Vayigash

VaYigash

Genesis 44:18 – 47:27

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah,

I pray for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit of Knowledge and

 The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parasha

Parasha VaYigash is the eleventh Torah Portion in the yearly Torah cycle, at the end of Parasha MiKeitz, Benjamin was an apprehended as a thief who had been caught red-handed with the viceroy’s cup. The eleven brothers stood haplessly at the mercy of this supposingly hostile all powerful Egyptian, who determine that Benjamin would have to remain in Egypt as a slave while his brother could return to their father.

Judah step forward risking his life, while the other brother stood dumbfounded! His speech was simple yet eloquent; controlled yet emotional; respectful yet firm. Judah petitioned without debasing himself; He could not protest the fairness of the verdict, because the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Like a true leader he offered up himself as a substitute, not realizing that he was speaking to the very brother whose life he had save in 37:26 and settle to sell him as a slave.

In 167 BCE, Hebrew rebels led by Judah Maccabee rose up against the Greek ruler, Antiochus, who had desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. In a series of battles lasting some twenty-five years, the Maccabees defeated the much larger and better trained Greek army.

They reentered the Temple and purified it, after which one night’s oil miraculously kept the Temple Menorah lit for eight days, which would become the basis for our contemporary celebration of Chanukah, which was last week.

It is no concident that the story of Vayigash is generally read on the Shabbat after Chanukah, because there is a link between the Maccabees who defeated the Greek and the consciousness espoused by the Torah portion of Vayigash.

Vayigash begins with the words “Vayigash elav Yehuda,” or Yehuda stood up to Joseph. This alluded to Judah’s resistance to Joseph’s demand that Benjamin, their youngest brother be a slave in Egypt. Judah protested that if Benjamin was forced to come to Egypt, Jacob, would die of grief.

What this Torah Portion Vayigash made clear is that like so many Torah Portion it is more than it appears to be, a story about events that took place thousand of years ago. Below the surface, it is describing the process of redemption, which can come only when enough righteous believers rise up, just as the Maccabees did against the Greeks, and Judah did to the Egyptians.

Vayigash elav Yehuda speaks of our elevation through what the sages name azut dekedushah, or holy audacity. Rising up with holy audacity eventually led to the restoration of the Temple and the creation of the miracle of Chanukah; where a few thousand dedicated Hebrews were able to defeat a more powerful Greek army. This victory had nothing to do with military proficiency, the miracles occurred because the Maccabees had Azut dekedusha and vayigash elav Yehuda. They had the holy audacity to stand up to the Greek. 

In the previous Torah portion of Miketz, we saw the brothers brought low by Joseph and by the challenging events they faced. This, unfortunately is our situation today. We are constantly been beaten down by the Galut, the darkness of the world.

This Torah portion Vayigash shows us how to challenge that. The great gift of the Shabbat of Vayigash is that it awakens within us the courage to stand up for ourselves when we are being oppressed; from victim to victory.

Spiritual courage and tenacity is a rare commodity in our world today. The bravery and audacity require to raise our hearts in our spiritual work is the hidden blessing of the Shabbat of Veyigash.

In Vayiash, Judah was able to bring an end to the pain of his brothers, not because his spirit was so elevated, but because he had awakened the holy bravery within himself. One of the gifts of the Shabbat of Vayigash is that it gives us access to the consciousness of Judah, to help us who lack the spiritual ability to awaken within us the righteous indignation. The Maccabees did it. Judah did it. We can do it too.

Everything we want to achieve in our spiritual life has already been done by someone before us. We are not required to simply discover a new trail to the miracle of past generation. We are simply finding the trail to the miraculous that the spiritual giants of history have blazed for us.

How do we achieve holy audacity? We do it by reminding ourselves that our action reawaken what those before us accomplished, that we are only reconnecting to what they did. Because they opened up this channel for us, we can create miracles.

Gen 44:18 And Yehuḏah came near to him and said, “O my master, please let your servant speak a word in my master’s hearing, and do not let your displeasure burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh. - Judah presented an emotional argument that was impelled by his pledge to, and love of, his father. He concluded by saying, if only one of us must remain as a slave let it be me, so that our aged father may again see his favorite son. Because I guaranteed his safety, I cannot return home without him, lest I see the evil that might befall him.

Gen 44:19 “My master asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ – Judah questioned Joseph as to why did you ask us if we had a father or a brother? The goal of creation is to produce perfect or favorite sons for the Father. Anyone who has a love for ABBA YAHVEH as Yoseph did, will always ask if we have a spiritual Father or brother.

Gen 44:20 “And we said to my master, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young child of his old age, and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ – We are told in this verse about of ABBA YAHVEH EL-OLAM an old man, meaning the Everlasting ABBA, who is from eternity. HE also has a Son Yisrael, and his big brother Messiyah is dead, or so they think.

Gen 44:21 “And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, and let me set my eyes on him.’ –  The goal of Messiyah is to see spiritual Yisrael grow up. Bring Yisrael my younger brother to me! Another name for him is my Bride, bring her that I might behold her. We did as you requested and brought him down to see you.

Gen 44:22 “And we said to my master, ‘The boy is not able to leave his father, for if he leaves his father, his father shall die.’ –  In order for us to see our Messiyah we must die to the flesh. If our spirit leaves our body our body will die. The story also told us that if he leaves his father, the father will die. These stories are all metaphor, which paints a spiritual picture for us. Men alone can die to the flesh, however our heavenly Father cannot die, however, HIS Spirit will be graved.

                          

Gen 44:23 “But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you do not see my face again.’ –  Unless we all come to Messiyah as the sons of Jacob did we will never see ABBA YAHVEH’S Face. Our job as ambassador to the kingdom is to bring everyone to the kingdom to be transformed. We are told in this verse unless the boy the spiritual young, among us, is brought to Messiyah we must not return. How I wish that the ministry today could understand this.

Gen 44:24 “And it came to be, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my master. -  We told all this to our father who adamantly oppose the idea.

Gen 44:25 “And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ - The famine, however force our father to send us back to purchase more food. What is the situation in our lives that direct or forces us to face our ego, our most powerful enemy. When we are in a situation where we seems like we do not have a choose, we need to ask that am I suppose to learn by going down this road. The fish hock that brought them to Egypt was the search for food. Look how life changing this journey for food created in the lives of Jacob family.

                                                                                           

Gen 44:26 “But we said, ‘We are not able to go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we shall go down, for we are not able to see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ – We told Father that we will not go unless Benjamin accompanies us. As believers we should never go on a journey for our FAtHER unless the Holy Spirit is with us.

      

Gen 44:27 “Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons, - Our Father reminder us that his favorite wife had two sons. The partition of Yisrael into two kingdom the ten Tribe and the two of Judah and Benjamine.

Gen 44:28 and the one went out from me, and I said, “Truly, he is torn, torn to pieces!” And I have not seen him since. - One is missing and is presumed dead. The ten tribe is missing and presume dead, however like Joseph one day they will return to the Father.

Gen 44:29 ‘And if you take this one from me too, and harm comes to him, you shall bring down my grey hair with evil to the grave.’  – ABBA YAHVEH send is favorite son and he was died, HE did not desire to loose another son.

Gen 44:30 “And now, if I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us – since his own life is bound up in his life – Now please tell me, can I go home to my father without Benjamin? How can the Sons of Yisrael go back to ABBA YAHVEH without there younger brother! How are we taking with us when we standing before ABBA YAHVEH to give an account of our stewardship.

Gen 44:31 then it shall be, when he sees that the boy is not with us, that he shall die. So your servants shall bring down the grey hair of your servant our father with evil to the grave. – Can you sir imagine what the situation would be with my father when I return without Benjamin.

Gen 44:32 “ For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, if I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever. - I am the guarantor for the boy’s safety. If I do not bring him back, it is just a well I did not return. When we are given brother or sisters or even children are we not also responsible for their spiritual journey! Judah as his name imply is a praiser of YAHVEH, had the right idea if I do not bring bring him back let me bear the blame. If only our churches to day would have such an heart.

Gen 44:33 “And now, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a slave to my master, and let the boy go up with his brothers. - Please let me fulfill my promise to my father, I will remain, please let the boy go. Can you imagine how Joseph heart was melting when he hear these words coming from his brother mouth. The years from the Pit to the Palace, the ten brothers must have had some time to reflect on their actions, the guilt of sin will always do this to us. It is bring us to the Laver, were we look into the water and see the true reflection of our soul, the boys must have had many sleepless night reflecting on there treatment of Joseph. One can just wonder how many times they spent repenting of their slaying of their brother.

Gen 44:34 “For how do I go up to my father if the boy is not with me, lest I see the evil that would come upon my father?” - Or do you want us to return to my father and watch helpless as his heart gets broken again. My father is old; this one might just kill him! I don not think Hollywood could have written a fine script.

Chapter 45

After such a heartrending speech, where Judah unselfishly offers up himself as a substitute for Benjamin, Joseph finally had irrefutable proof of his brother’s maturity. Long gone were the day were they easily and jealously sold Joseph away; now they were willing to give up their life for their father sake.

It was to ascertain that he had subjected them to all these tribulations to begin with. Moreover, the brothers had already had their fair share of humiliation. Joseph now decides that the moment of reconciliation had arrived.

       

Gen 45:1  And Yosĕph was unable to restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he called out, “Have everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Yosĕph made himself known to his brothers. – Since Joseph loves his father, it was not his desire to cause any pain to Jacob. It was also apparent that some concern was in questioned about Jacob health. Could it be that even at this moment my father whom I love dearly, the one who has been morning for me over the last 12 years, I have the power to cause him great joy, yet, I am still playing this childish game, of who can outwit who. Shame on me, as Joseph asks all his entourage to leave the room. Removing all notions of man’s made authority from around him. 

Gen 45:2 And he wept aloud, and the Mitsrites and the house of Pharaoh heard it. – He not only cried because of the joy of seen them, but the Joy that he finally had the opportunity to relieved his father distress. If depression was a word in those days, it could have been said that Jacob sank into depression over His Joseph demise.

Gen 45:3 And Yosĕph said to his brothers, “I am Yosĕph, is my father still alive?” But his brothers were unable to answer him, for they trembled before him. – I believe that Joseph said: I am Joseph, tell my father I am still alive!

Gen 45:4 Then Yosĕph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” And when they came near, he said, “I am Yosĕph your brother, whom you sold into Mitsrayim. – Don’t run away, come closer, I am Joseph your brother; I am Yahushua the Messiyah, yes the same one who you sold for 30^th peaces of silver! Where is my coat? See my hands! Notice the hole the nail made! Zec 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

 Gen 45:5 “And now, do not be grieved nor displeased with yourselves because you sold me here, for Elohim sent me before you to preserve life. - Do not be displeased that you sold me and I end up here. I was sent by EL YAHVEH to prepare the way for a time just as this. This is the best of time and the worst of time don’t be dismay. It is the best of time for you, but for these Egyptians it is the worst of times, for you have come to plunder them when the time is right.

Gen 45:6 “For two years now the scarcity of food has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there is neither ploughing nor harvesting. - If you think things is bad, it is going to get worst, there is five more years to go and you will not be able to plant or harvest.

Gen 45:7 “And Elohim sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to give life to you by a great escape. – I was set here for a time just as this, to preserve a way for our family to survive and to escape with great wealth. This was why Joseph had to ask the Egyptians to leave the room.

Gen 45:8 “So then, you did not send me here, but Elohim. And He has set me for a father to Pharaoh, and master of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Mitsrayim. -  Do not think that it was your wickedness that brought me here. It was EL YAHVEH Sovereign will, and a way of exposing the flaws in your character. The test I created for you were to see how far you have progress since them.

Gen 45:9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Yosĕph, “Elohim has made me master of all Mitsrayim. Come down to me, do not delay. - Now your next duty is to go home to dad and tell him I am alive and kicking. EL YAHVEH has fulfilled one of my dreams. Now come and fulfill the others, even the one that will make us a stranger in a foreign land. But He promise that we will depart from this place with great wealth. Come and see the money I am making for Pharaoh, this is only an example of what we will leave with.

Gen 45:10 “And you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. - Come on down and live in the best part of the land of Egypt, and learn their secrets, I have the power to give it to who ever I please.

Gen 45:11 “And I shall provide for you there, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty, because five years of scarcity of food are still to come.”-  I also have the power to give you whatever you want, go and return quickly before the food run out.

Gen 45:12 “And look, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Binyamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. - At this point in the dialog Joseph was now speaking to them in Hebrew. Come all of you and See I am speaking Hebrew to you.

Gen 45:13 “And you shall inform my father of all my esteem in Mitsrayim, and of all that you have seen. And you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” – You shall inform Dad of all my accomplishment in Egypt. My dreams really came through. Now let the rest of the promises also come through, for EL YAHVEH is a Covenant keeping Elohim.

Gen 45:14 And he fell on his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept, and Binyamin wept on his neck. – From the pit to the prison to the palace, dream partly fulfilled, only the sun and the moon was left to honor Joseph.

                  

Gen 45:15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers spoke with him. - This was the kiss of approval and the tears of joy. The approval of what we have achieved and tears for all that we have endured. At the end we can say it was worth it all. My friends whatever situation you may find yourself in, it is always the best of times. Maximize every moment, let not one minute be found in you that you are not progressing spiritually.

Gen 45:16 And the report of it was heard by the house of Pharaoh, saying, “The brothers of Yosĕph have come.” And it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants. – Pharaoh was happy that Joseph had a family and a very prominent and respectful one at that. Even thought Pharaoh had heard about the incident, he could not understand the spiritual implication of it all. The stage was been set to plunder Egypt.

Gen 45:17 And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your beasts and go, enter the land of Kenaʽan, - It was Pharaoh voice that Joseph heard, but it was the Word of EL YAHVEH that was being spoken. Even the voice of the unsaved can be used at the voice if YAHVEH.

Gen 45:18 and take your father and your households and come to me, and I give you the best of the land of Mitsrayim, and you eat the fat of the land.  - Here is another Torah principle! It is the desire of the Kings of Kings to bring everyone of our family into the Kingdom of Heavens. It is always the desire of the Holy One to make us the head and not the tail. To give every human who live the best of the land spiritually and physically. Notice also a prophecy was been made that the Pharaoh would give them the best of the land some 400 years later.

Gen 45:19 ‘And you, you have been commanded, do this: Take wagons out of the land of Mitsrayim for your little ones and your wives. And you shall bring your father, and come. - There are always wagons, vehicles; in this world in whatever country we live to take us and our family to that promise land. Who would provide the wagons, none other than Pharaoh. This would be fulfilled the same way years later in the Exodus.

Gen 45:20 ‘And do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Mitsrayim is yours.’ - From a physical point of view, do not be too concern about our physical wealth, all the richness of the spiritual Kingdom is available to us.

                                           

Gen 45:21 And the sons of Yisra’ĕl did so. And Yosĕph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them food for the journey. - The sons of Yisrael are anyone who believe in Yahushua and is obedience to Torah. They will be provident with wagons, the means to carry others to the promise land. The spiritual definition of food for the journey can be defined as the appropriate food (Torah, Scripture) for our different stages of our spiritual growth. This food could include the milk of the word for the spiritual babes, strong meat for the adults.

Gen 45:22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments, but to Binyamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. - The story in Matthew 25:14 for it is like a man going from home, who called his own servants and delivered his possessions to them. 15 “And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability, and went from home. 16 “And he who had received the five talents went and worked with them, and made another five talents.  17 “In the same way, he with the two also, he gained two more. 18 “But he who had received the one went away and dug in the ground, and hid the silver of his master. 19 “And after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “And he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 “And his master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ The implication of this Torah Principle stress that Talents (gifts) were given to all the brothers: however, Benjamin was given three hundred pieces of silver. Three hundred represent perfection, as Gideon chooses three hundred choice men. This is an illustration of wealth given to EL YAHVEH perfection.

The five change of garment, the five Talents of the: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher; The five roles that will be given to the Perfect son.

Gen 45:23 And he sent to his father this: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Mitsrayim, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, and bread, and food for his father for the journey. - This verse also implicates another kingdom principle that is tithes. In the Kingdom to come, all sons will tithes to their Fathers.

                                                                                                               

Gen 45:24 So he sent his brothers away, and they left. And he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way. - Another Torah Principle is one that we should refrain from fighting among our self. This was the root cause of all the problems among the brother. Even among the 10 brother who sold Joseph into slavers, they were never in unified concession. You may disagree yet, we do not need to quarrel.  

                                                                                                                       

Gen 45:25 And they went up out of Mitsrayim, and came to the land of Kenaʽan to Yaʽaqoḇ their father. - Another Torah Principle, after we have our experience here on earth we are required to return to our Heavenly Father, where we will have to give an account to our father.

Gen 45:26 And they told him, saying, “Yosĕph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Mitsrayim.” And Yaʽaqoḇ’s heart ceased, for he did not believe them. - One of the greatest words our Heavenly Father wants to hear is the fact that His Favorite Son is still alive in the heart of mankind. It is incumbent on all men to proclaim the besorah (The good new) that Yahushua is alive in Mitsrayim, Egypt, the World.

Gen 45:27 But when they spoke to him all the words which Yosĕph had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons which Yosĕph had sent to transport him, the spirit of Yaʽaqoḇ their father revived.  - When the ministering Angels, report the EL YAHVEH, the King of the Universe, all that was happening pertaining to His Son Joseph (the savior) like Jacob His Heart rejoice. Once upon at time EL YAHVEH regrets that He had Created humanity. Genesis 6:6 And יהוה  was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Now he hears what make our Heavenly Father Spirit rejoice, that we are emanating His Favorite Son Yahushua.

Gen 45:28 And Yisra’ĕl said, “Enough! My son Yosĕph is still alive. Let me go and see him before I die.”  - What will bring the Kingdom of Heavens to Earth? Nothing more than the establishing of the Spirit of EL YAHVEH, right here on earth!

Chapter 46

On his way to Egypt, Jacob stopped to express his gratitude to EL YAHVEH. Then he accepted the Divine command that he go to Egypt, despite his frightening premonition that he was embarking on an exile that would cause his family incalculable harm. In any aspect of our spiritual journey we need to stop and give gratitude for the journey we are undertaking.

Jacob moving to Egypt in his old age, forced by a famine, and by the love for his son. Here, 

I. YAHVEH sends him (Gen 46:1-4). 

II. All his family goes with him (v. 5-27). 

III. Joseph welcome him (Gen 46:28-34).

Gen 46:1  And Yisra’ĕl set out with all that he had, and came to Be’ĕrsheḇa, and brought offerings to the Elohim of his father Yitsḥaq. - As believers we need to make our sacrifice to the Elohim of our father, if he is a believer. A son owes more honors to his father than his grandfather. Jacob knew that the prophecy was about to beginning, he stopped and prayed: I believer for grace for his dependance that they would make it through the 400 years of turmoil that was to come. The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

  

Gen 46:2 And EL YAHVEH spoke to Yisra’ĕl in the visions of the night, and said, “Yaʽaqoḇ, Yaʽaqoḇ!” And he said, “Here I am.” - It is a wonderful thing when our Heavenly Father spoke to us. It is even better when we get to that stage of our spiritual development, when we can say that we can finally say we hear the voice of EL YAHVEH.

                                      

Gen 46:3 And He said, “I am the Ěl (God), Elohim of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Mitsrayim, for I shall make you there into a great nation. - As believer today, we should never be afraid to go where we are sent, even to the most spiritual deprive parts of the world, EL YAHVEH will be with us always. This is an eternal promise!

                                                                             

Gen 46:4 “I Myself am going down with you to Mitsrayim and I Myself shall certainly bring you up again. And let Yosĕph put his hand on your eyes.” – EL YAHVEH promise to Jacob as He is also prominent to us today, that where ever we go, EL YAHVEH will be there to protect us. Since EL YAHVEH will be with them, He went further to guarantee that Joseph will be there at Jacob death.

Gen 46:5 And Yaʽaqoḇ rose up from Be’ĕrsheḇa. And the sons of Yisra’ĕl brought their father Yaʽaqoḇ, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to transport him. – The beginning of the journey to Egypt starts at Beersheba.

Gen 46:6 And they took their livestock and their property which they had acquired in the land of Kenaʽan, and came into Mitsrayim, Yaʽaqoḇ and all his seed with him.

                                   

Gen 46:7 His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed he brought with him to Mitsrayim. – EL YAHVEH knew all who are His, by defining them by Tribes, Torah is defining that we too needs to be define by our blood line.

                                   

Gen 46:8 And these were the names of the children of Yisra’ĕl, Yaʽaqoḇ and his sons, who came into Mitsrayim: Re’uḇĕn was Yaʽaqoḇ’s first-born. - These are the name of the Children of Jacob, those who were go down to Egypt, bring the Light of the World with them. These are they who would plunder Egypt after 400 years, leaving with great wealth.

Gen 46:9 And the sons of Re’uḇĕn: Ḥanoḵ, and Pallu, and Ḥetsron, and Karmi.

                      

Gen 46:10 And the sons of Shimʽon: Yemu’ĕl, and Yamin, and Ohaḏ, and Yaḵin, and Tsoḥar, and Sha’ul, son of a Kenaʽanite woman.

Gen 46:11 And the sons of Lowy: Gĕreshon, Qehath, and Merari.

Gen 46:12 And the sons of Yehuḏah: Ěr, and Onan, and Shĕlah, and Perets, and Zeraḥ – but Ěr and Onan died in the land of Kenaʽan. And the sons of Perets were Ḥetsron and Ḥamul.

Gen 46:13 And the sons of Yissasḵar: Tola, and Puwʽah, and Yoḇ, and Shimron.

Gen 46:14 And the sons of Zeḇulun: Sereḏ, and Ělon, and Yaḥle’ĕl.

Gen 46:15 These were the sons of Lĕ’ah, whom she bore to Yaʽaqoḇ in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the beings, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three.

Gen 46:16 And the sons of Gaḏ: Tsiphyon and Ḥaggi, Shuni and Etsbon, Ěri and Aroḏi, and Arĕli.

Gen 46:17 And the sons of Ashĕr: Yimnah, and Yishwah, and Yishwi, and Beriʽah, and Seraḥ, their sister. And the sons of Beriʽah: Ḥeḇer and Malki’ĕl.

Gen 46:18 These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laḇan gave to Lĕ’ah his daughter. And these she bore to Yaʽaqoḇ: sixteen beings.

Gen 46:19 The sons of Raḥĕl, Yaʽaqoḇ’s wife: Yosĕph and Binyamin.

Gen 46:20 And to Yosĕph in the land of Mitsrayim were born Menashsheh and Ephrayim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.

Gen 46:21 And the sons of Binyamin: Belah, and Beḵer, and Ashbĕl, Gĕra and Naʽaman, Ěḥi and Rosh, Muppim and Ḥuppim, and Ard.

Gen 46:22 These were the sons of Raḥĕl who were born to Yaʽaqoḇ: fourteen beings in all.

Gen 46:23 And the son of Dan: Ḥushim.

Gen 46:24 And the sons of Naphtali: Yaḥtse’ĕl, and Guni, and Yĕtser, and Shillĕm.

Gen 46:25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laḇan gave to Raḥĕl his daughter, and she bore these to Yaʽaqoḇ: seven beings in all.

Gen 46:26 All the beings who went with Yaʽaqoḇ to Mitsrayim, who came from his body, besides Yaʽaqoḇ’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six beings in all.

                   

Gen 46:27 And the sons of Yosĕph who were born to him in Mitsrayim were two beings. All the beings of the house of Yaʽaqoḇ who went to Mitsrayim were seventy. – The total consist of the following 70: Leah’s 32, Zephah’s 16, Rachels 11, Bilhas 7, Joseph and his two sons were already in Egypt.

                                                                        

Gen 46:28 And he sent Yehuḏah before him to Yosĕph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen. – The name Judah means praiser of YAHVEH. In every procession of YAHVEH’s people, weather for war or just a simple migration, the praise teem usually go first. Example, the Children of Yisrael marching around Jericho. II Chronicles 20:21  And he consulted with the people, and he appointed singers to Jehovah and praisers to praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise YAHVEH, for HIS mercy endures forever. 21 And when they began to sing and to praise,  

Gen 46:29 And Yosĕph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Yisra’ĕl. And he appeared to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time. – This is an antecedent to the Prodigal son who wept on seeing His lost son. The Hebrew word echad meaning one in Spirit, applies here. Jacob is now reunited with His Favorite son Joseph. The joy of seeing a son who was presuming lost in the world finally establishes the order of Meleczedek in their lives. Rachel might have been dead, but her spirit was there to bow before Joseph.

Gen 46:30 And Yisra’ĕl said to Yosĕph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” – The news that brought joy to Jacob was the fact that his favorite son was not only physically alive, but had grown spiritually. Jacob wanted to see for himself if his favorite son had truly become the ruler which the vision he had earlier, had been fulfilled.

Gen 46:31 And Yosĕph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I am going up to inform Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Kenaʽan, have come to me. – The principle being established here is that, although Joseph is second in command, he had the right to make all decision; Joseph chooses to go and inform the King on what he is doing. Yahushua says that I do nothing without His Father Knowing. Even though Pharaoh was a Headen king he still must be honored.

Gen 46:32 ‘And the men are shepherds, that they have been men of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds, and all that they have.’ – Joseph instructs his brother, to remember that they were shepherd or Minister of the Gospel. Knowing that the Egyptian was animal worshiping, they despised shepherd. Joseph had them introduce themselves as herds-men, thus Pharaoh would shun them, giving the relative isolation of Goshen.

Gen 46:33 “And it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ – Even though they were shepherds they told Pharaoh that they were herdsmen. As members of the Mighty Hand of YAHVEH, we should not always tell people who we are. If I am a Torah teacher, I should just say I am a teacher.

Gen 46:34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been men of livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ so that you dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Mitsrites.” – As being a shepherd involve looking after dependent living creature, they developed a spirit of humility, kindness, patience, which the fruits of the Spirits. His work allows him to focus on Torah; giving the nature of Egyptian culture it is understandable why they hated the character of a shepherds. Egypt Agriculture society encourage slave and dependability which disregard human dignity. The Yisraelites led the sheep while the Egyptians drive the sheep.

                                                      

Chapter 47

In this chapter we have instances, 

I. Of Joseph's kindness and affection to his relations, presenting his brethren first and then his father to Pharaoh (Gen 47:1 - 10).

· Settling them in Goshen, and providing for them there (Gen 47:11, Gen 47:12),

· Paying his respects to his father when he sent for him (Gen 47:27 - 31).

I.                    Of Joseph's justice between prince and people in a very critical affair, selling Pharaoh's corn to his subjects with reasonable profits to Pharaoh, and yet without any wrong to them (Gen 47:13, etc.).

·       Therefore he approved himself wise and good, both in his private and in his public capacity.

Gen 47:1  Then Yosĕph went and spoke to Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Kenaʽan. And see, they are in the land of Goshen.”  - As shephards these men were of no military challenge to Pharaoh, they had not military skill, only the ability to raise sheep, and Egypt also had sheep, much like Jacob when he was with Laban.

Gen 47:2 And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. – This verse here gave us an example of the Mighty Hand of EL YAHVEH, the five fold ministry of the: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher and present them to the Pharaoh and said these servants are Spiritual Shepherd.

Doctrine

 Gen 47:3 And Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are herds-mens, both we and also our fathers.” -

                                         

Gen 47:4 And they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, because there is no pasture for your servant’s flocks, for the scarcity of food is severe in the land of Kenaʽan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” - These ministry have been establishing in the world to minister unto the people. Let them dwell in the land. This was not a request as a lot of people might think! It was more of an order! Let this ministering shepherd minister unto my sheep. This is apart of the Sovereign Will of EL YAHVEH, what I also call the Mighty Hand of Elohim. The term come and reside in the land Goshen, signify that our true home in Yisrael. From a spiritual point of view our true home is not Earth but Heavens.

Gen 47:5 And Pharaoh spoke to Yosĕph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. -  

Gen 47:6 “The land of Mitsrayim is before you. Settle your father and brothers in the best of the land, let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of capable men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.” -  Pharaoh responded as graciously as Joseph had hoped, giving Joseph full authority to provide for his family with the best that Egypt had to offer. This is another of those hidden principle which the Holy Spirit revealed to the mature believer. We can lived in the best of the land, where we can be bless going and be bless coming.

                                                  

Gen 47:7 And Yosĕph brought in his father Yaʽaqoḇ and set him before Pharaoh. And Yaʽaqoḇ blessed Pharaoh. - It is the responsibility of every favorite son to present their Father to the World, which Egypt represents. When we do so, Our Heavenly Father will bless the world because of our actions.

Gen 47:8 And Pharaoh said to Yaʽaqoḇ, “How old are you?” – The life style of a believer is one of amazement. How is it possible for you to live this long? Torah places this verse here to give an illustration between the life of a mature believer and that of the world.

Gen 47:9 And Yaʽaqoḇ said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojournings are one hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not reached the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.”  – Jacob stipulation here is that the years of his life here on Earth is 120 years. The evil days of Jacob have been few, even though he have not yet reached the life span of his fathers who died at 180.   

                                                                                                          

Gen 47:10 And Yaʽaqoḇ blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. – As believers we are to bless those who are leaders over us, even when they are unsaved.

Gen 47:11 So Yosĕph settled his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Mitsrayim, in the best of the land, in the land of Raʽmeses, as Pharaoh had commanded. – Our possession or place in Egypt the world are given to us for a time, untill our work is done.

Gen 47:12 And Yosĕph provided his father, and his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread for the mouth of the little ones. – The bread of life is the Torah, Joseph provide enough food even for that of the young child. The Torah have the same principle, it is versatile even for the Young believer as it is for the mature believer. What ever stages of development we are Torah will satisfies our spiritual appetite.

Gen 47:13 Now there was no bread in all the land, because the scarcity of food was very severe, and the land of Mitsrayim and all the land of Kenaʽan became exhausted from the scarcity of food. – The narrative here describes the result of a physical famine. The same is true for the spiritual famine. There was no mature believer in Egypt, because of the scarcity of Torah. The land became deprive when there is a scarcity of the Word. Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith YAHVEH, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of YAHVEH:  We are living inNorth America where there is plenty of physical food, yet, there is a famine for the unchanging Word. Yet we have Christian TV every day, yet the words are the words of a lying spirit. Today people are will to give up their freedom for security. They are will to give up the right to practice our religious freedom for security. They are will to remove the scripture and prayer from the school to be tolerant or other people feeling. Notice, none of the Yisraelite never gave up their right to worship ABBA YAHVEH for food.

In our world which often is in turmoil and feels confusing and chaotic, we hunger for the sacred, for meaning, for guidance, for direction, we hunger for the spiritual.

Gen 47:14 And Yosĕph gathered up all the silver that was found in the land of Mitsrayim and in the land of Kenaʽan, for the grain which they bought. And Yosĕph brought the silver into Pharaoh’s house. – The law of supply and demand is not a new initiative, it’s root can be found even in Egypt. This is a policy of the world system, create a crisis so we can be justifying raising oil price, even if it is out of speculation.  

Gen 47:15 And when the silver was all spent in the land of Mitsrayim and in the land of Kenaʽan, all the Mitsrites came to Yosĕph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the silver is gone!” – When the people had spent all their life savings, they went and sold the very instrument need to sustain life. This is usually the policy of the world system, which is contrary to Torah which emanates compassion.

  

Gen 47:16 And Yosĕph said, “Give your livestock, and I give you bread for your livestock, if the silver is gone.” – The principle being taught here is that it is acceptable to exchange one’s livestock for food in Egypt. In Yisrael if a man is hungry we must feed him from the tithes given to the store house.

Gen 47:17 So they brought their livestock to Yosĕph, and Yosĕph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks they owned, and for the herds they owned, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. – This was not the same practice in Goshen, they were given all the food they required according 47:12.

Gen 47:18 And when that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We do not hide from my master that our silver is all spent, and my master also has the livestock we owned. There has not any been left before my master but our bodies and our lands? – The purpose of the world system is always to enslave the people, while Torah is design to enhance.

Gen 47:19 “Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and let us and our land be servants of Pharaoh. And give us seed, and let us live and not die, and let the land not lie waste.” – Those who are not saved and are apart of the world system is always afraid of dying. They are prepared even to sell their own soul to avoid any form of suffering. In this verse we see the people saying that Pharaoh should purchase them, that they are willing to become servant to him to suffice their own body. They desires of the flesh will always settle for the carnal nature, while the Torah elucidate an eternal principle.

When the land is allowed to lay waste, without being plowed and planted, it is tantamount to its death. The same is true of people who squander their potential. The unsaved are called walking dead.

Gen 47:20 And Yosĕph bought the entire land of Mitsrayim for Pharaoh, because every man of the Mitsrites sold his field, because the scarcity of food was severe upon them. And the land came to be Pharaoh’s. – From a spiritual perspective, El Yahushua, died to purchase the world for His Father. Ever man who ever lived has the opportunity to give his or her soul to the King of kings and EL of all Elohim. As believers in Messiyah Yahushua we should sell every thing to gain the spiritual bread, while the unsaved sell all their physical wealth to gain physical bread.

Gen 47:21 And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Mitsrayim to the other end. – Joseph transformed the population from one city to the next establishing the monarchy’s undisputed ownership of the land. He also demonstrates that the individuals no longer had claim to their former property. He was concern that if he let them remain in their former state of existence they would not be loyal to the King. By moving them to the city, the king could be better able to feed and protect them from any harm. This City the redeem community is trying to establish is Yahushua; He is the City of refuge.

Gen 47:22 Only the ground of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had portions allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their portions which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore they did not sell their ground. –This Torah verse stress on the royal provision for the priests is seen as a lesson for future generation. Believers should never be reluctant to give their tithes and contributions to the levities and the poor. Joseph prophetically established a precedent that would later benefit Yisrael while it was in Egypt. By giving a privilege status to the clergy to be exempt from the servitude to which the Egyptians would later subjected the other tribe.

Gen 47:23 And Yosĕph said to the people, “Look, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. – Joseph told the people the conditions under which they would be permitted to work the newly acquired royal lands and thereby earn their livelihood.

Although he had refused their offer to become slave, he required them to work the land as sharecroppers and be provided with seed by the government.

Gen 47:24 “And it shall be that in the harvest you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. And four-fifths is your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” – Under this agreement, those who work the land would be allowed to keep four-fifths of the harvest and give one-fifth for the King.

Gen 47:25 And they said, “You have saved our lives. Let us find favor in the eyes of my master, and we shall become Pharaoh’s servants.” – Again the people of the world ask to be servant of Pharaoh, as it is the nature of those who are unsaved to enslave by substance abuse.

Gen 47:26 And Yosĕph made it a law over the land of Mitsrayim to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the ground of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s. – Torah required 1/10 to ABBA YAHVEH while the world system imposed 1/5 in taxes.

Gen 47:27 And Yisra’ĕl dwelt in the land of Mitsrayim, in the land of Goshen. And they had possessions there and bore fruit and increased exceedingly. – As believers we are aliens in this world, it is not our home. However, too often after we have managed to acquire possession that we forgot our true purpose in Egypt. We began to let Egypt assimilate us in there culture.

Haftarah

Ezekiel 37:15 – 28

Ezekiel 37:¹⁵ Again the word of YAHVEH came to me, saying, - Here are more exceedingly great and precious promises made pertaining to the happy state of the Yisraelites after their return to their own land; but they have a further reference to the kingdom of the Messiah and the glories of gospel-times.

It is here promised that Ephraim and Judah shall be happily united in brotherly love and mutual serviceableness; so that whereas, ever since the desertion of the ten tribes from the house of David under Jeroboam, there had been continual feuds and animosities between the two kingdoms of Yisrael and Judah, and it is to be feared there had been some clashing between them even in the land of their captivity (Ephraim upon all occasions envying Judah and Judah vexing Ephraim), now it should be no longer, but there should be a coalition between them, and, notwithstanding the old differences that had been between them, they should agree to love one another and to do good to one another.

Ezekiel 37:¹⁶ “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Yisrael, his companions.’ - Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Yisrael, his companions.’ - The prophet was to take two sticks, and write upon one, For Judah (including Benjamin, those of the children of Yisrael that were his companions), upon the other, For Joseph, including the rest of the tribes.

                                                     

Ezekiel 37:¹⁷ “Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand. – These two sticks must be so framed as to become one in YAHVEH’S hand. The people took notice of this, and desired him to tell them the meaning of it, for they knew he did not play with sticks for his diversion, as children do.

Ezekiel 37:¹⁸ “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’ - Those that would know the meaning should ask for the Spirit of Understanding to give meaning of the word of YAHVEH which they read and hear, and of the instituted signs by which spiritual and divine things are represented to us; the ministers’ lips should keep the knowledge of Torah and the people should ask it at their mouth, Mal. 2:7. It is a necessary question for grown people, as well as children, to ask, What do you mean by this service, by this sign? Ex. 12:26.

Ezekiel 37:¹⁹ “say to them, ‘Thus says ABBA YAHVEH: “Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Yisrael, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.” ’ – The meaning was that Judah and Yisrael should become one in the hand of YAHVEH.

 They shall be one, one nation, verse 22. They shall have no separate interests, and, consequently, no divided affections. There shall be no mutual jealousies and animosities, no remembrance, no remains, of their former discord. But there shall be a perfect harmony between them, a good understanding one of another, a good disposition one to another, and a readiness to all good offices and services for one another’s credit and comfort.

They had been two sticks crossing and thwarting one another, nay, beating and bruising one another; but now they shall become one, supporting and strengthening one another. Force added to force is proportionally more efficient. Behold, how good and how pleasant a thing it is to see Judah and Yisrael, which had long been at variance, now dwelling together in unity.

Ezekiel 37:²⁰ “And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. – Then they shall become acceptable to their EL, amiable to their friends, and formidable to their enemies, Isa. 11:13, 14. They shall be one in YAH’s hand; by HIS power they shall be united, and, being by his hand brought together, YAHVEH’S hand shall keep them together, so that they shall not fly off, to be separated again. They shall be one in HIS hand, for HIS glory shall be the centre of their unity and HIS grace the cement of it. In HIM, in a regard to HIM and in HIS service and worship, they shall unite, and so shall become one. Both sides shall agree to put themselves into HIS hand, and so they shall be one. Those who agree in a third agree with each other.

Ezekiel 37:²¹ “Then say to them, ‘Thus says ABBA YAHVEH: “Surely I will take the children of Yisrael from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; - Those who are united that are one in YAHVEH’s hand, whose union with each other results from their union with Messiyah and their communion with ABBA YAHVEH through Him, Eph. 1:10. One in us, Jn. 17:21. They shall be one in their return out of captivity: I will take them from among the heathen, and gather them on every side, and bring them together incorporated into one body to their own land.

They shall be one in their separation from the heathen with whom they had mingled themselves: they shall both agree to part from them, and take their affections off from them, and no longer to comply with their usages, and then they will soon agree to join together in walking according to the rule of YAH’s word. Their having been joint-sufferers will contribute to this blessed comprehension, when they begin to come to themselves and to consider things.

Put many pieces of metal together into the furnace, and, when they are melted, they will run all together. It was time for them to strengthen one another when their oppressors were so busy try to weaken and ruin them. Likewise their soul joint together in the favor of YAHVEH, and the great and common deliverance made for them all, should help to unite them. YAH’S loving us all for a good reason, that they should love one another; Times of common joy, as well as times of common suffering, should be healing loving times.

Ezekiel 37:²² “and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Yisrael; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. – They shall all be the subjects of one king, and so they shall become one. The Yisraelites, after their return, were under one government, and not divided as formerly. But this certainly looks further, to the kingdom of Messiyah; He is that one King in allegiance to whom all YAH’s spiritual Yisrael shall cheerfully unite, and under whose protection they shall all be gathered. All believers unite in one Master, one faith, and one baptism. And the uniting of Jews and Gentiles in the church of Yisrael, their becoming one fold under Messiyah the one great Shepherd, is doubtless the union that is chiefly looked at in this prophecy. By Messiyah and partition-wall between them was taken down, and the enmity slain, and of them twain was made one new man, Eph. 2:14, 15.

Ezekiel 37:²³“They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their EL. – It is here promised that the Jews shall by their captivity be cured of their inclination to idolatry; this shall be the happy fruit of that affliction, even the taking away of their sin:

Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, those detestable defiling things, no, nor with any of their former transgressions. When one sin is sincerely parted with all sin is abandoned too, for he that hates sin, as sin, will hate all sin. And those that are cured of their spiritual idolatry, their inordinate affection to the world and the flesh, that no longer make a god of their money or their belly, have a happy blow given to the root of all their transgressions. Two ways YAHVEH will take to cure them of their idolatry:

1. By bringing them out of the way of temptation to it: "I will save them out of all their dwelling-places wherein they have sinned, because there they met with the occasion of sin and allurements to it.’’ It is our wisdom to avoid the places where we have been overcome by temptations to sin, not to remain in them, or return to them, but to save ourselves out of them, as we would out of infected places; see Zec. 2:7; Rev. 18:4. And it is a great mercy when YAHVEH, in HIS providence, saves us out of the dwelling-places where we have sinned, and keeps us from harm by keeping us out of harm’s way, in answer to our prayer, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

2. By changing the disposition of their mind: "I will cleanse them verse 28; that is, I will sanctify them, will work in them an aversion to the pollutions of sin and a complacency in the pleasures of holiness, and then you may be sure they will not defile themselves any more with their idols.’’ Those whom ABBA YAHVEH has cleansed HE will keep clean.

Ezekiel 37:²⁴ “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. – It is promised is this verse that they shall be the people of YAHVEH, as their EL, and the subjects and sheep of Messiyah their King and Shepherd. These promises we had before, and they are repeated here for the encouragement of the faith of Yisrael: They shall be my people, to serve me, and I will be their EL, to save them and to make them happy.

David, my servant, shall be king over them, to fight their battles, to protect them from injury, and to rule them, and overrule all things that concern them for their good. He shall be their shepherd, to guide them and provide for them. Messiyah is this David, Yisrael’s King of old; and those whom He subdues to Himself, and makes willing in the day of his power, he makes to walk in His judgments and to keep His statutes.

Ezekiel 37:²⁵ “Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. – It is here promised that they shall dwell comfortably. They shall dwell in the land of Yisrael; for where else should Yisraelites dwell? And many things will concur to make their dwelling agreeable.

They shall have it by covenant; they shall come in again upon their old title, by virtue of the covanant made unto Jacob, YAH’s servant. As Messiyah was David, YAH’s servant, so the Yisrael is Jacob, His servant too; and the members of the spiritual Yisrael shall come in for a share, as born in YAH’s house. He will make a covenant of peace with them verse 26, and in pursuance of that covenant he will place them, and multiply them.  Temporal mercies are doubly sweet when they come from the promise of the covenant, and not merely from common providence.

They shall come to it by prescription: "It is the land wherein your fathers have dwelt, and for that reason you cannot but have a special kindness for it, which YAHVEH will graciously gratify.’’ It was the inheritance of their ancestors, and therefore shall be theirs. They are beloved for their fathers’ sakes.

They shall have it entailed upon them and the heirs of their body, and shall have their families built up, so that it shall not be lost for want of heirs. They shall dwell therein all their time, and never be turned out of possession, and they shall leave it for an inheritance to their children and their children’s children for ever, who shall enjoy it when they are gone, the prospect of which will be a satisfaction to them.

They shall live under a good government, which will contribute very much to the comfort of their lives: My servant David shall be their prince for ever. This can be no other than Messiyah, of whom it was said, when he was brought into the world, He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, Lu. 1:33. It is the unspeakable comfort of all Messiyah’s faithful subjects that, as His kingdom is everlasting, so He is an everlasting King, He lives to reign for ever; and, as sure and as long as He lives and reigns, they shall live and reign also.

The charter by which they hold all their privileges is indefeasible. YAH’s Covenant with them shall be an everlasting covenant; so the covenant of grace is, for it secures to us an everlasting happiness.

Ezekiel 37:²⁶ “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. –  Both EL YAHVEH and Yisrael shall have the honor of this among the heathen. "Now the heathen observe how Yisrael have profaned their own crown by their sins, and ABBA YAHVEH has profaned it by HIS judgments; but then, when Yisrael is reformed and YAHVEH has returned in mercy to them, the very heathen shall be made to know that YAHVEH sanctifies Yisrael, has a title to them and an interest in them more than other people, because his sanctuary is, and shall be, in the midst of them.’’

YAHVEH designs the sanctification of those among whom he sets up his sanctuary. And blessed and holy are those who, enjoying the privileges of the sanctuary, give such proofs and evidences of their sanctification that the heathen may know it is no less than the almighty grace of YAHVEH that sanctifies them. Blessed are those who have YAH’s sanctuary in the midst of them, the kingdom of Heavens within them, in the principles of the spiritual life, and shall have it so for evermore in the enjoyments of an eternal life.

Ezekiel 37:²⁷ “My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their EL, and they shall be My people. - It is promised in the verse that YAHVEH will dwell among them who are mature; and this will make them dwell comfortably indeed: I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore; MY tabernacle also shall be with them.

They shall have the tokens of YAH’s special presence with them and HIS gracious residence among them. YAHVEH will dwell with them upon the earth, for where HIS sanctuary is HE is; when they profaned his sanctuary he took it from them (Isa. 64:11), but now that they are purified YAHVEH will dwell with them again.

They shall have opportunity of conversing with YAHVEH, of hearing from HIM, speaking to HIM, and so keeping up communion with HIM, which will be the comfort of their lives.

They shall have the means of grace. By the oracles of YAHVEH in HIS tabernacle they shall be made wiser and better, and all their children shall be taught of YAHVEH.

Ezekiel 37:²⁸ “The nations also will know that I, YAHVEH, sanctify Yisrael, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” - Therefore their covenant relation to YAHVEH shall be improved and the bond of it strengthened: "I will be their EL and they shall be my people, and they shall know it by having my sanctuary among them, and shall have the comfort of it.’’

Brit Chadasha

 John 10:11-19

In this chapter we have,

I.      Messiyah's parabolical discourse concerning himself as the door of the sheepfold, and the shepherd of the sheep, verse 1-18. 

II. The various sentiments of people upon it

John 10:¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. –  Messiyah Yahushua is the good shepherd, and not as the thief, not as those that came not in by the door.

The mischievous design of the thief: The thief cometh not with any good intent, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

First, Those whom they steal, whose hearts and affections they steal from Messiyah and His pastures, they kill and destroy spiritually; for the heresies they privily bring in are damnable. Deceivers of souls are murderers of souls. Those that steal away the scripture by keeping it in an unknown tongue, that steal away the sacraments by maiming them and altering the property of them, that steal away Messiyah’s ordinances to put their own inventions in the room of them, they kill and destroy; ignorance and idolatry are destructive things.

Secondly, Those whom they cannot steal, whom they can neither lead, drive, nor carry away, from the flock of Messiyah, they aim by persecutions and massacres to kill and destroy corporally. He that will not suffer himself to be robbed is in danger of being slain.

The gracious design of the shepherd;

First, To give life to the sheep. In opposition to the design of the thief, which is to kill and destroy (which was the design of the scribes and Pharisees) Messiyah saith, I am come among men, that they might have life. He came to put life into the flock, the Yisrael in general, which had seemed rather like a valley full of dry bones than like a pasture covered over with flocks. Messiyah came to vindicate divine truths, to purify divine ordinances, to redress grievances, and to revive dying zeal, to seek those of his flock that were lost, to bind up that which was broken (Eze. 34:16), and this to His Messiyanic Assembly is as life from the dead. He came to give life to particular believers. Life is inclusive of all good, and stands in opposition to the death threatened (Gen. 2:17); that we might have life, as a criminal has when he is pardoned, as a sick man when he is cured, a dead man when he is raised; that we might be justified, sanctified, and at last glorified.

Second, that they might have it more abundantly. As we read it, it is comparative, that they might have a life more abundant than that which was lost and forfeited by sin, more abundant than that which was promised by the law of Moses, length of days in Canaan, more abundant than could have been expected or than we are able to ask or think. But it may be construed without a note of comparison, that they might have abundance, or might have it abundantly.

Messiyah came to give life and, something more, something better, life with advantage; that in Messiyah we might not only live, but live comfortably, live plentifully, live and rejoice. Life in abundance is eternal life, life without death or fear of death, life and much more.

Secondly, To give his life for the sheep, and this that he might give life to them verse 11: The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:¹² “But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. - It is the property of every good shepherd to expose his life for the sheep. Jacob did so, when he would go through such a fatigue to attend them, Gen. 31:40. So did David, when he slew the lion and the bear. Such a shepherd of souls was St. Paul, who would gladly spend, and be spent, for their service, and counted not his life dear to him, in comparison with their salvation. But,

It was the prerogative of the great Shepherd to give his life to purchase his flock (Acts 20:28), to satisfy for their trespass, and to shed his blood to wash and cleanse them.

Messiyah is a good shepherd, and not as a hireling. There were many that were not thieves, aiming to kill and destroy the sheep, but passed for shepherds, yet were very careless in the discharge of their duty, and through their neglect the flock was greatly damaged; foolish shepherds, idle shepherds, Zec. 11:15, 17. In opposition to these,

          Messiyah here calls himself the good shepherd, and again verse 14 that shepherd, that good Shepherd, whom YAHVEH had promised. Messiyah Yahushua is the best of shepherds, the best in the world to take the over-sight of souls, none so skilful, so faithful, so tender, as he, no such feeder and leader, no such protector and healer of souls as he.

John 10:¹³ “The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. – He proves himself so, in opposition to all hirelings verse 12 – 14. Where observe,

First, The carelessness of the unfaithful shepherd described; he that is a hireling, that is employed as a servant and is paid for his pains, whose own the sheep are not, who has neither profit nor loss by them, sees the wolf coming, or some other danger threatening, and leaves the sheep to the wolf, for in truth he careth not for them. Here is plain reference to that of the idol-shepherd, Zec. 11:17.

Evil shepherds, magistrates and ministers, are here described both by their bad principles and their bad practices.

Their bad principles, the root of their bad practices! What makes those that have the charge of souls in trying times to betray their trust, and in quiet times not to mind it? What makes them false, and trifling, and self-seeking? It is because they are hirelings, and care not for the sheep. That is, the wealth of the world is the chief of their good; it is because they are hirelings. They undertook the shepherds’ office, as a trade to live and grow rich by, not as an opportunity of serving Messiyah and doing good.

It is the love of money, and of their own bellies, that carries them on in it. Not that those are hirelings who, while they serve at the altar, live, and live comfortably, upon the altar. The laborer is worthy of his meat; and a scandalous maintenance will soon make a scandalous ministry. But those are hirelings that love the wages more than the work, and set their hearts upon that, as the hireling is said to do, Deu. 24:15. See 1 Sa. 2:29; Isa. 56:11; Mic. 3:5, 11.

  The work of their place is the least of their care. They value not the sheep, are unconcerned in the souls of others; their business is to be their brothers’ lords, not their brothers’ keepers or helpers; they seek their own things, and do not, like Timothy, naturally care for the state of souls.

What can be expected but that they will flee when the wolf comes. He careth not for the sheep, for he is one whose own the sheep are not. In one respect we may say of the best of the under-shepherds that the sheep are not their own, they have not dominion over them not property in them (feed my sheep and my lambs, saith Messiyah); but in respect of dearness and affection they should be their own. Paul looked upon those as his own whom he called his dearly beloved and longed for. Those who do not cordially espouse the church’s interests, and make them their own, will not long be faithful to them.

Their bad practices, the effect of these bad principles. See how basely the hireling deserts his post; when he sees the wolf coming, though then there is most need of him, he leaves the sheep and flees. Those who mind their safety more than their duty are an easy prey to Satan’s temptations.

How fatal the consequences are! The hireling fancies the sheep may look to themselves, but it does not prove so: the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep, and woeful havoc is made of the flock, which will all be charged upon the treacherous shepherd. The blood of perishing souls is required at the hand of the careless watchmen.

Secondly, See here the grace and tenderness of the good Shepherd set over against the former, as it was in the prophecy (Eze. 34:21, 22, etc.): I am the good Shepherd. It is matter of comfort to Yisrael, and all her friends, that, however she may be damaged and endangered by the treachery and mismanagement of her under-officers, the Messiyah Yahushua is, and will be, as He ever has been, the good Shepherd.

John 10:¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. – is acquainting himself with his flock, with all that belong or in any way faithful to His flock, which are of two sorts, both known to him: He is acquainted with all that are now of his flock, as the good Shepherd verse 3, 4:

I know my sheep and am known of mine. There is a mutual acquaintance between Messiyah and His true believers; they know one another very well, and knowledge notes affection.

Messiyah knows His sheep. He knows with a distinguishing eye who are His sheep, and who are not; He knows the sheep under their many infirmities, and the goats under their most plausible disguises. He knows with a favourable eye those that in truth are His own sheep; he takes cognizance of their state, concerns himself for them, has a tender and affectionate regard to them, and is continually mindful of them in the intercession He ever lives to make within the veil; He visits them graciously by His Spirit, and has communion with them; He knows them, that is, He approves and accepts of them, as Ps. 1:6; 37:18; Ex. 33:17.

John 10:¹⁵ “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. – He is known of them. He observes them with an eye of favour, and they observe him with an eye of faith. Messiyah’s knowing His sheep is put before their knowing Him, for He knew and loved us first (1 Jn. 4:19), and it is not so much our knowing Him as our being known of him that is our happiness, Gal. 4:9. Yet it is the character of Messiyah’s sheep that they know Him; know Him from all pretenders and intruders; they know His mind, know His voice, know by experience the power of His death. Messiyah Yahushua speaks here as if he gloried in being known by his sheep, and thought their respect an honor to him. Upon this occasion Messiyah mentions the mutual acquaintance between his Father and himself: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father. Now this may be considered, either; first, As the ground of that intimate acquaintance and relation which subsist between Messiyah and believers. The covenant of grace, which is the bond of this relation, is founded in the covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son, which, we may be sure, stands firm; for the Father and the Son understood one another perfectly well in that matter, and there could be no mistake, which might leave the matter at any uncertainty, or bring it into any hazard. 

The Messiyah Yahushua knows whom he hath chosen, and is sure of them (ch. 13:18), and they also know whom they have trusted, and are sure of Him (2 Tim. 1:12), and the ground of both is the perfect knowledge which the Father and the Son had of one another’s mind, when the counsel of peace was between them both. Or,

Secondly, As an apt similitude, illustrating the intimacy that is between Messiyah and believers. It may be connected with the foregoing words, thus: I know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father; compare ch. 17:21. As the Father knew the Son, and loved him, and owned Him in His sufferings, when he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, so Messiyah knows His sheep, and has a watchful tender eye upon them, will be with them when they are left alone, as his Father was with him. As the Son knew the Father, loved and obeyed him, and always did those things that pleased Him, confiding in Him as his EL even when He seemed to forsake him, so believers know Messiyah with an obediential fiducial regard.

John 10:¹⁶ “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. – He is acquainted with those that are hereafter to be of this flock : Other sheep I have, have a right to and an interest in, which are not of this fold, of the Jewish church; them also I must bring. Observe,

The eye that Messiyah had to the poor Gentiles. He had sometimes intimated His special concern for the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael; to them indeed His personal ministry was confined; but, saith he, I have other sheep. Those who in process of time should believe in Messiyah, and be brought into obedience to him from among the Gentiles, are here called sheep, and he is said to have them, though as yet they were uncalled, and many of them unborn, because they were chosen of YAHVEH, and given to Messiyah in the counsels of divine love from eternity.

 Messiyah has a right, by virtue of the Father’s donation and his own purchase, to many a soul of which he has not yet the possession; thus he had much people in Corinth, when as yet it lay in wickedness, Acts 18:10. "Those other sheep I have,’’ saith Messiyah, "I have them on my heart, have them in my eye, am as sure to have them as if I had them already.’’ Now Messiyah speaks of those other sheep, First, To take off the contempt that was put upon him, as having few followers, as having but a little flock, and therefore, if a good shepherd, yet a poor shepherd: "But,’’ saith he, "I have more sheep than you see.’’ Secondly, To take down the pride and vain-glory of the Jews, who thought the Messiyah must gather all his sheep from among them. "No,’’ saith Messiyah, "I have others whom I will set with the lambs of my flock, though you disdain to set them with the dogs of your flock.’’

John 10:¹⁷  “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. – That his laying down his life for the sheep was the condition, the performance of which entitled him to the honors and powers of his exalted state: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life. Upon these terms I am, as Mediator, to expect my Father’s acceptance and approbation, and the glory designed me, that I become a sacrifice for the chosen remnant.’’ Not but that, as the Son of YAHVEH, he was beloved of his Father from eternity, but as EL, man, as Immanuel, he was therefore beloved of the Father because he undertook to die for the sheep; therefore God’s soul delighted in him as his elect because herein he was his faithful servant (Isa. 42:1); therefore he said, This is my beloved Son.

 What an instance is this of YAH’s love to man, that he loved his Son the more for loving us! See what a value Messiyah puts upon his Father’s love, that, to recommend himself to that, he would lay down his life for the sheep. Did he think YAG’s love recompence sufficient for all his services and sufferings, and shall we think it too little for ours, and court the smiles of the world to make it up? Therefore doth my Father love me, that is, me, and all that by faith become one with me; me, and the mystical body, because I lay down my life.

 That His laying down His life was in order to His resuming it: I lay down my life, that I may receive it again. First, This was the effect of his Father’s love, and the first step of his exaltation, the fruit of that love. Because he was YAH’s holy one, he must not see corruption, Ps. 16:10. YAHVEH loved him too well to leave him in the grave. Secondly, This he had in His eye, in laying down his life, that he might have an opportunity of declaring himself to be the Son of YAHVEH with power by His resurrection, Rom. 1:4. By a divine stratagem (like that before Ai, Jos. 8:15) He yielded to death, as if he were smitten before it, that he might the more gloriously conquer death, and triumph over the grave. He laid down a vilified body, that He might assume a glorified one, fit to ascend to the world of spirits; laid down a life adapted to this world, but assumed one adapted to the other, like a corn of wheat, ch. 12:24.

John 10:¹⁸  “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” - That he was perfectly sacrifice in his sufferings and death: "No one take or can force my life from me against my will, but I freely lay it down of myself, I deliver it as my own act and deed, for I have (which no man has) power to lay it down, and to take it again.’’

First, See here the spiritual maturity and power of Messiyah, as the Lord of life, particularly of His own life, which He had in himself.

He had power to keep His life against the entire world, so that it could not be wrested from him without His own consent. Though Yahushua’s life seemed to be taken by storm, yet really it was surrendered, otherwise it had been impregnable, and never taken. The Messiyah Yahushua did not fall into the hands of his persecutors because he could not avoid it, but delivered himself into their hands because His hour was come. No man taketh my life from me. This was such a challenge as was never accomplish by the most daring hero.

He had power to lay down his life.

(1.) He had ability to do it. He could, when He pleased, slip the knot of union between soul and body, and, without any act of violence done to himself, could disengage them from each other: having voluntarily taken up a body, he could voluntarily lay it down again, which appeared when he cried with a loud voice, and gave up His Spirit.

(2.) He had authority to do out of body travel. Though we could find instruments of cruelty, wherewith to make an end of our own lives, yet we can do that, and that only, which we can do lawfully. We are not at liberty to do it; but Messiah had a sovereign authority to dispose of his own life as he pleased. He was no debtor (as we are) either to life or death.

3. He had power to take it again; we have not. Our life, once laid down, is as water spilt upon the ground; but Messiyah, when He laid down His life, still had it within reach, within call, and could resume it. Parting with it by a voluntary conveyance, He might limit the surrender at pleasure, and he did it with a power of revocation, which was necessary to preserve the intentions of the surrender.

Secondly, See the grace of Messiyah; since none could demand His life of Him by law, or extort it by force, He laid it down of Himself, for our redemption. He offered Himself to be the Saviour: Lo, I come; and then, the necessity of our case calling for it, He offered himself to be a sacrifice: Here am I, let these go their way; by which will we are sanctified, Heb. 10:10. He was both the offerer and the offering, so that his laying down his life was his offering up himself.

That He did all this by the express order and appointment of his Father, into which he ultimately resolves the whole affair: This commandment have I received of my Father; not such a commandment as made what he did necessary, prior to his own voluntary undertaking; but this was the law of mediation, which he was willing to have written in his heart, so as to delight in doing the will of YAHVEH according to it, Ps. 40:8.

John 10:¹⁹ Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. - We have here an account of the people’s different sentiments concerning Messiyah, on occasion of the foregoing discourse; there was a division, a schism, among them; they differed in their opinions, which threw them into heats and parties. Such a ferment as this they had been in before (ch. 7:43; 9:16); and where there has once been a division again. Division are sooner made than made up or mended. This division was occasioned by the sayings of Messiyah, which, one would think, should rather have united them in Him as their centre; but it set them at variance, as Messiyah foresaw, Lu. 12:51. But it is better that men should be divided about the doctrine of Messiyah than united in the service of sin, Lu. 11:21. See what the debate was in particular.

Some took this occasion to speak ill of Messiyah and of His teachings, either openly in the face of the assembly, for His enemies were very impudent, or privately among themselves. They said, He has a devil, and is mad, why do you listen to him?

They accused Him as been demonic. The worst of characters is sometime put upon the best of men. He is a distracted, He raves and is delirious, and no more to be heard than the rambles of a man in pandemonium. Therefore, if a man preaches seriously and pressingly of another world, he shall be said to talk like an enthusiast; and his conduct shall be imputed to fancy, and a crazed imagination.

They ridicule His followers: "Why hear you him? Why do you encourage Him as to take notice of what he says?’’ Satan ruins many by putting them out of conceit with the word and ordinances, and representing it as a weak and silly thing to attend upon them. Men would not easely be laughed out of their necessary food, and yet allow themselves to be laughed out of what is more necessary. Those that hear Messiyah, and mix faith with what they hear, will soon be able to give a good account why they hear him.