Parasha Sh’mot

Sh’mot (Exodus) 1:1 – 6:1
Haftarah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1 – 2:3
Brit Chadasha: Mt. 22:23 – 33, 41 – 46; Mk. 12:18 – 27, 35 – 37; Lk. 20:27 – 44;
Acts 3:12 – 15, 5:27 – 32, 7:17 – 36, 24:14 – 16 and Heb. 11:23 – 26

The Alef Tav

In the Revelation of Yeshua HaMashiach to John we find 4 references to the Alef Tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew Alef Bet; Rev. 1:8, 1:11, 21:6 and 22:13.

The translation reads “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.”

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet.
Messiah Yeshua is a Hebrew man and not a Greek man therefore He would have said “I am the Alef and the Tav, the beginning and the ending.
He is the entire Hebrew Alef Bet from A to Z so to speak therefore He is ALL the Hebrew letters, ALL the Hebrew words. Jn. 1:1 confirms this understanding. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim.”
In its ancient form the Alef Tav would read “strength of the covenant.”
Prov. 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?
Is. 11:16 There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria, as it was for Israel in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.

שְׁמֹות meaning “names”

Parasha Highlights:

A new Pharaoh sits the throne of Egypt
Pharaoh orders infanticide of the Hebrew male infants
The birth of Moshe and his encounter at the burning bush
The name of Yehovah is revealed
Moshe is called to lead the Israelites out of bondage
The second book of Torah, Sh’mot, commonly referred to as Exodus, places the emphasis of this book on the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage, which is the first redemption.
However, as we have seen, Sh’mot, means names. The Sidra begins with naming the 12 tribes which will be represented in the 1^st redemption and by extension will also be represented in the 2^nd redemption.
Sh’mot 1:1 – 5
Now these are the names (שְׁמֹות ) of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; (the first four sons are listed in their correct birth order) Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin (it is important to note that Benjamin who is actually 12^th in birth order is listed as the 7^th son); Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was already in Egypt). **The order of birth is presented as a chiastic structure.
Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Benjamin (7th)
Dan
Naphtali
Gad
Asher
Joseph, the 11^th son and firstborn of Rachel, the bride of promise was already in Egypt
Since none of Scripture is arbitrary, we must ask ourselves why Benjamin is listed 7^th in order. The number 7 immediately draws our attention to the 7^th millennia, the 7^th festival of Sukkot and the final ingathering. If our attention is being drawn to Benjamin then we are also being drawn to his mother Rachel.
Benjamin being the 12^th son of Jacob; is the 2^nd son of Rachel, the “bride” of promise; the only son to be born in the land and the only son who didn’t bow to Esau. Benjamin is the only son with “two” names; son of my sorrow and son of my right hand. It’s important to note the “two” thousand years between the 1^st and 2^nd advents.
Rachel, the bride of promise, was the only matriarch to be buried along side the road to Bethlehem and not in the cave at Machpelah. What does this mean to us? The name Rachel means “ewe,” a female sheep. **Can Rachel’s burial place tell us to look for something else which will occur on the road or highway to Bethlehem?
Recall the Alef Tav Ram at the Akeidah (the binding of Isaac). The Alef Tav Ram was a foreshadow of Yeshua as our atoning sacrifice. Yeshua is the “bridegroom” to the Alef Tav Rachel, the “bride.”
Rachel, the bride of promise, was the only matriarch to be buried along side the road to Bethlehem and not in the cave at Machpelah. What does this mean to us? The name Rachel means “ewe,” a female sheep. **Can Rachel’s burial place tell us to look for something else which will occur on the road or highway to Bethlehem?
Recall the Alef Tav Ram at the Akeidah (the binding of Isaac). The Alef Tav Ram was a foreshadow of Yeshua as our atoning sacrifice. Yeshua is the “bridegroom” to the Alef Tav Rachel, the “bride.”
Speaking of Rachel: Jer. 31:15 This is what Yehovah says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing consolation, because they are no more.”
Mt. 2:18 A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Ramah means “high place” used as the “high place” of the watch tower. The location tells us that it is the “high place” of the tower of the flock; where the Passover lambs are kept.
“AND RACHEL DIED, AND WAS BURIED IN THE WAY TO EPHRATH (35:19). What was Jacob’s reason for burying Rachel in the way to Ephrath? Jacob foresaw that the exiles would pass on from there, therefore he buried her there so that she might pray for mercy for them. Thus it is written, ‘A voice is heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children…” (Genesis Rabbah 82:10, Soncino Press Edition)
The descendants of Rachel would be “no more” twice. Once in our sidra and once recorded in the gospel of Matthew.
Scripture tells us that Rachel wept because of Pharaohs order to kill the infants and subsequent order of King Herod to likewise murder the infants of Yeshuas time. It’s interesting that in both cases the order for infanticide was given prior to the 1^st redemption and the onset of the 2^nd redemption.
Is it possible her tears are not only of sorrow for those lost but also of joy? Is it possible that somehow she will see the return of exiles?
This certainly connects us to her burial place and answers the question of why Jacob didn’t bury her in the cave at Machpelah.
Rachel is buried by the highway to Bethlehem. The Hebrew word for highway is מְסִלָּה . In its ancient form would read “the mighty support of the teacher will be revealed.”
מְסִלָּה is defined as a highway, raised way, public road or ladder steps. Recall the word sulam, ladder (as in Jacobs ladder) is associated numerically to Yeshua. Mesla derives from the root סָלַל which means to lift up, to elevate, to exalt, to gather or cast up into a heap. The mystery is how the regathering of Covenant Israel will take place.
Is there a connection to the final ingathering and those that are “caught up?”
1 Thes.4:13 – 17 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Yeshua for this we say to you by the word of Yehovah, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of Yeshua will by no means precede those who are asleep. For Yeshua Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet Yeshua in the air. And thus we shall always be with Yeshua. Therefore comfort one another with these words. **Where is Yeshua going to rule and reign?
In an effort to reconcile the foregoing Scriptures, which we must do, consider:
The Greek word used for “caught up” is harpazō. There are those of other faiths that view this scripture as a means to support the rapture theory. If we are going to be Scripturally honest then don’t we need to reconcile these verses with ALL Scripture?
Harpazō has many definitions. To seize for one self and my favorite to rescue from the danger of destruction; perhaps spiritual destruction.
Is it possible, then, that the “highway” provided for the return of the remnant from the four corners of the world is associated with being “caught up?” Can this mystery be a supernatural event? Perhaps the opening of another dimension? We do have Scriptural evidence to support this theory.
Ge. 5:24 And Enoch walked with Elohim ( אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִים) and he was not; for Elohim took him.
Is. 11:10 – 12 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious. It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant (אֶת־שְׁאָר ) of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
This narrative is referring to the 2^nd redemption.
1^st Corin. 15:51 – 53 Also describes such an event: Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
It really sounds to me like all these events are the same. At the trump of God, in the twinkling of an eye a highway will be provided and the remnant will be transported to the land. Somehow Rachel will see the returning exiles.
The name of our sidra, Sh’mot, seems normal enough except for one thing. The word itself,שְׁמֹות , which has a “feminine plural ending.” In Hebrew grammar the word for “name” is a masculine noun. So we have a masculine noun with a feminine plural ending. Why? We sometimes need to look beyond the grammar aspect of a word to seek a deeper spiritual meaning.
We don’t need to understand Hebrew to see that all the names mentioned are those of sons; sons are masculine.
The 12 tribes, the 12 sons of Israel, are the progenitors of the peoples of Israel. If we have Hebrew blood then we would descend from one of the original 12 tribes. If we are a child of the nations then we would be adopted into one of the 12 tribes as we discussed in last weeks sidra.
If we are observing the “rules of the kingdom,” i.e. the Shabbats, the Festivals of Yehovah and the New Moons then we are Covenant Israel.
Sh’mot, with its feminine plural ending, is speaking to the “bride,” Covenant Israel. We are the “bride” while Yeshua is the “bridegroom.”
V 6 – 15 And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph (אֶת־יֹוסֵֽף ). And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; “come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom (אֶת־פִּתֹם ) and Raamses (אֶת־רַעַמְסֵֽס ).
Scripture tells us that Pharaohs order to kill all newborn male infants was to prevent a Hebrew military force living within the boundaries of Egypt joining with their enemies. This order also creates a gender imbalance. A more sinister motive was an attempt to prevent the “pure seed” of Yeshua from being birthed. ** Doesn’t Yeshua descend from the tribe of Judah?
Mt. 2:16 Meanwhile, when Herod realized that the Magi had tricked him, he was furious and gave orders to kill all the boys in and around Beit-Lechem, who were two years old or less, calculating from the time the Magi had told him. **Wasn’t this order given to also prevent the “pure seed” from His ordained mission?
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children (אֶת־בְּנֵי ) of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives ( אֶת־חַיֵּיהֶם ) bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah (Jochebed) and the name of the other Puah (Miriam); and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”
2:1 – 3 And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi (אֶת־בַּת־לֵוִֽי). So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child (אֶת־הַיֶּלֶד ) in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
The instrument of deliverance for Israel is found in the person of Moshe, the Alef Tav lad, which was used four times. The number four is a link to Yeshua as the first Alef Tav of Scripture.
We have already established that both orders for infanticide connect Moshe with Yeshua. The next slide will provide more connections.

The two names of Benjamin link us to the 1^st and 2^nd redemptions.

Hosea 6:2 “After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.” **The two days are the two thousand years between the two advents of Yeshua. The third year begins at the onset or beginning of the 7^th millennia.

V’yikra (Leviticus), the book of holiness will show us that the numbers three and seven will be associated with ritual purification.

The Name

In Ex. 3:15 the name of God is revealed to Moshe: Moreover God said to Moshe, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
The name that God revealed to Moshe and commanded him to proclaim to the Israelites, the name He called “My Name forever,” is the four letter name (tetragrammaton)י ה ו ה , . Vocalized in the Aleppo Codex and Leningrad Codex as “Yehovah.” (Shattering the Conspiracy of Silence, pg. 83, Nehemia Gordon)
Ps. 68:4 Sing to Elohim, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH ( יה), and rejoice before Him. **Yah is the poetic form of Yehovah.
If we are going to praise His name then we must know His name. Malachi 3:16 – 18 Then those who feared Yehovah spoke to one another ( אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ), and Yehovah listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear Yehovah and who meditate on His name.
“They shall be Mine,” says Yehovah of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves Elohim and one who does not serve Him.
In conclusion, even the name of Benjamin is significant. The numerical value is 152; 1 + 5 + 2 = 8.
Eight is the number for separation or division. Covenant Israel are those who have separated themselves from the current world system.
Eight is the number for covenant. Those remnant believers, Covenant Israel, will be restored, redeemed and enter into the world to come, the Olam Haba.

Haftarah

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 27:6-28 and Yirmeyahu (Jer.) 1:1-2:3

Our first connection is found in Is. 27:12-13: And it shall come to pass in that day, that Yehovah shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and you shall be gathered one by one, Oh you children of Israel.

Isa 27:13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown…
…and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship Yehovah in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
Jer. 1:1 – 2:3 the phrase “the word of Elohim” is used seven times thus connecting us with Benjamin being 7^th in order, the millennial kingdom and the 7^th festival of Sukkot.

Brit Chadasha

Mt. 22:23-33: I am the God of Avraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. (Mk. 12:18-27, Mt. 22:35- 37, Lk. 20-27-44 and Acts 3:12 – 15)

41-46 Adonai said to my Lord, “sit here at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”

Heb. 11:23-26 …because they saw that he (Moshe) was a beautiful child.