Parashat Matot-Masei / פרשת מטות־מסעי
- Thu, 12 July 2018 = 29th of Tamuz, 5778
- כ״ט בְּתַמּוּז תשע״ח
Numbers 33:50-34:15 (22 p'sukim)
Numbers 33:50-34:15 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
50 Adonai spoke to Moses along the Jordan in the plains of Moab across from Jericho saying, 51 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 You must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. You must destroy all their idols and cast images, and demolish their high places. 53 You will take possession of the land, so you will settle in it, because I have given it to you to possess.
54 “You are to divide the land by lot according to your families. To the large, make their inheritance larger, and to the small, make their inheritance smaller. Whatever comes out of the lot will be theirs. You are to distribute the inheritance according to your ancestral tribes.
55 “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, whoever you allow to remain will become to you barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land in which you will be living. 56 Then what I had intended to do to them, I will do to you.”
Borders of Israel
34 Adonai spoke to Moses saying, 2 “Command Bnei-Yisrael and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, these are the boundaries of the land being allotted to you as an inheritance. 3 Your southern side will run from the wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom to the southern end of the Dead Sea on the east. 4 Your border will cross south of the Scorpion Pass and continue to Zin and south of Kadesh-barnea, then go on to Hazar-addar and on to Azmon. 5 Then the border will turn from Azmon to the Wadi of Egypt and end at the sea.
6 “Your western boundary will be the coast of the Great Sea. This will be your western border.
7 “Your northern boundary will be by running a line from the Great Sea to Mount Hor, 8 then from Mount Hor to Levo-Hamath[a], then the boundary will go to Zedad. 9 The border will continue on to Ziphron, ending at Hazar-Enan. This will be your northern border.
10 “For your eastern border, run a line from Hazar-Enan to Shepham. 11 From Shepham, the boundary will descend to Riblah on the east side of Ain, continuing along the eastern slopes of Kinneret. 12 From there the border will go down along the Jordan, ending at the Dead Sea. This will be your territory with its surrounding borders.”
13 Moses commanded Bnei-Yisrael, saying, “This is the land which Adonai has commanded that you are to assign by lot to the nine and a half tribes. 14 For the tribe of the sons of Reuben by their ancestral houses, the tribe of the sons of Gad by their ancestral houses, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance. 15 These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan at Jericho, toward the sunrise.”
50 וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃
51 דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כִּ֥י אַתֶּ֛ם עֹבְרִ֥ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃
52 וְה֨וֹרַשְׁתֶּ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִ֨בַּדְתֶּ֔ם אֵ֖ת כָּל־מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־צַלְמֵ֤י מַסֵּֽכֹתָם֙ תְּאַבֵּ֔דוּ וְאֵ֥ת כָּל־בָּמֹתָ֖ם תַּשְׁמִֽידוּ׃
53 וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּ֥ם אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וִֽישַׁבְתֶּם־בָּ֑הּ כִּ֥י לָכֶ֛ם נָתַ֥תִּי אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָרֶ֥שֶׁת אֹתָֽהּ׃
54 וְהִתְנַחַלְתֶּם֩ אֶת־הָאָ֨רֶץ בְּגוֹרָ֜ל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם לָרַ֞ב תַּרְבּ֤וּ אֶת־נַחֲלָתוֹ֙ וְלַמְעַט֙ תַּמְעִ֣יט אֶת־נַחֲלָת֔וֹ אֶל֩ אֲשֶׁר־יֵ֨צֵא ל֥וֹ שָׁ֛מָּה הַגּוֹרָ֖ל ל֣וֹ יִהְיֶ֑ה לְמַטּ֥וֹת אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם תִּתְנֶחָֽלוּ׃
55 וְאִם־לֹ֨א תוֹרִ֜ישׁוּ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָרֶץ֮ מִפְּנֵיכֶם֒ וְהָיָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תּוֹתִ֣ירוּ מֵהֶ֔ם לְשִׂכִּים֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וְלִצְנִינִ֖ם בְּצִדֵּיכֶ֑ם וְצָרֲר֣וּ אֶתְכֶ֔ם עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם יֹשְׁבִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃
56 וְהָיָ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּמִּ֛יתִי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָהֶ֖ם אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃ פ
34 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
2 צַ֞ו אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־אַתֶּ֥ם בָּאִ֖ים אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן זֹ֣את הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּפֹּ֤ל לָכֶם֙ בְּֽנַחֲלָ֔ה אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן לִגְבֻלֹתֶֽיהָ׃
3 וְהָיָ֨ה לָכֶ֧ם פְּאַת־נֶ֛גֶב מִמִּדְבַּר־צִ֖ן עַל־יְדֵ֣י אֱד֑וֹם וְהָיָ֤ה לָכֶם֙ גְּב֣וּל נֶ֔גֶב מִקְצֵ֥ה יָם־הַמֶּ֖לַח קֵֽדְמָה׃
4 וְנָסַ֣ב לָכֶם֩ הַגְּב֨וּל מִנֶּ֜גֶב לְמַעֲלֵ֤ה עַקְרַבִּים֙ וְעָ֣בַר צִ֔נָה ׳וְהָיָה׳ ״וְהָיוּ֙״ תּֽוֹצְאֹתָ֔יו מִנֶּ֖גֶב לְקָדֵ֣שׁ בַּרְנֵ֑עַ וְיָצָ֥א חֲצַר־אַדָּ֖ר וְעָבַ֥ר עַצְמֹֽנָה׃
5 וְנָסַ֧ב הַגְּב֛וּל מֵעַצְמ֖וֹן נַ֣חְלָה מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָי֥וּ תוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו הַיָּֽמָּה׃
6 וּגְב֣וּל יָ֔ם וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם הַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל וּגְב֑וּל זֶֽה־יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם גְּב֥וּל יָֽם׃
7 וְזֶֽה־יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם גְּב֣וּל צָפ֑וֹן מִן־הַיָּם֙ הַגָּדֹ֔ל תְּתָא֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם הֹ֥ר הָהָֽר׃
8 מֵהֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר תְּתָא֖וּ לְבֹ֣א חֲמָ֑ת וְהָי֛וּ תּוֹצְאֹ֥ת הַגְּבֻ֖ל צְדָֽדָה׃
9 וְיָצָ֤א הַגְּבֻל֙ זִפְרֹ֔נָה וְהָי֥וּ תוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו חֲצַ֣ר עֵינָ֑ן זֶֽה־יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם גְּב֥וּל צָפֽוֹן׃
10 וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֖ם לִגְב֣וּל קֵ֑דְמָה מֵחֲצַ֥ר עֵינָ֖ן שְׁפָֽמָה׃
11 וְיָרַ֨ד הַגְּבֻ֧ל מִשְּׁפָ֛ם הָרִבְלָ֖ה מִקֶּ֣דֶם לָעָ֑יִן וְיָרַ֣ד הַגְּב֔וּל וּמָחָ֛ה עַל־כֶּ֥תֶף יָם־כִּנֶּ֖רֶת קֵֽדְמָה׃
12 וְיָרַ֤ד הַגְּבוּל֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה וְהָי֥וּ תוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֑לַח זֹאת֩ תִּהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם הָאָ֛רֶץ לִגְבֻלֹתֶ֖יהָ סָבִֽיב׃
13 וַיְצַ֣ו מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר זֹ֣את הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּתְנַחֲל֤וּ אֹתָהּ֙ בְּגוֹרָ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ צִוָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה לָתֵ֛ת לְתִשְׁעַ֥ת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת וַחֲצִ֥י הַמַּטֶּֽה׃
14 כִּ֣י לָקְח֞וּ מַטֵּ֨ה בְנֵ֤י הָראוּבֵנִי֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם וּמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־הַגָּדִ֖י לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם וַחֲצִי֙ מַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לָקְח֖וּ נַחֲלָתָֽם׃
15 שְׁנֵ֥י הַמַּטּ֖וֹת וַחֲצִ֣י הַמַּטֶּ֑ה לָקְח֣וּ נַחֲלָתָ֗ם מֵעֵ֛בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ קֵ֥דְמָה מִזְרָֽחָה׃ פ
A very interesting translation of the word (Maskeetam) is translated by the TLV as "High Places", others translate it differently in pesuk 52 of chapter 33.
Rashi says, "Heb. מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָם, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, סִגְדַּתְהוֹן, their houses of worship, so called because they would cover (מַסְכְּכִין) the ground with a marble floor, on which they would prostrate themselves with outstretched hands and legs, as it is written,“And in your land you shall not place a pavement stone on which to prostrate yourselves (אֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית) in your land on which to prostrate yourselves” (Lev. 26:1)."
In Today's pesukim we find the commands to drive out the inhabitants of the Land, (Canaanites), dispossess the Land and divide it by lot for the 12 tribes of Israel. But this command comes along with a severe warning that unfortunately, was NOT heeded.
55 “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, whoever you allow to remain will become to you barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land in which you will be living. 56 Then what I had intended to do to them, I will do to you.”
as spikes in your eyes: Heb. לְשִׂכִּים, pins that will gouge out your eyes. The Targum [Onkelos renders], יְתֵדוֹת (Exod. 38:20), pins or spikes [as] סִכַּיָּא -
לשכים בעיניכם: ליתדות המנקרות עיניכם. תרגום של יתדות שיכיא:
and thorns: Heb. וְלִצְנִינִם. The commentators interpret this in the sense of a hedge of thorns which will surround you, fencing you in and confining you so that none can leave or enter. -
ולצנינם: פותרים בו הפותרים לשון מסוכת קוצים הסוככת אתכם לסגור ולכלוא אתכם מאין יוצא ובא:
and they will harass you: Heb. וְצָרְרוּ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders [וִיעִיקוּן, and they will harass you, cause you distress].
וצררו אתכם: כתרגומו:
These pins, or spikes in your eyes are a reference to the licentious nature of Idolatry. Idol worship has a direct connection with sexual immorality. The pagan nations, (Canaanites), who were judged already by God, if allowed to stay would seduce the Israelites (just as the Moabites had already done), with sexual immorality, it would be a snare for Israel, and they too would fall into idolatry.
This is what the Jewish Apostles had in mind when deciding where to draw the line with Gentiles coming into our "Messianic Jewish Movement":
Acts 15:19 Therefore, I judge not to trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God— 20 but to write to them to abstain from the contamination of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
NOTE: "How Idolatry and Sexual Immorality are Juxtaposed exactly next to each other in this pesuk!"
This too demonstrates how the spikes or pins in the eyes are a reference to sexual immorality.
Furthermore this led the Messiah himself to refer to the eyes when speaking of this type of sin:
Matthew 5:29 - וְאִם תַּכְשִׁילְךָ עֵין יְמִינְךָ נַקֵּר אוֹתָהּ וְהַשְׁלֵךְ מִמְּךָ כִּי טוֹב לְךָ אֲשֶׁר יֹאבַד אֶחָד מֵאֵבָרֶיךָ מֵרֶדֶת כָּל־גּוּפְךָ אֶל־גֵּיהִנֹּם׃
Matthew 5:29 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
29 And if your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away! It is better for you that one part of your body should be destroyed, than that your whole body be thrown into Gehenna.Now what of the reference to the "thorn in the side"?
2 Corinthians 12:7 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
...even in the extraordinary quality of the revelations. So that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me—a a messenger of satan to torment me, so I would not exalt myself.
Dr. David Stern says, "What was Sha'ul's thorn in the flesh? Some think it was a physical incapacity, such as stuttering, epilepsy, or weak vision, some, the emotional suffering resulting from not winning Jews to the Messiah as he would have liked (but see Acts 28:24), others, a recurring temptation, such as greed (Ro. 7:8) and yet others take the following phrase, "a messenger [Greek angelos, "messenger, angel"] from the Adversary," to mean that his "thorn" was a demonic spiritual being especially dispatched by Satan, (Matt. 4:1) to pound away at him (compare Mt 25:41, Rv 12:7, 9). From vv. 8-9a we learn that the "messenger from the Adversary," whatever it was, even if it was a demon, was sent by God-the Adversary has no independent power; God is in control of the universe. We also learn that sometimes God's answer to prayer is not necessarily to grant the request as asked, but to change the person asking (3:18), so that he no longer wants what he wanted before."
Stern's commentary that the "thorns" were a reference to a demonic spiritual being dispatched to buffet Shaul, seems in line with the overall Biblical theme of a "curse". Thorns are a symbol of a curse...
The Torah says, in Genesis 3 that man was cursed...
Genesis 3:Cursed is the ground because of you—
with pain will you eat of it all the days of your life.
18 Thorns and thistles will sprout for you.
You will eat the plants of the field,
19 By the sweat of your brow will you eat food,
until you return to the ground,
since from it were you taken.
For you are dust,
and to dust will you return.”
In Matthew 13, Yeshua uses midrash to teach that thorns grow up and choke out the seed, which is the Good News that leads to Salvation. The thorns are a symbol of the Satanic battle against God and His People, Israel. It is curses that come against our people and our nation in every way...to stomp out the blessing and Salvation. Thorns represent the constant never-ending Spiritual Warfare between the God of Israel and the adversary.
In our pesukim, if we allowed the Canaanites and their idols and places of worship to remain (which they did), the curses that were intended for them would fall on Israel. That is what has brought us into Exile. However, these curses, represented by the thorns were also carried by our Messiah...
Yochanan 19 Then Pilate took Yeshua and had Him scourged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. 3 They kept coming up to Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him over and over.
4 Pilate came out again. He said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him out to you, to let you know that I find no case against Him.” 5 So Yeshua came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. “Behold, the Man!” Pilate said to them.
He bore that crown of thorns that was designated to be on us and in our flesh, but because the Messiah carried that curse, we do not have to!
Galatians 3:13 Messiah liberated us from Torah’s curse, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that through Messiah Yeshua the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so we might receive the promise of the Ruach through trusting faith.
This is why faith in Messiah Yeshua is so important and there is no other solution. Without Yeshua's atonement there is no hope for humanity, not just Israel. And there is yet another warning for those who fall away and choose to turn their backs on God's One and Only Son:
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who once were enlightened—having tasted of the heavenly gift and become partakers of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, 5 and having tasted the good word of God and the powers of the olam ha-ba, 6 and then having fallen away—to renew again to repentance, since they are again crucifying Ben-Elohim for themselves and publicly disgracing Him. 7 For the earth—having soaked up the rain frequently falling on it—brings forth vegetation useful to those for whom it is farmed; and it shares in God’s blessing. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed—its end is to be burned over.
LET US NEVER GO BACK TO THORNS IN OUR EYES AND FLESH!
AMEN
The Torah says, in Genesis 3 that man was cursed...
Genesis 3:Cursed is the ground because of you—
with pain will you eat of it all the days of your life.
18 Thorns and thistles will sprout for you.
You will eat the plants of the field,
19 By the sweat of your brow will you eat food,
until you return to the ground,
since from it were you taken.
For you are dust,
and to dust will you return.”
In Matthew 13, Yeshua uses midrash to teach that thorns grow up and choke out the seed, which is the Good News that leads to Salvation. The thorns are a symbol of the Satanic battle against God and His People, Israel. It is curses that come against our people and our nation in every way...to stomp out the blessing and Salvation. Thorns represent the constant never-ending Spiritual Warfare between the God of Israel and the adversary.
In our pesukim, if we allowed the Canaanites and their idols and places of worship to remain (which they did), the curses that were intended for them would fall on Israel. That is what has brought us into Exile. However, these curses, represented by the thorns were also carried by our Messiah...
Yochanan 19 Then Pilate took Yeshua and had Him scourged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. 3 They kept coming up to Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him over and over.
4 Pilate came out again. He said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him out to you, to let you know that I find no case against Him.” 5 So Yeshua came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. “Behold, the Man!” Pilate said to them.
He bore that crown of thorns that was designated to be on us and in our flesh, but because the Messiah carried that curse, we do not have to!
Galatians 3:13 Messiah liberated us from Torah’s curse, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that through Messiah Yeshua the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so we might receive the promise of the Ruach through trusting faith.
This is why faith in Messiah Yeshua is so important and there is no other solution. Without Yeshua's atonement there is no hope for humanity, not just Israel. And there is yet another warning for those who fall away and choose to turn their backs on God's One and Only Son:
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who once were enlightened—having tasted of the heavenly gift and become partakers of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, 5 and having tasted the good word of God and the powers of the olam ha-ba, 6 and then having fallen away—to renew again to repentance, since they are again crucifying Ben-Elohim for themselves and publicly disgracing Him. 7 For the earth—having soaked up the rain frequently falling on it—brings forth vegetation useful to those for whom it is farmed; and it shares in God’s blessing. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed—its end is to be burned over.
LET US NEVER GO BACK TO THORNS IN OUR EYES AND FLESH!
AMEN
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