34:1
Dinah, the daughter of Le'ah, whom she bore to Ya`akov, went out to see the daughters of the land. 34:2Shekhem the son of Hamor the Hivvi, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her. 34:3His soul joined to Dinah, the daughter of Ya`akov, and he loved the young lady, and spoke kindly to the young lady. 34:4Shekhem spoke to his father, Hamor, saying, "Get me this young lady as a wife."34:5
Now Ya`akov heard that he had defiled Dinah, his daughter; and his sons were with his cattle in the field. Ya`akov held his shalom until they came. 34:6Hamor the father of Shekhem went out to Ya`akov to talk with him. 34:7The sons of Ya`akov came in from the field when they heard it. The men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had done folly in Yisra'el in lying with Ya`akov's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. 34:8Hamor talked with them, saying, "The soul of my son, Shekhem, longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. 34:9Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 34:10You shall dwell with us: and the land will be before you. Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it."34:11
Shekhem said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will give. 34:12Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife."34:13
The sons of Ya`akov answered Shekhem and Hamor his father with deceit, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, 34:14and said to them, "We can't do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us. 34:15Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised; 34:16then will we give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 34:17But if you will not listen to us, to be circumcised, then we will take our sister, and we will be gone.34:18
Their words pleased Hamor, and Shekhem, Hamor's son. 34:19The young man didn't wait to do this thing, because he had delight in Ya`akov's daughter, and he was honored above all the house of his father. 34:20Hamor and Shekhem, his son, came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying, 34:21"These men are peaceful with us. Therefore let them live in the land and trade in it. For, behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 34:22Only on this condition will the men consent to us to dwell with us, to become one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. 34:23Won't their cattle and their substance and all their animals be ours? Only let us give our consent to them, and they will dwell with us."34:24
All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor, and to Shekhem his son; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. 34:25It happened on the third day, when they were sore, that two of Ya`akov's sons, Shim`on and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword, came upon the unsuspecting city, and killed all the males. 34:26They killed Hamor and Shekhem, his son, with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shekhem's house, and went away. 34:27Ya`akov's sons came on the dead, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 34:28They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, that which was in the city, that which was in the field; 34:29and all their wealth. They took captive all their little ones and their wives, and took as plunder everything that was in the house. 34:30Ya`akov said to Shim`on and Levi, "You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Kana`anim and the Perizzi. I am few in number. They will gather themselves together against me and strike me, and I will be destroyed, I and my house."34:31
They said, "Should he deal with our sister as with a prostitute?"Prostitution is the sexual enjoinment of a woman to any man not her husband. Seeing that prostitution ought not to be done, we should avoid it.
38:12
After many days, Shu`a's daughter, the wife of Yahudah, died. Yahudah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the `Adullami. 38:13It was told Tamar, saying, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." 38:14She took off her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of `Enayim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelach was grown up, and she wasn't given to him as a wife. 38:15When Yahudah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 38:16He turned to her by the way, and said, "Please come, let me come in to you:" for he didn't know that she was his daughter-in-law.She said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"
38:17
He said, "I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock."She said, "Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?"
38:18
He said, "What pledge will I give you?"She said, "Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand."
He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him. 38:19She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 38:20Yahudah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend, the `Adullami, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, but he didn't find her. 38:21Then he asked the men of her place, saying, "Where is the prostitute, that was at `Enayim by the road?"
They said, "There has been no prostitute here."
38:22
He returned to Yahudah, and said, "I haven't found her; and also the men of the place said, 'There has been no prostitute here.'" 38:23Yahudah said, "Let her keep it, lest we be put to shame. Behold, I sent this kid, and you haven't found her."38:24
It happened about three months later, that it was told Yahudah, saying, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute; and moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution."Yahudah said, "Bring her forth, and let her be burnt." 38:25When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man, whose these are, I am with child." She also said, "Please discern whose are these - the signet, and the cords, and the staff."
38:26
Yahudah acknowledged them, and said, "She is more righteous than I, because I didn't give her to Shelach, my son."He knew her again no more.
Prostitution is a woman having sex with a man not her husband.
Yahweh's Prohibition Against Idolatry
20:4
"You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 20:5you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your Mighty One, am a jealous Mighty One, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 20:6and showing lovingkindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.It should be noted that not only is Yahweh against idolatry, he executes a penalty for idolatry. And this penalty is executed upon the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Yahweh. Therefore, in love for one's subsequent generations, that they may not experience Yahweh's penalty on account of our sins, we should not partake of idolatry.
Yahweh's Prohibition Against Adultery
20:14
"You shall not commit adultery.What is adultery?
34:10
He said, "Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among which you are shall see the work of Yahweh; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. 34:11Observe that which I command you this day. Behold, I drive out before you the Amori, the Kana`ani, the Chittite, the Perizzi, the Chivvi, and the Yevusi. 34:12Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare in the midst of you: 34:13but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherim; 34:14for you shall worship no other mighty one: for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous Mighty One. 34:15Don't make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their mighty ones, and sacrifice to their mighty ones, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice; 34:16and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters play the prostitute after their mighty ones, and make your sons play the prostitute after their mighty ones. 34:17You shall make no cast idols for yourselves.34:15 shows that prostitution is also the worshipping of a god or deity other than Yahweh. The various forms of worshipping such gods are the forms of prostitution.
34:14 makes clear that we are to worship only Yahweh. For worship of any entity other than Yahweh is prostitution!
Seeing that sacrificing to any entity other than Yahweh and idolatry are forbidden by Yahweh, it is indeed clear that these are forms of prostitution.
Prostitution Is Profanity And Wickedness
19:29
Don't profane your daughter, to make her a prostitute; lest the land fall to prostitution, and the land become full of wickedness.When a land falls to prostitution, either that of women having sex with those who are not their husbands, or of its inhabitants worshipping any entity other than Yahweh, it becomes full of wickedness. It should therefore be clear that prostitution is wickedness.
Idolatry And Prostitution Incur The Death Penalty
20:1
Yahweh spoke to Moshe, saying, 20:2Moreover, you shall tell the children of Yisra'el, Whoever he be of the children of Yisra'el, or of the strangers who sojourn in Yisra'el, who gives of his seed to Molekh; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 20:3I also will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he has given of his seed to Molekh, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 20:4If the people at the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives of his seed to Molekh, and don't put him to death; 20:5then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him, to play the prostitute with Molekh, from among their people. 20:6The soul that turns to those who have familiar spirits, and to the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. 20:7Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am Yahweh your Mighty One. 20:8You shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.20:9
For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be on him. 20:10The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 20:11The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them. 20:12If a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have created confusion; their blood shall be on them. 20:13If a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them. 20:14If a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. 20:15If a man lie with an animal, he shall surely be put to death: and you shall kill the animal. 20:16If a woman approach to any animal, and lie down thereto, you shall kill the woman, and the animal: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them. 20:17If a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. 20:18If a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. 20:19You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, nor of your father's sister; for he has made naked his close relative: they shall bear their iniquity. 20:20If a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. 20:21If a man shall take his brother's wife, it is impurity: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.20:22
You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land, where I bring you to dwell therein, not vomit you out. 20:23You shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 20:24But I have said to you, You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey: I am Yahweh your Mighty One, who has separated you from the peoples. 20:25You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and you shall not make your souls abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything wherewith the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean. 20:26You shall be holy to me: for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine. 20:27A man also or a woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be on them.20:1-2 shows that anyone who gives his children to a god or deity other than Yahweh incurs the death penalty. Implying that it is a grievous sin for one to give one's children to a god or deity other than Yahweh.
Those Abiding With Yahweh's People Must Abide By Yahweh's Words To His People
20:2 notes that the word that Yahweh was speaking applied to his children, and those who are not his children who dwell in the territory of his children. In other words, if Yahweh's people be in a particular area, and there be others who are not Yahweh's people, but dwell in the same area with Yahweh's people, these other people must abide by Yahweh's word for his people, unless specifically prohibited from so abiding by such word.
Idolaters Should Be Cast Out From Yahweh's Assembly
20:3 notes that Yahweh sets his face against those who give their children to a god or deity other than Yahweh. In other words, not only are his people to eliminate from their midst such a person, he himself also takes his own actions directed against such a person, and will eliminate him from the midst of his people. It should therefore be clear that a person who gives his children to a god or deity other than Yahweh forfeits all right to continue dwelling with Yahweh's people, and must be cast out from that dwelling place with Yahweh's people.
Idolatry Defiles Yahweh's Sanctuary And Profanes His Name
The effect of one giving one's children to a god or deity other than Yahweh is to defile Yahweh's sanctuary and to profane Yahweh's name. In other words, those who are unfaithful to Yahweh both defile his sanctuary and profane his name.
It should therefore be clear that those who defile Yahweh's sanctuary and profane his name no longer have any right to dwell with Yahweh's people. Such defilers and profaners must be eliminated from the midst of Yahweh's people. For Yahweh's people must dwell in purity, cleanliness and holiness. And Yahweh's sanctuary and name must be kept pure, clean and holy.
There is a requirement upon Yahweh's people to eliminate from their midst those among them who defile Yahweh's sanctuary and profane his name by their unfaithfulness to Yahweh. Yahweh himself also acts to eliminate these unfaithful people from the midst of his people.
Unfaithfulness To Yahweh Is Prostitution
20:4-5 shows that when Yahweh's people fail to take the requisite step in eliminating from their midst those among them who are unfaithful to Yahweh, then he himself sets his face against those unfaithful people. This unfaithfulness Yahweh calls prostitution.
It should be noted that those who prostitute themselves, those who are unfaithful to Yahweh, not only bring about a penalty upon themselves, they also bring about a penalty upon their families! For Yahweh has said that he will also set his face against their families.
Yahweh Sets His Face Against The Families of Idolaters
It should also be noted that while Yahweh says that he will eliminate the unfaithful from among his people, who defile his sanctuary and profane his name, he does not say the same thing with respect to the families of these unfaithful. It therefore appears that these remnant families of these unfaithful remain alive and incur the consequences of Yahweh having set his face against them.
What does Yahweh mean when he says that he will set his face against the unfaithful person and his family? How does he set his face against these whom he sets his face against?
Yahweh's People Should Have Righteous Concern For One Another
The people of Yahweh should be concerned for one another. Their concern for one another should be based on heeding Yahweh's every word. But if they reason amongst themselves and say that they will not eliminate from among their midst those who are unfaithful to Yahweh, because they cannot stand to act against one or more amongst their midst, then they join these unfaithful prostitutes. For by refusing to heed Yahweh's word to eliminate from among their midst those who are unfaithful to Yahweh they likewise become unfaithful to Yahweh, though in a different way. For while those who prostitute themselves by serving other gods or deities so manifest their unfaithfulness to Yahweh, those who fail to heed Yahweh's word to them to eliminate such unfaithful prostitutes also show their breach of faith against Yahweh by their failure to heed this word of his. For the unfaithful prostitutes breached Yahweh's word to not serve an entity other than Yahweh. And these who fail to implement Yahweh's penalty against the unfaithful prostitutes also join them in unfaithful prostitution. For by refusing to obey Yahweh they automatically serve another, for they, by their refusal, cease to serve Yahweh. And because they have joined those in their midst in their unfaithfulness and prostitution, they are likewise unfaithful and prostitutes. And because the penalty for unfaithfulness and prostitution is the same, elimination from amongst the midst of Yahweh's people, these accomplices must also be eliminated from the midst of Yahweh's people. For in their rebellion against Yahweh's word they also profane Yahweh's name and defile his sanctuary.
Rebellion Is Unfaithfulness And Prostitution
It should therefore be clear that rebellion against Yahweh's word is equivalent to unfaithfulness and prostitution against Yahweh. As is the penalty for unfaithfulness and prostitution against Yahweh the elimination of one from the midst of Yahweh's people, so also is the penalty for rebellion against Yahweh's word. And as is the penalty for unfaithfulness and prostitution against Yahweh the setting of Yahweh's face against one's remnant family, so also is the penalty for rebellion against Yahweh's word!
It is therefore imperative that Yahweh's people, who truly have a concern for the rest of Yahweh's people, heed Yahweh's words. For by not heeding Yahweh's words, by rebelling against Yahweh's words, they bring about the setting of Yahweh's face upon the families of all who rebel against Yahweh's word. Such that failure to execute Yahweh's penalty against one unfaithful person within the midst of Yahweh's people eventually brings about adverse and grave consequences upon a greater number of those in the midst of Yahweh's people. It is therefore better to lose one person among those of Yahweh's people, than to lose several more of Yahweh's people on account of this one person, or even to lose the entirety of Yahweh's people in a given domain!
It should therefore be clear that true love for Yahweh's people is therefore based on heeding Yahweh's word. For rebelling from Yahweh's word results in adverse and grave consequences not only against one, the rebel, but also against one's family. Rebellion against Yahweh's word therefore has adverse consequences affecting more than one person.
It seems to me that Satan, being aware of these adverse consequences, seeks to trip up Yahweh's people that they may act in an unfaithful manner against Yahweh. For then not only will adverse consequences come upon them, but will also come upon their families. Also, by persuading the rest of Yahweh's people that they should not heed Yahweh's word to effect Yahweh's penalty against those who are unfaithful to Yahweh, he succeeds in bringing the rest of Yahweh's people into the rebellion and unfaithfulness of their first group. Thereby bringing about adverse consequences on the entirety of Yahweh's people and their families! Satan is a cunning adversary, and he presents his deadly destructive wiles in a seemingly innocent manner. He is truly a master of subterfuge, and deceives his opponents by these deadly and destructive techniques of his!
Witchcraft And Familiar Spiritism Is Prostitution
20:6 notes that turning to those with familiar spirits and to wizards, to consult them and do their bidding, is unfaithfulness and prostitution against Yahweh. For Yahweh only should be consulted and only his bidding should be done. Therefore anyone who is unfaithful to Yahweh brings about Yahweh setting his face against him, and also against his family. Such a one is also to be eliminated from the assembly of Yahweh's people, lest that unfaithfulness and prostitution and rebellion spread among the rest of Yahweh's people.
It should therefore be noted that inflicting Yahweh's penalty upon rebels, by eliminating them from among Yahweh's people, is for the good and preservation of Yahweh's people, those who have not rebelled or been unfaithful against Yahweh. It is therefore an act of love for Yahweh's people, to act to protect them from Satan's destructive and deadly wiles, even if the only means of so protecting them is to eliminate from their midst those who have rebelled and been unfaithful against Yahweh.
Sanctification Is The Opposite Of Rebellion And Prostitution
20:7 shows that sanctification is the opposite of rebellion, unfaithfulness and prostitution. Sanctification involves faithfully abiding by Yahweh's words. And Yahweh and his words are holy. Therefore, by abiding in Yahweh's holiness one indeed remains holy.
20:8 reiterates that sanctification is doing Yahweh's statutes, doing Yahweh's words.
Sins That Warrant Exclusion From Yahweh's Assembly
The rest of Leviticus 20 shows serious sins that warrant the elimination from the midst of Yahweh's people of those who so sin.
20:10 talks of a man committing adultery with another man's wife. Is it possible for one to commit adultery with a woman who is not a man's wife? If so, what is the nature of this adultery?
Sexual relations that are not between a man and his wife are abomination, confusion and wickedness. These are manifestations that violate principles of our relationship with Yahweh, a relationship in which faithfulness is an intrinsic part.
What Is The Meaning Of Leviticus 20:18?
What is the import of Yahweh's command in 20:18? What is the significance of making naked a woman's fountain, by sexually lying with her during her menstruation? What is the significance of a woman uncovering the fountain of her blood, by sexually lying with a man during her menstruation? Why does Yahweh require the death penalty for this particular offence against his word?
One Should Not Derive Benefit From Sin
20:20-21 shows that when humans engage in any forbidden sexual relationship, they are not to benefit from the fruit of that sexual relationship. Such that if children result from that sexual relationship, they are not to benefit from the blessing of the resulting children. Not only are those errant humans required to be eliminated from the midst of Yahweh's people, their children also are required to be so eliminated. For if a woman has conceived on account of her forbidden sexual relationship, and both her and her forbidden sexual partner are to be killed, then the child that she carries in her womb will also die with her. It should therefore be clear that Yahweh desires only righteous seed, children born from permitted sexual relationships, that between a man and his wife. Any child not born from a permitted sexual relationship is an unrighteous seed, a child of the disobedience of its parents, and is not to dwell in the midst of Yahweh's people.
The Fruits Of Sin Should Not Be Brought Before Yahweh
In other words, a principle derived from these words of Yahweh is that if some benefit accrues from an act forbidden by Yahweh, that benefit is not to be brought before Yahweh's presence or in the midst of Yahweh's people. That benefit must be removed from Yahweh's presence and from the midst of Yahweh's people. It is in this context that one understands why Yahweh prohibits the wages of prostitution being brought to his house.
In other words, we cannot justify the existence of the benefit within the midst of Yahweh's people on account that the benefit will be used for Yahweh's work or purpose. For if that was the case then humans would freely sin, and bring the fruits of their sin to Yahweh's house, arguing that they would be sinning in Yahweh's name, for they would be bringing those fruits of sin to Yahweh. But, in truth, sin is rebellion against Yahweh. It is therefore incompatible with Yahweh's holiness. Nothing unholy should be brought to Yahweh's holy presence, including the holiness residing amongst his people. The unclean must be separated from the clean, and must not pollute the clean. Therefore no fruit of sin should be brought in Yahweh's holy vicinity, whether Yahweh's presence, or amongst his holy people.
Prostitution Brings Defilement
21:9
The daughter of any Kohen, if she profane herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father: she shall be burnt with fire.Those who engage in prostitution profane themselves, whether their prostitution is worshipping any entity other than Yahweh, or a woman having sex with any entity not her husband. The penalty for prostitution is death!
Yisrael's Prostitution And Rebellion In The Wilderness
13:1
Yahweh spoke to Moshe, saying, 13:2Send you men, that they may spy out the land of Kana`an, which I give to the children of Yisra'el: of every tribe of their fathers shall you send a man, everyone a prince among them.13:3
Moshe sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of Yahweh: all of them men who were heads of the children of Yisra'el. 13:4These were their names: Of the tribe of Re'uven, Shammua the son of Zakkur. 13:5Of the tribe of Shim`on, Shafat the son of Chori. 13:6Of the tribe of Yahudah, Kalev the son of Yefunneh. 13:7Of the tribe of Yissakhar, Yig'al the son of Yosef. 13:8Of the tribe of Efrayim, Hoshea the son of Nun. 13:9Of the tribe of Binyamin, Palti the son of Rafu. 13:10Of the tribe of Zevulun, Gaddi'el the son of Sodi. 13:11Of the tribe of Yosef, namely, of the tribe of Menashshe, Gaddi the son of Susi. 13:12Of the tribe of Dan, `Ammi'el the son of Gemalli. 13:13Of the tribe of Asher, Setur the son of Mikha'el. 13:14Of the tribe of Naftali, Nachbi the son of Vofsi. 13:15Of the tribe of Gad, Ge'u'el the son of Makhi. 13:16These are the names of the men who Moshe sent to spy out the land. Moshe called Hoshea the son of Nun Yah'shuah.13:17
Moshe sent them to spy out the land of Kana`an, and said to them, Get you up this way by the South, and go up into the hill-country: 13:18and see the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many; 13:19and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; 13:20and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be you of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.13:21
So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Tzin to Rechov, to the entrance of Chamat. 13:22They went up by the South, and came to Chevron; and Achiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of `Anak, were there. (Now Chevron was built seven years before Tzo`an in Mitzrayim.) 13:23They came to the valley of Eshkol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two; they brought also of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 13:24That place was called the valley of Eshkol, because of the cluster which the children of Yisra'el cut down from there. 13:25They returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days.13:26
They went and came to Moshe, and to Aharon, and to all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word to them, and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 13:27They told him, and said, We came to the land where you sent us; and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 13:28However the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of `Anak there. 13:29`Amalek dwells in the land of the South: and the Chittite, and the Yevusi, and the Amori, dwell in the hill-country; and the Kana`ani dwells by the sea, and along by the side of the Yarden.13:30
Kalev stilled the people before Moshe, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 13:31But the men who went up with him said, We aren't able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 13:32They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Yisra'el, saying, The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eats up the inhabitants of it; and all the people who we saw in it are men of great stature. 13:33There we saw the Nefilim, the sons of `Anak, who come of the Nefilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.14:1
All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 14:2All the children of Yisra'el murmured against Moshe and against Aharon: and the whole congregation said to them, Would that we had died in the land of Mitzrayim! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 14:3Why does Yahweh bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: wouldn't it be better for us to return into Mitzrayim? 14:4They said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Mitzrayim.14:5
Then Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Yisra'el. 14:6Yah'shuah the son of Nun and Kalev the son of Yefunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes: 14:7and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el, saying, The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land. 14:8If Yahweh delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey. 14:9Only don't rebel against Yahweh, neither fear you the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us: don't fear them.14:10
But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. The glory of Yahweh appeared in the tent of meeting to all the children of Yisra'el. 14:11Yahweh said to Moshe, How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them? 14:12I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.14:13
Moshe said to Yahweh, Then the Mitzrim will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them; 14:14and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you Yahweh are in the midst of this people; for you Yahweh are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them, and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. 14:15Now if you shall kill this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, 14:16Because Yahweh was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness. 14:17Now please let the power of the Sovereign be great, according as you have spoken, saying, 14:18Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation. 14:19Pardon, Please, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your lovingkindness, and according as you have forgiven this people, from Mitzrayim even until now.14:20
Yahweh said, I have pardoned according to your word: 14:21but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh; 14:22because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Mitzrayim and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice; 14:23surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who despised me see it: 14:24but my servant Kalev, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land into which he went; and his seed shall possess it. 14:25Now the `Amaleki and the Kana`ani dwell in the valley: tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Sea of Suf.14:26
Yahweh spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying, 14:27How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Yisra'el, which they murmur against me. 14:28Tell them, As I live, says Yahweh, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you: 14:29your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all who were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me, 14:30surely you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, save Kalev the son of Yefunneh, and Yah'shuah the son of Nun. 14:31But your little ones, that you said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. 14:32But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 14:33Your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your prostitution, until your dead bodies be consumed in the wilderness. 14:34After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my alienation. 14:35I, Yahweh, have spoken, surely this will I do to all this evil congregation, who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.14:36
The men, whom Moshe sent to spy out the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up an evil report against the land, 14:37even those men who did bring up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before Yahweh. 14:38But Yah'shuah the son of Nun, and Kalev the son of Yefunneh, remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land.14:39
Moshe told these words to all the children of Yisra'el: and the people mourned greatly. 14:40They rose up early in the morning, and got them up to the top of the mountain, saying, Behold, we are here, and will go up to the place which Yahweh has promised: for we have sinned.14:41
Moshe said, Why now do you disobey the commandment of Yahweh, seeing it shall not prosper? 14:42Don't go up, for Yahweh isn't among you; that you not be struck down before your enemies. 14:43For there the `Amaleki and the Kana`ani are before you, and you shall fall by the sword: because you are turned back from following Yahweh, therefore Yahweh will not be with you.14:44
But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and Moshe, didn't depart out of the camp. 14:45Then the `Amaleki came down, and the Kana`ani who lived in that mountain, and struck them and beat them down, even to Chormah.The Children Of Prostitutes Bear Their Parents' Punishment
14:33 shows that the Yisraelites were to bear punishment on account of their prostitution. And those to bear this punishment were the children of those who partook of prostitution! In other words, just as Yahweh said in Leviticus 20 that the children of prostitutes bear the iniquity of prostitutes, so do we find here the children of prostitutes indeed bearing the iniquity of their parents! Yahweh's words surely stand!
What was the prostitution of the Yisraelites?
13:1 shows that Yahweh required chosen men of the children of Yisrael to see or spy out the land that he was giving them prior to their possessing it.
13:26-29 is an account of the spies to the congregation of Yisrael after their return from their mission.
13:30 shows that the people were alarmed by the report they received from the spies, and thought not to go up to possess the land. That is why Kalev stood up to still the people and attempt to reassure them that they were indeed able to overcome the challenges before them and possess the land.
13:31-33 shows that other spies continued to demoralise the people by disputing Kalev's words.
14:1-4 shows that the people disbelieved Yahweh and rebelled against his word, choosing to return from where Yahweh had delivered them, contrary to Yahweh's word. This was their prostitution - their rebellion against Yahweh's word and choosing to do their own word.
14:9 clearly shows that both Yah'shuah the son of Nun and Kalev the son of Yefunneh understood that the people were rebelling against Yahweh.
Disbelieving Yahweh Is Despising Yahweh
14:11 clearly shows Yahweh saying that the people of Yisrael both despised him and disbelieved him. It should therefore be clear that when we do not believe Yahweh's words we are, in truth, despising him!
14:12 shows the penalty Yahweh thought to inflict upon these unbelieving Yisraelites. He thought to remove them from their inheritance and replace them with another. In other words, where a person commits prostitution, that person ought to be removed from his or her place, and replaced with another. And hopefully, the other who takes the place of the one, should not have a heart to follow after prostitution, thereby repeating the error of the one.
14:20-24 shows that Yahweh spoke his penalty on the people who disbelieved him and despised him, and did not listen to his voice. They were not to possess the inheritance promised to their fathers. It should therefore be clear that those who play the prostitute must be removed from their place, and others put in that place in their stead. It should also be clear that not listening to the voice that one should listen to is prostitution. For this is rebellion!
14:26-35 gives details of Yahweh's penalty against the rebels.
14:27 shows that there is indeed a time limit to bearing with the evil deeds of evil people and their murmurings. In other words, while one can bear with some murmurings while giving the murmurer time to repent of his or her murmurings, if the murmurer persists in his or her evil then remedial action must indeed be taken. And that remedial action entails effecting a righteous penalty or judgement against the evil murmurer!
Following One's Heart Is Prostitution
15:37
Yahweh spoke to Moshe, saying, 15:38Speak to the children of Yisra'el, and bid those who they make them tzitziyot in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the tzitzit of each border a cord of blue: 15:39and it shall be to you for a tzitzit, that you may look on it, and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, and do them; and that you not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute; 15:40that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your Mighty One. 15:41I am Yahweh your Mighty One, who brought you out of the land of Mitzrayim, to be your Mighty One: I am Yahweh your Mighty One.15:39 shows that when one follows one's own heart and one's own eyes rather than the commandments of Yahweh one is indeed playing the prostitute. In other words, whenever one does what one ought not to, that one is playing the prostitute.
It therefore appears that to avoid playing the prostitute one must continually walk in harmony with Yahweh's word. For it is only when one walks in harmony with Yahweh that one does not play the prostitute.
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