Welcome to Walking the Torah Portions. I'm Tyler Merwin, and this is Torah portion V'zot HaBracha. This week's Torah portion is Deuteronomy 33.1-34.12.
The half-Torah this week is Joshua 1.1-18. V'zot HaBracha means, and this is the blessing, as in our opening line which reads, This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, Bless the people of Israel before his death. Deuteronomy 33, verse 1. This is the last portion of Devarim, the book of Deuteronomy, and the final portion of the Torah.
As we mentioned a few weeks ago, this is also the shortest Torah portion when counting by the number of words and letters. But Torah portion Vayelech has the fewest number of verses. Our portion begins with Moses blessing the tribes of Israel just before his death, just as Jacob blessed them before his death.
It's interesting to note that this blessing of the tribes opens with the Hebrew word bezot, which is translated, and this is. It's interesting because Jacob used this same Hebrew word at the conclusion of his blessing of the tribes in Genesis 49, 28. The sages see this as linking the two prophetic blessings together as Moses, in a way, completes Jacob's blessings. He said, Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us.
He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones with flaming fire at his right hand. Deuteronomy 33, verse 2. Seir is the land of Esau. and Mount Paran is the land of Ishmael. Esau was the firstborn of Isaac, and Ishmael was the firstborn of Abraham.
But both of these were passed over for the blessing and birthright, to be the ones to carry on the covenant. In the Midrash, it recalls that before the Torah was offered to Israel on Mount Sinai, that it was first offered to Esau and to Ishmael, the firstborns, both of whom refused this covenant. because it would prohibit their nature of stealing and killing.
In other words, following the Torah would crimp their style. The ten thousands of holy ones are understood as the myriad of angels that accompanied God and his Torah at Mount Sinai. The flaming fire at his right hand is the Torah itself, which is also known as his fiery Torah, because of the fire on Mount Sinai when it was given. Also notice that it's given in God's right hand, his hand of mercy and his hand of blessing.
Yes, he loved his people. All his holy ones were in his hand. So they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you, when Moses commanded us a law as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. Deuteronomy 33, 3 and 4. The line, followed in your steps, would be better translated, as they planted themselves or gathered themselves at your feet, with the picture being Israel at the feet of Mount Sinai when the giving of the Torah was happening.
The word possession would be better translated heritage. A possession, or even an inheritance, is in the complete control of whom it's given, to do with what they wish. A heritage, on the other hand, is different. It becomes the responsibility of the possessor to preserve and keep it intact.
Thus Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh became king in Yeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. Deuteronomy 33.5 As we discussed in last week's Torah portion, Yeshurun is a term of endearment that means an upright nation, or one who is obedient to the Torah. The sages note, that is only amongst those who grasp, study, and keep the Torah. that God is truly king.
Yeshua simply stated it this way, Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I tell you? Luke 6, 46. Lord, Lord, or Master, Master, can be the equivalent expression to saying King, King. Moses continues now with blessing the tribes. May Reuben live and not die.
and may his population be included in the count. Deuteronomy 33, 6 I use the Art Scroll translation here because most of our English translations vary on the meaning of the last line. Reuben was chastised for his actions with his father Jacob's concubine Bilhah in Jacob's blessing of the tribes in Genesis 49. Reuben also made a poor choice to stay trans-Jordan rather than inheriting inside the promised land.
Choosing the physical over the spiritual. Even though his choices were poor, he didn't live up to the firstborn status. The blessing is to live and not die, which is understood to continue in our current world and not die, meaning continue in the world to come.
And to be included in the count is to always be reckoned as an active tribe of Israel. And this regarding Judah. So he said, Hear, O Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people.
With his hands he contended for them, and may you be a help against his adversaries. Deuteronomy 33, 7 Judah is the line of the king and the line of Messiah. Judah will be the leader of Israel, and the leader should always be leading in times of battle. Judah will call upon the Holy One in these times, for he knows it is God who fights for Israel. Of Levi he said, Let your Tumim and your Urim belong to your godly man, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.
Deuteronomy 33.8 The Tumim and the Urim are part of the breastplate of the high priest, the godly or pious man. Masah refers to Exodus 17 incident where God brought forth water from the rock for the first time, right after the giving of the manna. Meribah, on the other hand, refers to the incident in Numbers 20 where Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it, where he and Aaron both lost the opportunity to enter the promised land.
Who said of his father and his mother, I did not consider them. And He did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons, for they observed your word and kept your covenant. Deuteronomy 33, 9 This refers to the Levites'actions to uphold God's righteousness after the incident at the golden calf.
They shall teach your ordinances to Jacob and your law to Israel. They shall put incense before you and hold burnt offerings on your altar. Deuteronomy 33, 10 Here, is the duty of Levi, to keep and teach the Torah to all of Israel, to serve as his priest in the tabernacle and temple. Jacob's blessings in Genesis 49 proclaim that Levi and Simeon would be scattered in Israel.
In the case of Levi, the Levites were scattered throughout the tribes to teach Torah throughout the land. O Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, bless his substance and accept the work of his hand. hands.
Shadow the loins of those who rise up against him and those who hate him, so that they will not rise again. Deuteronomy 33, 11 The Levite's substance would provide the sacrifices for the whole nation, and the work of his hands is their service to the Holy One in the temple and tabernacle. Finally, the blessing is that none would rise again to challenge the priesthood, like what happened in the incident with Korah.
Of Benjamin, he said, May the beloved of Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh dwell in security by him, who shields him all the day, and he dwells between his shoulders. The temple will be built in the portion of the land belonging to Benjamin, and they see this as why his blessing would follow Levi's. The temple was built in the Judean hills, as if on Benjamin's shoulders.
The Talmud states, that the temple was not built on the highest point in the land, but on a lower point, like the shoulders are lower than the head. The blessing of Joseph incorporates both Ephraim and Manasseh. The parallels and parallels the blessing Jacob gave in many ways in Genesis 49. Of Joseph he said, Blessed of Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh be his land, with the choice things of heaven, with the dew, and from the deep lying beneath.
Deuteronomy 33, 13 It was said that no other part of the promised land was as fertile as Joseph's. Partly because the groundwater was so good that deep lying beneath, and with the choice yield of the sun, and with the choice produce of the months, and with the best things of the ancient mountains, and with the choice things of the everlasting hills, Deuteronomy 33, 14 and 15. The produce of this land produced month after month, or moon after moon. The ancient mountains...
are thought to be some of the first mountains that God created on the earth. And with the choice things of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come to the head of Joseph, and to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.
Deuteronomy 33, 16 Dwelt, or rested upon, the thorn bush is referring to Moses'encounter at the burning bush where Moses first encountered God. As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will push the peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth.
And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and those are the thousands of Manasseh. Deuteronomy 33, 17 Joseph wasn't the actual firstborn, but this word can also mean greatness and sovereignty. and the ox is symbolic of strength and power. The power and leadership is referring to Joshua, who is from the tribe of Joseph. This also refers to Messiah, who carries the same name as Joshua, because Joshua's Hebrew name is Yehoshua, and Yeshua is just a shortened version of the same name with the same meaning.
The horns of Joshua, Ephraim and Manasseh, would conquer the land and push out the enemy to the ends of the earth. So too, Messiah will come to reclaim his territory to the ends of the earth. Of Zebulun, he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going forth, and Issachar in your tents.
They will call peoples to the mountain. There they will offer righteous sacrifices, for they will draw out the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures. Zebulun and Issachar had a unique and inspiring partnership. Zebulun had a very prosperous maritime industry in the sand and the sea. Issachar, on the other hand, had devoted themselves to study, like Jacob, who was a man of the tents, an idiom for studying God's word.
Zebulun, who was an industrious and successful supported Issachar, their neighbor, so that they could devote themselves to study. As it states in 1 Chronicles 12, that Issachar had an understanding of the times. And this only came because of all their diligent study. It's also understood that Issachar was instrumental with setting up the calendar in order to keep the feasts in their proper times. Of Gad, he said, Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad.
He lies down as a lion. and tears the arm also the crown of the head dey thirty three twenty gas land was transjordan but it was larger than all of the other tribes land gad had great and mighty warriors and due to their position would often be the first tribe to encounter an attack then he provided the first part of himself for there the ruler's portion was reserved and he came with the leaders Gad was the first tribe to request their land inheritance, the first part for himself. The ruler is better translated as the lawgiver, and this is thought to refer to the burial place of Moses on Mount Nebo. Gad's warriors valiantly went forth with Joshua to conquer the land with their brothers before returning back to their homes transjordan.
Of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp that leaps forth from Bashan, Deuteronomy 33, 22. Dan's territory was on the Mediterranean coast and would be one of the first to encounter a seaborne enemy attack. As a border guard, Dan is also referred to as a lion. Being referred to as a young lion speaks of its nimbleness and adventurous spirit. That's where Samson came from. Bashan, on the other hand, was in the north.
But the water of Dan's land actually came from that source in Bashan. Of Naphtali, he said, Naphtali's blessing refers to the riches of their territory. And according to Rashi, it was very fertile and contained everything the inhabitants could ever desire. Of Asher he said, More blessed than sons is Asher.
May he be favored by his brothers, and may he dip his foot in oil. Deuteronomy 33, 24 Asher was a large tribe, and the blessing is that he will remain so. It's believed that Asher was more abundant with children than the other tribes.
And hint, hint, to be more abundant in this way usually means that you're pretty obedient. Asher supplied the other tribes with oil. The idea of dipping your feet in oil is a picture of their abundance.
Your locks will be iron and bronze, and according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be. Deuteronomy 33, 25. The sages are split on whether this verse applies to Asher or to Israel as a whole, which would connect more to our next verse. The door, the locks, or the door locks, of iron and bronze would speak to security.
The second line refers to maintaining a youthful vigor as we age. So, wait a minute, what happened to Simeon? When listing the twelve tribes, there are always differences throughout scripture on how they're listed and who's actually listed. It's thought that Simeon wasn't listed because of their involvement with the sin of Baal Peor.
which left them few in number. But realize, just because they weren't listed, they were still physically standing there with Moses. So, when we see a tribe seemingly omitted in Scripture, don't assume that they're not physically there. Moses wraps up his final blessing to encourage and praise all of Israel.
There is none like the God of Yeshurun, who rides the heavens to your help. and through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he drove out the enemy from before you, and said, Destroy. So Israel dwells in security, the fountain of Jacob secluded, in a land of grain and new wine. His heavens also drop down dew. Blessed are you, O Israel, who is like you.
a people saved by Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, who is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty. So your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread upon their high places. Deuteronomy 33, 26-29 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. Deuteronomy 34, verse 1 God brings Moses to the top of Pisgah. to show him the land of promise.
The sages believe God showed Moses the physical and spiritual land, including the future of the land, long after he was gone. I believe he saw Messiah, both in his first and second coming. So Moses, the servant of Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh.
And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor. But no man knows his burial place to this day. Deuteronomy 34, 5 and 6. Moses was truly a slave or servant to Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, as he totally surrendered his will to the will of the Most High. Although Moses was 120 years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. Deuteronomy 34, 7. God's holiness Shown so much on Moses, that at 120 years old, His physical body still functioned as in his youth.
Israel wept for Moses for thirty days. Now Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him, and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh had commanded Moses. Deuteronomy 34, verse 9 The Holy Spirit which filled Moses also filled Joshua for the task at hand. For Joshua was obedient to Moses and to God.
Since that time, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh knew face to face. For all the signs and wonders which Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land, and for all the mighty power, and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all. Israel. Deuteronomy 34, 10-12.
There was never anyone like Moses, until the prophet like Moses, Yeshua HaMashiach, took on flesh and walked among men. As we have finished reading the book of the Torah, we proclaim, Kazach, Kazach, Venik Kazek, which means, Be strong, be strong. and may we be strengthened. But the Torah doesn't ever really end.
God's word is cyclical, with no beginning and no end. It's perpetual and eternal. So with this concept in mind, let us re-roll the scroll to bear a sheet, the book of Genesis.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void. and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night.
And there was evening, and there was morning, one day. Genesis 1, 1-5 Thank you. for studying the Torah with me. I pray God's blessings on you and your families.
I pray the Most High blesses your communities. Be strong and courageous. And shine forth the light of Yeshua and His Torah because it's getting dark out there.
I pray this teaching has been edifying. Let's lift up the name of the Holy One. With love,