Wa’ethchanan (Va’etchanan)

ואתחנן

Parshah Va’etchanan

Debarim (Deuteronomy) 3:23-7:11

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“And I pleaded with YAHUWAH at that time, saying, ‘O Master YAHUWAH, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand, for who is a mighty one in the heavens or on earth who does according to Your works and according to Your might?Debarim (Deuteronomy) 3:23- 7:11

This Torah Portion begins ואתחנן “Wa’etchanan” which means “and I pleaded” or more accurately “and I sought favor.” Mosheh (Mushah) sought favor from YaHuWaH that he might be allowed to cross over the Yarden (Jordan) and see the great land, which was promised to the seed of Yisrael (Yashar’al). The Torah tells that this plea enraged YaHuWaH and that he responded to Mosheh (Mushah) rather sharply saying “enough of that, speak to me no more about this matter.” However YaHuWaH in his great kindness instructed his servant Mosheh (Mushah) to climb to the top of Pisgah and lift his eyes to the four directions that he may see the Promised Land but not cross the Yarden (Jordan). He is further instructed to encourage Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) ben Nun and strengthen him to make him brave because he shall lead the children of Yisrael to inherit the land.

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Mount Pisgah

Further Mosheh (Mushah) continues his discourse on the Torah of YaHuWaH by stating Shema (listen and do) these chochim and mishpatim. Chochim as we discovered in previous studies are laws that defy human logic, mishpatim are the rules for judgment. He states that the chochim and mishpatim which he is melamad, meaning teaching and instructing. Remember this book is given to us through the words of Mosheh (Mushah) unlike the previous four books of Torah which came through the mouth of YaHuWaH. Here we see that the teachings of YaHuWaH are synonymous with the man Mosheh (Mushah). That is why often you will see the terms Torah of YaHuWaH and Torah of Mosheh (aka law of Moses). The rewards for being obedient is chayah or life, bow, which means to go in and yarash which means the ability to possess or own. Further we read the grave warning of adding to or subtracting from the words of the Torah.

Torah Scroll

Debarim (Deuteronomy) 4:2 “Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not take away from it, a so as to guard the commands of YaHuWaH your Elohim which I am commanding you. 3 “Your eyes have seen what YaHuWaH did at Ba’al Pe’or, for YaHuWaH your Elohim has destroyed from your midst all the men who followed Ba’al Pe’or. 4 “But you who are clinging to YaHuWaH your Elohim are alive today, every one of you.

The example here is telling us that the act of adding to or subtracting from YaHuWaH’s word is the same as the worship of “Ba’al Peor” which was adultery and idolatry rolled into one.

 Debarim (Deuteronomy) 4:6And you shall guard and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these laws, and they shall say, ‘Only a wise and understanding people is this great nation!’7“For what great nation is there which has Elohim so near to it, as YaHuWaH our Elohim is to us, whenever we call on Him?8 “And what great nation is there that has such laws and righteous right-rulings like all this Torah which I set before you this day?

And you shall shamar, which means observe and guard to do them for this is your chokmah and binah. Chockmah is usually defined as wisdom but is so much more, it is wisdom but usually seen as it’s first stages. Chockmah could be seen as having information; binah on the other hand is taking that information and developing it to a conclusion. For instance chockmah could represent dots in a “connect the dot” puzzle, however it is only when the dots are connected the picture comes into full focus. Our chokmah must derive from Torah, and so must our connecting of the dots. So we get our primary information from Torah then we take that information and connect it together. When you have all the dots or chokmah yet you connect them incorrectly false teaching arise which lead to division strife and ultimately foolishness. If we want to be wise and understanding our full understanding of life and all related subjects must come from Torah. If this is the case the nations of the world we notice and compliment us on our great wisdom and understanding. If this is not the case they will realize we are just as foolish as they. However this does not effect your reputation directly but rather taints YaHuWaH’s reputation and his Torah. We know this because they will say “what great nation is there which has Elohim so near as YaHuWaH is to his people.”   This is a word to our current generation just as it was in previous ones.

Mosheh (Mushah) then begins to remind beni Yisrael of the amazing events which transpired at the Mountain of Sinai. He recalls how they stood at the foot of the mountain while the mountain burned with great fire to the leb hashamayim or heart of “heaven”/”space”.   There was thick darkness all around and YaHuWaH spoke from the midst of the fire, though his words were heard by over one million people, they saw no form at this time. YaHuWaH uttered the ten words and wrote them on tablets of stone to be handed to the mediator of the covenant who was Mosheh (Mushah) who brought the obligations of the covenant to the children of Yisrael.

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“And He made known to you His covenant which He commanded you to do, the Ten Words, and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.”

YaHuWaH also commanded Mosheh (Mushah) at that time to teach his chukim w’mishpatim (laws and judgments).

One of the most grevious of offenses to YaHuWaH is idol worship, which cannot be tolerated in any form. YaHuWaH is the infinite one, he has no equal and therefore statues and art which depict him or any other “mighty one” are strictly forbidden by Torah. YaHuWaH is the Creator of all existence, therefore to make an image of him is to demonstrate that you have the power to create him rather than the other way around. He is the potter, and we are the clay.

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For YaHuWaH your Elohim is a consuming fire, he is a “jealous” El.

YaHuWaH describes himself with term El Kana, which usually is, translated a jealous El, though in comparison with petty human emotion, we should translate the word Kana more accurately as “territorial”. Though YaHuWaH is betrothed to Yisrael and in the literal since is “jealous” for her she is also his property.

Further Mosheh (Mushah) nabuah (prophesied) concerning the Galut or exile of the children of Yisrael. He commanded them to be loyal to YaHuWaH and him alone, however if they forget YaHuWaH and worship idols they would suffer defeat from their enemies and be exiled to the four corners of the earth.

Debarim (Deuteronomy) 4:27And YaHuWaH shall scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the gentiles where YaHuWaH drives you.28“And there you shall serve mighty ones, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

We know that this has taken place, this is obvious to scripture students. However Mosheh (Mushah) continues with a promise concerning the latter days (acharit yomim).

Debarim (Deuteronomy) 4:29But from there you shall seek YaHuWaH your Elohim, and shall find, when you search for Him with all your heart b and with all your being.30 “In your distress, when all these words shall come upon you in the latter days, then you shall return to YaHuWaH your Elohim and shall obey His voice.31“For YaHuWaH your Elohim is a compassionate El, He does not forsake you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

Mosheh (Mushah) tells us that in the time of distress or tribulation known as the acharit yomim (latter days) that the children of Yisrael shall teshubah, which means repent or return to YaHuWaH. This is a promise that we are witnessing even now at the close of the age.

YaHuWaH further instructs us that we should look into the history of the world and search from one end of the earth to the other and inquire of all the people if there has been such an excellent Word given as this Torah. We should inquire if any other nation has ever heard YaHuWaH speak from the fire and live or if any Elohim has ever taken for himself a nation from the midst of another nation by trials, signs, wonders, battles and by an outstretched arm as YaHuWaH has done for the children of Yisrael. Today it is obvious that no such deeds have ever been done. Billions of people claim to be “monotheistic” and give lip service to Mosheh (Mushah), though they mostly do not observe his words.

Further Mosheh (Mushah) recalls the ten words:

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Debarim (Deuteronomy) 5:6‘I am YaHuWaH your Elohim who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage.7 ‘You have no other mighty ones against My face.8 ‘You do not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth,9 you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, YaHuWaH your Elohim, am a jealous El, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,10but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.11 ‘You do not bring d the Name of YaHuWaH your Elohim to naught, for YaHuWaH does not leave him unpunished who brings His Name to naught.12 ‘Guard the Sabbath day, to set it apart, as YaHuWaH your Elohim commanded you.13‘Six days you labour, and shall do all your work,14but the seventh day is a Sabbath of YaHuWaH your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, so that your male servant and your female servant rest as you do.15 ‘And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Mitsrayim, and that YaHuWaH your Elohim brought you out from there by a strong hand and by an out- stretched arm. Therefore YaHuWaH your Elohim commanded you to observe the Sabbath day16‘Respect your father and your mother, as YaHuWaH your Elohim has commanded you, so that your days are prolonged, and so that it is well with you on the soil which YAHUWAH your Elohim is giving you.17 ‘You do not murder. 18 ‘You do not commit adultery. 19 ‘You do not steal. 20 ‘You do not bear false witness against your neighbour. 21‘You do not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor do you desire your neighbour’s house, his field, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, his ox, nor his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbour.’

The only difference in the Ten Words given here in Debarim 5 versus Shemoth 20 is in the command for the Shabbath. In Shemoth 20 the command states zakar or remember and memorialize the Sabbath day, however here in Debarim 5 we read shamor, which means observe and guard the Sabbath day. It is believed that somehow the Most High spoke both words at the same time from the mountain, though one cannot conclusively prove this, it is probable.

Further we read the Shema, which is the greatest commandment in the Torah according to Yahuwshuwa the Messiah and according to modern day Judaism.

 Debarim (Deuteronomy) 6: 4Hear, O Yisra’Ãl: YaHuWaH our Elohim, YaHuWaH is one!5 “And you shall love YAHUWAH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.6 “And these Words g which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart,7 and you shall impress them upon your children, and shall speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up,8and shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.9 “And you shall write them on the door- posts of your house and on your gates.

YaHuWaH is one, though he has several variations in the way, which he manifests. This belief is so important it is to be bound as a seal on our forehead and our right hand. This is how we escape being marked by the beast system. Not only this but this command is to be recited twice a day at least and be impressed upon your children while also being written upon the posts of your doors and gates.

Let us follow the example of Yahuwshuwa and declare that there is non other than YaHuWaH, that he is one and we should love him with all our hearts, beings and excess.  All of this Torah was given to prepare the children of Yisrael for entering the Promised Land.  We are in the acharit yomim (later days) and we shall see the words of Mosheh (Mushah) which are the words of YaHuWaH fulfilled.  Let us prepare by being obedient and qodesh, so that we too may enter the Promised Land.