Lesson date: 8/3/5854AA

Verse 1- Over the years of having homesteads and also growing up in the country, I have always tried to be a good neighbor and alert my neighbors when their livestock got out of their fences. Some reacted very nicely and others were very huffy about it. One individual complained that I needed to fix my fence and I politely informed him “I don’t have a fence. It’s yours.” He then stomped off. By and large, most people have responded thankfully.Yes, this scripture is telling us that we are to wtch out for our naighbor and help them by returning their property to them. This brings us back to the murder of Hebel. When YHVH confronted Qayin about his brother’s whereabouts: Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?

As you can tell, this is the answer the world would give, “It’s none of my business.” But we are not of this world: Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What does an ox and a sheep represent? Yes, they are clean, but what else? They were the vehicle by which a friend or neighbor might “draw near” to Elohim: Heb_7:25  Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to Elohim through Him, ever living to make intercession for them.

Heb_10:1  For the Torah, having a shadow of the good matters to come, and not the image itself of the matters, was never able to make perfect those who draw near with the same slaughter offerings which they offer continually year by year.

As we have discussed Yeshua fulfilled the Passover Lamb sacrifice and also the Red Heifer sacrifice and so doing fulfilled the sheep and the ox sacrifice. We see that we can draw a parallel between the sacrifices and Yeshua and when we see one of our “brothers” moving away from our “home pasture” of Messiah we can call out to them and retore them to their proper place: Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Ask yourself, if your $30,000 bull got out of your pasture and was grazing toward the highway, wouldn’t you want your neighbor to at least call you and tell you? I have returned many cows to their pastures and even fixed the fence before calling my neighbor. If we would do this for a cow or sheep how much more so should we do it for our brethren.

Verses 2-5 – To look at something allegorically: “And if your brother is not near you”. Maybe our brother or sister has departed from the path of Torah or maybe they never knew it, does that absolve us of responsibility? No. It also says, “If you do not know him”. How could they be our brother or sister if we do not know them? If we hold the truth of the covenant close, in our house, and when they come seeking it we can “give” it to them to show them the path or restore them to the path. But, they must come seeking it.

You do it for their donkey, which bears their burden. You do it for their garment, which will clothe them in righteousness and you do it for their whatever, which will fill their daily needs while walking the path of Torah. When we see our brother or sister’s ability to carry a burden fall on the Way, we help them carry that burden. When we see their ox, that sacrifice that would enable them to draw near to Elohim, we help them restore it.Torah is not dead simply because we do not yet know how to apply it to every facet of our lives.

Verse 5 – In our perverted 21^st century world we are quite familiar with the intent of this scripture, do not wear clothing in order to deceive others. We are all too familiar with transvestites, drag queens and Lesbians. This we get and understand but lets look at some of the specific words used to see if there is another meaning to this scripture: H1397 – גֶּבֶר – geber – gheh’-ber – From H1396; properly a valiant man or warrior; generally a person simply: – every one, man, X mighty. This is the singular of gebarim which we translate hundreds of times in scripture as mighty man. Why would Moshe use this word and not “adam”?

That which pertains = H3627 – כְּלִי – kelı̂y – kel-ee’ – From H3615; something prepared, that is, any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon): – armour ([-bearer]), artillery. Does this insinuate that you and your mate cannot share a favorite shirt or jeans. No!  This is talking about taking on the roles of a man in the home, if nowhere else. It also refers to a man taking on the role of a woman: 1Pe 3:7  In the same way, husbands, live understandingly together, giving respect to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the favour of life, so that your prayers are not hindered.

Is it wrong for a woman to rule over the family? Yes, when there is a capable man who believes and keeps the scripture. His authority must not be usurped but, if the man refuses to assume his role of authority and responsibility then the woman can and should assume it. To often fathers leave their wives and children and thereby surrender their authority.

Isa 3:11  “Woe to the wrong – evil! For the reward of his hand is done to him.

Isa 3:12  “My people! Youths exert pressure on them, and women rule over them. O My people! Your leaders lead you astray, and swallow the way of your paths.”

Verses 6-7 Do not take the mother with the young: We have a similar saying toady, “Don’t kill the goose that layed the golden egg. Leave the mother so that you will always have food to eat. Eat or incubate the eggs and raise up the young so that they reproduce and increase.

Verse 8 – Our modern equivelent would be: When you build a deck or porch onto your house build a guardrail so your neighbor does not accidently fall off.

Verse 9 – Do not mix seed because mixed seed will produce hybrids which are not able to reproduce true to the nature. Please look at the word for vineyard used here: H3754 – כֶּרֶם – kerem – keh’-rem – From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard: – vines. Each year you grow your plants and select the best produce from the strongest plants with the most fruit and use those to improve your seed bank. During a drought, when nothing or little is produced, seed in your seed bank can be worth more than money in your bank account. To do so is not hybridizing but using natural selection to produce better gardens each year suited for your soil type, weather and environmental conditions.

Verse 10 – Balancing a team is almost a lost art. The Amish and Mennonites have experience with this today, more so than any other group, but it is important to have two, or more, animals who will pull together. Horse, oxen, donkeys, etc. are just like people in that they have their strong side or dominant side and a weaker side. You want to utilize the strengths and weaknesses of each animal to their fullest. So, it should be in our personal and spiritual relationships: 2Co 6:14  Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?

Verse 11 – We ran into this discussion over the shirts that were supplied for Sukkot. We mistakenly thought that 100% cotton meant 100% cotton. In the 1920’s the brilliant physician, Dr. Royal Raymond Rife, did fantastice research into frequencies and it as a cause of disease in animals. Later, after curing all diseases know to man in animals he began to experiment with curing diseases in people. This is when he lost his license to practice medicine. He was a brilliant scientist and inventor and had over 200 patents, including the electron microscope, and most of his research was into wavelengths and their effect upon both man and animals. Later, Dr. Heidi Yellen was able to prove that there was a resonant frequency associated with every type of fabric and mixed fabric either nullified the beneficial effect of natuaral fibers or had a harmful effect upon the body. It took about 3,500 years for science to be able to prove the wisdom of this verse of scripture.

Verse 12 – Make tzitzit for yourselves! Num 15:38  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them to make tzitziyot on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners.

You could simply tie a blue thread at the corners of your clothes and that would fulfill this command, but as I have said in the past you should make your tzitzit to reflect some aspect of Yah’s Word that has changed your life.

Verses 13-21 –  This shows the ancient practice, still practiced in some societies, of maintaining the sheets upon which the bride and groom consummated their marriage. The blood on the sheet was proof of the woman’s virginity. It was a testimony of the purity of the relationship between the bride and the bridegroom. Does it have significance for us? You bet: Rev 19:7  “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him praise, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife prepared herself.”

Rev 19:8  And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the set-apart ones.

Rev 7:13  And one of the elders responded, saying to me, “Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

Rev 7:14  And I said to him, “Master, you know.” And he said to me, “These are those coming out of the great distress, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

We need white garments to prove that we have been invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb: Mat 22:11  “And when the sovereign came in to view the guests, he saw there a man who had not put on a wedding garment,

Mat 22:12  and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13  “Then the sovereign said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him out into the outer darkness – there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Could it be that this is the period of time between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur or, is it the period of time between Yom Kippur and Sukkot? Just a thought.

We have already discussed how Yeshua took on the sin of an unfaithful bride so here it is for your reference:

The Wife (Israel) Who Commits Adultery:

1. Write curses in a book: Number 5:23 (Exodus 32:19-20)
2. Must drink bitter water: Numbers 5:24 (Exodus 32:19-20)
3. Slain with a sword (blade): Ezekiel 16:38-40; 23:47; (Exodus 32:26-28)
4. Forsaken by husband: Deuteronomy 31:16-17
5. Husband hides his face from wife: Deu. 31:18; Isa. 8:17; 54:8
6. Stripped naked: Hosea 2:2-3; Ezekiel 23:22,26
7. Slain with thirst: Hosea 2:2-3
8. Laughed to scorn: Ezekiel 23:32
9. Mocked: 2 Kings 19:21; Isaiah 37:22
10. Cast lots: Joel 3:3; Obadiah 1:11

Yeshua Taking On the Sin of the Unfaithful Wife:

1. Blotting out curses: Col. 2:14; Gal.3:13
2. Drink the bitter cup: Matt. 26:42; 27:48
3. Pierced with a blade (spear) John 19:34
4. Forsaken: Matt. 27:46
5. Hid His Face: Matt. 27:45 (Darkness representing YHVH turning His Face)
6. Stripped naked: Matt. 27:28
7. Thirst: John 19:28
8. Laughed to scorn: Matt. 9:24; Mark 5:40; Luke 8:53
9. Mocked: Matt. 27:31; Luke 23:36
10. Cast lots: Matt. 27:35; Luke 23:34: John 19:24

Verses 22-24 – We discussed this in detail at Sukkot relative to John 8:4-11.

Verses 25-29 – The difference in the rape of a betrothed woman and a single or un-betrothed woman.

Verse 30 – This scripture almost seems out of place, but it isn’t. If your father were to die or divorce a wife, other than your mother, the son would not be allowed to marry or have a sexual relationship with their step-mother. “Loosen his father’s skirt goes all the way back to Genesis 9:20-24. Ham “uncovered his father’s nakedness which meant he slept with his mother: Lev_18:8 The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.

Lev_20:11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Lesson date: 11/12/5857AA

“When you see…”

Many modern day believers, who live in the city or suburbs, could look a this chapter and say, “A lot of this does not apply to me because I don’t live in the country” and on the surface those people would be correct. Loose livestock, plowing and planting and many aspects of this chapter appear to be rooted in an agrarian lifestyle. This is pretty simple to see but, is that all that it means? What if I told you that there is a shadow of Messiah in Verse 1 and many of the things that Yeshu’a taught while on Earth are embedded in this chapter for us to “search a matter out”: Pro_25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. I guess your next argument would be that you are not a king, right? 1Pe_2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Rom_8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

A conqueror is someone who has subdued many kings and if we are more than conquerors we are more than many kings. So, suck it in, this Scripture does apply to us today. Let’s look at it.

What do the ox and the sheep represent? First, they are clean animals that are good for food. Second, they are animals that can be used in many sacrifices including a guilt ssacrifice. Yeshu’a is representative of the Passover Lamb and also the Red Heifer offering that we discussed last week in Debarim 21 and Numbers 19. Look at it this way, if your neighbor’s ox and sheep get away then he will be unable to make a sacrifice and draw near to Elohim. By losing his ox and sheep he is unable to turn from his sin and draw near: Jas 5:19 Brothers, if anyone among you goes astray from the truth, and someone turns him back,

Jas 5:20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the straying of his way shall save a life from death and cover a great number of sins.

1Pe_2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your beings.

What was it that Cain said: Gen 4:9 And יהוה said to Qayin, “Where is Heḇel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s guard?”

And the resounding answer is, Yes! We are supposed to look after one another, to exhort one another. Jump very quickly to Verse 12: Deu 22:12 “Make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.

Why? What is so important about some string on your clothes? Num 15:37 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,

Num 15:38 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, and you shall say to them to make tzitzitb on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners.

Num 15:39 “And it shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of יהוה and shall do them, and not search after your own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring,

Num 15:40 so that you remember, and shall do all My commands, and be set-apart unto your Elohim.

Num 15:41 “I am יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. I am יהוה your Elohim.”

You see, my tzitzit are not as much for me as they are for those who look on them. And, their tzitzit are not as much for them but for me and others so that when we see their tzitzit we will remember to keep the commands of Elohim. In this way we are reminding our brothers and sisters to keep the commands and they are in turn reminding us to do so as well.

You know how our human minds are, we start thinking of an excuse to not do something before we have even heard the whole matter: Ecc_12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the entire matter: Fear Elohim and guard His commands, for this applies to all mankind!

I have heard women say, “I don’t have to wear tzitzit because I am a woman and that is just for men.”

Oops:  H1121 – בּן – bên – BDB Definition: 1) son, grandson, child, member of a group 1a) son, male child 1b) grandson 1c) children (plural – male and female) WRONG! It is for ALL of Yah’s children both male and female. All of us are supposed to be witnesses for the Most High Elohim of Yisra’el. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

Verse 2 – “And if your brother is not near you”. Many of us have brothers and sisters who are not “near” us. H7138 – קרב / קרוב – qârôb – BDB Definition: 1) near 1a) of place 1b) of time 1c) of personal relationship 1c1) kinship

They may be our spiritual brothers and sisters or they may be our own blood kin and they may not be at the same place we are in our worship of YHVH El Shaddai. What will we keep near until they come looking for it? Torah. We will have their Torah ready for them when they come looking for it. Pray that our Father will give them a love for the Truth: 2Th 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood,

2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved.

Verse 3 – Remember the faithful little donkey in the tale of Bila’am of Pe’or? He steadily plodded down the trail only to turn aside when he saw the angel of Elohim about to strike Bila’am. That donkey embodied Torah in that is keeps up in the proper path to preserve us. Psa_27:11 Teach me Your way, O יהוה, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

Psa_119:105 Nun Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

And a garment is a covering, a protection, that keeps us chaste, honest, humble like Torah. It is hard to be puffed up about ourselves when we read Torah and realize all the sins we have committed. 1Co 13:4 Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up,

Verse 4 – When our brother’s or sister’s Torah falls help them up with it. Sometimes it takes encouragement or insight to help them in their walk in Yah’s Torah. And, if you see their faith in a = Elohim wane or fall, be there to help them lift themselves up again. We all get discouraged, depressed, despondent and sometimes all we need is an encouraging word or perhaps a silly joke to make us laugh and forget about what is troubling us or maybe just a hug to show them you care. Heb 3:13 but encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceivableness of sin.

Verse 5 – Our modern world would call the “Hate speech”, homophobic talk. When you look at the word here for “pertains”(H3627) it is a very inclusive word. It doesn’t just mean a dress or pants, it also means weapons, armor, purse, jewelry, etc. The word for garment (H8071) means to cover with cloth so as to reveal the shape beneath, which is what women’s clothing does, and in today’s world it reveals too much so.

Verse 6-7 – I look at that as common sense but, someone sense me a video by a pastor in the Hebrew roots of a mega-church and he made the comment and, if I ever make this comment I hope everyone of you ladies correct loudly, that we were not supposed to eat eggs because they were embryos. What is wrong with this statement?

Verse 8 – Simple, right? Flat roofs are a common thing in the Middle East and North Africa and are often used as a patio, gathering place, a place to hang out the laundry and we had a small “Hibachi” style grill and I would cook up on the roof, especially in the summer time just before sunset, and we would sit outside as the sun went down and it was beautiful.(Deep sigh and Beautiful! Looking out over the Aegean Sea or the Mediterranean.) You must build a guardrail or wall between you and the next house and many times there will be shards of glass embedded into the mortar as a deterrant to people crossing from one house to another in close confines. Some roofs connected to the roofs of family and they had what looked like a step ladder to cross over the glass in the wall and then would remove it after returning home. When I was was in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) was in the 1970’s and it reminded me of southern US in the 1950’s and 60’s. (Deep sigh again.)

Verse 9 – A long time ago there were a group of entities called the Watchers tried to change YHVH’s Creation by modifying the DNA of everything on Earth. That is why we see this report: Gen 6:9 This is the genealogy of Noaḥ. Noaḥ was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. Noaḥ walked with Elohim. Noah’s bloodline had not be corrupted by the Watchers. The admonition against hybrid seed still stands but the admonition against GMO seed which has been altered at the genetic level also applies.

Verse 10 – Plowing with and ox and a donkey sounds crazy. An ox will plod and pull and pull until it can’t go anymore. A donkey on the other is a terrible animal to try and plow with because of its nature. Look at the word: H2543 – חמר / חמור – chămôr –  BDB Definition: 1) (he) ass. It comes from the root word H2560: H2560 – חמר – châmar – BDB Definition: 1) to boil, foam, foam up, ferment 1a) (Qal) to boil, foam up 1b) (Poalal) to be troubled, be in turmoil 2) (Poalal) to be reddened 3) (Qal) to daub, seal up, cover or smear with asphalt

Donkeys are very emotional animals who can go off on a whim or worse yet, just lay down on you because they believe the task is too burdensome or difficult. In other words donkeys represent unbelievers who believe that it is impossible to keep Torah and that it is antiquated and cannot be kept all the while, the ox keeps plodding and pulling harder and harder when it encounters an obstruction like a large rock or hard patch of soil: 2Co 6:14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?

Remember, it is not lawlessness but rather Torahlessness.

G3551 – νόμος – nomos – Thayer Definition: 1) anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command 1a) of any law whatsoever 1a1) a law or rule producing a state approved of God 1a1a) by the observance of which is approved of God 1a2) a precept or injunction 1a3) the rule of action prescribed by reason 1b) of the Mosaic law, and referring, acc. to the context. either to the volume of the law or to its contents

G458 – ἀνομία – anomia Thayer Definition: 1) the condition of without law

1a) because ignorant of it 1b) because of violating it 2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

Mat 7:23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’ ((Torahlessness))

Verse 11 – It makes sense to not patch a linen shirt with a piece of wool material because they will shrink at a different rate causng the thread holding the patch to tear an even bigger hole in your covering. Also, you don’t want to take a piece of new cotton and patch an old cotton shirt for the same reason, the new patch will shrink tearing an even bigger hole than the one you patched in your covering. Your best covering is linen. The frequency inherent in the linen promotes healing. It is the material worn by the High Priest, our High Priest, Yeshu’a Messiah.

Verse 12 – Tzitzit.

Verses 13-21 – Purity in marriage. The mother and father of the bride are instructed to keep the sheet of the first night of the consummation of the marriage separate as proof of the status of their daughter at the time of wedding night. If the groom decides later that he does want the girl and makes allegations that she was not a virgin at the time of marriage the mother and father can prove the groom is a liar and the elders can beat him for lying and fine him 100 pieces of silver for the deed but if the charges are found to be true the young girl is stoned to death.

Verse 22 – Both the man and woman found in adultery are stoned to death: Joh 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And having set her in the midst,

Joh 8:4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

Joh 8:5 “And in the Torah Mosheh commanded us that such should be stoned. What then do You say?”

I say where is the dude? Or, maybe, “Which one of you is the dude?” In Yeshu’a’s response: Joh 8:7 But as they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Some of the older manuscripts say “who is without this sin”. In other words only someone who has not committed adultery can cast the first stone.

Verses 23-29 – The difference in being raped in the city and in the country where not one could hear the girl scream or cry for help. The girl in the city is stoned with her rapist because she did not cry out and the girl in the country is not stoned there was no one to hear her scream. Notice the man’s punishment; he must take the girl as his wife and must pay the father of the girl 50 pieces of silver not just the 30 pieces of silver for the bride price.

Verse 30 – This reckons back to the sin of Ham, who slept with his mother and she conceived a child, Kena’an, who was cursed by Noah before he was even born. The phrase “does not take his father’s wife” would include the son’s stepmother.

Ahavah vberakhot