Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
He had no more such happy nights as he had at Beth-el, no more such visions of the Almighty. That was intended for a feast. Then Jacob lifted up his feet; so the margin reads it.
"What Feast"? The Feast of Shavuot!
People of the east - The inhabitants of Mesopotamia and the whole country beyond the Euphrates are called קדם kedem, or easterns, in the sacred writings. The children of the East are the descendants of Abraham thru Keturah.
Gen 25:1 And Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.
Gen 25:5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
Gen 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts; and he sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
While the chief part of the inheritance went to Isaac; the other sons (Ishmael included) migrated to “the East country,” that is, Arabia.
NOTE* Why did it call Keturah a concubine?
1Ch 1:32 And the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba, and Dedan.
She was the mother of (6) six sons representing Arab tribes South and East of Palestine (Gen_25:1-6), so that through the offspring of Keturah Abraham became “the father of many nations.
Gen 29:2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. - For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great.
The flocks of sheep belonged to the other shepherds of Haran. They worked communually to water their flocks. The rock was to keep sand and debris out of the water.
Gen 29:3 And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well's mouth in its place.
Gen 29:7 And he said: 'Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.'
Gen 29:8 And they said: 'We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.'
Note* Jacob was a shepherd of many years and knew a better way to handle the flocks.
Gen 29:9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them.
From Targum of Okelos:
While they were speaking with him, Rahel came with her father's sheep; for she was a shepherdess at that time, because there had been a plague from the Lord among the sheep of Laban, and but few of them were left, and he had dismissed his shepherds, and had put the remaining (flock) before Rahel his daughter. And it was when Jakob saw Rahel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother that Jakob went nigh, and rolled the stone with one of his arms from the mouth of the Well; and the well uprose, and the waters ascended to the top of it; and he watered the sheep of Laban his mothor's brother; and it uprose for twenty years.
Gen 29:10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
Note* Same as Exodus 2:15
Exo 2:15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
Exo 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
Exo 2:17 And the shepherds came and drove them (the sheep) away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
Exo 2:18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said: 'How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?'
Exo 2:19 And they said: 'An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.'
Note* The shephards were driving the sheep away.
Jer 23:1 Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith AHEYEH.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith AHEYEH, the Sovereign of Yeshurun, against the shepherds that feed My people: Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not taken care of them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith AHEYEH.
The priest of Midian — or, “prince of Midian.” As the officers were usually conjoined, he was the ruler also of the people called Cushites or Ethiopians. Some historians suggest that the worship of Yahweh originated in pre-Israelite peoples of the Levant region, specifically in Midian. The Hebrew Bible mentions that Moshe first encountered Elohim as a burning bush in Midian.
Gen 29:13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
Gen 29:14 And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month.
Note* Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth day he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon. A similar rule obtained in Laban's establishment, and the wages for which his nephew engaged to continue in his employment was the hand of Rachel.
Gen 29:15 And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?'
Note* Apparently Jacob was working with Laban's flocks and Jacobs way of dealing with the flock proved to be better than the previous shepherds. The same as verse 7 above, where Jacob's way of watering the flock proved to be acceptable.
Pro 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;
Jacob was a man that "Dwelt in Tents" - What does this mean?
Gen 25:27 And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.
It is understood that the Hebraic meaning of "Dwelling in Tents" is that of Torah Learning. Consider Abel and Cain: Abel was a Keeper of Sheep" - meaning a Shepherd of AHEYEH's flock. Cain was a "Tiller of the Ground" - meaning a worshipper of the earth (idols). Jacob's dwelling in tents was indicative of learning from the Torah.
In addition, why is it that Jacob did not have anything to give to Laban for Laban's daughter? We see that when Eliezar went to secure a bride for Isaac, he took with him many gifts to give to Bethuel. (Gen. 24:22)
From the Talmud
When Jacob had departed from his father's house, Esau called to him his son Eliphas, and said to him in secrecy, "Go follow after Jacob with thy bow in thy hand, lie in wait for him, slay him upon the mountains, take for thy own what treasure he has with him, and then return to me."
Eliphas was then but thirteen years of age, yet he was remarkably swift of foot and understood well the handling of the bow. He obeyed his father, and taking some men with him, followed after Jacob and overtook him on the borders of Canaan.
When Jacob saw Eliphas coming after him he halted and awaited his approach, thinking that his nephew carried some message from home. When Eliphas came near he drew his sword. Jacob inquired the reason of his pursuit, and the lad answered, "Thus and thus has my father commanded me, and I dare not disobey his orders."
When Jacob learned Esau's intention, and saw that the lad seemed determined to do as he had been bidden, he turned to him and the men with him, and said:
"Take all that I have, all that my father and my mother gave into my hands, but spare my life. Your kindness will be accounted to you as righteousness."
The Eternal gave Jacob favour in their eyes, and they allowed him to proceed unharmed on his journey. His gold and silver, however, everything of value that he had taken with him from his father's house, Eliphas and his comrades seized and carried to Esau. Esau was strongly displeased because they had listened to Jacob's pleadings, and the treasure which they had seized he added to his own store.
From the Talmud
When Jacob arrived in Charan he told his uncle Laban how Eliphas, the son of Esau, had despoiled him, and bursting into tears, proclaimed himself a beggar.
"Then," said Laban, "surely thou art my bone and my flesh. I will take care of thee even though thou art penniless."
Gen 29:15 And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?'
Gen 29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.'
Gen 29:19 And Laban said: 'It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.'
Gen 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
The serving of seven years mean what?
The Wedding Feast!
Gen 29:22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
Gen 29:23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
Gen 29:24 And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
Note* Jacob was the deceiver and now he becomes the deceived! He came unto the well and changed their way of doing things and now he has become subject to the customs of the people. Laban has now recieved (7) seven years of prosperity because AHEYEH is with Jacob and he doesn't want that benifit to end, buy allowing Jacob to take his wife and leave.
Gen 29:25 And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'
Gen 29:26 And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.
The same question was asked to Abraham and Isaac when they pretended their wives was the sister. Jacob's mother caused him to beguile his father and receive the favoring of his father. Now, Leah's father has caused her to receive the favor of a husband.
Gen 29:27 Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.'
Gen 29:28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
Gen 29:29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
Polygamy - Not the Perfect will of AHEYEH!
Genesis 30
NOTE* From Yasher 30:15
15 And in the second year of Jacob's dwelling in Haran, that is in the seventy ninth year of the life of Jacob, in that year died Eber the son of Shem, he was four hundred and sixty-four years old at his death.
(Gen 29:31) And the ETERNAL saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
(Gen 29:32) And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said: 'Because the ETERNAL hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.'
(Gen 29:33) And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Because the ETERNAL hath heard that I am hated, He hath therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon.
(Gen 29:34) And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore was his name called Levi.
(Gen 29:35) And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said: 'This time will I praise the ETERNAL.' Therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.
Leah | Bilhah | Zilpah | Rachel |
Reuben 9th month 14day | Dan 6th month 9th day | Gad 8th month 12th day | Yoseph 4th month 1st day |
Simeon 10th month 21st day | Napthali 7th month 5th day | Asher 11th month 2nd day | Benjamin 8th month 11th day |
Levi 1st month 1st day | |||
Judah 3rd month 15th day | |||
Issachar 5th month 4th day | |||
Zebulon 7th month 7th day | |||
Dinah 7th month 7th day |
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Shavuot - Receiving the Covenant
Jub 6:11-12
11. On this account He spake to thee that thou shouldst make a covenant with the children of Israel in this month upon the mountain with an oath, because of all the words of the covenant, which the Sovereign made with them for ever. 12. And this testimony is written concerning you that you should observe it continually,
Jub 6:17
17. For this reason it is ordained and written on the heavenly tables, that they should celebrate the feast of weeks in this month once a year, to renew the covenant every year. 18. And this whole festival was celebrated in heaven from the day of creation till the days of Noah-twenty-six jubilees and five weeks of years: and Noah and his sons observed it for seven jubilees and one week of years, till the day of Noah's death, and from the day of Noah's death his sons did away with (it) until the days of Abraham, and they ate blood. 2 19. But Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and his children observed it up to thy days, and in thy days the children of Israel forgot it until ye celebrated it anew on this mountain. 20. And do thou command the children of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations for a commandment unto them: one day 3 in the year in this month they shall celebrate the festival.
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Shabbat Services 7/23/11
What is Righteousness?
Shabbat service 7/23/11
Righteousness - What does it mean?
Mat 5:6 "How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness! for they will be filled.
Mat 5:10 "How blessed are those who are persecuted because they pursue righteousness! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Mat 6:33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
G1343 Righteousness δικαιοσύνη
dikaiosunē; from G1342; righteousness, justice: - right (1), righteousness (90).
G1342 δίκαιος
dikaios; from G1349; correct, righteous, by impl. innocent: - innocent (1), just (6), justice (1), right (7), righteous (48), righteous man (8), righteous man's (1), righteous men (1), righteous one (4), righteous person (1), righteous persons (1).
Let us realize that the "New Testament" was not yet written at the time that the Messiah and his disciples walked; therefore, the Law/Torah was all that they had to live by.
Mat 5:20 'For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven.
(Mat 21:28) "But give me your opinion: a man had two sons. He went to the first and said, `Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
(Mat 21:29) He answered, `I don't want to'; but later he changed his mind and went.
(Mat 21:30) The father went to his other son and said the same thing. This one answered, `I will, sir'; but he didn't go.
(Mat 21:31) Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they replied. "That's right!" Yashiyeh said to them. "I tell you that the tax-collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of the ETERNAL ahead of you!
(Mat 21:32) For Yochanan came to you showing the path to righteousness, and you wouldn't trust him. The tax-collectors and prostitutes trusted him; but you, even after you saw this, didn't change your minds later and trust him.
What is the path to Righteousness? What path did Yochanan/John show?
Repent, for the kingdom of The ETERNAL is at hand!
Repent from What? SIN! What is SIN? Transgression of the Law/Torah!
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah - indeed, sin is violation of Torah.
1Jn 3:7 Children, don't let anyone deceive you - it is the person that keeps on doing what is right who is righteous, just as the ETERNAL is righteous.
In the Hebrew - Righteousness is Tsedakah meaning:
H6666 Righteousness צדקה
tsedaqah (842a); from the same as H6664; righteousness: - honesty (1), justice (1), merits (1), right (2), righteous (1), righteous acts (3), righteous deeds (7), righteously (1), righteousness (136), rights (1), vindication (3).
H6663 Righteous צדק tsadeq or צדק
tsadoq (842c); denom. vb. from H6664; to be just or righteous: - acquit (1), acquitted (1), declare you right (1), do justice (1), give him justice (1), just (2), justified (5), justifies (1), justify (5), justifying (2), lead the to righteousness (1), made your appear righteous (2), properly restored (1), proved right (1), proved...righteous (1), right (4), righteous (9), vindicated (1), vindicates (1).
We see the meaning of Righteousness or to be righteous, but what does it really mean and how do we obtain it?
(Psa 15:1) A psalm of David: The ETERNAL, who can rest in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?
(Psa 15:2) Those who live a blameless life, who behave uprightly, who speak truth from their hearts
(Psa 15:3) and keep their tongues from slander; who never do harm to others or seek to discredit neighbors;
(Psa 15:4) who look with scorn on the vile, but honor those who fear The ETERNAL; who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
(Psa 15:5) who refuse usury when they lend money and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent. Those who do these things never will be moved.
Psa 11:7 For the ETERNAL is righteous, He loveth righteousness; the upright shall behold His face.
The UPRIGHT - Hebrew word is Yashar meaning:
H3477 Upright ישׁר yâshâr yaw-shawr'
From H3474; straight (literally or figuratively): - convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet (-est), + pleased well right (-eous), straight, (most) upright (-ly, -ness).
There is a book of Yasher that follows Genesis in outlining the Torah. It is the Book of the Upright.
To be Upright is to be Righteous and to follow the Instructions given in the Torah.
Psa 119:142 Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and your law(Torah) is truth.
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Isa 42:21 The ETERNAL was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.
The scriptures often translate the word Torah as "Law". In fact the word actually means:
H8451 Torah תּורה
torah (435d); from H3384; direction, instruction, law: - custom (1), instruction (10), instructions (1), Law (1), law (188), laws (10), ruling (1), teaching (7), teachings (1).
H8451 Torah תּרה תּורה tôrâh tôrâh to-raw', to-raw'
From H3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch: - law.
(Pro 13:5) A righteous man hateth lying; but a wicked man behaveth vilely and shamefully.
(Pro 13:6) Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Isa 51:7 Hearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law; fear ye not the taunt of men, neither be ye dismayed at their revilings.
Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Happy are they that are upright in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:18 Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.
The ETERNAL will judge the earth with Righteousness and Truth!
(Psa 96:11) Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
(Psa 96:12) let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
(Psa 96:13) before the ETERNAL, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
We have been taught that Grace and Faith replaced the Torah/Law, however, these scriptures tell us that in order to be found Righteous in the sight of the ETERNAL, we must follow His Truth/Law/ Torah!
(Eze 18:1) The word of the ETERNAL came to me:
(Eze 18:2) "What does it mean, that you keep quoting this proverb in the land of Isra'el 'When parents eat sour grapes, their children's teeth are set on edge'?
(Eze 18:3) "As I live," says the Sovereign ETERNAL, "I swear that you will never again quote this proverb in Isra'el.
(Eze 18:4) Look, all lives belong to me - both the parent's life and the child's life are equally mine - so it is the person who sins, himself, who must die.
(Eze 18:5) "Consider someone who is righteous, who does what is lawful and right.
(Eze 18:6) He doesn't eat on the mountains or raise his eyes toward the idols of the house of Isra'el; he doesn't defile his neighbor's wife or touch a woman during her time of menstrual impurity;
(Eze 18:7) he doesn't wrong anyone; he returns any pledged property a debtor has given as collateral for a loan; he takes nothing by robbery, but gives his food to the hungry and clothing to those who need it;
(Eze 18:8) he neither demands nor accepts interest on a loan; he refrains from what is evil; and he judges honestly between one person and another.
(Eze 18:9) In short, he lives according to my laws and observes my rulings, so as to act faithfully. Such a person is righteous, and he will certainly live," says the Sovereign ETERNAL.
(Eze 18:19) "You ask, 'Why doesn't the son bear his father's guilt?' When the son has done what is lawful and right, has kept all my laws and obeyed them, he will certainly live.
(Eze 18:20) The person who sins is the one that will die - a son is not to bear his father's guilt with him, nor is the father to bear his son's guilt with him; but the righteousness of the righteous will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked will be his own.
(Eze 18:21) "However, if the wicked person repents of all the sins he committed, keeps my laws and does what is lawful and right; then he will certainly live, he will not die.
(Eze 18:22) None of the transgressions he has committed will be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done, he will live.
(Eze 18:23) Do I take any pleasure at all in having the wicked person die?" asks the Sovereign ETERNAL. "Wouldn't I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the ETERNAL, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Tsadek and Yashar are hebrew words that are often parallel in the scriptures because in the hebrew mindset they are related words.
Tsadek/Tsadekah:
Tsade = righteous / hook
Dalet = Door
Qaf = Holiness /the back of the head
Meaning: One who is upright and walks a straight path; hooked on the path/door following the back of the head of the righteous ones.
Straight ab: Righteous: One who is upright or righteous is one who walks a straight path. [from: dy - The straightness of the side]
Yashar -
Yud = closed hand, work(s), a deed done
Shin = teeth, to consume, destroy
Resh = First / head
Meaning: One who is straight, strongly holding up truth; destroy the first works.
A tight rope is straight. A righteous one is one who is straight and firmly holds up truth just as the cord is straight and firmly holds the wall of the tent upright.
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