PARASHAH VAYECHI STUDY NOTES
(Genesis 47:28-50:26) VAYECHI: Week 12 “He lived…”
VAYECHI: He lived (And Jacob lived, in the land of Egypt for 17 years)
CAVE OF MACHPELA: The burial cave, with field, Abraham purchased from Efron the Hittite, thought by rabbinical sages to be the burial site of Adam and Eve.
JACOB LIVED for 147 years; the last 17 were lived in Egypt.
ANCIENT ADOPTION RITE: Jacob blessed Joseph’s 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim as his own for the purpose of portioning out the land to his sons. Joseph received the double portion with this blessing from his father. His two sons are adopted by their Grandfather as full sons for the purposes of inheritance.
THE CROSS HANDED BLESSING: Jacob crosses his hands over each other and touches Ephraim the younger of the 2 sons of Joseph with his right hand, which elevates Ephraim over Manasseh in this blessing of the firstborn. The right hand would touch the head of the first born.
Ephraim will be greater than Manasseh: This was a prophecy by Jacob, to Joseph and his sons.
Joseph was the chosen, the BECHOR, or first born of Jacob, giving him the territory of Shechem, near Hebron.
MESSIANIC PROPHECY IN JUDAISM: Until Shiloh comes, the Kingdom of Adonai belongs to the coming Messiah, of the tribe of Judah.
This is the HOPE for Israel, in the Alcharit Hayamim or end of days.
SHEVATIM: Tribes
BIRCHAT: Blessing
SHEVET: Scepter
SHILOH: Messiah “Until Shiloh comes…” meaning until the Messiah comes!
MAZEL TOV: Good fortune or Good luck
MISPED: A lamentation
BECHOR: The First Born
Jacob recites prophetic words over each of his 12 sons, alluding to “the end of days” or Alcharit Hayamim.
The consequences of sin have long lasting affects! The sinful weakness of each of the sons spills over into their blessings and inheritances, which advances into the future until the very end of days!
Hazak Hazak V’nit’chazek’: Be strong, be strong and let us be strengthened! (The traditional prayer recited at the finishing of each Book of Torah)
HAFTARAH (Old Covenant) READING: 1 Kings 2:1-12 (written by the Prophet Jeremiah)
This is the deathbed scene of King David, who at age 70 is dying, and instructs his son Solomon, who would succeed him as King, to be strong in the faith and keep the Torah of the Lord! Further instructions were given to execute Joab, who betrayed David by supporting Adonijah, who attempted to overtake David’s throne, supplanting the throne from David’s intended successor, Solomon.
A great parallel verse to this week’s Parashah supports the historical account of the death of a king or leader, and the traditional way in which the next leader would be chosen and appointed before the death of the elder leader. See the likeness of the sons of Jacob who sinned against him, like you see the nephew and the son of David. Sin leaves a stain!
This story ends with the death of King David and his son Solomon’s ascension to the throne.
BRIT CHADASHAH (New Covenant) READING: 1 Peter 1:3-9, Hebrews 11:21-22
This beautiful passage from 1 Peter about the “refiner’s fire” encourages us today, that even in suffering, we can have hope in the resurrection power of the Messiah, who holds the ultimate plan for our eternal lives, waiting to unfold for each of us!
“I the Lord, do not change, so you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob!”
This is the very promise of Adonai concerning the revival of Israel and of His Millennial reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, from His Temple, not made by human hands.
THE SHEVET or THE SCEPTER will not depart from Judah until Shiloh Comes! This is a prophetic truth. The tribe of Judah will continue to be the leading Tribe, in the world to come.
The Lion of Judah will rule and reign with justice!
Jesus the Messiah is from the tribe of Judah.
The royal scepter will not depart from Judah until Messiah returns bringing judgement…then justice upon the whole earth during His Millennial reign.
MAZEL TOV!