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THIS WEEK’S PORTION DEUTERONOMY 7:12-11:25 תשרפ בקע / Parashat Eikev

In this week’s guide…

The COMMENTARY from Jason teaches us about tefillin (or “phylacteries”), the small black boxes worn by observant Jewish men on their left arms and foreheads. These items might seem like strange religious artifacts with no relevance to our lives, but wait…there’s more! Journey deeper into a world of rich symbolism, one that offers us a potent reminder of all that is now true of us by of God’s gracious work...... 1 Our NEW TESTAMENT TIE-IN tackles a subject that none of us struggle with (but we probably know someone who does): stubbornness. Of course, that was a joke—most of us demonstrate a bit of stubbornness from time to time, in various ways and degrees of intensity. The biblical expression used in this week’s Torah portion is “stiff-necked.” Thankfully, there is a pathway forward into the fullness of God’s promises!...... 2 BY THE NUMBERS delves into one of the most famous lines in the entire (thanks to Yeshua’s victorious encounter with the devil in the wilderness): “Man shall not live by bread alone.” This simple verse has vast implications for our lives, ranging from forgiveness to our very essence as image bearers...... 3

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OVERVIEW

Usually the word eikev means “heel.” In fact, this word shares the same three-letter root as the name (Yaakov), whose name actually means “heel.” He was born holding on to Esau’s heel. However, in Deuteronomy 7:12, the word eikev means “on the heels of” or “because of.” It reads, “Then it will happen, as a result of (eikev) your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them, that Adonai your God will keep with you the kindness that He swore to your fathers.” This portion details the rewards that will come to on the heels of being faithful to God’s covenant by keeping and obeying His commandments. FUSION GLOBAL WITH RABBI JASON תשרפ בקע / – Parashat Eikev Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

COMMENTARY by Rabbi Jason Sobel

In this week’s Torah portion, we read about the (commandment) of tefillin, “Therefore impress these words upon your very heart. Bind them as a sign on your hand, and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead” (Deut 11:18). What are tefillin, and what do they signify?

Tefillin (also referred to as phylacteries) are small black leather boxes traditionally placed on the forehead and left arm by observant Jewish men during morning . Tefillin contains four Scripture passages: Exodus 13:1-10 and 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:12-21. These verses from the Torah are hand-written by a scribe on parchment made from animal skin. By wearing the tefillin on the forehead, Jewish people ask God to bind His words to their minds. The arm tefillin symbolize the calling to love and serve the Lord with all our strength.

First, tefillin symbolize redemption. This point is conveyed clearly in Exodus 13:19, which says, “It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.” It makes sense that the yad (arm) and rosh (head) tefillin would serve as a memorial of our redemption from Egypt since God brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with great signs (Exodus 13:9, 16). Every time we, as members of the Jewish people, lay (or wrap) tefillin, we should remember the wondrous redemption that God accomplished for our ancestors and us by His mighty hand through and ultimately through Messiah Yeshua.

Tefillin also publicly identify the Jewish people as God’s chosen people. The Jewish people’s special relationship with God implies a unique responsibility to serve Him. Thus, tefillin also symbolizes the Jewish people’s distinct role and divine calling as a Mamlekhet Kohanim (“kingdom of priests” – Exodus 19:6).

Third, Jewish people wear tefillin to symbolize our covenantal relationship with God. When donning tefillin, we wrap the yad tefillin (hand tefillin) seven times around our left arm. According to tradition, this action is reminiscent of the seven times the kalla (bride) circles the groom during the wedding ceremony. Then, after putting on the rosh tefillin (head tefillin), we wrap the leather strap of the hand tefillin around both the middle and ring finger. According to tradition, as we do this, we recite the biblical verse from Hosea 2:21-22, which says, Then I will betroth you to Me forever—yes, I will betroth you to Me with righteousness, justice, covenant loyalty and compassion. I will betroth you to Me with faithfulness, and you will know Adonai.

Thus the “laying” of the hand tefillin symbolizes two things: 1) the exchange of wedding vows, and 2) the placement of the wedding ring of the chatan (groom) on the finger of his kalla (bride).

All who believe in Yeshua—both Jew and Gentile—have become part of the bride of Messiah. Yeshua is the groom, and we are His betrothed bride. Hence, the imagery of tefillin reminds us to Whom we belong and with Whom we have entered into relationship. We should long for Yeshua like a bride dreams of her groom on her wedding day.

May Yeshua, our Bridegroom, come quickly! - 1 - NEW TESTAMENT TIE-IN

Have you ever noticed that God doesn’t pull any punches?

Neither did Moses, for that matter. Consider “Exhibit A”: “So you should understand that it is not because of your righteousness that Adonai your God is giving you this good land to possess—for you are a stiff-necked people” (Deut 9:6 emphasis added). The good news was that, unlike their parents, this generation of the Children of Israel would enter the . The bad news? Well, it was happening despite them. Moses referred to them as qĕšēh– ʿōrep —“stiff-necked” or “stubborn as mules” (MSG).

If we keep reading through the parashat, however, we come upon this verse, “Circumcise the foreskin of your heart therefore, and do not be stiff-necked anymore” (Deut 10:16). The “therefore” in that verse points us back to the previous line. In other words, Moses told Israel to circumcise their hearts because “Only on your fathers did Adonai set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them—you—from all the peoples” (v. 15). To describe God as having “set His affection to love” is beautiful but may not adequately convey the essence of Moses’ thought. The Hebrew word used here is ḥāšaq, and it is rich in meaning:

Hāšaq emphasizes a deep inward attachment (in a positive sense) [and] is descriptive of God’s love of Israel. He was bound to them of his own volition (love) and not because of anything good or desirable in them (Deut 7:7). It is to God’s attachment (love) that attributes his deliverance (Isa 38:17). This is the love that will not let go. If a man has such an attachment toward God he will be delivered (Ps 91:14).i God’s loving commitment to His people impels Him to lead them away from the sinfulness that hinders them from His purposes for their lives. Plainly stated: God loves us too much to leave us the way we are! Israel was “stiff- necked,” but God provided a pathway forward. This pathway was His call to “circumcise the foreskin of your heart”—quite an unusual concept (and obviously a metaphor). Originally circumcision was a physical act of obedient Stiff-Necked People (Ex 34:9) by Peggy Bowes surrender, of vulnerability, that signified covenant (see Gen 17:9-14). In Deuteronomy, Moses transposed this submissive act into a deeper (invisible) key: the heart. The Hebrew word for heart is levav. It is much more comprehensive than the typical sentimental, Hallmark-card/movie sense of the word. In its Hebrew sense, the heart was “the richest biblical term for the totality of man’s inner or immaterial nature. In biblical literature it is the most frequently used term for man’s immaterial personality functions.”ii

God invited Israel to freedom from the sinful stubbornness that plagued them. He desired for them to vulnerably (and perhaps painfully) surrender the entirety of their inner selves—thoughts, will, emotions, etc.—to God. Freedom is proportionate to surrender.

And notice that God’s call does not address behavior, the “outer man.” Thus, God did not prescribe sacrifices or offerings. Instead, God focused on the “inner man” because that is where true transformation lies. The Apostle Paul alluded to this when he pleaded with the believers in Rome, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). Remember: the “heart” and “mind” are overlapping concepts. And of course, Yeshua’s words on this subject are clear: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander” (Matt 15:19 emphasis added).

- 2 - What was essential for the second generation of on ’s border remains the primary issue for Yeshua’s followers today. A surrendered heart is a free soul, one capable of possessing the promises of God.

BY THE NUMBERS

In this week’s Torah portion, we read the phrase, “man does not live by bread alone” (Deut 8:3). The numerical value of “the bread” (halechem) is 83. “To the garden” (laGan) and “disease” (machala) both equal 83. In its fullness, Deuteronomy 8:3 connects these themes powerfully: “He afflicted you and let you hunger, then He fed you — which neither you nor your fathers had known—in order to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai.” “The bread” (83) points “to the garden” (83) where and Eve sinned and brought “disease” (83) to the world as a result of their disobedience. The Lord tested Israel to prepare them to enter the Promised Land. He didn’t want them to make the same mistake as the first man and women and suffer expulsion from the New Eden—the . In Hebrew, the phrase “man shall live” also has a numerical value of 83. Humans cannot live by physical bread alone because we are not primarily physical but spiritual beings. For this reason, God sent Messiah Yeshua—“the bread” (83) who brings life.

But of course, there is more! The Hebrew word for bread is lechem. It contains three letters: These three letters also comprise the words for “forgiveness”(machal), “pity” (chamal), and .(חלם) lamed, mem, and chet circle (machal). All of these words point to the work of the Messiah and the Messianic Kingdom. For when, by faith, we partake of Messiah who is the “Bread” (Lechem) of Life, He has “pity” upon us and “forgives” us. This phenomenon culminates in the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom—a new cycle (or era) in redemptive history, which a circle symbolizes.

But of course, there is still even more! The phrases “to the stone” (laEvan) and “Adonai Adonai God” (YHVH YHVH El) each add up to 83 as well. This detail reveals a powerful insight. “The Stone” in Hebrew is one of the names of Messiah as we read in Psalm 118:22-23, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. It is from Adonai: it is marvelous in our eyes!” Thus “The Bread” (83) points “to the Rock” (83) the Messiah who was “Adonai Adonai God” (83) incarnate. Incredibly, the presence of 83 in the New Testament further confirms this truth. In John 10, Yeshua went up to celebrate Hanukkah (which has the numeric value of 83) and said, “I and the Father are One (Ani V’Av Echad),” which also equals 83 in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for “body” (guf) adds up to 83. “The bread” (83) points to “body” (83) of Messiah… who is “Adonai Adonai God” (83)… who gave His life to heal all “disease” (83)… so that we can return “to Eden” (83). Indeed, we do not live by bread alone but rather, it is by “the bread” (83) of His “body” (83) that “man lives” (83) and is blessed to enter into “the Holy Covenant” (hei haggia diatheikei/83) which Jesus inaugurated.

There is one last insight that I don’t want you to miss. The phrases “the bread” (83) and “does man live” (83)—as in “man does not live by bread”—are found in “Deuteronomy 8:3,” which we can read as 83. It blows my mind how God is in all the details!

Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the Tree of Life Version.

- 3 - THOUGHTS for REFLECTION Take some time this week to prayerfully consider and discuss with friends: § Chances are, you don’t wear a phylactery. You probably don’t even own one. BUT…there’s something to be said for physical things serving as reminders. Whether it’s a family heirloom or a wedding band, we tend to value the way objects provoke our memories. What “holy reminders” do you have for your relationship with God? What’s the story behind it (or them)? How do you use it to enrich your faith?

§ Fasting can be an effective tool that helps us live into the truth in this week’s parsha (and asserted by Yeshua): we don’t live by bread alone. If you’re physically capable, try fasting this week—a meal or maybe even for a day—and ask the Holy Spirit to bring you into deeper communion with the Lord as you do!

- 4 - תשרפ האר / NEXT WEEK’S READINGS: Parashat Re'eh

TORAH Sunday / Deuteronomy 11:26-12:10 Monday / Deuteronomy 12:11-28 Tuesday / Deuteronomy 12:29-13:19 Wednesday / Deuteronomy 14:1-21 Thursday / Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Friday / Deuteronomy 15:1-18 Saturday / Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17

Prophetic Reading (): 54:11 - 55:5

New Covenant Reading: John 6:35-51

ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological ”, קַשָׁח i Leonard J. Coppes, “773 Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 332. ii Ibid., 466.

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