PARASHAH SHOTFTIM
(Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) Week 48
Shof’tim: Judges
“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgement.”
Mishpat: Justice
Tzedakah: Righteousness
Cohanim: Priests
Cohen Gadol: High Priest
Bet Din: House of Judgement
Shotrim: Police of Ancient Israel, a commanding presence was at the City Gates
Sanhedrin: The Supreme Court of justice for Ancient Israel (Dates back to the 70 Elders who shared in the Covenant Meal at Mt. Sinai with Moses)
The Sanhedrin ruled according to TORAH case law…TORAH was THE PLUMB LINE!
Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof: A phrase of reminder to Israel to establish a righteous society, SET APART…HOLY
Avodah Zarah: Idol Worship meaning Evil Work: Root Word ~ ZARA, to sow evil. Idolatry was a Capital Offense
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you from your brothers, it is to him you shall listen.” Deut. 8:15
This is the only time in Torah that Moses refers to himself as a prophet of the Lord.
Sefer Torah: The Torah Scroll
Regalim: The THREE mandatory Pilgrimages: Passover, Pentecost, Sukkot!
Soferim: Scribes; The activity of the scribes began with the cessation of the Prophets. In fact, after the Israelites came back from Babylon and turned their hearts to God, there was a greater need of men to instruct the people and assist them in the clear understanding of: God’s instruction; Way to Go; or Torah!
The “Men of the Great Synagogue“: The Soferim…’Simeon the Just’ was the last member.
The organization of scribes lasted from the time of Ezra until the conquest of Palestine by Alexander the Great, a period of about 200 years. The term Soferim was used, particularly in the post-Maccabean time, to designate Teachers in general.
Moses and Aaron are referred as “The Soferim of Israel”. As a general rule the term refers to the body of teachers; the first of whom was Ezra and the last ‘Simeon the Just’. It seems that after Simeon the teachers were Elders or Zeḳenim and later The Wise Ones or Hakamim. In later times Soferim became synonymous with teachers of little children.
The 30 Ways! (Read them all on page 276 in John Parsons’ Commentary!)
How was Yeshua a prophet like Moses? He was a Jew, a Leader, a Prophet, a Lawgiver, a Savior, a Teacher, a Priest, an Anointed One and a Mediator between man and God. He spoke the words of God, like Moses, He offered to die for the sins of the people.
Bal Tashchit: Destruction of something of value…Moses instructs Israel that even in battle, they must not cut down a fruit tree or destroy the land that bears fruit.
Eglah Arufah: The breaking of the Calf’s neck was a sacrificial procedure when a person is found dead with no known reason. The responsibility to recognize this death fell on the city closest to the corpse. In an atonement ceremony, the city leaders were to kill a young heifer, wash their hands in the presence of the priest, and pray for forgiveness…as atonement…the life for a life principal was taught!
Yeshua Ha Massiache is the fulfillment of the Life-for- Life Principal of Adonai!
The PHYSICAL life of Jesus was exchanged for ETERNAL life for all who will come!
HAFTARAH (Old Covenant) READING: Is 51:12-52:12
The Haftarah Shof’tim is the FOURTH Haftarot of Consolation offering encouragement to Israel.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who establishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation and who says to Zion, “Your God Reigns”!
At the end of the Tribulation period the entire world will see (Re’eh) the Salvation of Israel by Yeshua Ha Massiache!
Then, how beautiful the FEET of those who make pilgrimage to God’s Holy Mountain for the Regalim!
As Messianic Believers we rejoice in the Spring Feasts of the Lord:
Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Feast of First Fruits, and the Feast of Weeks…in which the life of Yeshua the Messiah perfectly fulfilled, Yeshua Ben Joseph!
As Messianic Believers we anticipate the Fall Feasts of the Lord:
The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, The Feast of Tabernacles… to be fulfilled by Yeshua the Messiah, Yeshua Ben David!
BRIT CHADASHAH (New Covenant) READING: John 1:19-27, Acts 3:22-23
Are you Elijah? (John 1:21) This passage refers back to Malachi 4:5 prophecy that Elijah would appear as a messenger, heralding the appearance of the Messiah! We still set the ‘cup of wine’ for Elijah at our Passover Seder Tables!
Are you the Prophet? (John 1:21) This verse refers BACK to Moses’ prophecy in Deuteronomy this week: “God will send a prophet like me!”
Referring to the coming of the Messiah!
The verses in Acts also refer BACK to Moses’ prophetic words: “God would send a Prophet like me!”
We call these verses ‘parallel’ verses which uphold the Scriptures and bind God’s word together in a beautiful tapestry of TRUTH. It is by reading and studying the fullness of the Words of the LORD that our faith is nourished, and Chokmah or Wisdom grows from a deeper understanding of God’s Word.
Shabbat Shalom,
Sydney