them or evict them from his presence up until that time.''
2 Chronicles 6:24. “If your people Israel are defeated in a battle with their enemy because they have sinned against you, when they return to you and confess to you, pray, and in this Temple they ask you to show grace to them''
2 Chronicles 30:12. ''God also poured out his grace throughout Judah, giving them a dedicated heart to do what the king and princes had decreed according to the message from the Lord.''
Ezra 9:8. ''Though now, for a moment, grace has been shown from the Lord our God, leaving a few survivors to escape, and providing us a secure hold in his Holy Place, so that our God might enlighten us and give us relief from our servitude.''
Nehemiah 9:31. ''Nevertheless, in your great compassion you did not completely destroy them or abandon them, because you are a God of grace and you are merciful.''
Psalm 84:11. ''For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord grants grace and favor; the Lord will not withhold any good thing from those who walk blamelessly.''
Proverbs 3:34. ''Though God scoffs at scoffers, he gives grace to the humble.''
Isaiah 63:7. ''I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his gracious love.''
Daniel 1:9. ''God granted to Daniel grace and compassion on the part of the chief officer.''
Zech. 12:10. ''And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplications. And they shall look to me because of those who have been thrust through, and they shall mourn over it as one mourns over an only son and shall be in bitterness, therefore, as one is embittered over a firstborn son.''
•SALVATION•
Exodus 15:2. ''The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God and I’ll praise him, the God of my father and I’ll exalt him.''
2 Samuel 22:3. ''He is my God, my strong stone— in him I will find my refuge— my shield, the strength of my salvation, my high tower, my way of escape, and the one who is saving me. You will save me from violence.''
2 Samuel 22:47. ''The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock, and may my God be exalted, the Rock who is my salvation!''
2 Samuel 22:51. ''Great is the salvation he brings to his king, showing gracious love to his anointed, to David and to his offspring forever.''
2 Samuel 23:5. ''Is not my dynasty like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete salvation, has he not? He has been of continual help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?''
2 Chronicles 20:17. ''You won’t be fighting in this battle. Take your stand, but stand still, and watch the Lord’s salvation on your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem! Never fear and never be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, since the Lord is with you.’”
Psalm 18:2. ''The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my stronghold in whom I take refuge, my shield, the glory of my salvation, and my high tower.”
Psalm 24:4-6. ''The one who has innocent hands and a pure heart;
the person who does not delight in what is false
and does not swear an oath deceitfully.
5 This person will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation that seeks him.
Those who seek your presence
are the true seed of Jacob.''
Psalm 27:1. ''The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom will I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom will I be afraid?''
Psalm 27:9. ''Do not hide your face from me; do not turn away in anger from your servant. You have been my help, therefore do not abandon or forsake me, God of my salvation.''
Psalm 149:4. ''For the Lord is pleased with his people; he beautifies the afflicted with salvation.''
Isaiah 12:2. “Look! God—yes God—is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid. For the Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 33:6. ''He will be a sure foundation for your times, abundance and salvation, wisdom and knowledge — the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.”
Isaiah 45:17. ''But Israel will be saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you won’t be put to shame or disgraced ever again.”
Isaiah 46:13. ''My righteousness is brought near and it’s not far off, and my salvation won’t delay. I’ll grant salvation in Zion, and to Israel, my glory.”
Isaiah 49:8. “This what the Lord says: “I’ll answer you in a time of favor, and on a day of salvation I’ll help you. I have watched over you, and given you as a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to reassign the inheritances that have been devastated.''
Isaiah 51:6. “Lift up your eyes, you heavens and look to the earth beneath; and see who created these. Its inhabitants will die just like this; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never fail.''
Isaiah 51:8. ''For moths will eat them up just like a garment, and worms will devour them like wool; but my deliverance will last forever, and my salvation to all generations.''
Isaiah 52:10. ''The Lord has bared his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.''
Isaiah 56:1. ''For this is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and soon my deliverance will be revealed.''
Isaiah 59:17. ''He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury like a cloak.''
Isaiah 60:18. ''Then violence will no longer be heard in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you’ll call your walls ‘Salvation’, and your gates ‘Praise’.''
Isaiah 62:1. “And I won’t remain silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t stay quiet, until her vindication shines out like brightness, and her salvation like a burning torch.''
Jeremiah 3:23. ''Truly the hills are a deception, and the mountains are confusion. Truly, in the Lord our God is Israel’s salvation.”
...
Isaiah 1:
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.''
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Moses
The ONLY prophet who conversed with G~od DIRECTLY, Moses our teacher, Moshe Rabbenu, the humblest, most selfless human being, who ever walked the Earth. Gave up a life of luxury at the age of 80, to bring a nation of opressed slaves back to G-od's Presence, to Sinai.
Neither Christian testment nor Muslim quran dare to state that Jzs or Muhamed ever received a direct personal contact with the Creator. the most quran dares to say is that muhamed spoke with 'Gibril', never direct with Allah (sura 2:97).
The most christian testment dares to say was that an ''echo'' was ''well pleased'' with Jzs...
Only Moshe merits the burning bush, the staff turning into snake, forty years of G-od's Presence among Israel, with manna, pillar of fire, splitting of the sea, the ten plagues, the water from the rock, the quail, the Decalogue - public NATIONAL revelation of L'ords Presence...
May our teacher's name continue to guide and inspire us to follow G-od's path! Moshe ben Yocheved v' Amram, blessed be your memory!
Neither Christian testment nor Muslim quran dare to state that Jzs or Muhamed ever received a direct personal contact with the Creator. the most quran dares to say is that muhamed spoke with 'Gibril', never direct with Allah (sura 2:97).
The most christian testment dares to say was that an ''echo'' was ''well pleased'' with Jzs...
Only Moshe merits the burning bush, the staff turning into snake, forty years of G-od's Presence among Israel, with manna, pillar of fire, splitting of the sea, the ten plagues, the water from the rock, the quail, the Decalogue - public NATIONAL revelation of L'ords Presence...
May our teacher's name continue to guide and inspire us to follow G-od's path! Moshe ben Yocheved v' Amram, blessed be your memory!
Monday, November 27, 2017
NACHASH נחש
NaChash נחש
The serpent, nachash, in the Garden of Eden, symbolizes evil inclination and desire, incarnated in nature. What is the secret of its power?
The word ''NACHASH'' defines the snake as a ''HISSER'': In hebrew, ''to hiss/ to whisper'' is •la'Chash•. Snake does not speak the truth, but it literally TWISTS itself as it °°whispers°° its half truths and its lies.
This same root is used to convey ''casting magic spells'', which too TWIST reality by whispering.
NECHOSHET in hebrew means both 'copper' and ... SORCERY,.literally ''whispering/incantations''.
Sorcery too TWISTS and manipulates the truth by
'hissing incantation'.
The root 'chush' also means ''feeling'' / or ''weakness'', which is another word which detracts from clarity and strength.
But everything Hashem gives us -has its use and can be RECTIFIED by using it as Torah commands! Copper (NECHOSHET) נחושת was used in the Temple for various vessels which PURIFIED, ex. the water cystern where the kohanim washed their hands, and feet to purify themselves for G'ods service. So •nechoshet and nachash• can be used to go after our base carnal desires, or as a vehicle of purification.
(Adam and Eve were 'naked'. §erpent was 'cunning'. Both words in hebrew share the same root, ''arum'', ערום . And they appear in two adjacent verses in Genesis.)
>>Adam and Eve were ''ARUM-im' (plural)' ~naked, but the snake was ''arum'' ~cunning/deceitful.
Same word, adjacent verses, different translation...
Perhaps we can translate the word 'arum' as °weak/°hungry/°needy/°flawed''...
... >>As long as we are AWARE of our •flaws/•desires/•hungers/•temptations/•weaknesses, they serve US. But if we allow our desires to rule over us, we become ''naked''. The very nature of human nature is hidden in those verses.
((The root ayen-resh, ער
also appears in words 'skin'(עור) ', 'blind' (iver), desire/excitement (hitorerut), sexual immoralty (erva).))
{If we REVERSE the root ayen-resh to RESH-AYEN, we get ''RAH'' ~ רע~ 'evil', which really means ''apart'' (from Hashem)}
Interestingly, the NACHASH appears again as Moshe's staff when Hashem sent him to Pharaoh. And there too the dual nature of this creature is hinted at: in Ex. 7:1-15, when Aaron wields the staff, it turns into a תנין-TANNIN (also seen in Gen.1:21). However when Moshe wields the same staff, Torah uses the word NACHASH נחש. BOTH tannin and nachash mean 'snake' as understood from the context here.... Why the change? The very same staff, when held by Aaron (and by the egyptian magicians), is called TANNIN. But when Moshe holds it, it is called ''NACHASH''...
Moshe AGAIN holds the nachash in parshat Chukkat...
In Num. 19-22 (parshat Chukkat), we learn about the ritual of the red heifer. It comes into play when we need to ritually purify ourselves from the 'tumah' of dead body. Why does touching a dead body contaminate us?
Our sages give different reasons and explanations for this ritual. The sages state that the red heifer ritual serves as an atonement for the sin of the golden calf, even though the setting in each respective case is different.
Golden calf was a sculpture, a 'soul-less shape' which Jews created as a focal point for their prayers in Moses' absence. Even though the Israelites created the golden calf out of spiritual hunger for G'ods guidance, its creation was considered a very serious offense, which resulted in Go'ds killing of those who participated in this heretical act.
Whereas the ritual of the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer has to do with ritual purification of one who touched a dead body, the sin of the golden calf was based in worshipping a 'dead sculpture'...
Some sources explain that the ritual contamination of a dead human body is due to its LOST POTENTIAL. Just as a human body has unlimited potential when ALIVE, it is all gone as soon as the limitless godly spark of life is gone. A sculpture used in idol worship is dead, without any real soul, without any power, even though it is fashioned to symbolize G'od who is the REAL source of power.
So when the Jews have created the golden calf and worshipped it as a symbol of the Creator, they had squandered their INFINITE SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL to connect with G'od DIRECTLY ~WITHOUT the contradicting interposition of any ersatz made-up idols.
How could the Israelites which just recently had been freed from the Egyptian slavery, with Go'ds mighty plagues, and with splitting of the sea, how could they point to a mere statue and call it 'god' who took us out of Egypt''?😱
It seems that Israelites yearned for some visual/physical focus for their prayers. Of course it goes without saying that they knew that it wasnt the actual golden calf who took them out of Egypt or split the sea.
Nevertheless they felt an urge, a need/hunger/desire to fashion a physical focal point for their worship/prayers. And such act was considered a grave sin.
For the Creator is INFINITE and cannot be reduced to any physical form. Any representation of Go'ds attributes is not °Go'd°.
Hence praying to the golden calf constituted 'taking G'ods Name in vain', as indicated in the Decalogue, 3rd commandment.
So the construction & the prayer to the golden calf was the ultimate ''squandering'' and ''destruction'' of spiritually infinite potential of DIRECT connecting to the Infinite Creator.
So too the death of a human being is the ultimate loss of the infinite potential of a human life, (the soul) and the loss of the connection between the infinite spark of life animating the body, and the body itself.
The ritual PURPOSE of the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer is to purify one who touched a corpse. But curiously, the very PROCESS of producing the ashes of the red heifer renders one who MAKES them, -IMPURE. The lesson is, the process of achieving the ultimate purification might come THROUGH IMPURITY. We need to ''get our hands dirty'' to achieve spiritual cleanliness. The very object which ultimately might purify us, if we follow Hashem's path, can also have some adverse effects.
The golden calf, while born from Israelites' YEARNING for Hashem's guidance, was nevertheless deemed such severe grievous SIN, that it needed to be PHYSICALLY ERADICATED by slaying those who participated.
>>>In the book of Genesis 3, when the §erpent °°beguiled°° Eve, the word ''hishiani'' is used, root ALEF-SHIN. This root means 'to destroy, anihilate', level, as in 'shoah'- 'holocaust'.. But it is also used in the sense of ''to confuse, puzzle, beguile'', because someone ''destroys'' the meaning of truth by falsely EQUATING/comparing two dissimiliar concepts.
Same root is used in the 3rd commandment about not taking Hashem's Name ''in vain''. The word ''in vain'' is ''La'Shov''.
(Exodus 20:)
•לא תִשָּׂא אֶת-שם לַשָּוְא•
The word 'La-Shov' means to ''equate, compare''. When we compare/equate the INFINITE One to anything which is created/limited, we are actually DESTROYING Go'ds Infinite Name in the world.
Christian heretical theology of incarnation ''beguiles'' and DESTROYS Go'ds Infinite Name by 'equating' it with a limited human being...
Jzs in John 3:14 compares himself to the snake which Moshe fashioned out of COPPER/ nechoshet, in the desert.
Why not compare yourself to the OTHER snake used by Moshe to demonstrate Hashem's might before Pharaoh???
It seems that Jzs here speaks with a true serpentine fork-tongued need to agrandize/feed the desire to elevate himself.
The copper snake on Moses' pole wasn't elevated to be worshipped, but as a WARNING and as a reminder. if u know the rest of the parsha, the israelites sinned by SPEAKING against Hashem, hence they got BITTEN by the ''nachash'' who HISSES (incites through whispering half-truths). The word NACHASH is from the hebrew root la'Chash- ''to whisper''. it was a reminder for israelites to watch their murmuring against Hashem, and an act of ''de-fanging'' of the snake, by EXPOSING its whispered innuendos. To make sure that we get the message, the word used for snake's 'pole' here is 'NES' (aka 'test'). Jzs' statement in john 3:14 that he needs to be ''elevated'' is a calculated TWISTING of G'ods words, EXACTLY for what the snake in Gen. 3:14 got cursed for- TWISTING G'ods words!!!
So Jzs was actually twisting Go'ds words from parshat Chukat in Num.19-22, by actually admitting to being comparable to the snake cursed for the very same sin... For the copper snake wasn't 'worshipped' as 'god' or as 'incarnation' of G'od, but as a reminder pointing the Israelites to the INFINITE CREATOR. Ironic...
As it was suggested above about the word ''ARUM'' to be translated as desire/hunger/weakness/temptation/flaw/, we see the same meaning in the root חוש -CHUSH, which is the root core of the word Na-CHASH. Chush too means weakness, feeling, desire, disease. Thus listening to §erpent's whispered ''hushed'' hisses, we actually become CHUSH-weak.
Jzs compares himself to the specific snake in john 3:14, not the one who followed Hashem's bidding in Moshe's hands in Pharaoh's palace in Egypt, but the one who was constructed as a reminder to the Israelites' for their WHISPERING/murmuring against Hashem.
Jzs' mistake is stating that the snake needs to be ''elevated''... since Jzs desired to be 'elevated' as well.
The copper snake's role is to be a REMINDER about loyalty to Hashem, not about making oneself into an object of worship!
The snakes which bit Israelites for murmuring against Hashem, were acting just as predicted in Torah- they bit the Israelites.. The biblical snake in Gen. 3:14 who tempted Eve in the garden- that snake gets CURSED by Go'd for the sin of 'beguiling Eve', through TWISTING GO'Ds words.
So too Jzs twists his words to elevate himself as ''Go'ds son'', as ''sole gateway'' to Hashem, ''capable of forgiving sins in Go'ds stead'' etc.
Instead of humbly reminding the Jews to turn to Hashem, Jzs had tried to elevate himself into some kind of 'golden calf' representing Hashem.
Jzs' hubris is further seen in Rev. 22:16, where he compares himself to a ''morning star''. Strangely, this same 'morning star' is being PUNISHED for its pride in Isaiah 14...
(And in the christian tradition, the title of ''morning star'' has been applied to Lucifer, the ''enlightened one''...
(When studying hebrew roots, it is fascinating to note that one of the hebrew words for 'cursed' is 'OHRUR' ארור
which has the root ''ohr'' light. Even light, when not handled with proper care can be a source of a curse...
Whichever does not lead us toward G'od, becomes a venomous poison and a curse, just as the serpents in the desert, just like the serpent in the garden of Eden who caused our fall...
if we allow our desires and whispered lies to rule over us, we become ''naked''. The very nature of human nature is hidden in those verses.
((The root ayen-resh, ער
also appears in words 'skin'(עור) ', 'blind' (iver), desire/excitement (hitorerut), sexual immoralty (erva).))
{If we REVERSE the root ayen-resh to RESH-AYEN, we get ''RAH'' ~ רע~ 'evil', which really means ''apart'' (from Hashem)}
When the NACHASH appears as Moshe's staff when Hashem sent him to Pharaoh, his dual nature is hinted at: in Ex. 7:1-15. >>When Aaron wields the staff, it turns into a תנין-TANNIN (also seen in Gen.1:21). When Moshe wields the same staff, Torah uses the word NACHASH נחש. BOTH tannin and nachash mean 'snake' as understood from the context here.... Why the change? The very same staff, when held by Aaron (and by the egyptian magicians), is called TANNIN. But when Moshe holds it, it is called ''NACHASH''...
Moshe AGAIN holds the nachash in parshat Chukkat...
In Num. 19-22, we learn about the ritual of the red heifer. It comes into play when we need to ritually purify ourselves from the 'tumah' of dead body. Why does touching a dead body contaminate us?
Our sages give different reasons and explanations for this ritual, but Torah itself does not give any. The sages state that the red heifer ritual serves as an atonement for the sin of the golden calf, even though the setting in each respective case is different. Golden calf was a sculpture, a 'lifeless shape' which Jews created as a focal point for their prayers in Moses' absence. Its creation was considered a very serious offense, which resulted in Go'ds killing of those who participated in this heretical act. Whereas the ritual of the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer has to do with ritual purification of one who touched a dead body....
Some sources explain that the ritual contamination of a dead human body is due to the LOST POTENTIAL. Just as a human body has unlimited potential when ALIVE, it is all gone as soon as the spark of life is gone. A sculpture used in idol worship is dead, without any real potential, even though it is fashioned to symbolize a source of power.
So too, when the Jews have created the golden calf and worshipped it as a symbol of their Creator, they had squandered their SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL to connect with G'od WITHOUT any ersatz made-up idols. How could the Israelites which just recently had been freed from the egyptian slavery with Go'ds mighty plagues and with splitting of the sea , how could they point to a mere statue and call it 'god' who took us out of Egypt''?
It seems that the israelites needed some visual focus for their prayers. Of course it goes without saying that they knew that it wasnt the golden calf who took them out of Egypt or split the sea. Nevertheless they felt a need/hunger/desire to fashion a physical focal point for their worship/prayers. And such act was considered a grave sin. For the Creator is INFINITE and cannot be reduced to any physical form. Any representation of Go'ds attributes is not Go'd. Hence it constitutes 'taking of G'ods Name in vain'.
So the construction & the prayer to the golden calf was the ultimate ''squandering'' of spiritual potential (of connecting to the Creator). So too the death of a human being is the ultimate loss of the potential of a human life.
The PURPOSE of the ritual of the red heifer is to purify one who touched a corpse.
But curiously, the very PROCESS of producing the ashes of the red heifer renders one who MAKES them, IMPURE. The lesson is, the process of achieving the ultimate purification might come THROUGH IMPURITY. We need to be able to get our hands dirty to achieve spiritual cleanliness. The very object which ultimately might purify us, if we follow Hashem's path, but it can also CONTAMINATE. The golden calf, while built from a YEARNING for Hashem's guidance, was nevertheless deemed a grievous SIN, which needed to be PHYSICALLY ERADICATED.
>>>In the book of Genesis 3, when the §erpent °°beguiled°° Eve, the word ''hishiani'' is used, root ALEF-SHIN. This root means 'to destroy, anihilate', level, as in 'shoah'- 'holocaust'.. But it is also used in the sense of ''to confuse, puzzle, beguile'', because someone ''destroys'' the true meaning by falsely EQUATING/comparing two dissimiliar concepts. Same root is used in the 3rd commandment about not taking Hashem's Name ''in vain''. The word ''in vain'' is ''La'Shov''. Ex. 20:
לא תִשָּׂא אֶת-שם לַשָּוְא:
The word 'La-Shov' means to ''equate, compare''. When we compare/equate the INFINITE One to anything created/limited, we are DESTROYING Go'ds Infinite Name.
Christian theology of incarnation ''beguiles'' and DESTROYS Go'ds Infinite Name by 'equating' it with a limited human being...
Jzs in John 3:14 compares himself to the snake which Moshe fashioned out of COPPER/ nechoshet, in the desert.
Why not compare yourself to the OTHER snake used by Moshe to demonstrate Hashem's might before Pharaoh???
Jzs here speaks like a true fork-tongued creation. The copper snake on Moses' pole wasn't elevated to be worshipped, but as a WARNING and as a reminder. if u know the rest of the parsha, the israelites sinned by SPEAKING against Hashem, hence they got BITTEN by ''nachash'' who HISSES (incites through whispering half-truths). The word NACHASH is from the hebrew root la'Chash- ''to whisper''. it was a reminder for israelites to watch their murmuring against Hashem, and an act of ''de-fanging'' of the snake, by EXPOSING its whispered innuendos.
To make sure that we get the message, the word used for 'pole' here is 'NES' (aka 'test'). Jzs' statement in john 3:14 that he needs to be ''elevated'' is a calculated TWISTING of G'ods words, EXACTLY for what the snake in Gen. 3:14 got cursed for- TWISTING G'ods words!!! So while Jzs was actually twisting Go'ds words from parshat Chukat in Num.19-22, he actually admitted to being comparable to the snake cursed for the very same sin... Ironic...
As it was suggested above about the word ''ARUM'' to be translated as desire/hunger/weakness/temptation/flaw/, we see the same meaning in the root חוש -CHUSH, which is the root core of the word Na-CHASH. Chush too means weakness, feeling, desire, disease...
Jzs compares himself to the specific snake in john 3:14, not the one who followed Hashem's bidding in Pharaoh's palace in Egypt, but the one who was constructed as a reminder to the Israelites' for their WHISPERING/murmuring against Hashem. Jzs' mistake is stating that the snake needs to be ''elevated''... since Jzs desires to be 'elevated' as well. The copper snakes role is to be a REMINDER about loyalty to Hashem, not about making the sculpture an object of worship!
The snakes which bit Israelites for murmuring against Hashem, were acting just as predicted in Torah- they bit the Israelites.. The biblical snake who tempted Eve in the garden- gets CURSED by Go'd in Gen. 3:14, for the sin of 'beguiling Eve', for TWISTING GO'Ds words. So too Jzs twists his words to elevate himself as ''Go'ds son'', a ''sole gateway'' to Hashem, ''capable of forgiving sins in Go'ds stead'' , instead of humbly reminding them to turn to Hashem.
Jzs' hubris is further seen in Rev. 22:16, where he compares himself to a ''morning star''. Strangely, this same 'morning star' is being PUNISHED for its pride of ELEVATING ITSELF above others in Isaiah 14...
( in the christian tradition, the title of ''morning star'' has been also applied to Lucifer, the ''enlightened one''... So Jzs and Lucifer are both called by the same moniker of 'morning star' as well as they are BOTH compared to the incarnation of temptation, §nake.
When studying hebrew roots, it is fascinating to note that one of the hebrew words for 'cursed' is 'OHRUR' ארור
which has the root ''ohr'' light in it. Even light, when not handled with proper care can be a source of a curse... )
👹🔆🐉
Whichever does not leads us to G'od, it becomes a venomous poison and a curse, just as the serpents in the desert, just like the serpent in the garden of Eden who caused our fall.
And that's the connection between the ritual of purifying a person contaminated by touching a dead body, with the construction of the copper snake - both have the inherent dual capacity to purify or to contaminate. The ashes of the red heifer purify the impure ones, but they contaminate ones that are pure.
So too the copper §erpent, while a symbol of incarnated evil inclination toward carnal desires, if placed as a reminder to purify our words and desires, can actually turn us to Hashem, the Source of all healing!
The serpent, nachash, in the Garden of Eden, symbolizes evil inclination and desire, incarnated in nature. What is the secret of its power?
The word ''NACHASH'' defines the snake as a ''HISSER'': In hebrew, ''to hiss/ to whisper'' is •la'Chash•. Snake does not speak the truth, but it literally TWISTS itself as it °°whispers°° its half truths and its lies.
This same root is used to convey ''casting magic spells'', which too TWIST reality by whispering.
NECHOSHET in hebrew means both 'copper' and ... SORCERY,.literally ''whispering/incantations''.
Sorcery too TWISTS and manipulates the truth by
'hissing incantation'.
The root 'chush' also means ''feeling'' / or ''weakness'', which is another word which detracts from clarity and strength.
But everything Hashem gives us -has its use and can be RECTIFIED by using it as Torah commands! Copper (NECHOSHET) נחושת was used in the Temple for various vessels which PURIFIED, ex. the water cystern where the kohanim washed their hands, and feet to purify themselves for G'ods service. So •nechoshet and nachash• can be used to go after our base carnal desires, or as a vehicle of purification.
(Adam and Eve were 'naked'. §erpent was 'cunning'. Both words in hebrew share the same root, ''arum'', ערום . And they appear in two adjacent verses in Genesis.)
>>Adam and Eve were ''ARUM-im' (plural)' ~naked, but the snake was ''arum'' ~cunning/deceitful.
Same word, adjacent verses, different translation...
Perhaps we can translate the word 'arum' as °weak/°hungry/°needy/°flawed''...
... >>As long as we are AWARE of our •flaws/•desires/•hungers/•temptations/•weaknesses, they serve US. But if we allow our desires to rule over us, we become ''naked''. The very nature of human nature is hidden in those verses.
((The root ayen-resh, ער
also appears in words 'skin'(עור) ', 'blind' (iver), desire/excitement (hitorerut), sexual immoralty (erva).))
{If we REVERSE the root ayen-resh to RESH-AYEN, we get ''RAH'' ~ רע~ 'evil', which really means ''apart'' (from Hashem)}
Interestingly, the NACHASH appears again as Moshe's staff when Hashem sent him to Pharaoh. And there too the dual nature of this creature is hinted at: in Ex. 7:1-15, when Aaron wields the staff, it turns into a תנין-TANNIN (also seen in Gen.1:21). However when Moshe wields the same staff, Torah uses the word NACHASH נחש. BOTH tannin and nachash mean 'snake' as understood from the context here.... Why the change? The very same staff, when held by Aaron (and by the egyptian magicians), is called TANNIN. But when Moshe holds it, it is called ''NACHASH''...
Moshe AGAIN holds the nachash in parshat Chukkat...
In Num. 19-22 (parshat Chukkat), we learn about the ritual of the red heifer. It comes into play when we need to ritually purify ourselves from the 'tumah' of dead body. Why does touching a dead body contaminate us?
Our sages give different reasons and explanations for this ritual. The sages state that the red heifer ritual serves as an atonement for the sin of the golden calf, even though the setting in each respective case is different.
Golden calf was a sculpture, a 'soul-less shape' which Jews created as a focal point for their prayers in Moses' absence. Even though the Israelites created the golden calf out of spiritual hunger for G'ods guidance, its creation was considered a very serious offense, which resulted in Go'ds killing of those who participated in this heretical act.
Whereas the ritual of the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer has to do with ritual purification of one who touched a dead body, the sin of the golden calf was based in worshipping a 'dead sculpture'...
Some sources explain that the ritual contamination of a dead human body is due to its LOST POTENTIAL. Just as a human body has unlimited potential when ALIVE, it is all gone as soon as the limitless godly spark of life is gone. A sculpture used in idol worship is dead, without any real soul, without any power, even though it is fashioned to symbolize G'od who is the REAL source of power.
So when the Jews have created the golden calf and worshipped it as a symbol of the Creator, they had squandered their INFINITE SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL to connect with G'od DIRECTLY ~WITHOUT the contradicting interposition of any ersatz made-up idols.
How could the Israelites which just recently had been freed from the Egyptian slavery, with Go'ds mighty plagues, and with splitting of the sea, how could they point to a mere statue and call it 'god' who took us out of Egypt''?😱
It seems that Israelites yearned for some visual/physical focus for their prayers. Of course it goes without saying that they knew that it wasnt the actual golden calf who took them out of Egypt or split the sea.
Nevertheless they felt an urge, a need/hunger/desire to fashion a physical focal point for their worship/prayers. And such act was considered a grave sin.
For the Creator is INFINITE and cannot be reduced to any physical form. Any representation of Go'ds attributes is not °Go'd°.
Hence praying to the golden calf constituted 'taking G'ods Name in vain', as indicated in the Decalogue, 3rd commandment.
So the construction & the prayer to the golden calf was the ultimate ''squandering'' and ''destruction'' of spiritually infinite potential of DIRECT connecting to the Infinite Creator.
So too the death of a human being is the ultimate loss of the infinite potential of a human life, (the soul) and the loss of the connection between the infinite spark of life animating the body, and the body itself.
The ritual PURPOSE of the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer is to purify one who touched a corpse. But curiously, the very PROCESS of producing the ashes of the red heifer renders one who MAKES them, -IMPURE. The lesson is, the process of achieving the ultimate purification might come THROUGH IMPURITY. We need to ''get our hands dirty'' to achieve spiritual cleanliness. The very object which ultimately might purify us, if we follow Hashem's path, can also have some adverse effects.
The golden calf, while born from Israelites' YEARNING for Hashem's guidance, was nevertheless deemed such severe grievous SIN, that it needed to be PHYSICALLY ERADICATED by slaying those who participated.
>>>In the book of Genesis 3, when the §erpent °°beguiled°° Eve, the word ''hishiani'' is used, root ALEF-SHIN. This root means 'to destroy, anihilate', level, as in 'shoah'- 'holocaust'.. But it is also used in the sense of ''to confuse, puzzle, beguile'', because someone ''destroys'' the meaning of truth by falsely EQUATING/comparing two dissimiliar concepts.
Same root is used in the 3rd commandment about not taking Hashem's Name ''in vain''. The word ''in vain'' is ''La'Shov''.
(Exodus 20:)
•לא תִשָּׂא אֶת-שם לַשָּוְא•
The word 'La-Shov' means to ''equate, compare''. When we compare/equate the INFINITE One to anything which is created/limited, we are actually DESTROYING Go'ds Infinite Name in the world.
Christian heretical theology of incarnation ''beguiles'' and DESTROYS Go'ds Infinite Name by 'equating' it with a limited human being...
Jzs in John 3:14 compares himself to the snake which Moshe fashioned out of COPPER/ nechoshet, in the desert.
Why not compare yourself to the OTHER snake used by Moshe to demonstrate Hashem's might before Pharaoh???
It seems that Jzs here speaks with a true serpentine fork-tongued need to agrandize/feed the desire to elevate himself.
The copper snake on Moses' pole wasn't elevated to be worshipped, but as a WARNING and as a reminder. if u know the rest of the parsha, the israelites sinned by SPEAKING against Hashem, hence they got BITTEN by the ''nachash'' who HISSES (incites through whispering half-truths). The word NACHASH is from the hebrew root la'Chash- ''to whisper''. it was a reminder for israelites to watch their murmuring against Hashem, and an act of ''de-fanging'' of the snake, by EXPOSING its whispered innuendos. To make sure that we get the message, the word used for snake's 'pole' here is 'NES' (aka 'test'). Jzs' statement in john 3:14 that he needs to be ''elevated'' is a calculated TWISTING of G'ods words, EXACTLY for what the snake in Gen. 3:14 got cursed for- TWISTING G'ods words!!!
So Jzs was actually twisting Go'ds words from parshat Chukat in Num.19-22, by actually admitting to being comparable to the snake cursed for the very same sin... For the copper snake wasn't 'worshipped' as 'god' or as 'incarnation' of G'od, but as a reminder pointing the Israelites to the INFINITE CREATOR. Ironic...
As it was suggested above about the word ''ARUM'' to be translated as desire/hunger/weakness/temptation/flaw/, we see the same meaning in the root חוש -CHUSH, which is the root core of the word Na-CHASH. Chush too means weakness, feeling, desire, disease. Thus listening to §erpent's whispered ''hushed'' hisses, we actually become CHUSH-weak.
Jzs compares himself to the specific snake in john 3:14, not the one who followed Hashem's bidding in Moshe's hands in Pharaoh's palace in Egypt, but the one who was constructed as a reminder to the Israelites' for their WHISPERING/murmuring against Hashem.
Jzs' mistake is stating that the snake needs to be ''elevated''... since Jzs desired to be 'elevated' as well.
The copper snake's role is to be a REMINDER about loyalty to Hashem, not about making oneself into an object of worship!
The snakes which bit Israelites for murmuring against Hashem, were acting just as predicted in Torah- they bit the Israelites.. The biblical snake in Gen. 3:14 who tempted Eve in the garden- that snake gets CURSED by Go'd for the sin of 'beguiling Eve', through TWISTING GO'Ds words.
So too Jzs twists his words to elevate himself as ''Go'ds son'', as ''sole gateway'' to Hashem, ''capable of forgiving sins in Go'ds stead'' etc.
Instead of humbly reminding the Jews to turn to Hashem, Jzs had tried to elevate himself into some kind of 'golden calf' representing Hashem.
Jzs' hubris is further seen in Rev. 22:16, where he compares himself to a ''morning star''. Strangely, this same 'morning star' is being PUNISHED for its pride in Isaiah 14...
(And in the christian tradition, the title of ''morning star'' has been applied to Lucifer, the ''enlightened one''...
(When studying hebrew roots, it is fascinating to note that one of the hebrew words for 'cursed' is 'OHRUR' ארור
which has the root ''ohr'' light. Even light, when not handled with proper care can be a source of a curse...
Whichever does not lead us toward G'od, becomes a venomous poison and a curse, just as the serpents in the desert, just like the serpent in the garden of Eden who caused our fall...
if we allow our desires and whispered lies to rule over us, we become ''naked''. The very nature of human nature is hidden in those verses.
((The root ayen-resh, ער
also appears in words 'skin'(עור) ', 'blind' (iver), desire/excitement (hitorerut), sexual immoralty (erva).))
{If we REVERSE the root ayen-resh to RESH-AYEN, we get ''RAH'' ~ רע~ 'evil', which really means ''apart'' (from Hashem)}
When the NACHASH appears as Moshe's staff when Hashem sent him to Pharaoh, his dual nature is hinted at: in Ex. 7:1-15. >>When Aaron wields the staff, it turns into a תנין-TANNIN (also seen in Gen.1:21). When Moshe wields the same staff, Torah uses the word NACHASH נחש. BOTH tannin and nachash mean 'snake' as understood from the context here.... Why the change? The very same staff, when held by Aaron (and by the egyptian magicians), is called TANNIN. But when Moshe holds it, it is called ''NACHASH''...
Moshe AGAIN holds the nachash in parshat Chukkat...
In Num. 19-22, we learn about the ritual of the red heifer. It comes into play when we need to ritually purify ourselves from the 'tumah' of dead body. Why does touching a dead body contaminate us?
Our sages give different reasons and explanations for this ritual, but Torah itself does not give any. The sages state that the red heifer ritual serves as an atonement for the sin of the golden calf, even though the setting in each respective case is different. Golden calf was a sculpture, a 'lifeless shape' which Jews created as a focal point for their prayers in Moses' absence. Its creation was considered a very serious offense, which resulted in Go'ds killing of those who participated in this heretical act. Whereas the ritual of the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer has to do with ritual purification of one who touched a dead body....
Some sources explain that the ritual contamination of a dead human body is due to the LOST POTENTIAL. Just as a human body has unlimited potential when ALIVE, it is all gone as soon as the spark of life is gone. A sculpture used in idol worship is dead, without any real potential, even though it is fashioned to symbolize a source of power.
So too, when the Jews have created the golden calf and worshipped it as a symbol of their Creator, they had squandered their SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL to connect with G'od WITHOUT any ersatz made-up idols. How could the Israelites which just recently had been freed from the egyptian slavery with Go'ds mighty plagues and with splitting of the sea , how could they point to a mere statue and call it 'god' who took us out of Egypt''?
It seems that the israelites needed some visual focus for their prayers. Of course it goes without saying that they knew that it wasnt the golden calf who took them out of Egypt or split the sea. Nevertheless they felt a need/hunger/desire to fashion a physical focal point for their worship/prayers. And such act was considered a grave sin. For the Creator is INFINITE and cannot be reduced to any physical form. Any representation of Go'ds attributes is not Go'd. Hence it constitutes 'taking of G'ods Name in vain'.
So the construction & the prayer to the golden calf was the ultimate ''squandering'' of spiritual potential (of connecting to the Creator). So too the death of a human being is the ultimate loss of the potential of a human life.
The PURPOSE of the ritual of the red heifer is to purify one who touched a corpse.
But curiously, the very PROCESS of producing the ashes of the red heifer renders one who MAKES them, IMPURE. The lesson is, the process of achieving the ultimate purification might come THROUGH IMPURITY. We need to be able to get our hands dirty to achieve spiritual cleanliness. The very object which ultimately might purify us, if we follow Hashem's path, but it can also CONTAMINATE. The golden calf, while built from a YEARNING for Hashem's guidance, was nevertheless deemed a grievous SIN, which needed to be PHYSICALLY ERADICATED.
>>>In the book of Genesis 3, when the §erpent °°beguiled°° Eve, the word ''hishiani'' is used, root ALEF-SHIN. This root means 'to destroy, anihilate', level, as in 'shoah'- 'holocaust'.. But it is also used in the sense of ''to confuse, puzzle, beguile'', because someone ''destroys'' the true meaning by falsely EQUATING/comparing two dissimiliar concepts. Same root is used in the 3rd commandment about not taking Hashem's Name ''in vain''. The word ''in vain'' is ''La'Shov''. Ex. 20:
לא תִשָּׂא אֶת-שם לַשָּוְא:
The word 'La-Shov' means to ''equate, compare''. When we compare/equate the INFINITE One to anything created/limited, we are DESTROYING Go'ds Infinite Name.
Christian theology of incarnation ''beguiles'' and DESTROYS Go'ds Infinite Name by 'equating' it with a limited human being...
Jzs in John 3:14 compares himself to the snake which Moshe fashioned out of COPPER/ nechoshet, in the desert.
Why not compare yourself to the OTHER snake used by Moshe to demonstrate Hashem's might before Pharaoh???
Jzs here speaks like a true fork-tongued creation. The copper snake on Moses' pole wasn't elevated to be worshipped, but as a WARNING and as a reminder. if u know the rest of the parsha, the israelites sinned by SPEAKING against Hashem, hence they got BITTEN by ''nachash'' who HISSES (incites through whispering half-truths). The word NACHASH is from the hebrew root la'Chash- ''to whisper''. it was a reminder for israelites to watch their murmuring against Hashem, and an act of ''de-fanging'' of the snake, by EXPOSING its whispered innuendos.
To make sure that we get the message, the word used for 'pole' here is 'NES' (aka 'test'). Jzs' statement in john 3:14 that he needs to be ''elevated'' is a calculated TWISTING of G'ods words, EXACTLY for what the snake in Gen. 3:14 got cursed for- TWISTING G'ods words!!! So while Jzs was actually twisting Go'ds words from parshat Chukat in Num.19-22, he actually admitted to being comparable to the snake cursed for the very same sin... Ironic...
As it was suggested above about the word ''ARUM'' to be translated as desire/hunger/weakness/temptation/flaw/, we see the same meaning in the root חוש -CHUSH, which is the root core of the word Na-CHASH. Chush too means weakness, feeling, desire, disease...
Jzs compares himself to the specific snake in john 3:14, not the one who followed Hashem's bidding in Pharaoh's palace in Egypt, but the one who was constructed as a reminder to the Israelites' for their WHISPERING/murmuring against Hashem. Jzs' mistake is stating that the snake needs to be ''elevated''... since Jzs desires to be 'elevated' as well. The copper snakes role is to be a REMINDER about loyalty to Hashem, not about making the sculpture an object of worship!
The snakes which bit Israelites for murmuring against Hashem, were acting just as predicted in Torah- they bit the Israelites.. The biblical snake who tempted Eve in the garden- gets CURSED by Go'd in Gen. 3:14, for the sin of 'beguiling Eve', for TWISTING GO'Ds words. So too Jzs twists his words to elevate himself as ''Go'ds son'', a ''sole gateway'' to Hashem, ''capable of forgiving sins in Go'ds stead'' , instead of humbly reminding them to turn to Hashem.
Jzs' hubris is further seen in Rev. 22:16, where he compares himself to a ''morning star''. Strangely, this same 'morning star' is being PUNISHED for its pride of ELEVATING ITSELF above others in Isaiah 14...
( in the christian tradition, the title of ''morning star'' has been also applied to Lucifer, the ''enlightened one''... So Jzs and Lucifer are both called by the same moniker of 'morning star' as well as they are BOTH compared to the incarnation of temptation, §nake.
When studying hebrew roots, it is fascinating to note that one of the hebrew words for 'cursed' is 'OHRUR' ארור
which has the root ''ohr'' light in it. Even light, when not handled with proper care can be a source of a curse... )
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Whichever does not leads us to G'od, it becomes a venomous poison and a curse, just as the serpents in the desert, just like the serpent in the garden of Eden who caused our fall.
And that's the connection between the ritual of purifying a person contaminated by touching a dead body, with the construction of the copper snake - both have the inherent dual capacity to purify or to contaminate. The ashes of the red heifer purify the impure ones, but they contaminate ones that are pure.
So too the copper §erpent, while a symbol of incarnated evil inclination toward carnal desires, if placed as a reminder to purify our words and desires, can actually turn us to Hashem, the Source of all healing!
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