DOCSLIB.ORG

Ye[.S;M I) Reading the Torah Portion

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ye[.S;M I) Reading the Torah Portion 3-Year The Torah Portion | Parashat #123 Torah Cycle Masei (Reading 1 of 3) Parashat #123 March 6, 2021 ye[.s;m I) Reading the Torah Portion Masei Now it’s time to read the Torah portion. You will get the most out of the Torah portion if you have a disciplined plan for approaching it each week. I suggest the following (although you may want to Numbers 33:1-56 develop your own plan of attack). Prepare by having a pen and paper ready to take notes or by having Isaiah 11:16-12:6 your computer ready. Read the Torah portion quickly just to get a bird’s-eye view of it and to gain a 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 general understanding of its contents. Then read it again slowly and more contemplatively. As you read it, you should keep track of 1) changes in the main storyline (plots and subplots) of the text, 2) the introduction of new major themes you have not encountered heretofore and 3) connections to the main themes developed in the Torah portion. Keeping track of the major themes will provide you with thoughts to help you outline the passage later on. Recording changes in the storyline (subplots) will Revelation 21:9-14 1) help you more accurately interpret Scripture and 2) see connections to themes that may be repeated in the Haftarah and Apostolic readings. I strongly recommend that when you study these lessons you have the following tools available. 1) A Bible [all references are based on the NKJV], 2) a printed copy of this lesson, 3) pen and paper [notebook preferred] where you can either write extra notes or complete answers to questions where the lines in this lesson are not enough space to write on, 4) an on-line version of the Bible. I suggest BibleGateway (https://www.biblegateway.com/). There are many instances where I will ask you to make a connection to some other passage. The BibleGateway app has an awesome SEARCH feature to find Bible passages. Also, once you find a passage you can use Control-F or Command-F (MAC users) to find words, numbers or phrases in the text on display. Lastly, as often as possible . have a partner studying with you! II) Outlining the Torah Portion Now that you have read the Torah portion, it’s time to outline it. Try to divide the Torah portion into its major subject divisions. Please limit the outline to no more than seven major headings. Also, try to limit each subject division to a short phrase. In the chart below provide a brief phrase describing each significant change of events in the reading. Outlining will help you develop the skill of “seeing” the themes in the text. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. III) Torah Portion Discussion Questions I have given you a number of questions to stimulate your thought about the Torah portion reading. My goal is two-fold. First, I want to ask you questions about what the Spirit has shown me are important lessons to learn from the Torah reading. Secondly, I want to help you develop the art of making thematic connections. This skill will develop as you practice, practice, practice. 1. A few weeks ago we learned how the Feasts of Adonai were chiastically related. We also learned the thematic significance of Passover and Sukkot. How does Numbers 33:3 (They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians.) thematically connect Passover and the Exodus? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What is the day after Passover? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Thus, we can easily see that Passover and Unleavened Bread are clearly associated with or thematically connected to Israel’s exodus, their leaving Egypt. Which verse in our Torah portion thematically connects the Feast of Tabernacles to Israel’s departure from Egypt? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. If you had to list the two greatest events associated with Israel’s exodus from Egypt what would you choose? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Some of you may have mentioned the plagues as well as the answers I gave. The point is that the Exodus was an absolutely miraculous event where Adonai stepped out of invisibleness and clearly showed that He was the one and only true God. However, He not only showed He was the one and only true God, He also showed that He was the God of Israel! Can you think of any Scriptures that make reference to the Exodus which prove that this event was a seminal event in Israel’s history? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Throughout these lessons I’ve noted on many occasions how the theme of exile and return is one of the strongest and most often-used themes developed in the Bible. A. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:22-24)? B. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Abraham (Genesis 12:10-20)? C. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Isaac (Genesis 26:1-11)? D. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Jacob (Genesis 28:1-5)? E. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of Joseph (Genesis 45:1-15)? F. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of the Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-17)? G. How is the theme of exile and return hinted at in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24)? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 2 7. How is this theme of exile and return applied to the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:1-4)? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. All the questions I’ve asked have simply been to show you that if you want to understand your Bible you have to understand the prominence of the theme of exile and return. This powerful theme is used to teach you many things about our redemption. Now we know how powerful this theme is. Furthermore, we know that this seminal theme of exile and return (Israel’s exile into Egypt and her return to the land of Israel from Egyptian bondage) is the greatest of all themes referenced to over and over in the Bible! Lastly, we know that the story of Israel’s exile and return was the backdrop for the greatest miracles recorded in the Bible. So, have I made my point??? Israel’s exile from and return to the land of Israel provide the basis for the greatest miracles mentioned in the Bible. Now notice the following verses: Jeremiah 23:7-8 (“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”). First of all, what is the significance of the phrase, “who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt”? Now, what is the significance of the phrase, “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Expansions on the Book of Deuteronomy
    Expansions on the Book of Deuteronomy Introduction This document comes after the conclusion of another in the same “expansion” format, that is to say, Expansions on the Book of Romans. As noted in the Introduction there as well as in other texts from the Old and New Testaments, the word “expansion” suggests an expanding or fleshing out of the book at hand. It involves taking a certain liberty but at the same time not overstepping its bounds. So how are these bounds to be defined without devolving into fancifulness? It comes down to putting Deuteronomy at the service of lectio divina. That means a slow, deliberate and open-ended reading of the text quite alien to how we read nowadays with the goal of gaining information and then moving on to the next subject as quickly as possible. Lectio expressly has the text at the service of prayer, of disposing the reader to enter God’s presence. And this presence will act as a guide in expanding the text as well as not to overstep its bounds and devolve into personal interpretation. Such is the goal of this document as well as others relative to sacred scripture as posted on this home page. It can’t be stressed enough that without the intent of fostering God’s presence in our lives this and the other “expansion” texts are simply useless. Instead of going through Deuteronomy line by line as with Romans and some other biblical texts already online, the current document deals with each chapter, elaborating not especially on each verse but by taking a more general approach.
    [Show full text]
  • Traditions About Miriam in the Qumran Scrolls
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications, Classics and Religious Studies Department Classics and Religious Studies 2003 Traditions about Miriam in the Qumran Scrolls Sidnie White Crawford University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/classicsfacpub Part of the Classics Commons Crawford, Sidnie White, "Traditions about Miriam in the Qumran Scrolls" (2003). Faculty Publications, Classics and Religious Studies Department. 97. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/classicsfacpub/97 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Classics and Religious Studies at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications, Classics and Religious Studies Department by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in STUDIES IN JEWISH CIVILIZATION, VOLUME 14: WOMEN AND JUDAISM, ed. Leonard J. Greenspoon, Ronald A. Simkins, & Jean Axelrad Cahan (Omaha: Creighton University Press, 2003), pp. 33-44. Traditions about Miriam in the Qumran Scrolls Sidnie White Crawford The literature of Second Temple Judaism (late sixth century BCE to 70 CE) contains many compositions that focus on characters and events known from the biblical texts. The characters or events in these new compositions are developed in various ways: filling in gaps in the biblical account, offering explanations for difficult passages, or simply adding details to the lives of biblical personages to make them fuller and more interesting characters. For example, the work known as Joseph andAseneth focuses on the biblical character Aseneth, the Egyptian wife of Joseph, mentioned only briefly in Gen 41:45, 50.' This work attempts to explain, among other things, how Joseph, the righteous son of Jacob, contracted an exogamous marriage with the daughter of an Egyptian priest.
    [Show full text]
  • This Week's Audio, Video, and Teaching Notes Are Posted Here
    This week’s Audio, Video, and Teaching Notes are posted here. Honest to Moses – Law of Love – Class Nine (Remember the Teaching of Moses in His Time; Don’t Add to or Take Away from the Statutes and Rules; First-Person Narratives; Anachronistic Narratives; Love Your Neighbor and the Stranger as Yourself; Give Credit Where Credit is Due; The Torah’s Idea of Love – Commanded Love; Love of and For YHVH; The Law of Love; Abraham My Beloved; The Oneness of YHVH – YHVH is One; Circumcision of the Heart; Love Requires Obedience to the Commandments to Receive the Blessings; Reciprocal Love – It’s a Two-Way Street) July 10, 2021 – Ross Nichols Honest to Moses – Law of Love – Class Nine Audio/Video Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdfCCsLotq4 https://unitedisraelworldunion.com/honest-to-moses-law-of-love-class-nine/ Teaching Notes Link: https://unitedisraelworldunion.com/wp- content/uploads/2021/07/2021.7.10-Honest-to-Moses-Law-of-Love-Class-Nine.pdf TODAY’S INTRODUCTION -Welcome to United Israel World Union, this is our Sabbath morning scripture study coming to you live from the United Israel Center in Saint Francisville, Louisiana. Many of you are in your own place today, alone, Shabbat Shalom and thank you for joining us this morning. We need one another to help us go through what the world is going through today. I pray that all of you and the ones that you care for remain healthy today and throughout the coronavirus. -We have currently moved into a new study called “Honest to Moses”, which began May 8, 2021.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    TABLE OF CONTENTS Brief Explanation of the Resources Used in the “You Can Understand the Bible” Commentary Series........................................ i Brief Definitions of Hebrew Grammatical Forms Which Impact Exegesis........... iii Abbreviations Used in This Commentary.................................... ix A Word From the Author: How This Commentary Can Help You................. xi A Guide to Good Bible Reading: A Personal Search for Verifiable Truth .......... xiii Introduction to Deuteronomy ...........................................1 Deuteronomy 1 ......................................................8 Deuteronomy 2 .....................................................39 Deuteronomy 3 .....................................................52 Deuteronomy 4 .....................................................61 Deuteronomy 5 .....................................................83 Deuteronomy 6 .....................................................98 Deuteronomy 7 ....................................................107 Deuteronomy 8 ....................................................117 Deuteronomy 9 ....................................................125 Deuteronomy 10 ...................................................133 Deuteronomy 11 ...................................................140 Deuteronomy 12 ...................................................148 Deuteronomy 13 ...................................................158 Deuteronomy 14 ...................................................169 Deuteronomy 15 ...................................................179
    [Show full text]
  • Outline of the Book of Numbers “Wherefore Then Were Ye Not Afraid to Speak Against My Servant, Against Moses ?” (Numb
    Outline of the Book of Numbers “wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses ?” (Numb. 12:8b). Overview of Genesis The book of Genesis covers a span of approximately 2,450 years. The word “Genesis” means “origin” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary pp. 211). Genesis gives the origins of creation, sin, and death in the first three chapters. A history of mankind is examined in the book with great emphasis being placed upon future redemption through Jesus and the development of various characters. The promised seed of Genesis 3:15 is the theme of the entire book. The promised seed is mentioned again in Genesis 12:1-4; 22:18; and 49:10. This promised seed is identified as Jesus Christ at Galatians 3:8, 16. Matthew records, “ And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins ” (Matt. 1:21). Overview of Exodus The book of Exodus covers a span of approximately 360 years from the death of Joseph (Ex. 1:6) to the erecting of the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai (Ex. 40:1ff). The name “ Exodus ” means “a going out, a marching out, military expedition... a way out, outlet” (LS 275). Exodus records the Hebrews (descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) mass exit out of Egypt by the help of God. God’s mercy and care for His people appears to be the theme of the book (cf. Ex. 19:4). Overview of Leviticus Leviticus is the third book in the Bible and set at a time when man’s history had spanned approximately 2,800 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Reviewing the Journey: Numbers 33
    Reviewing the Journey: Numbers 33 במדבר ל״ג:א׳-ב׳ Numbers 33:1-2 .1 These were the marches of the Israelites ֜ ֵא ֶלּה ַמ ְס ֵ֣עי ְב ֵנֽי־יִ ְשׂ ָר ֗ ֵאל ֲא ֶ֥שׁר יָ ְצ ֛אוּ ֵמ ֶ֥א ֶרץ ,who started out from the land of Egypt ִמ ְצ ַ֖ריִם ְל ִצ ְבא ֹ ָ֑תם ְבּיַד־מ ֹ ֶ֖שׁה וְאַ ֲה ֽר ֹן׃ וַיִּ ְכ ֨תּ ֹב troop by troop, in the charge of Moses and מ ֹ ֜ ֶשׁה ֶאת־מוֹ ָצ ֵאי ֶ֛הם ְל ַמ ְס ֵעי ֶ֖הם ַעל־ ִ֣פּי ה' Aaron. Moses recorded the starting points of וְ ֵ֥א ֶלּה ַמ ְס ֵעי ֶ֖הם ְלמוֹ ָצ ֵאי ֶ ֽהם׃ their various marches as directed by the LORD. Their marches, by starting points, were as follows: רש"י על במדבר ל״ג:א׳ Rashi on Numbers 33:1 .2 (א) אלה מסעי. ָל ָמּה נִ ְכ ְתּבוּ ַה ַמּ ָסּעוֹת THESE ARE THE JOURNEYS אלה מסעי (1) ַה ָלּלוּ? ְלהוֹ ִדי ַע ֲח ָס ָדיו ֶשׁל ָמקוֹם, ֶשׁאַ ַע" ִפּ — [STAGES) [OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL) ֶשׁ ָגּ ַזר ֲע ֵלי ֶהם ְל ַט ְל ְט ַלם וְ ַל ֲהנִי ָעם ַבּ ִמּ ְד ָבּר, Why are these stations recorded here? In א ת ֹא ַמר ֶשׁ ָהיוּ נָ ִעים וּ ְמ ֻט ְל ָט ִלים ִמ ַמּ ָסּע order to make known the loving acts of the Omnipresent: that although He had decreed ְל ַמ ָסּע ָכּל אַ ְר ָבּ ִעים ָשׁנָה וְא ָהיְ ָתה ָל ֶהם against them to make them move about and ְמנוּ ָחה, ֶשׁ ֲה ֵרי ֵאין ָכּאן ֶא ָלּא אַ ְר ָבּ ִעים וּ ְשׁ ַתּיִם wander in the wilderness, you should not ַמ ָסּעוֹת, ֵצא ֵמ ֶהם י"ד ֶשׁ ֻכּ ָלּם ָהיוּ ְבּ ָשׁנָה think that they wandered and moved about ִראשׁוֹנָה קֹ ֶדם ְגּ ֵז ָרה, ִמ ֶשּׁנָּ ְסעוּ ֵמ ַר ְע ְמ ֵסס ַעד without cessation from one station to ֶשׁ ָבּאוּ ְל ִר ְת ָמה ֶשׁ ִמּ ָשּׁם נִ ְשׁ ַתּ ְלּחוּ ְמ ַר ְגּ ִלים, another station all the forty years, and that ֶשׁנֶּ ֱא ַמר "וְאַ ַחר נָ ְסעוּ ָה ָעם ֵמ ֲח ֵצרוֹת" וְגוֹ' they had no rest, for you see that there are here only forty-two stages.
    [Show full text]
  • The Route of the Exodus, the Location of Mount Sinai, and Related Topics By, Randall Styx
    The Route of the Exodus, the Location of Mount Sinai, and Related Topics By, Randall Styx [November, 2002] Introduction For himself the Christian might consider investigating the locations at which Old Testament events occurred an interesting recreational study, but would hardly deem the subject a major concern. Believing in the verbal inspiration of all Scripture, we accept on faith that what God says in the Bible is true and we need no verification other than the Bible itself. We might not know where all the recorded events took place, but we know that they did truly happen, for Scripture says they did. God does not lie. Furthermore, with regard to the specific locations with which this paper deals, while we are certainly to be impressed with the glory of God shown through his record of the events of the Exodus and Mount Sinai, we are far more concerned with the greater glory of God shown on Calvary. Even with Calvary, what is significant is not precisely where it happened but the fact that it did happen. The God-man Christ, after living a perfect life to our credit died an innocent death in our place, as our substitute, to fulfill God’s law for mankind completely both actively and passively. For the sake of Christ’s life and death, God declared the world justified by raising Jesus from the dead and sent his Holy Spirit by Word and Sacrament to invite and move people by faith to receive justification and its blessings of forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. This does not mean that Christians consider what happened at Sinai unimportant.
    [Show full text]
  • Biblical Text Through Art: an Exploration of Secondary School Students' Bible-Based Artwork and Its Representations of Jewishness
    BIBLICAL TEXT THROUGH ART: AN EXPLORATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' BIBLE-BASED ARTWORK AND ITS REPRESENTATIONS OF JEWISHNESS MATT REINGOLD A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATION YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, ONTARIO SEPTEMBER 2014 © Matt Reingold, 2014 ii Abstract I conducted a practitioner research study at a Jewish high school in Toronto in order to understand how teaching and learning through arts can help facilitate more meaningful understandings of and connections to the Bible. I wanted to better understand why students’ best recollections of learned material at the end of the year were arts-based projects, especially given the existing research in arts-based Jewish education, which suggests that the arts are not emphasized in high school curricula. Students worked in groups of two or three and created arts-based interpretations of Numbers Chapter 12, and wrote explanatory paragraphs of their work. Following the completion of their projects, I interviewed students. In the interviews, students explained what they created, what motivated their work, and what they thought about learning through the arts. Drawing upon the projects and the interviews, three distinct themes emerged about what the arts offered students that conventional forms of teaching and assignments did not. The first theme that emerged was that the arts offered students the opportunity to take on the persona of a biblical commentator, and through this opportunity, students formed their own opinions and insights into the text, which resulted in the text becoming more meaningful.
    [Show full text]
  • Deuteronomy Deuteronomy
    A PATRISTIC COMMENTARY The Book of DEUTERONOMY FR. TADROS Y. MALATY 2005 Translated by DR. GEORGE BOTROS English Text revised by Dr. Nora El-Agamy COPTIC ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CENTER Orange – California ST. MARK COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH 6 Washington D. C. USA 7 THE DIVINE COVENANT AS A SUPPORT FOR OUR DAILY LIFE The Book of Deuteronomy is a group of farewell talks by the prophet Moses, the first leader of the people of God, when he was 120 years old, before his departure from this world. He presented them to the new generation, which was born in the wilderness, and was about to enter into the Promised Land, under the guidance of Joshua the son of Nun. The Holy Spirit inspired these talks, in order that the commandment of God would be their guide and Law in the new land. They were talks by a father to his children or grandchildren; to give them his practical spiritual experiences, as conforming to the new generation; in a simple historical and behavioral way; aiming with the goal of becoming a support to every soul, to cross over and to inherit. What did the prophet Moses present to his people before his departure from this world? He presented a convention, or a constitution of love; given by God to His very beloved people; whom He has chosen and sanctified to be dedicated only to Him. The prophet Moses represents the “Law,” that leads us to the Lord Christ and to His Kingdom; and reveals to us the royal way, which brings us to the bosom of God the Father.
    [Show full text]
  • The Book of Deuteronomy
    Supplemental Notes: The Book of Deuteronomy compiled by Chuck Missler © 2004 Koinonia House Inc. Audio Listing Deuteronomy 1 - 2 Wilderness Travels. Failure at Kadesh Barnea. Defeat of Sihon. Deuteronomy 3 - 4 Victory over Og of Bashan. Moses Commands Obedience. Deuteronomy 5 - 6 The Great Commands...and Warnings. Deuteronomy 7 - 10 Acknowledgments The Law of Love. God’s Goodness Recalled. Israel’s Rebellion These notes have been assembled from speaking notes and related Recalled. materials which had been compiled from a number of classic and contemporary commentaries and other sources detailed in the bibliog- Deuteronomy 11 - 12 raphy, as well as other articles and publications of Koinonia House. While we have attempted to include relevant endnotes and other One Place of Sacrifice. references, we apologize for any errors or oversights. Deuteronomy 13 - 14 The complete recordings of the sessions, as well as supporting dia- grams, maps, etc., are also available in various audiovisual formats from Laws Reflecting the Holiness of the People. Clean and Unclean the publisher. Meats. Deuteronomy 15 - 16 The Passover and Other Feasts. Deuteronomy 17 - 18 Priests and Levites. Occult Practices. The Prophets. Page 2 Page 3 Audio Listing The Book of Deuteronomy Session 1 Deuteronomy 19 - 20 Chapters 1 - 2 Cities of Refuge. Holy War and Military Service. The Torah Deuteronomy 21 - 22 Genesis The Book of Beginnings Exodus The Birth of the Nation Various Laws and Laws about Chastity. Leviticus The Law of the Nation Numbers The Wilderness Wanderings Deuteronomy 23 - 24 Deuteronomy The Laws Reviewed Human Relationships. Love for Neighbors and Families. The Book of Deuteronomy is the bridge between the first four books (outside the Land) and the next seven books (inside the Land).
    [Show full text]
  • YUTORAH in PRINT Masei 5774
    The Marcos and Adina Katz YUTORAH IN PRINT Masei 5774 Names on a List Rabbi Reuven Spolter hen my children grow up, I imagine that one survive miraculously in the desert. Yet, even after quoting day we’ll look at the old photos and tell them Rambam’s long explanation, Ramban adds, והנה מכתב המסעות מצות ה’ היא מן הטעמים about the places where we lived. “Well, we gotW married and lived in the Washington Heights. Then הנזכרים או מזולטן, ענין לא נתגלה לנו סודו... we moved to Linden, NJ, and then to West Hartford, CT. Behold, the writing of these travels is a commandment of From there we moved to Oak Park, MI (We moved around God, either due to the reasons mentioned or without them; this a lot.). Then we made aliyah to Yad Binyamin . ” is a matter whose secret is not revealed to us… What will my children think about these different places? What could Linden, New Jersey or a small city in In essence, says Ramban, we don’t know why Moshe Connecticut mean to them? What about their children? wrote down the names of the places, other than the fact To us the names of these cities bring back memories of that God commanded him to do so. God wanted us to have small homes, early married life, friends and relationships this long list, and didn’t tell us why. from an earlier time in our lives. But to our children – and Yet, while I don’t know precisely why God commanded especially to their children (God willing!) the names of Moshe to record the list, I can tell you how reading the these places will probably mean nothing.
    [Show full text]
  • Division of the Book of Exodus Into Fundamental Literary Units According to the Thought of Its Final Writer-Redactor Presentation of the Research Method Sequence
    Division of the Book of Exodus into fundamental literary units according to the thought of its final writer-redactor Presentation of the research method sequence Wojciech Kosek Abstract. The present paper shows subsequent methodological steps to discover the division of the Book of Exodus into basic literary units according to the thought of its final writer- redactor, the one who arranged the text under to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. In the first step, one ought to make a list of the more essential means of dividing this book, which occurred from the very beginning to our times. It concerns, of course, the version in the Hebrew language, and also its translations into different languages, including the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate. One must take into account also the contribution of the contemporary biblicists done through their translations and scientific discussions and analyses resulting in books or articles in specialized magazines. The comparative material collected in this way will answer the question about the criterion for the division of the text: is there visible an original logic in the contemporary editions of the Bible according to which the last editor-writer finally shaped this holy text? What is this original logic? Can this be discovered with scientific credibility? The second step of the methodological looking for the original division of the Book of Exodus will be a through-out reading of the Hebrew text. For providing the fulfillment of the requirement to read the text profoundly, one will involve the principle of theocentrism as the essential criterion for this task.
    [Show full text]