The Commandments of Yahweh
- His Righteous Requirements
By Isaac Aluochier
AVRAHAM KEPT YAHWEH'S COMMANDMENTS
YAHWEH'S COVENANT WITH THE YISRAELITES
YAHWEH'S COVENANT WITH THE YISRAELITES RESTATED
YAHWEH'S STATUTES AND JUDGEMENTS FOR THE PROMISED LAND
DAVID KEPT YAHWEH'S COMMANDMENTS
YISRAEL'S COVENANT WITH THE GIVONIM
COVENANT OF THE RETURNED ESCAPED EXILES
AVRAHAM KEPT YAHWEH'S COMMANDMENTS
Contents
Yahweh clearly testified to Yitzchak that his father Avraham obeyed Yahweh's voice, and kept Yahweh's charge, Yahweh's commandments, Yahweh's statutes, and Yahweh's laws.
Therefore, to learn how we ought to be obedient to Yahweh we ought to study the life of Avraham, especially how he was obedient to Yahweh.
Yahweh instructed Avram to depart from his country, from his relatives and from his father's household, to the land that he would show him. Avram dutifully obeyed Yahweh's instruction and went to the land of Kanaan.
Whenever Yahweh gives us a particular instruction, we should dutifully obey that instruction.
Avram Tithed to the Priest of El Elyon
According to Malki-Tzedek king of Shalom, Kohen or Priest of El Elyon, that is Mighty One Most High, Avram belonged to El Elyon.
Avram gave Malki-Tzedek a tenth of all.
Emulating Avram, we should likewise give Malki-Tzedek, Priest of the Mighty One Most High, a tenth of all our increase.
When Avram was old and childless Yahweh informed him that he would indeed have an heir who would come forth from his own body. In fact, Yahweh informed Avram that so numerous would his descendants from his own body be such that if he could number the stars in the sky he could also number his own descendants from his own body. In other words, Avram's descendants would be too numerous for him to number.
Despite his old age and childlessness, Avram believed Yahweh. This belief was reckoned to Avram as righteousness.
We should likewise believe Yahweh. Such belief, as in the case of Avram, is reckoned to us as righteousness.
Avraham Promptly Executed Yahweh's Commands
When Yahweh commanded Avraham to circumcise himself and all the males in his household as a token of the covenant whereby Yahweh would be Mighty One to them and they would be Yahweh's people, he did not hesitate to execute Yahweh's command. He fulfilled it that very day it was issued.
We should likewise be prompt to heed all of Yahweh's commands to us.
The reason why Yahweh knew Avraham was so that Avraham may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice. This was so that Yahweh may bring on Avraham what he had spoken to him.
Likewise, if we desire to partake of the promises Yahweh has made to us, we must command our children and all in our household to keep the way of Yahweh, and to do righteousness and justice.
Avraham Understood Yahweh's Judgement
Avraham understood principles of Yahweh's judgement on humans to the effect that Yahweh does not slay the righteous together with the wicked.
We should likewise grow in our knowledge of Yahweh and his ways and understand true justice.
When Avraham was conversing with Yahweh he clearly understood his place in relation to Yahweh. Though Yahweh appeared to him in human format, and ate at his table, and conversed with him just as men converse with one another face to face, he understood that he was not Yahweh's equal, but was just dust and ashes. He did not presume to consider himself equal with Yahweh.
We should likewise possess the humility manifested by Avraham. We should note that we are just but temporal human beings completely unworthy of comparison with our Creator. We should therefore be fully submissive and obedient to our Maker.
Yahweh's Judgement on Human Beings
We can learn from the encounter between Yahweh and Avraham regarding Sedom and Amorah.
The issue at stake was Yahweh's justice, whether he destroys or punishes the righteous together with the wicked. Yahweh showed emphatically that he does not punish the righteous together with the wicked. The wicked are punished, but the righteous are spared the punishment of the wicked.
The other thing we can glean from this encounter is the degree of wickedness that must permeate a given territory before Yahweh acts to execute utter destruction upon it. A territory must be utterly wicked, whereby virtually everyone in that territory is committing wickedness, bar very few exceptions, before Yahweh acts to destroy it. For in the case of Sedom and Amorah not even ten people were righteous in that territory. The inhabitants of Sedom and Amorah were utterly wicked!
This same principle is confirmed in another encounter Yahweh had with Avraham earlier recorded in Beresheet (Genesis) 15: 12-16. For in that dream Yahweh made clear to Avraham that though he had given Avraham the land he then lived on as a sojourner for an inheritance, the time for taking possession of that inheritance was not then, but would occur in the fourth generation after him. For at the time of this dream the Amori's iniquity was not yet full, and therefore they were to continue to possess that land prior to their dispossession of it when their iniquity indeed became full.
The same is true even of our day. Yahweh has prophesied a judgement he will have with the inhabitants of the earth, because of the iniquity committed by the inhabitants of the earth. Nevertheless, he will not visit this judgement until such time as the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth is full.
This same principle was also seen in Yahweh's judgement on the inhabitants of the earth during the days of Noah. In those days the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually. As the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth at that time was full, Yahweh destroyed them from the face of the planet, saving only eight people of the household of righteous Noah.
We should also note Yahweh's patience in executing his judgements on man. For he informed Avraham that his descendants would inherit the land he had promised his household after more than four hundred years. For it would take at least that amount of time for the iniquity of the Amori to become full. Therefore, even in our day, we should remember that Yahweh is patient to execute his judgements on man. He is waiting until such time as man's iniquity is complete before he executes his judgement on man in his day, the day of Yahweh.
And just as Avraham patiently waited for Yahweh to execute his will for Avraham in Yahweh's own appointed time, so also should we patiently wait for Yahweh to execute his will for us in his own appointed time. In the interim we should faithfully and patiently follow and obey Yahweh, even as Avraham did.
Yahweh showed, in this encounter between Avraham and Avimelekh, and also in the encounter between Avraham and Paroh in Beresheet (Genesis) 12, that he punishes those who commit adultery, such as those who take wives belonging to other men.
This encounter also showed that when one sins against another, even unwittingly, one should make restitution to the other, as Avimelekh made restitution to Avraham for having taken Sarah, Avraham's wife, to be his own wife, even though she was already Avraham's wife.
Yahweh clearly identified Avraham as a prophet. It was Avraham's duty, as a prophet of Yahweh, to pray for those who had repented of their sins that Yahweh may forgive them their repented of sins, and any consequences arising out of those sins.
As servants of Yahweh we should avoid committing sin, but should live our lives within the confines of Yahweh's way. Also, we should pray to Yahweh for repentant sinners, asking Yahweh to provide them with appropriate forgiveness and restoration.
Avraham Faithfully Obeyed Yahweh
Avraham obeyed Yahweh with respect to the circumcision of his son exactly as Yahweh had commanded him.
We should likewise obey Yahweh with respect to his commands to us exactly as he commands us.
Seek Yahweh's Guidance When Faced With a Difficult Matter
When Sarah counselled Avraham to do a difficult thing, a difficult thing backed up with good reason, the matter grieved Avraham. He did not immediately give a response to the counsel. He consulted with Yahweh to seek his guidance on the matter.
Yahweh informed Avraham that Sarah's counsel on the matter was correct, and that he should act in the manner counselled by Sarah. It was then that Avraham agreed with the counsel given him by his first wife, Sarah, and responded appropriately.
Avraham's example here teaches us that when we are faced with a difficult matter, a matter too difficult for us to determine on our own, such as when one aspect of Yahweh's law is weighed against another, we should take the matter to Yahweh for his guidance in it. Yahweh will guide us in the matter, provided we seek him in faith, and desire in our hearts to do as he directs.
Those With Different and Exclusive Inheritances To Dwell Separately
Sarah's counsel, confirmed by Yahweh, here teaches us that those with different and exclusive inheritances should not dwell together.
Both boys had separate destinies promised them by Yahweh. It is not the case that Yishmael did not have a destiny promised him by Yahweh. For at the institution of the covenant signified by circumcision Yahweh informed Avraham that he would bless Yishmael and make him fruitful, and multiply him exceedingly. Yishmael would also become the father of twelve princes, and Yahweh would make of Yishmael a great nation. Nevertheless, Yahweh also said that he would establish his own covenant with Yitzchak, and not with Yishmael. It is therefore clear that both boys, both sons of Avraham, had clear but different destinies set out for them by Yahweh.
The issue between Yitzchak and Yishmael therefore is not that one boy was to inherit something out of Yahweh's hand, while the other was not. No! The issue was that Yahweh had separate destinies and inheritances for the boys. And because Yahweh had charted out different paths for the two boys, quite exclusive paths, he also determined that they were not to dwell together, but apart from one another.
Sarah Believed Yahweh But Hagar Did Not
The traits of the boys' mothers can also be noted.
Sarah, in giving her counsel, revealed that she relied on Yahweh's word in the conduct of her life.
Hagar, in her despair over the sad plight of her weak son, revealed that she did not rely on Yahweh's word in the conduct of her life. For Yahweh had indeed revealed to Avraham that Yishmael would indeed be the father of twelve princes and would be fruitful, and would be multiplied exceedingly, and become a great nation. Had Hagar believed Yahweh she would have known that Yahweh would not have allowed Yishmael to die prior to the fulfilment of his words to Avraham. Nevertheless, in her moment of trial, she revealed that Yahweh's word did not count much with her, for she expected her son to die.
It should therefore be clear that Sarah was a believing woman who relied on Yahweh's words, while Hagar was not a believing woman, for she did not rely on Yahweh's words.
Believers Not To Have Fellowship With Unbelievers
Believers should therefore draw a lesson here. With respect to Yahweh's promised inheritance to believers, which unbelievers will have share no in, believers should note that they ought not to dwell with unbelievers. For their promised inheritance from Yahweh is one unbelievers will have no share in. Therefore, should unbelievers be in the midst of believers, they should be cast out of the fellowship of believers, for they shall not have a part in the inheritance Yahweh has promised his believers.
Why Yahweh Instructed Avraham to Cast Out Hagar
There is another matter requiring consideration here.
Hagar was indeed Avraham's wife. There is no record that Hagar had committed adultery against Avraham. Why then did Yahweh counsel Avraham to heed Sarah's voice in casting out Hagar, together with her son, yet she was indeed Avraham's wife, and had not committed adultery against her? Was the matter of the boys' inheritances, that they were to partake of separate and exclusive inheritances, superior to the matter of Avraham living together with his wife and providing for both her and their son?
On the face of it, this appears to be so. In other words, it appears that the matter of the boys' separate and exclusive inheritances from Yahweh superseded Avraham's physical family responsibilities! In other words, the matter of the boys not dwelling together because of their separate and exclusive inheritances from Yahweh superseded Avraham's responsibility of providing for both his wife Hagar and their son Yishmael.
If this rationale is correct then a similar scenario arises in the case of believers dwelling with unbelievers, especially in marriage! For the inheritance of believers is everlasting life with Yah'shuah the Messiah, while that of unbelievers is destruction in the fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. These inheritances are exclusive of one another. It therefore appears to be the case that as believers are not to share in their promised inheritance from Yahweh with unbelievers they should not dwell with unbelievers, especially in marriage!
Nevertheless, we see that Avraham did indeed dwell for several years with Hagar, though Hagar appears all along to have been an unbeliever. For shortly after Avraham took Hagar as his wife, Hagar fled from being under the authority of her mistress and also despised her mistress. She was commanded by the angel of Yahweh to return to her mistress and to submit to her. Nevertheless, when her own son was fourteen year old, he too was manifesting the same trait that was evident in his mother even before he was born, that of mocking or despising those of Sarah's household. It therefore appears that Hagar remained in her unbelieving state, and did not fully yield to the command she received from the angel of Yahweh to submit to her mistress Sarah. And it is also highly likely that her son learned this trait from her.
It therefore appears that this derision for Yitzchak manifested by Yishmael is what triggered Sarah to utter the comments that she did, which were further supported by Yahweh himself. For before Yishmael manifested any derision for Yitzchak Sarah was not unwilling to continue living together with the household of Hagar. But when it became evident that Yishmael did not have love for his brother, but instead mocked him, Sarah no longer was willing to live together with the household of Hagar.
In other words, Sarah had seen a situation of friction arising between his son and Hagar's son, just as there had been friction between herself and Hagar from the time Hagar conceived Avraham's child. And it is this friction, coupled with the matter of the boys' separate and exclusive inheritances, that triggered Sarah to take action at the time that she did.
Now this matter that had been put to Avraham was a difficult one indeed. For he was torn between fulfilling his family responsibilities to both his wife and his son, and also abiding by the righteous principle that those with separate exclusive inheritances ought not to dwell together. Being a difficult matter he took it to Yahweh for his determination.
Yahweh ruled for the spiritual above the physical. For the responsibilities Avraham had to both Hagar and Yishmael, with respect to providing for them, were physical. While the responsibilities he had to both Sarah and Yitzchak included not only their physical provision, but also ensuring that the spiritual promises made by Yahweh as affecting them would also be fulfilled. And the spiritual responsibilities he had to both Sarah and Yitzchak superseded the physical ones he had to his entire household. Therefore, in this matter, Avraham had to put away his wife, together with her son.
This is not to say that Avraham did not have spiritual responsibilities to both Hagar and Yishmael. He did. For he was to charge his household after him to do Yahweh's words. Nevertheless, it is evident that despite Avraham's charge to Hagar and to Yishmael that they abide by Yahweh's words they chose NOT to so abide. It was therefore their refusal to so abide by Yahweh's words that counted against them.
Yahweh Sometimes Separates That Which Is Joined
It is also instructive to remember that it is Yahweh who both joins in marriage and also separates those who are joined in married. That he allowed Avraham's and Hagar's marriage shows that he did indeed join them in marriage. That he instructed Avraham to cast out Hagar, together with her son, shows indeed that it was he who separated Avraham and Hagar! And this separation took place without any mention of Hagar having committed adultery against Avraham!
Hagar Cast Out Despite Not Having Committed Adultery
It is therefore the case that Yahweh can and has separated two people he joined together in marriage even though the wife had not committed adultery against the husband. For when he instructed Avraham to cast out Hagar, together with her son, Hagar had not committed adultery against Avraham. Her guilt, together with that of her son, was that of despising or mocking those who were believers. Her guilt was also one of unbelief, for she did not believe Yahweh, in that she did not believe the promises Yahweh spoke to Avraham regarding her son.
Should a Believer Continue Dwelling With an Unbelieving Spouse?
If the above rationale is correct, it appears to me that where a believer dwells with an unbelieving spouse, and the unbelieving spouse does not interfere with the belief practices of the believer, but respects the believer's right to so engage in them, and therefore lives in peace with the believer, then the believer can continue living together with the unbelieving spouse, even though they do indeed have different spiritual inheritances. But if the unbeliever despises the belief practices of the believer, and also despises the believer for so practising them, then the believer ought to separate from such an unbeliever!
In other words, the believer does not have to wait for the unbeliever to commit adultery against the believer for such a separation to take place. But the separation ought to take place once the unbeliever is clearly manifesting his or her derision for the believer and the latter's belief practices. For just as Yahweh separated Avraham and Hagar, because of Hagar's unbelief and derision for believers, so also Yahweh separates believers from unbelievers for the latter's unbelief and manifest derision for believers and belief practices.
It is therefore not a small matter for one to despise believers and their belief practices. In fact, when one does so, one is effectively despising none other than Yahweh the Almighty and Yah'shuah his Son. For the belief practices of believers are simply Yahweh's and Yah'shuah's instructions to them. Therefore, when one despises believers, because they engage in belief practices, which are Yahweh's and Yah'shuah's words to them, that one is despising none other than both Yahweh and Yah'shuah! Therefore, those who despise believers and their belief practices are in reality despising Yahweh and Yah'shuah's words, and thereby despising Yahweh and Yah'shuah!
It therefore appears that as unbelievers have despised Yahweh's and Yah'shuah's words, thereby manifesting their derision for both Yahweh and Yah'shuah, they no longer ought to dwell with those who belong to both Yahweh and Yah'shuah, that is believers. Therefore, when an unbelieving spouse shows manifest derision for his or her believing spouse in the conduct of his or her belief practices, the believer is no longer bound to dwell together with the unbeliever, but ought to separate from the unbeliever!
For such an unbeliever has clearly blasphemed Yahweh! For when an unbeliever manifests utter contempt and derision for a believer in the latter's belief practices, belief practices which have arisen out of Yahweh's instructions, the unbeliever shows utter contempt and derision for none other than Yahweh! It is this utter contempt and derision for Yahweh's words, and therefore for Yahweh, that is blasphemy against Yahweh!
Such an unbeliever, one who has blasphemed Yahweh, has no share in the inheritance that Yahweh has promised those who are his, those who are believers, those who abide by his words. Therefore a believer ought not to dwell with such an unbeliever, but ought to separate from such a one, even if married to such a one.
It therefore appears that the only unbeliever a believer may continue to dwell together with is one who has NOT blasphemed Yahweh, one who has not despised Yahweh words, nor despised the belief practices engaged in by those who are believers. Such an unbeliever can still come to repentance and become a believer, and share in Yahweh's promised inheritance for believers.
But an unbeliever who has despised and blasphemed Yahweh, in that such a one has despised both believers and their belief practices, has no share in Yahweh's promised inheritance for believers, nor will such a one have such a share. In other words, the lot for such a one is destruction in the fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!
Should a Believer Continue to Provide for His Divorced Unbelieving Spouse?
It should also be noted that when Avraham sent both Hagar and Yishmael away from himself, he gave them only the minimum physical provisions for their journey until their next projected destination. He did not shower them with plenty of provisions, yet just the previous day they were feasting on account of Yitzchak being weaned.
We can therefore draw the lesson here that when a believing husband casts out his wife from himself, because Yahweh has severed the marriage of that believing husband and his unbelieving wife, he is NOT to provide for her from then on. She must fend for herself without receiving provision from him, even if he is capable of continuing to provide for her! The most he can do is to give her the minimum necessary to enable her to leave his dwelling place and reach her next dwelling place. But once she has been sent away from her husband she is effectively on her own and must fend for herself!
When Avraham consulted Yahweh with respect to Sarah's counsel, Yahweh repeated to him that he would make a nation of Yishmael, because Yishmael was Avraham's seed. It wasn't because Yishmael had done anything great, but because he was Avraham's seed. Yishmael would therefore be the father of a nation by Yahweh's grace. By virtue of being Avraham's seed Yahweh would graciously bless him.
Avraham Believed Yahweh Would Provide For Yishmael
It is noteworthy that Avraham believed Yahweh's word to him concerning Yishmael. For even though he gave Hagar and Yishmael only the barest minimum provisions for their physical survival, he was confident that Yahweh would keep the boy alive and honour his word to Avraham. We too should believe Yahweh, even in the most difficult of circumstances, just as Avraham believed Yahweh.
It is interesting to note that when Hagar was in despair she did not cry to Yahweh for deliverance. She simply left the boy to die under some shrub, leaving him crying for sustenance, for he was famished. This act manifested her unbelief in Yahweh, for she did not trust Yahweh to provide both her and her son with deliverance.
Nevertheless, Yahweh heard the boy's cry and took action to save the boy. And Yahweh provided for both the boy and her mother, for he was fulfilling that which he spoke concerning the boy.
It appears to me that a reason why Yahweh preserved Hagar was so that she would care for her son. For she had proved herself faithless, and did not call upon Yahweh to deliver her in her hour of need, yet Yahweh delivered her. As Yishmael still needed to be cared for, as he was not yet of age, and Hagar was the most logical person to care for her, since he no longer was to dwell with his father Avraham, it appears to me that this was why Hagar was preserved in their moment of need.
Avraham Concerned About Hagar and Yishmael
It should also be noted that Avraham was grieved in his heart because he was concerned about the welfare of both his son and his wife. Nevertheless, he also trusted in Yahweh to fulfil his word to do for Yishmael what he had said he would do for him.
Believers should likewise be appropriately concerned for their household. Even if Yahweh separates their marriage to an unbeliever, and they must therefore separate from the unbeliever, they should still be concerned for their children and be sure that their children are appropriately catered for. In Avraham's case Yahweh took it upon himself to care for Yishmael, and by extension, Hagar. Likewise, believers who separate from their unbelieving spouses must ensure that their children are appropriately catered for. If it happens to be the case that the believers cannot remain with their children, then they must ensure that their children will still be provided for, requesting Yahweh to so provide for such children.
It appears to me that if a believing husband is separated by Yahweh from his unbelieving wife, and it turns out that their children end up in the custody of the unbelieving wife, he should do all in his power to ensure that his children are provided for. If his children have no fault in the matter of Yahweh separating him and his wife, then he should continue to provide for them, even if they are not in his custody. If it so happens that the only manner his children will be provided for is by his providing also for their mother, then so be it. But he must ensure that his children are properly provided for.
Husbands Should Listen to Good Counsel from Their Wives
In consideration of the fact that Sarah gave Avraham good counsel, though with painful consequences, and also that Yahweh ratified Sarah's counsel, believing husbands should fully note that it is not wrong to listen to their wives when they speak appropriately within Yahweh's law. For when a wife gives counsel that is both appropriate and within Yahweh's law it should be heeded.
Heeding appropriate advice from one's wife does not mean that one has ceded one's family's headship over to his wife. No! It simply means that one is sufficiently wise to seek the counsel of one's close neighbour who has the capability of so giving appropriate counsel. For it is not the case that husbands have a monopoly over wisdom while their wives lack wisdom. Therefore husbands should heed appropriate advice from their wives when such advice is within Yahweh's law.
It is when a wife counsels a course of action that contravenes Yahweh's law that a husband should refuse to heed such advice. For if a husband so heeds he turns his authority over his family over to his wife. This was Adam's mistake in the Garden of Eden, when he listened to his wife in a matter contravening Yahweh's law. But if a wife gives appropriate counsel within Yahweh's law, the woman's husband should heed it, just as Avraham did.
There is another matter that can be gleaned from the above-mentioned experience in the household of Avraham.
One day the household was feasting on account of the weaning of Yitzchak. The following day the household was wrenched, in that Hagar and Yishmael were sent away from the household. One day there was joy and gladness. The following day there was sorrow and sadness.
We humans simply do not know the future. We should just take each day as it comes, doing our level best to abide in Yahweh's way at all times, as we do not know what tomorrow or the next immediate future holds for us.
Avraham Loved Yahweh More Than He Loved His Family
Following Avraham's example, we too should also love Yahweh more than any member in our physical family. That Avraham loved Yahweh more than he loved his son is clearly shown by the fact that he had effectively given away his son to Yahweh at Yahweh's command.
This was the second time that Yahweh put it to Avraham to choose between loving him more than he loved his family members. For in the matter of Hagar and Yishmael Yahweh required Avraham to cast out both Hagar and Yishmael in obedience to him. Avraham therefore did indeed show himself worthy of Yahweh, for he loved Yahweh more than any other entity. We, likewise, should emulate Avraham.
Avraham Dealt Faithfully With His Neighbours
Believers, in their dealings with unbelievers, should ensure that their conduct is in order, leaving no room for future disputes or misunderstandings. This is the example set for us by Avraham in his dealings with the children of Chet.
Do Not Return To That from Which You Were Called
Avraham's example clearly teaches us that once Yahweh has called us out of a particular territory and taken us to another, to give us an inheritance in the other territory, we are not to return to the territory from which we were called. Believers should therefore note that Yahweh has indeed called them to an inheritance that is in Yah'shuah the Messiah, having called us out of the ways of sin and death. We must therefore not return back to the sinful ways of death. We must remain in the righteous ways of life, in which Yahweh will graciously bestow upon us his inheritance which is in Yah'shuah the Messiah his Son.
Avraham's Elder Servant Believed in Yahweh
Avraham's elder servant, the one who ruled over all that Avraham had, believed in Yahweh, as is clearly evident from his prayer of faith just outside the city of Aram-Naharayim. He was therefore a believer.
Avraham here gives us a lesson we should employ in our affairs. Whenever Yahweh has given us blessings in various facets of life, and we need able assistants in our stewardship responsibilities, we should ask Yahweh to provide us with able assistants who are also believers. This should facilitate our stewardship being conducted in a manner consistent with Yahweh's ways.
Both Avraham and his elder servant clearly recognised that Avraham's blessings had indeed come from Yahweh. We should likewise recognise blessings as coming from Yahweh.
Fathers Have Authority Over Their Daughters in Giving Them Away in Marriage
Avraham recognised that it was Yahweh who was appointing a woman to be wife to his son Yitzchak. Nevertheless, he also recognised that the woman's father had authority over her in the matter of giving her away in marriage. Therefore, even though Yahweh had appointed a particular woman to be wife to his son Yitzchak, if the woman's father refused to give her in marriage to Avraham's son Yitzchak, the woman would indeed not become wife to Yitzchak.
Avraham therefore recognised that Yahweh has indeed given father's authority over their daughters with respect to the marriage of their daughters. It is the person to whom a daughter is given in marriage by her father that she should be wife to. While her father has authority over her with respect to her marriage she may not marry whomever she chooses, but he whom her father gives her in marriage to. We should likewise, emulating Avraham, acknowledge this authority Yahweh has given to fathers.
It should be noted that both Betuel and his son Lavan did not resist Yahweh's will, in that Yahweh had appointed Betuel's daughter and Lavan's sister, Rivka, to be wife to Avraham's son, Yitzchak. They yielded to Yahweh's will and gave Rivka in marriage to Yitzchak.
Likewise, whether in marriage or in some other matter, whenever Yahweh's will is clear to us, we should not resist it, but should abide by it. Even if it means that our lives will be irrevocably altered from then on, we should still abide by Yahweh's will. Loving Yahweh even above our closest family members, even above our own selves, calls for this.
How Sarah Was Avraham's Sister
Rivka, even though described by Avraham's elder servant as the daughter of Nachor, Avraham's brother, she was, in today's language, Nachor's granddaughter, being the daughter of Betuel. It therefore appears that women were simply described as the daughters of their ancestors, even though the ancestor of whom they were described as being daughter to was not their immediate father, but was of a generation prior to that of their immediate father.
In Beresheet (Genesis) 11: 27-32 it is seen that both Avram and Nachor took wives. Avram's wife was Sarai, while Nachor's wife was Milkah, the daughter of Charan, brother to both Avram and Nachor. Milkah was therefore Lot's sister, as Lot's father was Charan. Nachor therefore married a daughter of his brother, his niece.
In the language in use at their time, even though Milkah was primarily daughter of Charan, she was also described as being daughter of Terach, for Terach was the father of Charan. This is clearly seen in the manner Rivka was described as being the daughter of Nachor, yet primarily she was the daughter of Betuel, who was son to Nachor.
It should also be noted that Sarai is described as Terach's daughter-in-law, while Avram is described as Terach's son. Lot is described as Terach's son's son, having been son to Charan, Terach's son. Even though Lot could have been described, using the phraseology of description common at the time, as Terach's son, he was clearly described as Terach's son's son. The precise descriptive phraseology in Beresheet (Genesis) 11: 27-32 therefore suggests that Sarai WAS NOT Terach's immediate daughter, but was Terach's daughter-in-law, being Avram's wife.
In Beresheet (Genesis) 20: 11-13 Avraham explained to Avimelekh king of Gerar the relationship between himself and his wife Sarah. He acknowledged that Sarah was indeed daughter of his father, but not daughter of his mother. But the phraseology in use at the time described any woman as being the daughter of her male ancestor, whether her ancestor of whom she was so described was her immediate father, or of a generation prior to that of her immediate father.
It is therefore LIKELY that Sarah was indeed a granddaughter of Terach, and not an immediate daughter of Terach. For as seen earlier on in the descriptions of relationships in Beresheet (Genesis) 11: 27-32, the indication given there was that Sarah was not Terach's immediate daughter. It is therefore likely that she was Terach's granddaughter.
Also, the practice of Avram's brother Nachor might be instructive here. Nachor also married the daughter of his father, Milkah, though not the daughter of his mother. For Milkah, even though described correctly in the phraseology in use at the time as Terach's daughter, was primarily daughter to Charan, Terach's son. Milkah was therefore Terach's granddaughter, though accurately described as Terach's daughter in the phraseology in use at the time.
Considering the likelihood of marriage practice of the children of Terach being similar, and that Nachor married his niece, accurately described as the daughter of Nachor's father, it appears to me that Avram also married a close relative, accurately described as the daughter of Avram's father! It therefore appears that Sarah was not sister to Avram in that they had the same immediate father, but was sister to Avram in that they had a common ancestor! Likewise, by virtue of sharing a common ancestor with Avraham, Sarah could indeed tell Avimelekh that she was Avraham's sister!
Avraham had more than one wife and/or concubine in his life. He also had other sons, in addition to Yishmael and Yitzchak.
It should be noted that of his other sons Avraham gave only gifts. He did not give them a share of the inheritance he gave to Yitzchak. He also sent them away from the territory in which Yitzchak dwelt in, the territory that Yitzchak was to inherit.
Avraham therefore abided by Yahweh's word to him. The inheritance Yahweh gave him was to go to Yitzchak and not to any other son of his. As these sons of his had separate destinies from that of Yitzchak, they were not to dwell together with Yitzchak.
That Avraham took another wife, Keturah, after his casting out of Hagar, clearly shows that he did not commit adultery against Hagar in his casting out of her. For he cast her out under Yahweh's instructions, for she had despised believers and their belief practices, thereby effectively despising Yahweh. He was therefore not an adulterer, meaning one who put his wife in a situation whereby she was likely to commit adultery. That she was cast out of Avraham's household proves that she no longer was wife to Avraham from the moment she was cast out. As she no longer was wife to him Avraham could not commit adultery against her by not providing for her in terms of sex, and also in terms of food and clothing.
It is also instructive to note that Avraham did not cast out Keturah. Yet Avraham sent Keturah's sons away from Yitzchak, for it was to Yitzchak that Avraham's inheritance was to go. But not only was Yishmael sent away from Yitzchak, his mother also was cast out of Avraham's household. It should therefore be clear that Hagar was cast out of Avraham's household because of her sin of disbelief, coupled with despising believers and their belief practices, thereby effectively despising Yahweh. As Keturah is not recorded as having committed sin as Hagar did, she is also not recorded as having been cast out of Avraham's household. Hagar was therefore cast out for her own sin.
Yitzchak Inherited Avraham's Inheritance by Grace
It should clearly be noted that Yitzchak's inheritance came to him by grace, for there was nothing that he did to have merited that inheritance. For it was an inheritance promised him prior to his conception and birth, and therefore he could not have done anything to merit it.
We likewise should not that Yahweh's inheritance promises to believers are by grace. There was nothing we did, nor is there anything we can do, to merit inheriting these promises. We should therefore thank and praise Yahweh for having elected us by grace to share in his promises to Yah'shuah the Messiah.
It should also be noted again that after his life Yahweh commended Avraham as having obeyed his voice, kept his charge, his commandments, his statutes, and his laws. We should therefore pattern our lives in the manner of Avraham, in the manner he obeyed Yahweh.
YAHWEH'S COVENANT WITH THE YISRAELITES
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The Shabbat Law and Commandment
Yahweh clearly revealed his law and commandment of the Shabbat to the Yisraelites, the law that commands us to rest on the seventh day. We therefore ought to rest on the seventh day of the week, the Shabbat.
Have No Other Mighty Ones Besides Yahweh
Do Not Take Yahweh's Name in Vain
Work Six Days but Keep Holy the Shabbat Day
Yahweh hereby confirmed that he created heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, in six days, and rested the seventh day.
Do Not Give False Testimony Against Your Neighbour
Do Not Covet Anything That Is Your Neighbour's
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Intentional Sinners to be Punished Severely
Restitution of Loss Caused to a Neighbour
Master's Right and Obligation in Punishing a Slave
Payment for Irrecoverable Losses Caused to a Neighbour
Rights of a Slave Injured in Punishment
Forfeiture of Rights of a Law-Breaker on Matters Arising Out of Law-Breaking
If one becomes a law-breaker against Yahweh's law, one loses one's rights otherwise possessed when one is not in the process of breaking Yahweh's law. Thus a thief who is injured in the process of his theft loses his rights of restitution at the hand of he who injures him while the thief was in the process of his theft. Therefore when one is in the process of breaking Yahweh's law one loses the rights one possesses when one is not in the process of breaking Yahweh's law.
This law of Yahweh acts to deter those who would think to break aspects of his law, and then try to resort to other aspects of his law in an effort to defend themselves on a matter arising out of their violation of Yahweh's law. Therefore, if one is to rely on any part of Yahweh's law for one's defence, one must abide by the entirety of Yahweh's law. But if one chooses to reject aspects of Yahweh's law one should realise that whatever rights one possessed while abiding by the entirety of Yahweh's law are forfeited while one is rejecting those aspects of Yahweh's law. Therefore law-breakers, those who choose to reject and violate aspects of Yahweh law, have no defence in Yahweh's law and are therefore devoid of Yahweh's protection while in rebellion against Yahweh. They must bear their own sin, whatever the consequences.
For example, a woman committing adultery forfeits the rights of a woman faithful to her marriage while she is in the process of committing adultery. Thus she no right to receive food, clothing or sex from her husband while she is faithless to her husband, in that she is committing adultery against him. Also, if her husband divorces her from himself, she will have no right to receive food, clothing or sex from him.
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself
Do Not Blaspheme the Mighty One
Love Your Enemies and Do Good to Them
Agricultural Seventh Year Rest
The purpose of resting agricultural land every seventh year is for the purpose of allowing the poor of the people to eat. This law is therefore based on compassion for the poor, loving one's neighbour as oneself.
Believers Not To Dwell Together With Unbelievers
Believers are not to dwell together with unbelievers because of the great risk of unbelievers inducing believers to worship false mighty ones. Believers should therefore dwell apart from unbelievers.
The Shabbatot are a sign between Yahweh and the Yisraelites throughout their generations that the Yisraelites may know that Yahweh sanctifies them. The Shabbatot are therefore a sign of sanctification.
The Shabbat is holy to Yisraelites, and must be kept in its holy state, by a solemn rest.
The Shabbat is a sign between Yahweh and the children of Yisrael forever that Yahweh created heaven and earth in six days, and rested on the seventh day, and was refreshed.
Sinners Responsible for their Own Sins
Yahweh is Gracious and Merciful
Emulate Yahweh.
We should avoid all forms of idolatry, including eating of food dedicated to idols.
We should avoid entering into marriages with idolaters, lest they turn our hearts, or those of our children who marry their children, into idolatry. Therefore, if one is not a worshiper of Yahweh we should avoid entering into marriage with such a one.
Idolatry is prostitution - spiritual prostitution. This clearly implies that Yisraelites are spiritually married to Yahweh, being wife to Yahweh. Yahweh is therefore the only mighty one they are to worship.
The Feast of Matzah is a memorial of coming out of Mitzrayim, the house of bondage.
A reason Yahweh gave for instructing the Yisraelites to keep his feasts three times a year was he would drive out nations before them and enlarge their borders. In other words, Yahweh's feasts pictured the inheritance he was giving the Yisraelites.
Drink No Alcohol when Distinguishing Between the Holy and the Common
Alcohol should also not be drank by those teaching Yahweh's law when they teach Yahweh's laws, for in the process of teaching Yahweh's law they are teaching holiness, and making a distinction between holy and profane.
The Statute of the Day of Atonement
Abominable Sexual Practices Prohibited
Provide for the Poor and Sojourners
Do Not Deal Falsely with Your Neighbour
Judge Righteously, Without Partiality
Do Not Hate Your Brother in Your Heart
Take No Vengeance, nor Bear a Grudge
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself
Avoid Enchantments and Sorcery
Avoid Familiar Spirits and Wizards
Do Not Deal Falsely with Your Neighbour
Idolatry defiles Yahweh's sanctuary and profanes his name. Yahweh's sanctuary and his name should be kept holy by doing Yahweh's word, including his commandments and statutes.
Distinguish Between Clean and Unclean Food
Holy things should not be contaminated or profaned by bringing them into contact with those things that are unclean or unholy.
When one is in an unholy or unclean state one should not partake of that which is holy. The one must first be cleansed before so partaking of the holy thing.
Only Holy and Unblemished Offerings Are Acceptable Before Yahweh
Do Not Profane Yahweh's Holy Name
Yahweh's holy name is profaned when we do not keep holy that which he has given us to keep holy. In other words, when we profane what is holy we effectively profane Yahweh's holy name! Therefore whatever Yahweh has sanctified, including ourselves, we should not profane!
Bottom line, it appears that when Yahweh is disobeyed his holy name is profaned.
Land Shabbatot, Jubilee and Service
Whatever is offered to Yahweh remains Yahweh's over the duration it would have remained in the possession of the one who offered it. If a person vows to dedicate himself to Yahweh then he belongs to Yahweh until his death. In other words, he makes himself a lifelong slave of Yahweh's.
No Partiality Between Yisraelites and Sojourners
Yahweh forgives unintentional sin, when those committing it become aware of it and repent of it.
Yahweh understands that our knowledge of all his ways is not perfect, and that there are occasions when we sin against him unintentionally. Nevertheless, once we become aware of our unintentional sin, it is incumbent upon us to repent of that unintentional sin and commence to live a life devoid of that sin previously committed unintentionally.
We no longer need to offer any sacrifice for our unintentional sins, for the perfect sacrifice, Yah'shuah the Messiah, has already been offered. Therefore, by drawing upon Yah'shuah's sacrifice, we are forgiven our unintentional sins.
But if we sin intentionally, with complete knowledge that our action constitutes sin, we are despising Yahweh and his word. For such intentional sin we shall duly pay its penalty.
When Moshe intentionally sinned against Yahweh, at the waters of Meribah, in that he rebelled against Yahweh's command to hallow Yahweh before the eyes of the Yisraelites, Yahweh imposed a penalty upon Moshe for the intentional sin he committed. Moshe would not enter the promised land of Kanaan. He too, just as the other rebellious Yisraelites, would die in the wilderness.
It should therefore be clear to us that Yahweh shows no partiality and that he is not a respecter of persons. For when even Moshe, his own prophet, sinned intentionally, he imposed a like penalty upon him just as he had imposed on other Yisraelites who sinned intentionally against him.
When a woman is under the authority of a man, such as when a wife is under the authority of her husband or when a daughter in her youth is under the authority of her father, her words do not stand unless and until ratified by the one in authority over her, meaning either her husband or her father respectively. In other words, those under authority cannot fully make good on their words unless ratified by those in authority over them. But those who do not have one in authority over them can fully make good on their words.
In the context of marriage, if a woman still under the authority of her father gives herself over to a man to be wife to him, even if the vow to do so is made before Yahweh, her giving of herself to him is not ratified unless and until her father approves. The father does not need to approve expressly. He only needs be informed about the matter. Once informed he must either approve or disapprove. If he disapproves, the woman's marriage is void.
It is therefore prudent for a man to refrain from taking into his household a woman who is still under the authority of her father, until such time as he has obtained the woman's father's approval. In this manner if the woman is a virgin, and her father disapproves of her giving herself over to a man, she remains a virgin. A woman should also refrain from giving herself over to a man until such time as her father has approved of the man she desires to be wife to.
Believers, especially the elders among them, should have sufficient wisdom, knowledge and understanding in order to judge righteously any matter requiring righteous judgement. No partiality should be had or shown in judgement. Nor should believers fear any man in any judgement, for provided Yahweh's principles are fully applied with respect to the matter at hand, the judgement entered into is Yahweh's and not that of man.
Whenever Yahweh sets a challenge before us we should fully trust him in the fulfilment of that challenge. We should not have fear or lose courage in the fulfilment of that challenge. For it is by having faith and confidence in him that he will enable us to fulfil the challenge such that we will indeed fulfil that challenge.
It is therefore a commandment of Yahweh that we have faith in him and believe his words to us and do his commands to us.
Penalty for Rebellion Against Yahweh
Just as the penalty for those Yisraelites, including Moshe, who rebelled against Yahweh, was denial of entry into the promised land of Kanaan, so also it is in our day. Those who rebel against Yahweh will be denied entry into the promised rest spoken about in Hebrews 4.
Time Limit for Obedience to Yahweh
When Yahweh gives us commands to do there is a time limit within which those commands must be done. When we fulfil them within the requisite time limits then we abide by Yahweh's words. But if we rebel and do not fulfil them within their requisite time limits, then we lose out on all opportunity for so doing Yahweh's words in a manner acceptable to him. For once the time limit for obedience to his words has lapsed, even if we then subsequently desire to obey those words, it will be too late. We will not be commended for so doing them, but will instead incur the penalty for not having done those words within their requisite time limit.
It is therefore imperative that we do Yahweh's words and commands when we hear them, as soon as possible after we have received his words and commands. In this manner we not only manifest our submissive and obedient attitude to Yahweh, but we also avoid any penalties incurred by those who fail to honour Yahweh's words and commands when they ought to.
Completeness of Yahweh's Words
Yahweh's commands and words to us are complete in themselves. They are not to be added to nor taken from.
Those who do not follow Yahweh he destroys. But those who follow him he preserves alive.
We should be careful to observe Yahweh's statutes and judgements, especially those statutes and judgements that contain Yahweh's righteousness. This observance of Yahweh's righteous statutes and righteous judgements is our wisdom and understanding.
Fear Yahweh and Teach Your Children
We ought to fear Yahweh, from our hearts, all the days of our lives.
We also ought to teach our children Yahweh's commandments, statutes and judgements, especially his Ten Commandments that he spoke to Yisrael in Chorev.
We are not to make any representation of Yahweh out of his creation.
The Inheritance for Human Beings
We are not to worship heavenly bodies, which Yahweh has given to all human beings as a heritage. In other words, the inheritance of all human beings is the heavenly bodies. It therefore appears that those human beings who will inherit the heavenly bodies will eventually have some activities involving those heavenly bodies that they will inherit.
Seek Yahweh with all Your Heart
Yahweh prophesied, through Moshe, that the Yisraelites would indeed become idolatrous, despite his commands to them that they partake not in idolatry. He also added that they would eventually be uprooted from the promised land of Kanaan and be scattered among the peoples of the world. They would be left few in number among the nations where Yahweh would drive them. And they would continue in their idolatry in those lands among the nations where they would be scattered. Yahweh also prophesied that they would be in distress and that these matters of which he had prophesied would come upon them in the latter days.
Nevertheless, Yahweh also prophesied that they would seek him from these lands where he will have driven them. And if they sought him with all their heart and with all their soul they would indeed find him. For Yahweh is a merciful Mighty One. And Yahweh would not forsake them nor destroy them, nor forget the covenant of their fathers, which he swore to them.
It is therefore imperative that all who aspire to share in the Avrahamic promises should now seek Yahweh with all of their hearts and with all of their souls, in order that they may find him. It is imperative that all such turn to Yahweh the Mighty One and obey his voice.
That Yahweh stated that he would not forget the covenant of their fathers shows clearly that that covenant would continue to have validity in the latter days. It should therefore be clear to all that Yahweh's covenant with Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov will continue to have validity even in the latter days, and will be honoured by Yahweh. The covenant to give the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov the land of the Amori for a possession in a perpetual inheritance.
Yahweh is THE Mighty One. There is no one else. He is the Mighty One in heaven above and on earth beneath. We should therefore keep his statutes and his commandments, that all may go well with us.
YAHWEH'S COVENANT WITH THE YISRAELITES RESTATED
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Yahweh Brought Yisrael Out of Mitzrayim
Have No Other Mighty Ones Besides Yahweh
Yahweh the Mighty One is a jealous Mighty One, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate him. Nevertheless, he shows mercy to thousands, to those who love him and keep his commandments. Therefore love Yahweh and keep his commandments.
Do Not Take Yahweh's Name in Vain
Keep Holy Yahweh's Shabbat Day
Yahweh's Shabbat day is kept holy by resting, by refraining from performing our work.
Another reason, additional to resting, why Yahweh commanded the Yisraelites to keep his Shabbat day was that it was a memorial to them that Yahweh their Mighty One delivered them from their slavery in Mitzrayim. Likewise, as Yahweh has delivered us from the slavery of sin, we should indeed keep his Shabbat day.
The Shabbat therefore not only gives us an opportunity for resting and refreshment, it also reminds us who our Mighty One is, the one who delivered us from the slavery of sin. The Shabbat therefore also pictures to us deliverance from slavery of sin.
A blessing obtained by honouring our parents in the manner Yahweh has commanded us is longevity of days.
Do Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbour
Do Not Covet What is Your Neighbour's
Fear Yahweh and Always Keep All His Commandments
By fearing Yahweh and keeping all his commandments it will be well with us and with our children forever.
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Love Yahweh with your entirety.
Diligently Teach Yahweh's Words to Your Children
Do Not Worship Other Mighty Ones
Do Not Tempt Yahweh Your Mighty One
We avoid tempting Yahweh by diligently keeping his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes which he has commanded us. And by doing what is right and good in his sight. If we do all these it will be well with us.
Carefully Observe All of Yahweh's Commandments
It is righteousness for us when we are careful to observe all of Yahweh's commandments as he has commanded us. This includes teaching our children that we all ought to observe Yahweh's statutes and to fear him. It will be to our good when we do these.
Do Not Fellowship With Unbelievers
Believers should not enter into partnerships or marriages with unbelievers, nor allow those under their authority to do so. For the result of such fellowship is that the unbelievers will eventually turn the believers into idolaters.
For believers are a holy people. Yahweh has chosen them to be a people for himself, a special treasure above the peoples on the face of the earth. They should therefore not profane themselves by entering into partnerships or marriages with unbelievers, but should keep themselves pure among fellow believers.
Believers should also know that Yahweh is the Mighty One, the faithful Mighty One who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments. Yahweh also repays those who hate him to their face, and destroys them.
Yahweh Bestows Blessings on the Faithful
Have Nothing to Do With Idolatrous Things
Things used in idolatry are an abomination to Yahweh and are doomed to destruction. They should be utterly detested and abhorred, for they are accursed things.
Thus, things which on their own are not abominations, such as silver or gold or other things, become abominations when they are used in idolatry. Once they become abominations believers should have nothing to do with them.
Yahweh humbles us through various experiences to teach us lessons that are good for our well being.
Yahweh treats us as his children, for as parents chasten their children, so also does Yahweh chasten us - for our good.
Remember Yahweh your Mighty One, for it is he who gives you power to achieve the various things that you achieve, for purposes consistent with his will. Do not think that your achievements come devoid of Yahweh, but acknowledge him in your ways. Therefore live by every word that proceeds out of his mouth.
We should note that Yahweh's promise to us of everlasting life, and the coming fulfilment of this promise, did not come about as a result of our righteousness. For all of us have been sinners and have fallen short of Yahweh's glory. Yahweh's promise to us therefore comes to us by his grace - undeserved gift to us.
We should therefore thank and praise Yahweh for having graciously given us such a great promise.
Yahweh requires us to fear him, and to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve him with all our heart and with all our soul. And to keep his commandments and statutes which are for our good.
The heavens and the earth belong to Yahweh.
Yahweh our Mighty One is Mighty One of mighty ones and Ruler of rulers, the great Mighty One, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. We should likewise, following Yahweh's example, love the stranger, for we who are believers are also strangers in this world we are living in.
We should fear Yahweh our Mighty One. We should serve him, and hold fast to him. He is our praise and he is our Mighty One.
Lay Up Yahweh's Words in Your Heart
YAHWEH'S STATUTES AND JUDGEMENTS FOR THE PROMISED LAND
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The Place Where Yahweh Chooses
The Yisraelites were to seek the place where Yahweh their Mighty One chose, out of all their tribes, to put his name for his dwelling place. There it was that they were to go to worship him in the manner he commanded.
We are not to eat the blood of any animal that we may eat, for the life of that animal is in the blood. We are not to eat the life of that animal with the meat of that animal. We are instead to pour the blood on the earth. This we ought to do that it may go well with us and with our children after us, when we do what is right in the sight of Yahweh.
We ought to worship Yahweh in the manner he commands, without adding to his words or removing from them.
Cast Out False and Evil Brethren
We are to love Yahweh with all our heart and with all our soul. We are to walk after Yahweh our Mighty One and fear him, and keep his commandments and obey his voice. We are to serve Yahweh and hold fast to him.
Even if a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises, and he predicts events accurately, which come to pass, if then that prophet or dreamer of dreams urges idolatry, we are not to listen to that person. Such a person should be cast out of the fellowship of believers, for such a one has sought to turn believers away from Yahweh into idolatry. Such a one is evil and must be removed from the midst of believers.
Even if the person who seeks to entice us into idolatry is a close relative or friend, he or she should be cast out of the fellowship of believers.
Not only is this done to preserve the sanctity of believers, but also to teach other believers not to meddle in such wickedness in future.
Even if it is an entire congregation in a particular region that has turned to idolatry, it must be cast out of the fellowship of believers. There is no partiality in this matter, nor should there be fear of men in this matter, for one is executing Yahweh's word in this matter.
Believers are children of Yahweh their Mighty One. They are also a holy people to him, and Yahweh has chosen them to be a people for himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. They must therefore not partake of any action that has been designated by Yahweh as unholy, but must obey Yahweh in every matter, including those pertaining to preserving their holy state.
Learn to Fear Yahweh Your Mighty One Always
The purpose of going to worship Yahweh in the manner he commanded in the place he chose was to learn to fear him always.
If one went to the place Yahweh chose and did not learn to fear Yahweh always then that one had not learnt the lesson of going to that place. On the other hand if one learns to fear Yahweh always yet has not gone to the place Yahweh chose that one has learnt the lesson of going to that place. It is therefore imperative that all believers learn to fear Yahweh their Mighty One always, and thereby learn the lesson of going to the place Yahweh chose.
Share Your Blessings with the Needy
Willingly Lend to Your Needy Brother
No Partiality Between Male and Female Slaves
Yahweh's law for the release of slaves was the same for both male and female Yisraelites. There was no partiality, in that the same law applied to both.
The month of Aviv was observed, and Pesach was kept to Yahweh the Mighty One, because in the month of Aviv Yahweh brought out the Yisraelites out of Mitzrayim by night. Observance of the month of Aviv and the keeping of Pesach are therefore memorials of deliverance from the slavery of Mitzrayim. Unleavened bread was also eaten for seven days, for the purpose of remembering the day in which they came out of the land of Mitzrayim, remembering this all the days of their lives.
Likewise, believers should remember all the days of their lives the day in which Yahweh delivered them from the slavery of sin.
In the case of the deliverance of believers from the slavery of sin, as Yahweh delivers different believers from the slavery of sin at different times of the year, is it the case that each believer should remember the day, in relation to the time of year, that he or she was delivered from the slavery of sin? Or must all believers continue to observe this month of Aviv and the days of unleavened bread, for these symbolise their deliverance from the slavery of sin, even though various believers were delivered from the slavery of sin at various times of the year?
The Feast of Weeks was a memorial that the Yisraelites were slaves in Mitzrayim.
Feast of Tabernacles Observance
The Feast of Tabernacles was kept to acknowledge Yahweh as the source of all the blessings upon the Yisraelites, whether of their produce or of the work of their hands.
Believers are not to pervert justice. Nor are they to show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Believers are to do what is altogether just, in order that they may live.
Idolaters, after having been proved to be so by at least two or three witnesses, should be cast out of the assembly or fellowship of believers.
Believers should also remember Yah'shuah's instructions in Matthew 18, and also the example of the early believers in Acts 15.
Do Not Multiply Your Possessions
Kings over Yisrael were forbidden from multiplying for themselves horses, wives, silver and gold. They were not forbidden from having any of these things. What they were forbidden from was MULTIPLYING for themselves these things.
What was the guiding dividing line between having these things in appropriate measure and multiplying for one these things?
Looking into the lives of Yisraelite kings in this regard would be helpful in answering this question.
Learn to Fear Yahweh and Be Humble
Be Blameless, Avoid Abominations
Listen to the Prophet Like Moshe
Yahweh was to place his words in the mouth of the prophet like Moshe. This prophet was to speak to Yisrael all that Yahweh commanded him. Whoever would not listen to Yahweh's words, which this prophet would speak, Yahweh would require it of such a one who would not listen. Therefore believers should listen to all of Yahweh's words which this prophet was to speak.
False prophets speak in Yahweh's name words he has not commanded them to speak. False prophets speak in the name of other mighty ones. False prophets speak in Yahweh's name things which do not happen or come to pass.
In other words, when Yahweh prophesies of an event in future, it will SURELY happen. It will not fail to come to pass.
False prophets should be cast out of the assembly or fellowship of believers. For they do indeed profane Yahweh's name by taking it in vain. And some of them are indeed idolaters, speaking in the name of other mighty ones.
Unintentionally committed sin is forgivable, whilst due penalty is paid for intentionally committed sin.
Acceptable and Truthful Witnesses
When believers go out to battle against their enemies they should not be afraid of their enemies. For Yahweh their Mighty One is with them, who delivered them from the slavery of sin. For Yahweh is he who goes with them, to fight for them against their enemies and to save them. Believers should therefore have faith in Yahweh.
Stubborn and Rebellious Children
Care for Your Brother's Property
Yahweh desires legitimate children, and not illegitimate children.
If Yahweh made no distinction between legitimate children and illegitimate children, what message would he be communicating?
Would not the lack of a distinction in these two suggest that it was acceptable before him for people to have illegitimate children? And if such was the case, would not women be playing the harlot and delivering illegitimate children? Would not this be abomination, greatly polluting the land?
Therefore, to deter against harlotry, the illegitimate progeny of harlots must not be given the same status as those legitimate progeny of chaste women.
Wages of Harlotry and Perversion
The reason Yahweh forbade the Yisraelites from charging their fellow brethren with interest was for him to bless them in all that they set their hands to do. In other words, when Yisraelites assisted their fellow brethren without profiting from the assistance extended to them it was Yahweh himself who sought to reward them.
It is clearly evident that Yahweh's reward to those Yisraelites who did not charge their fellow brethren with interest was GREATER than what these Yisraelites would have obtained in interest. For Yahweh undertook to bless them in all that they set their hands to do - a blessing encompassing all facets of their activities. This was certainly much greater than the narrow activity of money lending with interest.
Also, it is evident that the Yisraelites needed to exercise faith in their application of this command. For while interest might have appeared to be guaranteed income, Yahweh's blessing was not guaranteed by man, nor was it defined in a quantifiable manner. One therefore had to fully trust Yahweh to bless one with the blessing Yahweh himself determined was appropriate for one.
Once another has sexually defiled one's wife, he is not to take her back as his wife, for so doing is an abomination before Yahweh.
If and when one has a contagious spiritual disease, that one must be put out of the assembly of called out ones until such time as the one no longer has the contagious disease.
It is righteousness for us when we do not insist on our debtors repaying us what they owe us, especially if our debtors are poor.
Avoid Oppression of Those Under Your Authority
Responsibility for One's Own Sin
Show Justice and Kindness to the Needy
The reason why a Yisraelite man was commanded to marry his sister-in-law if his dead brother married to his sister-in-law did not have a son was for the purpose of raising a son through his dead brother's wife who would succeed to the name and inheritance of the dead brother.
In our current age, when those called to Yahweh's way are scattered all over the world, and the inheritance promised to them is yet to come, it appears to me that this law is not binding on the called out ones. In other words, a believing man is not obligated to marry the widow of a fellow believing man, despite all having been spiritual brethren.
Among the evils to be avoid are: idolatry, dishonouring of parents, theft, misleading blind people, perverting justice due to the needy, sexual immorality, violence and murder. It is therefore an evil for one to cause those whom Yahweh has called to his way of life to wander away from Yahweh's way. Such false guides incur a curse upon themselves.
The Covenant Moshe made with the Yisraelites in Moav bound not just those Yisraelites that he was speaking to, but also other Yisraelites who were not there, meaning those who would become Yisraelites subsequent to that date, either by birth or by conversion.
Yahweh reveals various matters to us that we may be fully obedient to him.
All of Yahweh's Commandments Will Be Observed
After Yisrael's repentance and restoration, yet to take place, Yisrael will keep all of Yahweh's commandments, which he commanded them by Moshe. The clear implication therefore is that those commandments will not have ceased to be applicable to Yisraelites at the time of their restoration.
DAVID KEPT YAHWEH'S COMMANDMENTS
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Talking to Shelomo, Yahweh testified that David kept his statutes and his commandments.
While Shelomo's heart was not perfect before Yahweh the Mighty One, the heart of his father David was. For Shelomo, in his old age, turned to idolatry!
How did Shelomo come to abandon Yahweh and turn to idolatry?
He disobeyed Yahweh! He disobeyed Yahweh's command to believers that they marry not unbelievers, especially idolatrous unbelievers! He therefore did not fully follow Yahweh, contrasted to the full manner in which his father David did.
It appears distinctly clear that Yahweh's wisdom is supreme. Also, a portion of this wisdom is contained in Yahweh's commandments and statutes.
For Shelomo, despite all the wisdom at his disposal, did not succeed in proving wrong Yahweh's words. For Yahweh's words prohibit believers from marrying unbelievers, lest the unbelievers they marry turn their hearts to idolatry. In other words, the greater likelihood is of believers abandoning Yahweh by their marrying unbelievers, rather than unbelievers departing from their idolatry and other practices of unbelief and accepting Yahweh and his ways. For just as Yahweh had said it would happen so it actually did in the case of Shelomo. It is therefore our wisdom to heed Yahweh's words.
Yahweh testified that David kept his statutes, his ordinances and his commandments, in contrast to Shelomo, who turned to idolatry.
David kept Yahweh's commandments, and fully followed Yahweh in his heart, to do only what was right before Yahweh. We should emulate David.
David was a courageous man. He did not fight his battles based on sight, but based on reliance on the Mighty One. For it was by relying on Yahweh the Mighty One that he had previously killed both a lion and a bear. And it was also by relying on Yahweh the Mighty One that he faced the champion of the Pelishtim, Golyat of Gat.
Had David approached his battle with the Pelishti in the manner man approaches various battles, that is based on what one sees, he would not have ventured anywhere near the Pelishti. For all Yisrael had approached the proposed battle with the Pelishti in the manner men ordinarily approach battles, that is based on sight. But David did not so approach this battle. He relied, instead, on Yahweh the Mighty One, and not on what he saw were the strengths of the Pelishti.
In this trait it is seen that David had learned from Yahweh. For in 1 Shemuel 16: 7 Yahweh informed Shemuel the Seer that he sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but he looks on the heart. David was also not looking in the manner man ordinarily does, on the outward appearance. David instead looked on the heart.
And looking on the heart David saw that the Pelishti had defied Yahweh the Mighty One and defied the armies of the living Mighty One, cursing those of the living Mighty One by those which are not mighty ones, that is the mighty ones of the Pelishtim, their idols. David also knew that Yahweh does not save with things outwardly seen, such as swords and spears, but by his own power. David therefore approached his battle with the Pelishti in complete reliance on Yahweh, trusting in Yahweh to provide deliverance from the defiant Pelishti.
And so did Yahweh provide David with his own deliverance. And David defeated the Pelishti.
We should likewise learn from David. We should not approach matters in the manner men ordinarily do, that is by looking at outward manifestations. Rather we should place our reliance on Yahweh the Mighty One, fully trusting him to provide for us that which he has purposed to so provide. Our trust and confidence should be in Yahweh, and not in various visible objects.
David Sought Yahweh's Guidance
Before embarking on a major undertaking David sought Yahweh's guidance on whether or not he should so embark on the undertaking.
We should likewise consult with Yahweh and seek his guidance whenever we are considering embarking on a major undertaking, whatever the undertaking. For when Yahweh approves of and guides one in a particular undertaking one will succeed in it. But if Yahweh is not with one in an undertaking one is likely to fail in it.
David Trusted in Yahweh, Not in Men
Even after David had rescued Keilah from the hands of the Pelishtim he did not trust himself to them. He continued to rely, primarily, on Yahweh. And therefore, when a difficult matter arose, in that king Shaul was planning to come with his army to besiege David in Keilah, David sought Yahweh's guidance and direction. He did not rely on the men of Keilah to reciprocate the kindness he had showed them by protecting him against the hand of king Shaul.
We should likewise trust wholly in Yahweh, and should not trust ourselves to men. For men do indeed prove to be unreliable, even men whom one has assisted in their time of need. Trust only Yahweh.
David Respected Those Whom Yahweh Had Placed In Authority
Part of showing respect to those whom Yahweh has placed in authority over us is to avoid doing evil to them, even when their deeds to us are evil. We should always do good to those in authority over us, as we should so do good to all other people. Vengeance is Yahweh's. We should therefore not avenge ourselves against those who have done evil to us. We should not repay evil for evil.
Another trait we can learn from David out of his encounter in the cave with Shaul is David's patience. Yahweh had already anointed David to be king in Yisrael, though he had not yet given him the mantle of rulership. When an opportunity arose for David to acquire that mantle, an opportunity not consistent with Yahweh's will, David chose to heed Yahweh and did not submit to wickedness in order to acquire that mantle. David therefore chose to be patient with Yahweh and allow Yahweh to give him the mantle of rulership at Yahweh's own appointed time.
We should likewise be patient in allowing Yahweh's will for us to be executed at Yahweh's own appointed time. We should not take matters into our own hands, in an effort to speed the occurrence of Yahweh's will. Rather we should allow Yahweh to execute his will for us at his own appointed time.
In this interval between the time of David's anointing to be king in Yisrael, and the time he was to eventually acquire the mantle of rulership, David learned many lessons at Yahweh's hand, through the various experiences Yahweh allowed him to go through. One of these lessons included respect for those whom Yahweh has put in authority over us, even when they are evil, and their evil is directed against us.
We should likewise learn from David's experience. Even though Yahweh may have made us aware of his will for our lives, to be executed at some point in time in future, we should not try to rush events. We should rather be patient with Yahweh. We should also note that in the intervening period Yahweh would be teaching us lessons he knows we need to learn, lessons we may not even be aware that we need to learn. But if we trust ourselves to Yahweh, allowing him to guide and direct our paths, avoiding the presumption of relying on ourselves, thinking that we know what is best for us, we will succeed. For we will succeed in seeing Yahweh's will for us being executed in Yahweh's own appointed time, and in a manner consistent with Yahweh's will in other matters. And we will also learn other lessons Yahweh desires to teach us, learning these lessons in a manner pleasing to Yahweh, without violating his will.
Vengeance is Yahweh's, Not Man's
David's first wife, Mikhal, departed from him, in that she went to be wife to another man. The departure of his first wife did not prevent David from marrying other wives. It is therefore within Yahweh's law for a man whose wife has departed from him to marry another wife or even other wives.
David's Dwelling in the Land of the Pelishtim
David, in his destruction of the inhabitants of the land of Kanaan, was simply executing Yahweh's instruction to the Yisraelites given by Moshe. Nevertheless, David did not tell his host, Akhish king of Gat, the truth concerning his raids on these people. Akhish therefore believed the lies David told him.
Was David violating Yahweh's word in telling Akhish lies?
Technically, David is seen not to have violated Yahweh's command that one not bear false witness against one's neighbour! For there was no neighbour whom David was witnessing against, leaving aside witnessing against falsely!
David also reveals, in his dealings with his host Akhish, that he did not trust himself to him, even though the latter was hosting him together with his company. For Akhish was not really concerned about David's interests, but about his own interests - how he would have David serve him for life, thereby reaping of the fruits of David's labours for him.
David also knew that Akhish, being a Pelishti, was an enemy of Yisrael. And being an enemy of Yisrael, Yahweh's people, he really could not be David's long term friend, for David's interest was the well being of Yisrael, not the glorification of the Pelishtim. Since their fundamental deep-seated interests were opposed to one another, it was not really prudent that David trust himself to Akhish. Their co-operation was therefore really one of convenience, and a temporary one at that. For the moment a matter arose that would pit their two deep-seated interests against one another, they would have to part company, and probably contend against one another. Their co-operation was therefore one of convenience, and a temporary one at that.
David Strengthened Himself in Yahweh
When all else was gloom around David, he did not forget that there was One he could always rely on. He therefore sought refuge in Yahweh his Mighty One, and sought also his guidance in a time of difficult trial.
Likewise, when we are faced with difficult circumstances, it is Yahweh that we should turn to and rely on.
Mikhal Daughter of Shaul, David's Wife
2 Shemuel 6: 16 clearly states that Mikhal, David's wife, despised her husband in her heart. She clearly showed how she despised her husband by her words of derision to him as recorded in verse 20. Verse 23 then states that Mikhal had no child to the day of her death.
The indication that can be derived from these verses is that David did not have sex with Mikhal his wife from the moment Mikhal's derision for David became manifest. In other words, Mikhal was effectively divorced from David, for David does not appear to have had sex with her from this time that her derision for him became manifest.
Was David right in his apparent divorce of Mikhal, especially after having sought for her return from the man she had been living with in an adulterous relationship, even Paltiel, the son of Layish?
In Devarim (Deuteronomy) 24: 1-4 Yahweh clearly gives his law regarding divorce, and whether a wife who has had sex with a man other than her former husband can subsequently be wife again to her former husband and have sex with him again. Yahweh clearly forbids a man from having sex with his former wife after she has lain with someone else. The reason Yahweh gives for so forbidding a man to have sex with his previous wife after she has had sex with someone else is that such an act is abomination, and causes the land he gave for an inheritance to sin!
Considering that the reason Yahweh gave for so forbidding this act was that it was abominable, it appears to me that the same applies to any man whose wife has had sex with someone else. In other words, this law does not apply to just those men who have divorced their wives and their wives have had sex with some other man or men. It applies to all men whose wives have had sex with someone else subsequent to their marriage, even if they have not divorced their wives. For the abomination is the woman already defiled to the man, for having had sex with some other person after having been married to the man, having sex again with the man.
It therefore appears to me that as David was spoken of by Yahweh as having kept both his commandments and statutes, which include Devarim (Deuteronomy) 24: 1-4, David did not have sex with Mikhal after her return to him from Paltiel the son of Layish! This is not to say that David never violated Yahweh's word. No! It is just that as no matter in his relationship with Mikhal is counted against him in the Scripture it is very likely that David abided by Yahweh's word on this matter.
That 2 Shemuel 6: 23 states that Mikhal had no child to the day of her death simply confirms, impliedly, that David did not have sex with her after her return from Paltiel the son of Layish, especially after her derision for her husband was clearly manifested.
The context prior to 2 Shemuel 6: 23, which led to the writing of 2 Shemuel 6: 23, also needs to be considered. For 2 Shemuel 6: 23 was written as a consequence of an action resulting from Mikhal clearly manifesting her derision for her husband.
There is another woman who also manifested derision for those of the household of her husband. Hagar was her name. She was wife to Avraham.
It should be noted that Avraham cast out Hagar from his household because Hagar despised those who were in Avraham's household, specifically Avraham's wife Sarah and her household. For while Yishmael was sent away from dwelling together with Yitzchak because he was not to share in Yitzchak's inheritance, but was to be given his own separate inheritance by Yahweh, the same cannot be said of Hagar. For Avraham also sent away from Yitzchak his other sons, whom his wife Keturah bore to him. Nevertheless there is no scriptural record that he sent away from himself Keturah, even as he had sent away Hagar.
In other words, if the sole reason for Avraham casting Hagar out of his household was to ensure that Yishmael did not dwell together with Yitzchak, then Avraham would also have cast Keturah out of his household when he sent his sons by Keturah away from Yitzchak. But he did not so send Keturah away from himself, in the manner he sent away Hagar. It should therefore be clear that Hagar was cast out of Avraham's household, and so cast out at Yahweh's command, because of her own sin!
Her sin was that of despising believers in Avraham's household, specifically Sarah, and by extension, Sarah's son Yitzchak. And for so having an evil heart, a heart that despises believers, Yahweh severed her marriage to Avraham, and instructed Avraham to cast her out of his household.
It therefore appears to me that there was no wrong in David in his apparent refraining from having sex with Mikhal after Mikhal had clearly manifested that she despised David, who was not only her master, but was also a believer. Mikhal therefore bore the consequences of her own sin, dying childless, because she despised her husband in her heart.
David's Sin and Yahweh's Judgement
David Obeyed Yahweh's Law on Sexual Defilement
Yahweh's law in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 24: 1-4 forbids a man from sexually lying with a woman who has been his wife after some other man has sexually lain with her, for she becomes defiled to him if another man sexually lies with her. And it is abomination before Yahweh for a man to so sexually lie with such a defiled woman.
After his son Avshalom had sexually defiled David's wives (concubines), David never had sex with them again. This was in keeping with Yahweh's law on sexual defilement. Even though the wives had not willingly violated their marriage to David, in that they could not have prevented Avshalom raping them before all Yisrael, Yahweh's law that husbands must not have sex with wives who have become sexually defiled to them had to be obeyed.
Nevertheless, David showed mercy to his wives, in that he continued to fulfil his other duties of a husband consistent with Yahweh's law. For he continued to provide for them.
We should therefore learn from David, how to apply Yahweh's law and remain merciful while so doing.
David Abided by Yahweh's Word Concerning His Succession
David's Painful Lesson Concerning the Ark of Yahweh
David Executed Justice and Righteousness
David's Sin in Numbering the People
It appears that HaSatan is the anger of Yahweh.
Why did Yahweh strike the people of Yisrael when they were numbered?
It appears that by being numbered guilt came upon them, even as Yoav rightly mentioned to David as recorded in 1 Divre Hayamim (Chronicles) 21: 3. For in Shemot (Exodus) 30: 11-16 Yahweh clearly instructed that each man who is numbered give a ransom for his soul, that there be no plague among the people when they are numbered. The ransom offering was half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary, given for the service of the tent of meeting, for the atonement of the souls of the numbered Yisraelites. Nevertheless the people did not so give this ransom offering for the atonement of their souls. Yahweh's word in Shemot (Exodus) 30: 11-16 therefore came into operation, and there was a plague among the people!
This incident teaches us to always be on our guard against HaSatan. For he is always prowling around looking for our weaknesses that he may pounce on us. In this case he hit Yisrael through David's weakness. So also can he hit at us. We should therefore be always on guard, and be always sufficiently knowledgeable of Yahweh's word, such that HaSatan does not succeed in his temptations against us.
David's Charge for the House of the Mighty One
It should be noted that David was a fairly wealthy man.
But how did he use his wealth?
He dedicated it to Yahweh, and used it for the glorification of the name of Yahweh.
We should likewise emulate David. Should Yahweh bless us with various blessings, we should use these for the glorification of the name of Yahweh.
Just as David advised Shelomo his son, so should we do: we should know Yahweh the Mighty One of Yisrael, the Mighty One of David, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind. For Yahweh searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If we seek him he will be found by us. But if we forsake him he will cast us off forever (1 Divre Hayamim (Chronicles) 28: 9)!
In the pattern of the temple David was guided by the Spirit of Yahweh (1 Divre Hayamim (Chronicles) 28: 12 and 19).
Yisrael's Willing Offering for the House of Yahweh and David's Prayer
It is the author's opinion that David had a weakness, in addition to the ones already mentioned above. For David appeared to have been partial with the enforcement of judgements or penalties against offending members within his own family.
For when Amnon, David's son, sexually defiled his own sister, Tamar, David's daughter, David did not take appropriate action against Amnon as prescribed in the law. For Amnon committed abomination in defiling his sister, his father's daughter. He should therefore have been killed under the provisions of the law. But David did not take the action prescribed in the law!
Also, when Avshalom, David's son, avenged himself on Amnon, by taking the life of his brother Amnon, he eventually allowed Amnon back into Yerushalayim. Also, when Avshalom had defied the authority of the king of Yisrael, Yahweh's anointed, thereby not only breaking the law in several aspects, but also defying Yahweh, David did not allow his military generals to kill Avshalom when there was war between David's loyalists and Avshalom's supporters. Yet when others outside his family had shown disrespect to the office of the king of Yisrael David had been very quick to enforce Yahweh's penalty on such, such as in the deaths of king Shaul, and his successor son Ish-Boshet.
David is therefore seen to have been partial in his administration of justice when his own flesh and blood were involved. For with others outside his family he was prompt, but with his own family members he was not.
We should strive to avoid this weakness of David's. We should strive to be just in all of our judgements, avoiding partiality in our judgements, even if our own family members are involved in a matter. In other words, we should emulate the example set for us by Avraham, who loved Yahweh above even his own family members. For Avraham did not delay to execute Yahweh's words, even to the detriment of his own family members, such as when he sent both Hagar and her son Yishmael away from himself, and was prepared to sacrifice his own son Yitzchak at Yahweh's command.
YISRAEL'S COVENANT WITH THE GIVONIM
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Oaths Sworn by the Name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael
Yisrael made a covenant with the Givonim during the days of Yehoshua, recorded in Yehoshua (Joshua) 9. It was a covenant of shalom or peace between the Yisraelites and the Givonim, to allow the Givonim to live. The Yisraelites swore this covenant to the Givonim by Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael. The Yisraelites also realised, shortly after they swore this oath to the Givonim, that if they violated it, wrath would befall them, for they had sworn their oath to the Givonim by Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael.
In other words, the Yisraelites realised the importance of Yahweh's name, and the significance of invoking Yahweh's name in an oath sworn to one. Once Yahweh's name had been invoked in an oath sworn to one, that oath had to be fulfilled. For Yahweh's name is not to be taken in vain, even as he commanded the Yisraelites at Chorev, the mountain of the Mighty One (Shemot (Exodus) 20: 7).
Yisraelites Forbidden to Enter into Covenant with Givonim
But it should be noted that the Yisraelites entered into this covenant with the Givonim as a result of deception on the part of the Givonim! For the Yisraelites understood clearly that they were to exterminate the inhabitants of the land of Kanaan. For Yahweh had so instructed them to do, and also instructed them to avoid entering into any covenant with those inhabitants (Shemot (Exodus) 23: 27-33). For when the Yisraelites would enter into a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, those inhabitants of the land would turn the hearts of the Yisraelites away from Yahweh and unto their own mighty ones.
Consult Yahweh on Difficult Matters
Nevertheless, the Yisraelites made the mistake of not consulting with Yahweh when the Givonim approached them with their deception. For had they consulted Yahweh he would have made known to them the Givonim's deception, and they would have exterminated the Givonim, just as they were exterminating the other inhabitants of that land. The effect of this failure to consult with Yahweh on a matter the Yisraelites could not readily determine, yet was important to their abiding by Yahweh's word, was their failure to so abide by Yahweh's word!
Was the Covenant between Yisrael and Givon Valid before Yahweh?
The question that therefore arises: was this covenant between the Yisraelites and the Givonim valid before Yahweh? For the Yisraelites entered into a covenant with the people whom Yahweh forbade them to enter a covenant with. As Yahweh was opposed to such a covenant, as it potentially would result in the Yisraelites falling into idolatry, was it valid before Yahweh? In other words, are contracts believers enter into with unbelievers, which have a potential for tripping the believers into idolatry, valid before Yahweh?
The Yisraelites under Yehoshua's leadership, having already unwittingly violated Yahweh's command of not entering into a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and dwelling with them in the same land, were faced with a dilemma. The prospect of reneging on their oath to the Givonim on one hand, thereby allowing them to honour the second portion of Yahweh's command to them of not dwelling in that land with the people of the land they were uprooting. And, on the other hand, violating Yahweh's command of not taking his name in vain, for they had sworn the oath to the Givonim in Yahweh's name.
The leadership, upon consideration of the matter, decided not to compound on their unwitting sin. For when they entered into their covenant with the Givonim, it was not that they desired to enter into a contract with the inhabitants of the land. They were deceived into so doing. Their heart, in entering into that oath, was not to rebel against Yahweh. They thought that their conduct was within Yahweh's law, for they thought that the Givonim who approached them for purposes of entering into covenant with them were not inhabitants of that land.
This experience of the Yisraelites just confirms Yahweh's words in 1 Shemuel (Samuel) 16: 7 to Shemuel the seer, that Yahweh does not see things as man does, for man looks on the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks on the heart. For the Yisraelites looked on the outward appearance, how the Givonim appeared to them to be from a distant land, and not from that land of the Amori. And it is that looking at the outward appearance that led to their unwittingly violating Yahweh's word. Therefore to avoid unwittingly violating Yahweh's word, especially in matters difficult to determine, we should consult with Yahweh to seek his guidance and instruction. For Yahweh, who sees all, will surely guide us in the way that we should walk.
It should also be noted that the Yisraelites, having already sinned unwittingly, could not undo what they had already done. Their option now was how best to handle the difficult circumstances that they had brought upon themselves, specifically ensuring that they would remain faithful to Yahweh and not fall into idolatry.
If they were to renege on their oath sworn to the Givonim, an oath sworn in the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael, they would indeed be taking Yahweh's name in vain, and would not be without guilt. They would therefore face Yahweh's wrath, for taking his name in vain, thereby despising it before other people.
Also, in their entering into a covenant with the Givonim, they acted unwittingly. But in the matter of reneging on their oath to the Givonim they would have been acting in the complete knowledge that such action would have been violating Yahweh's law against taking his name in vain. The Yisraelites therefore judged not to compound on their unwitting error with a knowledgeable and intentional sin, which would have been rebellion against Yahweh. And in this decision they judged rightly.
For in Yehoshua (Joshua) 10 Yahweh clearly showed the Yisraelites what to do with respect to either preserving or exterminating the Givonim. For an opportunity arose whereby the Givonim were likely to be exterminated by the rest of the Amori, for having broken ranks with the Amori and taken refuge within Yisrael.
For in this situation the Yisraelites could simply have sat back and let the Amori slaughter the Givonim, thereby allowing the Amori to partially do their work of ridding the land of some Amori. And as the Givonim had secured their oath from Yisrael in deceit, they could simply have paid with their lives at the hand of non-Yisraelites the penalty of so deceitfully securing this oath. Yisrael would therefore have appeared without guilt in the matter of not taking Yahweh's name in vain, for Yisrael would not have breached that oath by exterminating the Givonim. And by the Givonim being exterminated from amongst Yisrael, the risk that they would have led the Yisraelites into idolatry would have been eliminated.
Nevertheless, when Yahweh communicated to Yehoshua concerning the matter, Yahweh told Yehoshua neither to fear the Amori nor to leave the Givonim at the hands of the Amori. For Yahweh was going to deliver the Amori into Yehoshua's hand (Yehoshua (Joshua) 10). And Yahweh fought a great battle for Yisrael that day, in that he struck the Amori with great hailstones, such that those who died from Yahweh's hailstones were greater than those whom the Yisraelites killed with the sword. And to further assist Yisrael in its battle with the Amori, Yahweh heeded Yehoshua's prayer to still both the sun and the moon in their places, to give Yisrael sufficient daylight in order to exterminate the Amori that very day!
It should therefore be clear that it was definitely Yahweh's will that the Givonim be preserved alive after they had entered into their covenant with Yisrael, an oath sworn by the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael.
Protection for Those under Authority
It should also be noted that once someone comes under your authority, and it becomes your responsibility to provide for the one, including providing the one with protection, you must honour your responsibility. Even if the one who has come under your authority did so deceitfully, you must still honour your responsibility to the one. This is what Yahweh showed ought to be done, when he encouraged Yehoshua to fight with Yisrael to both defend the Givonim and to exterminate the other Amori.
King Shaul was therefore wrong to kill some of the Givonim in his zeal to destroy the Amori from the land. For while he was to exterminate the rest of the Amori, he was not to harm the Givonim, for Yisrael had entered into a covenant with them, an oath sworn by the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael. By killing some of the Givonim, Shaul had violated this covenant between Yisrael and the Givonim. He had also, by so doing, brought Yahweh's name into disrepute, for the oath had been sworn by the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael. Shaul's household was therefore not without guilt in this matter.
The penalty exacted on Shaul's household, exacted at the hand of the Givonim, was consistent with Yahweh's law. For as Shaul's household had sought to do to the Givonim, so also was it done to Shaul's household. For as Shaul's household had sought to exterminate the Givonim from Yisrael, so also was his household largely exterminated from Yisrael.
In giving the Givonim seven of Shaul's male descendants David was careful to avoid falling by the same trap Shaul fell. For Shaul violated the oath Yisrael swore to the Givonim, an oath sworn by the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael. As David had also sworn to Yonatan, Shaul's son, an oath sworn by the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael, to preserve Yonatan's household when David had assumed kingship over Yisrael, David preserved Yonatan's surviving son, Mefivoshet (1 Shemuel (Samuel) 20).
Are Covenants Between Believers and Unbelievers Valid before Yahweh?
Earlier on the question was posed: are contracts believers enter into with unbelievers, contracts which have the potential of tripping believers into idolatry, valid before Yahweh?
In the case between Yisrael and the Givonim it is seen that this covenant was indeed valid before Yahweh. It was sworn by the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael. It was therefore valid before Yahweh.
It is clear that the Yisraelites, when entering into this covenant, unwittingly violated Yahweh's word. For Yahweh had clearly instructed them not to enter into any covenant with the inhabitants of the land he was giving them, nor to let those inhabitants dwell in the land he was giving them, lest those inhabitants lead the Yisraelites into idolatry. In other words, as the risk of the Yisraelites falling into idolatry was great, by their entering into covenant with the inhabitants of the land he was giving them, and by these inhabitants remaining in that land and dwelling in it together with the Yisraelites, Yahweh forbade them from so covenanting.
It therefore appears that the bigger sin was not that of entering into covenant with inhabitants of the land, and these inhabitants dwelling in the land together with the Yisraelites. The bigger sin was the Yisraelites falling into idolatry. For the command of not covenanting with the inhabitants of the land was so given to make it less easy for them to fall into idolatry.
Covenants Between Believers and Unbelievers Valid before Yahweh
It therefore appears clear that believers should avoid entering into contracts with unbelievers, contracts that have the potential of tripping believers into idolatry. It also appears clear that when believers enter into such contracts with unbelievers, such contracts are valid, especially if entered into in the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael.
Should Believers Covenant With Unbelievers?
Nevertheless, believers should not construe this as licence to violate Yahweh's word, thereby giving them freedom to enter into contracts with unbelievers, contracts with a potential to trip them into idolatry. For while the Yisraelites had entered into their covenant with the Givonim unwittingly, and could therefore be forgiven their unwitting sin, a believer who presumptuously takes it upon himself to so violate Yahweh's word does not have the grace upon him that the Yisraelites who sinned unwittingly had upon them. For such a presumptuous sinner is a rebel against Yahweh. And rebels must bear their own sin!
Therefore, in marriage, believers should not seek to enjoin themselves with unbelievers. For marriage is just the kind of covenant that has the potential of leading one to worship as one's spouse. Therefore if a believer is considering marrying someone, he or she must first ascertain that the person he or she is considering marrying is also a believer. And the process of so ascertaining the veracity of one's standing as a believer must be in a manner consistent with Yahweh's word. In this manner the believer will avoid sinning unwittingly as the Yisraelites did in the matter of the Givonim.
Nevertheless, if they do sin unwittingly in this matter, such as when a believer marries someone who appears to be a believer, while in reality is not a true believer, Yahweh will forgive them this unwitting sin, for it was not presumptuously committed. But if they rebel against Yahweh and presumptuously marry known unbelievers, they will bear their own sin. For they will have despised Yahweh's word, thereby despising Yahweh himself. And just as king Shaul lost Yahweh's Spirit from dwelling within him, so also will such rebels lose Yahweh's Spirit from dwelling within them. They will bear their own sin!
And in a case of a believer unwittingly marrying an unbeliever, covenanting before Yahweh to so marry the unbeliever whom is thought to be a believer, it appears to me that that marriage is valid before Yahweh, just as the covenant of the Yisraelites with the Givonim was valid before Yahweh. Nevertheless, the believer will have to be on extra guard to ensure that he or she does not fall into the bigger sin of idolatry, such as is likely to happen by his or her unwitting marriage to an unbeliever.
But for those who intentionally marry unbelievers, disregarding Yahweh's clear instruction that believers should not marry unbelievers, they will bear their own sin. They will cease to have fellowship with Yahweh, for they will have despised Yahweh's words, thereby despising Yahweh himself.
Yahweh clearly showed us his judgement on believers who knowledgeably entered into a contract with unbelievers, a contract with potential to lead to idolatry. This took place at Peor during the days of Moshe, and is recorded in Bemidbar (Numbers) 25.
While Yisrael dwelt at Shittim some of them began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moav. The manner of this prostitution was not Yisraelite men having sex with prostitute daughters of Moav in exchange for money. It was the Yisraelite men agreeing to attend sacrifices to the mighty ones of the daughters of Moav. And while they attended the sacrifices to the mighty ones of the daughters of Moav they ate of the food that had been sacrificed to these mighty ones, and also bowed down to these mighty ones.
The Yisraelites had therefore entered into an agreement with unbelievers, an agreement with the potential to trip them into idolatry. And trip into idolatry they did, for not only did they eat of food sacrificed to idols, they also bowed down to these idols.
For Yahweh's command against idolatry clearly forbade bowing to idols, as shown in Shemot (Exodus) 20: 5. Therefore, by the Yisraelites bowing to the idols of the daughters of Moav, they were committing idolatry.
After this enjoinment to the mighty ones of the daughters of Moav, and specifically Baal-Peor, their mighty one, Yahweh's anger was kindled against Yisrael! For they joined themselves to Baal-Peor by bowing down to Baal-Peor. Yahweh instructed Moshe to kill all the men who had joined themselves to Baal-Peor. In other words, those who engage in idolatry are cut off from before Yahweh, and from dwelling together with the people of Yahweh.
It should therefore be clear to us that believers should not knowledgeably enter into an agreement with unbelievers, an agreement with potential to trip the believers into idolatry. For if the believers so trip into idolatry they will be cut off from fellowship with both Yahweh and the people of Yahweh.
Should Believers Attend Sacrifices to Idols?
What about attending sacrifices of unbelievers, whereby they offer food to their mighty ones, even though one has not planned to bow down to these mighty ones? Is this acceptable before Yahweh?
It appears to me that Yahweh's command is that we refrain from entering into agreements with unbelievers, agreements that have a potential for tripping believers into idolatry. Attending sacrifices of unbelievers, whereby they offer food to their mighty ones, is just such a scenario. For in these sacrifices one is likely to be offered food that has been sacrificed to idols and one is also likely to bow down to idols. In other words, the risk of taking part in idolatry is very high when one attends such sacrifices. Believers should therefore avoid attending such sacrifices.
Believers should also remember Shaul's sin - rebellion and stubbornness as shown in 1 Shemuel 15! For Shaul did not fully obey Yahweh, but chose to do only those portions of Yahweh's word that he liked but did not abide by Yahweh's word completely. And this selective application and rejection and Yahweh's word was both rebellion and stubbornness, which is equivalent to witchcraft and idolatry.
Shaul, for his idolatry, was cut off from before Yahweh, and eventually cut off from Yisrael. In other words, if we rebel against Yahweh, in that we make agreements with unbelievers, agreements with potential to trip us into idolatry, even though we do not intend to partake of the idolatry of unbelievers, we will be cut off from before both Yahweh and his faithful people.
Believers Who Knowingly Marry Unbelievers
Therefore, if a believer knowingly marries an unbeliever, a union with potential to trip the believer into idolatry, even though the believer has no intention of partaking of the idolatry of the unbeliever, he is still cut off from before both Yahweh and the faithful people of Yahweh. For by so knowingly marrying an unbeliever he rebels from Yahweh's command to steer clear of such unions. And by so rebelling he has effectively committed idolatry. He is therefore cut off from fellowship with both Yahweh and the faithful people of Yahweh.
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The Kohanim, the priests, despised Yahweh's name! They dishonoured Yahweh their father and master. This they did by their impure and polluted offerings to Yahweh's name, thereby profaning Yahweh's name. Behold, they also considered service to Yahweh a burden, rather than a pleasure.
We should avoid the sin of the Kohanim. We should uplift and honour Yahweh's name. This we should do by offering to his name only that which is pure, and avoiding anything that profanes his name.
Fear Yahweh. Stand in awe of Yahweh's name. Have the law of truth in your mouth. Avoid unrighteousness in your lips. Walk with Yahweh in shalom and uprightness. Turn many away from iniquity. Be knowledgeable of Yahweh's ways. Do not cause any to stumble in the law. Do not deal treacherously against your brother. Do not profane Yahweh's holiness by marrying an unbeliever. Do not partake of idolatry.
Yahweh desires righteous seed, that is children conceived in holy marriage. Therefore ensure that all your children are conceived in holy marriage, and ensure that you remain faithful to your spouse. For Yahweh hates divorce.
Do not commend those who do evil.
Yahweh's Judgement on the Unrighteous
Yahweh will swiftly witness against sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, oppressors of hirelings in their wages, oppressors of widows, the fatherless and sojourners, and those who do not fear him. Therefore fear Yahweh and avoid all unrighteousness.
As Yahweh punished evil in the past, so does he do so today, and so will he do in the future. His nature does not change.
Give Yahweh His Tithes and Offerings
Avoid wickedness, for Yahweh does not spare the wicked, but executes his judgements against them.
Fear Yahweh. Think on his name. Serve him faithfully. Do not be demoralised by those who speak against Yahweh. And fellowship with others who likewise fear and serve Yahweh, and think on his name.
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Teach Yahweh's Law to Your Children
Ask Yahweh According to Your Needs
When asking Yahweh to sustain our lives we should ask only according to our needs, and not according to our pleasure. We should leave it to Yahweh to give us according to his pleasure, without tempting him by insisting that he supply also our pleasure.
We should also have faith in Yahweh, believing and trusting that he can and will supply us with all of our needs. We should not doubt his capability to so provide us with our needs.
All of Yahweh's Commandments Are Righteousness
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Yahweh has clearly forbidden believers from marrying unbelievers, for such a union will lead the believers into idolatry, which he has expressly forbidden. Between these two sins, the latter one, idolatry, is the greater sin, with the believer marrying an unbeliever being the lesser sin.
A Believer Who Marries an Unbeliever Can Repent
When a believer sins against Yahweh by marrying an unbeliever he brings great guilt upon himself. Nevertheless, all is not lost for him. There is still hope for him. He can repent of his sin.
The manner he repents of his sin is by SEVERING his marriage with the unbeliever! And if he already has children by his unbelieving spouse he must also put away these children together with their unbelieving parent! Tough words!
If the sinful believer is serious about restoring his relationship with Yahweh, thereby coming again into Yahweh's grace, he must do this difficult thing! For he must choose between loving Yahweh first and foremost, or loving other entities first and foremost, even if these entities are his unbelieving spouse and the children from their union! For those who are worthy of Yahweh must place Yahweh paramount in their lives, and love him above any other entity, including loving him even above their own love for their own selves!
Yahweh Does Not Marry Believers To Unbelievers
It should therefore be clear that the marriage between a believer and an unbeliever, the marriage a believer enters into knowing that the person he is marrying is an unbeliever, is not of Yahweh. Yahweh has no part in such a marriage, for he has expressly forbidden it.
Rebellious Marriage of Believer to Unbeliever Should Be Severed
Such a marriage CAN be severed! In fact, as part of his repentance from rebelling against Yahweh's word that he marries not an unbeliever, a believer SHOULD sever such a marriage! For such a marriage was not of Yahweh. For only that which Yahweh has joined together should man not put asunder. But as Yahweh has not joined the sinful believer and his unbelieving spouse, but has expressly forbidden such a marriage, the sinful believer should sever it as part of his repentance from rebellion against Yahweh.
Children of Such Rebellious Marriages Should Be Put Away
What about the children born in such rebellious marriages? Are they not innocent victims in this scenario of the repentant sinful believer separating himself from them?
Yes, the children in this case are innocent victims! But they are not righteous seed. For righteous seed, such as Yahweh desires, even as he mentioned in the book of Malakhi, are those who are conceived in a marriage that Yahweh has instituted, such as those marriages he approves of.
For it should be remembered that even in the case of David, when he committed adultery with Bat-Sheva, Uriyah's wife, Yahweh required David to be separated from his child by Bat-Sheva who was conceived in sin. And Yahweh himself saw to it that David was separated from that child, for Yahweh afflicted the child with illness until the child died! It should therefore be clear that Yahweh desires righteous seed, children conceived in holy marriage.
It should also be noted that these children are innocent victims, in that they are caught up in the sin of their parents. Nevertheless, one should not blame Yahweh for any misfortune that befalls such children. For such children, when misfortune comes upon them, are bearing the consequences of their parents' sin. The guilt is therefore that of their parents, and not that of Yahweh.
Concerned potential parents, especially believers, should therefore act out of concern even for the unborn. For why should they bring into this world children who will suffer as a result of their sin? Should they not refrain from the sin of marrying unbelievers, such that they do not bring into the world children who are likely to suffer the consequences of their sin, through no fault of their own, but that of their parents? If a believer is truly concerned for the unborn, and not just for his own fleeting pleasure which he is looking for with an unbeliever, he will refrain from marrying an unbeliever, and will only enjoin himself in marriage with a fellow believer. For Yahweh will approve of his marriage only if he marries a fellow believer.
COVENANT OF THE RETURNED ESCAPED EXILES
The key aspects of the covenant the returned escaped exiles entered into with Yahweh included:
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Believers Separated From Unbelievers
Profanities Removed From the Mighty One's House
Restoration of the Sanctity of the Shabbat
Cleansing Believers from Being Married to Unbelievers
When cleansing believers from the unbelievers they were married to, Nechemyahu reminded the Yahudim that not even Shelomo the king, despite all of his wisdom and the love Yahweh had for him, succeeded in defying Yahweh's word in avoiding idolatry after he had married foreign women. Therefore all believers should steer clear of marriage to unbelievers, for unbelievers will surely turn the hearts of believers into idolatry.
Yahweh knew what he was doing when he so commanded believers not to marry unbelievers. We should therefore trust Yahweh, and should not presume in arrogance to know more than Yahweh, or to rebel against Yahweh.
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© 1998, Isaac Aluochier, All rights reserved. Published by Servants of Yahweh, P O Box 22855, London, NW9 8ZF, United Kingdom. E-mail: servantsofyahweh@serveyahweh.org. Permission is hereby GRANTED to reproduce this and other publications in the Servants of Yahweh web site, http://www.serveyahweh.org, unless otherwise stated.
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