Parasha Shelach 5785 (2024) reading:

Bemidbar (Numbers) 13:1-15:41
Yehoshua (Joshua) 1-2
Mattityahu (Matthew) 10, Ma’asei (Acts) 13

Fair Use: Pro-Israel Content, Academic Content, Autistic Content:
The following notes are a summation of the video dialogue.

Welcome to NI’s midrash on Parasha Shelach. “Parasha Shelach 5785 (2024): Mission of the Sent Ones” explains what it means to “prepare the way” before Yahweh. The lesson throughout this parasha is the mission that Yahweh’s servants are given, and the type of attitude of submission, obedience, and faithful servitude that Yahweh wants from His people.

The Torah portion explains what it means to be a shelach (or a sent one) of Yahweh, the need to be set-apart unto Him and submitted to His Spirit, and what happens when Elohim’s people rise up and complain against Him. It also explains about the error of dying tzitzit with dye from the Hexaplex Trunculus Sean snail, which is an abominable creature according to Yahweh’s written Torah (Vayiqra (Leviticus) 11:10-11).

The Haftarah portion focuses on Israel spying out the Land under the leadership of Yehoshua (Joshua) the son of Nun, and how Rahab, (a woman of the enemy) submitted to Yahweh’s will and helped Israel.

And the Brit Chadasha portion speaks further about being a shelach of Yahweh, the mission of Yeshua HaMashiaach and His disciples in the first century, and the prophetic mission of the house of Joseph for bringing back the lost Abrahamic sparks scattered throughout the nations.

We will also answer a question from a viewer from the previous study about why it is necessary for Yahweh’s servants to rebuke false doctrine and to preach to both houses, including the house of Judah.

As we listen to this week’s study, let us examine ourselves faitfhully. Are we making His path straight like one of His ‘sent ones’? Or are repeating our ancestors’ mistakes by having a wrong attitude, which caused our ancestors to be put outside the land? May Yahweh Elohim please help us to have the right attitude of loving obedience.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 40:3
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of Yahweh; Make straight in the desert A highway for our Elohim.”

Viewer question:

We begin by responding to a question from a viewer.

Viewer question:
“Can you please please talk about something else than battling with them about the Talmud, what they do, what they say? And concentrate on teaching the Word? Please.”

There are a number of things to address concerning this question. To paraprase, this viewer is asking NI to abort the mission of reaching brother Judah, and to abort the mission of rebuking false doctrine within both houses, and for NI to concentrate more on ‘the Word’ without obeying what Yahweh’s Word says to do, (rebuking false doctrine and manmade replacement theologies, as Yeshua HaMashiach is recorded as doing throughout all of the Gospels).

Babel

This viewer seems confused about what ‘the Word’ (Scripture) commands us to do, so let us begin by taking a look at the Strong’s definition of Babel. Babel means ‘confusion’, and there is a division of authoritiy. You have people clamoring for different ideas, and voting for what they want (rather than Elohim’s instructions), and this type of thing. They are confused because they are not seeking Elohim’s face.

Strong’s Concordance
H894
בָּבֶל
bâbel baw-bel’
From H1101; confusion; Babel (that is, Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire: – Babel, Babylon.

Mercy upon the sinner

We want to be kind, but these type of comments are common among Ephraim. This particular piece of correspondence seems to be another spirit of Esav. And because this spirit is so common inside of Ephraim, we need to address the problems with these type of comments.

The first thing about this viewer’s question is that they seem to refer to Judah (our brother) as ‘them’. The viewer does not seem to consider that Judah is our brother, and that we are to love Judah, and to preach to Judah, and not exalt ourselves above Judah.

Luqa (Luke) 18:10-12
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘Elohim, I thank You that I am not like other men extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

Luqa (Luke) 18:13-14
13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘Elohim, be merciful to me a sinner!’
14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

To paraphrase, this viewer question basically says, “Why would you try any outreach to Judah? Why would anyone want to try to talk and dialouge with ‘them’?”

What we need to do is to help this person understand just what type of a bad spirit that question comes from. And to help them to understand that NI is not some type of jukebox where someone is going to make their demands and NI must fulfill their demands. The viewer does not quote any authority of Elohim, they are just expressing their own wants. Do our own personal wants have more authority than Elohim?

Luqa (Luke) 9:54-55
54 And when His disciples Yaakov and Yochanan saw this, they said, “Adon, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Eliyahu did?”
55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.”

Scripture commmands us to make disciples of all nations, teaching the people to obey all things that Yeshua HaMashiach (Yeshua the Director, the Commander, the Field Marshall of Peace) commanded us to do.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 28:18-20
18 And Yeshua came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples in all nations, immersing them in My name,
20 “Teaching them to obey all things that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amein.

Qolossim (Colossians) 1:27-28
27 To them Elohim willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Messiah Yeshua.

The problem is that many do not want to do as Yeshua our Commander has instructed, but rather many want to have things their own way. But Scripture commands us to place Elohim’s kingdom first.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 6:33
33 “But seek first the kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Viewer question:
“Can you please please talk about something else than battling with them about the Talmud, what they do, what they say? And concentrate on teaching the Word? Please.”

Convince, rebuke, exhort, and teach

Scripture teaches that many will be turned away unto false doctrine, and that as Yahweh’s servants, we are to remain steadfast in the Word, AND to rebuke false doctrine. And that this is our responsibility as Yahweh’s servants.

TimaTheus Bet (2 Timothy) 4:2-4
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

NI has a complicated relationship with Martin Luther. One very good thing about the Protestant Reformation is that Ephraim was returning to the Word of Elohim as the authority. The problem is that Luther attempted to reform the Catholic Church, rather than leave Esav and return to the true faith. And throughout the process, Ephraim also became fragmented and now rejects Yahweh’s system of order and biblical leadership. So, instead of submitting to the Spirit and submitting to Elohim’s anointed leadership, people believe they have sovereign rule over their own lives, and that they do not need to submit to Elohim’s authority.

Houses cursing one another

The house of Ephraim has a huge problem with self-entitlement and thinking that professing faith in the Messiah means remaining soveriegn over ones’s own life, rather than submitting to Yahweh’s way and ‘entering into’ His system.

“Does Ephraim understand that NI isn’t a convenience store where they can come in and order only what they want to hear about–but that we [need to teach on whatever Yahweh’s Spirit says to teach on]?”
[Nasi’s assistant, Rivkah]

The reality is that both houses need to learn to love one another. Orthodox Judah speaks a Talmudic death curse over Joseph (and all other non-Orthodox Jewish sects) 3-5 times every day (save for Sabbath). And that the prophecies of reunification of the two houses cannot be fulfilled while Judah practices Talmudic law and violence against Joseph.

B’reisheet (Genesis) 12:3
3 “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The majority of Ephraim remains in the red-horse Esavite-Mystery Babylonian-Roman Church system. And Esav has always hated (and wanted to kill) Jacob, which includes both Judah and Joseph. When we hear a message with a tone of hatred against brother Judah, that is not a Josephite spirit, but an Esavite spirit.

B’reisheet (Genesis) 27:41
41 So Esav hated Yaakov because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esav said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Yaakov.”

B’reisheet (Genesis) 35:11-12
11 Also Elohim said to him: “I am Elohim El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
12 “The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”

The prophecy is for Ephraim to come together as an united stick, and then for Ephraim and Judah to reunite. Esav does not care about returninghome. Is Joseph aware that we are returning home to the Land? Are we not supposed to dialogue with Judah about these things?

Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 37:16
16 “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’
17 “Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.”

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 66:20
20 “Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to Yahweh out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My set-apart mountain Jerusalem,” says Yahweh, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh.”

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 66:21
21 “And I will also take some of [Ephraim] for priests and Levites,” says Yahweh.

Talmudic Judah on Joseph violence

Does this commentor not want NI to establish genuine interfaith dialogue with brother Judah? Even when Scripture instructs His obedient servants to rebuke false doctrine? And even though Judah is our brother, and Joseph is supposed to love our brother? And even though Joseph is on His way home to the Land, and in order to reunite with Judah and build Elohim’s true kingdom, we must end all replacement theology? Does this viewer not like NI rebuking false doctrine or working toward reunification with Judah?

The Talmud teaches that pedophilia is permissible. But NI is not supposed to address this false replacement doctrine? Because a viewer doesn’t like NI doing so in obedience to Elohim?

Sefaria: Talmud Tractate Avodah Zarah 37a
“Since a nine-year-old boy is fit to engage in [sexual] intercourse, he also imparts ritual impurity as one who experienced ziva. Ravina said: Therefore, with regard to a female gentile child who is three years and one day old, since she is fit to engage in intercourse at that age, she also imparts impurity as one who experienced ziva.”

Sefaria: Talmud Tractate Ketubot 11b
“Rava said that this is what the Mishna is saying: An adult man who engaged in intercourse with a minor girl less than three years old has done nothing, as intercourse with a girl less than three years old is tantamount to poking a finger into the eye.”
[https://www.sefaria.org/Ketubot.11b.6?lang=bi]

The Talmud teaches that a gentile (meaning Joseph) is to be put to death for keeping the Shabbat. But NI is not supposed to address this false, replacement doctrine? Because a viewer does not like it?

Sefaria: Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 58b
And Reish Lakish says: A gentile who observed Shabbat is liable to receive the death penalty, as it is stated: “And day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:23), which literally means: And day and night they shall not rest. This is interpreted homiletically to mean that the descendants of Noah may not take a day of rest.

Sefaria: Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 58b
And the Master said (57a) that their prohibition is their death penalty, i.e., the punishment for any prohibition with regard to descendants of Noah is execution. Ravina says: If a descendant of Noah observes a day of rest on any day of the week, even one not set aside for religious worship, e.g., on a Monday, he is liable.

The Talmud teaches that a gentile (meaning Joseph) is to be put to death for studying the Torah. But NI is not supposed to address this false, replacement doctrine? Because a viewer does not like it?

Sefaria: Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 59a
And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: A gentile who engages in Torah study is liable to receive the death penalty; as it is stated: “Moses commanded us a law [torah], an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob” (Deuteronomy 33:4), indicating that it is an inheritance for us, and not for them.

How is ‘not addressing’ and ‘not rebuking’ false replacemetn doctrine working toward unification of the stick of Ephraim and unification with Judah, built upon Yahweh’s word? How does this align with Scripture, which is a record of correction toward Yahweh’s people? Does not compute.

Studying vs obedience

Many hold the absurb ideology that ‘studying’ the Word is the highest form of worship. This ideology is all over the internet. But what about obedience? Yes, you have to study the Word to know how to obey it. But one can study the Word their entire life without ever applying it to their life.

Viewer question:
“Can you please please talk about something else than battling with them about the Talmud, what they do, what they say? And concentrate on teaching the Word? Please.”

We have talked before about the first-century sects. There was the HaMin HaNetzerim (or the sect of the Nazarenes), who kept and obeyed the Torah and the Prophets, and they rejected the Talmud. They were sent out into the world to recover Ephraim.

Then you also had the Pharisees who believed (or the sect of Rabbinic Messianic Jews). They are Talmudic. Yeshua HaMashiach rejected the entire Rabbinical order in the first century.

Then you also have the two red-horse Esavite groups. They are similar, but different enough to mention. You have the Hellenists/Greeks (or the Reform Jews). They claim to believe upon Yeshua, but they do not do what He says. And they do not keep His one true Halacha.

And you have the Messi-Gnostics who believe that “knowing is enough”, and that you do not need to do anything. Which sounds very similar to the spirit the author of our question wrote in.

“I don’t want any relationship with Judah. I don’t want to establish Two-House relationships. I don’t want anything to do with Genesis Alliance. I don’t really care about a stick of Joseph in the hand of Eprhaim. I don’t really care about anything Elohim wants! I just want you to tell me what I need to know. Because knowing is enough!”

Leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees

Yeshua met in the house of the Pharisee. What do we suppose they spoke about over their meal? Do we not think Yeshua and the Pharisees had religous dialogue? (Do we think that Yeshua and the Pharisees were just gathering together for a good meal, singing, and dancing, with no real purpose or mission? Kind of like Ephraim’s mindset today?) The purpose was religous dialogue, things important to the kingdom.

Luqa (Luke) 7:36
36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.

Yeshua warned His disciples to take heed of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Why? Because they were teaching a replacement doctrine that was not Yahweh’s written Torah. Are we aware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Are we going to stop up our ears when someone is warning us of what doctrine to be aware of? Are we going to stop up our ears when Yahweh’s servants are preparing the people spiritually?

Mattityahu (Matthew) 26:11-12
11 “How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Why are we refering to brother Judah as “them”? In NI, we have met a lot of brethren who have hatred in their heart for brother Judah. Do we love our brother enough to dialogue about doctrines of error? (Like Yeshua HaMashiach did!?)

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 19:17-18
17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am Yahweh.”

To the Jew and Gentitles

Do we undesrtand that Judah has become enemies for Ephraim’s sake, and that they are not forsaken by Elohim?

Romim (Romans) 11:28-29
28 Concerning the Good News they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers,
29 For the gifts and the calling of Elohim are irrevocable.

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:46
46 Then Shaul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of Elohim should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Ma’asei (Acts) 18:6
6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

And that salvation is for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek?

Romim (Romans) 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the good news of Mashiach, for it is the power of Elohim to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Romim (Rome) 2:6, 9-10
6 who “WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”…
9  …tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romim (Romans) 11:11-12
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?

Romim (Romans) 11:13-15
13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Viewer question:
“Can you please please talk about something else than battling with them about the Talmud, what they do, what they say? And concentrate on teaching the Word? Please.”

Esav hates Jacob, Joseph loves Judah

Yochanan Aleph (1 John) 2:9-10
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

Yochanan Aleph (1 John) 2:11
11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Are we focused on the things of Elohim, or our own selfish, flesh-based will?

Mattityahu (Matthew) 6:33
33  “But seek first the kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Yochanan (John) 7:17-18
17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from Elohim or whether I speak on My own authority.
18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

Galatim (Galatians) 6:3
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Let us pray about what spirit we are walking according to, and pray to Elohim that he help us to walk according to His Spirit, speak according to His Word, repent of all false doctrine and flesh-based motives, and to desire the things that His heart desires.

In Yeshua HaMasiach, amein.

Torah portion

Shalach, shelachim, sent ones

In the Torah portion, we explain that if you are called, then you may get sent. And if you are sent, then you are going to have some type of mission to perform for Elohim. Sometimes, as in the example of Joseph, we do not choose to be sent, but Elohim still sends us. And when Elohim sends His servants on a mission to fulfill, His Word will not return void.

Strong’s Concordance H7971
שָׁלַח
shâlach    shaw-lakh’
A primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications): – X any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose)….

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:11
11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Strong’s H5139
נָזִיר    נָזִר    nâzı̂yr    nâzir    naw-zeer’, naw-zeer’
From H5144; separate, that is, consecrated (as prince, a Nazirite); hence (figuratively from the latter) an unpruned vine (like an unshorn Nazirite). (The translation, Nazarite, is by a false alliteration with Nazareth (נָצְרַת‎)… separate (-d), vine undressed.

Ultimately, it is Yahweh who chooses the things that will happen. It was Yahweh’s purpose to send Joseph into Egypt. And it was Yahweh’s purpose to send the disciples out of the commonwealth of Israel, and into the world to retreive the lost of Eprhaim. Sometimes, He uses our bad decisions to fulfill His purposes. We should always remained focused on Yahweh’s purpose, regardless of anyone else’s motives.

B’reisheet (Genesis) 45:4-5
4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for Elohim sent me before you to preserve life.”

B’reisheet (Genesis) 45:7-8
7 “And Elohim sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 “So now it was not you who sent me here, but Elohim; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and master of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

B’reisheet (Genesis) 49:26
26 “The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers.”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 13:2-3
2 Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”
3 So Moshe sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of Yahweh, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.

Twelve spies of Israel

Yahweh commmands Moshe to send out 12 men who were the heads of the children of Israel, of each tribe. And there are two of note in context of the Genesis 35 alliance. From the tribe of Judah there was Celeb the son of Jephunneh. (There is the house of Judah.) And from the tribe of Ephraim was Hoseha the son of Nun. And Moshe called Hoshea, Yehoshua, meaning ‘salvation’, or ‘Yahweh saves’.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 13:6, 8, 16
6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh…
8 …from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun…
16 And Moshe called Hoshea the son of Nun, Yehoshua.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 13:27-28
27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
28 “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there…”

Rebellion

The 10 spies gave a bad report, and cause the people to complain and to rebel. And the people complained, and cried out against Yahweh, and sought a leader to return to Egypt.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 13:30-31
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moshe, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
31 “But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:1-2
1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.
2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moshe and Aharon, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:3-4
3 “Why has Yahweh brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”

Caleb was the first to speak up in obedience and faith, to fulfill Yahweh’s instructions. (This is why Judah is still in the Land today.) Yehoshua (Joshua) also mourned that the people rebelled against Yahweh.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:5-6
5 Then Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
6 But Yehoshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:7-8
7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
8 “If Yahweh delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:9-10
9 “Only do not rebel against Yahweh, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and Yahweh is with us. Do not fear them.”
10 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones…

Judah inherits the Land

Judah inherits the Land because of Caleb’s faithfulness to Elohim. Those who complained against Yahweh from twenty years and above would die in the wilderness, save for Caleb and Yehoshua.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:11
11 Then Yahweh said to Moshe: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:20-22
20 Then Yahweh said: “I have pardoned, according to your word;
21 “but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh—
22 “because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice,

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:23-24
23 “…they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.
24 “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:29-30
29 “The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.
30 “Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:39-40
39 Then Moshe told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly.
40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place which Yahweh has promised, for we have sinned!”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:41-42
41 And Moshe said, “Now why do you transgress the command of Yahweh? For this will not succeed.
42 “Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for Yahweh is not among you.”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:43-44
43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from Yahweh, Yahweh will not be with you.”
44 But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of Yahweh nor Moshe departed from the camp.

Unintentional sin vs presumptuous sin

Even unintentional sin requires repentance and atonement.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 15:27-28
27 “And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering.
28 “So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before Yahweh, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 15:30-31
30 “But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on Yahweh, and he shall be cut off from among his people.
31 “Because he has despised the word of Yahweh, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’”

Tzitzit, tassels, set-apart

There are many different interpretations about tzitzit. NI’s understanding is different than mainstream Orthodox interpretation.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 15:38
38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners…

The word tzitzit is Strong’s H6734. It means a fringe, a tassel, a lock of hair, etc.

Strong’s Concordance
H6734
צִיצִת
tsı̂ytsith    tsee-tseeth’
Feminine of H6731; a floral or wing like projection, that is, a fore lock of hair, a tassel: – fringe, lock.

In a later parasha, in Devarim 22:12, it is worth noting that this is a different word, Strong’s H1434. And that ‘gedil’ refers to twisting, a tassel or a fring, a decoration, etc.

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 22:12
12 “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself.

Below are some of the patterns of Orthodox Judah tzitzit. In Judah, they place extreme importance on the pattern and which sect that pattern belongs to. They also place an importance on ‘putting’ the tassel onto the garment through a hole. NI weaves tassels straight into the garment, for reasons we explain in other studies.

Strong’s Concordance
H1434
גְּדִל
gedil    ghed-eel’
From H1431 (in the sense of twisting); thread, that is, a tassel or festoon: – fringe, wreath.

(For more on NI’s teachings on garments, please visit one of the links below.)

The main thing to remember is that tzitzit are for the purpose of remembering that we are set apart unto Elohim, and that we are to keep His commandments at all times. If we wear tzitzit and break Yahweh’s commandments, the tzitzit no longer have any purpose.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 15:30-31
39 “And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of Yahweh and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined,
40 “and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be set-apart for your Elohim.”

Tzitzit: abominable snail dye

According to the written Torah (Vayiqra (Leviticus) 11), the snail is an abominable creature and we are commanded to not so much as touch the carcass. Orthodox Judah makes tzitzit with the dye of the Hexaplex Trunculus Sea snail. Doing so is in violation of the written Torah.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 11:10-11
10 “But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you.
11 “They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination.”

Haftarah portion:

Brotherhood

In the Haftarah portion, we see a theme of brotherhood. Judah understands the need for unity and brotherhood. Ephraim has not yet understood this need. We have seen brothers in the Messianic movement that commit adultery and other sins, without any accountability from the other men to uphold the Torah. (This is one of the reasons why NI separates ourselves from the Messianic movement.)

Yehoshua (Joshua) 1:1-2
1 After the death of Moshe the servant of Yahweh, it came to pass that Yahweh spoke to Yehoshua the son of Nun, Moshe’s assistant, saying:
2 “Moshe My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.”

Yehoshua (Joshua) 1:12-13
12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, Yehoshua spoke, saying,
13 “Remember the word which Moshe the servant of Elohim commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your Elohim is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’

Yehoshua (Joshua) 1:14
14 “Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moshe gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them…

Yehoshua (Joshua) 1:15
15 “…until Yahweh has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which Yahweh your Elohim is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moshe Yahweh’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

Rahab sumbits to Yahweh

Joshua sends out men on a mission. Rahab shows kindness to Israel. Notice that Rahab, a woman of the enemy, had more faith in Yahweh than Ephraim does today. She feared Yahweh and what was coming, and she deflected to Yahweh’s team.

Yehoshua (Joshua) 2:1
1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.

Yehoshua (Joshua) 2:3-4
3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”
4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.”

Yehoshua (Joshua) 2:12-13
12 “Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by Yahweh, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,
13 “and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

Yehoshua (Joshua) 2:14
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when Yahweh has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

Yehoshua (Joshua) 2:23-24
23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly Yahweh has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”

Brit Chadasha portion:

Preparing the way

We come to the Brit Chadasha portion. And we see again that there is always a mission when Elohim sends out His messengers. The messenger is sent to ‘prepare’ something for Elohim. It is not about just reading His Word and gathering on Shabbat and Feasts, and continuing to do things our own way. It is about fulfilling His mission and helping the people to enter into His program. It is always “Yahweh’s way, or the highway!”

Strong’s Concordance
H7971
שָׁלַח
shâlach    shaw-lakh’
A primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications): – X any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose)….

Luqa (Luke) 9:51-52|
51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.

Luqa (Luke) 10:1
1 After these things the Master appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

Luqa (Luke) 22:8
8 And He sent Kepha and Yochanan, saying, “Go and prepare the Pesach for us, that we may eat.”

The messenger sent of Yahweh is never speaking His own words, or doing His own thing. He is fulfilling the mission given by Elohim, and He is speaking His words. Those who are called and sent by Yahweh need to place His kingdom first and to decrease themselves.

Yochanan (John) 12:49
49 “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”

Yahweh’s program

Yahweh has a program. He sent Yeshua HaMashiach for the lost sheep of Israel, to show us how to be His people again. The kingdom is being offered for those who reach out and take it.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:5-7
5 These twelve Yeshua sent outand commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
7 “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Yeshua tells His disciples that the worker is worthy of his food. Thos who value the word of Elohim will provide for His messengers. And those who do not are not worthy.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:8-10
8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
9 “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
10 “…nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.”

Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:11-13
11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
12 “And when you go into a household, greet it.
13 “If the household is worthy, let your shalom come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your shalom return to you.”

If people do not want to enter into His program, the disciples are to shake off the dust of that house or city from their feet.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:14-15
14 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
15 “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

Jewish millenials

If someone receives Yeshua HaMashiach as a prophet receives a prophet’s reward. And he who receives Yeshua as a righteous man receives a righteous man’s reward.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:40-41
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
41 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”

Studies have showed that 1/5 of Jewish millennials believe Jesus is the Son of Elohim, and that the Messiah is Elohim. And if you would like to know more about why this is not a contradiction, and why this is not the Trinity, please read our study on “Yeshua, Manifestation of Yahweh“.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:42
42 “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Shaul and Bar Naba sent

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:1
1 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Bar Naba, Shimon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Shaul.

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:2-3
2 As they ministered to Yahweh and fasted, the Set-apart Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Bar Naba and Shaul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Before the Birkhat HaMinim death curse, Shaul and Bar Naba still preached in the synagogues. They were sent on a mission to preach th eword of Elohim, first to the Jews. Afterward the Birkhat HaMinim blocked us out for believing that Yeshua is the Messiah of Daniel 9.

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:4-5
4 So, being sent out by the Set-apart Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of Elohim in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had Yochanan as their assistant.

They continued to be oriented toward the Jewish people, teaching the Torah and the Prophets.

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:14-15
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the Torah and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

The Jews had to reject the word, so that disciples would go out to reach lost Ephraim. This is not a reason to hate Judah. Just as Joseph went to Egypt for a purpose, we too were sent to complete a job for Elohim. We were cast out due to diobedience to the written Torah, but Elohim had a purpose for it. And just as His word does not return void, we are not to return void. We have a job to do for Him. But to do it, we have to ‘enter in’.

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:45-46
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Shaul.
46 Then Shaul and Bar Naba grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of Elohim should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:47
47 For so Yahweh has commanded us: ‘I HAVE SET YOU AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BE FOR SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.’ “

That is our presentation on “Parasha Shelach: Misson of the Sent Ones”. May Yahweh please lead and guide us all to choose that which pleases Him, that we might be found doing the things that His people are doing, that His body is doing, that His hands and feet are doing, in these end times.

In Yeshua HaMashiach’s name,

Amein.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 40:3
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of Yahweh; Make straight in the desert A highway for our Elohim.”

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