After an in-depth review of this, considering all the outside interests I’ve discussed what’s missing and found it to be perhaps even more important than what’s included – judge for yourself ~Jerry
“Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit” Hosea 11:12
“For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah; I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him” Hosea 5:14 Calvin: “I will not,” God says, “be any longer like a moth and a worm; I shall come like a lion to you, with an open mouth to devour you . . . Trapp: For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion. I, that is, my Assyrian, the rod of my wrath, will be as a lion, or leopard, a creature swift and fierce above measure.
One hour ago as I write this, The New York Times published a big front-page story that begins:
The United States secretly manufactured biological weapons in Ukraine. It trained birds to carry pathogens into Russia. It created Covid-19.
My first reaction: Yowza! Man bites dog! NYT tells truth! MSM is stealing our stuff! I’d better invite this NYT journalist, Steven Lee Myers, as a guest commentator on False Flag Weekly News!
Then I read the second paragraph:
Of the many falsehoods that the Kremlin has spread since the war in Ukraine began more than six months ago, some of the most outlandish and yet enduring have been those accusing the United States of operating clandestine biological research programs to wreak havoc around the globe.
So the first paragraph had been an innoculation, and the second paragraph the desired immune response.
Regime propagandists have been using this “immunization” technique intensively for at least a decade. After 9/11 and the widespread loss of faith in the official story, a cottage industry sprung up in academia, heavily funded by grant money, looking at ways to “cure conspiracy theories.” (The seminal contribution to the emerging field was Cass Sunstein’s “Conspiracy Theories: Causes and Cures.”) A consenus emerged that since conspiracy theories were a viral disease, the authorities should “innoculate” those who had not yet been exposed, while “locking down” the “carriers” (conspiracy theorists) off in the far corners of the internet where they wouldn’t “infect” the normies.
So how do you “innoculate” someone against conspiracy theories? Simple: You state the conspiracy theory (i.e. you inject the subject with a small dose of the toxic, contagious idea) and then “debunk” it (building an “immune response” in the subject). That’s what the above-cited New York Times story tries to accomplish in its first two paragraphs.
Breaking! NY Times: “US Created COVID-19”
Note that the Times’ debunking atttempt doesn’t actually engage in factual debate. It doesn’t have to. Most people are dominated by emotional, impressionistic thinking. So smearing the theory that COVID came from a US bioweapons lab as an “outrageous falsehood” and “Kremlin propaganda” suffices to innoculate the average NYT reader.
One thing the NYT innoculation attempt, I mean, news story, fails to mention, is the fact that the Chair of The Lancet’s COVID Origins Commission, Jeffrey Sachs, has made it clear that he thinks COVID did originate in a US bioweapons lab. As Ron Unz has noted, that’s a bit like Philip Zelikow, Chair of the 9/11 Commission, saying 9/11 was an inside job. If such a thing happened The New York Times probably wouldn’t mention that, either.
Jeffrey Sachs is a consumate insider. He’s the last person on earth anyone would call a Russian stooge. Sachs was actually a prime villain in the 1990s looting of Russia, as explained in Naomi Klein’s The Shock Doctrine. Maybe he’s telling the truth now because he wants to be remembered for doing something admirable rather than reprehensible.
“Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit” Hosea 11:12
“For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah; I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him” Hosea 5:14
Calvin: “I will not,” God says, “be any longer like a moth and a worm; I shall come like a lion to you, with an open mouth to devour you . . . Trapp: For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion. I, that is, my Assyrian, the rod of my wrath, will be as a lion, or leopard, a creature swift and fierce above measure.
Human rights in mainland China are periodically reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), on which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and various foreign governments and human rights organizations have often disagreed.
CCP and PRC authorities, their supporters, and other proponents claim that existing policies and enforcement measures are sufficient to guard against human rights abuses.
However other countries and their authorities (such as the United States Department of State, Global Affairs Canada, etc.), international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Human Rights in China and Amnesty International, and citizens, lawyers, and dissidents inside the country, state that the authorities in mainland China regularly sanction or organize such abuses.
During the Millennium we have an elaborate system of animal sacrifices and other material offerings, along with the faithful observance of New Moons and the Sabbaths, both weekly and annual. And if the Churches teach that these ordinances are for ritual or sacrificial laws, then why are these brought back during the Millenniun? Surely false teachers abound in the land of Israel today, their shepherd and watchmen are blind and misguided!
Ezekiel 45
1“‘Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the Lord, a holy portion of the land. The length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand; this shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.
— when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance; the land was first divided by lot under Joshua, a particular share of which was to be God’s portion, as an acknowledgment of his sovereign dominion:
— the length shall be five and twenty thousand reeds; the Hebrew does not express either reeds or cubits: our translation supplies the word reeds, so this length is uncertain and debatable.
2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length with five hundred in breadth, square round about, and fifty cubits round about for the open places thereof. — five hundred in length, and five hundred in breadth, square round about: that is, five hundred reeds square, and this denotes the largeness, perfection and stability of the Millennium Kingdom.
3 And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand and the breadth of ten thousand; and in it shall be the sanctuary and the Most Holy Place. — this verse is a repetition of the latter part of Ezekiel 45:1; hence the uncertainties remain.
4 The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, who shall come near to minister unto the Lord; and it shall be a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary. — for the priests; sons of Zadok, who minister to the Lord, and others with them, who, though degraded from the priestly honour, yet lived upon priestly provision;
— a place for their houses; in which twenty-three of twenty-four courses of priests may dwell conveniently, while the twenty-fourth minister serve at the temple, as by order they did.
5 And the five and twenty thousand of length and the ten thousand of breadth shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves as a possession for twenty chambers. — for a possession for twenty chambers; adjoining the priests’ portion of the oblation, another equal portion is assigned to the Levites.
6 “‘And ye shall appoint as the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, opposite the oblation of the holy portion; it shall be for the whole house of Israel. — this must run parallel in length with the holy portion, though but half its breadth, by which means these three portions made an exact square;
— it shall be for the whole house of Israel; the capital city, to which all the tribes shall resort upon the solemn festivals, and shall have twelve gates, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, Ezekiel 48:31.
7 “‘And a portion shall be for the Prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward and from the east side eastward; and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.
— and a portion shall be for the prince; meaning the Prince (nā·śî), it could be the Prince Messiah, see Ezekiel 44:3.
8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel; and My princes shall no more oppress My people, and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes. — my princes; one possibility is that the language my is indicative of possession, as in Ezekiel 45:9, “princes of Israe;”
— another possibility is that this Prince (or princes) is yet to be identified, so the mystery remains
9 “‘Thus saith the Lord God: Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel. Remove violence and spoil, and execute judgement and justice. Take away your exactions from My people, saith the Lord God. — again “princes” in the plural, could these be the progeny of the Prince? If so, then the Prince wouldn’t be the Messiah? So the Mystery remains;
— execute judgment; judge righteously, and look at the sentences executed, (1) exile into Babylon, (2) Jerusalem in inferno in AD70; Why were they sent into exile in the first place? and relief of the oppressed; those that cried out for forgiveness and forgiveness.
10 “‘Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. — and a just ephah, and a just bath; and not make the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit, as some did, Amos 8:5.
11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain a tenth part of a homer, and the ephah a tenth part of a homer; the measure thereof shall be according to the homer.
12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels shall be your maneh. — the standard weights were lost when the Chaldeans destroyed the Temple and the people exiled, here God will revive the same measurements as used before.
13 “‘This is the oblation that ye shall offer: a sixth part of an ephah of a homer of wheat, and ye shall give a sixth part of an ephah of a homer of barley. — the oblation; Ezekiel 45:13-16 provide for a regular tax to be paid to the Prince, in order that he may be able to furnish the required offerings at the sanctuary;
— this, like the oblation of land (Ezekiel 45:1), is described as a “heave offering,” and was the sixtieth part of the grain, the hundredth of the oil, and the two-hundredth of the flock, all being from the year’s increase.
14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer a tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is a homer of ten baths; for ten baths are a homer.
15 And one lamb out of the flock of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel, for a meat offering and for a burnt offering and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord God. — for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings; not that the lamb was given for all these; but the wheat and the oil for the meat offering, and the lamb for the burnt offering and peace offerings.
16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel. — for the Prince in Israel; not the high priest, nor the civil magistrate, but the Prince Messiah; or to another yet-to-be identified Prince?
17 And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings and meat offerings and drink offerings, in the feasts and in the new moons and in the Sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel. He shall prepare the sin offering and the meat offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings to make reconciliation for the house of Israel. — “He shall prepare the sin offering” but is he going to offer it?
— and it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings; or, “upon the prince shall be the burnt offerings” made; as the Son it is his overseeing duty to provide the various offerings for the Father;
— the Temple is “my Father house.” Jesus, the Messiah, never claim it is his house. “In My Father’s house are many mansions,” John 14:2. “For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,” Isaiah 56:7);
— in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, and in all solemnities of the house of Israel; in the Feasts of the Passover, Tabernacle, and Pentecost, which were all features of the Millennium Kingdom; of his being the Passover sacrificed for us, of his Tabernacling in his Kingdom, and of the effusion of his spirits;
— and the “new moons” and “sabbaths” and “solemn days” are Old Testament phrases reinstating the main Feastures of the Millennium Kingdom; see Isaiah 66:23.
18 “‘Thus saith the Lord God: In the first month, on the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary. — and cleanse the sanctuary; that by this, offered according to the law, the temple might be cleansed.
19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house and upon the four corners of the ledge of the altar and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court. — and the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering; an emblem of the blood of Christ, who was made sin for his people, and an offering for their sin; and which blood cleanses from all sin:
— and put it upon the posts of the house; of the house of God, the Temple; upon everyone of the posts of it, which stood at the entrance into it. The Targum is “upon the threshold of the house:” and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar; or four horns of it;
20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple; so shall ye reconcile the house. — and for anyone that sinned, shall you do on seven days in the month: It may be said that this means: And so shall you do any (or all? which doesn’t sound right) of the seven days, and so too he says above (Ezekiel 43:26): “For seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it, and they shall consecrate themselves.”
21 “‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days. Unleavened bread shall be eaten. — this is Passover, understood to mean “a feast of a full week,” the exact duration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which began with the eating of the Paschal lamb;
— in actual fact, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a feast of heptads of days, or weeks of days, are a composite Feast and is used interchangably in Deuteronomy 16 as well as throughout the New Testament era! To understand it differently is just being misguided; being deceived and go about deceiving others.
22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering. — shall the Prince prepare for himself, and for all the people of the land, a bullock for a sin offering; here everything again is made new;
23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the Lord, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days, and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering. — the sin offering by the Mosaic law (Numbers 28:17; Numbers 28:22) was to be a he-goat for each day; here, a bullock for the first day, and a he-goat for the other days (Ezekiel 45:23);
— prepare “the sin offering” but again, is he going to offer it?
— forty-nine of each kind of the beasts in the space of the seven days, and ninety-eight ephahs and as many hins with them: a greatly and costly service during the Millennium which they could well efford.
24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil for an ephah.
25 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like at the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil. — the month Tisri, the fifteenth, the Feast of Tabernacles is again described here;
— instead of one ram and seven lambs for the daily burnt offering, there are to be seven bullocks and seven rams, “like as the feast of the seven days,” verse 23.
Ezekiel 46
1“‘Thus saith the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days, but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened. — the six working days; or every day that is a working day;
— on the sabbath; on that holy rest the prospect into the Temple and to the altar shall be free and be opened; the priests should open it. The new moon festival is named and all the rest are included: this gate was to be shut only on working days, therefore to be open on all holy days, which were days of holy service to God.
2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate outside and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go forth, but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
— and the Prince, the Messiah (ha·nā·śî); shall enter the sanctuary by the east gate of the outer court, pass through that court to the inner gate, and oversee the “worship at the threshold of the gate” immediately adjoining the inner court;
— while the priests make ready their sacrifices, but he, the Messiah, is not to enter the inner court, or to assume any priestly functions; how could he be a priest in the order of Melchizedek? (Psalm 110:4). Afterwards he is to go forth by the same way (Ezekiel 46:8, and Ezekiel 44:3), and stands “by the post of the gate” which is open until evening, though no one else is to enter thereby;
— or to another yet-to-be identified Prince?
3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. — the Prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate outside; the Messiah shall go through the outer gate of the eastern gate, even the outermost gate of the porch and so pass to the inner gate, where he would oversee the whole sacrificial service performed at the altar;
— on the Sabbaths, both weekly and the annual holy days, and on the new moons; these observance would be strictly carried out. These commandments were poorly observed throughout history, now these are to be observed correctly, with the Messiah overseeing everything is done correctly;
— or by another yet-to-be identified Prince?
4 And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the Lord on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish. — six lambs . . . and a ram; the burnt offering for the Sabbath, according to the Mosaic law (Numbers 28:9), was two lambs;
— this is greatly increased here, and the “meat offering” for the ram is also made larger, while that for the lambs (Ezekiel 46:5) is left to the Prince’s generosity.
5 And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.
6 And on the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish and six lambs and a ram; they shall be without blemish. — a young bullock . . . and six lambs, and a ram; the law required for the new moons, for a burnt offering, two bullocks, seven lambs, and a ram (Numbers 28:11), so that this sacrifice is here diminished; it also required a he-goat for a sin offering, of which no mention is here made.
7 And he shall prepare a meat offering: an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and a hin of oil to an ephah.
8 And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof. — while the priests make ready their sacrifices, the Messiah shall continue to oversee their performances;
— or by another yet-to-be identified Prince? If so, who would he then?
9 “‘But when the people of the land shall come before the Lord at the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the North Gate to worship shall go out by the way of the South Gate, and he that entereth by the way of the South Gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate; he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth opposite it.
— he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth in by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate; that so such as were coming in, and going out, might not meet, and stop and hinder one another in going out and coming in:
— no mention is made of entering in by the east gate, which was only for the prince, Ezekiel 44:1, and there was no entering in, or going out, on the west.
10 And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in, and when they go forth, shall go forth. — the Prince, the Son, in the midst; not isolated as at other times, but joining the great throng of worshippers; the Prince and people must meet together at the time for offering the morning or evening sacrifice, be ready to present their prayers to the Father
— or another mysterious yet-to-be identified Prince?
11 “‘And at the feasts and at the solemnities, the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.
12 Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering, or peace offerings voluntarily unto the Lord, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east; and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he did on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go forth, and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.
— now when the Prince shall prepare a voluntary offering; the foregoing verses gave directions about the sacrifices the Prince was enjoined to offer upon solemn days; this gives directions concerning his free-will, or voluntary offerings;
— note that it is only a voluntary burnt offering, or peace offerings, but not a sin offering because the Son never sinned; or could another yet-to-be identified Prince sinned?
— upon these occasions the eastern gate was to be opened for the Prince; but then, as soon as the service was over, and he was gone out, the gate was to be shut, indicating he is no ordinary personage.
13 “‘Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the Lord of a lamb of the first year without blemish; thou shalt prepare it every morning. — and a yearling lamb without blemish shalt thou prepare as a burnt-offering daily for the Father every morning or, “morning by morning” shalt thou prepare it;
— the Mosaic law required such a lamb both morning and evening (Numbers 28:3-4); here it omits the evening sacrifice, but increases the meat-offering to the sixth of an ephah of meal and the third of a hin of oil, against the tenth of an ephah of meal and the fourth of a hin of oil prescribed by the Mosaic law.
14 And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, a sixth part of an ephah and a third part of a hin of oil to temper with the fine flour — a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the Lord. — the repeated emphasizing of “every morning” shows that the silence as to the evening sacrifice is not a mere oversight of the matter, but that in the new order of worship the evening sacrifice is to be omitted.
15 Thus shall they prepare the lamb and the meat offering and the oil every morning for a continual burnt offering. — “every morning” or “morning by morning”
— again, no mention is made of the evening sacrifice; while some think is included in the morning burnt offering, others think that the true reason is that Christ has appeared once in the evening of the world, and offered up himself; yea, it was literally in the evening, whereby he offered himself a type of the Passover lamb; hence no evening sacrifice is further needed.
16 “‘Thus saith the Lord God: If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance. — if the Prince is the Messiah Jesus, the Son, then this verse has problem, as Jesus was known not to have any children. So what do you think?
— or to another yet-to-be identified Prince? He would be mortal, since he’s going to have sons, and childern, and wife?!!!
17 But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; afterward it shall return to the prince. But his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them. — whatever lands of the prince are given to servants, by gift, shall at the year of jubilee revert to the sons of the Prince, who shall repossess them, forasmuch as they are lands of inheritance, and of right belong to the heir.
18 Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession, that My people be not scattered every man from his possession.’”
— he seems to be mortal, and chances increases for him to be yet-to-be an identified Prince? The mystery remains.
19 After that he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which looked toward the north; and behold, there was a place on the two sides westward. — “the holy chambers of the priests” is where the priests shall boil the trespass offering, and the sin offering; this was the priests’ kitchen, in which they prepared the sacrifices that were to be eaten;
20 Then said he unto me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering, that they bear them not out into the outer court, to sanctify the people.” — shall boil . . . shall bake; the flesh of all sacrifices except the Passover was by the law required to be boiled, and the unbloody “meat offering,” when not already cooked, was to be baked.
21 Then he brought me forth into the outer court and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and behold, in every corner of the court there was a court. — behold, in every corner of the court there was a court; at every corner, where the side walls met in right angles, there was another little court.
22 In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad. These four corners were of one measure. — of forty cubits long, and thirty broad; an oblong quadrangle;
— these four corners were of one measure; the courts that were in these four corners were of the same measure, as to length and breadth;
23 And there was a row of building round about in them, round about the four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about. — and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about; under these rows of building, chambers or sheds; or under these stone walls were furnaces, and coppers, and caldrons, set on them, for the boiling of the sacrifices.
24 Then said he unto me, “These are the places of those who boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.” — the “ministers” are the subordinate officials, the Levites; where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people; these seem to be the Levites, as distinct from the priests before mentioned; though in this prophecy they are both used of the same persons.
Congress Proposes $500 Million for Negative News Coverage of China. It was an increase from an earlier proposed $300 million with an additional $500 million. Desperation shows it’s a sign of a Collapsing Empire.
The effort to counter China’s ‘malign influence’ would fund negative coverage of China’s Belt and Road Initiative—while also beefing up the US’s international lending.
A tech and manufacturing bill currently moving through Congress allocates $500 million for media outlets to produce journalism for overseas audiences that is critical of China.
America’s state-sponsored 500-million-dollar anti-China Lies and Propaganda
Meant to “combat Chinese disinformation,” the bill would direct funding to the US Agency for Global Media, a US-run foreign media service, as well as local outlets and programs to train foreign journalists.
The America COMPETES Act, just passed by the House, is an industrial policy plan for semiconductor production and supply chain resiliency. It sets aside technology investment funds for everything from high-level research to high school computer science.
If a domestic manufacturing bill seems like the wrong setting for spending on foreign news dispatches, sponsors say it’s a natural fit, since the need to stimulate American production is a matter of competition with Beijing. The sales pitch for reviving global competitiveness has been vivid: The country’s use of forced labor in Xinjiang camps, Nancy Pelosi said last week in a speech on the bill, “hurts American workers who have to compete with slave labor.”
The House version of the legislation, which passed last week, is a companion to the Senate’s more hawkish bill on China competition, USICA, which passed in June of last year. The plan is to merge both bills through a conference committee in the coming weeks.
The bills have titles penned by the Foreign Affairs Committees of each chamber. Both include a section named “Supporting independent media and countering disinformation.”
While both bills stipulate that the US-funded media coverage should be “independent,” that mandate could be at odds with other requirements in the legislation. There is, at the very least, an appearance of conflict. For example, the Senate bill aims to crowd out Chinese investment in developing countries, and also encourages criticism of China’s projects in those markets.
Critics of escalating tensions with Beijing expressed concerns over the push for anti-China coverage, saying it could potentially undermine the credibility of journalists involved in the reporting.
“We welcome support for journalism,” Tobita Chow, the director of Justice Is Global, a group that advocates for a more equitable world economy, told the Prospect. “But if the government is setting out ahead of time in legislation what the conclusion and the point of coverage is going to be, that doesn’t really qualify as genuine journalism.”
USA PROPAGANDA. $500 Million for Negative News Coverage of China
Editorially Independent State-Funded News
The Senate bill aims to produce more anti-China media for regions where it says the Chinese Communist Party and other rivals are promoting “manipulated media markets.” It notes that the sponsored news will be “independent.”
Governments have long funded (relatively) impartial programming, from PBS’s educational shows for children to the titanic British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). But the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which would receive the majority of the media support in this bill package, has a troubled legacy.
A federally funded government agency, USAGM oversees outlets including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). The outlets have sometimes blurred the line between objective news coverage and pro-American propaganda—a distinction that all but dissolved in the Trump years.
After the OCB came under fire for airing a 2018 segment calling the philanthropist George Soros “a nonbelieving Jew of flexible morals,” it conducted an internal review that offers a candid look at US-run foreign media’s mission.
“A primordial rule of successful political messaging and modern marketing is that to influence people, you must usually first establish empathy with them,” the report explains. “OCB’s broadcasts and postings do that far too little. They seek instead to activate overt opposition and hostility to the entirety of the Cuban Revolution.” Instead, the report recommends a subtler approach that could more effectively sway Cuban public opinion.
The Trump administration put a registered lobbyist for Taiwan in control of Radio Free Asia, drawing criticism from journalists who said the outlet’s credibility was tarnished. And staffers at Voice of America wrote in a letter that orders to broadcast a speech by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were an attempt to “stage a propaganda event.”
Progressive critics said that media funded as part of strategic rivalry with a peer competitor can lose its objectivity, or at least the appearance of objectivity.
US-run broadcast networks have been responsive to changing political currents as recently as last December, when Voice of America expanded coverage in the area and named its network’s first-ever Eastern Europe chief, citing rising tensions with Russia and “the impact of Russia’s and China’s influence throughout the region.”
In light of that history, anti-war activists have been wary of expansions to US-run news networks. While they were careful not to equate reporting by state-funded media in the United States, where robust free-speech laws protect journalists, to heavily censored state media in China, several progressive critics said that media funded as part of strategic rivalry with a peer competitor can lose its objectivity, or at least the appearance of objectivity.
“When the United States funds ‘independent’ media to report critically on China, very serious guardrails must be adhered to so that the US government doesn’t simply appear to be pushing its own form of propaganda and to protect the safety and credibility of reporters who cover China with a critical lens,” one congressional progressive staffer said. “Otherwise, this funding is just an exercise in crude soft-power projection, with many sources at risk of being much more easily dismissed or repressed as pawns of a US geopolitical strategy.”
The staffer added that progressive legislators would push for outlets and journalists receiving US funding or training to disclose that relationship transparently in their reporting.
“The Chinese state’s own attempts to manipulate public opinion overseas tend to backfire,” Jake Werner, a researcher on China at Boston University and co-founder of Justice Is Global, told the Prospect. Although the funding could produce some good journalism, he said, “it would also tend to sow doubt and hostility toward journalists doing critical reporting on China’s activities among key audiences like overseas Chinese.”
Responding to a request for comment, Rohit Mahajan, a spokesperson for Radio Free Asia, referred the Prospect to RFA’s mission statement.
“Radio Free Asia’s journalists do not engage in propaganda,” Mahajan added. “RFA brings fact-based, independent news to millions living in places where authoritarians and elites do everything in their power to silence a free press and free speech.”
Amendment to Limit Production of Propaganda
In the 1970s, following reports that Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were backed with CIA funds, Arkansas Sen. J. William Fulbright, a pre-eminent critic of American foreign policy, argued that the “radios … [should] take their rightful place in the graveyard of Cold War relics.” While most of Fulbright’s opposition to US-run broadcasting was unsuccessful, he led a reform effort that restricted the distribution of overseas propaganda material to Americans.
Rep. Edward Zorinsky (D-NE) later extended that reform, arguing that refraining from propagandizing the American people “distinguishes us, as a free society, from the Soviet Union where domestic propaganda is a principal government activity.”
That prohibition, which extended to Radio Free Asia and other USAGM networks, was in place until 2012. An amendment in that year’s defense authorization bill repealed the ban on disseminating propaganda to domestic audiences. A spokesperson for the USAGM (then called the Broadcasting Board of Governors) said at the time that repealing the ban would increase transparency and help the agency reach diaspora groups living in America, such as Somali expats in Minnesota.
Now, progressives concerned about the new enthusiasm for producing reporting critical of competitors are hoping to limit the likelihood that new funding produces propaganda. An amendment to the House bill, introduced by Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), would prohibit the use of any funds “for publicity or propaganda purposes not authorized by the Congress.”
“The initial goal was to try to revive that long-standing prohibition on propagandizing people in the United States,” Erik Sperling, the executive director of Just Foreign Policy, told the Prospect. Sperling’s group worked on developing the Escobar amendment.
When reached for comment, Sperling said he was surprised to see that language specifying “United States” had been cut from the amendment after he had last seen it. While his organization had only planned to push for the more modest request not to propagandize Americans, he welcomed a more general mandate not to distribute propaganda overseas.
The amendment passed among two dozen Congressional Progressive Caucus amendments to the House legislation. Since a ban on propaganda could be at odds with more hawkish coverage of China, it remains to be seen how it will be reconciled with the bill’s broader priorities. A progressive staffer said it is intended as a “guardrail.”
China Criticism Aimed at Arenas Where US Seeks to Compete
Funding critical news coverage in a bill package that heightens competition with the subjects of that coverage could call into doubt the objectivity of US-run media.
One example is coverage of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Senate bill encourages criticism of the BRI, which it is directly seeking to compete with.
China in recent years has erected ports, bridges, and other public works in countries from Pakistan to Peru. The result is an imperial-scale influence campaign, targeted at developing countries and geostrategic choke points, that has been compared to the Marshall Plan, America’s spending to rebuild Western Europe and contain the Soviet Union after World War II.
Since taking office, President Biden has talked about wresting back turf from China with rival investments, particularly in nearby Latin America and the Caribbean. USICA, the Senate bill, would raise US spending through the Inter-American Development Bank, and introduce “conditionality measures” to block partner countries from borrowing simultaneously from China.
One subtitle of USICA creates a “Countering Chinese Influence Fund” totaling $1.5 billion over a five-year period, with more than a third of funds aimed at media outlets.
The push to counter China, the subtitle explains, should “raise awareness of and increase transparency regarding the negative impact of activities related to the Belt and Road Initiative.” It should also urge “support for market-based alternatives in key economic sectors, such as digital economy, energy, and infrastructure.”
The House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees did not respond to questions from the Prospect, including on how bill sponsors define “disinformation” and “misinformation.” The terms are not defined in either bill.
~~~~
On Life Support: Sign of a Collapsing Empire
BENEFICIARIES
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Voice of America
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Asia (RFA)
WION ~ GRATiTAS; headquartered in New Delhi
India TV; headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh
CNN-News18, operating in conjuction with Firstpost and CNBC-TV18; headquartered in Mumbai
ANI News (Asian News International); headquartered in New Delhi
During the Millennium we have an elaborate system of animal sacrifices and other material offerings, along with the faithful observance of New Moons and Sabbaths. And if the Churches teach that these ordinances are for ritual or sacrificial laws, then why are these brought back during the Millenniun? Surely false teachers abound in the land of Israel today, their shepherd and watchmen are blind and misguided!
Ezekiel 43
1Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east. — the gate; this was the eastern gate from the precincts to the outer court.
2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east; and His voice was like a noise of many waters, and the earth shined with His glory. — as the Shekinah glory was the peculiar distinction of the old temple, so it was to be in the new in a degree as much more transcendent as the proportions of the new exceeded those of the old;
— the glory of God, the Father, enters the house by the East gate; the sound of his chariot was as the sound of many waters, and his glory lightened the earth; something new in contrast to the Solomon Temple.
The heavens magnify the Glory of God; the Shekinah returning to the Temple in Jerusalem
3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision that I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell upon my face. — even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city; the city of Jerusalem; not that the prophet destroyed it, or came to destroy it himself, which was to be done, and was done, by the Chaldeans;
— but to foretell the destruction of it; which prediction of his made it as certain as if it was done. So the Targum says, “when I prophesied to destroy the city.”
4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. — the glory of the Lord came into the temple by the way of the gate facing east.
5 So the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house. — having seen the Shekinah enter by the eastern gate, the prophet, himself a priest, is brought into the into the inner court, and there sees the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle when that was set up in the Temple of Solomon.
6 And I heard Him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. — there can be no question that God, the Father Himself, spoke directly to the prophet.
7 And He said unto me, “Son of man, the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and My holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they nor their kings, by their whoredom nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places. — and my name shall the house of Israel no more defile, or “profane” or cause to be blasphemed by immoralities, or false doctrines; denoting the holiness of life, purity of doctrine and worship.
8 In their setting of their threshold by My thresholds, and their post by My posts, and the wall between Me and them, they have even defiled My holy name by their abominations that they have committed. Therefore I have consumed them in Mine anger. — a bit of a flashback; for My holy name have been defiled by their abominations; altars for their idols; therefore I have consumed them in Mine anger.
9 Now let them put away their whoredom and the carcasses of their kings far from Me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever. — carcasses of their kings; it is supposed that some of their idolatrous kings were buried within the bounds of Solomon’s Temple;
— nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places; or and “their high places” that is, by both; by the carcasses of their kings being buried in or near the house of God; so the Targum adds, at their death; or by human carcasses being sacrificed to Molech or Milcom, which signifies their kin;
— it was believed that Manasseh and his son, Amon, were buried in their palace garden, the garden of Uzza near the Temple and there had erected monuments to their idols.
10 “Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. — that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; when they shall blush to see what glory their iniquities had ruined, how great losers they were by their sins: or else thus interpret the meaning of these things;
— and let the children of Israel know what a Temple God would erect if only they had obeyed, that so they may be ashamed of their iniquities, which provoked God to cast them off for a while.
11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof; and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. — the ordinances; rites and orders, rules of governing priests, and their services. These are again repeated in the next words of the verse, which is usual in Scripture, and with this prophet.
— write it in their sight: that it may be remembered, they shall have a draught of it from thy hand, and drawn in their sight, that they may inquire of any particular wherein doubt ariseth.
— that they may keep the whole form thereof: as Moses and Solomon had done, so must the builders of this Temple, frame the whole to the pattern or exemplar set before them;
— again, if the Churches teach that these ordinances are for ritual or sacrificial laws, then why are these brought back during the Millenniun? Surely false teachers abound in the land of Israel today, their shepherd and watchmen are blind and misguided!
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
12 This is the law of the house: Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. — this is the law of the house; “the house” must not be restricted to the Temple proper, consisting of the holy place and the holy of holies, but extended to the whole free space encompassing the outer court, the quadrangular area of three thousand cubits square;
— upon the top of the mountain, perhaps it is meant the nations of Israel, the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house applying the them.
13 “And these are the mesurements of the altar in cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a handbreadth): even the bottom shall be a cubit and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span; and this shall be the higher place of the altar. — the altar in Solomon’s Temple was of brass, 20 cubits square, and 10 cubits high (2 Chronicles 4:1), while that in the Tabernacle (of shittim-wood overlaid with brass) had been 5 cubits square, and 3 cubits high (Exodus 27:1);
— that in Herod’s Temple is said to have been 32 cubits square, and 10 cubits high, and was of hewn stone. The dimensions of Ezekiel’s altar seem to have been selected for the symmetry of the numbers in the several parts. In height, although the dimention not given, it exceeded any of the others.
14 And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower ledge shall be two cubits and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser ledge even to the greater ledge shall be four cubits and the breadth one cubit.
15 So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns. — now from hence and upwards were four horns at the four corners of the altar; which denote the strength of God; and that he is accessible to persons that come from all parts, from the four corners of the earth.
16 And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof. — and the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad; the length of it, from east to west, was twelve cubits; and the breadth, from north to south, was the same; so that it was a proper foursquare.
Ezekiel 43:17: The upper ledge also is square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide. All around the altar is a gutter of one cubit with a rim of half a cubit. The steps of the altar should face east, not south as this picture shows.
17 And the ledge shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit, and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.” — and his stairs shall look towards the east; steps to the altar were forbidden by the law of Moses, Exodus 20:26 wherefore, as the height of the altar of Solomon, and so of the second temple, required some way and method of ascent to the top of it, to do the business upon it;
— the Jews had what they call “kibbesh” a way made of earth thrown up, which rose gradually, and led to the top of it, and was about two and thirty cubits long, and sixteen broad; but here steps or stairs are expressly mentioned, which show that this refers to times when the Mosaic laws should be re-established. These stairs were placed eastward, so that those that went up them looked toward the west, toward the Temple; and turned their backs to the east, or rising sun, in direct opposition to the worshippers of the sun, whose faces would be toward the east.
The steps of the altar facing east, as Scriptures say
18 And He said unto me, “Son of man, thus saith the Lord God: These are the ordinances of the altar on the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon and to sprinkle blood thereon. — to sprinkle blood thereon, according to the law of a burnt sacrifice, Leviticus 1:5.
19 And thou shalt give to the priests, the Levites who are of the seed of Zadok, who approach Me to minister unto Me, saith the Lord God, a young bullock for a sin offering. — for a sin offering; the sprinkling of his blood on the horns of the altar is still needed to make an atonement for sins, and to reconcile the person that brought the sacrifice.
20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it and on the four corners of the ledge and upon the border round about; thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.
21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, outside the sanctuary. — this was done outside the gate, outside the camp where the Temple stood.
22 And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bullock. — and on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish “for a sin offering” this time it is “a kid of the goats without blemish” as commanded.
23 When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish and a ram out of the flock without blemish. — there was, on each of the seven days, a burnt-offering of a bullock and a ram, preceded by a “sin-offereng of a bullock” on the first day, and of a “kid of the goats” on the other days.
24 And thou shalt offer them before the Lord, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the Lord. — when thou hast made an end of cleansing it; the altar, by the sacrifices of the bullock and the kid, on the first and second days;
— then, on the third day, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish; all these sacrifices was to be pure and perfect.
— and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the Lord; throughout the whole seven days of the consecration and cleansing of the altar.
25 Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering; they shall also prepare a young bullock and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. — seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering; by this it appears that the altar was seven days a consecrating and cleansing; and that on each day a goat “for a sin offering” was prepared and offered as before observed.
26 Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it, and they shall consecrate themselves. — and they shall consecrate themselves: the priests shall consecrate themselves or devote themselves to the service of the Temple.
The Glory of God, the Shekinah entering by the eastern gate of the Temple
27 And when these days are expired, it shall be that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord God.” — upon the eighth day, which begins a new week and it is probable the first of these seven days for sacrifice might be the Sabbath, and end on our Friday; however, the first week is spent in solemn consecration of altar and priests; all weeks after are to have, day by day, the usual appointed sacrifices;
— “and I will accept you” doesn’t sound like it would be merely a memorial; but a commandment as in Ezekiel 20:40 For in Mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve Me. There will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
— I will accept you with your sweet savor when I bring you out from the people and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the Gentiles, Ezekiel 20:41;
— actually the offerings and sacrifices in the two verses above are flashforwards, after “For in Mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” beginning of Ezekiel 20:40;
— thus unless proven to the contrary, this read like these sacrifices and offerings will go on throughout each and every week, that is, it will be statutary and a required commandment throughout the Millennium.
Ezekiel 44
1Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outer sanctuary which looketh toward the east, and it was shut. — the gate of the outward sanctuary; this is better rendered, the outer gate of the sanctuary;
— the prophet Ezekiel had been in the inner court, or court of the priests, where the altar stood, and is now brought back to the eastern gate of the outer court. He finds it shut, but when he was there before, it was open; for he saw the glory of the Lord enter into the house by the way of it; but now it was shut,
2 Then said the Lord unto me, “This gate shall be shut. It shall not be opened and no man shall enter in by it, because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut. — shall not be opened, i.e. shall not ordinarily stand open, but be shut till occasion requires it should sometimes be opened.
— no man; none of the common ordinary sort of people, or none but the prince, God’s agent and the ministering priests. Contrast this with the Temple of old (whether Temple or tabernacle), in which the east gate stood always open; perhaps to express the idea that the glory of God should no more depart from the Temple, but abide in it forever.
3 It is for the Prince; the Prince shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD. He shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate and shall go out by the way of the same.” — the Prince (nā·śî); Christians and Rabbis understood this to refer to the Messiah, and the Prince shall sit to eat bread before the Father.
— a parallel scene is found in Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord (the Son, the Messiah), “Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”
4 Then he brought me the way of the north gate before the house. And I looked, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord; and I fell upon my face. — and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD; as he had seen at the eastern gate, Ezekiel 43:2.
5 And the Lord said unto me, “Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. — mark well; or, “set thine heart” be attentive, Ezekiel, to what is about to be said, as being of great concern and importance concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof.
6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord God: O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, — thus saith the Lord God, O ye house of Israel, let it suite you of all your abominations; that is, let the abominations you have committed, will worship and superstition, paying a regard to the false doctrines and commandments of men, be sufficient; stop and proceed no further; relinquish those things which are so abominable in my sight.
7 in that ye have brought into My sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to pollute it, even My house, when ye offer My bread, the fat and the blood; and they have broken My covenant because of all your abominations. — strangers; foreigners and heathens, who had their idols in the very courts of the Temple, and there worshipped their idols;
— uncircumcised in heart; the worst of them, profane and impious; uncircumcised in flesh: no uncircumcised one should come into the court of the Temple, but you have brought them into the very sanctuary at the times of worship;
8 And ye have not kept charge of Mine holy things; but ye have set keepers of My charge in My sanctuary for yourselves. — Tobiah, an Ammonite official (possibly a governor of Ammon, was allowed by the High Priest Eliashib Tobiah to lease the storerooms of the Temple to him, so that a stranger could conduct business in the newly constructed Temple; (more on Tobiah colluding with Eliashib the high priest in the Temple at the end).
9 “‘Thus saith the Lord God: No stranger, uncircumcised in heart nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into My sanctuary, or any stranger that is among the children of Israel. — these were great sins before the Lord, as Tobiah was a stranger, “uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh,” and as storerooms were intended for the Israelites’ grain offerings, incense, temple articles and the tithes of grain, new wine and oil meant for the work of the Temple and the Temple workers themselves.
10 And the Levites that have gone away far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray away from Me after their idols, they shall even bear their iniquity. — the influence of Tobiah corrupted the Levites and the priesthood, where they went astray and later emerged as the Sadducees administering the Temple service.
11 Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house and ministering to the house. They shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore have I lifted up Mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity. — “and they shall bear their iniquity” was implemented ib AD 70; so which sects went into their death?
— these sects of the Jews faced their days of vengeance and disappeared in the AD 70 inferno: All Sadducees, Herodians, Boethusians, Essenes, together with the House of Shammai Pharisees and those of its military arm, the Zealots. They all ministered before their idols and faced their days of vengeance and disappeared from history. Were they receiving their judgement?
— but history recorded only two sects that escaped the inferno of AD 70: (1) The Christians, known as Nazarenes in Acts 24:5. They escaped to a northern town called Pella, west of the Jordan River;
— (2) some Pharisees, those of the House of Hillel. They were headed by a Pharisaic rabbi, Johanan ben Zakkai, the head of the Sanhedrin, who escaped to Yavne and, later, his followers re-emerged as Rabbinic Jews, who established the Hillel Calendar, which was revealed by Hillel II in about AD 359 concerning the rules of the calendar.
13 And they shall not come near unto Me to do the office of a priest unto Me, nor to come near to any of My holy things in the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. — they shall be dealt with according to their abominations, i.e. their apostacy and idolatry, hence all the Sadducees, Herodians, Boethusians and Essenes faced their judgement and disappeared from history.
14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house for all the service thereof and for all that shall be done therein. — but I will make them keepers of the charge of the house; to be watchmen, Levites and priests; to administer the Temple, to open and shut the doors of it; to sweep and keep it clean;
— to administer the Feasts, the Passover; to all these, he must first of all be circumcised; (Exodus 12:43-44).
15 But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me to offer unto Me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God. — some Pharisees, those of the House of Hillel;
— they escaped to Yavne and, later, his followers re-emerged as Rabbinic Jews, who established the Hillel Calendar, which was revealed by Hillel II in about AD 359 concerning the rules of the calendar.
16 They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table to minister unto Me, and they shall keep My charge. — these are the Rabbinic Jews, of the tribe of Levi; and for priests, of the sons of Aaron.
17 And it shall come to pass that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them while they minister in the gates of the inner court and within. — these are from them priests who were of the tribe of Levi, of the sons of Aaron, whom the Lord chose and separated to minister unto him.
18 They shall have linen headdresses upon their heads and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat. — these regulations as to the priests’ services; their garments are defined and various rules prescribed in the Law are repeated with some additions in order to denote additional care to avoid uncleanness.
19 And when they go forth into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments. — they shall put off their garments; this requirement that the priests shall wear their official dress only when engaged in official duty, putting it on when they entered the inner court, and putting it off when they went out, which is only implied in Exodus and Leviticus, but is here expressly enjoined.
20 Neither shall they shave their heads nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads. — their locks to grow long; the law forbade the shaving of the head (Leviticus 21:5), but only condemned letting the hair grow long by implication, providing for it in the exceptional case of the Nazarite vow.
21 Neither shall any priest drink wine when they enter into the inner court. — neither shall any priest drink wine, that is, as in Leviticus 10:9, “lest ye die. It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.”
22 Neither shall they take for their wives a widow nor her that is put away; but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow who had a priest before. — in regard both to marriage the Levitical law made a broad distinction between the ordinary priest and the high priest. The former was only forbidden to marry a divorced woman (Leviticus 21:7), but was allowed to marry a widow; the latter could marry only a virgin of Israel.
23 And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. — and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean; impure thoughts, doctrines, and manners, and those which are agreeable to the word of God; the sense is, that they shall take pains to instruct persons in the knowledge of divine things, and shall do it truly, faithfully, and sincerely.
24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment, and they shall judge it according to My judgments; and they shall keep My laws and My statutes in all Mine assemblies, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths. — and in controversy they shall stand in judgement; when any controversy arises among them concerning the law, this shall be carried into a court, and there heard, tried, judged and determined;
— and they shall hallow My Sabbaths, not a pagan Sunday; such times as are appointed for divine worship; these they shall be kept holy. And those who profame the true Sabbaths will be put to death; “for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people,” Exodus 31:14.
25 And they shall come near no dead person to defile themselves; but for father or for mother, or for son or for daughter, for brother or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves. — they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves; whosoever touched a dead body became legally unclean, (Numbers 19:11,) and thereby was disqualified for attending upon God’s worship in the Temple, Leviticus 22:3.
26 And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days. — seven days; that is, seven days shall be reckoned from the time of his cleansing, before he enters on public service again: according to the old law, seven days were reckoned from the defilement to the purification;
— here seven more are numbered after the purification is made; and therefore, this is a new law or rule, is to be observed during the Millennium.
27 And on the day that he goeth into the sanctuary unto the inner court to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord God. — and in the day that the high priest goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD;
— yes, verse 44:27 says the high priest still offers his sin offering.
28 “‘And it shall be unto them for an inheritance. I am their inheritance, and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession. — the priests were to be supported by the tithes given to God, and by their portion of the offerings made to Him.
29 They shall eat the meat offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering, and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all things and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s. Ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house. — that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house; that is, that he, the priest or minister of the word, that partakes of the above things, and is comfortably provided for and supported, may pray to the Lord for such who liberally contribute to him;
— that a blessing may come and abide upon them and their families, and prosperity and success may attend them in their worldly business and employments of life;
31 The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself or torn, whether it be fowl or beast. — same as in Leviticus 22:8; the same law was binding upon all the Israelites, Leviticus 17:15.
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More on Tobiah colluding with Eliashib the high priest in the Temple – Nehemiah 13:4-9
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah.
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where previously they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense and the vessels and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers, and the offerings of the priests.
6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came unto the king, and after certain days I obtained leave from the king.
7 And I came to Jerusalem and learned of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8 And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and thither I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
How Britain stole $45 trillion from India; now with the Queen’s death, it has been reported that the Windsor family or the British Royalty has amassed a total of $25 trillion in their estates. How much of these were robed or stolen when Britannia rules the waves? (for more, see King Luxury)
“Because thou hast despoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall despoil thee” Habakkuk
There is a story that is commonly told in Britain that the colonisation of India – as horrible as it may have been – was not of any major economic benefit to Britain itself. If anything, the administration of India was a cost to Britain. So the fact that the empire was sustained for so long – the story goes – was a gesture of Britain’s benevolence.
New research by the renowned economist Utsa Patnaik – published by Columbia University Press – deals a crushing blow to this narrative. Drawing on nearly two centuries of detailed data on tax and trade, Patnaik calculated that Britain drained a total of nearly $45 trillion from India during the period 1765 to 1938.
It’s a staggering sum. For perspective, $45 trillion is 17 times more than the total annual gross domestic product of the United Kingdom today.
How did this come about?
It happened through the trade system. Prior to the colonial period, Britain bought goods like textiles and rice from Indian producers and paid for them in the normal way – mostly with silver – as they did with any other country. But something changed in 1765, shortly after the East India Company took control of the subcontinent and established a monopoly over Indian trade.
Among artifacts looted from India, this priceless Koh-i-Noor diamond was originally plundered in 1849 and set in the Crown of the Queen Mother
Here’s how it worked. The East India Company began collecting taxes in India, and then cleverly used a portion of those revenues (about a third)to fund the purchase of Indian goods for British use. In other words, instead of paying for Indian goods out of their own pocket, British traders acquired them for free, “buying” from peasants and weavers using money that had just been taken from them.
It was a scam – theft on a grand scale. Yet most Indians were unaware of what was going on because the agent who collected the taxes was not the same as the one who showed up to buy their goods. Had it been the same person, they surely would have smelled a rat.
Twitters users from India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are scrambling for the return of the cursed Koh-i-Noor Diamond, an idol with a reputation for bringing misfortune, catastrophe and bloodshed to any man who wears it. Although the Imperial State Crown doesn’t have a precise value, due to its extensive list of priceless gems, jewellery experts estimate the crown to be worth an eye-watering £3 billion to £5 billion.
Some of the stolen goods were consumed in Britain, and the rest were re-exported elsewhere. The re-export system allowed Britain to finance a flow of imports from Europe, including strategic materials like iron, tar and timber, which were essential to Britain’s industrialisation. Indeed, the Industrial Revolution depended in large part on this systematic theft from India.
On top of this, the British were able to sell the stolen goods to other countries for much more than they “bought” them for in the first place, pocketing not only 100 percent of the original value of the goods but also the markup.
After the British Raj took over in 1858, colonisers added a special new twist to the tax-and-buy system. As the East India Company’s monopoly broke down, Indian producers were allowed to export their goods directly to other countries. But Britain made sure that the payments for those goods nonetheless ended up in London.
How did this work? Basically, anyone who wanted to buy goods from India would do so using special Council Bills – a unique paper currency issued only by the British Crown. And the only way to get those bills was to buy them from London with gold or silver. So traders would pay London in gold to get the bills, and then use the bills to pay Indian producers. When Indians cashed the bills in at the local colonial office, they were “paid” in rupees out of tax revenues – money that had just been collected from them. So, once again, they were not in fact paid at all; they were defrauded.
Meanwhile, London ended up with all of the gold and silver that should have gone directly to the Indians in exchange for their exports.
This corrupt system meant that even while India was running an impressive trade surplus with the rest of the world – a surplus that lasted for three decades in the early 20th century – it showed up as a deficit in the national accounts because the real income from India’s exports wasappropriatedin its entirety by Britain.
Some point to this fictional “deficit” as evidence that India was a liability to Britain. But exactly the opposite is true. Britain intercepted enormous quantities of income that rightly belonged to Indian producers. India was the goose that laid the golden egg. Meanwhile, the “deficit” meant that India had no option but to borrow from Britain to finance its imports. So the entire Indian population was forced into completely unnecessary debt to their colonial overlords, further cementing British control.
Britain used the windfall from this fraudulent system to fuel the engines of imperial violence – funding the invasion of China in the 1840s and the suppression of the Indian Rebellion in 1857. And this was on top of what the Crown took directly from Indian taxpayers to pay for its wars. As Patnaik points out, “the cost of all Britain’s wars of conquest outside Indian borders were charged always wholly or mainly to Indian revenues.”
And that’s not all. Britain used this flow of tribute from India to finance the expansion of capitalism in Europe and regions of European settlement, like Canada and Australia. So not only the industrialisation of Britain but also the industrialisation of much of the Western world was facilitated by extraction from the colonies.
Patnaik identifies four distinct economic periods in colonial India from 1765 to 1938, calculates the extraction for each, and then compounds at a modest rate of interest (about 5 percent, which is lower than the market rate) from the middle of each period to the present. Adding it all up, she finds that the total drain amounts to $44.6 trillion. This figure is conservative, she says, and does not include the debts that Britain imposed on India during the Raj.
These are eye-watering sums. But the true costs of this drain cannot be calculated. If India had been able to invest its own tax revenues and foreign exchange earnings in development – as Japan did – there’s no telling how history might have turned out differently. India could very well have become an economic powerhouse. Centuries of poverty and suffering could have been prevented.
All of this is a sobering antidote to the rosy narrative promoted by certain powerful voices in Britain. The conservative historian Niall Ferguson has claimed that British rule helped “develop” India. While he was prime minister, David Cameron asserted that British rule was a net help to India.
This narrative has found considerable traction in the popular imagination: according to a 2014 YouGov poll, 50 percent of people in Britain believe that colonialism was beneficial to the colonies.
Yet during the entire 200-year history of British rule in India, there was almost no increase in per capita income. In fact, during the last half of the 19th century – the heyday of British intervention – income in India collapsed by half. The average life expectancy of Indians dropped by a fifth from 1870 to 1920. Tens of millions died needlessly of policy-induced famine.
Britain didn’t develop India. Quite the contrary – as Patnaik’s work makes clear – India developed Britain.
What does this require of Britain today? An apology? Absolutely. Reparations? Perhaps – although there is not enough money in all of Britain to cover the sums that Patnaik identifies. In the meantime, we can start by setting the story straight. We need to recognise that Britain retained control of India not out of benevolence but for the sake of plunder and that Britain’s industrial rise didn’t emerge sui generis from the steam engine and strong institutions, as our schoolbooks would have it, but depended on violent theft from other lands and other peoples.
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Many in the United Kingdom believe Russia was and some still believe it is the main threat of their kingdom. Others, like John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago, give incredible speeches around the world saying China is the main enemy. And Mearsheimer emphasizes the United States are protected by fish to the left and fish to the right, but he foolishly negate to address America’s broken border in the South; and that the Scriptures say that House of Israel’s main “enemy” comes from the South:
And let’s have a look at some Scriptures:
Ezekiel 20:45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
46 “Son of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesy against the forest of the Southland.
47 And say to the forest of the South: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shall be burned therein.
48 And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.’”
49 Then said I, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’”
Ezekiel 21:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;
3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My Sword out of his sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My Sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the North,
5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth My Sword out of his sheath. It shall not return any more.’
The Scriptures above are shrouded in cryptic languages and so the Qs are: how would such scenarios be played out? The current Russia/Ukraine and China/Taiwan arises are just two major distractions, but more importantly, who are these enemies the Prophet Ezekiel identifies coming from the SOUTH, and how would God says He will kindle a fire and “all the remnant of the people shall despoil thee?”
For the Scriptures had said:
“Because thou hast despoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall despoil thee, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein,” Habakkuk 2:8
The Polish government on Thursday estimated the financial cost of World War II losses under Nazi occupation at €1.3 trillion and said it would “ask Germany to negotiate these reparations.”
“It’s a significant sum of 6.2 trillion” zlotys, Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, told a conference.
Polish Army Veterans attend a wreath-laying ceremony marking national observances of the anniversary of WWII in Warsaw
“We not only prepared the report but we have also taken the decision as to the further steps,” Kaczynski said during the report’s presentation, announcing that Warsaw intends to officially request reparations from Germany, which he described as a “long and not… easy path.”
The sum was announced at the release of a report on the cost of years of Nazi German occupation. Some 30 historians, economists and other experts have been working on the document since 2017.
The country’s right-wing government says Poland has not been compensated by Germany while Berlin argues compensation was paid to East Bloc nations in the years after the war.
Nazi German occupation of Poland began 83 years ago and lasted until the end of the war in May 1945.
President Andrzej Duda said the war was “one of the most terrible tragedies in our history” at a remembrance event near Gdansk.
“Not only because it took our freedom, not only because it took our state from us, but also because this war meant millions of victims among Poland’s citizens and irreparable losses to our homeland and our nation,” Duda said.
Dietmar Nietan, the German government’s official for German-Polish cooperation, said in a statement that 1 September “remains a day of guilt and shame for Germany that reminds us time and again not to forget the crimes carried out by Germany” that are the “darkest chapter in our history” and still affect bilateral relations.
Reconciliation offered by people in Poland is “the basis on which we can look toward the future together in a united Europe,” Nietan said.
Poland’s government rejects a 1953 declaration by the country’s then-communist leaders, under pressure from the Soviet Union, agreeing not to make any further claims on Germany.
An opposition lawmaker, Grzegorz Schetyna, said the report is just a “game in the internal politics” and insists Poland needs to build good relations with Berlin.
Some six million of Poland’s citizens, including three million Jews, were killed in the war and its industry, infrastructure and culture suffered huge losses.
The start of the Millennium begins with the building of the Temple. What we have here is a very detailed description of a magnificent physical Temple, somewhat loosely patterned after the Temple of Solomon, only much larger, complete with special living quarters for priests and Levites, and an elaborate system of animal sacrifices and other material offerings, along with the faithful observance of New Moons and Sabbaths, the whole picture rivaling the Book of Leviticus itself.
Ezekiel 41
This is a continuation of the description of the Temple in Chapter 40, where the Outer and Inner Courts, plus other details, were presented and measured:
1 Afterward he brought me to the temple and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle. — after the prophet had observed the courts, he was brought to the temple; the posts of six cubits broad; each cubit consisting of about one and a half foot, or eighteen inches, or one half-yard.
2 And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side and five cubits on the other side; and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits. — the length thereof, forty cubits; these are exactly the dimensions of the Holy Place in Solomon’s Temple. The measurements are internal, the same as in the Temple of Solomon.
3 Then went he inward and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. — went he inward; here is a noticeable change in the usual expression; in all other cases the angel had brought the prophet to the places to be measured;
— but as he is here entering the Holy of Holies, into which, under the law, Ezekiel might not enter, because the holy of holies was not to be entered even by a priest like Ezekiel, but only by the high priest once a year; the angel goes in alone.
4 So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple. And he said unto me, “This is the Most Holy Place.” — holy of holies; it was an exact square, as was Solomon’s, 1 Kings 6:20.
5 After that, he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side. — the wall of the house, six cubits, the thickness of the wall is the same with that of the wall of the outer court (Ezekiel 40:5), about ten feet. Great massiveness is characteristic of the Temple, to set forth the firmness and security of the things symbolised.
6 And the side chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have support, but they had no support in the wall of the house. — there were three storeys of chambers one above the other, and this was repeated thirty times, giving thirty chambers in each storey, or ninety in all;
— these chambers were exactly like those surrounding Solomon’s Temple, except that they were one cubit narrower, and the description of them is made clearer by a comparison with 1 Kings 6:5-10.
7 And there was an enlarging and a winding about still upward to the side chambers; for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house. Therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the middle chamber. — there was an increase in the width of each storey of the side chambers by the distance which the wall receded, as is expressly said in 1 Kings 6:6; but whether there was a corresponding recession in the thickness of the outer wall of the chambers is not stated;
— it is also plain that the side chambers surrounded the house; and that the two upper storeys were reached by a winding staircase (w [Ezekiel 40:44-49]).
8 I saw also the height of the house round about; the foundations of the side chambers were a full reed of six great cubits. — the Temple, as has been already said (Ezekiel 40:49), was entered by a flight of steps leading up to the porch, and the “house round and side chambers” were therefore on a lower level than the Temple.
9 The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber outside, was five cubits; and that which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within. — the thickness of the wall, which was for the side chambers without, was five cubits; this is the outward wall of the chambers, north and south, which was five cubits thick, made of stone.
10 And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side. — there was a space of twenty cubits between the foundation on which the chambers and the Temple stood and the wall of the court on all three sides on which the chambers extended.
11 And the doors of the side chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north and another door toward the south; and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about. — we may now sum up the measurements of the Temple with its chambers and surrounding space. The wall, 6 cubits; the chambers, 4; their outer wall, 5; the platform beyond, 5; the space beyond this, 20 (6 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 20 = 40);
— this was on each side, and therefore is to be doubled, making 80 cubits; to this add the 20 cubits of the inner width of the Temple, and we have exactly the 100 cubits, the width of the inner court. In the same way the length: here the porch is considered as belonging to the court, and with it the front wall of the Temple, the thickness of which is included in the length of the porch.
— beginning then at the inside of the outer walls, we have the inner length of Temple, 60 cubits; rear wall, 6; chambers, 4; outer wall, 5; platform, 5; space, 20; in all, 100 cubits. thus making an exact square.
12 Now the building fronting the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about and the length thereof ninety cubits. — this building was to the west of the temple, at which end stood the holy of holies, and this near to that; it was seventy cubits broad; and the length thereof ninety cubits.
13 So he measured the house, a hundred cubits long; and the separate place and the building with the walls thereof, a hundred cubits long; — the house; the whole Temple, oracle, sanctuary, and porch, with the walls;
— the length was ninety cubits, which, adding as before the thickness of the walls, gives 100 cubits in length, from north to south; the whole temple-building was 500 cubits from west to east, and from north to south, 500 cubits.
14 also the breadth of the face of the house and of the separate place toward the east, a hundred cubits. — toward the east; the separate place was measured on its eastern side, for the western was not approachable for the purpose of measurement
— the whole temple-building was 500 cubits from west to east, and from north to south, 500 cubits.
15 And he measured the length of the building opposite the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, a hundred cubits, with the inner temple and the porches of the court.
16 the doorposts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories opposite the door, ceiled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows (and the windows were covered), — the door posts and the narrow windows; of the inner temple or holy of holies; for this is what is last mentioned; of the door posts of it, see Ezekiel 41:3, in the holy of holies;
— both in Moses’s tabernacle, and Solomon’s temple, were no windows; Yehovah dwelt in thick darkness, 1 Kings 8:12, but in this inner temple, the holy of holies.
17 to the space above the door, even unto the inner house and outside, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure. — over above the door …”within and without” was “by measure.” This asserts that all the overlaying was done by careful measurement.
18 And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces, — the cherubim are represented each with two faces, but in Ezekiel 1 and 10, they have each four faces.
19 so that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side; it was made through all the house round about. — a man’s face toward the palm on this side, and a lion’s face toward the palm on that side: thus was it made round about the whole house.
20 From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple. — it remains obscure whether it be the “door” of the holiest or that of the holy place to which he refers, or both.
21 The posts of the temple were squared, and also the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other. — the door-frames of both were square and just alike.
22 The altar of wood was three cubits high and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof and the length thereof and the walls thereof were of wood. And he said unto me, “This is the table that is before the Lord.”
— the altar of burnt offering in Solomon’s temple was of brass (2 Chronicles 4:1), and in the tabernacle of shittim wood (Exodus 27:1); the altar of incense in the tabernacle (Exodus 30:1) and in Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 7:48) was constructed of wood overlaid with gold, but in this temple only of wood.
— the altar had corners, probably somewhat raised, but may or may not look like horns.
23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24 And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves: two leaves for the one door and two leaves for the other door. — each had a double or two-leaved door; the doors of the holy place and the holiest.
— the temple or holy place and the holiest had each a two-leaved door; and each of the leaves was again divided into two leaves.
25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch outside. — cherubim and palm trees, like as were made on the walls; the doors of both places had the same decorations as the walls of each;
— and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch outdifr; on the outward front of the porch were some thick wainscot boards, which projected as a cover to the entrance into it.
26 And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks. — it is to be observed that in these outer parts of the Temple only palm trees were used in the ornamentation, the cherubim being reserved for the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
— the description of the Temple proper is now finished, and it is noticeable how very little is said of its interior furniture and arrangements; there is no mention at all of that profuse overlaying with gold so characteristic of Solomon’s Temple; nothing is said of the candlestick, or the table of show-bread; even the ark itself, that climax of Israel’s symbolic worship, is not mentioned.
Ezekiel 42
1Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north; and he brought me into the chamber that was opposite the separate place and which was before the building toward the north. — then he brought me forth into the outer court; outer with respect to the temple itself, or the outer part of the court, which court was that of the priests.
2 Along the length of a hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. — he brought me “before” a row of chambers 100 cubits long, east and west. “The door” of which lay on the north side of the chambers. The priests entered from the outer court; the breadth of this block of chambers was fifty cubits, north and south Ezekiel 42:8.
3 Opposite the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and opposite the pavement which was for the outer court, was gallery upon gallery in three stories.
4 And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit, and their doors toward the north.
5 Now the upper chambers were shorter; for the galleries were higher than these — than the lower and than the middlemost of the building.
6 For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper building was narrowed more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.
7 And the wall that was outside opposite the chambers, toward the outer court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.
8 For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits; and lo, those before the temple were a hundred cubits.
9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the outer court.
10 The chambers were within the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, opposite the separate place and opposite the building.
11 And the walk before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they and as broad as they; and all their exits were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
12 And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the walk, the passage directly before the wall toward the east as one entereth into them.
13 Then said he unto me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are in front of the separate place, they are holy chambers where the priests who approach unto the Lord shall eat the most holy things. There shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.
— the north chambers, and the south chambers; namely, those described in the foregoing part of the chapter; they be holy chambers, where the priests shall eat the most holy things;
— the show- bread, the remainder of the meat-offering, sin-offering, and trespass- offering, are expressly called the most holy things, Leviticus 6:14; Leviticus 6:17; Leviticus 24:9; and are distinguished from the holy things, such as the peace- offerings, first-fruits, and tithes, Leviticus 21:22. These were to be eaten within the precincts of the temple, by the direction of the Levitical law. There shall they lay the most holy things;
— these rooms were likewise set apart for laying up the remainder of the sacrifices, till they were eaten by the priests and their families, Leviticus 10:13; Leviticus 22:13;
— if the Churches teach that these activities are for ritual or sacrificial laws, then why are these brought back during the Millenniun? Surely false teachers abound, their shepherd and watchmen are misguided!
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
14 When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the outer court; but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister, for they are holy; and they shall put on other garments and shall approach those things which are for the people.”
— same thing with garments; but there they shall lay their garments when on duty, for they are holy; these signify the robe of righteousness and garments of purity, that fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints; and fitly represented by the linen garments of the priests, in which they ministered in their office, and were like them holy, pure, and spotless; in these only saints appear before God.
15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.
16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about.
17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about.
18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
19 He turned about to the west side and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
20 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. — this vast enclosure on all sides was a wall, a massive wall surrounding the outer court; the object of this enclosure was to protect the sanctity of the Temple and its courts, “to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place”
— the Precincts; the Temple and its courts were surrounded by an area of exact dimensions 3,000 cubits (1,500 yards) square.
Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University stands as a pillar of America’s academic establishment, and even as far back as three decades ago, the New York Timeshad already hailed him as one of the world’s most important figures in his field. He currently serves as director of his university’s Center for Sustainable Development, and over the years he has published a multitude of articles and columns on a very wide range of public policy issues.
Given that background, it was hardly surprising that the Lancet, a top medical journal, named him chairman of the Covid Commission, established to investigate all aspects of the massive disease epidemic that has devastated the world since early 2020 and killed well over a million Americans.
“I chaired the commission for the Lancet for 2 years on Covid. I’m pretty convinced it came out of a US lab of biotechnology […] We don’t know for sure but there is enough evidence. [However] it’s not being investigated, not in the US, not anywhere.” Prof. Jeffrey Sachs
Yet over the last few months, Prof. Sachs has broken ranks with America’s ruling political and media elites, and courageously begun to speak his mind on the origins of the outbreak.
In May he co-authored a major paper in the prestigious PNAS journal, pointing to the very strong evidence that the Covid virus had been bioengineered, being the product of a laboratory instead of nature, and he called for an independent investigation into its true source.
The following month, he was even more forthright in his statements at a small think-tank gathering in Spain, and at the beginning of July a short clip of those remarks went super-viral, retweeted out more than 11,000 times and accumulating over than a million views.
“I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel; there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled” Hosea 6:10
Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” saith the Lord. Amos 9:8
The stricken HMS Prince of Wales suffered a “mechanical issue,” the Royal Navy says
Six shipyards were involved in the building of HMS Prince of Wales at a cost of £3bn
Britain’s biggest ship and the second of the Royal Navy’s two aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, has broken down shortly after embarking on a cross-Atlantic aviation trial.
The carrier “remains in the South Coast Exercise Area while conducting investigations into an emerging mechanical issue,” the Royal Navy’s spokesperson said in a statement to the media on Sunday.
The incident occurred just one day after the vessel left Portsmouth for what the Royal Navy described as “a landmark mission to shape the future of stealth jet and drone operations.”
The UK Defence Journal cited a source as saying divers discovered that the ship’s propeller shaft appeared to be damaged.
Built at a cost of £3bn, this isn’t the first time that the 65,000-ton vessel has suffered technical issues since it entered service in 2019. At the end of 2020, it was stranded in Portsmouth after a flooded engine room led to electrical damage.
The carrier, which has a crew of 1,600, spent fewer than 90 days at sea during its first two years of service after suffering multiple leaks, according to The Guardian.
“Britain is lucky this landmark event happened near home. Imagine the embarrassment if this had happened in the South China Sea,” someone tweets.
Indeed, its twin sister carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, had managed to put on a long voyage to provoke China in the South China Sea in July 2021, before loosing one of its F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter in the Mediterranean Sea on her way home.
According to a report, the Prince of Wales is now anchored southeast of the Isle of Wight in England. It states that, unless the problem can be resolved at sea enabling the warship to continue its journey to the US, it might need to go into dry dock at Rosyth in Scotland early, ahead of a planned inspection in 2023.
Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD saith thus: “Wailing shall be in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful in lamentation to wailing.
And in all vineyards shall be wailing, for I will pass through thee,” saith the LORD.
Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! To what end is it for you? The day of the LORD is darkness, and not light:
as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? Amos 5:16-20
George IV’s lifelong passion for art inspired a new wave of oriental fashion from the East in the 18th Century. In this BBC history documentary, Fiona Bruce reveals George IV’s art and furniture collections hidden in the Centre Room of Buckingham Palace.
In the name of sanctions, geopolitical interests or the so-called ‘rules-based order’, colonial powers do what they do best – plunder those they see as weak and insubordinate
There is an old joke which still has resonance. A child asks his parent, “Why are there pyramids in Egypt?” The parent answers, “Because they were too big to take to Britain.” Of course, many a true word is spoken in jest. Indeed, there is an apocryphal story that back in the day when Vladimir Lenin was in exile in London, he would enjoy taking friends to the British Museum and explaining to them how and from what far-flung lands all the antiquities there were stolen.
One might have thought that these days of colonial plunder had ended, but one would be very wrong. Current examples abound. A notable one is, of course, the freezing by the US of $7 billion from the Afghanistan treasury – monies the US continues to hold even as it watches Afghans begin to die from starvation. Apparently, the US believes that, after laying waste to Afghanistan through 20 years of war and, even before that by supporting the mujahideen terrorists, it is entitled to some compensation. This upside-down type of reasoning abounds in the minds of those in the West who simply believe they can take whatever they wish.
US and UK; Plundering the Global South
Similarly, the US is now plundering Syria – another country utterly devastated in no small part by Washington-backed militants in a campaign to overthrow the elected president – of most of its oil, even as Syria suffers from severe energy blackouts. Thus, according to the Syrian Oil Ministry, “US occupation forces and their mercenaries,” referring to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), “steal up to 66,000 barrels every single day from the fields occupied in the eastern region,” amounting to around 83% of Syria’s daily oil production.
According to the ministry’s data, the Syrian oil sector has incurred losses of “about $105 billion since the beginning of the war until the middle of this year” as a result of the US oil theft campaign.
Additionally, the statement added that alongside the financial losses incurred by the oil sector were “losses of life, including 235 martyrs, 46 injured and 112 kidnapped.”
Pacific nation of Solomon Islands snubs US request to dock ship – media
RT Reports / August 26, 2022 // CNN / August 26, 2022
The US Coast Guard vessel was diverted to Papua New Guinea after its call for access to a Solomon Islands’ port was ignored. Solomon Islands doesn’t answer US Coast Guard’s request for port visit.
Changing times: Solomon Islands snubs US request to dock ship
A vessel of the US Coast Guard was prevented from entering the Solomon Islands for a routine refueling stop, because the Pacific nation’s government did not respond to its request for port access, Reuters has reported, citing an American official.
The USCGC Oliver Henry was out patrolling for illegal fishing in the region when it attempted and failed to gain access to Honiara port for refueling, the news agency wrote on Friday.
The Solomons’ government “did not respond” to the US request for diplomatic clearance, Kristin Kam, public affairs officer for the US Coast Guard in Hawaii, told Reuters. Kam said the US Department of State was “in contact” with Honiara and expects “all future clearances will be provided to US ships.”
The US vessel was instead diverted to Papua New Guinea, another official told the news agency.
Reports on social media suggested that a British navy ship had also been refused port access this week. The HMS Spey was also taking part in monitoring waters for illegal fishing for the Pacific Islands Forum, which holds annual surveillance operations with help from the US, Australia, New Zealand and France.
A Royal Navy spokesperson told Reuters that its ships’ programmes are “under constant review” and it is not unusual for them to change. “For reasons of operational security we do not discuss details,” the spokesperson said, adding that the UK navy “looks forward to visiting the Solomon Islands at a later date”.
Honiara did not answer Reuters’ request for comment.
The South Pacific islands have become the next US-China contest
The apparent refusal to grant entry to the Western ships comes amid heightened tensions with the US and Australia following the Solomons’ signing of a security pact with China earlier this year.
Beijing has already begun training local troops on the islands, prompting alarm in Australia, where there are fears China will use the agreement to establish a military base there. Australia has since promised to “step up” its military presence in the Pacific, with China responding by accusing Australia of encouraging an “arms race” in the region.
Solomon Islands to ban U.S. navy ships from ports – U.S. embassy SYDNEY (Reuters) – The Solomon Islands government has told the United States it will place a moratorium on navy vessels entering its ports, the United States embassy in Canberra said on Tuesday.
“All your lovers have forgotten you; they no longer care for you anymore. I have wounded you as an enemy would. I have punished you as the cruel would, because your guilt is so great, because your sins are so many” Jeremiah 30:14.
All thy friends have forgotten thee; they shall not ask about thee at all, for I have smitten thee with he stroke of an enemy, even severe correction: thy sins have abounded above all thine iniquity. Septuagint Brenton Translation
“Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved,” Acts 15:1. Not only is this relevant to Abraham and Isaac, and his posterity by Isaac, were to be circumcised, but also Ishmael and the bond-servants.
“And the uncircumcised manchild whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant,” Genesis 17:14
Genesis 17
10 This is My covenant which ye shall keep between Me and you and thy seed after thee: every manchild among you shall be circumcised. — it is here said to be the covenant which Abraham and his seed must keep, as a copy or counterpart. It is considered a sign and seal, (Romans 4:11);
— an obligation upon Abraham and his seed which was their part of the covenant, not only to the duty of accepting the covenant, and putting away the corruption of the flesh, which were primarily signified by circumcision, but in general to the observation of all God’s commands.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between Me and you. — not only Abraham and Isaac, and his posterity by Isaac, were to be circumcised, but also Ishmael and the bond-servants.
— it is worthy of remark that in circumcision, after Abraham himself, the parent is the voluntary imponent, and the child merely the passive recipient of the sign of the covenant. It shall be a token of the covenant, i.e. a sign, evidence, and assurance, both of the blessing promised by that God who appointed this ordinance, and of man’s obligation to the duties required, which is signified by his acceptance of and submission to this ordinance.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every manchild in your generations, he that is born in the house or bought with money from any stranger who is not of thy seed. — the time of circumcision is the eighth day. Seven is the number of perfection. Seven days are therefore regarded as a type of perfectage and individuality. At this stage, accordingly, the sign of sanctification is made on the child, betokening the consecration of the heart to God, when its rational powers have come into noticeable activity;
— to be “cut off from his people” is to be excluded from any part in the covenant; and for an Israelite, is certainly worse than a Gentile or an alien.
13 He that is born in thy house and he that is bought with thy money must be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. — just as between God and Noah in Genesis 9:12-16 regarding the rainbow: my covenant with you shall be an everlasting covenant.
14 And the uncircumcised manchild whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.” — “shall be cut off from his people” Jewish commentators generally consider that this penalty consisted in the offender being left to the direct interposition of God, who would punish him with childlessness and premature death (Talmud: Tract Yebam, 55);
— most Christian commentators suppose that the offender was to be put to death by the civil magistrate; as, for instance, the killing of a a sacrifice anywhere, except at the door of the tabernacle (Leviticus 17:4), and the eating of blood (Leviticus 17:9; Leviticus 17:14), are to be thus similarily dealt with, while blasphemy and murder are to be punished with death (Leviticus 24:16-17).
Joshua 5
1And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the side of the Jordan westward and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had passed over, that their heart melted; neither was there spirit in them any more because of the children of Israel.
2 At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, “Make thee sharp knives and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.” — “again the second time” this does not mean that those very persons who had before been circumcised should be circumcised again, but that the rite or custom of circumcising, which had been disused in the wilderness for some years, should be again practised.
3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins [or, Gibeahhaaraloth]. — Joshua circumcised the children of Israel; that is, he caused them to be circumcised, namely, such of them as were uncircumcised.
4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way after they came out of Egypt. — all the people that came out of Egypt that were males, even all the men of war; meaning such that were twenty years old, and upwards: died in the wilderness in a course of forty years;
— as they journeyed through the wilderness; this is to be understood with an exception of Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar, & etc but then there was a large number who were under twenty years of age, that came out of Egypt, and were still living.
5 Now all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness on the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. — “all that came out of Egypt were circumcised,” this does not say when and where they were circumcised; but maybe during the horrors of the plagues (before the last plague of firstborn death) in Egypt, the Israelites saw that the first step toward liberty, as Moses would have told them, is the need to be circumcised;
— Exodus 4, Zipporah, wife of Moses, was inspired and took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son, otherwise he might had died of being the firstborn like the Egyptians if he had not been circumcised (Exodus 4);
— Exodus 4:24 “the Lord met him and sought to put him to death,” Rashi: on the way, in an inn and sought to put him to death: [i.e., He sought] Moses, because he had neglected to circumcise his son Eliezer. Because he neglected it, he was [to be] punished with death.
— Rashi: This appears in tractate Nedarim (31b). The angel turned into a sort of serpent and swallowed him [Moses] from his head to his thighs, and then [spit him out and] swallowed him from his feet to his private parts. Zipporah therefore understood that it was because of [the failure to perform] the circumcision [that this occurred]. — [from Ned. 32a, Exodus Rabbah 5:5].
— Targum: But it was on the way, in the place of lodging that the angel of the Lord met him, and sought to kill him, because Gershom his son had not been circumcised, inasmuch as Jethro his father-in-law had not permitted him to circumcise him: but Eliezer had been circumcised, by an agreement between them two. And Zipporah took a stone, and circumcised the foreskin of Gershom her son, and brought the severed part to the feet of the angel, the Destroyer, and said, The husband sought to circumcise, but the father-in-law obstructed him; and now let this blood of the circumcision atone for my husband.
— I Chronicles 23:14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer. (Exodus 2:22 Gershom [that is, A stranger there] was born; presumably the firstborn)
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord. Unto these the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord swore unto their fathers that He would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. — “because they had not hearkened to the voice of the Lord” they broke the coverant: Genesis 17:12 “he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every manchild in your generations.”
— the onus of responsibilities lies chiefly with the parents, especially with their fathers, that sons should be circumcised, (1) that’s why Moses was threatened with death, (2) that’s why those parents of children borned in the wilderness were not allowed into the Promised Land;
— as reaffirmed at Mount Sinai in Leviticus 12:1-3 “And the Lord spoke unto Moses, ‘If a woman have conceived seed and borne a manchild . . . on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”
7 And their children, whom He raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way. — their children; these that Joshua circumcised: God now required this to be done in order to inherit the Promised Land of milk and honey.
8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp till they were whole. — that they abode in their places in the camp till they were whole: till the wound made by circumcision was healed; now as it was on the tenth day they passed over Jordan, and came to Gilgal, where they were circumcised, there were three entire days between that and the fourteenth, when they kept the Passover.
Only Gentiles are exempt:
Acts 15
1 And certain men who came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, “Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” — at Antioch some maintain that Gentile converts must be circumcised; a mission to Jerusalem about the question was thus sent.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. — the Council at Jerusalem, occupied for the Christian theocracy a position similar to that of the Sanhedrim, was the centre of authority and remained so till its fall. The apostles and elders were the recognised leaders of the Church;
— most fake Christians errously say this is “the ceremonial law”” or “the laws of Moses” but it was established way earlier during God’s covernant with Abraham in Genesis 17:10 “This is My covenant which ye shall keep between Me and you and thy seed after thee: every manchild among you shall be circumcised.”
3 And being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. — they passed through Phenice and Samaria; which both lay between Syria and Judea; and in the latter Philip the evangelist had preached earlier with much success, Acts 8:5.
4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. — besides the covernant between God and Abraham, the Pharisaic teaching concerning the necessity of circumcision was based on such passages as Isaiah 56:6, where the covenant mentioned was held to be that of circumcision. And they supported their position by such passages as Isaiah 52:1, where the uncircumcised are excluded from Jerusalem, the holy city.
6 And the apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter. — and the apostles and elders came together to consider of this matter; as the apostles commonly resided at Jerusalem, the greater part of them may have come together on this occasion; and the elders likewise, men most respectable for their knowledhe and wisdom, having been chosen to the office of elders from among those on whom the holy spirits descended on the day of Pentecost.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe. — after much deliberation, Peter, on behalf of the Council concluded that circumcision were not binding upon the Gentiles, to press the precedent of the case of Cornelius and the analogy of the proselytes of thom they had witnessed.
8 And God, who knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as He did unto us, — God had put the uncircumcised on the same level with the circumcised by giving to them the same gifts of the spirit.
9 and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. — what was given to the new converts was the same which had been given at the first outpouring of the spirits; and God made no mark of distinction to sever Jews from Gentiles.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? — for forty years the Israelites didn’t circumcise their children, hence they were consumed and not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Joshua 5:6).
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” — salvation is a gift granted through “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” but to qualify for that gift one has to keep his commandment; “If ye love me, keep my commandments,”John 14:15. “For you have omitted the weightier matters of the law: judgement, mercy and faith. These ought ye to have done and not to leave the others undone,” Matthew 23:23.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul as they declared what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. — then all the multitude kept silence, having nothing further to object to what had been advanced; and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, who confirmed Peter’s reasoning, by declaring what miracles God had wrought among the Gentiles.
From the Council in Jerusalem, exemptions from circumcision were given only to the Gentiles, but speaking of the Israelites today, the covenant (Genesis 17:10) between God and Abraham remains, “Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
The British economy shrank by 11% in 2020, its largest drop in 300 years, revised data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed on Monday. The previous reading had been a 9.3% decline.
This happened to be the biggest drop since the ONS began keeping records and the UK’s largest GDP slump since 1709, the year of the ‘Great Frost,’ when the country’s economy shrank by 13.4%, according to historical data provided by the Bank of England.
UK GDP shrank by 11%, its biggest drop in 300 years, way before 1894
The downward revision was triggered by new data showing the effect the Covid-19 pandemic had on healthcare and individual retailers.
“The health service faced higher costs than we initially estimated, meaning its overall contribution to the economy was lower,” ONS analyst Craig McLaren explained, adding that retailers also faced higher costs, which prompted statisticians to revise their contribution to the economy.
In 2021, the British economy largely returned to its pre-pandemic levels. However, since the start of this year, it has been increasingly battered by rising inflation, and analysts now fear the country could tip into recession by the end of the year.
The ONS is due to publish its updated growth figures for 2021 and the first half of 2022 in September. The agency routinely updates its GDP estimates when it obtains more data.
Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD saith thus: “Wailing shall be in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful in lamentation to wailing. And in all vineyards shall be wailing, for I will pass through thee,” saith the LORD. Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! To what end is it for you? The day of the LORD is darkness, and not light: as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? Amos 5:16-20
English Speakers in India 128,539,090 (as first and second language), from Wikipedia
From Wikipedia: Recently, the Indian government has claimed that in 2013, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal experienced [ideological] “influence” of “Left Wing Extremism”; while claiming that armed activity by the “Left Wing” extremists was noticed in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal.
Hindu Caste System; Narendra Modi belongs to the “Vaishya” Community
Pakistan Tribal and Language Map
Major Separatist Movements in Pakistan
Separatist Movements of Pakistan
My thought and Q for this post is: Could India be included in the Forest of the South in this article A Sword from the South?
A top US Army War College paper suggests Taiwan should credibly threaten to eradicate its semiconductor industry if threatened by China so that Beijing would no longer be interested in unification.
TSMC is the global leader in advanced 2-nanometre semiconductors
The bright idea comes from two American scholars. Their reasoning goes:
Potential war with the US over Taiwan is no longer a deterrent for China as Beijing believes its military would dominate. Therefore, to make the island unappealing, it needs to be perceived as presenting an “unacceptable economic, political, and strategic costs upon Beijing.” As it currently stands, Taiwan appears to be an enticing technology powerhouse ripe for absorption. However, destroying TSMC, an important supplier for China, would create a desperately unwanted major economic crisis on the mainland and make China chipless while it was also engaged in a war effort.
“If done correctly, such a strategy could discourage a Chinese invasion of Taiwan while simultaneously lessening the chances of an unwanted great-power conflict, especially if combined with good-faith efforts by the United States to make the status quo more tolerable for both China and Taiwan,” wrote the authors.
It’s hard to understate TSMC’s importance to the world. It accounts for more than half of global foundry revenue while in the manufacturing of advanced chips under 10 nanometers it controls about 84% of the global market, according to the European Institute for Asian Studies in Brussels.
Congress has passed a bill that will invest $280 billion over the next five years to boost microchip production and counter China.
With bipartisan support, the CHIPS and Science Act was passed by lawmakers in late July, and President Joe Biden soon signed the bill into law.
Once a leader in semiconductor chip manufacturing, the US has lost ground as other countries like China ramped up production, forcing many American manufacturers to import chips — which are essential to the production of cars, smartphones and medical equipment.
The new funding is intended to help companies bring chip manufacturing back to the US and, as a result, help lower costs and prevent supply chain disruptions.
$52.7 billion for chip manufacturing and research
The package will invest $39 billion over five years to expand domestic semiconductor manufacturing. It will provide companies incentives to build, expand and modernize US facilities and equipment.
The legislation will also create a new 25% tax credit for companies that invest in semiconductor manufacturing equipment or the construction of manufacturing facilities.
Private companies that receive financial assistance will be restricted from expanding certain chip manufacturing in China for 10 years.
This means if TSMC receives any subsidies for its $12 billion plant in Arizona, it wouldn’t be able to expand into China. And there are other crucial factors to consider, too, not least that China is the world’s biggest market for semiconductor sales, at 35% of the global market share, surpassing the US, Europe, Japan, and even Taiwan, which is home to the largest manufacturer of semiconductor chips.
The CHIP law will provide $11 billion over five years to the Department of Commerce to help spur research and development in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, to invest in new technologies and expand workforce training opportunities.
Another $1.5 billion will fund the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund to help telecommunications companies compete with Chinese telecom giant Huawei and limit the scope of other telecommunications companies with close ties to China.
Millions of dollars will target workforce development to make sure workers are available to support more manufacturing.
$170 billion for scientific research
The legislation calls for a historic investment in scientific research and development that amounts to nearly $170 billion over five years, an $82.5 billion increase in the federal government’s baseline authorization.
About $13 billion will go to education in thescience, technology, engineering and math fields — known as STEM — including scholarships and fellowships, with a focus of increasing access to education in these fields in rural areas.
Universities, community colleges and high schools may be eligible for the money in an effort to strengthen America’s workforce so that it can support new chip manufacturing.
The ‘Chip 4’ meeting led by the US, South Korea, and Japan has kept out Taiwan so far. The US also sought deeper cooperation with Japan and South Korea to compete more with China’s science and technology efforts.
After hollowing out TSMC, the island of Taiwan would be irrelevant even if China takes over TSMC there.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday accused the US of trying to provoke a war in Taiwan, and in a wide-ranging interview also said he expects Malaysia’s graft-tainted ruling party to hold general elections in the coming months.
Dr Mahathir says US seeking to provoke wars in Taiwan and Ukraine
Mahathir, a two-time prime minister long known as a critic of the West and its geopolitics, warned that the US was antagonizing China through recent visits to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others. China considers the self-ruled island democracy part of its territory and regards such visits as meddling in its affairs.
“China has allowed Taiwan to remain by itself. No problem. They didn’t invade. If they wanted to invade, they could have invaded. They didn’t. But America is provoking (them) so that there can be a war, so that the Chinese will make the mistake of trying to occupy Taiwan,” the 97-year-old Mahathir said.
“Then there is an excuse … for the US to help Taiwan, even fight against China and sell a lot of arms to Taiwan,” he added.
Following Pelosi’s visit, China launched large-scale military drills surrounding the island and fired ballistic missiles into the sea. Beijing also warned Washington not to encourage Taiwan to try to make its de facto independence permanent, a step China says would lead to war.
There was no immediate US response to Mahathir’s comments.
In Malaysia, Mahathir said the ruling United Malays National Organization is likely preparing for snap polls that it will most likely “win big.” He believes that a number of Malay voters have returned to UMNO because they were offered money and other incentives.
“I think they will want to have the general elections this year. If possible, maybe as soon as two or three months from now, because they feel that at this moment the public still looks up at them, and the opposition is broken up, disorganized,” he told the AP.
Elections are not due until September 2023, but some UMNO members, including ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who are both fighting graft charges, have been rallying for an earlier vote.
Mahathir was an UMNO prime minister for 22 years until his retirement in 2003. He was inspired to return to politics by the massive looting of the 1MDB state fund during Najib’s term in office, and rode a wave of public anger to lead the opposition to a historic victory in 2018 polls that ousted Najib’s government.
Mahathir became the world’s oldest head of government at 93, but his reformist alliance collapsed in less than two years due to defections. UMNO returned to power and now leads a new coalition government.
Mahathir has formed a new party, Pejuang, and a Malay alliance to contest 120 Malay-dominated parliamentary seats. He said his mission remained the same: to “clean-up” the country and form a graft-free government.
“I don’t know about being prime minister candidate, but if I am strong enough, if I am healthy enough, if they want me to contest, I will contest,” Mahathir said.
“I will fight, even if it is a losing battle,” he said. “I will fight because I believe in principle. It’s not what happens to me. I believe in principle. I believe that this is a great country which can become a developed country, but under the crooks you will never become.”
Najib has maintained his innocence. With his final appeal against a 12-year prison sentence in the first of several trials ongoing in the country’s top court, he would not be allowed to run in the event of an early election.
Mahathir said he believes Najib hopes to make a political comeback with an UMNO win.
“In the elections, if UMNO wins, he expects an UMNO government to ask for a pardon for him — and when he gets a pardon, (and is) cleared completely, he can then become prime minister,” Mahathir said. “He will do it. Believe me, he will do it.”
On the international front, Mahathir described President Joe Biden as an “ineffective” leader.
“In a way, he’s very anti-Islam, he’s not being fair. He allows Israel to commit all kinds of crime, genocide, and he does nothing. He supports them,” said Mahathir, who has been accused of anti-Semitism for attacking Jews, whom he blames for a humanitarian crisis in Palestinian territories.
He also railed against the European Union over the Russian war on Ukraine.
“What NATO is doing, the EU is doing is to provoke some more and asking the Ukrainians to fight,” Mahathir said. “They promised to accept Ukraine (into NATO) but they didn’t.”
CIA Carried Out ‘Black Ops’ Mission to Get UK to Drop Huawei Gear in 5G Infrastructure, Book “The Secret History of the Five Eyes” Reveals.
Britain banned the Chinese tech giant’s 5G equipment from being installed by mobile network operators in 2020, and ordered operators to remove already fitted Huawei kit by 2027. British Telecom has been asked to complete the switch away from Huawei by January 2023, but has recently asked for more time to prevent service disruptions.
“The Secret History of the Five Eyes” reveals Uncle Sam shouting down the British!
A delegation of US officials dismissed their British counterparts’ report about the safety of Huawei 5G equipment, and literally shouted down their allies from across the pond for several hours straight in a Cabinet Office meeting in May of 2019, author Richard Kerbaj has alleged in an upcoming new book.
A British intelligence official who was at the meeting told the author that US deputy national security advisor Matthew Pottinger “just shouted and was entirely uninterested in the UK’s analysis” on the safety of Huawei’s products.
“The message was, ‘We don’t want you to do this, you have no idea how evil China is’. It was five hours of shouting with a prepared, angry and weirdly non-threatening script,” the official recalled. “We tried to offer a policy discussion but Pottinger didn’t care. We even said that we didn’t contest the analysis of the Chinese threat and explained our technicalities, but the US officials weren’t interested in that. Pottinger was continuously and repeatedly obnoxious.”
Former UK National Cyber Security Center chief Ciaran Martin – who was responsible for the Government Communications Headquarters’ (GCHQ) analysis of the Chinese company’s equipment to look out for any vulnerabilities, was also present at the meeting.
“We were keen to work with the US to counter [China’s] ambitions,” Martin said. “The problem was, on our side, we didn’t think Huawei’s limited involvement in UK 5G was the most important thing in a much wider strategic challenge –whereas the US were only interested in that part of the problem, for reasons we couldn’t fathom.”
Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his ox (bullock), and his horns are like the horns of unicorns. With them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh,” Deuteronomy 33:16-17.
On closer look, the Ox and the Unicorn as two separate animals is a misconception. First the scene: “the head of Joseph” and upon Joseph’s head is “his glory;” which is like “the firstling of his ox.” Joseph doesn’t have horns but the Ox has. And upon its horns, that is, the horns of the ox, these are “like the horns of unicorns.” These horns arise from the ox and not from the head of Joseph; and such horns look like that from the unicorns!
US intelligence and officials in Washington also bullied other members of the English-speaking Five Eyes Alliance into banning Huawei, with New Zealand and Australia doing so in late 2018, and Canada holding out until May 2022 before folding. In February 2019, then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Britain that its use of Huawei equipment would pose a national security risk to the US. The same month as the testy May 2019 meeting, the Commerce Department placed Huawei and dozens of its affiliates on a trade blacklist.
The CIA also got in on the intimidation campaign, working, according to Kerbaj, on trying to “discredit” the UK’s position with their French, German, Italian and Norwegian colleagues, and expressing superficial concerns over Britain’s “misjudgment” of the matter. British intelligence officials slammed the CIA’s behavior as an open “black ops” mission against an ally.
The US delegation “didn’t really have any compelling technical arguments that undermined the GCHQ case,” Sir Kim Darroch, who was Britain’s ambassador to the US at the time, said.
“I remember GCHQ seeming pretty unimpressed. The encounter exposed that the US case was really political, not technical. So GCHQ stuck to their guns, and, initially, so did the prime minister,” Darroch said.
Boris Johnson, who initially supported Martin’s recommendations on Huawei, banned the Chinese company from operations in the UK in July 2020 after the US presented London with a fait accompli by barring the Chinese firm from using US-made chips in its 5G equipment. The move has caused a multiyear delay in Britain’s 5G rollout, with economists predicting that it will cost more than £2 billion to remove Huawei equipment by the 2027 deadline.
Martin, who resigned as GCHQ CSC chief in late 2020, told Kerbaj that the Huawei 5G spat had made Britain “entirely dependent on Nokia and Ericsson,” and that while the UK “trusts” these companies, “in reality, anyone can have a go at hacking anything.”
“Are we seriously saying that just because they’re not Chinese, they can’t be hacked? By neighboring Russia, for example? Or China?” he asked.
Huawei has consistently denied that any of its equipment has built-in capabilities for use for malevolent purposes by the Chinese government, and has emphasized that it is a private, independent company with no affiliation with Chinese authorities. The company has also expressed willingness to sign a ‘no-spy’ or ‘no-backdoor’ guarantee to assuage any privacy concerns, a commitment its Western competitors have yet to match.
Kerbaj’s book, ‘The Secret History of the Five Eyes’, is set to drop on September 1.
Only One Mystical Animal: The Ox with Horns of a Unicorn, but no Unicorn!
Since Brexit, the UK has followed US policy closer and closer until it is as if the UK is a state and mouthpiece of the United States. Both Australia and New Zealand are treaty allies of the US in the trilateral ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand and the US) Treaty as well as in Five Eyes (FVEY) intelligence alliance, the latter also comprising Canada and the UK.
Additionally, Australia, the US and the UK also announced a trilateral AUKUS arrangement last September. Under AUKUS, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would get access to technology to develop advanced nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). New Zealand, who used to have a fiercely independent foreign policy, now seems to have allowed herself more and more aligned with the group. Spearheaded by the US, these five nations move around together in a pack; its nerve center radiating from Washington DC, not London.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that his country is ready to distribute advanced weaponry across the globe, including in Latin America (read especially the Latin America), which he says is superior to other weapons systems.
Putin most willing to offer the ‘most modern’ weapons to Latin America
“Russia sincerely cherishes the historical strong, friendly, truly trusting ties with the states of Latin America, Asia, and Africa and is ready to offer its partners and allies the most modern types of weapons,” Putin said at the opening of the Army-2022 International Military and Technical Forum outside of Moscow. “From small arms to armored vehicles and artillery, combat aircrafts and unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Putin added that “almost all” of the weapons he is willing to sell across the globe have been used more than once in combat and claimed that the Russian-made products are superior to those made by his foreign rivals.
“Many of them are years, or maybe decades ahead of their foreign counterparts, and in terms of tactical and technical characteristics they are significantly superior to them,” Putin said.
Rebekah Koffler, a former U.S. DIA intelligence officer focused on Russia and the author of “Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America,” told Fox News Digital that Putin’s comments show his desire to push his country’s influence all over the world.
“Putin is reaching out to all corners of the world especially now that Russia is being isolated by Western sanctions,” Koffler said. “He’s trying to invoke his own version of the Monroe Doctrine in his pursuit of influence that the Russians believe we are violating by trying to democratize countries like Ukraine.”
Koffler explained that Russia’s overtures to his Latin American allies such as Venezuela and Cuba have been “intensifying” in recent months and could be part of a plan to potentially establish military bases in the region.
Koffler said that Putin is telling the world that he believes Russia’s “value system is superior” and that by presenting a united front with his dictator-led allies in the Western Hemisphere he is “countering U.S. influence” and attempting to “demonstrate that their regimes are just as legitimate as democratic regimes.”
Putin’s statement also signals that he “needs additional revenue” in light of U.S. sanctions stemming from Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Koffler explained. He’s also “always interested in supporting fellow authoritarian regimes.”
While Koffler acknowledged that Russian weapons may not be as sophisticated as U.S. weapons in all areas, the country is considered by the Pentagon as a “near peer” competitor in that department and weapons ranging from AK-47s to S-400 surface-to-air missile systems could end up in the hands of groups across the world that present a “threat in the long term” to “kill Americans.”
“It’s not just Latin America, but it’s all over,” Koffler said of Putin’s plans to ship weapons to allies. “It’s China, North Korea, and Iran as well.”
Russia ranks second only to the United States with arms sales of around $15 billion a year, nearly a fifth of the global export market. From 2017-2021, 73% of those sales went to just four countries – India, China, Egypt and Algeria – according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah; I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. Hosea 5:14
And I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:9-10
God’s Temple would only be in Jerusalem, but there were counterfeit temples, first built by a rebellious Jeroboam, later by his Latter-days imitators.
Latter-days Counterfeit Temple at Salt Lake City
I King 12
26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David.
27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
28 Whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt!”
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
31 And he made a house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made; and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart, and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel; and he offered upon the altar and burned incense.
Now the Later Days Ephraimites have temples in Utah and elsewhere
“And this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.”
Therefore, in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ Mark 7:7
Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto Me. The new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure. It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. — Jeroboam’s new moon and sabbaths were an abomination to God; it was outright malicious and rebellious, hence God couldn’t endure and so send them, the house of Israel, off into captivity; — these assemblies called were the holy convocations on the seventh day Sabbath, at the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, at the blowing of the Trumpets, on the day of Atonement and Tabernacles: Leviticus 23.
Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hateth; they are a trouble unto Me, I am weary of bearing them. — again, this new moon and their appointed feasts are repeated to show how God hates them; — God was and is referring to the house of Israel; their appointed feasts a month late, and at Dan and Bethel, instead of in Jerusalem, where he ordains it to be the holy place; and they maliciously change the day of worship from Sabbaths to Sundays.
On 13 April 1919, the British Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer, opened fire on a crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, in Amritsar in the Indian state of Punjab.
The 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, 379–381 dead, by the British Army
The people had congregated for the Baisakhi festival and to protest peacefully against the arrest of two key freedom fighters — Dr Satya Pal and Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday led the nation in paying tribute to the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, with 379–381 dead, which took place on this day in 1919 while the country was under British rule.
In his message posted on Twitter, Prime Minister Modi talked of those who died in the event, saying that “their unparalleled courage and sacrifice will motivate future generations.”
At the same time, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the country’s main opposition party, Congress, paid tribute to the martyrs and said “the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh showed the world the cruelty of an autocratic regime.”
Shashi Tharoor, who penned a book ‘An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India’, has accused the British of draining the country of resources.
“The British came to one of the richest countries in the world accounting for 27 percent of global GDP in 1700,” he said, adding that after more than 200 years of exploitation, depredation, and destruction, India was reduced “to a poster child for Third World poverty,” accounting for just above 3 percent of global GDP by the time the country gained independence.
According to Tharoor, 35 million people died under the British Raj from unnecessary famines caused by British policy.
Shashi Tharoor, author of ‘An Era of Darkness’
An estimated three million people died in the Bengal famine of 1943, which Tharoor blamed on WInston Churchill’s policies of “deliberately ordering the diversion of food from starving Indian civilians to well-supplied British soldiers and even to top up European stockpiles, meant for yet-to-be-liberated Greeks and Yugoslavs.”
“Bodies began piling up on the sides of roads and in ponds, rivers and ditches. Vultures got too fat to take flight, and jackals feasted on still-living bodies in broad daylight,” writes Professor Janam Mukherjee in his book, ‘Hunger Bengal: War, Famine, Riots and the End of Empire.’
“And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up; and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him” Jeremiah 50:32.
“In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate, that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished” Ezekiel 6:6.
An indigenous nation in Canada says it has found 751 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school in Saskatchewan.
“An estimated 6,000 children died while attending these schools.”
The Cowessess First Nation said the discovery was “the most significantly substantial to date in Canada”.
It comes weeks after the remains of 215 children were found at a similar residential school in British Columbia.
“This is not a mass grave site. These are unmarked graves,” said Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme.
The Marieval Indian Residential School was operated by the Roman Catholic Church from 1899 to the 1980s, when the First Nation took over operations, in the area where Cowessess is now located in southeastern Saskatchewan. It is not yet clear if all of the remains are linked to the school.
It was one of more than 130 compulsory boarding schools funded by the Canadian government and run by religious authorities during the 19th and 20th Centuries with the aim of assimilating indigenous youth.
An estimated 6,000 children died while attending these schools, according to former Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair Murray Sinclair. Students were often housed in poorly built, poorly heated, and unsanitary facilities.
Chief Delorme said there may have been markers for the graves at one point but that the Roman Catholic church, which oversaw the cemetery, may have removed them. Cowessess First Nation is “optimistic” that the church will work with them in investigating further, he said.
It has not yet been determined if all the unmarked graves belong to children, Chief Delorme said. Technical teams will now work to provide a verified number and identify the remains, he said.
In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “terribly saddened” by the discovery in Saskatchewan. He said it was “a shameful reminder of the systemic racism, discrimination, and injustice that Indigenous peoples have faced.”
“I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel; there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled” Hosea 6:10
And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and the like of which I will not do any more, because of all thine abominations. Ezekiel 5:9
Is there any possibility of a coup attempt in Taiwan?
Imagine what the top brass of the Taiwanese Military would think: if Taiwan is returned back to mainland China.
Not expecting to win, Taiwan’s fake President says “Beijing will pay a heavy price.”
(a) China’s white paper of 2022 had said if Taiwan is reunited they would send troops to Taiwan to take control of the island. This is assuming China has to take Taiwan by force and Taiwan would loose much autonomy.
(b) but if Taiwan is reunited with China by peaceful mean, Taiwan would be granted much autonomy, as China had said in two previous white papers, in 1993 and 2000, that they “will not send troops or administrative personnel to be based in Taiwan” after achieving reunification on peaceful terms.
Taiwan’s military equipments are antiquated and their top brass know this. Former President Ma Ying-jeou had said the US will not come to Taiwan’s aid in the case of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s navy has two aircraft carriers and 530 warships, all in the Western Pacific
China has J-20s and carrier-borne FC-31 stealth fighters but Taiwan hasn’t have any of the US F-35. All Taiwan has are a couple of non-stealth F-16s of the Vietnam War era and not even a single F-18. China’s navy has already two aircraft carriers and another on the way; plus another 530 warships, more than even the US’s 490. Another sixty or so submarines cruise below the surface.
Despite much rhetorics about coming to Taiwan’s help should China invade Taiwan, none of the US’s Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group with their combined 27,000 sailors and marines would risk coming close to any of Taiwan’s shorelines. For there awaits China’s hypersonic DF17, DF21, DF26 and others all keeping watch deep in the heartland of Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet, Sichuan and Gansu; and other anti-ship missiles, designated as YJ-12B, allow China to strike surface vessels within 295 nautical miles from their strategic Spratly and Paracel Islands in the hotly contested South China Sea.
“The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle” Psalm 78:9
“The US Navy wouldn’t dare come close to Taiwan’s shoreline.”
In a speech on cross-strait relations and Taiwanese national security delivered in August 10, 2020, Ma stated that China’s strategy of striking Taiwan is to “let the first battle be the last,” indicating that the emerging behemoth aims to launch a quick war so that Taiwan does not have time to wait for American military support.
If Taiwan lost out and they will, their top military personel and bull-headed politicians would spend the rest of their lives in prison, unless they manage to flee abroad like President Thiệu of South Vietnam in April 30, 1975 with 15 tons of gold to Taiwan; otherwise hide underground like Saddam of Iraq had done when the American forces overrun over their country in March 29, 2003 before an onslaught.
Certainly the Taiwanese military also know that if they negotiate a settlement they could be assured Taiwan’s military would enjoy great autonomy after becoming a special administrative region of China. The white paper of 2022 says “anything can be negotiated.” That’s why the transition and takeover of the Afghanistan government by the Taliban from the frormer regime were so stealthful, quick and smooth; simply because the fakes know they are fakes and will evenutally be exposed.
Taiwan’s “first battle will be the last” former President Ma predicted a war with China
“The president should prevent war from happening,” Ma said, referring to Taiwan’s fake President Tsai Ing-wen’s frequent comments to foreign media that if Taiwan is attacked by China, Beijing will “pay a heavy price.” She also said that after the nation endures the first wave of attacks, she hopes countries around the world will come to assist it.
But Ma Ying-jeou said he was worried because the Taiwan’s military is aware of China’s strategy. Once war has begun, it will be over in a very short time, he predicted, giving Taiwan no chance to wait for the US military to arrive. Hence Ma predicted Taiwan’s “first battle” with China will also be Taiwan’s “last.”
And since Nancy Pelocy’s trip to Taiwan, their top military brass are having high blood pressure, more so when they could hopefully see missiles flying over their island. Amid such tensions, Taiwan’s defence research expert, Ou Yang Li-hsing, 57, who was in charge of missile production, died in a hotel room “of a heart attack.”
Ou Yang Li-hsing, who was in charge of missile production, died in a hotel room “of a heart attack.”
Soon after Pelosi’s departure, another US congressional delegation arrived in Taiwan, a five-member delegation, led by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, to meet President Tsai and attend a banquet hosted by the foreign minister, Joseph Wu, during another provocative visit.
China relaunched more military drills and other simulating blockade around Taiwan, with 30 warplanes and five vessels near the Taiwan Straight. And this goes in a circle as it wouldn’t be long before another batch of provocateurs would land in Taiwan to stir the pot, this time led by either a group of Canadian lawmakers or Lithuanian demagogues and her European compatriots.
Given such a scenario, the pressures and incentives for the top military brass of Taiwan to carry out a coup is extremely irresistable and seducive.
“And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim” Jeremiah 7:15
“The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet” Isaiah 28:3
The Ryukyuan with their own distinct culture; some trace of Chinese
Native Okinawan (Luchun) Rob Kajiwara spells out the horrifying atrocities the Japanese government and US government committed to their people and homeland. In order to control China and the whole Asia-Pacific region, the United States put hundreds of military bases across the region and almost erased the population and culture of native people on different islands. This is the excerpt of the interview with Rob Kajiwara, check the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L-gY…
Territories covered by the US military bases dominate Okinawa
The Ryukyuan people are indigenous people who live on the Ryukyu Islands, and are ethnically, culturally, and linguistically distinct from Japanese people. During the Sanzan period, Okinawa was divided into the three polities of Hokuzan, Chūzan and Nanzan. In 1429, Chūzan’s chieftain Shō Hashi unified them and founded the autonomous Ryukyu Kingdom (1429–1879), with the capital at Shuri Castle.
The kingdom continued to have tributary relations with the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty China, a practice that was started by Chūzan in 1372–1374 and lasted until the downfall of the kingdom in the late 19th century. This tributary relationship was greatly beneficial to the kingdom as the kings received political legitimacy, while the country as a whole gained access to economic, cultural and political opportunities in Southeast Asia without any interference by China in the internal political autonomy of Ryukyu.
In 1879, Japan annexed the islands and the kingdom-domain was abolished, established as Okinawa Prefecture, while the last Ryukyu king Shō Tai was forcibly exiled to Tokyo; others to China. Sixteen years later, in 1895, the Japanese empire annexed Taiwan.
41:00 Rob Kajiwara: “Some Luchuans actually lived out the remainder of their lives in exile in China where they continued to hope and pray for the day that China would once again become strong enough to help free Luchu and restore Luchu’s independence.”
Today the Luchuans are crying out for freedom!
“But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel,” saith the LORD the God of hosts; “and they shall afflict you from the entrance of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.” Amos 6:14
And I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:9-10
Henry Kissinger: US ‘at Edge of War’ With Russia, China
MOSCOW (Sputnik) // RT August 14, 2022 / Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger believes that Washington is teetering on the brink of war with Moscow and Beijing on the matters that the United States co-created.
“We are at the edge of war with Russia and China on issues which we partly created, without any concept of how this is going to end or what it is supposed to lead to,” Kissinger told the Wall Street Journal.
Could the US manage the two adversaries by triangulating between them, as during the Nixon years? He offers no simple prescription. “You can’t just now say we’re going to split them off and turn them against each other. All you can do is not to accelerate the tensions and to create options, and for that you have to have some purpose.”
The veteran foreign policy scholar said that the Unuted States can only avoid accelerating tensions and “create options.”
As for Ukraine, Kissinger thought that in the past it was best fit to act as a buffer between Russia and the West, “something like Finland.” However, Russia’s military operation in Ukraine changed his view, making him believe that “one way or the other, formally or not, Ukraine has to be treated in the aftermath of this as a member of NATO.” The former secretary of state also argued that Russia would retain Crimea and parts of Donbass as a result of a plausible settlement with Kiev.
On the question of Taiwan, Kissinger worries that the US and China are maneuvering toward a crisis, and he counsels steadiness on Washington’s part. “The policy that was carried out by both parties has produced and allowed the progress of Taiwan into an autonomous democratic entity and has preserved peace between China and the US for 50 years,” he says. “One should be very careful, therefore, in measures that seem to change the basic structure.”
During the World Economic Forum in May, Kissinger called for a diplomatic settlement in Ukraine to restore the status quo ante bellum, i.e. the situation as it was before Russia launched its special operation on February 24.
“Henry Kissinger is warning about the dangers of US warmongering not because he has gotten saner, but because the US war machine has gotten crazier.”
Last month, Kissinger, the man who helped reestablish US-China ties in the 1970s, warned President Joe Biden against “endless confrontations” with Beijing.
“Biden and previous administrations have been too much influenced by the domestic aspects of the view of China,” Kissinger told Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait. “It is, of course, important to prevent Chinese or any other country’s hegemony.”
The 99-year-old diplomat said that geopolitics today requires “Nixonian flexibility” to help ease tensions between Washington and Beijing.
“The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle” Psalm 78:9
And I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:9-10
Much of Europe and the Northern Hemisphere is battling either wildfires, low water levels, harvest warnings, water use restrictions or a mixture of all these. DW and Euronews round up the situation.
Around much of the Northern Hemisphere, from Hungary to Hawaii, from the drying Rhine River to the now-recovering Rio Grande, or from Casablanca to California, summer droughts and high temperatures are having a serious impact on everything from agriculture to the freight industry.
As was the day of Ahad and Jezebel, so is it today
Here’s a rundown of some of the latest drought-related developments from around the world, plus a window to more bespoke coverage in various media.
There was a prophecy by prophet Elijah who prophecised a drought of three and a half years. He warned Ahab that there will be years of catastrophic drought so severe that not even dew will form, because Ahab and his queen stand at the end of a line of kings of Israel who are said to have “done evil in the sight of the Lord.”
1 Kings 17
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except according to my word.”
2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
3 “Get thee hence and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the Brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.
4 And it shall be that thou shalt drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.”
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord; for he went and dwelt by the Brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
China has withdrawn a promise not to send troops or administrators to Taiwan if it takes control of the island, an official document showed on Wednesday, signalling a decision by President Xi Jinping to grant less autonomy than previously offered.
China’s Promise of Autonomy Withdrawn from Taiwan
China’s white paper on its position on self-ruled Taiwan follows days of unprecedented Chinese military exercises near the island, which Beijing claims as its territory, in protest against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit last week.
China had said in two previous white papers on Taiwan, in 1993 and 2000, that it “will not send troops or administrative personnel to be based in Taiwan” after achieving what Beijing terms “reunification.”
That line, meant to assure Taiwan it would enjoy autonomy after becoming a special administrative region of China, did not appear in the latest white paper.
China’s ruling Communist Party had proposed that Taiwan could return to its rule under a “one country, two systems” model, similar to the formula under which the former British colony of Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
That would offer some autonomy to democratically ruled Taiwan to partially preserve its social and political systems.
Taiwan’s government says only the island’s people can decide their future.
A line in the 2000 white paper that said “anything can be negotiated” as long as Taiwan accepts that there is only one China and does not seek independence, is also missing from the latest white paper.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan this week heightened tensions between China and the United States. Behind the recent developments, including Beijing’s show of force in response, is a long history of shifting ties and frictions.
The Propose “Taiwan Policy Act” of 2022, trying to tame the rising Dragon
US Senators Bob Menendez and Lindsey Graham recently introduced the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, a 107-page bill that Menendez called a “seminal statement of the United States’ absolute commitment” to China’s Taiwan region. The bill’s focus on an unwarranted “defense partnership” and multibillion dollar security assistance capture the latest bipartisan attempt to interfere in China’s internal affairs. Such attempts to empower Taiwan separatist forces have failed in the past, and the Taiwan Policy Act will be no exception.
Washington’s willingness to consistently endorse and support the motivations of Taiwan independence forces should make a fundamental reality clear: characterizing “the security of Taiwan” a “major non-NATO ally,” and the ability for its people to “determine their own future” as “fundamental to United States’ interests and values” is a preposterous assertion. It serves no other interest than hollowing out and obscuring Washington’s adherence to the one-China principle. That trajectory is unsustainable.
Senators Bob Menendez and Lindsey Graham introduced the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022
The act arrives at a time when US officials are keen to advance high-level communication between the two countries in the summer. The Biden administration is lobbying Democratic senators to put the brakes on a bill that would alter US policy toward Taiwan, including by designating it as a major non-NATO ally, according to people familiar with the matter.
The legislation also would provide Taiwan with $4.5 billion in military aid, including potentially long-range missiles capable of striking mainland China. This would make the island the fourth-largest recipient of US security assistance, behind only Kiev, Tel Aviv and Cairo.
The upshot is that the White House sees provoking China further as unwise in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island, which triggered an unprecedented crisis in the Taiwan Strait. A Chinese military official warned the situation could lead to “a real war at any point.”
However, the Taiwan Policy Act runs contrary to those realities, presenting a pretexts of Chinese “aggression and influence campaigns” to justify Senator Graham’s fiction of record-setting military and economic “expansion” with the Taiwan region.
“The White House has significant concerns,” said Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “I have significant concerns.”
Murphy said the Foreign Relations panel is delaying work on the legislation until September and it may be rewritten. The committee had planned to vote on the bill Wednesday. The US has treated Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally since the George W. Bush administration. The bill would formalize that designation.
The Biden administration considers the legislation counterproductive and that it would interfere with the decades-old approach of “strategic ambiguity” about whether the US military would defend Taiwan against Communist forces, according to the people, who asked for anonymity because the discussions are private. The US also adheres to a “One China” policy which deems the question of sovereignty over Taiwan as undetermined.
“I’m not sure this is the moment to throw out 40 years of policy,” Murphy said, while adding that “it makes sense for us to draw closer to Taiwan.”
“The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle” Psalm 78:9
And I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:9-10
North Korea Willing To Send Russia 100,000 Troops For Ukraine War
During six months of war in Ukraine there have been some instances of Russian satellite states providing “volunteer” forces – with Chechens being a foremost reported group of foreign fighters said to be in Ukraine. But Russian state media recently presented the biggest offer of foreign troops yet, reportedly from an unlikely “pariah” nation also long at odds with the United States.
North Korea has offered Russia 100,000 troops to help defeat Ukraine, according to Russian state media.
A Russian pundit said North Korean troops could bring useful experience with counter-battery warfare, per reports.
North Korea is also reportedly prepared to send workers to help rebuild the Donbas region for Russia.
North Korea expresses a desire to meet its international duty
North Korea has said it is willing to send 100,000 “volunteer” troops to help Vladimir Putin execute the ongoing war in Ukraine, Business Insider has reported, citing Channel One Russia. Russian military pundit Igor Korotchenko made the claim to the state broadcaster, saying further that the DPRK military could provide a “wealth of experience with counter-battery warfare.”
“If North Korea expresses a desire to meet its international duty to fight against Ukrainian fascism, we should let them,” Korotchenko was also quoted in New York Post as saying.
This comes amid unverified Western media claims that Russia has suffered huge and unexpected numbers of casualties, to the point of being “desperate” – and reportedly being forced to provide abbreviated and ineffective training to new recruits.
North Korea’s military is the world’s fourth largest, with nearly 1.3 million active personnel, according to the New York-based Council for Foreign Relations. A further 600,000 serve as reserve soldiers.
Defense experts say it operates with aging equipment and technology, said the CFR.
According to the South Korean newspaper Daily NK, North Korea has also offered up workers to assist Russia in rebuilding a post-war Ukraine.
Citing Russian sources, Daily NK reported that North Korea is planning on sending more than 1,000 workers to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine if Russia wins the war.
“Considering that the war isn’t over yet, the government is planning to send workers at an appropriate time while monitoring the situation on the ground,” a North Korean source said, per Daily NK.
The United States has declared monkeypox a public health emergency, the health secretary confirmed Thursday.
Cases had crossed 6,600 in the United States a day earlier, almost all of them among men who have sex with men.
Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, told Reuters that the spread of cases outside that group was not high but was being carefully monitored.
“But you’ve always got to take things like that seriously and keep an open mind that you might see more of that. You don’t want to panic people because there’s no need to be overly concerned now, but at the same time that you’re not currently over-concerned you should be currently very observant, and currently very careful, and currently on top of what’s going on and following it very carefully.”
The first US case of monkeypox was confirmed in Massachusetts in May, followed by another case in California five days later.
Declarations of emergencies are already in place in California, Illinois and New York.
The World Health Organization last month dubbed monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern,” its highest alert level.
First identified in monkeys in 1958, the disease has mild symptoms including fever, aches and skin lesions, and is usually spread through close contact.
The US government had distributed 156,000 monkeypox vaccine doses nationwide through mid-July. It has ordered an additional 2.5 million doses.
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire, from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Genesis 19:24-25
Reuters Washington DC lightning strike that killed three on “climate” warning / August 6, 2022
The two men and two women struck by lightning on Thursday while visiting Washington’s Lafayette Square, just north of the White House, were among the unlucky few – struck by a bolt that hit the ground during a violent, afternoon thunderstorm.
Lightning strikes near the White House killing three people and injuring two more
The lightning hit near a tree that stands yards (meters) away from the fence that surrounds the presidential residence and offices across from the square, which is often crowded with visitors, especially in the summer months.
All four victims sustained critical, life-threatening injuries, and were taken to area hospitals. Two of them later died: James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, from Janesville, Wisconsin, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
Later on Friday a third victim, a 29-year-old male, was pronounced dead, the Metropolitan Police Department said. Further details on the victim were being withheld until the next-of-kin were notified.
The “staggering” number of people illegally crossing the US-Mexico border poses a “significant security issue” that can be exploited by terrorists, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Thursday.
One Houston (6-7m) added to the US every year: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
Wray repeatedly expressed concern about the border crisis at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, despite other members of the Biden administration insisting the border situation is under control.
“I certainly know that it is an eclectic mix of nationalities and the volume is just staggering,” Wray told Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Cornyn followed up, “And that’s a public security threat, you agree with me?”
“To me it represents a significant security issue and represents a wide array of criminal threats that flow out of it,”
The number of Border Patrol busts in the 2022 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, has already surpassed 1.6 million, according to official figures.
One Houston (4.49th minute) 6-7m added to the US every year: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
The year’s tally is poised to soar past last year’s record of nearly 1.7 million encounters. The figures do not include the number of people able to evade authorities.
Nightly crossing through a gap at the US-Mexico border near Yuma, Arizona
Below is a warning from Ezekiel
Nobody Will Put Out the Fire
Ezekiel 20:45-46God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, face south. Let the Message roll out against the south. Prophesy against the wilderness forest of the south.
47-48 “Tell the forest of the south, ‘Listen to the Message of God! God, the Master, says, I’ll set a fire in you that will burn up every tree, dead trees and live trees alike. Nobody will put out the fire. The whole country from south to north will be blackened by it. Everyone is going to see that I, God, started the fire and that it’s not going to be put out.’”
49 And I said, “O God, everyone is saying of me, ‘He just makes up stories.’”
A Sword! A Sword!
Ezekiel 21:1-5God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, now face Jerusalem and let the Message roll out against the Sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel. Say, ‘God’s Message: I’m against you. I’m pulling my sword from its sheath and killing both the wicked and the righteous. Because I’m treating everyone the same, good and bad, everyone from south to north is going to feel my sword! Everyone will know that I mean business.’ Ezekiel 20:45-21:5 (The Message Bible)
Russia cannot afford to lose in Ukraine, but neither can the US – is there a non-nuclear way out of the deadlock?
An escalation can lead to a bigger and more dangerous conflict. Are Moscow and Washington ready to take the risk?
What is vital for the two countries and the rest of the world is that this fight does not cross the nuclear threshold; BUT WHAT IF, IT DOES?
The threat of the conflict in Ukraine getting out of control is not just an ever-present concern, but a reality.
The authors of the RAND Corporation’s recent paper, ‘Pathways to Russian Escalation Against NATO From the Ukraine War’, warn US policymakers to be careful in their statements and moves. This is particularly when deciding on military postures, deployment patterns, weapons capabilities, and the like, so that the steps taken by them do not provoke the Russian leadership into pre-emptive or retaliatory strikes, including using non-strategic nuclear weapons, or taking the campaign into NATO territory.
This is totally in line with America’s overall approach of doing the maximum to weaken Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine while avoiding being drawn directly into a war against Moscow.
Seen from here, Washington is clearly escalating its participation in the conflict by constantly testing the limits of Russian tolerance of these moves. It started with the provision to Kiev of Javelin anti-tank systems; it was then amplified to include M777 howitzers and HIMARS MLRS systems; it is now moving in the direction of providing Ukraine with U.S.-made military aircraft and training its pilots to fly them. In addition to the new packages of Western sanctions, Russia is also facing pressure on its geopolitically vulnerable outposts, whether regarding goods transit to and from its Kaliningrad exclave or the status of its forces in Transnistria, a small territory wedged between Ukraine and Moldova. Some refer to the latter as attempts by America’s junior allies in Eastern Europe to open a second front against Russia.
So far, Russia’s actions and inaction have sometimes appeared surprising, even puzzling to US watchers. Moscow has refrained from strikes against transport links to Poland, cyberattacks against Ukrainian – not to mention U.S. – critical infrastructure, or even destroying bridges across the Dnieper River. As for the most concerning step of all – Russia using tactical nuclear weapons – this scenario is irrelevant in a situation where hostilities are taking place on Ukrainian territory with Russian forces slowly but steadily advancing, and a “threat to the existence of the Russian Federation” – the doctrinal condition for such deployment – is out of the question.
Moscow’s failure to respond immediately to high-profile Ukrainian actions, such as the constant shelling of the center of Donetsk; missile attacks against Russian villages and towns close to their shared border; or even the loss of the Moskva, the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, hit and sunk by Ukraine with the material assistance of the United States, probably demonstrates the Kremlin’s unwillingness to be provoked by the enemy. President Vladimir Putin probably prefers his revenge to be served cold, and at the time of his choosing. It would be safe to say that nothing from this conflict will be forgotten by either side, but at least the Russians have refused to be distracted from their current central task – defeating the enemy’s forces in Donbass and taking control over Ukraine’s east and south.
So far, U.S.-led assistance to Kiev, whether military, financial or diplomatic, has not had a decisive impact on the battlefield. It has certainly propped up the Zelensky government and compensated for the Ukrainian forces’ losses of military equipment, thus contributing to the slowing down of Russian advances, but has not turned the tide of the war. One may conclude that the Kremlin sees no need, for now, to do things that would breach the resistance of the Biden Administration to domestic U.S. demands for a more rapid escalation of the U.S. involvement in the conflict. Jake Sullivan’s recent comment to the Aspen Strategy Group, demonstrating the reluctance of the White House to provide ATACMS systems to Kiev, suggests that this approach has some value.
Looking ahead, one should expect more US escalation in any scenario of the evolution of fighting in Ukraine – whether Russia continues to gain ground (and integrate various new territories into the Russian Federation), or Ukraine mounts a counter-offensive (which so far it has failed to do). Russian officials express concern that a Ukrainian provocation presented as Moscow’s use of chemical weapons – which makes no military or any other sense but would certainly be believed in the US as a major egregious act by the Russians – could lead to Washington climbing abruptly up the escalation ladder.
Things may become even more serious, however, if the US or its NATO allies enter Ukraine, or otherwise become directly involved in the conflict; if the material assistance which they provide to Kiev starts making a major difference on the battlefield; or if those weapons are used to strike significant targets on Russia’s territory, such as the Crimean Bridge. There are parallel American concerns about Russia attacking transshipment points on NATO territory, launching significant counter-attacks against the United States or its allies, and using weapons of mass destruction. The last point has already been discussed, and as to the previous two, they could be in response to an adverse turn of events in the theater of operations.
Avoiding a “full-scale war” with Russia is one of the main priorities, Jens Stoltenberg says, BUT WHAT IF IT GOES OUT OF HAND?
Neither Russia nor the US can afford to lose in the conflict now raging in Ukraine. However, the difference between the situations faced by Washington and Moscow is huge. For the American leadership, a failure in Ukraine would be a strategic setback, politically costly both at home and internationally; for the Russian leadership, the outcome of its special military operation is an existential matter. In an asymmetrical conflict like this one, this amounts to an escalation advantage, if not dominance. What is vital for the two countries and the rest of the world is that this fight does not cross the nuclear threshold; BUT WHAT IF, IT DOES?
NATO reveals its goal in Ukraine conflict Avoiding a “full-scale war” with Russia is one of the main priorities, Jens Stoltenberg says, BUT WHAT IF IT GOES OUT OF HAND?
The Mormon people regard them-selves as of Israel, and the term “Israel” as applying to themselves is frequently heard in their congregations. They believe themselves to be of Ephraim, and cousins of the Jews, who are of Judah.
The Book of Mormon: Great Britain….The Blessing Given to Manasseh, Not Ephraim?
To a Mormon those not of their faith are regarded as “Gentiles.” Gentiles in Utah often say, in a bantering way, that everybody in Utah outside of the Mormons is a Gentile, even the Jews! But the Mormons themselves would add “Excepting the Jews,” for, as already pointed out. they regard the Jew in the same light that he regards himself as of Israel, but of another “branch” of the faith.
The Mormons hold Heber J. Grant, who is an insurance man by profession as a literal prophet of God, even as Abraham and Moses. Joseph Smith was their first prophet and Brigham Young the second. Others followed until Mr Grant took the office nearly a decade ago.
They assert that they are hated by some sects because of their teachings respecting exclusive divine authority rather than because of polygamy. Polygamy was dropped in the ’90’s, and if anybody in the church attempted it today he would be set upon by church leaders without mercy, as far as immediate excommunication has any terrors. This is because the church undertook to abandon polygamy after the US Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, and not because of any retraction of faith.
“EPHRAIM SHALL NOT VEX JUDAH”
The Book of Mormon is a history, chiefly, of the descendants of Joseph; and in the mighty nations which have peopled the American continent, the Latter-day Saints see, in part, the fulfillment of the great blessings pronounced upon his head.
Doctrinal Outline Established:
“The great majority of those who have come into the Church are Ephraimites. It is the exception to find one of any other tribe, unless it is of Manasseh.”
Mormons believe their relationship as Ephraimites and the Jews. “With us Mormons who are Ephraimites the time has come when Judah shall not envy Ephraim and Ephraim shall not vex Judah.”
“It is essential in this dispensation that Ephraim stand in his place at the head, exercising the birthright in Israel which was given to him by direct revelation. Therefore, Ephraim must be gathered first to prepare the way, through the gospel and the priesthood, for the rest of the tribes of Israel when the time comes for them to be gathered to Zion.”
The birthright had nothing to do with the priesthood. The Levites had the priesthood in the Old Testament, but they did not have the birthright.
Notice the gathering to Zion … where is Zion again? All of America (North + Central + South) as Joseph Smith taught? “The great majority of those who have come into the Church are Ephraimites. It is the exception to find one of any other tribe, unless it is of Manasseh.”
“It is Ephraim, today, who holds the priesthood. It is with Ephraim that the Lord has made covenant and has revealed the fulness of the everlasting gospel. It is Ephraim who is building temples and performing the ordinances in them for both the living and for the dead. When the “lost tribes” come — and it will be a most wonderful sight and a marvelous thing when they do come to Zion — in fulfilment of the promises made through Isaiah and Jeremiah, they will have to receive the crowning blessings from their brother Ephraim, the “firstborn” in Israel” (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:252–53).” — page 66.
Only Ephraim is building temples? Only Ephraim holds the priesthood in the LDS Church today?
In fulfilment of the promises made through Isaiah and Jeremiah?
No. This is not the context of the Old Testament prophets.
Both Isaiah and Jeremiah wrote concerning Judah and Jerusalem (Isaiah chapter 2, Jeremiah chapters 4-6).
Confusion arises when scripture is taken out of context.
Great Britain was first because Manasseh was first born and Great Britain was a nation first, long before America; but Ephraim was considered as the firstborn in Israel?
Israel, David, and Ephraim were called the firstborn (Ex. 4:22; Jer. 31:9; Ps. 89:27).
In Doctrine and Covenants 133:34, Joseph Smith said that the tribe of Ephraim would receive the richer blessing above all the other tribes of Israel. The meaning of the name Manasseh, which is forgetful or he who forgets.
it says, “Ephraim was given the birthright in Israel (1 Chr. 5: 1-2; Jer. 31: 9), and in the last days it has been the tribe of Ephraim’s privilege first to bear the message of the restoration of the gospel to the world and to gather scattered Israel.”
If you read that passage in Chronicles, the birthright went to Ephraim plus Manasseh. Let’s not forget that. There is no scripture saying that Manasseh ever lost this birthright.
The Throne of Britain on The Stone of Scoon
By the way, the birthright applies to the physical tribes of Israel. This Israelite birthright does not extend to non-Israelites.
“The time will come when, through the operation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the envy of Judah and Ephraim shall cease (Isa. 11:12-13).
That last part is incorrect.
If you examine Isaiah 11:12-13, you will see that it has also been mentioned by the Book of Mormon.
“The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim” (Isaiah).
2 Nephi 21:13 – “The envy of Ephraim also shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.”
When you examine both versions, it says that a time will come when Ephraim will not envy Judah. Judah did not envy Ephraim. It was Ephraim who envied Judah.
Doctrine and Covenants 133:35 says, “And they also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, forever and ever.”
This sounds like Judah has a greater blessing for Ephraim is not said to dwell in God’s presence day and night.
Also, one should carefully read the passage cited by the LDS Church in Doctrine and Covenants 133:26-35. There is no mention of a land inheritance in the United States.
Also, according to how Joseph Smith writes this, this event of Ephraim’s envy of Judah departing occurs in the future … after the Second Coming. See verse 23.
“He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land.”
The prophet Isaiah and others give ample reason why Ephraim is not favoured over the other tribes. It was copied into the Book of Mormon.
2 Nephi 17:2 – Syria and Ephraim wage war against Judah.
2 Nephi 17:5 – Ephraim takes evil counsel against Judah.
2 Nephi 17:8 – Ephraim would be broken that it be not a people.
2 Nephi 19:9 – Ephraim has pride.
2 Nephi 19:21 – Manasseh and Ephraim are against Judah.
We all know from the Bible that Jesus was of the line of Judah. This alone should reveal that Judah received the greatest blessing.
Psalm 78:67-68 – “Moreover, he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.”
Jeremiah 7:15 – “And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole house of Ephraim.”
Jeremiah 31:20 – After Ephraim repents, he receives mercy, not blessings above the other tribes.
By far, Hosea shows more than any other prophet about the fallen nature of Ephraim:
Hosea 4:17 – “Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.”
Hosea 5:3 – “O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.”
Hosea 5:9 – “Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.”
Hosea 9:3 – .”.. but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.”
Hosea 12:1 – “Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God and is faithful with the saints.”
Far from Ephraim receiving a greater blessing, Judah has. It has in the past, and it will again in the future.
Jesus the Son and God the Father came to visit Joseph Smith, an honour and privilege even Moses or Elijah couldn’t achieve
You can see from the above that Mormons who believe they are modern-day “Ephraimites” still envy Judah so much so that they believe the physical Zion is the land of America.
As for the Bible, the tribe of Judah received the greater blessing … and some day, the Eprhaimites will cease to envy Judah (just like Isaiah 11:13 said).
According to the Bible, the physical Zion refers to the land of physical Israel.
I leave you with some final thoughts …
“Moreover, he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved” (Psalm 78:67-68).
“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant” (Isaiah 5:7).
In Luke 21:24, Jesus speaks of future events, including the destruction of Jerusalem and His return. He says
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
A similar phrase is found in Romans 11:25, which says, “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Does the Bible tell us what the phrase “times of the Gentiles” means?
The context above already has a hint, “that Israel shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away as captives into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Could the Times of the Gentiles coinsides with the times of Jacob’s trouble? It seems possible. The fall by the edge of the sword upon Jerusalem could occur when the house of Judah is again taken into captivity under Ezekiel 4; when Exekiel was made to bear the iniquity of Judah for forty years; where Judah shall bear his iniquity for forty days, for God have appointed them a day for a year.
A narror context is in Jeremiah 30:6-8
6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
8 “‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ saith the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more be served by him.
Israel incorporates the house of Jacob; it’s also the times of Jacob’s trouble. The house of Judah had already returned to the State of Israel, but the house of Israel hasn’t returned. That’s about to change.
There is a parallel Scripture in Ezekiel 36: “the mountain of Israel” this prophecy is concerning the desolations of the United States, UK and France; “and to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys” these are the hills: Ireland, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Finland and Iceland; and the valleys, the low countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg;
— shoot forth your branches; that is, the trees that grew upon them should; the vines, and the olive trees, planted on hills and mountains; these are their colonies: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa; American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands (US); Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Virgin Islands (UK); Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, Réunion (France).
For an answer, lets go into the Old Testament, where this phase originated.
Ezekiel 30:3 “For the day is near; even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the Gentiles” (NKJV, JUB).
The times of the Gentiles could also coincide with the iniquities of the hiouse of Israel for 190 years and the house of Judah for 40 years as given by the Septuagint version of Ezekiel 4:
5 For I have appointed thee their iniquities for a number of days, for a hundred and ninety days: so thou shalt bear the iniquities of the house of Israel. — start with the 10 tribes but end with the full house of Israel; all 12 tribes: end of the 190 years
6 And thou shalt accomplish this, and shalt lie on thy right side, and shalt bear the iniquities of the house of Juda forty days: I have appointed thee a day for a year. Ezekiel 4:4-6 Septuagint. — after the start of the 10 tribes house of Israel and last for 150 years, the house of Judah; 3 tribes join in for 40 years
9 Take thou also to thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and bread-corn; and thou shalt cast them into one earthen vessel, and shalt make them into loaves for thyself; and thou shalt eat them a hundred and ninety days, according to the number of the days which thou sleepest on thy side. Ezekiel 4:4-9 Septuagint. — from the start with 10 tribes and ends with the full house of Israel: 190 years: why the difference? Perhaps Judah had undergo numerous pogroms and cleanings whereas Ephraim has none since the day when went captivity and into apparent oblivion
We’re now in the Hebrew year 5782 and we’ll need another 217 years to usher the Divine Plan into the 7th Millennium as we believe. Of course, this is on the assumption that God’s oracles have been accurately kept since the day Adam was created as the Orthodox custodians claim.
If we add 217 years to the Gregorian calendar year 2022 we’ll come to 2239 when the 7th Millennium starts. Working backward 190 years will bring us to the Gregorian year 2049. So could the year 2049 be the start of the house of Israel’s “iniquity?” — “thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them;” Ezekiel 4:13 in captivity to start the 190 years?
So, let’s pose a question: If God’s personal name is YEHOVAH, why do most Bible translations translate YEHOVAH as “the LORD”?
The answer is straightforward. The most common translation of YEHOVAH is the ‘LORD’ because the translators chose to follow the traditions of man instead of the command of God.
Since the Hebrew Text was without vowels, it appears in the Text as YHVH (H3068 יְהֹוָה); and without vowels soon the pronouncement was lost. How could we know it is Yehovah and not “Yahweh” (YAH-way); others prefer “Yehowah,” “Yahuweh,” or “Yahawah”; still others argue for “Jehovah”?
The vast majority of Jewish and Christian biblical scholars and linguists do not believe “Jehovah” to be the proper pronunciation of YHVH. There was no true J sound in ancient Hebrew. Even the Hebrew letter vav, which is transliterated as the W in YHWH is said to have originally had a pronunciation closer to V than the W of Jehovah.
Thou Shalt Swear By My Name
Yehovah in His wisdom commanded the Israelites to swear via His Name. If they vowed, they were to use His Name. Thus, His Name had to be used for such solemn acts. They weren’t usually forced to vow, but when they did, they had to use His Name:
Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear Yehovah thy God and serve Him. And thou shalt swear via His name.
Deuteronomy 10:20 Thou shalt fear Yehovah thy God. Thou shalt serve Him, and thou shalt cleave to Him. And thou shalt swear via His name.
Here are a few further thoughts:
(1) His name YHVH is used around 6519 times (in Strong’s Blue Letter Bible), and should be used, (not Lord, which is a title). Nehemia Gordon, a native Hebrew speaker, had dug this issue deeper and established His name as Yehovah:
(2) The time when the Jew stopped and lost His name was around the time of Rabbi Haninah ben Teradion, (2nd century AD). During the Hadrianic persecutions decrees (following the Bar Kokhba revolt of AD 132-135) were promulgated imposing the most rigorous penalties on the observers of the Jewish law, and especially upon those who occupied themselves with the promulgation of that law. Nevertheless, Hananiah conscientiously followed his chosen profession; he convened public assemblies and taught Torah; and for this, he lost his life as a martyr.
(3) The LORD; one of the 134 changes to Adonai listed by EW Bullinger in Appendix 32 of The Companion Bible; it should be “The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה YHVH, Yehovah)” as in the original Text;
The official list given in the Massorah (§§ 107-15, Ginsburg’s edition) contains the 134.
Genesis 18:3,27,30,32; (Genesis 18:31? The context indicates that this verse should be included)
The PLA will also conduct a series of live fire military drills from August 4 to 7 in six different areas that encircle the island of Taiwan from all directions, according to the Xinhua News Agency after Pelosi landed at the Taipei airport.
Taiwan’s defense officials have accused Beijing of seeking to “invade” the island’s territorial waters and airspace, after China announced a series of “targeted military operations” in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.
Military officials in Taipei claimed on Wednesday that several exclusion zones around the island, where China intends to conduct live-fire drills and other military exercises later this week, overlap with “Taiwan’s territorial space.” According to the Guardian, Taipei accused Beijing of violating “UN rules” with what it claimed would amount to a de facto “blockade of Taiwan’s air and sea space”
Amphibious armored vehicles of the Chinese PLA pictured during military drills
Accusing Beijing of waging “psychological warfare on Taiwan and citizens,” Taipei vowed to “firmly defend its national security” and boost its military preparedness to the highest level, while adhering to the “principle of not asking for a war.”
Pelosi arrived in Taipei late on Tuesday despite repeated warnings from Beijing against attempting to visit territory that it regards as an integral part of China.
Chinese PLA held combat naval drills in South China Sea
The PLA will conduct live fire military drills from August 4-7, 2022, compared to 1996’s
3 US carrier groups namely the aircraft carrier group USS Ronald Reagan & the amphibious assault groups USS Tripoli & USS America are in the vicinity of #Taiwan The map also shows the locations of the 2 Chinese carriers, Liaoning & Shandong.
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Isaiah 28:1
European Migration Refugee Crisis Explained | Middle East Crisis | International Relations Analysis. Europe is struggling to handle its largest flow of migrants since the aftermath of World War II. Why is the crisis happening now?
The war in Ukraine, as well as a potential war in Taiwan have sparked off steams and smokes into the atmosphere and act as a distraction to European and US’s problems. The real problem of the West lies to the South. Their blind shepherd just couldn’t see this because they are blind! And that all her shepherd are dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber:
Ezekiel 20:45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesy against the forest of the Southland. 47 And say to the forest of the South: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shall be burned therein. 48 And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.’” 49 Then said I, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’” Ezekiel 21:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My Sword out of his sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My Sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the North, 5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth My Sword out of his sheath. It shall not return any more.’ (Ezekiel 20:45-21:5)
European Migration Crisis
And remember, Ezekiel’s prophetic message wasn’t for the house of Judah but to the house of Israel; hence we must try to read the prophetic meaning behind all those historical setting. Its timing was a great distance into the future (Ezekiel 12:27), into our time and the message is primarily and principally for the United States of America, and secondarily its European allies.
A senior official in Beijing said the atmosphere of last week’s Biden-Xi telephone conversation was the worst among the five talks between the leaders and President Xi was said to have showed the toughest attitude he has ever shown to any world leader, while the most important topic in the conversation was China-US relations especially the ‘Taiwan Question’.
If indeed it’s accurate that Xi got “tough” in the call with Biden, expressing Beijing’s ‘red lines’ directly to the US president, this is certainly recipe for something big in terms of a major Chinese response (of course… in what form – diplomatic or military – nobody knows) should Pelosi show up in Taipei this week.
“Don’t cross our red lines or we’ll take action.”
Amid concerns that if she lands with fighter jet escort guiding her military transport plane – which has been widely reported to be set for Tuesday night – this could trigger nothing short of a shooting war with China.
And now, a number of military analysis publications are examining the various possible ‘worst case scenarios’. One independent analyst and China-Taiwan watcher has laid out a full range of hypothetical, albeit realistic scenarios involving different potential levels of Chinese aggression against the self-ruled island of Taiwan.
Scenario 1: The minimalist approach. The PLA occupies Jinmen or Matsu islands, as well as Taiwan’s islands in the South China Sea, and maybe even the Penghu Islands. They also declare part or all of the Taiwan Strait a “no go” zone to foreign military shipping. This would probably be fairly easy for the PLA, and Taiwan would probably not want to overcommit to naval action against the huge PLA Navy (PLAN) if it didn’t directly approach the main island.
Scenario 2: Hybrid warfare. Some sort of partial naval and aerial blockade of Taiwan intended to interfere with the economy, combined with stepped-up harassment, such as direct flyovers of Taiwan’s territory by PLA Air Force (PLAAF) jets, or incursions into Taiwan’s maritime space by China’s naval militia, protected by PLAN warships. This might also be accompanied by cyberattacks designed to shut down the internet and other infrastructure for days at a time. Taiwan would have no choice to assert a stiff defensive posture, resulting in real engagements between Taiwanese and Chinese forces, posing a serious risk of escalation.
Scenario 3: A serious attack but no invasion. This would involve air and sea warfare only, no boots on the ground. A full aerial and naval blockade, a protracted set of naval and aerial battles designed to degrade Taiwan’s military, combined with ballistic missile attacks on military targets. Aggressive cyberattacks turning off the internet and shutting down critical infrastructure for days or weeks. Once air and naval superiority were established, China could pick off targets at will, ratcheting up the threat until the government breaks.
Scenario 4: The Full Monty – a proper invasion. Total air and sea blockade, massive ballistic missile attacks on military targets, massive cyberattacks to paralyze virtually all military, governmental, and civilian communication and shut down critical infrastructure. Aggressive naval and aerial engagements to degrade Taiwan’s forces and achieve battlespace superiority, followed by sustained aerial assaults by fighters and bombers on military targets.
A decapitation strike at Taipei by special forces units to try to seize key leadership personnel. Well-coordinated insider treason and sabotage actions by gangsters, planted CCP agents, and other groups sympathetic to China – the so-called “5th column”. An amphibious assault with close air support from fighters, helicopters, and battle drones at one or more locations in Taiwan, and very possibly a move to seize a major port, such as Keelung, Taipei Port, Taichung, or Kaohsiung.
Then hundreds of thousands of troops would start rolling in until the island was occupied. That would be the plan, anyway. PLA success in such an endeavor is very unclear. But they could do a hell of a lot of damage trying. And yes, they might actually succeed, at least partially, such as in seizing and holding the region around Taipei.
Scenario 5: Worst Case (short of nuclear) scenario. Full air and sea blockade, massive ballistic missile attacks on military targets, massive cyberattack, aggressive naval and aerial attacks to degrade Taiwan’s forces and achieve battlefield superiority, followed by aerial assaults by fighters and bomber on military targets and area bombing of civilian targets. There are massive casualties, and Taiwan is crushed by brute force, surrenders, and then the occupiers enter the country and take it over.
My guess is, Scenario 1: China would prefer not to escalate, yet China has to do something as not to appear weak before all the international eyes and before their domestic audience, hence taking a few islands near the coastline off the Mainland and probably one of two further out would be a great runoff! That is, they would have a great achievement after the heat is off, and so is Nancy Pelosi, who now could claim victory to fulfill her capstone career before retirement. Most importantly, it will allow both sides to claim victory in the aftermath! For every Action, there is an equal or opposite Reaction!
LATEST August 2, 2022
Flightradar24 showed the plane entering Taiwan’s air identification zone from the southwestern side at around 10pm. The website indicates the flight is estimated to arrive in Taipei at 10.44pm.
Multipolarista Japan’s longest serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe tried to rewrite the genocidal history of the fascist Japanese empire.
Shinzo Abe, glorifying Unit 731
And Abe and his Nazi-collaborating grandfather enjoyed staunch Western support, hence making the West an accomplice in such hideous crime.
After World War II, the US government pardoned and recruited many of the fascists who had led imperial Japan, like Abe’s grandfather Nobusuke Kishi, putting in power war criminals who had committed genocide in China, Korea, and Southeast Asia, carrying out biological warfare, human experimentation, and mass sexual slavery.
Benjamin Norton discusses how Japan’s political system still today is a one-party right-wing regime run by descendants of these fascist war criminals. SOURCES: https://multipolarista.com/2022/07/09…
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hidden. The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. Hosea 13:12-13
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s upcoming trip to Taiwan to spark a war?
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s unconfirmed plan of a trip to the island of Taiwan keeps troubling the US as Pelosi, US President Joe Biden and Democrats are now facing pressure instead of “encouragements” from the Republicans on the matter, with Chinese experts warning that if the US eventually let the partisan struggle and internal politics hijack its strategic decision-making, it would definitely bring a new crisis in the Taiwan Straits.
Could Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan spark a Sarajevo incident?
Republicans knew that Democrats, especially Pelosi and Biden, are now facing a dilemma – visiting the island may prompt China’s military reaction and a serious geopolitical crisis will emerge and Pelosi will be in danger as well. According to analysts, canceling the trip will benefit Republicans, as they can say that Democrats are being too weak and dare not to challenge China. The Biden administration and Pelosi still have a chance to keep the mistake from becoming a much bigger one, and if they – both Democrats and Republicans – underestimate China’s warning, it would be extremely dangerous.
China is telling the US loud and clear where the bilateral “red line” is, and the US should keep its promise of not supporting Taiwan secessionism. If Washington doesn’t keep the bilateral ties away from the edge but instead, insists on crashing against the red line the consequence will definitely be a deadly disaster, experts warn.
The American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group, including a guided missile destroyer and a guided missile cruiser, had set out from Singapore heading northeast towards the South China Sea, according to ship-tracking information provided by Beijing-based think tank the South China Sea Strategic Probing Initiative.
In a now-banned tweet, Hu Xijin, a commentator with the Chinese-state-owned Global Times, wrote, “If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is an invasion. The [People’s Liberation Army] has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction.”
To Pelosi, a trip to Taiwan would be a significant capstone to end her career. Or for Nancy to back down would be an enormous blow not only to herself but also to a free and democrative liberal Taiwan, where it’s about the only place in Asia where Lgbtqia+ could parade around with pride and dignity. So what are the likely scenarios? One might led to a Sarajevo incident of 1914! With BeiDou precision, the PLA only need a couple of DF26s to finish them off.
Could Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan spark a war?
Top military experts on China have warned that a visit to Taiwan by Pelosi could heighten the risk of an “accident” that could spark a military crisis in the region.
“There’s a risk of an accident, not a risk of an imminent Chinese attack on Taiwan,” Bonnie Glaser, a leading China expert and director of the Asia program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told Insider.
Should she visit the island, approximately 100 miles from China’s southeast coast, Pelosi could spark a Sarajevo incident.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is demanding answers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), after he says the agency “has repeatedly disregarded its responsibilities under FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and the American people’s right to agency records,” according to a Wednesday letter from Paul to NIH Acting Director Lawrence A. Tabak.
Rand Paul Demands Answers
“For almost two years, public interest groups and media organizations have been forced to engage in protracted litigation to obtain documents related to NIH’s involvement in COVID-19,” adding “The records NIH has produced have been heavily redacted.”
But what is actually being “protected”? The American public’s right to access public information that may reveal what kicked off the pandemic, or the purported privacy rights of a scientist who lives thousands of miles away in China? This legal ploy further highlights the NIH’s aggressive, haphazard approach to redacting documents and hiding information that might explain how the pandemic started.
“I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel,” Hosea 6:10
“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” saith the Lord. Amos 9:8
Daniel Dumbrill is a Canadian expat living in China for the past 13 years. He has become an outspoken critic of the West’s propaganda war on China.
Xinjiang, the world’s focal point!
A few selected comments:
Hang Tuah: With due respect Brian, your hypothesis is incorrect as the British when they returned Hong Kong to China and allow this phase in period of 50 years, they signed the Basic Laws. Article 1 of the Basic Laws stipulate that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China so it is useless to say if Hong Kong gain independence as this would be a violation of the BL. The protesters were thinking of waylaying the Basic Laws by pushing for independence and thus violate Article 1. The irony is that during the colonial British rules, these so-called democracy activists did not enjoy any form of voting or even representation and yet they suddenly want democracy. They are being manipulated by the NED and the foreign powers so as to contain China.
Gilles Milaire: Great discussion, about the only thing I didn’t agree with Daniel was his view that China’s news media is not doing a good job promoting their image. I would agree with Daniel 10 years ago, but today I prefer watching Chinese news any day of the week, their news is objective and honest. Western news is not trustworthy, it’s divisive and feeds the polarization of their societies and most reporting is a one sided distortion. Aside from this small critique, I love The New Atlas for it’s excellent journalism and superb guest.
Lion Rock: Tianmen Square Massacre is just a useful name to demonize China. I woke up from this propaganda when I watched many old videos where eyewitness claimed students all moved out peacefully. BTW the tank man was not killed. The casualty happened not in the square but outside and with soldiers burnt alive and killed. It was a riot and many killed were not students. Anyway the anti-government in HK keep this lie for over 30 years to raise money.
F Liu: The failure of the ”one country and two systems” is that China allowed British colonialism to continue in Hong Kong, Hong Kong youths were not taught to be patriotic towards China, their country but taught to be a loyal subject of their former colonial master. Total failure of the education systems, but this is going to change.
Bruce Clark: Kia Ora – In New Zealand, we’ve only had one other terrorist attack and that was the one committed by the crazy right winger on the Christchurch Mosque, so we are hardly in a position to institute a deradicalisation programme. there would have been two – assuming they had arrested the crazy knife attacker guy – one Muslim extremist and one right wing nut job. Don’t see how that would have worked. By the way, i really think you guys are doing a marvelous job – you’re honest, intelligent and dedicated to the truth and its great to see people like you in the tradition of CHomsky , Pilger et al. Just thought i should point out your overreach when it came to analysis of NZ. Arohahui
Wangbei Gao: 10 months ago I was on the Tiananmen Square in 1989. Let me tell you this, I am glad that the students didn’t succeed in overthrown of the government. Was the government perfect? Nope, would overthrown of the government makes China a better country and people have better life, hell nope. In hindsight, I can see clearly that CIA played a significant role in that movement. Did US want China to be a better country for its people, hell fucking nope!
Monkeypox is ‘almost certainly’ sexually transmitted. A recent report which found that 98 per cent of confirmed Monkeypox cases were in LGBTQIA+ men has stoked a debate on social media platforms over how the virus has been portrayed as a “gay disease.”
The outbreak is a ‘global health emergency’ but experts don’t fully know how monkeypox is transmitted. Close contact between people may be all it takes.
A recent report found that 98 per cent of Monkeypox cases were LGBTQIA+ men
Over half a million people partied in the streets of Berlin to celebrate Christopher Street Day on July 23. It was the first CSD parade since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival marked one of the largest in the city’s history and the euphoria was palpable — people sang, danced, drank champagne, kissed and hugged.
But by late afternoon, as some of the first confetti-covered floats rolled up to the Brandenburger Tor to begin the evening’s festivities, people got push notifications on their phones that may have changed the mood.
Awareness of the monkeypox outbreak wasn’t absent at Berlin’s Christopher Street Day parade — a handful of people held signs demanding the German government produce more vaccines against the virus, people handed out pamphlets that explained the symptoms and how to recognize them, and the organizers of the event shared a warning was shared on their website.
But no one mentioned monkeypox when the parade’s leaders addressed the crowd, and signs offering free kisses and hugs far outnumbered signs urging action against, or awareness of, the disease.
Public health officials and spokespeople in LGBTQ organizations across the US and Europe have found it hard to communicate the risks of the virus to men who have sex with men without stigmatizing the people they are trying to reach.
In some cases, that has resulted in messaging that has implied the virus can affect all members of the population and that everyone has a similar risk of getting infected.
Anyone can contract monkeypox, but all the science gathered so far indicates that the risk for men who have sex with men, and those who have different sexual partners, is much higher than for those who aren’t part of that community.
Research published July 21, 2022, in the New England Journal of Medicine shows 98% of cases have been detected in men who have sex with men.
Is monkeypox a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
Experts still don’t know exactly how monkeypox is transmitted.
The New England Journal of Medicine study, which analyzed the samples of over 520 infections across 16 countries from April to June 2022, indicates that in 95% of cases, the virus was spread through “sexual activity.”
But the authors say that “there is no clear evidence of sexual transmission through seminal or vaginal fluids” and that transmission is only proven to occur through large respiratory droplets, close or direct contact with skin lesions and “possibly through contaminated fomites.” Fomites are things like cloths and kitchen utensils that may carry a virus.
What we know for sure: The virus is spread through very close contact between two people. This can involve cuddling and kissing as well as genital contact.
“Monkeypox is almost certainly sexually transmitted,” said Paul Hunter, a professor of health protection at the Norwich Medical School in the UK.
“But my uneasiness about labeling it as a [sexually transmitted infection] is that for most [STIs] wearing a condom or avoiding penetration or direct oral-anal/oral-genital contact is a good way of preventing transmission. But for monkeypox, even just naked cuddling is a big risk.”
Hunter said labeling monkeypox an STI “could work against control” if it caused people to believe they were safe from contracting the virus if they wore a condom or didn’t penetrate during sex.
Luka Cicin-Sain, a viral immunology researcher at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in Germany, agreed that labeling monkeypox as a sexually transmitted infection or disease (STD) and focusing on condoms as a prevention method could “backfire as a containment strategy.”
Cicin-Sain said that at this point, it’s still unclear to researchers whether the virus is spread exclusively through semen or also through close contact, saliva droplets or skin-to-skin contact.
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire, from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Genesis 19:24-25
Although viral DNA was found in semen samples in the study, there wasn’t any evidence that the semen was infectious.
“The situation is similar to COVID, which may also spread through intimate contact and kissing, yet it is not considered an STI,” said Cicin-Sain.
As United Kingdom gears up for its next Prime Minister, both former chancellor Rishi Sunak and British foreign minister Liz Truss have talked tough on China. It is as if they are American presidential debates for the office of the President of the United States! Or their view were of John Mearsheimer’s who regards China, not Russia, as the world’s main threat and enemy!
“China, the number one threat!” – blow by blow they continues
Since Brexit, the UK has followed US policy closer and closer until it is as if the UK is a state and mouthpiece of the United States. Both Australia and New Zealand are treaty allies of the US in the trilateral ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand and the US) Treaty as well as in Five Eyes (FVEY) intelligence alliance, the latter also comprising Canada and the UK.
Additionally, this is on the background of Australia, the US and the UK who had announced a trilateral AUKUS arrangement last September. Under AUKUS, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would get access to technology to develop advanced nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). New Zealand, who used to have a fiercely independent foreign policy, now seems to have allowed herself more and more aligned with the group. Spearheaded by the US, these five nations move around together in a pack; its nerve center radiating from Washington DC. Now London is acting like a wing of the American ox.
Truss and Sunak deliver tough exchange of blows ’til Presenter Kate McCann Faints On-Air
But eventually they, together with Ephraim’s other brothers, that is, all the twelve tribes, would face a tumultuous time known as the time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. That is, all the combined wars of WWI, WWII, Vietnam and Korea, would pale in comparison!
An alternate view of the Ox and the Unicorn:
Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his ox (bullock), and his horns are like the horns of unicorns. With them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh,” Deuteronomy 33:16-17.
On closer look, the Ox and the Unicorn as two separate animals is a misconception. First the scene: “the head of Joseph” and upon Joseph’s head is “his glory;” which is like “the firstling of his ox.” Joseph doesn’t have horns but the Ox has. And upon its horns, that is, the horns of the ox, these are “like the horns of unicorns.” These horns arise from the ox and not from the head of Joseph; and such horns look like that from the unicorns!
Only One Mystical Animal: The Ox with Horns of a Unicorn
So what does this mean? It means there is only one mystical animal, and the horns are only auxiliaries of the Ox. Strictly speaking, the unicorn doesn’t exist. As Ephraim is known as the Ox, it carries all the horns with it. That is, all the nations in the Manasseh camp are being carried on the shoulder of the United States. Being far more dominant, Ephraim led the pack!
Spearheaded by the US, these five nations move around together in a pack; its nerve center radiating from Washington DC. Now London is acting like a wing of the OX as if the UK is a state and mouthpiece of the United States.
The Day of the Lord is a day of Judgement, a “Day of His wrath” (Revelation 6:17) a day of trouble and distress, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of the Lord’s wrath and a day of destruction. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision upon all the nations.
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; and if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth—blood and fire and pillars of smoke. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. The stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood.
For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; there shall be distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, where the sword shall devour, and it shall be sated and made drunk with their blood; and it shall also be the time of the Gentiles.
14 The great day of the Lord is near; it is near and hasteneth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of waste and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers.
17 “And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.”
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He indeed shall make a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. Zephaniah 1:14-18
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel, both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 “And I will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah 13:9-11
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger. Isaiah 13:13
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee and consider thee, saying, ‘Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms, Isaiah 14:16
But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and an everlasting King. At His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation. Jeremiah 10:10
21 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Isaiah 24:21-22
For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that He may avenge Him of His adversaries. And the sword shall devour, and it shall be sated and made drunk with their blood; for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the River Euphrates. Jeremiah 46:10
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land.
6 Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt.
8 And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them. They shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel, both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 “And I will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah 13:4-11
16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women; and it shall be afraid and fear, because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He shaketh over it.
17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt; every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which He hath determined against it. Isaiah 19:16-17
3 For the day is near; even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the Gentiles (NKJV, JUB).
4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia when the slain shall fall in Egypt; and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. Ezekiel 30:3-4
In that day the Lord with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing serpent, even Leviathan that crooked serpent; and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. Isaiah 27:1
“Therefore wait ye upon Me,” saith the Lord, “until the day that I rise up to the prey; for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. Zephaniah 3:8
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 and they said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 For the great Day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:15-17
For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up—and he shall be brought low” Isaiah 2:12
1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand—
2 a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains. A great people and a strong, there hath not been ever the like; neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. Joel 2:1-2
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
8 “‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ saith the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more be served by him. Jeremiah 30:7-8
1Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired,
2 before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’S anger come upon you!
3 Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, who have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’S anger. Zephaniah 2:1-3
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel, both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. Isaiah 13:9-10
15 “For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
16 For as ye have drunk upon My holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. Obadiah 1:15-16
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up—and he shall be brought low”
13 and upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan;
14 and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up;
15 and upon every high tower, and upon every fortified wall;
16 and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant sights.
17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day, Isaiah 2:12-17
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel, both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 “And I will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah 13:9-11
“For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble. And the day that cometh shall burn them up,” saith the Lord of hosts, “that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1
6 Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt.
8 And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them. They shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel, both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Isaiah 13:6-9
Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness,” was a king of Salem and priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6–11, 20; Hebrew 7:1-28). Melchizedek’s sudden appearance and disappearance in the book of Genesis is somewhat mysterious.
For this, various opinions have been expressed concerning Melchizedek; some have thought him to be more than a man; some, that he was an angel; others, that he was the Holy Ghost; and others, that he was a divine person superior to Christ; others have supposed that he was the Son of God himself: but he is expressly said to be like unto him, and Christ is said to be of his order; which manifestly distinguish the one from the other; so who was Melchizedek?
Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine for Abraham
Genesis 14:18-20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the Most High God.
19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be the Most High God, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.” And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:18–20
Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of El Elyon (“God Most High”) and praised God for giving Abraham a victory in battle (Genesis 14:18–20).
Abraham presented Melchizedek with a tithe (a tenth) of all the items he had conquered. By this act Abraham indicated that he recognized Melchizedek as a priest who ranked higher spiritually than he. But who was Melchizedek?
Psalm 110:4
4 The Lord hath sworn and will not repent: “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek” Psalm 110:4
In Psalm 110, a Messianic Psalm written by David (Matthew 22:43), Jesus, being the Son of God, was presented as coming “after the order of Melchizedek.” If Christ was a priest after the order of Melchizedek, then Christ wasn’t Melchizedek, so they are two separate beings. Was Melchizedek another divine being? No, that couldn’t be, the Divine Beings are only the Father and Son; so who was Melchizedek?
Hebrews 7:1-28
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, who was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. — this seems to be reinstating Genesis 14:18–20; where Melchizedec met Abraham when returning from the rescue of Lot;
— Jewish authorities, Josephus and the earliest of the Targums, say Melchizedek was Shem, son of Noah, who lived 600 years; this name occurs in the Bible only in Genesis 14, Psalm 110:4, and in this Hebrew. Nothing else is certainly known of him;
— excerpts from Genesis 11:10-27— Shem was a hundred years old, and begot Arpachshad two years after the flood. … Arpachshad lived five and thirty years, and begot Shelah. … Shelah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. … Eber lived four and thirty years, and begot Peleg. … Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu. … Reu lived two and thirty years, and begot Serug. ‘… Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor. … Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begot Terah. … Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram — Shem100 + Arpachshad35 + Shelah30 + Eber34 + Peleg30 + Reu32 + Serug30 + Nahor29 + Terah70 = 390; and since Abraham lived 175 before he died, hence Shem outlived Abraham by about 210 years!
— if the Masoretic numbers are correct then Jewish authorities that Melchizedek was Shem, who was also king of Salem could have a possibility; but the Q. is why was he there, and how was he made a priest?
— from the Septuagint — Shem100 + Arpachshad135 + Cainan130 + Shelah130 + Eber134 + Peleg130 + Reu132 + Serug130 + Nahor129 + Terah70 = 1220; a difference of 828 years! So this is a mystery! Who is right; surprisingly the Targum agrees with the Masoretic Text! But the Septuagint largely agrees with the Samaritan Pentateuch!
— the Samaritan Pentateuch — Shem100 + Arpaxad135 + Salah130 + Eber134 + Peleg130 + Reu132 + Serug130 + Nahor79 + Terah70 = 1038; a difference of 646 years!
2 To him also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, Melchizedek first being by interpretation “king of righteousness,” and after that also king of Salem, which means “king of peace.” — “a tenth” generally means a tithe in the Levitical sense, but it may not be; it could even mean a portion of the the booty taken, so we need to have our option what it means;
— a tithe in the Levitical sense always comes from crops and animals increase; never from booty taken.
3 Without father, without mother and without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God, he abideth a priest continually. — if Melchizedek was “without father, without mother and without descent,” then this description doesn’t fit Shem, since his father was Noah, and his children, Elam and Asshur, and Arphaxad and Lud and Aram (Genesis 10:22); hence the mystery remains!
— “made like unto the Son of God” so this is close to or another “Son of God” as if Jesus has a brother? If so where is the proof? (More at the end)
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. — as stated above “a tenth” generally means a tithe in the Levitical sense, but it may not be; it could even mean a portion of the the booty taken, so it does’t prove anything;
5 And verily, those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law — that is, from their brethren — though they come out of the loins of Abraham. — these have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law; Numbers 18:20, these they took of all the people of Israel in the rest of the tribes, by the commandment of God, on account of their service in the tabernacle; and because they had no inheritance in the land; and to show that the Israelites held their land of God himself.
6 But Melchizedek, whose descent is not counted from them, received tithes from Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.
Sculpture of Melchizedek by the Roman Church
7 And beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the greater. — the conclusion, that Melchizedek in this act appears as Abraham’s superior, so who was he?
8 And here men who die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
PHILLIPS Now notice the greatness of this man. Even Abraham the patriarch pays him a tribute of a tenth part of the spoils. Further, we know that, according to the Law, the descendants of Levi who accept the office of priest have the right to demand a “tenth” from the people, that is from their brothers, despite the fact that the latter are descendants of Abraham. But here we have one who is quite independent of Levitic ancestry taking a “tenth” from Abraham, and giving a blessing to Abraham, the holder of God’s promises! And no one can deny that the receiver of a blessing is inferior to the one who gives it. Again, in the one case it is mortal men who receive the “tenths”, and in the other is one who, we are assured, is alive. One might say that even Levi, the proper receiver of “tenths”, has paid his tenth to this man, for in a sense he already existed in the body of his father Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
9 And, as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10 for he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met Abraham.
MSG You realize just how great Melchizedek is when you see that Father Abraham gave him a tenth of the captured treasure. Priests descended from Levi are commanded by law to collect tithes from the people, even though they are all more or less equals, priests and people, having a common father in Abraham. But this man, a complete outsider, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him, the one to whom the promises had been given. In acts of blessing, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
11 If therefore perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
PHILLIPS We may go further. If it be possible to bring men to spiritual maturity through the Levitical priestly system (for that is the system under which the people were given the Law), why does the necessity arise for another priest to make his appearance after the order of Melchizedek, instead of following the normal priestly calling of Aaron? For if there is a transference of priestly powers, there will necessarily follow an alteration of the Law regarding priesthood. He who is described as our High Priest belongs to another tribe, no member of which had ever attended the altar! For it is a matter of history that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses made no mention of priesthood in connection with that tribe.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And this is yet far more evident when there ariseth another priest according to the similitude of Melchizedek,
16 who is made not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
MSG If the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, which provided the framework for the giving of the law, could really make people perfect, there wouldn’t have been need for a new priesthood like that of Melchizedek. But since it didn’t get the job done, there was a change of priesthood, which brought with it a radical new kind of law. There is no way of understanding this in terms of the old Levitical priesthood, which is why there is nothing in Jesus’ family tree connecting him with that priestly line.
17 For He testifieth: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For there is verily an annulling of the former commandment because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. — the law being obsolete? If so, Jesus never teach this for he said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law: judgment, mercy, and faith. These ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone.” Matthew 23:23
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw nigh unto God. — the Levitical, ceremonial law. It did not produce a perfect state; it did not do what was desirable to be done for a sinner; but like the Passover it was a foreshadow of things to come; it was to forshadow Christ’s death and sacrifice;
— or like Yum Kippur, the day of Atonement, where Christ’s blood was offered before the Father as an atonement for sin; again, it was a foreshadowing.
20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath that He was made priest
MSG The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise: God gave his word; he won’t take it back: “You’re the permanent priest.” This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant.
21 (for those priests were made without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said unto Him: “The Lord swore and will not repent, ‘Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’”),
22 by so much more was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
PHILLIPS And he is, by virtue of this fact, himself the living guarantee of a “better” agreement. Human High Priests have always been changing, for death made a permanent appointment impossible. But Christ, because he lives for ever, possesses a priesthood that needs no successor. This means that he can save fully and completely those who approach God through him, for he is always living to intercede on their behalf.
23 And those priests truly were many, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death;
24 but this Man, because He continueth forever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
PHILLIPS And he is, by virtue of this fact, himself the living guarantee of a “better” agreement. Human High Priests have always been changing, for death made a permanent appointment impossible. But Christ, because he lives for ever, possesses a priesthood that needs no successor. This means that he can save fully and completely those who approach God through him, for he is always living to intercede on their behalf.
26 For such a High Priest who is befitting for us, holy, undisposed to harm, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,
27 who needeth not, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily first for His own sins and then for the people’s; for this He did once when He offered up Himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which came since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
MSG So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God’s presence in heaven itself. Unlike the other high priests, he doesn’t have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He’s done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice. The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect.
— most Christian commentators assert that Melchizedek was the Son of God himself: but proof are scarce and weak. He is expressly said to be like unto Christ and said to be of Melchizedek’s order; which should manifestly distinguish the one from the other; so who was Melchizedek?
Is Melchizedek another Son of God? Is he a brother of the Logos? Is he worthy of being worshipped? If he is then perhaps God has three “Son” (Lucifer, Logos and Melchizedek?). This rhymes with Adam and Noah both had three sons! Are these just mere coincidences??
But when John was taken in a vision into heaven and there, seeing the throne of the Father, the four beasts, the seven angels and finally the Lamb, nowhere did Melchizedek made his presence there!
So the Mystery of Melchizedek remains mysterious! for Christ says, “If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?”
This Hebrew year starts September 7th 2021-2022. A Hebrew year is 355 days long. On this day, September 7, 2021, using God’s lunar calendar, the Biblical year 5782 begins.
On the race toward the beginning of the seventh millenium, the Western calendar is already off by 23 years whereas the Jewish Calendar has still 217 years to run. Thus giving rise to a difference of 240 year! The Question is, where are the discrepancies?
On July 21, it was reported in Bloomberg that China’s leading chipmaker, Shanghai-based Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) had successfully established 7nm node chips (two generations ahead from 14nm), available for export. Their conclusions? That China had successfully mastered this technology (since July 2021) despite US sanctions intended to stop it from doing so, with the Biden administration aiming to keep SMIC from surpassing 14nm technology as part of its “technology war” containment effort against China.
Although this seems credible enough, there are several motivations behind the publication of such a story in Bloomberg to keep in mind. Firstly, the US Senate is haggling over a massive chip subsidy bill to American semiconductor manufacturers, which has been controversial. It has been a common element of US political discourse to hype up the “China threat” by giving laser focus to China’s achievements in order to drive forward certain policy ambitions, as had been previously done with talk of hypersonic missiles. Secondly, the US administration has long debated placing even tougher sanctions on SMIC on the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
However, the indication that SMIC has already achieved 7nm node technology shows it is already too late for such an option to have a meaningful effect, and such demonstrates that America’s attempts to block China’s technological development have above all been toothless and, in the long run, bound to fail.
Since the Trump administration taken office, US foreign policy has centered upon the objective to block China’s advances in semiconductor technology by increasingly depriving it of access to foreign-made components. This has included listing hundreds upon hundreds (an ever-growing number) of Chinese firms on the US Commerce Department “entity list” banning them from importing high-tech components from the US, using ownership of key patents to interfere in Chinese takeovers of semiconductor firms overseas and veto them and strongarming key lithography firms such as ASML to stop exporting their most critical machines, such as Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUV) machines to China.
In conjunction with this, it has also forced semiconductor firms such as TSMC and Samsung to build capacity in the United States in the bid to politicize and attain over control the entire supply chain for geopolitical purposes.
Although this policy has in the short term created disruptions for companies such as Huawei (who was subject to the tougher “Foreign Direct Product” rule), in the bigger picture America’s aims are in fact backfiring and, as a recent Time Magazine headline led with, are “supercharging China’s chipmaking industry.” Why so? Since 2019, the threat of being cut off from international semiconductor supplies has forced Chinese companies to prioritize a localization drive of their own technology to mitigate business risks. This has involved finding local suppliers where possible, investing heavily in research, and also frontloading the import of lithography machines from overseas in order to preempt the United States. ASML’s sales to China, as well as the purchase of older lithography equipment from South Korea and Japan, have surged over the past year.
In conjunction with this, Chinese government has also overseen large-scale investment in the chip sector with the goal of driving up its own national self-sufficiency, with access to semiconductors being not for “military usage” as the US likes to claim, but as a key prerequisite for national economic development.
The results of all these efforts are paying off. China now has 19 of the world’s fastest-growing chip firms. As a previous China Daily story notes: “For the first time, three Chinese mainland chipmakers accounted for more than 10 percent of the global foundry revenue in the first quarter of this year.” On a year-upon-year basis, SMIC’s revenue increased by 39 percent to US$5.44 billion on booming demand.
This means US sanctions to try and contain China’s semiconductor industry are ultimately not working. They might be able to bring about short-term problems by depriving access to certain markets or parts, but what they cannot outflank is the strength of China’s investment and innovation drive.
RT: SMIC’s breakthrough puts the company’s semiconductors in the same league as Samsung and Taiwan’s TSMC
America’s policy is both unimaginative and negative. One might be able to freeze a small and poor country from the global semiconductor industry, but this is not applicable with China, who has the resources and determination to advance itself. Given this, SMIC’s outflanking of US sanctions illustrates that whilst there is a long way to go, the White House is ultimately losing this battle to deprive China of tech self-sufficiency.
“I will be unto Ephraim as a moth,” Hosea 5:12 Clarke – I will consume them little by little, as a moth frets a garment. Gill – which eats garments, penetrates into them, feeds on them privately, secretly, without any noise, and gradually and slowly consumes them; but at last utterly, that they are of no use and profit:
Infrared satellite imagery designed to measure moisture levels and the health of farmlands suggests that staple crops such as wheat are in poor condition and in sharp decline among major exporters including the Ukraine, the US and India. Two countries do have bumper crops so far though; namely Russia and China.
It is hard to say which governments and institutions monitor this data, but a few months ago a multitude of political leaders and global banks issued simultaneous warnings of a “global food shortage” and an impending crisis. Such institutions included the IMF, World Bank, the BIS and even the White House. So far, a perfect storm of stagflation, supply chain disruptions and poor weather conditions have combined to disrupt food production around the world.
Price inflation due to central bank stimulus measures has been enough to do incredible damage to the many national economies, but a single bad year for crops on top of this could spell disaster.
Russia and China, on the other hand, are enjoying a strategic advantage. As we entered spring of this year, the mainstream media heralded the end of the Russian economy and the swift collapse of their war efforts in Ukraine. Today, Russia is selling more oil and exporting more commodities than ever before, and both Russia and China now have the most healthy staple crops in the world. It’s almost as if the public in the west has been deliberately misled about our economic strength.
Sadly, many people in the west have forgotten the importance of commodities, industry and energy in terms of geopolitical leverage. Without dominance of these three arenas there is no chance for a nation or group of nations to dictate terms to a country that has such advantages. Economic warfare is about independent production and adaptability; these are two things the US and Europe do not have right now.
With declines in crop exports, food prices will rise even further this year and there is also the possibility that Russia could cut off the EU and other nations from access to their agricultural market. Though the Kremlin says this will not happen, given the right trigger event it remains a legitimate threat. Already this month Europe is on the edge of an economic cliff as they wait to see if the Russian “maintenance shutdown” of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is actually temporary, or the beginning of a full bore energy crisis that will last for years.
In other words, the temptation for the eastern nations to use food as a weapon against NATO countries will be just as high on their list as oil and gas. With food and energy stability in doubt there is also a considerable danger of civil unrest. Third world nations are likely to see the worst of the shortages, but price inflation in necessities is here to stay for first world countries as well. And along with that comes all the associated economic problems, including rising crime, rising unemployment and rising poverty.
“Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, surely because thou hast defiled My sanctuary with all thy detestable things and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall Mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
“A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.” Ezekiel 5:11-12
Beijing warns US will ‘bear all consequences’ if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan in August.
Beijing has warned that the United States will “bear all consequences” and face “forceful measures” from Beijing if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan as reported.
Is Nancy Pelosi Going To Spark A Sarajevo Incident in Taiwan?
Yahoo News said Pelosi would take a delegation to Taiwan next month. It would be the first visit by a US speaker of the house to the self-ruled island in 25 years.
Pelosi is planning to use a military aircraft to fly to the island, which is standard for congressional delegations. But to the Chinese, “it looks like a military operation,” said one U.S. official.
But President Joe Biden said, “The military thinks it’s not a good idea right now,” when asked whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should take a trip to Taiwan.
Pelosi suggested that the president’s comments stem from the military being “afraid our plane would get shot down, or something like that, by the Chinese.” While not confirming the trip, she added that she has not heard that directly from Biden.
“China firmly opposes this as it will have a grave impact on the political foundation of bilateral relations,” Zhao told a regular news briefing in Beijing. “If the US were to insist on going down the wrong path, China will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. All the ensuing consequences shall be borne by the US side.”
And Hu Xijin of China’s state-run paper Global Times also offers a stern warning against her rescheduled visit to Taiwan:
If she really dares to visit Taiwan, it will be a major serious incident. She will be the enemy that divides China. She will experience a risky visit. She will also bear historical responsibility for possibly triggering a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
Perhaps Pelosi’s visit might even trigger a Sarajevo incident of 1914, which could spark some skirmeses and to ignite a nuclear World War III? And we would all be gone!
Assassination in Sarajevo 1914: The Catalyst For World War One!
But more likely, as in Ukraine, Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan will spark off some steam and smoke into the atmosphere and act as a distraction to US’s problems. The real problem of the United States lies to the South. Their blind shepherd just couldn’t see this because they are blind!
And John Mearsheimer similarily has brilliantly analysised the war in Ukraine, and to put all laser-eyed focus on China and Taiwan, but foolishly negates to address America’s broken border in the South; and that all her shepherd are dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber:
Ezekiel 20:45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesy against the forest of the Southland. 47 And say to the forest of the South: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shall be burned therein. 48 And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.’” 49 Then said I, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’” Ezekiel 21:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My Sword out of his sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My Sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the North, 5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth My Sword out of his sheath. It shall not return any more.’ (Ezekiel 20:45-21:5)
And remember, Ezekiel’s prophetic message wasn’t for the house of Judah but to the house of Israel; hence we must try to read the prophetic meaning behind all those historical setting. Its timing was a great distance into the future (Ezekiel 12:27), into our time and the message is primarily and principally for the United States of America, and secondarily its European allies.
Immigrants cross through a gap in the US-Mexico border every night in Yuma, Arizona
The number projected to entering the US is over 18,000 per day; that is over 6,500,000 per year, every year. One Houston of 6 to 7 millions every year added, says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
One Houston (4.49th minute) 6-7m added to the US every year: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
The San Luis port of entry in Yuma County is the second busiest border crossing 24/7
A sailboat with potential migrants is anchored near Islandia, south of Miami, Florida
River crossing in Texas
Beginning of their march, from Central American in Escuintla, Chiapas State, Mexico
Migrants ride atop a freight train in Ixtepec, Oaxaca State, toward the US-Mexico border
Further South in Guatemala, migrants start pushing toward the US-Mexican border
Modern Israel, today as in the past, has many blind shepherd, for it was said: “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
EU ‘shot itself in the lungs’ with sanctions against Russia, says Hungarian Orban
The Russian ruble has rebounded from crippling economic sanctions imposed on Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine and since President Vladimir Putin exercise his master stroke by demanding that oil and gas from unfriendly countries be paid in ruble, it has rised and is now at its strongest in more than seven years — earning it the distinction of being the best-performing currency in the world so far this year.
Russia is the second largest exporter of oil in the world and is also the world’s largest exporter of natural gas. The export of fossil fuels has allowed the Russian government to reap a $20 billion a month windfall since the start of the war in Ukraine. An analysis by Bloomberg Economics earlier this year found that the Kremlin could amass a surplus of $321 billion this year strictly from energy exports. Consequently, Putin has touted the ruble’s robust recovery as proof that his economy has successfully withstood the onslaught of Western sanctions as the ruble has soared 40% against the dollar since the start of the year.
The European Union has “shot itself in the lungs” with ill-considered economic sanctions on Russia, which, unless rolled back, risk destroying the European economy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.
The European Union has “shot itself in the lungs!”
The surge in gas and electricity prices forced nationalist Orban to curtail a years-long cap on utility prices for higher-usage households on Wednesday, rolling back one of the 59-year-old prime minister’s signature economic policies.
“Initially, I thought we had only shot ourselves in the foot, but now it is clear that the European economy has shot itself in the lungs, and it is gasping for air,” Orban, a long-time sanctions critic, told public radio in an interview.
Orban said Ukraine needed help, but European leaders should reconsider their strategy, as sanctions have caused widespread damage to the European economy without weakening Russia or bringing the months-long war closer to any resolution.
All EU sanctions packages require agreement among the 27 member states. While Hungary has voted to endorse the sanctions, they objected to the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church and got him excluded from the sixth sanctions package.
Gas supplies to Europe have tightened and fuel costs have soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February, leaving countries scrambling to refill storage and diversify supply channels.
“The sanctions do not help Ukraine, however, they are bad for the European economy and if it goes on like this, they will kill off the European economy,” Orban said. “What we see right now is unbearable.”
“The moment of truth must come in Brussels when leaders admit they have made a miscalculation, that the sanctions policy was based on wrong assumptions and it must be changed.”
The Ruble rising against the US Dollar and remains strong
Orban said that the entire utility price cap regime will now have to be scrapped.
Re-elected in April, Orban is facing his toughest challenge yet since taking power in a 2010 landslide, with inflation at its highest in two decades, the forint plumbing record lows and European Union funds in limbo amid a dispute over democratic standards.
Before the April ballot, economists estimated the cost of the utility price caps at up to 1.5 trillion forints (€3.7 billion), which along with a raft of measures that helped Orban’s election bid, have caused a surge in the budget deficit.
Orban’s other decision to fast-track legislation to raise the tax rate for hundreds of thousands of small firms this week as part of a broader drive to rein in the ballooning budget deficit has led to several protests in Budapest.
Biden is escalating the Russia-Ukraine conflict, risking a catastrophic fight with Moscow, an ex-congresswoman has warned
President Joe Biden’s administration is driving the world toward a devastating nuclear conflict by using the Ukraine crisis to fight a “proxy war” with Russia, former congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has warned.
“The American people need to understand the seriousness of the situation that the Biden administration and leaders in Washington have put us in,” Gabbard said on Wednesday night in a Fox News interview. The Hawaii Democrat, who was among the candidates whom Biden defeated to win his party’s 2020 presidential nomination, called for stepping back to focus on “the big picture and the great threat that we face, which is the reality that this war is continuing to escalate.”
Biden has led the charge for international sanctions to punish Moscow over its military offensive in Ukraine. The US has approved $70 billion in aid, including advanced weaponry, to help Ukraine fight Russian forces. During a visit to Israel on Thursday, Biden said Washington will continue to provide such aid indefinitely to ensure that Moscow suffers “a strategic failure” in Ukraine.
“President Biden himself says he has no idea when or how it’s going to end, but we know where this escalation leads,” Gabbard said. “It leads us closer and closer to the brink of a nuclear war with Russia.”
US lawmakers accused Donald Trump of inciting a mob to attack the US Capitol in a last-ditch effort to remain in power. The January 6 committee said Trump aides knew he would call for a march on the Capitol.
President Trump urges supporters to march to the Capitol on January 6, “Stop the Steal!”
Former US President Donald Trump tried to incite his followers to storm the US Capitol in a last-ditch bid to cling to power, the House of Representatives January 6 committee said on Tuesday.
The committee also presented evidence that Trump aides knew before the riot that Trump would urge thousands of his supporters to march on the Capitol that day as lawmakers certified Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
The committee hearings have painstakingly built a case to show that Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results constitute illegal conduct. The committee heard that Trump engaged in discussions that would have called for the military to seize states’ voting machines. That idea was eventually discarded, the panel disclosed in its seventh session.
At the end of the hearing, Republican Representative Liz Cheney said Trump had tried to contact a person who was talking to the committee about potential testimony. Cheney said the Justice Department was informed about Trump’s possible attempt to influence witness testimony.
‘Unhinged’ meeting with aides
The House committee heard on Tuesday that late on December 18, 2020, Trump’s private lawyers suggested bringing in the US military to seize state voting machines. This came amidst Trump’s unsubstantianted claims of voter fraud.
In a video testimony, Trump’s White House counsel at the time, Pat Cipollone, recalled the meeting with Trump’s legal team, which included attorneys Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, retired national security aide Michael Flynn, and Patrick Byrne, former head of the online retail company Overstock. Cipollone said he called the draft executive order to order the seizure of the voting machines a “terrible idea.”
Another former White House aide, Cassidy Hutchinson, called the meeting “unhinged” in a separate video testimony.
White House officials, including Cipollone, scrambled to intervene. The meeting erupted in shouting, another aide testified.
The next morning Trump tweeted to his supporters to come to Washington on January 6, when Congress would certify the Electoral College results.
“Be there. Will be wild,” his tweet said.
The committee provided evidence that this tweet galvanized militant groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, as other supporters advised people to bring body armor, shields and pepper spray to the Capitol on January 6.
Second rally was planned
The committee revealed that Trump supporters and staffers knew beforehand that the president would urge them to march to the Capitol on January 6.
A draft Twitter message from the then-president that never was sent referred to the upcoming speech. “Please arrive early, massive crowds expected. March to the Capitol after. Stop the Steal!” It was stamped “President has seen.”
On January 5, 2021, Trump talked twice with former top adviser Steve Bannon, said the committee. A video showed him saying, “All hell is going to break loose tomorrow,” as he referred to a “point of attack” that would be “quite extraordinarily different.”
Meanwhile, Trump aides also secretly planned for a second rally stage there on the day of the attack outside the Capitol complex across from the Supreme Court.
Previously, on January 4, rally organizer Kylie Kremer texted Trump ally Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO: “This stays only between us, we are having a second stage at the Supreme Court again after the Ellipse. POTUS is going to have us march there/the Capitol.”
Kremer warned that if the information got out, others would try to sabotage the plans and the organizer “will be in trouble” with the National Park Service and other federal agencies.
‘As if a mob was being organized’
The committee also played audio testimony from a former employee of Twitter talking about Trump’s December tweet who said, “It felt as if a mob was being organized and they were gathering together their weaponry and their logic and their reasoning behind why they were prepared to fight.”
Stephen Ayres, a participant in the riot, testified that Trump’s speech prompted him to head to the Capitol. He also apologized to Capitol police officers after telling lawmakers that he regrets being duped by the former president’s false claims of election fraud.
“Basically, the president got everybody riled up, told everybody to come on down. So, we basically would just follow what he said,” Ayres said. Ayres added that he left the scene after Trump tweeted asking his supporters to stop the riot.
About 800 people have been charged with taking part in the Capitol riot, with about 250 guilty pleas so far.
Global Power Shifting Away From West, While BRICS Expanding & Increasing Legitimacy. The world is going to be “at least bi-polar and possibly multi-polar”, according to Tony Blair
For the first time in modern history the East can be on equal terms with the West, as the global dominance of the US and its allies comes to an end, former British prime minister Tony Blair has said.
China, which is “already the world’s second superpower,” will compete with the West “not just for power but against our system, our way of governing and living,” the Labour politician warned. Beijing “will not be alone. It will have allies. Russia now for sure. Possibly Iran.”
Dominance of West is coming to an end, says Tony Blair
Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia may “very soon” join BRICS, a group of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, according to the entity’s International Forum President Purnima Anand.
BRICS Expanding
“Starting with the global pandemic and continuing with the food crisis, soaring inflation, the conflict in Ukraine, the global economic system has shown weakness,” says Yusuf Erim, Turkish foreign policy expert and editor-at-large at TRT World, Turkey’s English language public broadcaster. “I think this is leading many countries to reevaluate their financial and economic positions, their financial and economic dependencies.”
According to Erim, a group like the BRICS provides an opportunity for other countries to diversify their economic alliances and join a club of rapidly growing emerging nations.
“Like it or not, the financial and economic US hegemony that we saw over the past century is coming to a close slowly,” the Turkish expert says. “Groups like the BRICS will definitely be eating away the US market share.”
“I hope that the accession of countries to BRICS will happen very quickly, because now all representatives of the core of the association are interested in enlargement. So it will be very soon,” Anand said.
Previously, Li Kexin, the head of the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, also hinted at the possibility of Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia’s accession to the bloc during a press conference after the 14th BRICS summit.
Global Power Shifting Away From West as BRICS Expanding & Increasing Legitimacy
Growing Dissatisfaction With Washington
Riyadh, Cairo, and Ankara have good reasons to feel disenchanted with Washington and particularly the Biden administration. During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden vowed to turn Saudi Arabia into a “pariah state” and pledged “no more blank checks for Trump’s ‘favorite dictator'”, in reference to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi over alleged human rights abuses.
Having assumed office, Biden halted support for the Saudi-led coalition and its military operations in Yemen, put US-Saudi arms deals on pause, started talks over the resumption of the Iran nuclear deal, and accused the Saudi crown prince of “approving” the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, something that Riyadh has resolutely denied.
In June 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon had been pulling approximately eight Patriot anti-missile batteries from countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. An antimissile system known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was withdrawn from Saudi Arabia too, according to the newspaper.
Washington has monumentally failed to address Riyadh’s security concerns, according to Dr. Ali Demirdas, political analyst and a former Fulbright scholar who taught Middle East politics and Turkish foreign policy at the College of Charleston. After the US withdrew the Patriot missile system from Saudi Arabia, the kingdom’s oil refineries were attacked multiple times by Yemeni Houthi rebels, according to the academic.
Growing Dissatisfaction With Washington
Likewise, the Biden administration froze out the Egyptian leadership for quite a while after taking the reins in January 2021. Washington cancelled $130 million in military aid to Egypt over “human rights concerns” in January 2022, just days after approving a massive $2.5 billion arms sale to the country.
Amid mounting criticism over human rights issues from Washington, Cairo is more eager to rely on Moscow, especially when it comes to food and wheat supplies, according to Demirdas. “Bread is everything for Egypt,” the professor highlights.
Turkey’s frictions with the two latest American administrations are also well-documented. Ankara remains outraged by Washington’s support for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, which the Turks see as an affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Furthermore, Turkey, a longtime NATO ally, was expelled from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 and subjected to threats from the US over its decision to buy Russia’s S-400 anti-missile systems.
“America’s unwavering support for Turkey’s arch-enemy the PKK in Syria has led to Ankara’s complete departure from Washington’s orbit,” Demirdas says. “This is cemented by Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400s.”
With more and more countries now looking away from the United States and seeking to join other groups to provide economic support and diversify their markets, “this will be a blow to the United States,” according to Erim.
And it shall come to pass in that day,” saith the Lord God, “that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.
And I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:9-10
Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” saith the Lord. Amos 9:8
John Bolton Admits He Helped Plan Foreign Coup Attempts. Obviously that would include the Ukrainian Maidan coup in early 2014 that led to our current crisis between Ukraine and Russia that seems no end in fighting; this must be a result of Bolton”s strategic thinking “We Must Fight Them Over There So We Don’t Have To Fight Them Over Here.”
But given enough time, the US will be swarmed by the Global South! For a Biblical perspective of this potential explosive violence, and how “Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee;” for more, see the Sword from the South!
John Bolton, the former White House national security adviser for the Trump administration, has claimed that he previously helped plan attempted coups of foreign leaders.
“As somebody who has helped plan coups d’etat—it takes a lot of work.”
Bolton made the comment in an interview with CNN’s “The Lead” on Tuesday, shortly after the Jan. 6 House Select Committee had wrapped up its seventh congressional hearing, regarding the breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Panel lawmakers focused much of Tuesday’s hearing on evidence around testimony provided by former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and alleged ties between former President Trump and “extremist” right-wing groups.
The committee claims that Trump intentionally tried to mount an insurrection against the United States government in a last-ditch effort to remain in power after losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
Speaking to CNN, Bolton insisted that Trump could not have pulled off a “carefully planned coup d’etat aimed at the Constitution” because “that’s not the way Donald Trump does things.”
“It’s not an attack on our democracy,” Bolton said. “It’s Donald Trump looking out for Donald Trump. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.”
CNN host Jake Tapper responded, “I don’t know that I agree with you, to be fair, with all due respect” adding that “one doesn’t have to be brilliant to attempt a coup.”
However, Bolton said he disagreed with this statement before referencing his own alleged experience helping to plan a coup.
Helped Plan Coups
“As somebody who has helped plan coups d’etat—not here but, you know, [in] other places—it takes a lot of work. And that’s not what he [Trump] did,” Bolton continued. “It was just stumbling around from one idea to another. Ultimately, he did unleash the rioters at the Capitol. As to that, there is no doubt. But not to overthrow the Constitution to buy more time to throw the matter back to the states to try to redo the issue.”
“And if you don’t believe that, then you’re going to overreact, and I think that’s a real risk for the committee, which has done a lot of good work mostly when the witnesses are testifying, not when the members are opining,” he added. “It is invariably the case when you go too far trying to prove your case, you undermine it.”
28 The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart; 29 and thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways. “And thou shalt be only oppressed and despoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. Deuteronomy 28:28-29
Modern Israel, today as in the past, has many blind shepherd, for it is said:
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18 “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
Is Sri Lanka’s Foreign Debt a China’s Debt Trap? Many in the West propagate this is the case, so how much is Sri Lanka’s Foreign Debt and what are their breakdown?
The following chart tells the story:
China is not the biggest lender to Sri Lanka. The following are the debts that Sri Lanka has:
Market borrowings: $16.38 billion
China: $3.39 billion
ADB: $4.42 billion
Japan: $3.36 billion
World Bank: $3.23 billion
India: $859 million
Others: $3.04 billion
China’s loans only accounts for about 10% of Sri Lanka’s debts, almost similar to Japan.
Secondly, Sri Lanka has not lost its Hambantota port to China. China has a 99 year lease of the port, at $1.12 billion, in a JV with Sri Lanka Port Authority.
Sri Lanka benefits from the employment of its people at the port and can collect tax from their income, as well as a 30% share of profits.
The history:
At Sri Lanka’s request, China developed the Hambantota Port at a cost of $1.5 billion. Upon completion, the port was managed by the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA). However, from 2010 to 2017, the port was running at a loss and Sri Lanka could not pay back their loan to China.
Following this, Sri Lanka agreed to form a JV company with China to run the port. China Merchants Port (CM Port) holds 70% and SLPA holds the remaining 30%. This JV will run the port for the next 99 years.
CM Port then paid $1.12 billion to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka also received from China $292 million in December 2017 and another $97 million in January 2018. These need not be paid back. They are grants.
Hambantota Port is regarded by India as an important link in the “string of pearls” and is often used to hype up the “China threat theory.”
In addition to that, CM Port has invested an additional $600 million in Hambantota Port for its operations.
If you add up all the payments that China has made, you will notice that it exceeds Sri Lanka’s debt to China for building the port.
But the West continues to propagate that Sri Lanka’s problem is China’s Debt Trap!
“Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints” Hosea 11:12
“Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be” Hosea 5:9
Invasion driven by cartels at southern border: interview with Texas Gov. Abbott
Texas Gov. Abbott: about 6 to 7,000,000 new arrivals every year
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott argues ‘unprecedented, overwhelming number of people coming across the border’ is a result of President Biden eliminating all the policies Trump put in place.
The number projected to entering the US is over 18,000 per day (4.49th minute); that is over 6,500,000 per year, every year. One Houston of 6 to 7 millions every year added.
One Houston of 6 to 7 millions added to the United States every year: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
John Mearsheimer has brilliantly emphasized the United States are protected by fish to the left and fish to the right, but foolishly negates to address America’s broken border in the South; and that the Scriptures say that America’s main “enemy” comes from the porous South:
Ezekiel 20:45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesy against the forest of the Southland. 47 And say to the forest of the South: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shall be burned therein. 48 And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.’” 49 Then said I, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’” Ezekiel 21:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My Sword out of his sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My Sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the North, 5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth My Sword out of his sheath. It shall not return any more.’ (Ezekiel 20:45-21:5)
Immigrants cross through a gap in the US-Mexico border every night in Yuma, Arizona
Immigrants cross the US-Mexico border in Texas everyday in broad daylight
The San Luis port of entry in Yuma County is the second busiest border crossing everyday
Immigrants cross the US-Mexico border during twilight
Fences breached with victory ecstasy at Southern border
Nobody knows how many of these containers are carrying immigrants across the Southern border until something goes deadly wrong
Container crossing that succeeded
Those that attempt inside a passenger vehicle
River crossing
Illegal border crossers were being guided by “coyotes” at the river in Eagle Pass, Texas
Stand off, pull and push, but waiting for nightfall to arrive
Sporadic skirmishes here and there in unfamilair terrains
Through difficult and unchartered terrain but watch for drones and helicopters above!
Beginning of their march, from Central American in Escuintla, Chiapas State, Mexico
Migrants ride atop a freight train in Ixtepec, Oaxaca State, toward the US-Mexico border
Further South in Guatemala, migrants start pushing toward the US-Mexican border
Modern Israel, today as in the past, has many blind shepherd, for it was said: “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
Quora by Zayne Chu to a question “Do you think Shinzo Abe was shot by Chinese agents?”
The Chinese generally don’t like Shinzo Abe. I think there is no doubt about that. But it is not in China’s interest to assassinate Abe.
Shinzo Abe was a representative of the right-wing conservative faction in Japan. His grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, was one of the Class A war criminals who led the war of aggression against China during World War II.
Shinzo Abe and his grandfather Nobusuke Kishi, known as the “Monster of Manchuria”
Nobusuke Kishi was once called the “Monster of Manchuria.” He was the Deputy PM of the puppet Manchukuo. His hands were stained with the blood of the Chinese people.
His main “performance”:
He cultivated opium poppy on a large scale and monopolized the opium trade in Northeast China, becoming the second largest source of revenue for the Puppet Manchukuo after tariff revenue. He personally brought tons of opium to Shanghai to trade, and together with the Japanese army stationed in Shanghai, he made huge profits.
He vigorously promoted the “Manchuria and Mongolia pioneering group” to immigrate to Northeast China, forcibly occupying the land and villages of Chinese farmers, causing a large number of Chinese families to lose their land and homes, to be displaced, freeze to death and starve to death.
During his stay in Manchuria, he also actively organized comfort stations for the Kwantung Army, forcibly recruited or deceived Chinese and Korean women as comfort women for the Japanese army to vent their animal desires…
He formed the infamous Unit 731 to conduct bacterial experiments on living people, and the main funds were raised by him. It can be said that he is one of the main planners of Unit 731.
Because of his numerous crimes, he was greatly appreciated by the Japanese military. After returning to Japan at the end of 1939, he served as the Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Japanese Cabinet.
Since then, Nobusuke Kishi made greater efforts to be loyal to Japanese fascist regime, firmly supported the launching of the Pacific War, signed the declaration of war against the United States, and become the most capable cabinet member of Hideki Tojo’s wartime cabinet.
Under the full operation of Nobusuke Kishi, coal, grain and iron ore plundered from China and oil, rubber, wood, copper and other strategic resources plundered from Southeast Asia were continuously transported to Japan, which became the driving force of Japan’s crazy war machine.
At this time, Nobusuke Kishi has changed from the “Monster of Manchuria” to the “Monster of the Shōwa era“.
After Japan’s defeat, Nobusuke Kishi was listed as a Class A war criminal
After Japan’s defeat, Nobusuke Kishi was listed as a Class A war criminal, but because Hirohito knelt down and licked MacArthur, comfort stations were set up all over Japan, MacArthur was very happy, and finally Nobusuke Kishi was “acquitted”.
Nobusuke Kishi thought he could not escape death, but he did not expect to be “acquitted” by the Americans. He was grateful to the United States when he came out of his cell. He just wanted to lick MacArthur’s ass and show his loyalty all the time. MacArthur immediately said when he saw Nobusuke Kishi’s attitude: Yes, we can rest assured of you, and the Japanese government will hand it over to you in the future.
With the strong support of the United States, in 1957, the war criminal Nobusuke Kishi became the Prime Minister of Japan
In this way, Nobusuke Kishi pledged his infinite allegiance to MacArthur and his oath of allegiance to the United States.
In the process of kneeling and licking the United States, fruitful results have been achieved.
His greatest “merit” was the vigorous push for the “Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan” under his leadership, which asserted that the United States must defend Japan and that Japan must be defended by the United States – ultimately making Japan a vassal state of the United States.
The Abe family has a long-standing tradition of ideological anti-communism and pro-Americanism. Because of this, the Abe family is considered “loyal” by Americans. This is why the family not only escaped due trial and liquidation, but also held high positions in Japanese politics for a long time with the support of the United States.
Shinzo Abe certainly did not like the Chinese from the bottom of his heart. Much of this “dislike” stems not from a conflict of interest, but from a Nazi-like racial superiority mentality inherent in Japanese gentry families. In other words, they did not consider the Chinese as “human beings” who had the right to be their equals.
This explains why people like Abe have no sense of reflection about the war of aggression against China. Not only was he not ashamed of it, but he was proud of it. Fundamentally, he did not believe that Japan lost to China in World War II, but to the United States. There was nothing wrong with the war, it was wrong to lose. Therefore, his main task was to reflect on why he “lost”, rather than reflecting on the war itself. This was the core logic of Abe’s diplomacy with China and the United States.
Once we bring this nationalistic “blue-blooded aristocrat” mentality into Abe’s career, many of his seemingly contradictory actions were naturally understandable.
This “aristocratic mentality” required Abe to think of the interests of Japan, or the “Yamato people”. He was ambitious and idealistic. This had led him to the path of pragmatism. When it was time to give in, he would give in. When it was time to be tough, his heartfelt arrogance and his long-accumulated family power behind him made him not so easy to be controlled.
He have had three main goals in his career. The first was to stabilize Japan’s sinking economy. The method was the so-called “Abe economics”, which was actually the localization of debt. Debt expansion was used to ease Japan’s chronic deflation and boost consumption and exports. Second, it was to try to normalize the country, to amend the peace constitution and strengthen Japan’s military power.
Third, Japan should try to become a “chess player” instead of a “chess piece” in the game between China and the United States. At worst, it should not become a “chessboard”. In fact, under many constraints, Abe has shown enough ability and wisdom. His achievements in these three points were not good, but definitely not bad either. There was clearly some reasons why he had been the longest serving and relatively successful Japanese Prime Minister since the war. He was also qualified enough.
To accomplish all three, he clearly needed the support of both China and the United States. Even though these policies were essentially in conflict with the interests of China and the United States. Therefore, this had prompted Abe to constantly “walk the tightrope” between China and the United States.
Abe first became prime minister in 2006, when the downward pressure on Japan’s economy showed no sign of easing. This prompted the young Shinzo Abe to embark on a path of seeking China’s support. He was keen to strengthen cooperation with China economically and attract Chinese tourists.
During this time he has shown ample goodwill toward China and South Korea. At the same time, he has successfully upgraded the Defense Agency to the Defense Ministry. These actions made the Americans doubt his loyalty. Therefore, according to the rule of “pro-China will die” in Japanese politics, Abe, who is not yet “mature”, can only accept the fate of stepping down.
After becoming prime minister for the second time in 2012, Abe had become smarter. In diplomacy with China, he had shown an increasingly tough stance. This included paying homage to the Yasukuni Shrine as prime minister, provoking the conflict over the Diaoyu Islands, and actively claiming that he was willing to “defend Taiwan”…
At the same time, he had maintained a soft stance toward the United States and had shown a surprisingly attentive attitude in his dealings with Trump.
Interestingly, even with such poor relations with China on the surface, he still managed to promote the official entry into force of the RCEP and to maintain the stability of the Sino-Japanese private capital exchange to the maximum extent.
We need to understand one basic reality. That is that Japan is still not a “normal country” with full and independent sovereignty. American influence on Japan is inevitable and all-encompassing. The pro-China faction in Japanese politics cannot survive in such an environment. Even if they emerge, they will be quickly purged. Therefore, the two major forces that exist in Japan at the diplomatic level are both pro-US and anti-China.
But the logic of operation is not the same. The aristocratic gentry, led by Shinzo Abe, have deep roots in power. They are more likely to think and make decisions with the interests of Japan as their priority. Their “pro-US, anti-China” approach is more a “gesture” than a substance. It is in their interest to remain neutral most of the time.
The bureaucratic elite, represented by the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is not firmly rooted in power, and must rely more on the U.S. for stability in power, even if the will of the U.S. is often contrary to Japan’s core interests. They can only fall more fully to the United States.
That is, for China, even if we dislike Shinzo Abe, he was still the “least bad” choice for China. In contrast, we would prefer not to deal with the “new elite” represented by Fumio Kishida, who puts U.S. interests first.
In fact, from China’s point of view, we don’t care anyway. With the dramatic change in the power balance in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan has in fact long since lost the right to be a “chess player”. Currently, Japan’s economic crisis is far more severe than any other developed economy in the world. With the dollar interest rate increase spread, the yen is appearing unprecedented devaluation.
At the same time, the Japanese do not dare to solve the problem by raising interest rates. Once interest rates are raised, Japan’s debt crisis will explode completely. With this in mind, an externally-oriented manufacturing economy with no resources to speak of actually has a continuous trade deficit…
This makes people doubt the future of Japan. And the powerful Fumio Kishida is bound to tie Japan more firmly to the U.S. chariot. If he succumbs to the Americans’ eagerness to ease the pressure on the domestic economy, he will continue to “sacrifice” Japan to the U.S. blood transfusion. I can only say, good luck to them…
Shinzo Abe, the scene of his assassination
The fact that the assassin of Shinzo Abe was a socially marginalized person does not bode well for Japan. This in itself is a socialized reaction to Japan’s economic woes over the years. Such an “assassin” may be an isolated case, but such a “marginalized” person is clearly not.
Of course, I must emphasize that economically speaking only, as a member of East Asia, we still want Japan to remain stable. A collapse of the Japanese economy is certainly not in China’s interest. It is equally inevitable that we will be affected. For Southeast Asian countries that are also in the RCEP and hold large amounts of yen assets, the outlook is even less promising. I heard that the Japanese Shinto religion has a tradition of treating dead people as “gods”. Let’s hope that the spirit of former Prime Minister Abe will bless his country.
RT / 8 Jul, 2022 US Border Patrol agents did not whip Haitian migrants, but will be suspended for “offensive language”
Mounted US Border Patrol agents whipping migrants
US Customs and Border Patrol will punish several agents who sought to block migrants from illegally crossing from Mexico last fall, for “unprofessional or dangerous behavior” and “denigrating and offensive language,” the agency said on Friday. However, the nine-month probe cleared the agents of accusations – leveled by activists and politicians, including President Joe Biden himself – that they “whipped” the Haitian migrants with the reins of their horses, which was compared to the evils of slavery.
The Department of Homeland Security “found no evidence Border Patrol agents involved in this incident struck anyone with their reins, intentionally or otherwise,” CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said at a press conference, referring to the 500-page report compiled by the DHS Office of Professional Responsibility.
However, the agents involved will still be disciplined, because several of them “engaged in unprofessional or dangerous behavior, including one instance in which an agent used denigrating and offensive language,” Magnus said. Another agent was accused of maneuvering his horse around a child in an “unsafe manner.”
Magnus did not say what punishment awaited the agents, who had been reassigned to desk duty since last fall. CBP had also discontinued horse patrols after the incident. According to Fox News, citing multiple sources within the federal government, the agency has proposed suspensions without pay for up to 14 days.
Magnus blamed the local Border Patrol commander for accepting a request for aid from the Texas State Police “that directly conflicted with Border Patrol operational objectives,” dispatching the horse patrol to Del Rio on September 19, 2021.
More than 15,000 migrants, overwhelmingly of Haitian origin, had crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico over the preceding week, and were camped under a highway overpass. When Fox News showed drone images of the sprawling migrant camp, the federal government responded by imposing a no-fly zone.
The river was shallow enough at the time that the Haitians waded back and forth across the border. AFP photographer Paul Ratje captured a moment when the mounted patrol tried to stop a group of them. Within hours, a Democrat activist claimed that the photos showed the agents “whipping” the migrants.
The Border Patrol and even Ratje himself repeatedly said this was not true, which did not stop Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-California) from claiming the incident was “worse than what we witnessed in slavery,” or Biden himself to demand punishment for “outrageous” actions.
“I promise you, those people will pay. There will be an investigation underway now and there will be consequences,” the president told reporters several days later.
The Scriptures say that America’s main “enemy” comes from the South:
Ezekiel 20:45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesy against the forest of the Southland. 47 And say to the forest of the South: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shall be burned therein. 48 And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.’” 49 Then said I, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’” Ezekiel 21:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My Sword out of his sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My Sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the North, 5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth My Sword out of his sheath. It shall not return any more.’ (Ezekiel 20:45-21:5)
After a lifetime of swaggering and dissembling his way through one scandal after another on the strength of his prodigious political skills — a potent mix of charm, guile, ruthlessness, hubris, oratorical dexterity and rumpled Wodehousian bluster — Boris Johnson has finally reached the end. It seems that the laws of gravity apply to him after all.
Johnson’s Lies Worked for Years, Until They Didn’t
It’s not that he ever fooled anyone about who he really was. Over the years, he has routinely been described as mendacious, irresponsible, reckless and lacking any coherent philosophy other than wanting to seize and hold on to power.
“People have known that Boris Johnson lies for 30 years,” writer and academic Rory Stewart, a former Conservative member of Parliament, said recently. “He’s probably the best liar we’ve ever had as a prime minister. He knows a hundred different ways to lie.”
In contrast to former President Donald Trump, another politician with an improvisational and often distant relationship to the truth, Johnson’s approach has rarely been to double down on his lies or to delude himself for consistency’s sake into acting as if they were true. Rather, he recasts them to fit new information that comes to light, as if the truth were a fungible concept, no more solid than quicksand.
Mislead, omit, obfuscate, bluster, deny, deflect, attack, apologize while implying that he has done nothing wrong — the British prime minister’s blueprint for dealing with a crisis, his critics say, almost never begins, and rarely ends, with simply telling the truth. That approach worked for him for years — until finally it didn’t.
His government weathered scandal after scandal, much of it centered on Johnson’s behavior. He was rebuked by the government’s ethics adviser after a wealthy Conservative donor contributed tens of thousands of pounds to help him refurbish his apartment. (Johnson repaid the money.) There were the private text messages he exchanged with a wealthy British businessman over his plan to manufacture ventilators in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, which raised questions of impropriety. There was an almost farcical accrual of embarrassing disclosures about how often Johnson’s aides (and sometimes Johnson) attended boozy parties during the worst days of the COVID lockdown, flagrantly violating rules the country had set for itself.
In the end, the prime minister’s different explanations for what he knew, and when, about Chris Pincher, a Conservative legislator accused of sexual impropriety, finally tipped the scales against him. It was clear that he had once again failed to tell the truth.
“He’s been found out,” said Anthony Sargeant, 44, a software developer who lives in the northern city of Wakefield. “The annoying thing about it is that the signs were there.”
Boris Johnson partying drinks
“He’s been sacked from previous journalism roles for lying,” Sargeant went on, pointing to the time Johnson, then a young reporter, was fired from The Times of London for making up a quote. “Yet there he was, the leader of the Conservative Party becoming the prime minister.”
After helping engineer the downfall of his competent but lackluster predecessor, Theresa May, in 2019, Johnson entered office with an energetic mandate for change. His populist message, buoyant personality and easy promises to cut taxes and red tape, free Britain from the burdens of belonging to the European Union and restore the country’s pride in itself appealed to a public weary of the brutal fight over the Brexit referendum and eager to embrace someone who appeared to be expressing what they themselves felt.
But like Trump, who put a more sinister cast on his own populist message, Johnson has always behaved as if he were bigger than the office that he held, as if the damage he caused was inconsequential as long as he could remain in power. His resignation speech, in which he vowed to remain in office until the Conservatives could choose a new leader, was notable for its lack of self-awareness and its misreading of the curdled mood of his former supporters.
Born Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson — he began using “Boris” in a sort of rebranding exercise in high school — the soon-to-be-ex prime minister has a long and well-documented history both of evading the truth and of acting as if he believes himself to be exempt from the normal rules of behavior. His many years in public life — as a newspaper reporter and columnist, as the editor of an influential London political magazine, as a politician — have left a trail of witnesses to, and victims of, his slippery nature.
When he was editor of the Spectator magazine, he lied to the editor, Conrad Black, promising not to serve in Parliament while working at the magazine. (He did.) When he was first elected to Parliament, he lied to his constituents when he promised to quit his Spectator job. (He didn’t.) As a legislator, he lied to the party leader, Michael Howard, and to the news media when he publicly declared that he had not had an affair with a writer for the magazine, nor gotten her pregnant and paid for her abortion. (He had done all of that.)
Boris Johnson enjoys a drink at a leaving party in November 2020
In a strange incident that he found hilarious but that epitomized his general lack of seriousness, in 2002 he ordered an employee at The Spectator to impersonate him when a photographer for The New York Times arrived to take his picture, fully expecting The Times to embarrass itself by publishing a photograph of the wrong person. (The ruse was discovered only toward the end of the photo shoot, when the magazine’s publisher found out what was happening.)
When he was the Brussels correspondent for the right-leaning Daily Telegraph in the late 1980s, Johnson wrote highly entertaining but blatantly inaccurate articles designed to paint the European Union as a factory of petty regulation intent on stamping out British individuality — articles that helped establish an anti-Europe narrative for a generation of Conservatives and pave the way for Brexit, two decades later.
Johnson himself described the experience years later to the BBC as akin to “chucking rocks over the garden wall” and then realizing that “everything I wrote from Brussels was having this amazing, explosive effect on the Tory party.”
“And it really gave me this, I suppose, rather weird sense of power,” he said.
In 2016, serving simultaneously as mayor of London and a member of Parliament, Johnson betrayed the Conservative Party leader, Prime Minister David Cameron, when he led the pro-leave side of the Brexit debate, contrary to the party’s position. Serving as foreign secretary under Cameron’s successor, May, he stabbed her in the back — and set the stage for his own accession to the job — by resigning from the government and denouncing the Brexit agreement she had spent months negotiating.
His womanizing and affairs were an open secret during his marriage to his second wife, Marina Wheeler, the mother of four of his (at least) seven children. They separated when his affair with a Conservative official, Carrie Symonds, now the mother of two of the seven, came to light. He has at least one other child, a daughter born during a liaison with a married adviser when he was the (still-married) mayor of London, in the 2010s.
“I would not take Boris’ word about whether it is Monday or Tuesday,” Max Hastings, the Telegraph editor who hired Johnson as his Brussels correspondent, once said. In 2019, when Johnson was poised to become prime minister, Hastings wrote an article titled “I was Boris Johnson’s Boss: He is Utterly Unfit to be Prime Minister.” In it, he called Johnson a “cavorting charlatan” who suffered from “moral bankruptcy” and exhibited “a contempt for the truth.”
Hastings, who employed Johnson when the future prime minister was in his 20s, was not the first to raise questions about his seriousness of purpose and inflated sense of self.
When Johnson was 17 and a student at Eton College, the all-boys boarding school that caters to the country’s elites, his classics teacher sent a letter home to Johnson’s father, Stanley.
“Boris really has adopted a disgracefully cavalier attitude to his classical studies,” the teacher, Martin Hammond, wrote, and “sometimes seems affronted when criticized for what amounts to a gross failure of responsibility.”
He added, speaking of the teenager who would grow up to be a prime minister: “I think he honestly believes that it is churlish of us not to regard him as an exception, one who should be free of the network of obligation that binds everyone else.”
The final lie that brought down the pyramid of untruths that sustained Boris Johnson’s premiership was a particularly unedifying one. His claim to be unaware of prior complaints about a member of his government accused of assault was swiftly exposed, leading to first a trickle, then a stampede of ministers from his tainted administration.
“Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints” Hosea 11:12
“Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be” Hosea 5:9
The theorist of great power politics believes that NATO’s push eastward provoked Putin’s invasion, and only the Ukrainians can end it.
John Mearsheimer becomes a divisive figure in recent debates over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because of a message he’s been sharing since 2014 (when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea): Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine isn’t about Russia’s expansionist ambitions or a desire to restore the nation’s global status to that of its Soviet glory days.
Instead, it’s about Western interventionism. Specifically, it’s about pressure by the US on Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and European Union (EU).
NATO membership has grown significantly since 1990 (see image below). Putin views this possible future, in which Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova join NATO and the EU, as an existential threat to Russia’s security and geopolitical interests.
So, even though Russia has clearly been the aggressor in the Ukran-Russia war, the US, not Russia, is to blame for the current predicament.
Mearsheimer explains how the Ukraine-Russia conflict came about:
I think all the trouble in this case really started in April, 2008, at the nato Summit in Bucharest, where afterward Nato issued a statement that said Ukraine and Georgia would become part of Nato. The Russians made it unequivocally clear at the time that they viewed this as an existential threat, and they drew a line in the sand.
Nevertheless, what has happened with the passage of time is that we have moved forward to include Ukraine in the West to make Ukraine a Western bulwark on Russia’s border. Of course, this includes more than just NATO expansion. NATO expansion is the heart of the strategy, but it includes EU expansion as well, and it includes turning Ukraine into a pro-American liberal democracy, and, from a Russian perspective, this is an existential threat.
Regarding the war’s consequences, the greatest danger is that the war will go on for months if not years, and that either NATO will get directly involved in the fighting or nuclear weapons will be used — or both. Furthermore, enormous damage has already been inflicted on Ukraine. A prolonged war is likely to wreak even more devastation on Ukraine.
Paul makes a compelling observation—an affirmation he refers to as a mystery—that a blindness on the house of Jacob has happened until “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” The context helps us understand the meaning of the blindness and what is the fullness of the Gentiles. “For I, brethren, would not have you be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in,” Romans 11:25.
Could this times of the Gentiles spoken of in Luke 21:24 be also “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”? If so, would this coincide with a time when God will call the Gentiles for redemption?
Romans 11
1 I ask then: Hath God cast away His people? God forbid! For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. — I say then; was Paul infering from the language of Isaiah just quoted that God has cast away his people? Far from that. Paul was himself too closely identified with his countrymen to look upon it with anything but horror;
— I also; this appeals to his own descent from Abraham seems to be called forth by the Apostle’s patriotic sympathy with his people, and not merely by the thought that he would be included in their rejection.
2 God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Know ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, — the word “foreknew” is expressive not merely of foreseeing a thing, but implies in this place a previous purpose or plan;
— he meant by the people God had not cast away, namely, which were “foreknown” by him; for all mankind are in a sense his people, being made, maintained, and supported in their beings by him, for he foresaw their faith, holiness and good works, and so chose them for himself; for the kingdom of Jacob is destined to be a kingdom of priest.
3 “Lord, they have killed Thy prophets and torn down Thine altars, and I am left alone and they seek my life”? — this is the account which Obadiah gave Elijah when he met him 1 Kings 18:13 seems to favor such a supposition; seek my life; that is, Ahab and Jezebel seek to kill me. This they did because he had overcome and slain the prophets of Baal;
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? “I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” — there was a chosen remnant of believing elects, who had righteousness; these were kept according to the election of grace; while the Israelite nation were as in a deep sleep.
5 Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. — as there was a remnant then, so also is there a remnant now; which could be the time of the Gentiles, that there should be due to some human merit on the part of those selection from among the nations.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it be by works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. — this is to combat a favorite notion of the Jews, that we are justified by obedience to the Law; but God could see character through the hearts.
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded,
8 according as it is written: “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.” — the state of Israel and the Jewish nation were in a deep sleep, without knowledge of their danger, or concern about it; having no sense of their need of further repentence;
— “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18;
9 And David saith, “Let their table be made a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense unto them. — their blessings upon the dining table shall be turned into curses, by reason of their depravity. The metaphors of a snare and a trapare taken from birds and beasts, which are allured into snares and traps to their destruction, by meat laid in their way.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their backs alway.” — the house of Israel and the Jews today, as in the past, has many blind shepherd: “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10.
11 I say then: Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! But rather, through their fall salvation has come unto the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy. — for to provoke them to jealousy; the reason why salvation had been extended to the Gentiles was to stir up the Israelites and Jews to emulation. Their privileges had made them negligent and apathetic. The sight of others stepping into those privileges was to rouse them from their apathy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? — if the Israelites have a designated 144,000 in their completeness, then perhaps the Gentiles would have a number, although we were never told how many for each of the other 69 nations or so in God’s list.
13 For I speak to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my office,
14 that by any means I may provoke to emulation those who are my flesh, and might save some of them. — I may provoke to emulation; may awaken up to zeal or to an earnest desire to obtain the like blessings. This was in accordance with the calling in of the Gentiles would excite their attention, and provoke them to deep feeling.
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? — here he denies they were cast away; they were cast away, though neither totally nor finally, and it is of this partial and temporary rejection that Paul here speaks.
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the whole lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches. — the lump is also holy; by lump, and branches, he means the people of the Jews that descended of these holy patriarchs, and spring from them, as branches from a root.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree, — if some of the branches be broken off; the unbelieving Jews;
— fatness of the olive tree, he means, all the promises and privileges, the graces and ordinances, the spiritual blessings and benefits, which belonged to Abraham and his seed.
18 boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
— MSG Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there’s bound to be some holy fruit. Some of the tree’s branches were pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to gloat over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you.
19 Thou wilt say then, “The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” — the branches were broken off; the Jews were rejected in order that the gospel might be preached to the Gentiles and be grafted in.
20 Thou sayest well! Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear;
— PHILLIPS But if some of the branches of the tree have been broken off, while you, like shoots of wild-olive, have been grafted in, and don’t share like a natural branch the rich nourishment of the root, don’t let yourself feel superior to those former branches. (If you feel inclined that way, remind yourself that you do not support the root, the root supports you.) You may make the natural retort, “But the branches were broken off to make room for my grafting!” It wasn’t quite like that. They lost their position because they failed to believe; you only maintain yours because you do believe. The situation does not call for conceit but for a certain wholesome fear. If God removed the natural branches for a good reason, take care that you don’t give him the same reason for removing you.
21 for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. — if God proceeded with so much severity against his ancient people the Jews, you Gentiles may in reason expect as great severity, if you take not heed to yourselves, and to your standing.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness. Otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off. — behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity (to be a warning to thee);
— but toward thee, God’s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they, if they abide not still in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. — for God is able to graft them in again; as many of them were in the times of the apostles, and some since, for nothing is impossible with God; he can remove their unbelief, knock off the shackles and fetters in which they are held, and bring, them out of the prison of blindness.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? — grafted contrary to nature, as signifying contrary to the usual way of ingrafting; which is, not to insert a wild scion into a good stock, but a good scion into a wild stock.
25 For I, brethren, would not have you be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. — ignorant of this mystery; the word “mystery” means properly what is “concealed, hidden, or unknown”
— the fulness of the Gentiles, as above, the complete number; the full complement of the Gentiles; that is, that this blindness is to continue until great numbers of the Gentiles shall be converted, whose number, and the time of their conversion, is still concealed and hidden from us;
— perhaps this fullness of the Gentiles could be another 144,000; placing itself side by side with those 144,000 of the twelve tribes of Israel signifies by the two loaves of bread as firstfruits on the day of Pentecost? Leviticus 23:17; comparing Revelation 7 with 14;
— as to the timing for their redemption, its main harvest could be during the period of 190 years, described as a time of Jacob’s trouble, just before the Millenium; for more see Ezekiel 4 – 390/40 Years.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. — —
27 For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.” — —
28 Concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. — —
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. — —
30 For as in times past ye have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, — —
31 even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. — —
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. — —
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out! — —
34 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor?” — —
35 Or, “who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” — —
36 For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. — —
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a ‘lying, cheating clown’ claiming to be a Christian! Such is a blatant abomination!
***
On June 24th, at the think tank, the Hudson Institute, US President Trump’s CIA chief and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, delivered a 5,000+-word speech, suggesting that America has an essentially God-assigned mission to control the world, so as to preserve freedom and democracy for everybody, and that victory against Russia and China is therefore obligatory for the United States and its allies, not only to serve God but also to serve God’s People, because “central to the economic wellbeing of American families is a United States that leads.
It leads all across the world, both in military and in economic power”; and, so,
“We must act in concert with our allies to affect strategic clarity, unmistakable to both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. We must prevent the formation of a Pan-Eurasian colossus incorporating Russia, but led by China. To do that, we have to strengthen NATO.”
Furthermore, “The AUKUS Union [the recently U.S.-UK-created Asian military alliance] should be folded into this expanded security alliance,” so that NATO will become a global alliance against Russia and China, in order to preserve America’s world leadership.
His basic argument was that it’s either us or them, and they must be conquered, because God wants it, and we serve Him.
Pompeo did not argue that World War III will entail sacrifices for any of God’s People, but instead that winning this war will be necessary for the future safety and prosperity of the peoples of America, and of all countries that it will be leading, to conquer Russia and China.
The current U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Binken, or even President Biden himself, could have delivered this speech for themselves, with remarkably little modification, because the beliefs that it expresses are mainstream — and not ONLY in the U.S., but also in UK, and even in most of Europe (except for Russia and Belarus).
Here are highlights from his speech (including, without comment, its many historical falsehoods, because this is the ordinary way he writes (and extemporaneously speaks). These excerpts are taken from the text that he himself wrote, before he delivered the complete address, from his lectern, at that military-industrial-complex institution, on June 24th.
America and the nations of the world cannot continue the pretense that the war in Ukraine can end in a negotiated peace, which mollifies Russia. For such a peace cannot be negotiated with Vladimir Putin. Ukraine must win this war. It must win this war decisively if it is to realize peace, independence and freedom. Same goes for Europe. …
This war, Putin’s war, is to expunge Ukraine as a sovereign nation and as a people. Ukraine is to be folded into the new Russian Empire that seeks to become a rump of the Soviet Union. Nine, count them, nine American presidents from each of our political parties. Nine American presidents dismembered the Soviet Empire at enormous great human costs, to allow it to even begin to be reconstitution unthinkable.
Putin’s illegal assault of war represents a planned genocide, which is deliberate obliteration of a people, as defined by the 1948 United Nations. Though each genocide is different and unique as John mentioned, the one taking place in Xinjiang. This genocide that we’re seeing today is like the Holodomor engineered by Stalin that murdered millions of Ukrainians and it must be named to be fought. …
Putin may or may not be ill, but what is certain, what is certain is that he cannot contain his murderous fury. That he still leads a country exemplifies Russia’s decline into the abyss of madness. …
Both a mass murderer and a serial killer. Putin is that. I pray that Russia will reclaim its soul, its country’s soul. But it cannot do so as long it is led by a man who does not evince any concern for the horrific carnage he has wrought, or any concern for his own people.
Putin has this dream, to reestablish a lost empire. If America behaves properly, it will not occur. And we know this, we know that the dreams of dictators quickly become nightmares. …
It is my conviction that America and the West must acknowledge the centrality of hydrocarbon energy to the world geopolitics and indeed to man’s ability, humanity’s ability to adapt a cornerstone of life. …
Had the current administration maintained American energy dominance rather than prostrate itself to radicals, America could have led the way in securing the world’s hydrocarbon needs during this war. But because America’s abdicated this vital role, the war in Ukraine is compounding the pain that consumers are feeling today to cool their homes and to drive their vehicles. …
These nations were unchained in 1991 because of the collapse of the Soviet Union. And we dare not let any of them be recaptured by Russia. …
I believe Ukraine has found it’s [George] Washington in the embodiment of a single man. His name is Volodymyr Zelenskyy. …
America and the nations of the world cannot continue the pretense that the war in Ukraine can end in a negotiated peace, which mollifies Russia. For such a peace cannot be negotiated with Vladimir Putin. Ukraine must win this war. It must win this war decisively if it is to realize peace, independence and freedom. Same goes for Europe. …
This war can be won if America and our allies supply a range of our most capable conventional weapons to Kyiv. Dauntlessness is needed to end the war in Ukraine, seriousness of purpose. NATO solidarity is essential Germany and France must not defer to any of the Kremlin’s wishes. America and Britain have supplied multiple launch rocket systems. …
We must not give heat to Russia’s false claim that it believes its borders are threatened. This is silliness. …
I believe deeply that the weakness that was expressed in America’s undisciplined withdrawal from Afghanistan was interpreted by Vladimir Putin as a green light. …
As Secretary of State, I built upon my work as the director of the CIA to aid President Trump in formulating concrete terms that would’ve allowed for force reductions and withdrawal from Afghanistan but without the debacle. …
We know China’s intention. It’s intent on dominating global infrastructure development through its Belt and Road Initiative. But this is subterfuge. It hides. It’s a deceit. China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a form of imperialism. It is the manifestation of a corrupt intent to entrap less developed countries with promises of loans and infrastructure improvements. …
Every president since Truman believed Taiwan’s existence is crucial to America’s defense. I believe that with all my heart. The 1970 Taiwan Relations Act requires that we maintain Taiwan’s defensive abilities to thwart an attack, but we’re now in danger of becoming complacent. The capture of Taiwan would grant the following objectives to Beijing: it would severely reduce American influence in the Indo-Pacific. …
Our relationship with Taiwan should be reinforced at every turn. It’s become a shining example in Taiwan of democracy, democracy for Asian peoples, and a hope to all of Asia. …
Central to the economic wellbeing of American families is a United States that leads. It leads all across the world, both in military and in economic power. …
I hope that my words today will galvanize American support for Ukraine and for Europe, for such aid is essential if we’re to enforce the national security policies that place American public interest as of paramount importance. …
We must act in concert with our allies to affect strategic clarity, unmistakable to both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. We must prevent the formation of a Pan-Eurasian colossus incorporating Russia, but led by China. To do that, we have to strengthen NATO. …
Moving past our current geo-strategic focus, the United States must help in building of the three lighthouses for liberty. These beacons should be centered on nations that have great strife: Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. They can be the hubs of new security architecture that links alliances of free nations globally, reinforcing the strengths of each member state, in time, linking these three bastions with NATO, as well as the new and expanded security framework for the Indo-Pacific will form a global alliance for freedom. This will benefit America.
“The need for this network of alliances is patent and cannot come too soon. The world has become too small for free countries to not be part of something greater, which will forestall armed conflict rather than react to it. …
The people of America are committed to seeing Ukraine emerge from this war as an undivided nation which will be a beacon to all, to show the world the primacy of freedom, determination, and of love. Thank you, and God bless you. …
The above is what Mike Pompeo had said, but what God had said through his prophets are very different; below is just one example from Ezekiel 36:
16 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings; their way was before Me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. — the house or mountain of Israel; this prophecy is concerning the desolations of the United States, the UK and France. And the house of Israel is judged in relation to the “nations”
— the house of Israel includes “the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys;” Ezekiel 36:4; these are the hills: Ireland, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Finland and Iceland; and the valleys, the low countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.;
— and their shoots and branches: colonies Ezekiel 36:4; Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa; American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands (US); Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Virgin Islands (UK); Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, Réunion (France).
18 Therefore I poured My fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it.
19 And I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries; according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
20 And when they entered unto the nation whither they went, they profaned My holy name, when they said to them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of His land.’ — they profaned my holy name; by their pornography, sexual immorality and promiscuity, by their violation of both tables of laws; by their gun violence, family breakdown, homelessness;
— and by their use of dirty language while invoking God’s name, whereby they gave the Gentiles an occasion to reproach them, their religion, and their God, Romans 2:24; and not only do they promote LGBTQIA and other filths at home but being hubris and narcissistic they also try to promote and enforce them onto other nations; in doing so “they profaned My holy name,” so said the Lord!
21 But I had pity (concern) for Mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations whither they went. —”I will be sparing of my holy Name;” that is, I will care for my honor; for the glory of my name, had I destroyed them;
—they profaned my holy name; by their irreligion and immorality; by their violation of both tables of the law; by their wicked lives and conversations, whereby they gave the enemy an occasion to reproach them, their religion, and their God,
22 “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord God: I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for Mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the nations whither ye went. — because Israel has defiled its land by their sins, God has scattered them among the heathen; also because they also profaned His name among the heathen, He will exercise judgement for the sake of His holy name, purify them and cleanse them of their sins;
23 And I will sanctify My great name which was profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. — again, God says Israel had profaned his holy name among the nations; by their lies and deceits, by their irreligion and immorality; by their violation of both tables of the law; by their wicked lives and conversations, whereby they gave the enemy an occasion to reproach them, their religion, and their God;
24 For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. — this applies to both the house of Judah and the house of Israel. The house of Judah has largely returned to its land; that is, into the land of Canaan, but the house of Israel has yet to do so.
25 “‘Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. — God speaks primarily of the cleansing of the house of Jacob from idolatry and such gross outward sins, lying, cheating and swearings and their blasphemy against him; purification by water and blood could take place in difficult ways: by the sword, by famine and pestilences and by captivity;
— for it says in Ezekiel 5:12 “A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.”
26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgements and do them. — today, instead of keeping God’s feasts in Leviticus 23, more than 98.5 percent of Christians are honouring the Sun by observing Sunday worship. They have “their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the SUN toward the east; whose Godly judgement is to be stoned to death – ’till they die;
— but with God’s spirits people will find it easier to understand and keep God’s law, statutes and judgement.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God. — and ye shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers…. not only shall be brought into it, but shall inhabit it, and continue there, and that in great safety and plenty; because this land between the rivers is the gift of God and what he gave to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and to their seed by promise made long ago.
29 “‘I will also save you from all your uncleannesses; and I will call for the corn and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. — after purification from all their filthy lusts of pride, envy, malice, covetousness, whoredom, blasphemy and infidelity; by the sword, by famine and pestilences and by captivity, then God will save them from all their uncleannesse;
30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the nations. — this is flashing forward to the Millenium when Israel will fully keep God’s laws and judgements, they shall dwell permanently in a good land. Israel’s hold on its country was its obedience, not its prowess.
31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. — only after purification by the sword, famine, pestilences and captivity could they see themselves cleanly;
32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!
33 “‘Thus saith the Lord God: In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be rebuilt. — again, only after purification by the sword, famine, pestilences and captivity could they see themselves cleanly from all their iniquities;
— Gentile nations should learn from the Israelite expenences, so that they don’t have to go through such a tumultuous experience.
34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
35 And they shall say, “This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities have become fortified and are inhabited.” — for delight and fruitfulness: this may well be applied to the flourishing and fruitful state that could only be achieved during the Millennium.
36 Then the nations that are left round about you shall know that I, the Lord, build the ruined places and plant that which was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.’ — again, Gentile nations should learn from the Israelite expenences, as was in Mount Sinai, their blindness and ignorance, their unbelief and hardness of heart, so that they don’t have to go through such a terrifying experience.
37 “Thus saith the Lord God: I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them. I will increase them with men like a flock.
38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am the Lord.” — God said of the house of Israel that “they shall know that I am the Lord” this implies that they do not know God at this time, despite many claim they are Christians, a few pretentious at best. How could they? In today’s world of professing Christians, no less than 99.99 percent of them don’t even know the Oracles of God!
Covid-19 did not come from nature but rather was an accidental release “out of US lab biotechnology”, world-renowned economist and author Jeffrey Sachs has claimed (12-13th minutes). He was speaking at a conference hosted by the think tank GATE Center, in Spain, in mid-June.
While introducing this “provocative statement,” Sachs suggested that he was in the loop, as he chairs the Covid-19 commission at prestigious medical journal The Lancet.
“So it’s a blunder, in my view, of biotech, not an accident of a natural spillover,” he reiterated.
The academic noted that while “we don’t know for sure” if this is the case, there is “enough evidence” pointing to this, which “should be looked into.” Sachs lamented that this version is, however, “not being investigated, not in the United States, not anywhere.”
Back in May, Sachs, along with Columbia University professor of molecular pharmacology and therapeutics Neil Harrison, penned an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggesting Covid-19 had originated in a laboratory. In the paper, the two academics called for greater transparency on the part of US federal agencies and universities, arguing that a lot of pertinent evidence was not disclosed.
Virus databases, biological samples, viral sequences, email communications, and laboratory notebooks could all help shed light on the pandemic origin, according to Sachs and Harrison. However, none of these materials had been subjected to “independent, transparent, and scientific scrutiny,” they argued.
As an indicator that Covid 19 had originated from a laboratory, the authors brought up the fact that a sequence of eight amino acids on a critical part of the virus’s spike protein is similar to an amino acid sequence found in cells that line human airways.
In fact, Sachs is not the first one to suggest that the deadly virus had not occurred naturally.
While there is no conclusive evidence that would trace Covid-19’s origin beyond a reasonable doubt, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded in February 2021 that it had most likely been transmitted from an animal, possibly a bat, to humans.
The highly contagious virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It then quickly spread globally, with several waves claiming millions of lives by May 2022, according to the WHO.
Bible propheies reveal there will be a time known as the time of Jacob’s Trouble? (Jeremiah 30:7) The house of Jacob involves all the twelve tribes, both the house of Judah and the house of Israel. So what is it? When is it? And how long will it be?
Could it coincide with the Times of the Gentiles spoken of in Luke 21:24 “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
It seems not just probable, but likely. The fall by the edge of the sword upon Jerusalem could occur when the house of Judah is again taken into captivity under Ezekiel 4; when Exekiel was made to bear the iniquity of Judah for forty years; where Judah shall bear his iniquity for forty days, for God have appointed them a day for a year.
A narror context is in Jeremiah 30:6-8
6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
8 “‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ saith the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more be served by him.
Could the Times of the Gentiles bethe Time of Jacob’s Trouble?
The larger context is in the full chapter of Jeremiah 30
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 “Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. — saying, write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book; being things of consequence, that they might remain to after ages; and be read to the use, comfort, and edification of the Lord’s people, in times to come.
3 For lo, the days come,’ saith the Lord, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ saith the Lord; ‘and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’” — and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it; the land of Canaan, given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and which shall be again by the Jews their posterity; for, without that the Jews upon their call and conversion shall return to their own land, in a literal sense, I see not how we can understand this, and many other prophecies.
4 And these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: — and these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel, and concerning Judah. Which follow in this chapter and the next; first concerning Israel, the ten tribes; and then concerning the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, even concerning all Israel; whereas, if this prophecy only respects the return from the captivity in Babylon, there is very little in it which concerns the ten tribes, or but a very few of them. The words may be rendered, “unto Israel, and unto Judah”; as being the persons to whom they were directed, as well as were the subjects of them;
— Ezekiel 36:1 says “the mountain of Israel” which includes the United States, UK and France; 36:6 “and to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys” these are the hills: Ireland, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Finland and Iceland; and the valleys, the low countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg;
— Ezekiel 36:8 shoot forth your branches; that is, the trees that grew upon them should; the vines, and the olive trees, planted on hills and mountains; these are their colonies: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa; American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands (US); Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Virgin Islands (UK); Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, Réunion (France).
5 “For thus saith the Lord: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear and not of peace. — we have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace; which is to be understood, of the fear and dread injected into them by the Babylonians when they besieged their city, and burned that, and their temple; nor of the fear and dread which came upon the Babylonians at the taking of their city by Cyrus, upon which followed the deliverance of the Jews.;
But why “a voice of trembling?”
Could the Times of the Gentiles be the Time of Jacob’s Trouble?
— Isaiah 28:1-4 Ephraim is a fading flower; beauty “whose glorious beauty or ornament is a fading flower” and here repeated to show the certainty of its fading, and to awaken their attention to it; – the image of “drunkards” it was the custom at feasts to wreathe with flowers; so this indispensable Ephraim stood upon the head of the fertile valley,” that is, situated on a hill surrounded with the rich valleys as the best of a garland; but that garland is “fading,” and this intoxicated Ephraim is now close to ruin, not to be depended upon, soon to be destroyed and discarded away quickly.
— while it is yet in his hand he eats it up; and as soon as he has got it into his hand, he cannot keep it there to look at, or forbear eating it, but greedily devours and swallows it down at once; denoting what a desirable prey the ten tribes would be to their enemies from the South, and how swift, sudden and inevitable would be their destruction.
6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? — wherefore do I see every man with his hands his loins, as a woman in travail; the usual posture of women in such a condition, trying hereby to abate their pain, and ease themselves;
— this metaphor of “a man travails with child” is to express the sharpness of distress; as the pains of a woman in travail are very sharp, yet short, and, when over, quickly forgotten; and so it wilt be at this time; it will be a sharp trial of both the house of Judah and the house of Israel; but it will last but for a short time; and the joy and happy times that will follow will soon cause it to be forgotten.
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
— more detail from this “time of Jacob’s trouble” could be derived from understanding Zechariah 13
And it shall come to pass that in all the land,” saith the Lord, “two parts therein shall be cut off and die, but the third shall be left therein.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My name, and I will hear them. I will say, ‘It is My people’; and they shall say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” Zechariah 13:8-9
8 “‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ saith the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more be served by him.
9 But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. — and David their king; not literally, who shall be raised up from the dead, and reign over them in the Millenium.
10 “‘Therefore fear thou not, O My servant Jacob,’ saith the Lord; ‘neither be dismayed, O Israel; for lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. — this is prophetic, into our times, both the house of Judah and the house of Israel will go into captivity again; their return are “from afar” whereas Babylon is nearby comparatively;
— this period of time “of their captivity” could be the Time of Jacob’s Trouble!
11 For I am with thee,’ saith the Lord, ‘to save thee; though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.’ — though I will make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee; a full end has been made of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Egyptians; these people and their names are no more;
— the destruction of the national life of the heathen nations on whom judgment was to fall should be complete and irreversible, so that Moab, Ammon, Edom, should no more have a place in the history of the world;
— the Targum says, “in destroying I will not destroy thee.”
12 “For thus saith the Lord: ‘Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up; thou hast no healing medicines.
— and “thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound grievous” and “none to plead thy cause” is because His shepherd are blind, ignorant and all like dumb dogs: “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10.
14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one for the multitude of thine iniquity, because thy sins were increased. — all thy lovers have forgotten thee… the Egyptians and Assyrians were historic, but Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, Germany and Spain could be futuristic, whom they sought unto for help, and entered into an alliance with, and who promised them great things; but forgot their promises and forsook them (more at the end)
15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? Thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured, and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that despoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. — and all thine adversaries, everyone of them shall, as were the Assyrians, Egyptians, Chaldeans, Grecians, the Romans and the Papacy, shall also go into destruction; Revelation 13:10.
17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds,’ saith the Lord, ‘because they called thee an outcast, saying, “This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.”’
18 “Thus saith the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring back from captivity Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be built upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. — and have mercy on his dwelling places; by restoring Israel, or Jacob’s posterity, to their dwelling places in Jerusalem, and other places rebuilt by them and for them;
— the Targum says, “I will have mercy on his cities.”
19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry; and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children also shall be as in former time, and their congregation shall be established before Me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto Me; for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto Me?’ saith the Lord.
22 ‘And ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.’”
23 Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart; in the latter days ye shall consider it. — in the latter days ye shall consider it; and in the latter day you shall understand it; and see it wholly and fully accomplished. The eyes of His shepherd shall finally be opened!
~~~
More about “all thy lovers have forgotten thee” Jeremiah 30:14 with a parallel verse in Ezekiel 16:37
behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated. I will even gather them round about against thee and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness Ezekiel 16:37 — when the going gets tough, the tough gets going and American allies (Germany, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines) will take their own interests first, team up with other enemies of the United States (Iran, North Korea, Russia and China; Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua) and will turn against the United States.
And this is not these countries’ doings, but it is God’s will that will cause these allies to be against the United States, and it is again God’s will through His Spirits that will trap the United States in a snare “And I will spread My net upon him, and he shall be taken in My [not China’s nor Russia’s] snare,” Ezekiel 17:20; and he will be like a beast caught in a cage squealing away to no avail, then uncover her nakedness, American nakedness.
The Proud Boys, a fascist organisation in the US, has been designated a terrorist organisation under New Zealand law. The Government says the group poses a “significant threat” to New Zealand, despite there being no evidence of a connection to the country.
Gavin McInnes started the Proud Boys in 2016; promotes the use of violence to advance the group’s fascist, white nationalist goals
Why it matters
The Proud Boys were designated a terrorist group alongside The Base, another US-based organisation that has plotted violence to spark a “race war.” It’s the first time far-right or white supremacist organisations have been deemed terrorist entities by the Government, which has previously used the law for Islamic extremists, Irish and South American nationalists, and the Christchurch mosque terrorist.
The Proud Boys are described as a violent, fascist organisation by the Government.
The designation means people who recruit for the Proud Boys or provide them with material support could be prosecuted under the Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA). It does not make it a crime to be a member of the group.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern signed off the terrorist designation for the group on June 20, according to a June 27 entry in the New Zealand Gazette. The designation was otherwise not publicised. Ardern, who is travelling in Europe, has yet to comment on the matter. The last time she made such a designation was in August 2020, when she deemed the Christchurch mosque shooter a terrorist under the TSA.
The police are tasked with investigating and prosecuting terrorism in New Zealand, and maintain the list of terrorist entities.
Gavin McInnes, a co-founder of Vice magazine, started the Proud Boys in 2016. According to details published by the police, McInnes promoted the use of violence to advance the group’s fascist, white nationalist goals.
Enrique Tarrio became chairman of the Proud Boys in 2018 and escalated the group’s violence.
The breakdown
The Proud Boys are defined as “crypto-fascist”, meaning they make cryptic references to their intentions and aims to obscure their fascist nature. Fascist aspects of the Proud Boys include their support of a strongman political figure, former US president Donald Trump, and their expressed white nationalist, racist and anti-Semitic views.
Members of the group were key participants in attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, and five of its members, including Tarrio, are now awaiting trial on charges including sedition.
The attack on the Capitol, which has been called an attempted coup or insurrection, was aimed at stopping the finalisation of the 2020 US election result, which was set to oust the Trump administration and place US President Joe Biden in power.
The attack is currently being scrutinised in the US by a high-power congressional committee, with a series of public hearing revealing new details about Trump’s knowledge of the attack.
In the police document, the Proud Boys were described as having unconnected branches in Canada and Australia. There was no mention of the Proud Boys having a presence in, or connection to, New Zealand.
Canada designated the Proud Boys a terrorist group in February 2021.
Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD saith thus: “Wailing shall be in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful in lamentation to wailing. And in all vineyards shall be wailing, for I will pass through thee,” saith the LORD. Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! To what end is it for you? The day of the LORD is darkness, and not light: as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? Amos 5:16-20
16 Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
17 His glory is like the firstling of his ox (bullock), and his horns are like the horns of unicorns. With them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh,” Deuteronomy 33:16-17.
On closer look, the Ox and the Unicorn as two separate animals is a misconception. First the scene: “the head of Joseph” and upon Joseph’s head is “his glory;” which is like “the firstling of his ox.”
Joseph doesn’t have horns but the Ox has. And upon its horns, that is, the horns of the ox, these are “like the horns of unicorns.” These horns arise from the ox and not from the head of Joseph; and such horns look like that from the unicorns!
Only One Mystical Animal: the Ox with Horns of a Unicorn, but no Unicorn
So what does this mean? It means there is only one mystical animal, and the horns are only auxiliaries of the Ox. Strictly speaking, the unicorn doesn’t exist. As Ephraim is known as the Ox, it carries all the horns with it.
That is, all the nations in the Manasseh camp are not truly “sovereign” states or as equals to itself, but rather as US vassals being carried on the shoulder of the United States. Even the US are known forshouting down the British!
Being far more dominant, Ephraim led the pack! And this applies not just to the house of Joseph but applied equally to the full house of Jacob!
The NOG translates this well: “They will be as majestic as a firstborn bull. Their horns will be like the horns of a wild ox. They will use them to push away nations including those at the ends of the earth. The tens of thousands from the tribe of Ephraim and the thousands from the tribe of Manasseh will be like this.”
Or the Message Bible:
All this on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the set-apart one among his brothers. In splendor he’s like a firstborn bull, his horns the horns of a wild ox; He’ll gore the nations with those horns, push them all to the ends of the Earth. Ephraim by the ten thousands will do this, Manasseh by the thousands will do this.” Deuteronomy 33:16-17
That is, not just within the Five Eyes, but Ephraim will dominate all the nations of the earth:
“He’ll gore the nations with those horns, push them all to the ends of the Earth.”
Since Brexit, the UK has followed US policy closer and closer until it is as if the UK is a state and mouthpiece of the United States. Both Australia and New Zealand are treaty allies of the US in the trilateral ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand and the US) Treaty as well as in Five Eyes (FVEY) intelligence alliance, the latter also comprising Canada and the UK.
“I know, my son, I know, and he shall also be great; but his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations” Genesis 48:19
Additionally, Australia, the US and the UK also announced a trilateral AUKUS arrangement last September. Under AUKUS, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would get access to technology to develop advanced nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). New Zealand, who used to have a fiercely independent foreign policy, now seems to have allowed herself more and more aligned with the group. Spearheaded by the US, these five nations move around together in a pack; its nerve center radiating from Washington DC, not London.
But eventually they, together with Ephraim’s other brothers, that is, all the twelve tribes, would face a tumultuous time known as the time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. That is, all the combined wars of WWI, WWII, Vietnam and Korea, would pale in comparison!
And here are a few prophecies!
“The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet” Isaiah 28:3
“Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be,” Hosea 5:9
“For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah; I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him,” Hosea 5:14
And refering to the shepherd of Israel, the Scripture says they are blind, ignorant and all like dumb dogs: “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10.
The US will increase its military presence across Europe as Nato agreed a “fundamental shift” in its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nato to expand troops to well over 300,000 at eastern flank ready to fight Russia
A permanent army headquarters will be created in Poland, while new US warships will go to Spain, fighter jets to the UK and ground troops to Romania.
Mr Biden said Nato was “needed now more than it has ever been.”
The alliance is having its biggest overhaul since the Cold War, Nato head Jens Stoltenberg said.
The new plan in response to Russia’s invasion will mean well over 300,000 troops – spearheaded by the US – at high readiness next year, up from the current level of 40,000.
Mr Biden told a summit in Madrid that Nato would be “strengthened in all directions across every domain – land, air and sea”.
Latinos charging towards the Mexico Border, joining 60 millions already have crossed over
“We Must Fight Them Over There So We Don’t Have To Fight Them Over Here” but the real US problem is over here! Everyday there are caravens of migrants heading to the Mexican border and crossing into the US from the Global South. A couple of millions accumulative year on year added to those already here.
One Report by McKinsey says of the 60 millions Latinos are already in the US that had migrated from the South; they often live in ‘deserts’ where adequate housing, groceries are hard to find. “Nearly 9 in 10 of the Latino residents in such communities lived in five states: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas.”
Scene of Dry Branches and Dry Leaves, just need Someone to lit the Fire!
McKinsey: Latinos are projected to make up 22.4 percent of the US labor force by 2030 and more than 30 percent by 2060 (Latinos population to 111.2 million by ’60).
The followings already have Spanish as their second language: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Mississippi, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virgina, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Rhodes Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland.
The minor exceptions are: North Dakota (German), Maine (French), Vermont (French), New Hampshire (French), Louisiana (French), Alaska (Yupik), Hawaii (Tagalog).
And given enough time, and as certain as the sun will rise tomorrow, the US will be swarmed by the Global South!
For a Biblical perspective of this potential explosive violence, and how “Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee,” see the Sword from the South!
Trinitarian believers use two verses of the New Testament to justify the existence of the Trinity in the Godhead, namely I John 5:7 and Matthew 28:19. For there are three that bear record in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. I John 5:7. But it is well known that the authenticity of this verse has been a subject of much controversy as it was found that the fidelity and accuracybof this verse is wanting in all the ancient Greek.
I John 5:7 seems like it appears as if this verse was inserted by the Trinitarian advocates against the Arians. Without the insertation, the most sensible appears to be the AMP version, “For there are three witnesses: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement,” I John 5:7.
On Matthew 28:19 Trinitarins believe “To be baptized into the name of any one implies a professed dependance on him, and devoted subjection to him; to be baptized, therefore, into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, implies a professed dependance on these three divine persons, jointly and equally, and a devoting of ourselves to them as worshippers and servants.”
Is it true? We’ll find out in this post.
Another view presented by Jews for Judiasm is linked here for your study.
Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” Amen.
If Matthew had written in Hebrew, one might expect to find evidence of this from some sources in early Christian literature. Indeed, this is the case:
— “For Matthew, who had at first preached to the Hebrews, when he was about to go to other peoples, committed his Gospel to writing in his native tongue,” (Eusebius (260/265-339AD), Church History Book 3, Chapter 24, “The Order of the Gospels”); “So then Matthew wrote the oracles in the Hebrew language, and every one interpreted them as he was able,” (Papias (60-130AD) quoted by Eusebius, Church History Book 3, Chapter 39, “The Writings of Papias”).
— Irenaeus (130-202AD), in the second half of the second century, wrote: “Matthew also issued a written gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect” (Against Heresies 3.1.1)
— Origen of Alexandria, in about the mid third century wrote: “…..the four gospels…..first to be written was by Matthew…..who published it in Hebrew for Jewish believers” (Quoted by Eusebius, Church History 6.25).
— Eusebius in the first half of the fourth century wrote: “Matthew had first preached to Hebrews and…..transmitted in writing in his native language the gospel according to himself…..” (Church History 3.24)
— Jerome in the latter half of the fourth century or early fifth century wrote: “Matthew, who wrote the gospel in the Hebrew language…..” (Epistle 20:5)
In “Hebrew Gospel of Matthew” by Professor George Howard from the University of Georgia, which contains a Hebrew version of Matthew from the 1300s, with an English translation.
Reading this version of Matthew is similar to reading an alternative translation of Scripture from one you’re accustomed to. The stories are familiar, but the wording is somewhat different with some interesting variant readings, omissions, additions etc.
The big shock however is at the very end of chapter 28. The entire phrase “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” is missing!
This book, Hebrew Gospel of Matthew, refers to early writings and their quotes from Scripture, particularly by Eusebius, one of the most significant Christian historical writers.
Eusebius wrote a lot about the Scriptures, and frequently quoted from them. In his book published in English as “The Proof of the Gospel” (Original title “Demonstratio Evangelica”), one version of which has a Scripture index in the back (1981 version – Baker Book House), it can be found that in just this one book he quoted Matthew 28:19 no less than seven times – sometimes in part, sometimes in full.
Not once in Eusebius’ seven quotes of Matthew 28:19 does the phrase “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” appear!
When he quotes the whole sentence, it reads as follows:
“Go, and make disciples of all the nations in My Name, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
Finally, throughout the book of Acts, when baptisms occur, they only mentioned this formulaic expression in the name of Jesus only. Here are some examples:
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit.
Acts 8:16 For it [the holy spirit] had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 10:47-48 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the holy spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Acts 19:5-6 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the holy spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
Basing on Matthew 28:19 for proof of the existence of the Trinity is like a house built on a mirage!
The prophecies of the Messiah include His mission; some of which remain to be fulfilled. It includes the healing of the blind, which the Masoretes conspiciously deleted it out. Claiming that opening of the blinds isn’t one of the signs of messiahship, it is not surprising that the Jews for Judiasm and Rabbi Tovia Singer remain blinded who the Messiah is!
Isaiah 61 (JPS 1985)
1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me as a herald of joy to the humble, To bind up the wounded of heart, To proclaim release to the captives, Liberation to the imprisoned; — the phase “and recovering of sight to the blind” is nowhere to be found; same in the King James version; hence many Jews and Christians are still blinded (examples of Christ’s healings of the blinds in fulfilment of this prophecy are at the end)
2 To proclaim a year of the LORD’s favor And a day of vindication by our God; To comfort all who mourn—
Isaiah 61 (King James Version)
1“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, — same here, the phase “and recovering of sight to the blind” is nowhere to be found;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn,
3-11
Luke 4
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, — Luke quoted from the Septuagint instead of the Masoretic Text!
19 to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
20 And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister and sat down. And the eyes of all those who were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.
21 And He began to say unto them, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Esias 61 (The Septuagint)
1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; — Luke quoted from the Septuagint instead of the Masoretic Text! 2 to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompence; to comfort all that mourn; 3–11
~~~~
Christ’s Healings of the blind:
There are 8 specific people who were given their sight and we have two more instances where we aren’t told how many people Jesus restored sight to. Following is a list of the 8 who were healed:
1. Matthew 9:27-31 Jesus gave sight to “two” blind men.
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying and saying, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us!”
28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said unto them, “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” They said unto Him, “Yea, Lord.”
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith, be it unto you.”
30 And their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, “See that no man know it.”
31 But they, when they had departed, spread abroad His fame in all that country.
2. Mark 8:22-26 Jesus gave sight to a blind man in Bethsaida by spitting on his eyes.
22 And He came to Bethsaida, and they brought a blind man unto Him, and besought Him to touch him.
23 And He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw anything.
24 And he looked up and said, “I see men as trees, walking.”
25 After that He put His hands again upon his eyes and made him look up; and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
26 And He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.”
3. Matthew 12:22-23 Jesus gave sight to a man who was demon possessed, and blind and mute.
22 Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb; and He healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed and said, “Is not this the Son of David?”
4. Luke 18:35-43 Jesus gave sight to a blind man while coming into Jericho.
35 And it came to pass that as He was coming nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging.
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37 And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 And he cried, saying, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 And those who went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace, but he cried out all the more, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 And Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,
41 saying, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” And he said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
42 And Jesus said unto him, “Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee.”
43 And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
5. Matthew 20:29-34 Jesus gave sight to “two” blind men when leaving Jericho. One was named Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52)
29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.
30 And behold, two blind men were sitting by the wayside when they heard that Jesus was passing by, and they cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David!”
31 And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace; but they cried out the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David!”
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them and said, “What will ye that I shall do unto you?”
33 They said unto Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
34 So Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
6. John 9:1-41 Jesus gave sight to a blind man by putting clay on his eyes, and then having him wash it off in the Pool of Siloam.
John 9:1And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from his birth.
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day; the night cometh when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
6 When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay
7 and said unto him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which interpreted means, “Sent”). He went his way therefore and washed, and came back seeing.
8 The neighbors therefore, and those who before had seen that he was blind, said, “Is not this he that sat and begged?”
9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” But he said, “I am he!”
10 Therefore they said unto him, “How were thine eyes opened?”
11 He answered and said, “A man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ And I went and washed, and I received sight.”
12 Then they said unto him, “Where is he?” He said, “I know not.”
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that beforehand was blind.
14 And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed and do see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?” And there was a division among them.
17 They said unto the blind man again, “What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see?”
20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind;
21 but by what means he now seeth we know not, or who hath opened his eyes we know not. He is of age; ask him. He shall speak for himself.”
22 These words spoke his parents, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already that if any man confessed that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
23 Therefore said his parents, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 Then they again called the man who was blind and said unto him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.”
25 He answered and said, “Whether he be a sinner or not, I know not. One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.”
26 Then said they to him again, “What did he do to thee? How opened he thine eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear. Why would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?”
28 Then they reviled him and said, “Thou art his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.
29 We know that God spoke unto Moses. As for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.”
30 The man answered and said unto them, “Why, herein is a marvelous thing: that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshiper of God and doeth His will, him He heareth.
32 Since the world began it was not heard that any man opened the eyes of one who was born blind.
33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 They answered and said unto him, “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?” And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out. And when He had found him, He said unto him, “Dost thou believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered and said, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe in him?”
37 And Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.”
38 And he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I am come into this world, that they that see not might see, and that they that see might be made blind.”
40 And some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, “Are we blind also?”
41 Jesus said unto them, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remaineth.
I used to believe the Masoretic Text was a perfect copy of the original Old Testament. I used to believe that the Masoretic Text was how God divinely preserved the Hebrew Scriptures throughout the ages.
I was wrong. Further research proves that the Septuagint could be extremely useful, especially where the Masoretic Text is vague or at time even tampered with.
The Septuagint
The origin of the Septuagint started when seventy-two Jewish scholars were asked by the Greek King of Egypt Ptolemy II Philadelphus to translate the Torah from Biblical Hebrew into Greek, for inclusion in the Library of Alexandria.
Beginning of the Letter of Aristeas to Philocrates. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 11th century.
This narrative is found in the pseudepigraphic Letter of Aristeas to his brother Philocrates,and is repeated by Philo of Alexandria, Josephus and by various later sources, including St. Augustine. The story is also found in the Tractate Megillah of the Babylonian Talmud:
King Ptolemy once gathered 72 Elders. He placed them in 72 chambers, each of them in a separate one, without revealing to them why they were summoned. He entered each one’s room and said: “Write for me the Torah of Moshe, your teacher”. God put it in the heart of each one to translate identically as all the others did.
Philo of Alexandria, who relied extensively on the Septuagint, says that the number of scholars was chosen by selecting six scholars from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Masoretic Text
The oldest copies of the Masoretic Text only date back to the 10th century, nearly 1000 years after the time of Christ. And these texts differ from the originals in many specific ways. The Masoretic text is named after the Masoretes, who were scribes and Torah scholars who worked between the 7th and 11th centuries. The texts they received and the edits they provided ensured that the modern Jewish texts would manifest a notable departure from the original Hebrew Scriptures.
Historical research reveals five significant ways in which the Masoretic Text is different from the original Old Testament:
The Masoretes admitted that they received corrupted texts to begin with.
The Masoretic Text is written with a radically different alphabet than the original.
The Masoretes added vowel points which did not exist in the original.
The Masoretic Text excluded several books from the Old Testament scriptures.
The Masoretic Text includes changes to prophecy and doctrine (Isa 7:14; 9:6).
David Pack alledges that the law portion of the Greek Septuagint version of Alexandria was translated from the Samaritan Pentateuch:
“The law portion of the Greek Septuagint version of Alexandria was translated from the Samaritan Pentateuch instead of the official Jewish Version. This can be absolutely proven by the 2,000 places where the Septuagint disagrees with the official Jewish Version, but agrees perfectly with the Samaritan Pentateuch.
“The Jews who translated the Septuagint were “Samaritan Jews.”” (From the booklet How We Got the Bible, pg 24).
And when it so happens that LORD God brings you to the land of Caanan, which you are coming to posses, you shall setup there for you great stones and plaster them with plaster and you write on the stones all words of this law. And it becomes for you that across the Jordan you shall raise these stones, which I command you today, in mountain Grizim. And you build there the altar to the LORD God of you. Altar of stones. Not you shall wave on them iron. With whole stones you shall build the altar to LORD God of you. And you bring on it ascend offerings to LORD God of you, and you sacrifice peace offerings, and you eat there and you rejoice before the face of the LORD God of you. The mountain this is across the Jordan behind the way of the rising of the sun, in the land of Caanan who is dwelling in the desert before the Galgal, beside Alvin-Mara, before Sechem. — additional words after Exodus 20:17 by incorporating building of an altar from neighbouring stones on Mount Grizim, not in Jerusalem, in their worship.
The above are 169 additional words in the Samaritan Pentateuch, but not in the Septuagint, so Pack’s allegation is bullshit to say that the Greek Septuagint “agrees perfectly with the Samaritan Pentateuch.”
In Deut 27:4 the Samaritan version altered the word Ebal to Garizim as the mountain upon which the altar should be erected . . .
Masoretic Text Deut 27:4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.
Septuagint Deut 27:4 And it shall be as soon as ye are gone over Jordan, ye shall set up these stones, which I command thee this day,on mount Gaebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.
Samaritan Deuteronomy 27:4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, [that] ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Gerizim, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster (The Samaritans stand alone to make Mt Gerizim as the sacred mountain).
Also in Deuteronomy 5:21, the Samaritan Pentateuch added these word:
And when it so happens that Yahuah God brings you to the land of Caanan, which you are coming to posses, you shall setup there for you great stones and plaster them with plaster and you write on the stones all words of this law. And it becomes for you that across the Jordan you shall raise these stones, which I command you today, in mountain Grizim. And you build there the altar to the Yahuah God of you. Altar of stones. Not you shall wave on them iron. With whole stones you shall build the altar to Yahuah God of you. And you bring on it ascend offerings to Yahuah God of you, and you sacrifice peace offerings, and you eat there and you rejoice before the face of the Yahuah God of you. The mountain this is across the Jordan behind the way of the rising of the sun, in the land of Caanan who is dwelling in the desert before the Galgal, beside Alvin-Mara, before Sechem.
Again, the 169 additional words were not in the Septuagint, but added in the Samaritan Pentateuch.
Exodus 20:21
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was].And the Yahuah said to Moses to say: I heard what people have said. All that they have spoken to you, they have spoken wisely. All that they have spoken let them put in their hearts so that they can keep my commandments in all their days, so that it would be good to them and to sons of them forever. Prophet I shall raise up to them from the midsts of their brothers, and I will place words of me into his mouth to speak to them all that I’m commanding them. And it becomes that the man who will not listen to his words that are spoken in my name, I shall require from him. But the prophet who will speak insolently in my name that which I have not instructed him to speak, or if he speaks in the name of other Gods, such prophet shall die. And if you will ask yourself in your heart how you shall know which word God has spoken and which he has not, see if the word spoken comes to pass. And if it shall not come to pass then this is not the word of the Yahuah, in insolence spoken the prophet. Not you shall listen to him. Go now back to your tent and I will speak to you regarding all commandments and ordinances and verdicts that you shall teach them, and what to do in the land that I give them for possession.
The above additional 263 words in the Samaritan Pentateuch, which incorporates Deuteronomy 18:18 and others: I will raise up to them a prophet of their brethren, like thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them as I shall command him. Samaritans believe this Prophet (the Messiah) was to be from the line of the tribe of Levi, like Moses, not from the line of Judah, which the Jews believe. Hence their rivalries continue today.
Roman 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes (The Pink portion above (v13-18) is not in the Masoretic but in the Septuagint. Some preachers (like Frank Nelte and others) allege that the Septuagint is a fraud, if so, the New Testament would also be a fraud. A serious misguided charge).
Psalm 14 Septuagint
For the end, Psalm of David.
14:1 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, and become abominable in their devices; there is none that does goodness, there is not even so much as one. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any that understood, or sought after god. 3 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become good for nothing, there is none that does good, no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes(The Red portion above is a quote in Roman 3 from the Septuagint but is not found in the JPS 1917 Masoretic. This indicates that Paul used the Septuagint as his guiding Scripture).
Psalm 14JPS 1917
1 For the Leader. [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart: ‘There is no God’; they have dealt corruptly, they have done abominably; there is none that doeth good.
2 The LORD looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God.
3 They are all corrupt, they are together become impure; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. — there is no mention of “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues. . . .”
Psalm 14 KJV
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord. — again, there is no mention of “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues. . . .”
5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.
7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (by following the JPS Masoretic, this KJVmissed out the extended portion quoted in Roman 3, but only found in the Septuagint).
These are the examples of where the New Testament agrees with the Septuagint (in fact 93 percent according to one research) but contradicts the Masoretic Text. What is listed below is the New Testament quote from the KJV, followed by its source-text in the Old Testament, first from the Septuagint and then from the Masoretic Text (JPS 1917). Agreements between the New Testament and the Septuagint are in blue text; red text is used to highlight the divergence of the KJV Old Testament:
Hebrews 10:5 cf. Psalm 40:6
Hebrews 10:5 KJV
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me…
Psalm 40:6 Brenton’s Septuagint
Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me:
Psalm 40:7 JPS Tanakh 1917
Sacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in
Psalm 40:6KJV
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened:
Comment: Psalm 40:6 is regarded by Christians as a prophecy of Christ, and Hebrews 10:5 quotes it as such, but the Masoretic Text omits the key phrase entirely, replacing “but a body hast thou prepared me” with “mine ears hast thou opened.” Note that the KJV New Testament and the Septuagint agree with each other against the reading of the Masoretic Text.
Hebrews 1:6 cf. Deuteronomy 32:43
Hebrews 1:6 (KJV) And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Deuteronomy 32:43 KJV Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him… — no mention of the Gentiles rejoicing as in the Septuagint
Deuteronomy 32:43 Septuagint Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people. — the Lord, the Father, was speaking all the while in Chapter 32, so who would you think another being as worthy of worship unless He is the Son of God?
Deuteronomy 32:43 JPS 1917 — “And let all the angels of God worship him,” omitted.
Deuteronomy 32:43 KJV — Following the Tanakh, the phrase above is similarly omitted.
Comment: The Masoretic Text completely omits the phrase “and let all the angels of God worship him” from Deuteronomy 32.43. But why? The Jews don’t believe another Divine Being worthy of worship?
Matthew 12:21 cf. Isaiah 42:4
Isaiah 42:4 is regarded by Christians as a prophecy of Gentile acceptance of, and faith in, the name of the Messiah, and Matthew 12:21 quotes it as such, but the Masoretic Text omits the key phrase entirely, replacing the phrase “and in his name shall the Gentiles trust” with “and the isles shall wait for his law.” Note that the KJV New Testament and the Septuagint agree with each other against the reading of the KJV Old Testament, which was translated from the Masoretic Text:
Matthew 12:21 (KJV)
And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Isaiah 42:4(Brenton’s Septuagint)
He shall shine out, and shall not be discouraged, until he have set judgment on the earth: and in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Isaiah 42:4(JPS Tanakh 1917)
He shall not fail nor be crushed,
Till he have set the right in the earth;
And the isles shall wait for his teaching. (Something totally different)
Isaiah 42:4(KJV)
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Acts 7:43 KJV
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Amos 5:26 JPS 1917
So shall ye take up Siccuth your king and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
Amos 5:26 Septuagint
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Raephan, the images of them which ye made for yourselves.
Amos 5:26 KJV
But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. (Luke, writing the book of Acts, like Paul, used the Septuagint to quote Amos 5:26, and not the Masoretic text)
Hebrew 8:8 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:31Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke,although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: KJV (JPS: Lord)
31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:
31:32 not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord. LXX
These Contradictions Prove Two Things:
1) It proves that the ancient texts have been altered to suit the agenda of the alterers,
2) It puts a big lie to the claim that the King James Version is a perfect, “divinely-inspired translation.” Obviously, if the New and Old Testaments of the King James Version contradict each other then the King James Version cannot be an inerrant document.
In conclusion, it would seem that the Septuagint (LXX) translation is not only far more ancient than the Masoretic Text . . . the Septuagint is far more accurate as well. It is a more faithful representation of the original Hebrew Scriptures.
Exodus 23:18 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice (h2282) remain until the morning (KJV).
Exodus 34:25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover (h6453) be left unto the morning (KJV). This verse implies that the feast of Passover was also a feast—the feast of unleavened bread. Frank W. Nelte says, “The forger’s intent was to introduce the word “Passover” into this verse.”
But both the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Septuagint, both earlier versions, which the sopherim could not have any influence, also have included this words “feast of the Passover”: Exodus 34:25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning. (Nelte’s allegation is just BullShit; he is just a liar, a false witness. Did the Scriptures say anything about such false witness to be stoned to death?)
And the Septuagint: Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifices with leaven, neither shall the sacrifices of the feast of the passover remain till the morning. (Rashi: You shall not slaughter…: You shall not slaughter the Passover sacrifice as long as leaven still exists. This is a [specific] warning to the slaughterer, to the one who sprinkles the blood, or to one of the members of the group [bringing this sacrifice]. -[from Pes. 63b])
Exodus 23:1 warns, “Thou shalt not raise a false report. . .” Proverbs 6:16 says “These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: 17 a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Historical figures, Aristobulus, and Alexandrian writer quoted by Eusebius; Philo, an Alexandrian Jew, Josephus; and Christian writers, Irenaeus, Clement, all gave testimony to the Septuagint’s authentic origin. Paul and other NT writers, frequently quoted from the Septuagint (93%) compared to the Masoretic (68%). In fact it was the only Scriptures the common people could understand (as the Masoretic text was not in existence until some 700-800 years later).
Here, Frank Nelte, who alleges that the Septuagint is a forgery, shows the lunacy of his own conclusion. Pre-Christian Jews Philo and Josephus considered the Septuagint on equal standing with the Hebrew text, so Nelte must be wiser than these historic sagas. The New Testament writers, when citing the Scriptures, or when quoting Jesus, freely used the Septuagint, implying that Jesus, his apostles and their followers considered it reliable. To Nelte, Even Moses writing, his logic would follow, must also be corrupt!
Jerusalem and the Temple had fallened, and Christianity had became a force to be faced with, making the conquered Jews dispossessed and embittered. Their only national hope caused them to rise up against the Septuagint which the Christians had been quoting against them (the Jews), treating it as if it was the original. This constant thread and hostile from the Christians paved their way to establish their own official text. As a living version of the Sacred Text, the Septuagint was destined to be superseded by a younger river in its original Text. The days of the supremacy of the Septuagint would be numbered.
The constant quotations against them would give rise to our modern Masoretic text. The quotations would include:
Psalm 110 — The LORD said unto my Lord, “Sit Thou at My right hand
Isaiah 11 — He shall come forth a Rod out of Jesse
Isaiah 9 — a Child is born; the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace
Daniel 7 — the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven
Zechariah 12:10 — they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced
Genesis 18 & 19 — the LORD יְהוָ֗ה Yehovah stood before Abraham
~~~
Another example, using common sense to determine which is more accurate:
1 Samuel 14:41
KJV
Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
Septuagint
And Saul said, O Lord God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? is the iniquity in me, or in Jonathan my son? Lord God of Israel, give clear manifestations; and if the lot should declare this, give, I pray thee, to thy people of Israel, give, I pray, holiness. And Jonathan and Saul are taken, and the people escaped.
ERV (or some other versions, NIV, RSV, ERV)
Then Saul prayed, “Lord, God of Israel, why haven’t you answered me today? Show us who sinned. If it was I or my son Jonathan, give Urim. But if it was your people Israel who sinned, give Thummim.” Saul and Jonathan were shown to be the ones who sinned, and the people went free.
Footnotes to ERV: 1 Samuel 14:41 Then Saul prayed … give Thummim This is found in the ancient Greek version. The standard Hebrew text has, “Then Samuel prayed to the Lord, God of Israel, ‘Give the right answer.’”
1. The Byzantine family (also known as the Traditional or Majority Text, Ecclesiastical Text, Constantinopolitan Text, Antiocheian Text or Syrian Text), was the text used and preserved by the Greek Church from the time of the apostles until the era of movable type printing. It is from this family that the manuscripts known as the Textus Receptus (also known as the Received or Stephens Text) were produced. The Textus Receptus was the translation base for the original German Luther Bible, the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, the King James Version and others.
The Textus Receptus – from Wikipedia
The first printed edition of the Greek New Testament was completed by Erasmus and published by Johann Froben of Basel on March 1, 1516 (Novum Instrumentum omne). Due to the pressure of his publisher to bring their edition to market before the competing Complutensian Polyglot, Erasmus based his work on around a half-dozen manuscripts, all of which dated from the twelfth century or later; and all but one were of the Byzantine text-type.
Six verses that were not witnessed in any of these sources, he back-translated from the Latin Vulgate, and Erasmus also introduced many readings from the Vulgate and Church Fathers. This text came to be known as the Textus Receptus or received text after being thus termed by Bonaventura Elzevir, an enterprising publisher from the Netherlands, in his 1633 edition of Erasmus’ text.
The New Testament of the King James Version of the Bible was translated from editions of what was to become the Textus Receptus. The different Byzantine “Majority Text” of Hodges & Farstad as well as Robinson & Pierpont is called “Majority” because it is considered to be the Greek text established on the basis of the reading found in the vast majority of the Greek manuscripts. The Textus Receptus differs from the Majority Text in 1,838 Greek readings, of which 1,005 represent “translatable” differences.
2. The Alexandrian Text manuscript family is composed of texts that were generally circulated in the region of Alexandria. The family of this Alexandrian Text essentially disappeared for centuries after 500 AD, but claimed to be found again in the mid-1800s. Although these manuscripts are quite old, they often disagree with one another and show significant signs of grammatical revision. It is from this family that the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts are produced.
Two Cambridge professors, B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort, preferred to label the ancestor of the Alexandrian text type the “Neutral text,” meaning that it was relatively unchanged and successively became the more corrupt type of text that they identified as the Alexandrian text. The so-called Neutral text, chiefly represented by the fourth-century codices Vaticanus and Sinaiticus, formed the basis of their The New Testament in the Original Greek (1881). This edition—which in Westcott and Hort’s view represented the most accurate and authentic version of the New Testament in the original language available in their day—furnished the death blow to the traditional text published by Erasmus in 1516, also known as Textus Receptus (the “received text”), which had dominated Greek editions and, indirectly, Bible translations (most famously the King James Version) for hundreds of years.
Modern critical texts – from Wikipedia
Karl Lachmann (1850) was the first New Testament textual critic to produce an edition that broke with the Textus Receptus, relying mainly instead on manuscripts from the Alexandrian text-type. Although the majority of New Testament textual critics now favor a text that is Alexandrian in complexion, especially after the publication of Westcott and Hort’s edition, there remain some proponents of the Byzantine text-type as the type of text most similar to the autographs. These critics include the editors of the Hodges and Farstad text (cited below), and the Robinson and Pierpont text. Depending on which modern critical text is taken as an exemplar of the Alexandrian text-type, then this will differ from the Hodges and Farstad text in around 6,500 readings (Wallace 1989).
To give a feel for the difference between the Byzantine form of text and the Eclectic text, which is mainly Alexandrian in character, of 800 variation units in the Epistle of James collected by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research, the Byzantine and Eclectic texts are in agreement in 731 of the places (a rate of 92.3%). Many of the 69 disagreements involve differences in word order and other variants that do not appear as translatable differences in English versions. According to the preface to the New King James Version of the Bible, the Textus Receptus, the Alexandrian text-type and the Byzantine text-type are 85% identical (that is, of the variations that occur in any manuscript, only 15% actually differ between these three).
The Byzantine type is also found in modern Greek Orthodox editions. A new scholarly edition of the Byzantine Text of John’s gospel, (funded by the United Bible Societies in response to a request from Eastern Orthodox Scholars), was begun in Birmingham, UK. and in 2007, as a result of these efforts, The Gospel According to John in the Byzantine Tradition was published.
Q. Which text to use?
Now to the question about what is the best English Bible to use for our primary studies. It is suggested one that uses the Masoretic text for its Old Testament translation base and the tried and true Textus Receptus (Received Text) manuscripts as the basis for its New Testament. Scriptures based on these manuscripts include the King James Versions.
If you are a more mature Christian and you prefer to compare texts then do so, but just remember translators take a lot of license as some idiomatic and figurative phrases do not readily translate out into the English language well.
Many of the newer versions have stopped using the Received Text for their New Testaments and are instead using the Vaticanus manuscripts with their many errors. It pays to be careful in selecting a new copy of God’s word. Not only are ministers preaching unscriptural doctrines the very Scriptures themselves are being corrupted as well. We must be very aware of these facts in order to discern God’s truth from lies. Thank you for submitting your question about what is the most accurate Bible translation.
Question: “What is the Majority Text?”
Answer: The Majority Text, also known as the Byzantine and Ecclesiastical Text, is a method of determining the original reading of a Scripture by discovering what reading occurs in a majority of the manuscripts. As the Greek New Testament was copied hundreds of times over 1500 years, the scribes, as careful as they were, occasionally made mistakes. The vast majority of these mistakes are in misspellings, or in whether “the” or a preposition occurs. It is important to remember, though, that no doctrine of the Christian faith is put into doubt by these textual questions. The testimony of the thousands of manuscripts over 1500 years is entirely consistent on all the key issues of the Christian faith.
It is vital, though, that our Bibles are as accurate as possible. The accuracy of the manuscripts plays a large role in determining the accuracy of the translation. While the presence of a the is not usually vital to the meaning of a verse, there are times when it can be. This is where the science of “textual criticism” comes in. The goal of textual criticism is to examine all of the available manuscripts, and by comparison and contrast, to determine what the original text truly was.
The Majority Text method within textual criticism could be called the “democratic” method. Essentially, each Greek manuscript has one vote, all the variants are voted on by all the manuscripts, and whichever variant has the most votes wins. At first glance, the Majority Text method would seem to be the most likely to result in the correct original reading. The problem is that the Majority Text method does not take into account two very important factors: (1) The age of the manuscripts, and (2) the location of the manuscripts.
(1) The age of the manuscripts. The more times a manuscript is copied, the more likely it is that errors will occur. A first-generation copy—one that was copied directly from the original—is very likely to be closer to the original than a tenth-generation copy (a copy that was copied from a copy, from a copy . . . from the original). Manuscripts from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries should be far closer to the originals than manuscripts from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries.
The problem is that the majority of the manuscripts are from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries. To illustrate, let’s say there is a man named James Smith. Let’s say you are attempting to discover James Smith’s middle name. Who would be a better source, James Smith’s one thousand great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren, or James Smith’s son? Of course it would be James Smith’s son. Similarly, a 2nd- or 3rd-generation copy of the New Testament is far more likely to be correct than a 12th- or 13th-generation copy.
(2) The location of the manuscripts. The vast majority of Christians through the centuries have lived in western and eastern Europe. For cultural, theological, and political reasons, the western and eastern churches split. The western church became the Roman Catholic Church while the eastern church became the Orthodox Church.
A few centuries after the start of Christianity, the western church began using Latin as its primary language. The eastern church continued using Greek as its primary language for another thousand years (and in some places, even to today). Textual critics have discovered that the manuscripts discovered in one part of the world tend to be very similar to other manuscripts from that part of the world, likely due to originating from the same source.
Since the eastern church continued using Greek as its primary language for 1000+ years longer than the western church, there are significantly more Greek manuscripts that were discovered in eastern Europe than in western Europe. And, these eastern Greek manuscripts (the Byzantine manuscripts) are all very similar to each other.
When the Majority Text is applied, this results in the eastern manuscripts having far greater weight than the western manuscripts. However, if the thousands of Latin manuscripts from the western church were thrown into the Majority Text “equation,” the results of the voting would be far more balanced, and would actually tilt away from the eastern / Byzantine reading.
Perhaps another illustration will help. Let’s say that there are two copies of a document, document A and document B, with minor differences between them due to copying mistakes. Document A is copied 100 times, while Document B is copied three times. If you used the Majority Text method, the Document A copies would have 100 votes, while the Document B copies would only have 3 votes. The Document A copies would win every vote. However, since Document A and Document B are both first-generation copies of another document, Document A and Document B and their “descendants” should be given equal weight in determining the most likely original reading.
The principles of age and location, then, result in “the majority rules” not being the best method in textual criticism. What, then, is the best method? The best method would seem to be taking into account all factors: majority, age, location, difficulty of the reading, and which variant best explains the origin of the other variants. This method is known as the “Eclectic Text” or “Critical Text.” Other than the King James Version and New King James Version, all of the modern English translations are based on the Eclectic Text. Most assume that the King James Version and New King James Version are based on the Majority Text. This is not correct.
The King James Version and New King James Version are based on the Textus Receptus. The Textus Receptus is very similar to the Majority Text, but there are in fact hundreds of differences between the Majority Text and the Textus Receptus. The Textus Receptus was compiled and edited by Erasmus in the 16th century. Erasmus used several Greek manuscripts, which were eastern / Byzantine in nature. This explains why the Textus Receptus is very similar to the Majority Text.
However, Erasmus by no means had access to all of the Greek manuscripts, so there was no way he could develop a true Majority Text. The Textus Receptus is based on a very limited number of manuscripts, all of them eastern, and all of them dating to around the 12th century. As a result, compared to the Majority Text, the Textus Receptus is far less likely to have the most accurate reading.
To summarize, the Majority Text is a method within textual criticism that uses the “majority rules” to determine which variant is most likely to be original. While the Majority Text method does result in the most likely original reading in most instances, it should not be employed universally or exclusively. There are many other important factors in determining which variant is most likely to be original.
Characteristics of the Alexandrian text-type
All extant manuscripts of all text-types are at least 85% identical and most of the variations are not translatable into English, such as word order or spelling. When compared to witnesses of the Western text-type, Alexandrian readings tend to be shorter; and are commonly regarded as having a lower tendency to expand or paraphrase. Some of the manuscripts representing the Alexandrian text-type have the Byzantine corrections made by later hands (Papyrus 66, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Ephraemi, Codex Regius, and Codex Sangallensis). When compared to witnesses of the Byzantine text type, Alexandrian manuscripts tend:
to have a larger number of abrupt readings — such as the shorter ending of the Gospel of Mark, which finishes in the Alexandrian text at Mark 16:8 (“.. for they were afraid.”) omitting verses Mark 16:9-20; Matthew 16:2b–3, John 5:4; John 7:53-8:11; — Walter Veith: the papacy do not believe in the appearances of the Risen Lord
Omitted verses: Matt 12:47; 17:21; 18:11; Mark 9:44.46; 11:26; 15:28; Luke 17:36; Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29.
In Matthew 15:6 omitted η την μητερα (αυτου) (or (his) mother) — א B D copsa;
In Mark 10:7 omitted phrase και προσκολληθησεται προς την γυναικα αυτου (and be joined to his wife), in codices Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Athous Lavrensis, 892, ℓ48, syr, goth.
Mark 10:37 αριστερων (left) instead of ευωνυμων (left), in phrase εξ αριστερων (B Δ 892v.l.) or σου εξ αριστερων (L Ψ 892*);
In Luke 11:4 phrase αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου (but deliver us from evil) omitted. Omission is supported by the manuscripts: Sinaiticus, B, L, f1, 700, vg, syrs, copsa, bo, arm, geo.
In Luke 9:55-56 it has only στραφεις δε επετιμησεν αυτοις (but He turned and rebuked them) — P {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}} 45 P {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}} 75 א B C L W X Δ Ξ Ψ 28 33 565 892 1009 1010 1071 Byzpt Lect
to display more variations between parallel synoptic passages — as in the Lukan version of the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2), which in the Alexandrian text opens “Father.. “, whereas the Byzantine text reads (as in the parallel Matthew 6:9) “Our Father in heaven.. “;
to have a higher proportion of “difficult” readings — as in Matthew 24:36 which reads in the Alexandrian text “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only”; whereas the Byzantine text omits the phrase “nor the Son”, thereby avoiding the implication that Jesus lacked full divine foreknowledge. Another difficult reading: Luke 4:44.
The above comparisons are tendencies, rather than consistent differences. Hence there are a number of passages in the Gospel of Luke where the Western text-type witnesses a shorter text — the Western non-interpolations. Also there are a number of readings where the Byzantine text displays variation between synoptic passages, that is not found in either the Western or Alexandrian texts — as in the rendering into Greek of the Aramaic last words of Jesus, which are reported in the Byzantine text as “Eloi, Eloi..” in Mark 15:34, but as “Eli, Eli..” in Matthew 27:46.
Now on to Westcott and Hort’s Magic Marker Binge!
(Part 1: Matthew – John)
Matthew
1:25
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
8:29
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
13:51
Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
16:3
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
16:20
Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
17:21
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
18:11
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
19:9
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
20:7
They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
20:16
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
20:22
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
25:13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
27:35
And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
28:9
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Mark
1:14
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
1:31
And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
2:17
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
6:11
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
6:16
But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
7:8
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
7:16
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
9:24
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
9:42
And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
9:44
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
9:46
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
9:49
For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
11:10
Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
13:14
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
13:33
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
14:68
But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
15:28
And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
16:9-20
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.(typically marginalized or set in brackets. Footnotes in NIV are patently false.)
Luke
1:28
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
4:8
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
4:41
And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
7:31
And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
9:54-56
And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
11:2-4
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
11:29
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
17:36
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
21:4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
22:31
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
22:64
And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
23:17
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
23:38
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
23:42
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
24:6
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
24:40
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
24:49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
24:51
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
John
1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1:27
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
3:13
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
3:15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
4:42
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
5:3-4
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
6:69
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
11:41
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
16:16
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17:12
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
These notations are meant to identify the original manuscript source of Bible passages. Here are more details from the New King James Version preface:
Where significant variations occur in the New Testament Greek manuscripts, textual notes are classified as follows:
NU-Text
These variations from the traditional text generally represent the Alexandrian or Egyptian type of text [the oldest, but questionable text]. They are found in the Critical Text published in the Twenty-sixth edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament (N) and in the United Bible Society’s third edition (U), hence the acronym “NU-text.”
M-Text
This symbol indicates points of variation in the Majority Text from the Byzantine traditional text [a consensus of most Greek manuscripts]. It should be noted that M stands for whatever reading is printed in the published Greek New Testament According to the Majority Text, whether supported by overwhelming, strong, or only a divided majority textual tradition.
Since time memorial there has been numerous attempts to change the Word of God, sometimes covertly, sometimes overtly.
In Genesis, by believing the serpent, there was a corresponding disbelief and rejection as true what God had told them. This same process is still extant today. What God declares to be true, man ends up altering through addition, deletion or outright rejection and substitution.
Battle Over the Bibles
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. — this is very true, seeing first their own nakedness before anything else
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Deuteronomy 12:32 NKJV Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
Revelation 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
A. The Samaritan Pentateuch is Corrupt
The Samaritan Pentateuch varies in the Ten Commandments passages, in that Samaritans count as nine commandments what others count as ten. The Samaritan tenth commandment includes the sanctity of Mount Gerizim for worship. Additions after Exodus 20:1–17 (The Ten Commandments)
And when it so happens that LORD God brings you to the land of Caanan, which you are coming to posses, you shall set-up there for you great stones and plaster them with plaster and you write on the stones all words of this law. And it becomes for you that across the Jordan you shall raise these stones, which I command you today, in mountain Grizim. And you build there the altar to the LORD God of you. Altar of stones. Not you shall wave on them iron. With whole stones you shall build the altar to LORD God of you. And you bring on it ascend offerings to LORD God of you, and you sacrifice peace offerings, and you eat there and you rejoice before the face of the LORD God of you. The mountain this is across the Jordan behind the way of the rising of the sun, in the land of Caanan who is dwelling in the desert before the Galgal, beside Alvin-Mara, before Sechem. — 169 additional words.
Also in Deuteronomy 5:21
And when it so happens that Yahuah God brings you to the land of Caanan, which you are coming to posses, you shall set-up there for you great stones and plaster them with plaster and you write on the stones all words of this law. And it becomes for you that across the Jordan you shall raise these stones, which I command you today, in mountain Grizim. And you build there thealtar to the Yahuah God of you. Altar of stones. Not you shall wave on them iron. With whole stones you shall build the altar to Yahuah God of you. And you bring on it ascend offerings to Yahuah God of you, and you sacrifice peace offerings, and you eat there and you rejoice before the face of the Yahuah God of you. The mountain this is across the Jordan behind the way of the rising of the sun, in the land of Caanan who is dwelling in the desert before the Galgal, beside Alvin-Mara, before Sechem.
Q If Moses had been so sure he shouldn’t be so vague about where the LORD shall choose in Deut 16:15,16 (Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty). Also, which mountain is Mt Grizim exactly, since they were so far off?
Q2 Is it a coincidence, the mentioning of the rising of the SUN? Why not just west of the Jordan, before Sechem? Today, they, together with most of the CoGs, keep their Feast of Weeks on Sundays. Always a Sunday!
Exodus 20:21
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was].And the Yahuah said to Moses to say: I heard what people have said. All that they have spoken to you, they have spoken wisely. All that they have spoken let them put in their hearts so that they can keep my commandments in all their days, so that it would be good to them and to sons ofthem forever. Prophet I shall raise up to them from the midsts of their brothers, and I will place words of me into his mouth to speak to them all that I’m commanding them. And it becomes thatthe man who will not listen to his words that are spoken in my name, I shall require from him. But the prophet who will speak insolently in my name that which I have not instructed him to speak, or if he speaks in the name of other Gods, such prophet shall die. And if you will ask yourself in your heart how you shall know which word God has spoken and which he has not, see if the word spoken comes to pass. And if it shall not come to pass then this is not the word of the Yahuah, in insolence spoken the prophet. Not you shall listen to him. Go now back to your tent and I will speak to you regarding all commandments and ordinances and verdicts that you shall teach them, and what to do in the land that I give them for possession. (It incorporates Exodus 18:18 and others: I will raise up to them a prophet of their brethren, like thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them as I shall command him. Samaritans believes this Prophet was to be from the line of the tribe of Levi, like Moses, not from the line of Judah, which the Jews believes.)
B. New Testament
ADDITIONS: Even in the King James Version
The Great Commission of baptizing in Jesus’ name
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: — not in the original Hebrew
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. — only need to baptize in the name of Jesus Christ
Acts 8:16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ — but in Jesus’ name
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. — only need to baptize in the name of Jesus Christ
John 4:1(NKJV) Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. — this illustrates what it means when the disciples baptized in Jesus’ name. Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. This should be the model for today.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. — so there is no need for additional authority, the Father nor the holy spirit.
John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. — Jesus always emphasizes the Father and Son relationship.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. — not in the original Greek
CHANGING THE WORD
Battle Over the Bibles
Below are scattered excerpts from Walter Veith’s lectures, others from elsewhere
Genesis 3:15 KJV And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Douay-Rheims (DRA), a Jesuit Bible: I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she [mother Mary? instead of her seed] shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.
Jesus says he is the Gate to Life, but the Catholics say the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, is the gate to life, so they pray to Mary; “Hail Mary, full of Grace! . . .”
Hosea 11:12 KJV Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
NIV Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One. — totally anti-Jewish and opposite in meaning
AMP Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the faithful Holy One. — same here
CEV Israel is deceitful to me, their loyal and holy God; they surround me with lies, and Judah worships other gods. — same here
Matt 5:44 KJV But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matt 18:11 KJV For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. — many versions whole verse taken out
Matt 20:16 KJV So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
ESV So the last will be first, and the first last.
Matt 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
NIV 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” — NIV baptism deleted
Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
ESV Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. — deleting until it doesn’t make sense
Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
ESV “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. — I and my Father are One, hence Jesus should know His own coming, but in ESV, He doesn’t. It also implies that the Son and Father doesn’t work together.
If the Son doesn’t know that it contradicts John 1:1-3 where they plan everything together:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3
Mark 2:17 KJV When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
ESV And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” — implies as if there is no need for repentance
Mark 6:11 KJV And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
ESV And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. — the world doesn’t like to hear of the day of judgement, like the Sadducees
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
ESV And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” — no need to take up the cross
Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
ESV And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
NIV The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! — Abraham, Job and many others were rich, yet they are destined for the Kingdom of God.
Mark 7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
NIV For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
NLV It does not go into his heart, but into his stomach and then on out of his body.” In this way, He was saying that all food is clean.
Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
ESV “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. — no reference to Daniel’s prophecy
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
ESV “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
ESV And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” — there is no need to live by every word of God. Modern Christians want just to feel what is right or wrong, rather than by every word of God
Luke 9:55-56 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
ESV 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village. — the world doesn’t like correction, doesn’t like to be rebuked
1 Cor 10:28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
ESV But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience — no reference that the earth is of the Lord’s
Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
ESV and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. — no accountability before the throne of God
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
ESV Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. — no reference to obeying His commandments
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
ESV And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” — no reference that Satan is always around us
Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
ESV As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. — eliminate the Jew’s sabbath by deleting the Jew’s
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
ESV Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. — “for us” is eliminated
Hebrews 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord swear and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek:)
ESV but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” — that Jesus has a higher level of priesthood after the order of Melchizedek” is eliminated
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
ESV You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, — wishy washy translation
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
ESV and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. — no need to be converted
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
ESV and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
ESV in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. “through his blood” eliminated
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
AMP Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath]. So it is to be. Amen.
ASV Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen. — the change from judgement to that of being sorrowful for Christ
Mark 7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? — below are some translations trying to get rid of the dietary laws
ESV since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
ERV Food does not go into a person’s mind. It goes into the stomach. Then it goes out of the body.” (When Jesus said this, he meant there is no food that is wrong for people to eat.)
NIV For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean)
Mark 9:29 And He said unto them, “This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.”
NIV & others He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” — “fasting” not needed and taken out
1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
ESV Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. — “fasting” taken out
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
ESV We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. — diminished the fact that Jesus has intimate relationship with the Father, also the work of salvation can only be done by Christ
1 Corinthians 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
ESV For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
ESV And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, — the article “the” is eliminated, so the judgement isn’t a specific one, so purgatory could be established
Luke 1:72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
NIV to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, — a total change of meaning, so now you can pray to our ancestors who are already dead. Again establishing the concept of purgatory
1 Peter 4:6 For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
RSV For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God.
NIV For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
ESV having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. — ‘of the dead‘ deleted
Purgatory Incorporated
Job 26:5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
ESV The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.
NIV “The dead are in deep anguish, those beneath the waters and all that live in them. — establishing the concept of purgatory
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
NIV if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. — In our hard copy version, the last phase, “while continuing their punishment” was in but the online version taken out! This means the concept of purgatory could be taken in or out!
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
ESV and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: — active voice
ESV that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, — passive voice
1 Corinthians 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
ESV and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” — eliminate Christ’s body being broken for us, especially on the night of the thirteenth where He was severely beaten and wounded for our sin, and healing.
John 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.
ESV You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” — ESV version shows He has no intent to go to the Feast, which isn’t right
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
RSV Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. — this nonsense follows the Masoretic Text
Proverbs 8:22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
RSV The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
NIV “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; — Strong’s H7069 — could be both possessed or created!
Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
ESV He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” — maybe the son of a pagan god
Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
ESV but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. — neglect to indicate that Jesus had brothers
Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
RSV 16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” — change of emphasis
Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
ESV And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. — eliminate the fact that Jesus fulfilled prophecy
Mark 15:3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
RSV And the chief priests accused him of many things. — eliminate the fact that Jesus fulfilled the Isaiah 53:7 prophecy
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
ESV and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
NIV but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. — “that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” is the central theme in this verse, so these new versions were written or translated with the spirit of antichrist? or no?
Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
ESV Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, — reduces the “Christ” impact, also the antichrist criteria pointed out above, that He came in the flesh
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
ESV And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
ESV And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. — “which art in heaven” and “Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” taken out, so that you can now pray to the Pope as father, one on earth.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
ESV and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. — ‘but deliver us from evil’ taken out
Luke 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. — in the RSV whole verse taken out
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
ESV No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. — eliminate the fact that Christ is now in heaven
VOICE No one has ever journeyed to heaven above except the One who has come down from heaven—the Son of Man, who is of heaven. — best translation
John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
RSV For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” — reduces Christ emphasize to just bread
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
ESV Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. — believes what? The Pope?
John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
ESV “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” — because I go to the Father’ taken out
John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
RSV In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. — change of meaning altogether. NRSV and NIV okay!
Acts 9:29 And he (Paul) spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
ESV And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. — “in the name of the Lord Jesus” taken out
Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
ESV concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh — “Jesus Christ our Lord” taken out
Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
ESV Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; — impact of Jesus Christ as our God reduce by such change
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
ESV Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
ESV saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” — “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” deleted
Revelation 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
ESV And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. — “him that liveth for ever and ever” taken out
DEDUCTIONS: What are those missing verses in your RSV and NIV Bible?
The NIV has removed at least 64,000 words from the Bible …
The NIV and RSV and other versions have also now removed 45 complete verses. Most of us have the Bible on our devices and phones. Changing the Word slowing and consistently, and but the end of a hundred years or so, a new “religion” could be found.
The King James Version is still the most reliable, and for modern versions either the New King James or the KJ21.
Matthew 17:21 “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” — ESV whole verse taken out
Matthew 23:14 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” — ESV whole verse taken out, reducing the impact of judgement
Mark 7:16 “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” — ESV whole verse taken out
Mark 9:44 “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” — ESV whole verse taken out
Mark 9:46 “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” — ESV whole verse taken out
Mark 11:26 “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” — ESV whole verse taken out
Mark 15:28 “And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” — ESV whole verse taken out, they don’t like the idea that Jesus fulfilled prophecy
Mark 16:9-20 (all 12 verses) — in ESV but not in NIV
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (KJV) — why the NIV took this out? They don’t believe that Jesus was resurrected (raised from the dead).
Luke 17:36 “Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” — not in NIV; (ESV?)
Luke 22:43-44 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. — ESV whole verses taken out; not wanting to hear that Jesus was human or that He atoned for our sins by shedding His blood
Luke 23:17 “(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)” — ESV whole verse taken out, not wanting to show that Jesus fulfilled prophecy
John 5:4 “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.” — ESV whole verse taken out
John 7:53-8:11
KJV &:53 And every man went unto his own house.
KJV 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. — ESV whole section taken out, not wanting to hear about repentance
Acts 8:37 KJV And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. — ESV and many other versions where whole verse taken out. Its deletion makes one think that people can be baptized and saved without believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They dislike the fact that Jesus is the only way to be saved.
Acts 15:34 KJV “Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.” — ESV whole verse taken out.
Acts 24:7 KJV “But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,” — ESV whole verse taken out.
Acts 28:29 KJV “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.” — ESV whole verse taken out.
Romans 16:24 KJV “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” — ESV whole verse taken out
I John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” — not in the early Greek manuscript
Gal 3:17 KJV And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
ESV This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. — “in Christ” is taken out
Gal 4:7 (KJV) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
ESV So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. — so there is no need to go through Christ
Gal 6:17 (KJV) From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
ESV From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. — Jesus is no longer consider Lord
Eph 3:14 KJV For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ESV For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, — Jesus is no longer needed nor considered Lord to be bowed
Col 1:2 KJV To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
ESV To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. — Jesus is no longer consider Lord
Col 1:14 KJV In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
ESV in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. — Jesus’ blood is no longer needed
1 Tim 2:7 KJV Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
ESV For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth — “in Christ” is not needed
2 Tim 4:22 KJV The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
ESV The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. — the Lord is not identified
1 Tim 3:16 KJV And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
(ESV) Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, — “God was” changed into “He was” vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. — diminishing the fact that Christ was once God
The “I AM“ has been used to prove that the Divine Being of the Old Testament is the same as Christ of the New Testament.
Is this correct? Or is this misguided?
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.
Additional view from the OT perspective by Rabbi Tovia Singer. Highly recommended.
“I am that I am” is this the name of God?
First, it’s confusing to prove anything by mixing Greek with Hebrew. Jesus was merely stating that He was present during Abraham’s time rather that His name is “I am.” The phrase “I am” in Greek is “ego eimi.” In fact, when Yeshua spoke to the Jews, he used the phrase “ego eimi” at least twenty times and yet, in only one instance did the Jews seek to stone him (John 8:58).
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” to a large crowd in John 6:35,48, yet no one opposed him. In verse 41, the Jews murmured because he said, “I am (ego eimi) the bread which came down from heaven.” But in verse 42, the Jews questioned only the phrase, “I came down from heaven” and ignored “ego eimi.” The same is true of verses 51 and 52. Their complaints being that He claims He came down from heaven, not because of the “I am”. Yet they didn’t attempt to stone him.
In John 8:12,18,24, and 28, Jesus used “ego eimi” with the Pharisees present (vs.13) and yet, no attempt at stoning. He again used it four times in John 10:7,9,11 and 14 with no stoning. Jesus said to his disciples,“… that…ye may believe that I am (ego eimi)” in John 13:19 without them batting an eye.
A slight of hand! A pigeon!
In fact, several other individuals beside Jesus used “ego eimi” as well. In Luke 1:19, the angel Gabriel said, “Ego eimi Gabriel.” In John 9:9, the blind man whose sight was restored by Yeshua said, “Ego eimi.” In Acts 10:21, Peter said, “Behold, ego eimi (I am) he whom ye seek.” Obviously, the mere use of “ego eimi” does not equate one to the “I Am” of Exodus 3:14.
Only the claim of being present before Abraham caused the Jews to stone Him.
Later in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was answering the question “Whom seek ye?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said unto them, “I am He.” John 18:4-5. Jesus didn’t say he was the God of the Old Testament, the God who said he was the Ehyeh that appeared to Moses before the burning bush (Exodus 3:14).
WE (Worldwide English) translation of John 8:58: Jesus answered, `I tell you the truth. I already was before Abraham was born.’ TLB Jesus: “The absolute truth is that I was in existence before Abraham was ever born!” Same with Luke 22:70 where “I am” is just an affirmation of what His accusers were charging Him of in the WE version.
Those who insist that Jesus was the I AM of the Old Testament is just simply MAGIC! A touch of Simon Magus.
Exodus 3:14 The fact that the “I AM THAT I AM” couldn’t be certain of God’s name is that it hasn’t been translated (or untranslated) the same in other primary sources. This means that the “I AM” as translated in the Masoretic Text is of great suspect.
1. Septuagint translated it as “And God spoke to Moses, saying, I am THE BEING; and he said, Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, THE BEING has sent me to you. — note that the “I am” above wasn’t emphasized, but THE BEING is;
2. Targum: a. Onkelos:And the Lord said unto Mosheh, He who spake, and the world was; who spake, and all things were. And He said, This thou shalt say to the sons of Israel, I AM HE WHO IS, AND WHO WILL BE, hath sent me unto you.
Jerusalem: And the Word of the Lord said to Mosheh, He who spake to the world, Be, and it was; and who will speak to it, Be, and it will be. And he said, Thus shalt thou speak to the sons of Israel, EHEYEH hath sent me unto you
3. Pershitta (Lamsa’s translation): And God said to Moses, I am AHIAH ASHAR HIGH (that is, THE LIVING GOD); and he said, Thus you say to the children of Israel, AHIAH has sent me to you.
4. TANAKH (JPS 1985): And God said to Moses, “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh.”a He continued, “Thus shall you said to the Israelites, ‘Ehyeh sent me to you.’” fn a Meaning of Hebrew uncertain.
5. Vulgate: God said to Moses: I AM WHO AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you.
The hard copy of TANAKH (JPS 1985) differs from the JPS 1917 online. JPS seems to change back and forth what Ehyeh meant, indicating indeed they are uncertain of its meaning.
YHVH told Moses He haven’t revealed His name to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Exodus 6:2-3 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but My name Lord I was not known to them.
Further commentary from Adam Clarke on Exodus 3:14
Adam Clarke: I am that I am – אהיה אשר אהיה Eheyeh asher Eheyeh . These words have been variously understood. The Vulgate translates Ego Sum Qui Sum, I am who am. The Septuagint, Εγω ειμι ὁ Ων, I am he who exists. The Syriac, the Persic, and the Chaldee preserve the original words without any gloss. The Arabic paraphrases them, The Eternal, who passes not away; which is the same interpretation given by Abul Farajius, who also preserves the original words, and gives the above as their interpretation. The Targum of Jonathan, and the Jerusalem Targum paraphrase the words thus: “He who spake, and the world was; who spake, and all things existed.” As the original words literally signify, I will be what I will be, some have supposed that God simply designed to inform Moses, that what he had been to his fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he would be to him and the Israelites; and that he would perform the promises he had made to his fathers, by giving their descendants the promised land. It is difficult to put a meaning on the words; they seem intended to point out the eternity and self-existence of God. Plato, in his Parmenides, where he treats sublimely of the nature of God, says, Ουδ ‘ αρα ονομα εστιν αυτῳ, nothing can express his nature; therefore no name can be attributed to him. See the conclusion of this chapter, Exodus 3:22; (note) and on the word Jehovah, Exodus 34:6; (note), Exodus 34:7; (note).
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. It is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, the day is spent in the synagogue, where attendees hold prayer services.
On Yom Kippur the High Priest would perform a specially prescribed service, which includes offering incense in the Holy of Holies (where the ark was housed) and the casting of the two goats—one of which was brought as a sacrifice, the blood to be offered on the Mercy Seat; the other being sent out to the wilderness (Azazel) and cast down a terrain.
For it says in Leviticus 17:6And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto the Lord. . . .11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. What are these significance?
While the High Priest generally wore ornate golden clothing, on Yom Kippur, he would immerse in a mikvah and don plain white garments to perform this service. Again, what are these significance?
26 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, — On the tenth day of the seventh month the day of atonement was to be observed by a holy meeting, by fasting from the evening of the ninth till the evening of the tenth, by resting from all work on pain of death, and with sacrifices;
27 “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. — there shall be a day of atonement … and ye shall afflict your souls; an unusual festival, at which the sins of the whole year were expiated. It is here only stated that the severest penalty was incurred by the violation of this day.
28 And ye shall do no work in that same day, for it is a Day of Atonement to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. — Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; no work can be performed on that day. It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur.
29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. — any member of the community who does not fast on this day God himself will punish with death, except those who through old age or sickness are unable to endure it; or a child under nine years of age, were not obliged to fast on this day.
30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. — that doeth any work; that is, engages in any kind of work whatsoever, since this is the most solemn festival which is to be kept like the sabbath.
31 Ye shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. — ye shall do no manner of work; which is repeated and to show how strictly God required this day should be kept, and how careful men should be of breaking the command in this respect, and how much he should resent it if they did:
— it shall be a statute for ever, throughout your generations, in all your dwellings; unto the coming of the Messiah, who, by the atoning sacrifice of himself, would foreshadow Christ’s death; and after his death, an memorial of his sacrifice as would be other sacrifices, Ezekiel 40-48.
32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls. On the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening unto evening, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.” — from even to even; the day of atonement began at the evening of the ninth day and continued till the evening of the tenth day;
— ye shall celebrate your sabbath; this particular sabbath is called your sabbath, possibly to denote the difference between this and other sabbaths; for the weekly sabbath is often called the sabbath of the Lord.
Leviticus 16
1 And the Lord spoke unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died;
2 and the Lord said unto Moses, “Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the Holy Place within the veil before the mercy seat which is upon the ark, that he die not; for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. — that he come not at all times; Moses is therefore to warn his brother Aaron, the high priest, that if he wishes to escape a similar fate, he is not to presume to enter the Holy of Holies except on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement.
3 Thus shall Aaron come into the Holy Place: with a young bullock for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen miter shall he be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. — the white clothing was both intended to symbolize humility and penitence, for white is the colour in which penitents are naturally dressed;
— also it was symbolical of the purity and holiness which the ceremonies of the day symbolically affected, and which was specially needed to be exhibited in the person of the high priest.
5 And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. — and he shall take of the congregation; on this occasion the high priest himself had to officiate, by virtue of his being the chief mediator between God and His people.
6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself and for his house.
7 And he shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. — both two goats were presented before the Lord;
8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats — one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat (5799 לַעֲזָאזֵֽל la·‘ă·zā·zêl). — One lot for the Lord; to be sacrificed to him upon his altar. Both this and the other goat ă·zā·zêl typified Christ; that is, these two goats signified the two aspect of Christ our Messiah; One as the Son of God, the other as the Suffering Servant of Man;
— Rashi: And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: He would place one [he-goat] on his right and one on his left. Then, he would insert both his hands into an urn [which contained two lots, one bearing the inscription “to the Lord” and the other “to Azazel.” These lots were mixed up, and Aaron, with both hands inside the urn] took one lot in his right hand and the other in his left hand, and he would place them upon them [the he-goats]: [The one] upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to the Lord,” would be for God, while the one upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to Azazel,” would be sent off to Azazel. — [Yoma 39a]
Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b]
9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. — the one which was “for the Lord had a red woollen thread tied around its neck, whilst the one “for Azazel” had the scarlet thread tied on the head or on the horns;
— this seems a probability, that the goat upon which the Lord’S lot fell represents the Son of God;
10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him and to let him go as a scapegoat into the wilderness. — and the one “for Azazel” represents the Son of Man; he was sent into the wilderness where he would be pushed over a cliff and to die there; he represents the Suffering Servant of Man as in Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12.
11 “And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself.
12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it inside the veil. — and his hands full of sweet incense; having provided himself with two handfuls of the finest incense, and holding the censer with the fire in his right hand, and the cup with the incense in his left, he now entered for the first time through the second vail into the Holy of Holies, advanced to the ark of the covenant, and deposited the censer between its two staves;
— during the second Temple he stepped forward to the stone which was the substitute of the Ark, and placed the censer upon it.
13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not. — standing before the Ark, he deposited the censer of coals on the floor, emptied the plate of incense into his hand, poured it on the burning coals; and the atmosphere was filled with fragrant smoke, which was the Lord’s throne.
14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. — the high priest having done this, perfumed the sanctuary, returned to the door, took the blood of the slain bullock, and, carrying it into the holy of holies, sprinkled it with his finger once upon the mercy seat “eastward”—that is, on the side next to himself; and seven times “before the mercy seat” that is, on the front of the Ark.
The same use is made of the blood, which is once sprinkled by Aaron on the mercy-seat and seven times on the ground before it, as in the former case.
15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. — leaving the coals and the incense burning, he went out a second time, to sacrifice at the altar of burnt offering the goat which had been assigned as a sin offering for the people; and carrying its blood into the holy of holies, he made similar sprinklings as he had done before with the blood of the bullock.
16 And he shall make an atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins; and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. — for the second times, he went out of the Holy of Holies and killed it outside the Sanctuary on its north side, and then returned to the Holy Place and the altar of burnt offering; and in like manner sprinkled seven times with the blood of the bullock and the goat.
— Rashi: He shall do likewise to the Tent of Meeting: i.e., just as he had sprinkled from [the blood of] both [the bull and the he-goat] inside [the Holy of Holies, with] one sprinkling above and seven below, so shall he sprinkle from [the blood of] both [the bull and the he-goat] on the dividing curtain from the outside once above and seven times below. — [Torath Kohanim 16:43; Yoma 56b]
17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the Holy Place until he come out, and has made an atonement for himself and for his household and for all the congregation of Israel. — while the high priest was thus engaged in the most holy place, none of the ordinary priests were allowed to remain within the precincts of the tabernacle.
18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord and make an atonement for it, and shall take of the blood of the bullock and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. — and he shall go out unto the altar; the authorities during the second Temple took this to denote the golden altar, or the altar of incense which stood in the Holy place over against the Holy of Holies, as this was the altar for which expiation was made once a year on this day; hence it was cleansed next.
19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. — and for the third times he shall sprinkle; he then sprinkled with his right finger, seven times, the middle or top of the altar, the coals and ashes having been previously removed so effectually, that the gold appeared.
20 “And when he hath made an end of reconciling the Holy Place and the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. — and when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place; that is, the holy of holies, by carrying in the blood of the bullock, and of the goat there, and sprinkling them as before:
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. — and Aaron shall lay both his hands; with the imposition of “both his hands,” a phrase which only occurs in this ceremony, the high priest indicated in the most solemn manner possible that the animal was intended both for the priesthood and for the laity.
— both goat were sacrificed as a sin offering, and this other led away into a solitary land. Putting them upon the head of the goat; by this imposition of hands and the confession, the high priest transferred the sins of the nation to the goat. He then turned to the people, and declared, “Ye shall be clean.”
— Matthew Poole: the Jews write that this goat was carried to the mountain called Azazel, whence the goat is so called, Leviticus Leviticus 16:10; and that there he was cast down headlong; and that the red string by which he was led turned white when God was pleased with the Israelites, otherwise it remained red; and then they mourned all that year. And the ancient Hebrews write, that forty years before the destruction of the temple, which was about the time of Christ’s death, this red string turned no more white.
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited; and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
— According to Ellicott’s commentary:
During the second Temple, however, the authorities decreed that the animal must be destroyed. Accordingly one of the priests who was appointed to execute this mission led the goat to a rock called Zuck, in the wilderness, situate about twelve miles, or ninety furlongs, from Jerusalem.
Between the holy city and this steep rock, ten booths were erected at intervals of one mile, and persons were located in every booth to accompany the messenger to the next tent, which was distant a Sabbath day’s journey. From the last booth to the rock, which was double this distance, the messenger had no companion, but he was carefully watched by the occupants of the last booth to see that he performed the ritual according to the prescribed order.
On his arrival at the mountain he divided the crimson thread, which was the badge of the goat, into two; one half he fastened to the rock, and the other he tied between the two horns of the victim, and then pushed the animal down the projecting ledge of the rock, when it was dashed to pieces before it reached the bottom. Hereupon the persons stationed at the last booth to watch the proceedings waved linen cloths or white flags, thus signalling from station to station to the priests in the court of the Temple the arrival of the goat at its proper destination.
23 “And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there; — shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation; better, shall come into the tent of meeting;
— this was the fourth time that the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. The object of his going into the most Holy was to fetch the censer and the incense cup which he had left between the two staves, Leviticus 16:12. To do this he had again to bathe which always accompanied the change of garments and to put on his white robes.
24 and he shall wash his flesh with water in the Holy Place and put on his garments, and come forth and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself and for the people. — bathing in the holy place, that is, in that part of the sanctuary set apart for that purpose; and put on his garments and come forth; put on his golden garments, and come out of the place where he had washed himself, to the court, where was the altar of burnt offering:
25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. — and the fat of the sin offering; that is, the fat of the inwards of both the bullock and the goat.
26 And he that let go the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. — both he who led away the goat, and he who burned the parts of the sin-offerings had to purify themselves. They who went out of the camp during a religious solemnity incurred uncleanness; hence, the need of purification.
27 And the bullock for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall one carry forth outside the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins and their flesh and their dung. — as the blood of the bullock and the goat which had been offered in the special sacrifices of the day had been carried within the sanctuary (verses 14, 15), their bodies had to be burnt outside the camp;
— the fact of Christ’s having “suffered outside the camp” serves as an indication that his blood had in its atoning effects been carried into the holy of holies, to be presented before the Mercy Seat, before the Father.
28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. — the man who took the goat into the desert and those who burned the two sin-offerings outside the camp, had also to wash their clothes and bathe their bodies before they returned to the camp, because they had been defiled by the animals laden with sin.
29 “And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country or a stranger who sojourneth among you; — was to be observed as a solemn fast, in which “they were to afflict their souls” it was reckoned a sabbath, kept as a season of “holy convocation,” or assembling for religious purposes;
— any person who performed any labor on Yom Kippur were subject to the death penalty.
30 for on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. — for on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you to cleanse you; by offering the sin offering for them; typical of the sacrifice of Christ, whose soul was made an offering for sin whereby atonement is made for it, and whose blood cleanses from all sin;
— that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord; which is a general phrase; as Christ by his blood and sacrifice has cleansed all his people from all their sins of every sort, so that they stand pure and clean, unblamable and unreproveable, before the throne of God, and in his sight.
31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. — directions for the yearly celebration of the day of atonement; it was to be kept on the tenth day of the seventh month, as an “everlasting statute”
32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments; — and the priest, whom he shall anoint; better, and the priest who shall be anointed. Not only is Aaron to make atonement on this occasion but in future the priest who shall be consecrated by the proper authorities as his successor to the pontificate shall perform this act of expiation on the Day of Atonement.
33 and he shall make an atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests and for all the people of the congregation.
34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you: to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year.” And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. — this shall be an everlasting statute unto you. It lasted as long as the earthly Jerusalem lasted, and until the heavenly Jerusalem was instituted, when it had a spiritual fulfillment once for all.
As prophecised by Joel, “I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh” the veil of blindness will be removed and the Jews shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son; they’ll grieve and lament the crucifying of their Lord Jesus Christ, not only as the sinful, cruel act of their fathers, but that they had a great share of guilt by denying Hin when every eye shall see Him.
Zechariah 12:10 predicts the piercing of the Son of God, the Messiah, fulfilled at the first coming of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross and was pierced by a spear in His side (John 19:36–37). The complete fulfillment of this verse awaits the last days when the Jewish people will plead for mercy from the One whom they have pierced.
1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him:
2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people. All who burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
4 In that day,” saith the Lord, “I will smite every horse with astonishment and his rider with madness. And I will open Mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness;
5 and the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God.’
6 “In that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf, and they shall devour all the people round about on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
8 “In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David, and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn. — this verse indicates a future time when the Jewish people will plead for the mercy of God, which will happen when they see “the one they have pierced.”
— this verse was mentioned in John 19:36-37 when Jesus, hanging on the cross, was pierced with a spear: “For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled . . . They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” And Revelation 1:7 adds, “Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.”
— these prophecies are a fulfilment to Zechariah 12:10. Isaiah 53:5 also predicts that the Messiah would be pierced: “But he was pierced for our transgressions.”
— and the Jews shall look upon Me whom they have pierced (H1856 – dāqar דָּקַר to pierce, piercing through), as they nailed their Messiah to the cross, John 19:34; Revelation 1:7, or by piercing His side with a spear; and they shall mourn for Him as one mourn for his only son, acknowledging their transgression in killing the Prince of Life, Acts 3:15, and shall be in bitterness for Him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn, almost the greatest grief and sorrow known to the Jews;
— the Speaker is the Son of God, the Messiah. The Jews had pierced Him metaphorically by their accusation before the Roman governor during His trial in Jerusalem. They pierced Him, literally and as the crowning act of their blindness, in crusifying the Being of God’s Son upon the Cross,
— they shall mourn for him; they shall heartily lament the crucifying of the Lord Jesus, not only as the sinful, cruel act of their fathers, as one mourneth for his only son; with an unfeigned and real, a great and long-continued, a deep and lasting sorrow, such as is the sorrow of a father on the death of an only son:
— Rashi: as one mourns over an only son: As a man mourns over his only son. And our Sages expounded this in tractate Sukkah (52a) as referring to the Messiah, son of Joseph, who was slain;
— Rashi rightly quoted the Targum Sukkah (52a) about the Messiah to come from one Yeshua, a son of Joseph, of the house of David, yet they are blindsided to Him as the Son of God and as the fulfilment of the Messiah’s first coming; (reference to this “piercing” disappeared in the Masoretic Text, an example of the lying pen of the scribes: Jeremiah 8:8; or perhaps the lying tongues of their Sages).
11 “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddo. — on that day, in the future when the realization of the greatness of their crime in putting their own Messiah to death, shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem as is ever the case when men realize that their sins were the cause of Christ’s death;
— as the mourning of Hadadrimmon, when the men of Judah mourned so bitterly over the death of their King Josiah, who was mortally wounded near that place in the Plain of Esdraelon, II Chronicles 35:22 ff. in the Valley of Megiddon.
And from Wikipedia (Zechariah): Zechariah’s prophecies took place during the reign of Darius the Great and were contemporary with Haggai in a post-exilic world after the fall of Jerusalem in 587/586 BC. Ezekiel and Jeremiah wrote before the fall of Jerusalem while continuing to prophesy in the early exile period. Scholars believe Ezekiel, with his blending of ceremony and vision, heavily influenced the visionary works of Zechariah 1–8. Zechariah is specific about dating his writing (520–518 BC). — it just doesn’t make sense that a prophecy of a future “shall” (more at the end) to refer to a past to king Josiah (reign 640–609 BC), who lived and died well over a hundred years earier! More appropriately, the mourning for Josiah was a foreshadowing of a greater one to be fulfilled.
12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart: the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; — and the land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of David by itself, and the wives by themselves; the family of Nathan by itself, and the wives by themselves;
13 the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; — the family of Levi by itself, and the wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and the wives by themselves;
14 all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. — all the families that remain, that is, the whole nation shall be born; every family apart and their wives separately. Nor would this sorrow of true repentance be in vain. Zechariah 13:1
— on that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to the entire nation, as representative of the Kingdom of God in the Millenium, in whose members the blood of the Messiah, shed for the sins of the whole world, has prepared a water which thoroughly cleanses sinners from their uncleanness.
And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplications. And they shall look to me because of those who have been thrust through [with swords], and they shall mourn over it as one mourns over an only son and shall be in bitterness, therefore, as one is embittered over a firstborn son.
And I will pour upon the Bais Dovid, and upon the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, the Ruach (Spirit) of Chen (grace) and of Tachanunim (supplications for favor); and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced [dakar, “pierce through” cf. Yeshayah 53:5; Targum HaShivim Tehillim 22:17], and they shall mourn for Him (Moshiach) as one mourneth for his yachid (only son), and shall grieve in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his bechor (firstborn).
Both sources are prophecies, to be fulfilled in the future; it just doesn’t make sense to prophecise a past!More appropriately, the mourning for Josiah was a foreshadowing of a greater mourning to be fulfilled.
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
Israel today, as in the past, has many blind shepherd.
While Abraham was thus sitting about noon, he saw three men coming. These three heavenly beings were in human bodies. Some think they were all created angels; others, that one of them was the Son of God, the Messiah.
During the encounter, Abraham managed to perceive that one of them was the LORD (יְהוָ֗ה). Bear in mind that 5 of the 134 changes from LORD (יְהוָ֗ה) to Adonai (אֲדֹנָ֗י) as listed by E.W. Bullinger in Appendix 32 of The Companion Bible occured in these two chapters: namely Genesis 18:3,27,30,32; and Genesis19:18.
By such tampering, the Sopherim corrupted the Sacred Text; hence, sadly, the Jews couldn’t figure out the second Being in the Godhead and remain blinded to this day. A result of “the lying pen of the scribes has turned my words into a lie,” says Jeremiah 8:8!
1 And the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. — right at the start, the LORD יְהוָ֗ה Yehovah was introduced;
2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground — and lo, three men; these three were three heavenly beings assuming human shapes, that they might be visible to Abraham, and conversable with him; although we couldn’t be sure if all three were יְהוָ֗ה, but at least we could be sure there one יְהוָ֗ה in an human form is.
3 and said, “My Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy), if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. — “My Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י)” should be changed back to “My LORD (יְהוָ֗ה),” one of the 134 changes to the Sacred Text made by the Sopherim;
— the Sopherim (ancient scribes, as well as many of today’s translators), upon reading this, couldn’t believe the Deity יְהוָ֗ה came down from heaven to mix with men, for there was a belief that God could not be seen and if anyone who had seen God would die; so the scribes took upon themself and changed it to “My Lord(אֲדֹנָ֗י).” They left the Changed Text on the side of the page and E.W. Bullinger came alone and collade all the 134 changes (more at the end).
— but Abraham realised straight away that the Guest is the Lord Yehovah (יְהוָ֗ה). Abraham must be moved by God’s spirits instantly, whereas the Sopherim were found to be sleeping!
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree;
5 and I will fetch a morsel of bread and comfort ye your hearts. After that ye shall pass on, for therefor are ye come to your servant.” And they said, “So do, as thou hast said.”
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.”
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd and fetched a calf, tender and good, and gave it unto a young man, and he hastened to dress it. — animal food is never provided, except for visitors of a superior rank when a kid or lamb is killed. A calf is still a higher stretch of hospitality, and it would probably be cooked as is usually done when haste is required—either by roasting it whole or by cutting it up into small pieces and broiling them on skewers over the fire.
8 And he took butter and milk and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate. — and the calf which he, the young man, had dressed and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, – a custom still observed among the Arabs, who honor their guests by not sitting to eat with, but by standing to wait upon, them – and they did eat.
9 And they said unto him, “Where is Sarah thy wife?” And he said, “Behold, in the tent.”
10 And he said, “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” And Sarah heard it from the tent door, which was behind him. — at this time, when it lives again; that is, at this time next year;
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age, and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. — now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; the one being ninety nine years of age and the other eighty nine;
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy) being old also?” — Sarah addressed her husband as lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י) but then she haven’t known her Guest was the the Lord יְהוָ֗ה.
13 And the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) said unto Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?’ — the narrator knows that it was the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) speaking; his question must have convinced Abraham of the Guest’s omniscience; as Sarah laughed within herself.
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה)? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” — that is, the Guest was revealing himself to both Abraham and Sarah, voicing his own name as Yehovah!- “the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה)?” – it seems that the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) was slowly but explicitly revealing himself; if I were Sarah with such experience, I would have felt several chills running down my spine!
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, “I laughed not,” for she was afraid. And He said, “Nay, but thou didst laugh.” — Sarah became afraid, of course she would, finally realising their Guest was no ordinary being, but Yehovah (יְהוָ֗ה) speaking to her; would she die, she must be wondering!
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. — One remained with Abraham and is addressed ‘Lord (יְהוָ֗ה)’ but could all three are similarly addressed in Genesis 18:3? The inference is that יְהוָ֗ה Yehovah appeared, not only in the one ‘man’ who spake with Abraham, but also in the two who went to Sodom; but this thought could be debatable.
17 And the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) said, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do,
18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) to do justice and judgement, that the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.”
20 And the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which has come unto Me; and if not, I will know.”
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה). — this Lord (יְהוָ֗ה), who would be identified as the Son, stayed back with Abraham;
23 And Abraham drew near and said, “Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Perhaps there be fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from Thee to do in this manner — to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26 And the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
27 And Abraham answered and said, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י), I, who am but dust and ashes. — “the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy),” should be changed back to “the LORD (יְהוָ֗ה),” one of the 134 changes;
— in its original form, it shows that Abraham had (verse 3) right from the beginning realised that his Guest was the Lord Yehovah (יְהוָ֗ה).
28 Perhaps there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.”
29 And he spoke unto Him yet again and said, “Perhaps there shall be forty found there?” And He said, “I will not do it for forty’s sake.”
30 And he said unto Him, “Oh let not the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י) be angry, and I will speak: Perhaps there shall thirty be found there.” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” — “the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy),” should be “the LORD (יְהוָ֗ה),” one of the 134 changes;
31 And he said, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy): Perhaps there shall be twenty found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.” — was this “the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy)” tampered also, but left unrecorded? Indications are strong that this is the case!
— JPS 1917 says: And he said: ‘Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord. Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.’ And He said: ‘I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.’
32 And he said, “Oh let not the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י) be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Perhaps ten shall be found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” — “the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy)” should be “the LORD (יְהוָ֗ה),” one of the 134 changes;
33 And the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) went His way, as soon as He had finished communing with Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place.
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Actually, there is only One יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah (and also one God; yet God is in the plural, Elohim) and many Scriptures testify to this, and this One יְהוָ֨ה or One God principle is found in Exodus 23:
20 Behold, I send an Angel (or messenger) before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. Exodus 23:20-21
The phase “for my name is in him” sends a powerdul message, that His name is with His messangers, hence the LORDs mentioned in Genesis 18-19 (and Psalm 110:5) were derivative. They were all carrying the message of the original יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah.
Where a special envoy of יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah carries his official title יְהוָ֨ה, often the Son, he has the “full powers” of his Father יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah. In particular, he is one acting like a Plenipotentiary Ambassador; the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent a government as an ambassador; that is, he is one acting like a Plenipotentiary Ambassador.
The word plenipotentiary comes from the Latin, plenus + potens, full + powerful. Thus a plenipotentiary is a diplomat who has full powers or authorization to sign a treaty or convention on behalf of his or her sovereign.
Jesus or Yeshua, the Son, testifies He came in His Father’s name: John 5:43: I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not; and Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and on earth,” Matthew 28:18.
Same thing with the one God concept. God the Father, God the Son, yet there is only one Elohim. Jesus addresses the Father as “the only true God” (John 17:3); that is, the Father is the only true Creator God.
Genesis 19
1 And there came two angels to Sodom at evening, and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. And Lot, seeing them, rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; — it started with three men in Genesis 18:2, and now two of them were revealed as angels;
— these two angels came to engage themselves with Lot, Abraham’s nephew; although Lot was righteous, all the people of Sodom were very wicked and vile;
— the two angels who left Abraham had now arrived Sodom in the evening (or afternoon, pressing toward sunset) to perform a delegated duty, when Lot, who was sitting at the gate, insisted them to pass the night in his house.
2 and he said, “Behold now, my lords (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy), turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early and go on your ways.” And they said, “Nay, but we will remain in the street all night.”
3 And he pressed upon them greatly, and they turned in unto him and entered into his house; and he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. — and did bake unleavened bread; probably it was the time of the Passover.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom — both young and old, all the people from every quarter —compassed the house around. — the wicked violence of the citizens displays itself. They checked the house, and demand the men for the vilest ends. How familiar Lot had become with vice, when any necessity whatever could induce him to offer his daughters to the lust of these Sodomites!
5 And they called unto Lot and said unto him, “Where are the men who came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” — bring them out unto us, that we may know them; not who they were, and from whence they came, and what their business was; nor did they pretend anything of this kind to hide and cover their design from Lot, but they were open and impudent, and declared their sin without shame and blushing;
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him — and shut the door after him; the door of the passage to his house, the courtyard, and the other a hatch: however, this precaution of shutting it was used to prevent the men of Sodom rushing in and taking away the men by violence;
7 and said, “I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8 Behold now, I have two daughters who have not known a man. Let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes. Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.” — only unto these men do nothing; for as yet he knew them not to be angels; had he, it would not have given him the concern it did, since he must have known that they were able to defend themselves:
9 And they said, “Stand back.” And they said again, “This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will become a judge! Now will we deal worse with thee than with them.” And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. — this one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge; this one man; and he a stranger and sojourner, the man, who came as a foreigner, wanting to play the judge?
— no freeman or citizen of this city, sets himself against the whole body of the inhabitants, and takes upon him to judge what is right and wrong to be done; and if he is let alone in “judging he will judge” as it may be rendered; he will take upon him this office, and continue to exercise it, and determine and decide all matters among us at his pleasure. This confutes the above notion of the Jews, that Lot was appointed a judge by the men of Sodom, yea, the president of the court for that day;
— Rashi: The Sodomites were saying as follows: “You intercede for the wayfarers? How dare you?!” — the Targum says: “And they said, Did not this come alone to sojourn among us? and, behold, he is making himself a judge, and judging the whole of us?”
10 But the men put forth their hands, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. — but the angels put forth their hands and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut the door.
11 And they smote the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. — and the angels smote the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great,
12 And the men said unto Lot, “Hast thou here any besides? Son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whomsoever thou hast in the city — bring them out of this place. — and the angels said unto Lot, “Hast thou here any besides? Son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, trying to acquaint him with the business they came to do:
13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them has waxed great before the face of the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה), and the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) hath sent us to destroy it.”
14 And Lot went out and spoke unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, “Up, get ye out of this place; for the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) will destroy this city!” But he seemed as one who mocked unto his sons-in-law. — and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it; by which they discovered themselves to be angels, and what their business was, to destroy Sodom;
— Lot spake to his sons-in-law; it is likely these sons-in-law had married other daughters of Lot, who refused to obey and who afterward would perish in the destruction of the city.
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, “Arise, take thy wife and thy two daughters who are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” — and spake unto his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters: according to some experts, Lot had two other daughters that perished in Sodom, which are indicative from this phase “who are here” as though he had some elsewhere;
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters, the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) being merciful unto him; and they brought him forth and set him outside the city. — and while he lingered; Heb, and he lingered. Lot still clung to his wealth and could not make up his mind to leave it and so at length the angels took him by the hand and compelled him to quit the doomed city.
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth outside, that he said, “Escape for thy life! Look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed!” — look not behind thee; this was not merely to prevent delay but also showed that God demanded of them a total abandonment in heart and will of the condemned cities and hence the severity with which the violation of the command was visited.
18 And Lot said unto them, “Oh, not so, my lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י). — “my lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י ’ă·ḏō·nāy)” should be changed back to “my LORD (יְהוָ֗ה),” one of the 134 changes (see more at the end below);
— the Sopherim (scribes) couldn’t believe that Lot was addressing the Deity יְהוָ֗ה, for there was a fear that anyone who had seen God would die; so the scribes changed it to “my lord (אֲדֹנָ֗י).”
— this verse shows that even angels could also carry the name of God, Yehovah, “for my name is in him,” Exodus 23:20-21, or in this case “for my name is in them.” The logical supposition remains, therefore, is that Lot recognised that the two angels as manifestation of God, and so addressed them as יְהוָ֗ה; but their Sopherim then, and their shepherd today, are fast asleep after stumbling around with too much wine!
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shown unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die. — Lot seems bewildered by the contemptuous refusal of his connections to leave the place. His early choice and his growing habits have attached him to the place, notwithstanding its temptations;
— his married daughters, or at least the intended husbands of the two who were at home (“who are here”), are to be left behind. But though these thoughts make him linger, the mercy of the Lord prevails. The angels use a little violence to hasten their escape.
20 Behold now, this city is near enough to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” — Lot’s meaning was that since Zoar was the smallest of the cities of the Pentapolis, it would not be a great demand on God’s mercy to spare it, and it would save him from further exertions for his safety.
21 And he said unto him, “See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city for which thou hast spoken. — this city is Zoar, hence it was saved because of Lot;
22 Hasten thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou hast come thither.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. — therefore the name of the city was called Zoar; in later times, and probably first by Lot, from his use of the word “little”, which was his request, which Zoar signifies; before it was called Bela, see Genesis 14:2.
23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
24 Then the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire, from the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) out of heaven; — the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה, Yehovah) rained . . . from the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה, Yehovah); in this repetition of the name of Yehovah an indication of duality of the Godhead, as though God the Son (יְהוָ֗ה,) on earth rained down fire from God the Father (יְהוָ֗ה,) in heaven;
— both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem call the Son, the Word of the Lord, which manifests in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. — all but Zoar; and he overthrew those cities; namely Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim: very probably at the same time that this fiery tempest was in the heavens, there was an earthquake which overthrew the cities; “and all the plain ” and so Strabo makes the lake (the Dead Sea), which is now the place where they stood;
— “rain of fire and brimstone” these words are to be understood quite literally, as meaning that brimstone and fire, i.e., burning brimstone, fell from the sky, even though the examples of burning bituminous matter falling upon the earth. By this rain of fire and brimstone not only were the cities and their inhabitants consumed, but even the soil which abounded in asphalt was set on fire, so that the entire valley was burned out and sank, or was overthrown (הפך) that is, utterly destroyed and the Dead Sea took its place.
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. — but his wife looked back from behind him; that is, the wife of Lot, whose name some Jewish writers say was Adith, or as others Irith; and, according to the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, she was a native of Sodom: now, as they were going from Sodom to Zoar, she was behind Lot, his back was to her, so that he could not see her; this was a temptation to her to look back, since her husband could not see her;
— the Dead Sea lake lies in the lowest part of the valley of the Jordan, and its surface is about thirteen hundred feet below the level of the sea. In such a hollow, exposed to the burning rays of an unclouded sun, its waters evaporate as much as it receives by the influx of the Jordan. Its present area is about forty-five miles by eight miles.
27 And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה); — and Abraham gat up early; to see what was become of his prayers, he went to the very place where he had stood before the Lord יְהוָ֗ה.
28 and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld. And lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.
29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt. — that God remembered Abraham; his promise to him, that he would bless them that blessed him, Genesis 12:3; and his prayer to him for Lot in Genesis 18:23;
— for though Abraham does not mention him by name, he bore him on his heart, and he was always in the number of the righteous ones, on whose account he interceded for the sparing of the cities; and, though God did not hear and answer him with regard to the cities, yet he did with respect to the righteous men in them:
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt on the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he feared to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. — from Zoar Lot removed with his two daughters to the (Moabitish) mountains, for fear that Zoar might after all be destroyed and dwelt in one of the caves (מערה with the generic article) in which the limestone rocks abound and so became a cave dweller.
31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth. — a mark of Jewish hatred towards the Moabites and Ammonites and an attempt to brand their origin with shame;
— really we find in Deuteronomy 2:9-19, no trace of the existence of this hostility, but on the contrary the relationship of these two nations to Israel is used as a ground for kindly feelings; and in the story of Ruth the Moabitess, and the friendship which existed between the king of Moab and David, we have proof that such feelings existed.
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.”
33 And they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
34 And it came to pass on the morrow that the firstborn said unto the younger, “Behold, I lay yesternight with my father. Let us make him drink wine this night also, and go thou in and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.”
35 And they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. — thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. We learn from hence what the best of men are when left to themselves; a good man, a righteous Lot, is guilty of crimes the most shocking;
— he exposed the chastity of his daughters to the men of Sodom and now his daughters attacked him, and succeeded, being both with child by him; and this brought about by excessive drinking, a sin which often leads on to the foulest crimes, and therefore to be carefully avoided; these sins Lot fell into when as it were alone, on a mountain, in a cave, none but his family with him, and these only his two daughters;
36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. — Lot is never mentioned again. Separated both outwardly and inwardly from Abraham, he was of no further importance in relation to the history of salvation, so that even his death is not referred to. His descendants, however, frequently came into contact with the Israelites; and the history of their descent is given here to facilitate a correct appreciation of their conduct towards Israel.
37 And the firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Benammi; the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. — Moab afterward occupied the district south of the Arnon, and east of the Salt Sea. Ammon dwelt to the northeast of Moab, where they had a capital called Rabbah. They both ultimately merged into the more general class of the Arabs.
Genesis 18:3,27,30,32; 19:18; 20:4 (Genesis 18:31? The context dictates that this verse should be included). Exodus 4:10,13; 5:22; 15:17; 34:9,9. Numbers 14:17.
This Study is on Daniel 7: Zooming in on Who is the Son of Man on Clouds of Heaven?
Although Jewish authority acknowledges that the book Daniel is a Sacred Text, they relegated it to “Writings” that this book is among the holy writings but not among the Prophets; it isn’t a prophecy, they claim; the reasons they give are based on sands as the Prophet Isaiah speaks of his own people, Israel, their shepherd sre blind, “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see,” Isaiah 42:18.
Bear in mind that the Book of Daniel is divided between the Hebrew of chapters 1 and 8–12 and the Aramaic of chapters 2–7 (Book of Daniel Wikipedia); so Daniel 7 was originally written in Aramaic, although the two languages are closely related.
The presentation here is the correct view. Alternate views, which offer plenty of commentaries but no substance, could be found in Rabbi Tovia Singer
Daniel 7
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his head upon his bed. Then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
5 And behold, another beast, a second, like unto a bear. And it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl. The beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth. It devoured, and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
9 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days sat down, whose garment was white as snow and the hair of His head like the pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. Thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgement was set, and the books were opened.
11 “I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. — like Ezekiel in vision (Ezekiel 1:1) when he saw a likeness of four living creatures, Daniel saw in the night visions and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, riding upon them as on a celestial chariot and came to the Ancient of Days and they brought Him near before Him;
— parallel Scripture when Nebuchadnezzar cast Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the midst of the burning fiery furnace, the king was astonished and said unto his counselors, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” Nebuchadnezzar answered his own question and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the SonofGod,” Daniel 3:23-25.
Israel today, as in the past, has many blind shepherd:
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
Daniel 7:13 is testifying that it is the Son of God coming with the clouds of heaven towards the Ancient of Days, the blinded shepherd couldn’t figure out the second Being in the Godhead; he’s actually the Son in Psalm 2:7 and Proverbs 30:4.
“I will declare the decree: The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה) hath said unto Me, ‘Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee” Psalm 2:7
“Who hath ascended up into heaven or hath descended? Who hath gathered the wind in His fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Proverbs 30:4
It is on the basis of this passage, which describes the formal inauguration of the Messiah as King of His eternal kingdom, that Yeshua frequently applied the name “Son of Man” to Himself in the gospels;
For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” Matthew 12:8
But that ye may know that the SonofMan hath power on earth to forgive sins—” He said to the one sick with the palsy, Mark 2:10
saying, “The SonofMan must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be slain and be raised the third day.” Luke 9:22
And no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but He that came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man who is in Heaven. John 3:13
The Son of God
Now when the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54
And when the centurion who stood opposite Him saw that He so cried out and gave up the ghost, he said, “Truly, this Man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39
He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David, Luke 1:32
And I saw and bore record that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34
14 And there was given Him dominion and glory and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. — and there was given unto the Messiah dominion and glory and a kingdom, divine authority over the domain of the earth during the Millenium, that all people, nations and languages should serve Him;
— His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. The description clearly shows that the Son of Man is a person distinct from the Father, and that the fact of His eternal dominion and power is a direct argument for His deity. Cf Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:16.
And these Scriptures tie in with Psalm 110:1-5 “The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה YHVH, Yehovah) said unto my lord (לַֽאדֹנִ֗י ladoni)”
In the Scriptures, the word “spirit” is translated from the Hebrew word ר֣וּחַ ruʹach and the Greek word pneuʹma. Most often, those words refer to God’s active force, or holy spirit (Genesis 1:2). However, the Bible also uses those words in other senses:
And You renew the face of the earth (Genesis 1:2). And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit (h7307 ר֣וּחַ rū·aḥ) of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The Answer from the Scriptures
The holy spirit is God’s power in action, his active force (Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35). God sends out his spirit by projecting his energy to any place to accomplish his will — Psalm 104:30; 139:7
Micah 3:8 “But truly I am full of power by the spirit (h7307 ר֣וּחַ rū·aḥ) of the Lord, and of judgement and of might to declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.”
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Psalm 104:30 (Speaking of Genesis 1:1-3) You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
Breath — Habakkuk 2:19; Revelation 13:15
Habakkuk 2:19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ To the dumb stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver; Yet in it there is no breath(h7307 רוּחַ rū·aḥ) at all.
Revelation 13:15 “He was granted power to give breath (h7307) to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”
Wind — Genesis 8:1; John 3:8
Genesis 8:1 “Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind (h7307 rū·aḥ) to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.”
John 3:8 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The vital, or animating, force in living creatures — Job 34:14,15
Job 34:14 If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit (h7307 rū·aḥ) and His breath (H5397 neshamah), 15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
A person’s disposition or attitude — Numbers 14:24
Spirit persons, including God and the angels — 1 Kings 22:21; John 4:24
I Kings 22:21 “Then a spirit (h7307 rū·aḥ) came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ A spirit can appear as a being or an angel, but nothing to suggest he’s a God, or a member of the Godhead.”
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
These meanings all share the sense of something invisible to humans that produces visible effects. Similarly, the spirit of God, “like the wind, is invisible, immaterial and powerful” — An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, by W. E. Vine.
The Bible also refers to God’s holy spirit as his “hands” or “fingers.” (Psalm 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork; Luke 11:20; compare Matthew 12:28.) Just as a craftsman uses his hands and fingers to do his work, God has used his spirit to produce such results as the following:
The universe — Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath (h7307 rū·aḥ) of His mouth;” Isaiah 66:1,2 Thus saith the Lord, “The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house that ye build unto Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been,” saith the Lord. “But to this man will I look: even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit (rū·aḥ), and trembleth at My word.
The Bible — II Peter 1:20,21
The miracles performed by his ancient servants and their zealous preaching — Luke 4:18; Acts 1:8,1 Corinthians 12:4-11
The fine qualities displayed by people who obey him — Galatians 5:22,23
The holy spirit is not a person
By referring to God’s spirit as his “hands,” “fingers,” or “breath,” the Bible shows that the holy spirit is not a person (Exodus 15:8,10)
Exodus 15:8 And with the blast of Your nostrils, the waters were gathered together; the floods stood upright like a heap; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
10 You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
A craftsman’s hands cannot function independent of his mind and body; likewise, the holy spirit operates only as God directs it.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the holy spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13
The Bible also compares God’s spirit to water and associates it with such things as faith and knowledge. These comparisons all point to the impersonal nature of the holy spirit — Isaiah 44:3; Acts 6:5; II Corinthians 6:6
The Bible gives the names of Yehovah the Father and of his Son, Jesus Christ; yet, nowhere does it name the holy spirit (Isaiah 42:8; Luke 1:31). When the Christian martyr Stephen was given a miraculous heavenly vision, he saw only two persons, not three. The Bible says:
“He, being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand” (Acts 7:55).
The holy spirit was God’s power in action, enabling Stephen to see the vision.
Misconceptions about the holy spirit
Misconception: The “Holy Ghost,” or holy spirit, is a person and is part of the Trinity, as stated at 1 John 5:7,8 in the King James version of the Bible.
Fact: The King James version of the Bible includes at 1 John 5:7,8 the words “in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth.”
However, researchers have found that those words were not written by the apostle John and so do not belong in the Bible. They were inserted by some copyist trying to promote the Trinity. Professor Bruce M. Metzger wrote: “That these words are spurious and have no right to stand in the New Testament is certain” — A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament.
Misconception: The Bible personifies the holy spirit, and this proves that it is a person.
Fact: The Scriptures do at times personify the holy spirit, but this does not prove that the holy spirit is a person. The Bible also personifies wisdom, death, and sin. (Proverbs 1:20; Romans 5:17, 21) For example, wisdom is said to have “works” and “children,” and sin is depicted as seducing, killing, and working out covetousness — Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:35; Romans 7:8,11
Similarly, when the apostle John quoted Jesus, he personified the holy spirit as a “helper” (paraclete) that would give evidence, guide, speak, hear, declare, glorify, and receive. He used masculine personal pronouns such as “he” or “him” when referring to that “helper” (John 16:7-15). However, he did so because the Greek word for “helper” (pa·raʹkle·tos) is a masculine noun and requires a masculine pronoun according to the rules of Greek grammar. When John referred to the holy spirit using the neuter noun pneuʹma, he used the genderless pronoun “it” — John 14:16,17.
Misconception: Baptism in the name of the holy spirit proves that it is a person.
Fact: The Bible sometimes uses “name” to stand for power or authority (Deuteronomy 18:5, 19-22; Esther 8:10).
This is similar to its use in the English expression “in the name of the law,” which does not mean that the law is a person. A person who is baptized “in the name of ” the holy spirit recognizes the power and role of the holy spirit in accomplishing God’s will.
Misconception: Jesus’ apostles and other early disciples believed that the holy spirit was a person.
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” — Interesting enough, this verse sounds far too trinitarian to have been included in Matthew’s original words but was inserted in the 3rd or 4th Centuries by some copyist trying to promote the Trinitarian formula for baptism.
Fact: The Bible does not say that, nor does history. The Encyclopædia Britannica states: “The definition that the holy spirit was a distinct divine Person . . . came at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.” This was over 250 years after the last of the apostles had died. The Hastings Dictionary of the Bible also provides proof that scholars generally regard the tripartite phrase of Matthew 28:19 to be a late Catholic addition.
A Study of Isaiah 9; but a more indepth Study of verses 6 to 7 in particular. Some Rabbinic Rabbis say this Child who grew up to be “a wonderful counselor” is Hezekiah but Christians say he is the Son of God, the Messiah. For the record, King Hezekiah foolishly show Merodach-baladan, the Babylonian king’s envoys to Hezekiah, of all his treasures and his armory, and Isaiah rebuked him for such foolishness, II Kings 20, Isaiah 39.
The presentation here is the most accurate view. Alternate views, which offer little sense and worse, misleading, could be found in Jews for Judiasm.
Isaiah 9
1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first He lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward more grievously afflicted her by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation and not increased the joy; they joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For Thou hast broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. — for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, the eternal Word being made flesh for us, not only in our stead, but for our benefit, for the eternal salvation of all believers; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, the absolute and unlimited power, the divine authority in its fullest sense, rests upon Him, He is, from His birth, in complete possession of the eternal power and Godhead;
— a Question for Jews for Judiasm: if a Rod shall spring forth out of the stem of Jesse (Isaiah 11), and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; why would he not start with as a child?
— and His name shall be called Wonderful, not only His birth, but His entire essence being a miracle, Counselor, for He not only knows the right and proper counsel in every difficulty of body and soul, He also carries out His plans for the benefit of men, the Mighty God, for the Messiah, true man as He is, is at the same time above all, God blessed forever, altogether identical with Yehovah;
— Orthodox Jews identify King Hezekiah as the Counselor, but from the record, Hezekiah foolishly show Merodach-baladan, the Babylonian king’s envoys to Hezekiah, of all his treasures and his armory, and Isaiah rebuked him for such foolishness, II Kings 20, Isaiah 39; which they came later and carry all to Babylon; from such record, how could Hezekiah be consider a wise king or a Counselor?
— the Everlasting Father, this description isn’t in the Septuagint nor in the Targum; so what could we make of this? He who is called the Son of God (John 1:18, 3:16) cannot himself be called everlasting Father. The Son of God has never been described as the Father anywhere else in the Scriptures. Is this not the lying pen of the scribes as described in Jeremiah 8:8? Is this another one of the self-deceptions of rabbinical Judaism to keep themselves blinded (who claim that King Hezekiah fulfilled this prophecy)?
— the Prince of Peace, the true Shiloh, Genesis 49:10, who has restored the right relation between God and man, making peace by abolishing in His flesh the enmity which existed since the fall of man, Ephesians 2:14-15.
— He is also the LORD יְהוָ֑ה” as proven in A Study of Psalm 110 and A Study of Isaiah 11; hence He is the Mighty God as well; it would be blasphemous to attribute such title to Hezekiah;
— the full verse in Targum says, “The prophet said to the house of David, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and He has taken the law upon Himself to keep it. His name is called from eternity, Wonderful, the Mighty God, who liveth to eternity, the Messiah, whose peace shall be great upon us in His days” — yes, this verse confirms the Messiah had been prophesised but nothing about ‘the Everlasting Father’ and he was to be born, the Son and He was from eternity to eternity;
— the Targum is an indispensable source of understanding the Bible. Started by Ezra for those returning Jews from Babylon and for these returnees they could only understand the Sacred Text in Aramaic; hence the Targum is as if Ezra is speaking to them in ancient times and to us today from the verses quoted.
— in the Septuagint“For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him. His government shall be great, and of his peace there is no end: it shall be upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to support it with judgment and with righteousness, from henceforth and for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.”
— Christians identifies the Father speaking of his Son, who was and also is the Messiah, identified as the Word in the Targum; and confirms by John as he wrote of him in his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1 (more at the end).
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon His Kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. — of the increase of His government, in extending the boundaries of His spiritual kingdom, and peace there shall be no end, that is, He brings about a condition of eternal peace between God and man,
— upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, for the kingdom of David continued and established in order to establish the foundation for the Kingdom of God with judgement and with justice from henceforth even forever;
— the zeal of the Lord of hosts, the eagerness of His love in seeking the salvation of mankind, will perform this. All this was fulfilled in the Son of God, of whom the angel says: “He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
— and finally, to ascibe such titles and attributes to King Hezekiah are flirting with blasphemy!
~~~
More than One יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah?
Actually, there is only One יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah (and also one God; yet God is in a plural form, Elohim) and many Scriptures testify to this, and this One יְהוָ֨ה or One God principle is found in Exodus 23:
20 Behold, I send an Angel (or messenger) before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. Exodus 23:20-21
Hence the God (Elohim) in Isaiah 9:6 (or the LORDs mentioned in Psalm 110:5 and Genesis 18-19) were derivative. They were all carrying the message of the original God or יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah, “for my name is in him.”
Yeshua, the Son, testifies He came in His Father’s name: John 5:43: I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not.
Thousands of migrants are headed to the US-Mexican border in a caravan timed to coincide with a meeting of Western Hemisphere leaders in Los Angeles.
Some 6,000 (or another 6,000,000?) people, including many from Venezuela and Central America, have begun walking from the southern tip of Mexico north as part of a caravan.
Some 6,000 people from the Mexican city of Tapachula, marching to the US border
Migration is among the top issues on the agenda at the Summit of the Americas.
The caravan may be one of the largest in recent years.
On Monday, the group began its 1,270 mile (2,000 km) journey to the US from the Mexican city of Tapachula, near the country’s border with Guatemala. It is unclear when they will arrive at the northern frontier.
The group’s organisers say it is made up of people who are fleeing instability, violence and poverty in their home countries.
As many as 15,000 migrants leave Tapachula, Chiapas, on long march north
Robinson Reyes, 35, a Colombian migrant, said he was traveling north after waiting in vain in Mexico for a month for a humanitarian visa.
“We want a future for our family,” he told Reuters. “We are not violent. We just want a better future.”
Many believe Russia was and some still believe it is the main threat of the United States. Others, like John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago, give incredible speeches around the world saying China is the main enemy. And Mearsheimer emphasizes the United States are protected by fish to the left and fish to the right, but he foolishly negate to address America’s broken border in the South; and that the Scriptures say that America’s main “enemy” comes from the unprotected South:
Ezekiel 20:45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesy against the forest of the Southland. 47 And say to the forest of the South: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shall be burned therein. 48 And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.’” 49 Then said I, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’” Ezekiel 21:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My Sword out of his sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My Sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the North, 5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth My Sword out of his sheath. It shall not return any more.’
Ezekiel 20:45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
46 “Son of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesy against the forest of the Southland.
47 And say to the forest of the South: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shall be burned therein.
48 And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.’”
49 Then said I, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’”
Ezekiel 21:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;
3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My Sword out of his sheath and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My Sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the North,
5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth My Sword out of his sheath. It shall not return any more.’
The Scriptures above are shrouded in cryptic languages and so the Qs are: how would such scenarios be played out? The current Russia/Ukraine and China/Taiwan arises are just two major distractions, but more importantly, who are these enemies the Prophet Ezekiel identifies coming from the SOUTH, and how would God says He will kindle a fire and “all the remnant of the people shall despoil thee?”
One Report by McKinsey says of the 60 millions Latinos in the US that had migrated from the South; they often live in ‘deserts’ where adequate housing, groceries are hard to find. “Nearly 9 in 10 of the Latino residents in such communities lived in five states: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas.”
McKinsey: Latinos are projected to make up 22.4 percent of the US labor force by 2030 and more than 30 percent by 2060 (Latinos population to 111.2 million by ’60); is this analysis on the right track? Is there anything else missing? Do feel free to present your opinion; thanks.
Not as prominent a Chapter as Daniel 9, Isaiah 11 is a Chapter on Who the Messiah finally Is; and what He will do. To Christians the Messiah is Yeshua, or popularly known as Jesus, first Coming as a lamb, a son of man, presenting Himself as the Suffering Servant, Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12; the second Coming as a King of kings, a Son of God. But for milleniums, in the Jewish mind, the ‘anointed one’ the Mashiach will only come as a King of Kings; He is ‘the Anointed One, King Messiah.”
The presentation here is the correct view. Alternate views, which offer little sense, could be found in Jews for Judiasm.
Isaiah 11
1 And there shall come forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. — the Coming of the Messiah; the idea correspond to those of Isaiah 6:13 as a new Israel will spring up from the “stump” a Rod of the old, so the Messianic King will arise from the decayed family of David; the Targum agrees, paraphrasing the words thus, “and a King shall come forth from the sons of Jesse.”
— the Messiah is called a Branch and a Rod; the words signify a small, tender product; a shoot, such as is easily broken off; which is his first Coming;
— second, he is called a “Rod” a symbol of power, his second Coming as King of kings because he is an instrument of executing judgement from the hand of the Father to horsewhip his children, Jews and Gentiles, into shape;
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” — and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him; the Rod and Branch, the King of kings, so qualifying him for his office and the discharge of his duty with the fullness of His divine power;
— the spirit of wisdom, which searches all things, even the secrets of God, and understanding, able to make the proper distinction concerning all things, the spirit of counsel by whom the Messiah is endowed to be the Counselor and might, the spirit of knowledge, by means of which He is familiar with all the mysteries of God;
— and of the fear of the Lord, yea “of the fear of the Lord” a fear of reverence, a fear to please him, and aversion to offend him; even the Son has to pay homage to God the Father, praying to His heavenly Father and seeking His leadership, and He was and is to fear the Lord, his Father, the “only true God” according to His divine nature united with Him in an everlasting union as One;
— that night, the night the Son was betrayed, he had two desires but his requests were denied (1) his desire to eat the Passover with his disciples; (2) his desire for the “cup” to be removed from him (for more see THAT NIGHT COULDN’T BE THE FOURTEENTH!)
3 and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord; and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears. — ‘and the spirit of the fear of God shall fill him,’ or “the breath of his nostrils shall be the fear of the Lord,” or “a sweet savor shall he find in the fear of the Lord.” That is, even the Son is motivated by the fear of his Father, Yehovah; for the fear of God is a sacrifice of adoration continually ascending to God, the Father, who is the “only true God” John 17:3.
— He is highly pleased when men bring to Him the sacrifice of their fear of God; and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears, rendering judgement not according to external appearances, rather according to His understanding of the heart and soul;
— Q, how did the Son (the only begotten Son) came into being? Could the creation of Adam and Eve have given us a hint? Also, could there be another ‘son’ that went bad?
4 But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked. — but with justice and impartiality, He shall He judge the poor; it would be characteristic of the Messiah’s rule that the poor should have their complaints heard, that oppression should cease and judgement be no more perverted in favor of the rich. His interest turning especially to the meek, the lowly, and the humble, to those who bear the enmity of the world with the proper meekness, taking the part of those who are persecuted for their confession’s sake;
— and He, the Son, shall smite the earth with the Rod of His mouth; rebuking and horsewhipping in a most emphatic manner the hostility of the disobedient world and with the breath of His lips, His Word, which bears almighty power, shall He slay the wicked, overthrowing the power of Satan and revealing the true character of the Kingdom of God.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins. — and righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins and faithfulness; righteousness shall be ever with him, ever ready for active use, upon which His believers may rely with full confidence, the girdle of His reins; he was faithful to God, that appointed him as King and Head of the Kingdom; faithful as a Prophet, in declaring his mind and will and is a faithful High Priest, holding up His clothes at His hips.
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. — just as Yeshua performed numerous miracles during his first Coming, now as the Messiah King, more powerful miracles will occur when the wolf shall also dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them, a figurative representation of ideal spiritual conditions; the Targum introduces in this manner, “in the days of the Messiah of Israel, peace shall be multiplied in the earth.”
— parallel Scripture of the changing nature of the wild beasts as in Isaiah 65:25, “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock; and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” saith the Lord.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. — during the Millenium the cow and the bear shall feed, all the bloodthirstiness of the latter forgotten; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, his nature so completely changed that he is no longer a carnivorous, but a herbivorous animal.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. — and without fear or danger, the sucking child, the unweaned infant, shall play on the hole of the asp, on the entrance of the adder’s cave, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den, or stretch out his arm to touch the sparkling eye of the basilisk, the poisonous serpents having lost all their vicious habits. All His Messiahic miracles are now expounded further.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. — they shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, all the members of God’s kingdom, whose former state was characterized by the comparison with the various animals named above, would lose and lay aside their hostilities toward one another;
— for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Knowledge of Yehovah, love and fear of God, is the motive in all acts of all believers; because they fear the Lord, because they know Him the one true God, and the Messiah, Yeshua or Jesus Christ, whom He has sent as the Savior of the world, therefore they, the inhabitants of His holy mountain, the members of His Kingdom, who previously live in the midst of a hateful and hostile world, now live together in peace and harmony.
10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to It shall the Gentiles seek, and His rest shall be glorious.” — and in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, that same wonderful Scion, the Son of David spoken also as whom “the Gentiles seek” to be consulted on all occasions, he being the wonderful Counsellor, Isaiah 9:6.
— “It shall the Gentiles seek” the Messiah will also bring in the fullness of the Gentiles; how many we do not know, do we?
— but of course all the skeptic Jews will become believers that the Messiah had his first Coming, whom they were blinded to see, and deaf of hearing to hear: “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18; and “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
— and those who persist in their blindness may be more than horsewhipped! They would suffer Judgement by the sword, by famine, by pestilence and spending years in captivity to reflect and repent there (for more see Ezekiel 4 – 390/40 Years and A Sword from the South!)
11 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה before the change) shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. — and it shall come to pass in that day, just before or the beginning of the Millenium, that the Lord shall set His hand again the Second time, stretching it out as once before when He led His chosen people out of Assyria, and Egypt, to recover the remnant of His people which shall be left, not, only the believers of Israel and Judah, but those from all the nations of the world;
— holdon; from Assyria, the mighty nation in the, valley of the Euphrates, and from Egypt, the empire toward the southwest, and from Pathros, Upper Egypt, and from Cush, or Ethiopia, and from Elam, Southern Media, and from Shinar, Southern Mesopotamia, and from Hamath, the country or province on the Orontes, north of Palestine;
— except for Egypt, these names couldn’t be speaking of Moses’ Exodus! Because that first deliverance, like the second, is supposed to be a deliverance of the remnant from several countries into which they were dispersed: whereas the deliverance out of Egypt was a deliverance, not of a remnant but of the whole nation, and out of Egypt only:
— and from the islands of the sea, an expression which refers to the entire coast of the Mediterranean and the adjacent countries; these could not be speaking of coming out of Egypt during Moses’ time, but could only be possible only during Yeshua’s time where after his death, his disciples went all over the world, especially around coast of the Mediterranean to make disciples, so that was an implied First Coming to recover his remnants, now it is the Second Coming to redeem his remnants that are scattered thoughout the four corners of the earth;
— further, because this second deliverance was universal, extending to the generality of the outcasts and dispersed ones, both of Israel, or the ten tribes and of Judah or the two tribes, as is evident from these verses,
— see also Isaiah 49:22 where will lift up his hand to the Gentiles; to lift up the hand is a sign of beckoning to, or inviting; that God would call the Gentiles to partake of the blessings of the true religion and to embrace the Messiah; could this period also coincide with Ezekiel 4 – 390/40 Years?
— the Messiah is also the LORD; here the LORD (יְהוָ֨ה) should be in the original; one of the 134 changes to Adonai listed by EW Bullinger in Appendix 32 of The Companion Bible; it should be “The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה YHVH Yehovah)” as in the original Text; this is a prime example of “the lying pen of the scribes” found in Jeremiah 8:8 (more at the end)
12 And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. — and the Messiah shall set up an ensign for the nations, that is, all nations, both Jews and Gentiles, around which all believers might rally;
— and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, those of remnant of the house of Israel, his people among the ten tribes; and gather together the dispersed from the house of Judah, the Jews, from the four corners or wings of the earth so that they will march under His banner, united in spirit, though outwardly separated by race and language and customs.
13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. — another Messianic miracle relating to human nature occurs when the envy also of Epraim shall depart, this hostility having been the chief factor in keeping up the division of the nation during the time of the kings in the Old Testament; and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off:
— Epraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim, that is, not only all outward hostilities shall cease, but also their inward animosities; the children of Israel would then be a perfect and harmonious union, its various parts living together in perfect harmony.
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall despoil them of the east together. They shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall obey them. — but they, the house of Israel and the house of Judah, shall cheerfully join together against the common enemy, the Phillstines toward the west, this nation being the embodiment of the fiercest hostility since the early history of Israel; they, the house of Israel and the house of Judah, shall spoil them together; so the Targum says, “and they shall be joined together in one shoulder, to smite the Philistines;”
— they, the house of Jacob, shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab, which is today’s Jordan, conquering the country of these ancient enemies; and the children of Ammon shall obey them, literally, “their obedience.” These scenarios show the manner in which the Lord, through His Kingdom will judge and destroy His enemies. The Last Day will spell their doom, and the children of Jacob, the remnants left of the Day of the Lord, will be present to celebrate their victory.
15 And the Lord (יְהוָ֗ה) shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian Sea; and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams and make men go over dryshod. — and the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; a bay of the Egyptian sea, so called because in the form of a tongue; or the fork of the Arabian Gulf known as the Red Sea as at the time when the children of Israel left the house of their bondage;
— and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, over the Euphrates, and shall smite it in the seven streams, separating it into seven shallow brooks, and make men go over dry-shod, walking through its bed on sandals; in references the Lord here promises to the spiritual people of God a wonderful salvation, like that out of Egypt or out of the captivity of Assyria;
— and so the Targum says, “and the Lord shall dry up the tongue of the Egyptian sea, and shall lift up the stroke of his strength upon Euphrates, by the word of his prophets” and this designs the destruction of the land of the Muslims which is signified by the drying up of the river Euphrates; that is, from the Nile to the Euphrates would the house of Israel and the house of Judah return to.
16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people who shall be left from Assyria, as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. — and during the Millenium there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, cast up or purposely built for the believers in the Lord’s Kingdom, which shall be left, from Assyria, permitting the captives to return to their inheritance;
— far more than it was to Israel in the day that the house of Jacob came up out of the land of Egypt. This redemption of His people out of the hand of all enemies and oppressors is the last great deed of the Messiah, and its completion will usher in the peace and glory of eternity. In this way the despised Branch out of the house of David established His kingdom, which, although jeered at on all sides, will still conquer in the end.
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Listed by EW Bullinger in Appendix 32 of The Companion Bible are 134 changes from יְהוָ֨הto Adonai; they should be “The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה YHVH Yehovah)” as in the original Text; this is a prime example of “the lying pen of the scribes” found in Jeremiah 8:8:
The official list in the Massorah (§§ 107-15, Ginsburg’s edition) contains the 134 changes.
Genesis 18:3,27,30,32; (Genesis 18:31? The context dictates that it should be included)19:18; 20:4. Exodus 4:10,13; 5:22; 15:17; 34:9,9. Numbers 14:17.
[There seems to be a small error: that there is none in Psalm 35:3 but another change should be added to Genesis 18:31; the total changes remains at 134]
Who was the LORD speaking to in Psalms 110:1 when the LORD says “Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.” Rabbinic Jews see this as a scribe was recording as God was speaking to David and not the Messiah.
The Rabbinic view stipulates that the Messiah, when He comes, will be a Man, a human born to ordinary human beings. His existence is derived from Deuteronomy 18:18 and as a man will rule on this earth, but never die.
But Christian view is that He is the Son of God who pre-existed even before being born through the line of King David into this world. ‘The LORD said to my Lord…’ Christians say that this is God the Father speaking from His throne to His Son.
The presentation here is the correct view. Alternate views, which make little sense, could be found in Jews for Judaism and Rabbi Toviah Singer.
Psalm 110
1 A Psalm of David: The LORD said unto my Lord, “Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.” — David was speaking, a Psalm he wrote; and in the original Hebrew it is: The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה YHVH, Yehovah) said unto my lord (לַֽאדֹנִ֗י ladoni; that is, David’s lord), “Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”
— Christians identifies the Father speaking to his Son, who was also the Messiah, identified as the Word in the Targum, whom John wrote of him in his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1
— under the inspiration of God, or in the spirit of God, David alleged that there was a time when the Son’s enemies were not under his footstool. He has many enemies, but Satan, his archrival, being chief of them.
— the Targum says, “the Lord (יְהוָ֨ה) said by his Word to appoint me as ruler over all Israel”
2 The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion. Rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies!
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.
4 The LORD hath sworn and will not repent: “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek. — this “order of Melchizedek” is Yeshua, our High Priest. Hebrews 7:3 describes Melchizedek as being “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, [and one who] remains a priest continually.
— whoever Melchizedek is, he couldn’t have been the Father because he is the “priest of the Most High God.”
5 The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה) at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. — the LORD; one of the 134 changes to Adonai listed by EW Bullinger in Appendix 32 of The Companion Bible; it should be “The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה YHVH, Yehovah” as in the original Text;
— this is a prime example of “the lying pen of the scribes” found in Jeremiah 8:8
— notice that the second Lord sitting on the right hand of the Father in verse 2 has become LORD (יְהוָ֨ה) in verse 5. By doing so, the Soferim blurred the evidence of another YHVH; he, being the Son of the Most High;
— by such tampering, the Sopherim corrupted the Sacred Text; hence the blinded Jews couldn’t figure out the second Being in the Godhead; he’s actually the Son in Psalm 2:7 and Proverbs 30:4.
“I will declare the decree: The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה) hath said unto Me, ‘Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee” Psalm 2:7
“Who hath ascended up into heaven or hath descended? Who hath gathered the wind in His fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Proverbs 30:4
From the above, it is obvious that the LORD (יְהוָ֨ה) has a Son; and, teasing the sceptics. asks what is His name and what is His Son’s name.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook on the way; therefore shall He lift up the head.
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Actually, there is only One יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah (and also one God; yet God is in the plural, Elohim) and many Scriptures testify to this, and this One יְהוָ֨ה or One God principle is found in Exodus 23:
20 Behold, I send an Angel (or messenger) before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. Exodus 23:20-21
Hence the LORDs mentioned in Psalm 110:5 (and Genesis 18-19) were derivative. They were all carrying the message of the original יְהוָ֨ה Yehovah.
Yeshua, the Son, testifies He came in His Father’s name: John 5:43: I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not:
Same thing with the one God concept. God the Father, God the Son, yet there is only one Elohim. Jesus addresses the Father as “the only true God” (John 17:3).
Israel, today as in the past, has many blind shepherd:
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
Many theologians noted that Chapter 9 of Daniel identify the coming of the Messiah, the one specially annointed; but Rabbinic Jews and Rabbi Tovia Singer identify this “annointed” as Cyrus, Isaiah 45:1. Cyrus maybe God’s annointed and God’s servant but certainly he just couldn’t be the “Most Holy,” Daniel 9:24. To honour Cyrus as the “Most Holy” would be blemphemous. Further, Daniel 9 is a prophecy for a future “in the last days” which Daniel couldn’t figure out as he was dazzed and puzzled!
In Daniel 12:4 “but thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days,” – this phrase “in the last days” shows this prophecy isn’t meant for Daniel’s time but its timing is for the far future; and only during the latter days could we fully understand this prophetic significance.
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans” — in the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, known in secular history of the empire after the fall of Babylon, of the seed of the Medes, who were with the Persians in the conquest of Babylon, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, not by accession, but through the agency of the victorious army and by the hand of Cyrus,
— there were three Darius in biblical times and the most sensible one while Daniel was still alive must be Darius I, whose reign was from 522 to 486 BC; whereas Cyrus “the Great” reign was from 550 to 529 BC; hence the Rabbinic deflection that Gabriel’s prophecy was “to anoint the Most Holy” applies to King Cyrus just doesn’t make sense: (1) Cyrus had already came and gone, dead; and (2) Cyrus maybe “his annointed” prophecised in Isaiah 45:1, but he certainly just couldn’t be qualified to be considered “the Most Holy” Daniel 9:24. By denying this Special Annointed One as the Most Holy that would be close to blasphemy!
20 And while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God— — and while Daniel was praying and confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel and presenting his supplication before the Lord, piling up petitions in seeking the mercy of God in the interest of the His country and people and true worship;
21 yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. — while Daniel was praying, making the concluding remarks, even Gabriel, one of the chief angel-princes, whom Daniel had seen earlier in the vision at the beginning (Daniel 8:15-16), being caused to fly swiftly, touched him about the time of the evening sacrifice, about three o’clock in the afternoon.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. — and he informed Daniel and talked with him and said, O Daniel, I am now come to give thee skill and understanding, a correct insight into the problem perplexing him and an assurance for the future.
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth; and I have come to show thee, for thou art greatly beloved. Therefore understand the matter, and heed the vision: — at the beginning of Daniel’s supplications the commandment came forth, namely, the decree or oracle, which is presently stated, and Gabriel was to show him to make it known;
— for thou art greatly loved, this being the reason why the Lord was so ready to make known to Daniel the solution of the problem of the seventy weeks; therefore understand the matter and consider the vision, observing the oracle as to be set forth and explained.
24 “Seventy weeks are determined concerning thy people and concerning thy holy city to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint (4886 וְלִמְשֹׁ֖חַ wə·lim·šō·aḥ) the Most Holy. — seventy weeks are determined upon thy people to build the Holy City, the capital which was so dear to the heart of Daniel, the determination of the time being purposely indefinite, to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins, to restrain the rebellion and to seal up the sins so that they would no longer find expression;
— and to make reconciliation for iniquity, to effect an expiation for guilt and to bring in everlasting righteousness, the result of the expiation of sin and to seal up the vision and prophecy, rather “and the prophet,” for these would be the chief and greatest prophecies ever written and be fulfilled;
— and to anoint the Most Holy: if this is meant to be Cyrus, it is blemphemous, he might be God’s anointed, but surely he wasn’t anything holy; if this is meant for the Holy of Holies in the Temple, then what is this anointing for? And why the split into TWO anointings? What is its significance? C’mon, Rabbi Singer? No possible explanation were even attempted. It only has meaning if it is something special: to anoint the Special One; to anoint the Messiah; this has far more merit than for any other purpose;
— how could Cyrus be the Most Holy? Cyrus maybe God’s anointed to be his servant to perform certain jobs, but how could Cyrus be annointed as the Most Holy? – such thoughts are convulsing and contemptuous;
— second, if the Temple had been desecrated (as was the case by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC), and if the cleansing of the Most Holy has any remote chance of something to do with the Temple or the Holy of Holies, the ashes from an unblemished red heifer would be used for its cleansing; so what would this anointing of “the Most Holy” for?
— and even if some merit points may be offered they would pale in comparison when compared to the anointing reserved for a Special One; One that would eventually emerge as the Messiah, the Prince; One that will make all His enemies becoming His footstool! Psalm 110:1; and thus it is unsurprising that these unbeliving Rabbinic Jews and Rabbi Tovia Singer are denounced by the prophet Isaiah as being deaf and blind to the will of God (Isaiah 42:19-20, 56:10, 59:10);
— using the day-for-a-year principle of Bible prophecy is understood in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:3-6, the seventy weeks in Daniel 9 represent 70 times 7 or 490 days — that is, since days stand for prophetic years, this comes to a total of 490 years. What was to happen at the end of these years?
25 Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until the Messiah (4899 מָשִׁ֣יחַ mā·šî·aḥ) the Prince (nā·śî”), shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. — the Messiah the Prince (nā·śî); literally, an Anointed one, a Prince; the two nouns being placed in apposition, and the article omitted before each; the Annointed and the Prince (nā·śî mentioned 18 times referring to the Messiahic reign in Ezekiel 40-48 during the Millenium period starting with “It is for the prince nā·śî; the prince nā·śî shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD יְהוָ֑ה”) to possess both attributes which in other passages are ascribed to only one;
— of great significance is ths title “Messiah the Prince” as nowhere is this composite title used elsewhere in the Scriptures. Yes, this “annointed Prince nā·śî” is special, real special, hence translators into the English language rightly capitalise the M for Messiah and added the particle “the” before the title, that is “the Messiah” – simply because such anointing for Him is extremely Special!
— know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, from the time that the decree to restore and to build Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince,
— shall be seven weeks, that is, until the coming of the Messiah, the Prince, and threescore and two weeks, during which the great city of the Lord would be constructed; the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublous times; young and adolescents, until the spiritual Church established, under the turbulent Roman rule, would be like kids playing in the streets of Jerusalem in troublous times;
— this means the Messiah would appear after “seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” or 69 weeks, after the decree was given; it is known that the seventh year of Artaxerxes when he issued the decree was from September 458 to September 457 BC (Jewish reckoning fall to fall; Artaxerxes came to the throne in December 465 BC and reigned until 424 BC; Encyclopedia of World History; Wikipedia);
— it took seven prophetic weeks, or 49 years (a year for a day) to complete this rebuilding of the city. The troublous times are described in Nehemiah 4. This carries us from 457 to 408 BC;
— after 62 more weeks, or 434 years (from 408 BC), the Messiah would be on the scene (verse 26).
— in other words, from 457 BC in the fall, till Christ appeared on the scene, there would be sixty-nine weeks (7 + 62) — a total of 69 times 7 or 483 years! Just 483 years after 457 BC brings us to exactly AD 27!
483 years were to pass, beginning from 457 BC when the decree went forth, bringing us to 26 AD — however, one year must be added 1 in crossing from BC to AD, bringing us to 27 AD — since there is no year zero (for the Jewish Calendar equivalent, see more at the end)
The Messiah would appear on the scene in 27 AD!
— Note that earlier, the decree of Cyrus concerning the first rebuilding was of the house of God, the Temple, not the city of Jerusalem, Ezra 1:2 (The Lord God of heaven hath given me (Cyrus) all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah); but this verse specify it is the rebuilding of Jerusalem unto the time of Messiah, the Anointed One, the Prince; shall be 62 weeks;
— also in II Chronicles 36:
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing, saying, 23 “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and He hath charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.”
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And the end thereof shall be with a flood, and until the end of the war desolations are determined. — and after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, namely, at the time of One’s death, a death not for Himself, but for the whole humanity;
— and the people of the prince that shall come, a mighty opponent, an anti-Messianic movement, Rome, shall destroy the city Jerusalem and the Temple, so that everything, apparently, would be lost after an overwhelming attack as in AD 66 to 70;
— and the end thereof shall be with a flood, so that the attacking prince himself would perish in the end, by a divine judgement, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined, or “until the end there will be warfare,” until the end of this world; these sound like a preamble, introduction or summary to the book of Revelation.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. And for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” — and he, the prince shall confirm the covenant with many for one week;
— and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, so that there would be a transfer of the worship of God from the physical to the spiritual, and for the over-spreading of abominations he shall make it desolate; the daily sacrifice of the Temple and all their other sacrifices; when the city of Jerusalem, being besieged by Titus, and their fall in AD 70; the daily sacrifice ceased to the great grief of the people;
When? When did the Messiah accomplish this? “In the MIDST of the week”! That is dual — 1) after fulfilling one half of the seventieth week — after preaching the Kingdom of God for three and a half year, Christ died for the sins of the world, after doing the Work of God for three and a half years, from autumn 27 AD until spring 31 AD.
And 2) it also indicates that Christ died for our sins in the middle of a literal week — on a Wednesday! And He was resurrected three days and three nights later — near sunset on the weekly Sabbath (Matthew 12:40), so that He had risen already by sunrise Sunday morning (Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6).
Since Yeshua died for the sins of man kind in the midst of the week, the prophecy, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week,” has not yet been been completely fulfilled. For three and a half years, during His ministry, He confirmed the covenant with His disciples. By His death, He put the final stamp on the covenant; through Him all people can now enter into the covenant which God made with Abraham and become heirs “according to the promise.”
But as Daniel 9:26-27 reveals, there yet remains three and a half years of Christ’s ministry to be fulfilled! When will Christ fulfill it? When will He once again confirm the covenant? It is a Mystery!
Thus in Summary on why only Yeshua as the Son of God fulfills this prophecy:
(1) Daniel 9 is prophecy is for the endtime; Cyrus does’t qualify for this; he was already dead;
(2) no annointed could be considered as the “Most Holy” unless he is very special; if this is meant to be Cyrus, it is blemphemous;
(3) the composite title “Messiah the Prince” is of great significance; this “annointed prince” is real special, so special that when translated into English, “the Messiah” is rightly designated.
Israel, today as in the past, has many blind shepherd:
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
“His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
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In the Jewish Calendar
— in other words, from 3305 (457 BC) in the fall, till Christ appeared on the scene, there would be sixty-nine weeks (7 + 62) — a total of 69 times 7 or 483 years! Just 483 years after 3305 brings us to 3788!
483 years were to pass, beginning from 3305 when the decree went forth, bringing us to 3788 —
Here is what Wikipedia says about the Samaritans: “There has been a history of genetic disorders within the group due to the small gene pool,” such as high incidence of austisics and cripples within their community but of course they manage to deflect from mentioning the truth of God’s curses upon those who show hostilities to the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 11
1And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. — the rest of the people; the rulers being already in the capital, Nehemiah ordered that one man in ten should be chosen by lot to transfer his family;
— Jerusalem the holy city; the “separation” that had taken place (Nehemiah 9), and the recent covenant (Nehemiah 10), we see the solemnity of this epithet, now first used, and repeated in Nehemiah 11:18. “Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and no strangers shall pass through her any more (Joel 3:17).
2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. — the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves; besides those who were chosen by lot, it seems there were some that voluntarily chose to go and live there, whom the people highly commended, beseeching God to bless and prosper them.
3 Now these are the chief of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit: Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants. — Israel rather than Judah, partly because there were some of the other tribes now joined and incorporated with them; and partly because none of the tribes of Israel, except Judah and Benjamin, dwelt in Jerusalem, as appears from the sequel.
4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah,the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez; — the heads in Jerusalem: as compared with 1 Chronicles 9, by no means complete. Judah and Benjamin are represented, with priests and Levites and porters.
5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.
6 All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.
8 And after him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. — Seraiah; the high-priestly family name. Eliashib was the present occupant, who allowed Tobiah, an Ammonite and an ally of Sanballet, a Samaritan, to pollute the Sanctuary;
— Seraiah, or ‘Azariah the son of Meshullam.’ 1 Chronicles 9:11 – the same person may be intended? – the priesthood names corrupted or polluted? Nehemiah 7:64
— “And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah,” Nehemiah 13:4. Q. Could such groundwork and corrupt alliance give rise to the Sadducees a few hundred years later?
12 And their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,
13 and his brethren, chief of the fathers, were two hundred forty and two; and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14 and their brethren, mighty men of valor, were a hundred twenty and eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outside business of the house of God.
17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
19 Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept the gates, were a hundred seventy and two.
20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
21 But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.
22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.
23 For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
25 And for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel and in the villages thereof,
26 and at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
27 and at Hazarshual and at Beersheba and in the villages thereof,
28 and at Ziklag and at Meconah and in the villages thereof;
29 and at Enrimmon and at Zorah and at Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages; at Lachish and the fields thereof, at Azekah and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija and Bethel and in their villages,
32 and at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12
1Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, — Priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel;
— Seraiah; the high-priestly family name again? see Nehemiah 11:11.
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the psalms of thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were opposite them in the watches.
10 And Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim also begot Eliashib, and Eliashib begot Joiada, — Eliashib??
11 and Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.
12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; — Seraiah??
13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14 of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19 and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers; also the priests, until the reign of Darius the Persian. — Eliashib??
23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. — Eliashib??
24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch opposite watch.
25 Mattaniah and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the thresholds of the gates.
26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. — they sought the Levites; the dedication was to be processional and musical, as well as sacrificial: after the pattern of Solomon’s dedication of the Temple.
28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages round about Jerusalem.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people and the gates and the wall. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of those who gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the Dung Gate;
32 and after them went Hoshaiah and half of the princes of Judah,
33 and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, — ‘Azariah the son of Meshullam’ or Seraiah??
34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
35 and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets, namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph;
36 and his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.
37 And at the Fountain Gate, which was opposite them, they went up by the stairs of the City of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the Water Gate eastward.
38 And the other company of those who gave thanks went opposite them, and I after them with half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the Tower of the Furnaces even unto the Broad Wall,
39 and from above the Gate of Ephraim and above the Old Gate, and above the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananeel and the Tower of Meah, even unto the Sheep Gate; and they stood still at the Prison Gate.
40 So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and half of the rulers with me;
41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the wives also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
44 And at that time some were appointed over the chambers of the treasuries for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited.
45 And both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the watch of their God and the watch of the purification, according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son.
46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, every day his portion; and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites, and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13
1 On that day they read in the Book of Moses in the audience of the people, and therein was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God, ever, — the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; that is, not be incorporated into the Israelitish kingdom, nor united in marriage relations with that people, Deuteronomy 23:3“No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation.”
— but the Temple was corrupted as “And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah,” Nehemiah 13:4. Tobiah was a Ammonite; influenced by Sanballat, a Samaritan;
— not only the Temple was corrupted, but their teachings, too (for more, see the Samaritans at the end).
2 because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them. However that be, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah. — and before this; that is, before this separation was made; Eliashib the priest; “Eliashib the high priest” (Nehemiah 3:1,)
— having the oversight of the chamber; of the chambers, (Nehemiah 13:9,) the high priest having the chief power over the house of God, and all the chambers belonging to it; was allied unto Tobiah, the Ammonite, and a violent enemy to God’s people;
— Tobiah had suffered his grandson to marry Sanballat’s daughter who was the fast friend of Tobiah and the great enemy of the Jews. This is mentioned as a great blot on Eliashib’s character and the cause of his other miscarriages, noticed Nehemiah 13:5. We read also in Ezra 10:18 that several of the priests had married strange wives; and among the rest some of the sons of the high priest;
— moreover, the fact that Eliashib’s leanings were towards the enemies of Nehemiah accounts for his disappearance from the history from Nehemiah 3:1 to Nehemiah 13:4. For such a hedious crime to take place right in the Temple, the name ‘Eliashib’ was probably wiped out from Jewish history?
— not only the Temple’s chambers were polutted but their heretic teachings, too (for more, see the Samaritan’s teachings at the end).
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where previously they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense and the vessels and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers, and the offerings of the priests. — “A great chamber,” perhaps made so by throwing several chambers into one, as older expositors have inferred from Nehemiah 13:9,
— according to which Nehemiah, after casting out the goods and belongs of Tobiah, had the chambers (plural) cleansed. The statement also in Nehemiah 13:5, that there (in this great chamber) were aforetime laid up not only the meat-offerings (i.e., oil and flour, the materials for them), the incense and the sacred vessels, but also the tithe of the corn, the new wine, and the oil and the heave-offerings of the priests, seems to confirm this view;
— this tenth or tithes is designated as הלויּם מצות, the command of the Levites, that is, what was apportioned to the Levites according to the law, the legal dues for which משׁפּט is elsewhere usual; comp. Deuteronomy 18:3; 1 Samuel 2:13. The heave-offering of the priest is the tenth of their tenth which the Levites had to contribute, Nehemiah 10:39.
— the frankincense; for frankincense was a necessary ingredient in the incense which was offered twice a day on the “altar of incense” in the holy place (Exodus 30:34). As a rare foreign product, it had necessarily to be kept in store;
— the vessels; sacred vessels, basins and the like, not needed except on occasion of great festival gatherings; the offerings of the priests. The portion of the offerings which belonged to the priests – “the tithe of the tithes.”
6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came unto the king, and after certain days I obtained leave from the king. — but in all this time when Nehemiah was not at Jerusalem, this gave Eliashib and Tobiah the opportunity of scheming such abominations; for unless Nehemiah had been absent, Eliashib and Tobiah would not have dared to do them.
— and after certain days Nehemiah obtained leave of the king to return to Jerusalem.
7 And I came to Jerusalem and learned of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. — the evil Eliashib did in preparing him a chamber; “Tobiah had insinuated himself into the good opinion of many of the people, and especially those of note, by his making two alliances with families of this sort:
— for (a) Johanan his son had married the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, (Nehemiah 6:18; Nehemiah 3:4,) who was one of the chief managers of the building of the wall of Jerusalem, and (b) Tobiah himself had married the daughter of Shechaniah, another great man among the Jews. By these means he had formed an alliance and was looked upon as a worthy man, though, being an Ammonite, he could not but bear a national hatred to all that were of the race of Israel;
— thus says Nehemiah 7:64 “These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were as polluted, put from the priesthood.” — thus their register were polluted, put from the priesthood R.V. were they deemed polluted.
8 And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. — it grieved me sore; the second time we read of Nehemiah’s deep emotion:
— first, because of the utter dissoluteness of which this was a token; and secondly, because it was a priestly desecration, having a stranger, an idolatrous Ammonite, and one of the worst of that people and that all this should be done by the permission and order of the high priest.
9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and thither I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense. — then Nehemiah commanded; and they cleansed the chambers which had been thus profaned and restored them to their former sanctity by the water of purification and such other means and rites as were then usual in such cases;
— and thither Nehemiah brought again the vessels of the house of God which had been cast out to make room for Tobiah; and commanded the chamber to be purified and the vessels of the house of God, the meat-offering and the frankincense and probably the tenths and heave-offerings also.
10 And I perceived that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled every one to his field. — Nehemiah perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites … were fled; what he saw was that the Levites were absent and “the house of God forsaken” (verse 11). On inquiry, he found that the reason of their absence was the non-payment of the tithes.
11 Then I contended with the rulers and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. — then Nehemiah contended with the rulers; he sharply reproved those priests to whom the management of those things was committed, for the neglect of their duty and breach of their late solemn promise;
— why is the house of God forsaken? – so that there are few or no Levites or priests to attend there. They have not only injured men, in withholding their dues but you have occasioned the neglect of God’s house and service, insomuch that little or no public worship is maintained;
— and Nehemiah gathered them together; to Jerusalem from their several country possessions. And set them in their place; restored them to the exercise of their office. “A Levite in his field is out of his station: God’s house is his place, and there let him be found.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the storehouses. — the Levites had their portions not been given; they were gone to get livelihoods for themselves and their families for their profession would not maintain them; the temple services had ceased; all religious duties had fallen into neglect;
— the people, disgusted with the malversations of Eliashib, or the lax and irregular performance of the sacred rites, withheld the tithes, so that they were compelled for their livelihood to withdraw to their patrimonial possessions in the country. The money put into the sacred treasury had been squandered in the entertainment of an Ammonite heathen, an open and contemptuous enemy of God and His people. The return of Nehemiah as governor put an end to these disgraceful and profane proceedings.
13 And I made treasurers over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. — and Nehemiah made treasurers over the treasuries; new ones, since the others appointed were either dead or unfaithful to their trust, Nehemiah 12:44,
— Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, who also was a priest, perhap the ‘judicial’ priest as contrast to Temple priest, as Ezra was both scribe and priest; one that besides his office as a priest was expert in the law, and capable of instructing others: this implies that Ezra was dead and that Zadok had succeeded to his office;
— and that of Eliashib the chief priest and Tobiah the Ammonite were tossed out; never to be heard again; nar, they were still around and eventually gave rise to a sect known as the Sadducees;
— so in the NT times, these Sadducees emerged with their heretic teachings who claimed they were carrying the mantle of the Zadok the priest and that their name “Sadducees” was derived from Zadok the priest (although there was another Zadok the priest during the reign of King David who moved the ark to Jerusalem), and were allied with the Herodians and the Boethusaians.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for the offices thereof. — Remember me, O my God, Or “Think upon me, my God,” as the same words are translated in Nehemiah 5:19. Wipe not out my good deeds.
15 In those days I saw in Judah some treading of wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and loading them on asses, as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I testified against them as to the day wherein they sold victuals. — the desecration of the Sabbath is first brought into prominence among the sins of the Jewish people by Jeremiah, Jeremiah 17:21-27;
— it could have been hard to practise Sabbath keeping during the captivity when foreign masters were unlikely to have allowed the cessation of labor for one day in seven. On the return from the captivity, the sabbatical rest appears to have been one of the institutions most difficult to reestablish.
16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish and all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem. — merchants of Tyre; they brought timber for the building of the Temple and received food in payment Ezra 3:7;
— now they seem to have established themselves as a colony, and supplied fish; these would be the salted and dried fish from the Mediterranean. But their offence was trading this “on the sabbath unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem.”
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said unto them, “What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day? — then Nehemiah contended with the nobles, in the desecration of the sabbath and in the non-payment of tithes; remarking in addition, “and ye are bringing more wrath upon Israel, profaning the Sabbath,”
— the nobles were the chief offenders, being at once luxurious and latitudinarian. They desired the freshest food for their feasts, and encouraged both foreigners and natives to break the law for the gratification of their carnal appetites.
18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” — did not your fathers thus; profane the sabbath in like manner?
— and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon our city? suffered them to be carried captive into a strange land, and their city destroyed for their sins, and for this of sabbath breaking among the rest, see Jeremiah 17:21,
— yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath; additional judgements to those that had been already upon them for the same evil with others.
19 And it came to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded that the gates should be shut,and charged that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath; and some of my servants I set at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. — Nehemiah commanded that the gates should be shut. The gates would as a matter of course have been shut at sunset;
— Nehemiah required that the closing should take place some half-hour earlier, when the shadows were lengthening, and the day was drawing towards a close. He regarded it as a sort of desecration of the sabbath to carry on secular work to the last allowable moment.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. — the merchants lodged outside; the merchants could not leave their wares unguarded; and the wares not being admitted into the town, they were obliged to camp out.
21 Then I testified against them and said unto them, “Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time forth they came no more on the Sabbath. — Why lodge ye about the wall? Nehemiah, in his capacity of governor, was able to put his foot down upon this evasion of his law. He threatened the traders that, if they hung about on the outskirts of the walls on the Sabbath, he would treat them as public enemies.
22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy. — and Nehemiah commanded the Levites; that they should come and keep the gates;
— assigning the duty to his servants was probably a temporary arrangement. The permanent charge was committed to the Levites, who had been intrusted with the duty when the gates were first set up (Nehemiah 7:1). They were to “cleanse,” or purify, themselves, because the charge was considered a sacred one.
23 In those days also I saw Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab; — of Ashdodite, Ammon and of Moab; they had married strangers, though not long before they had most solemnly promised not to do so, Nehemiah 10:30. So hard a thing it is perfectly to root out tares, which will be continually springing up again.
24 and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. — the speech of Ashdod is that of the Philistines which according to some experts belonged to the Indo-Germanic group. The languages, however, of the Moabites and Ammonites were undoubtedly Shemitic, but so dialectically different from the Hebrew that they might be regarded as foreign tongues.
25 And I contended with them and cursed them, and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons or for yourselves. — and cursed them; assuring them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society and privileges of God’s people;
— this and the following punishments were justly inflicted upon them, because this transgression was contrary both to a very plain and express law of God and also to their own late solemn covenants and promises would come upon them, unless they repent;
— smote certain of them; caused to be beaten with stripes, according to the law, Deuteroomy 25:2, those whose faults were most aggravated by their quality or other circumstances; to whom he added this punishment over and besides the former.
— plucked off their hair, or shaved them. The hair was an ornament and ensign of liberty among the eastern nations; and baldness was a disgrace and token of slavery and sorrow. See Isaiah 3:24Isaiah 15:2Jeremiah 48:37Ezekiel 29:18.
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did women from other lands cause to sin. — Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? – by marrying strange wives, by whom he was drawn into idolatry, 1 Kings 11:3,
— yet among many nations was there no king like him; as not for grandeur and riches, so not for wisdom and yet was ensnared by his idolatrous wives.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives?” — Shall we then hearken unto you? Shall we give way to you and adopt the practice which you recommend, thus transgressing against God and provoking him to destroy us? Surely not. Solomon’s example is enough to deter us.
High Priest on Duty
28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I chased him from me. — and one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest; a grandson of the highpriest; for the high priest was Eliashib;
— son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; married a daughter of his, who was the avowed enemy of the Jewish nation; and earlier for whom, Sanballat obtained leave to build a temple on Mount Gerizim; but Eliashib seemed to have been tossed of as high priest, and now even his son Joiada, and much less Jaddua, a grandson of Joiada, still hang around trying other troubles:
— therefore Nehemiah chased him from him; drove him from his court, suffered him not to come near at the altar nor the Temple; banished him from the city and even from the land of Judea. But nar, Tobiah and his family and their agents, through marriage and other alliances, were always around and penetrated the upper echelon of the Jewish judicial chambers, and years later, even the very high priesthood, namely Annas and his son-in-law, Caiaphas, clinging there like a leech!
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. — they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites;
— we look in vain for any distinct “covenant” which the priestly order broke by allying itself with the heathen, or indeed for any special law forbidding the priests to take foreign wives; and Nehemiah feels that this sin is worse in a priest than in one who is not a priest; that a priest who contracts a pollution “pollutes the priesthood;” and that there is a tacit covenant by which priests and Levites bind themselves to holiness of life more absolutely and definitely than others.
30 So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites. — thus Nehemiah cleansed them. Rather, “And I cleansed them.” The process of cleansing probably resembled the process adopted by Ezra (Ezra 10:5-17). And appointed the wards. that is “assigned their offices to the various priests and Levites” (see Nehemiah 11:11-24; Nehemiah 12:44; Nehemiah 13:13).
31 and for the wood offering at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. — and for the wood offering, at times appointed; of which see Nehemiah 10:34. Levites were appointed to receive the wood that was brought at the times and by the persons fixed, and lay it up in its proper place, and carry it to the altar when wanted.
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The Samaritans, whose heretic teachings were later adopted by the Sadducees and the Boethusians in the NT time. And today, such teaching are clinging to the Church of God like shit stuck to a shovel.
The Samaritans are adversaries to the returning Jews because of (a) difference in defining what time at ben ha’arbayim when the Pascha lamb should be killed: the Jewish definition of ben ha’arbayim “between the two evenings” is “after noon and until nightfall,” whereas the Samaritans is sunset or dusk; (b) when is omer, which translated to English is rendered “wave sheaf” offering to be made: the Jews definition has it on the annual Sabbath after Pascha, whereas the Samaritans has it the day after the weekly Sabbath during the days of unleavened bread;
— (c) after counting seven weeks after the omer, on what day Shavuot is to be kept: the Jews have it on Sivan 6th, whereas the Samaritans always have it on a weekly Sabbath; (d) the three annual feasts are to be kept in Jerusalem, whereas the Samaritans have their feasts on Mount Gerizim, which they consider a sacred mountain; and (e) once in roughly three years, the Samaritan calendar starts one month later than the Jewish calendar.
Here is what Wikipedia says about the Samaritans: “There has been a history of genetic disorders within the group due to the small gene pool,” such as high incidence of austisics and cripples within their community but of course they manage to deflect from mentioning the truth of God’s curses upon those who show hostilities to the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem.
The Prophet Isaiah identifies a sign of the Messiah, but Rabbinic Jews dispute this!
Isaiah 7
14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin (5959 הָעַלְמָ֗ה hā·‘al·māh) shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. — in a significant revelation of His almighty power, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign, cause a miracle to happen which would have abiding significance. Behold, an exclamation calling attention to the extraordinary prophecy now following, a virgin, literally, “the virgin,” that certain virgin whom the Lord had even now selected for this purpose, not merely an unwed woman of marriageable age as the Masoretic text says, but an undefiled maiden, Psalms 68:25; Matthew 1:25,
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin (παρθένος parthenos) shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel.”
— although the Greek word παρθένος (parthenos) could be translated as a “virgin” or simply a young woman, the Targum confirms the Septuagint:
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and she shall call His name Immanuel.”
— the Targum identifies the woman as a VIRGIN; reaffirms what the Septuagint says. The Targum is an indispensable source of understanding the Scriptures. Started by Ezra for those returning Jews from Babylon and for these returnees they could only understand the Sacred Text in Aramaic; hence the Targum is as if Ezra is speaking to them in ancient times and to us today from the Sacred Text.
— shall conceive, without the carnal knowledge of man, and bear a son, the event being represented as happening now, in the everlasting present of the eternal God, and shall call His name Immanuel, which is correctly interpreted by Matthew as meaning, “God with us.” This name characterizes the person, the essence, and the work of the Messiah. The son of the virgin, conceived and born a true human being, yet without sin, is at the same time true, almighty, eternal God. It is the great mystery of godliness: God manifest in the flesh, the Messiah, the true Savior, Creator, Protector and Redeemer of all men;
— a young woman giving birth to a child has barren meaning, only if she is a virgin would it has any significance; this is an example of the lying pen of the scribes in Jeremiah 8:8, “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.’”
— together with Isaiah 9:6 (Everlastying Father) this could be another one of the 134 changes from “LORD (יְהוָ֨ה)” to Adonai listed by EW Bullinger in Appendix 32 of The Companion Bible; it should be “Virgin” as the Targum and the Septuagint say, (more at the end);
“the two warring kings, Pekah and Rezin, will have been removed. In II Kings 15-16, it becomes clear that this prophecy was fulfilled contemporaneously, when both kings, Pekah and Retsin, were assassinated. It is clear from the context of Isaiah’s seventh chapter that the child born in Isaiah 7:14 is not Jesus or any future virgin birth. Rather, it is referring to the divine protection that King Ahaz and his people would enjoy during the Syro-Ephraimite War.”
— But the problem remains with Rabbi Tovia Singer as he nowhere identifies who the child in the days of Ahaz was. What is so great about this child? To define the child born as “the divine protection” would be too much of a stretch.
— this is an example of the lying pen of the scribes in Jeremiah 8:8, “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.'”
Genesis 18:3,27,30,32; (Genesis 18:31? The context dictates that this verse should be included) 19:18; 20:4. Exodus 4:10,13; 5:22; 15:17; 34:9,9. Numbers 14:17.
A summary of their prayers of returning Jews led by the Levites (Nehemiah 9:4-38). When confessing their sins, they spoke as they were very moved by repentence, that they may be the more humbled and ashamed, and it is good to notice the mercies of God.
Let all remember that pride and obstinacy are sins which ruin the soul. Behold this sweet promise: a God ready to pardon! Instead of keeping away from God under a sense of unworthiness, let all come boldly to the throne of God, that all may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He is a God ready to pardon.
Nehemiah 9
1Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting and with sackcloth and earth upon them. — now in the twenty and fourth day; the feast of tabernacles began on the fourteenth day, and ended on the twenty-second, all which time mourning had been forbidden, as contrary to the nature of the feast, which was to be kept with joy.
— but now, on the twenty-fourth, the next day but one after the feast, their consciences having been fully awakened and their hearts filled with grief for their sins, which they were not allowed to express in that time of public joy, they resume their former thoughts and, recalling their sins to mind, set apart a day for solemn fasting and humiliation.
2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. — the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers; it appears that the “strangers” are “the people of the lands,” or neighbouring heathen of whom there were at all times considerable numbers in Jerusalem; it was not fitting that these aliens should take part in a ceremony of which the main object was that the special people of God should renew their covenant with him;
— and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers: particularly their taking of strange wives, which their fathers had also done and set them a bad example which they had followed.
3 And they stood up in their place and read in the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. — one fourth part, namely, from midday to the time of the evening sacrifice;
— both day and night were divided into four parts; the reading occupied the morning and the worship the afternoon. It is the latter which is now made prominent, as the former had been prominent in the preceding chapter.
4 Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God. — upon the stairs, of the Levites; or upon the platform or pulpits as the Levites used to stand upon when they taught the people;
— and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God; praying with great fervency, and making bitter lamentation for the sins of the people and their own.
5 Then the Levites, Jeshua and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: “Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever! And blessed be Thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! — then the Levites said, Stand up and bless the Lord your God; if this prayer was uttered by all these Levites in common, it must have been prepared and adopted beforehand, perhaps, by Ezra; but it may only embody the substance of the confession and thanksgiving.
6 Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is therein; and Thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth Thee. — the host of heaven who worshipped God are the angels, as in Psalm 148:2; Psalm 103:21.
7 Thou art the Lord the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; — thou art the Lord who didst choose Abraham; here follows a compendious history of the affairs of the Hebrew nation, which, it is likely was composed by Ezra or Nehemiah in the form of a prayer, and delivered to the Levites, that they might pronounce it distinctly before the whole congregation;
8 and foundest his heart faithful before Thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites and the Girgashites—to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed Thy words, for Thou art righteous” — Canaanites, etc; the nations driven out were actually seven (Deuteronomy 7:1), but it is a common figure of speech to put the part for the whole;
9 and didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea; — and heardest their cry by the Red sea; which was before them, and the rocks on both sides of them, and the host of Pharaoh behind, pressing upon them, when he heard them, and wrought salvation for them, Exodus 14:10,
10 and showedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh and on all his servants and on all the people of his land. For Thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst Thou get Thee a name, as it is this day. — this epitome of the history of the Plagues shows acquaintance with Deuteronomy 6:22, ‘And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his house.’
11 And Thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors Thou threwest into the deep, as a stone into the mighty waters. — the fulfilment of this word by the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and their guidance through the wilderness to Canaan.
12 Moreover Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. — moreover, thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; the Israelites, to shelter them from the heat of the sun in a dry and barren wilderness:
— and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go; through a trackless desert, see Exodus 13:21.
13 Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai and spokest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgements and true laws, good statutes and commandments; — and gavest them right judgements and true laws, good statutes and commandments; which were of excellent use to them in their civil and ecclesiastical polity; these were not spoken to Israel, but given to Moses on the mount, to be delivered to them.
14 and madest known unto them Thy holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws by the hand of Moses Thy servant; — and madest known … sabbath Cf. Ezekiel 20:12. Apparently referring to the fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11. Cf. Exodus 31:16);
— but it is to be noticed that the observance of the Sabbath is prescribed if not presupposed at the giving of the Manna (Exodus 16:23-30) before the arrival at Sinai. The stricter observance of the Sabbath of Yehovah (thy sabbath) was a special feature of religious purity, reaffirmed by the teaching of Ezra and the Scribes, cf. Nehemiah 13:15 (Isaiah 56:2; Isaiah 58:13).
15 and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which Thou hadst sworn to give them. — water for them out of the rock; Cf. Exodus 17:6. But a closer resemblance is afforded by Numbers 20:8, ‘And thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock.’ See Psalm 105:41, ‘He opened the rock, and waters gushed out.’
16 “But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks and hearkened not to Thy commandments. — dealt proudly; Cf. Nehemiah 9:10. In this verse and in Nehemiah 9:29 the word is used with reference to the children of Israel, as in Deuteronomy 1:43, ‘ye rebelled … and were presumptuous.’ Deuteronomy 17:13, ‘all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.’
17 And they refused to obey, neither were mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. — in their rebellion appointed a captain; based on Numbers 14:4, and perhaps representing a tradition that the words ‘And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt’ were partially carried into effect.
18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf and said, ‘This is thy God who brought thee up out of Egypt,’ and had wrought great provocations, — molten calf … Egypt; the language is based on Exodus 32:4, ‘… made it a molten calf, and they said, These be thy gods (marg. This is thy god), O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.’
19 yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light and the way wherein they should go.
20 Thou gavest also Thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not Thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
21 Yea, forty years didst Thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old and their feet swelled not.
22 Moreover Thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners; so they possessed the land of Sihon and the land of the king of Heshbon and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
23 Their children also did Thou multiply as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land which Thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and Thou did subdue before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would. — so the children went in and possessed the land; not the fathers of the Israelites that came out of Egypt, they died in the wilderness, all excepting two, but their children.
25 And they took strong cities and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug out, vineyards and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in Thy great goodness.
26 “Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against Thee, and cast Thy law behind their backs, and slew Thy prophets who testified against them to turn them to Thee; and they wrought great provocations. — nevertheless they cast thy law behind their backs; they neglected and despised thy laws, would not regard nor observe them;
— whereas they ought to have had them continually before their eyes, to direct and govern them in all their ways. The good things they enjoyed in the land which God had given them, made them wanton and forgetful of God and his commandments.
— slew thy prophets: ‘Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord,’ 1 Kings 18:4. Not many instances are recorded. But cf. Zechariah (II Chronicles 24; II Chronicles 20-22), Uriah the son of Shemaiah (Jeremiah 26:20-23). The martyrdoms of Isaiah and Jeremiah belong to Jewish tradition.
27 Therefore Thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them. And in the time of their trouble when they cried unto Thee, Thou heardest them from heaven; and according to Thy manifold mercies Thou gavest them saviors who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
28 “But after they had rest, they did evil again before Thee. Therefore leftest Thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried unto Thee, Thou heardest them from heaven. And many times didst Thou deliver them according to Thy mercies,
— MSG But then they mutinied, rebelled against you, threw out your laws and killed your prophets, The very prophets who tried to get them back on your side— and then things went from bad to worse. You turned them over to their enemies, who made life rough for them.
But when they called out for help in their troubles you listened from heaven; And in keeping with your bottomless compassion you gave them saviors: Saviors who saved them from the cruel abuse of their enemies. But as soon as they had it easy again they were right back at it—more evil. So you turned away and left them again to their fate, to the enemies who came right back.
They cried out to you again; in your great compassion you heard and helped them again. This went on over and over and over. You warned them to return to your Revelation, they responded with haughty arrogance: They brushed off your commands, spurned your rules —the very words by which men and women live!
They set their jaws in defiance, they turned their backs on you and didn’t listen. You put up with them year after year and warned them by your spirit through your prophets; But when they refused to listen you abandoned them to foreigners. Still, because of your great compassion, you didn’t make a total end to them. You didn’t walk out and leave them for good; yes, you are a God of grace and compassion.
29 and testifiedst against them, that Thou mightest bring them again unto Thy law. Yet they dealt proudly and hearkened not unto Thy commandments, but sinned against Thy judgements (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder and hardened their neck and would not hear. — which if a man do, he shall live in them; Quoted from Leviticus 18:5, as also in Ezekiel 20:11. Cf. Luke 10:28, ‘This do and thou shalt live.’
30 “Yet many years didst Thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by Thy Spirit in Thy prophets. Yet would they not give ear; therefore gavest Thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. — there was a continual succession of prophets from the time of Solomon to, and through the captivity. Q. but why were there no known prophets warning them of their impending Jerusalem inferno from AD 66 to 70?
31 Nevertheless for Thy great mercies’ sake Thou did not utterly consume them nor forsake them, for Thou art a gracious and merciful God. — gracious and merciful; the same words in Heb. as Nehemiah 9:17 ‘gracious and full of compassion.’
32 “Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the fearsome God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before Thee that hath come upon us—on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all Thy people since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. — our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God Cf. note on Nehemiah 1:5. See Deuteronomy 10:17, ‘the great God, the mighty and the terrible.’ Daniel 9:4.
33 Nevertheless, Thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for Thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly. — done right; R.V. dealt truly. Literally ‘truth’ that is, Thou hast fulfilled thy word both in blessing and punishment: but we have been unfaithful to the covenant;
— Cf. Daniel 9:14, ‘For the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice.’ The pronoun ‘we’ is emphatic; the speakers pass from reference to their forefathers, in order to accept for themselves the responsibility of association with the nation’s guilt.
34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers kept Thy law, nor hearkened unto Thy commandments and Thy testimonies, wherewith Thou didst testify against them. — Thou didst testify against them; concerning all that has befallen us; because their sins deserved punishment and God is only fulfilling His word upon the sinners. Here, it serves to emphasize the subject;
— in the enumeration of the different classes of the people, the prophets are here omitted, because, as God’s witnesses, they are not reckoned among these who had transgressed, though involved (Nehemiah 9:32) in the sufferings that have fallen on the nation.
35 For they have not served Thee in their kingdom, and in Thy great goodness that Thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which Thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. — they have not served thee in their kingdom; “In their kingdom” means “while they had a kingdom of their own and were not subjects as now to a foreign power.”
— thy great goodness; the large and fat land. Compare Exodus 3:8. Although the limits of Palestine are narrow, yet the land which God flare to his people, extending as it did from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt (Genesis 15:18), might well he termed a “large” or “broad” land.
36 Behold, we are servants this day; and for the land that Thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it. — we are servants this day; that is, we have now no kingdom, we are slaves – the Persian is our master;
— as we would not be God’s servants, we are handed over to him (comp. II Chronicles 12:8, where “the service of God” and “the service of the kingdoms of the countries” are contrasted).
37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom Thou hast set over us because of our sins; also they have dominion over our bodies and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. — we are in great distress; we must remember that this language of complaint at the severity of the foreign rule and exactions showed that the effects of the foreign taxation upon the condition of the middle and lower classes were felt very acutely.
38 “And because of all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests set their seal unto it.” — and our princes, Levites and priests, seal unto it; thus they either appended signatures as witnesses, or made marks to endorse the document and to testify to their approval, thus they would become witnesses against themselves if they dealt deceitfully;
— but prophets were not mentioned above; they often were used to warn of their sins and God’s impending judgements.
Nehemiah 10
1 Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah (Zidkijah), — Nehemiah the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah; the governor of the Jews:
— and Zidkijah; who seems also to have been a prince, since, without, it could not be said it was sealed by their princes, Nehemiah 9:38 though some think both these were priests, and then the princes must be supposed to be among the chief of the people, Nehemiah 10:14, from hence to the end of the twenty seventh their names follow;
— the names of the priests, Nehemiah 10:2, who were in all twenty one; no mention is made either of Eliashib the high priest, where some think he had not behaved well in his office; nor of Ezra the priest and scribe, who could have been either sick or returned to Babylon,
2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, — Seraiah; the family name of the high-priestly house to which Ezra and Eliashib belonged, one of whom—probably Ezra—affixed its seal.
3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these were the priests.
9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel.
10 And their brethren: Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14 The chief of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 and Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28 And the rest of the people —the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, every one having knowledge and having understanding — and the rest of the people;
— this may be understood in two different ways: (a) according to some it denotes the mass of the laity, as distinguished from their princes and elders, like ‘the people’ (Nehemiah 10:35), ‘the residue of Israel’ (Nehemiah 11:20), and ‘Israel’ (1 Chronicles 9:2);
29 they cleaved to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and into an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His judgements and His statutes; — and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God; they bound themselves with an oath that they would keep the law of God, and added a curse or imprecation on themselves to it should they break it;
— and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his statutes; all the laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial; this they engaged to do in general; some particulars follow.
30 and that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; — this prohibition of intermarriage with the people of the land had been strenuously upheld by Ezra 9:2; the difficulty of enforcing it appears from Nehemiah 13:23-28. The words of the prohibition seem to be based on Deuteronomy 7:3 ‘Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.’
31 and if the people of the land bring wares or any victuals on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath or on the holy day; and that we would leave the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. — that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day; any festival, as the feasts of the Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles:
— and that we would leave the seventh year: the ground untilled in that year, the vines unpruned, and the fruits of the earth, which sprung of themselves, for the poor to gather, Leviticus 25:4,
32 Also we made ordinances for us to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: — to charge ourselves; the origin of that annual rate for the general service of the Temple was lowered from half shekel, Exodus 30:13); due to the general poverty of the people, occasioned by war or captivity, this tribute was reduced to a third part of a shekel;
33 for the showbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. — to provide the showbread for the table; the shewbread consisted of 12 unleavened cakes of fine meal, which were laid fresh every Sabbath in two rows of six upon the table in the Holy Place;
— two lambs for the daily offerings, four for the sabbaths and more costly sacrifices for other festivals, occasional sin-offerings, and meat offerings and drink-offerings for them all, the charge of which was great and constant.
34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God according to the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law; — we cast the lots, to determine the time and order among the priests and the Levites in which each of them should take the care of the business;
— for the wood offering; Nehemiah 13:31. The supply of wood for the enormous number of sacrifices offered at the Temple of Jerusalem must have represented a large annual sum. The difficulty of procuring wood must have been very great: (1) the area of territory occupied by the Jewish community was small, (2) the trees in the neighbourhood must have suffered during the Chaldean invasion and siege.
35 and to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord; — and to bring the firstfruits of our ground; not that they cast lots to do this, but they bound themselves with an oath to do it; this is the first of all the fruits of the earth, Exodus 23:19,
36 also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle (as it is written in the law) and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests who minister in the house of our God; — the firstborn of our sons; the firstborn of the children of Israel ‘from a month old’ were redeemed ‘for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.’ Numbers 18:16; cf. Exodus 13:13; Exodus 34:20;
— of our cattle, as it is written in the law; the firstlings of oxen, sheep and goats were not redeemed; they were holy; their fat was offered as a burnt offering; the flesh was the portion of the priests. See Numbers 18:17-19.
37 and that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. — that the Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage; that is, the tithes of all the fruits of the ground belonging to our several cities;
38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. — and the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites; as the people gave the tithe of their land to the Levites, so the Levites gave a tithe of their tithes to the priests;
— and it is here ordered that when the people brought them to the Levites, one of the priests should be present to inspect them, and to see that they tithed the tithes, that is, set apart the tenth of the tithes they had received for the priests, which were brought to the chambers of the house of God, wherein they were deposited for their use.
39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers where are the vessels of the sanctuary and the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers. And we will not forsake the house of our God. — the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering;
— the priests were not to be troubled with the conveyance of any of the offerings; the firstfruits and other oblations of the people were to be brought to the temple by the people themselves; and the “tithe of the tithe,’ which was the priests’ due, by the Levites. Thus the priests would not be drawn away from their duty of ministering in the temple by secular employments and matters of mere worldly business;
— we will not forsake, or neglect, the house of our God. We will not suffer, that is, any interruption of the continual service of the temple, we will not be parties to any neglect or slovenliness in the conduct of it. So far as we are concerned, everything shall be done to enable the priests and Levites to remain constantly at Jerusalem in full numbers, and to devote themselves wholly to their sacred duties in God’s house. With this emphatic declaration of their intentions the people concluded the engagements by which they voluntarily bound themselves.
Is Taj Mahal previously been a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva?
Historical documents and farman (official decrees) from the 17th century show that the land the Taj Mahal was built upon previously housed a riverfront estate belonging to Jai Singh, a senior general and minor royal of the Mughal empire.
Oak, however, claimed the mausoleum was built atop an earlier temple to the Hindu goddess Durga called “Tejo Mahalaya”. His book The Taj Mahal is a Temple Palace was out of print for years, but found a new audience among Hindutva ideologues after being republished in 2003.
Earlier this month, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party even petitioned Allahabad High Court, in Uttar Pradesh state, to throw open 22 locked doors at the Taj Mahal to find out its “real history”.
The BJP is petitioning the Allahabad High Court to open the 22 locked doors at the basement of the Taj Mahal to find out its “real history”
The court dismissed the petition, with judges calling the issue “non-justiciable” and warning petitioners not to make a mockery of India’s public litigation system that allows unaffected third parties to file cases on others’ behalf. But it and similar pending court cases show just how much traction the theories of P.N. Oak – who also claimed that the Vatican, Kaaba and Westminster Abbey were originally Hindu temples – have gained in the age of WhatsApp and reactionary Hindu-nationalist discourse.
Nevermind that the Archaeological Survey of India has published photos showing that the Taj Mahal’s 22 doors lead nowhere except a long, continuous arched corridor.
Oak, however, claimed the mausoleum was built atop an earlier temple to the Hindu goddess Durga called “Tejo Mahalaya”. His book The Taj Mahal is a Temple Palace was out of print for years, but found a new audience among Hindutva ideologues after being republished in 2003.
The debunked temple theory picked up steam after Modi’s BJP took power in 2014, ushering in a wider campaign aimed at “reclaiming” India’s Mughal-era and Muslim architectural heritage from what right-wing activists label a foreign invader’s attempt to usurp and supplant Hindu civilisation.
22 Mysterious Locked Rooms Inside the TAJ MAHAL that Aren’t Accessible to the Public
One of the most high-profile cases involved a 16th century mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya, which is now being replaced with a temple to the Hindu god-king Ram after being torn down by a mob in 1992. The site was left in legal limbo for years before the BJP took power. In 2019, India’s Supreme Court ordered the land be handed over for temple construction and Modi himself helped bless the site at a groundbreaking ceremony a year later.
The Targum is an indispensable source of understanding the Bible. Started by Ezra for those returning Jews from Babylon and for these returnees they could only understand the Sacred Text in Aramaic; hence the Targum is as if Ezra is speaking to them in ancient times from the Sacred Text.
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements,” Ezra 7:10. This process gave birth to the Targum; hence it is as if Ezra is speaking to them in ancient times and to us today from the Sacred Text.
Nehemiah 7
1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, — now it came to pass when the wall was built and I had set up the doors; which was not done when Sanballat sent his first letter, but now was, Nehemiah 6:1,
— and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed; not to attend the doors of the gates of the wall but to return to their service in the temple who had been employed in one thing or another, while the wall and gates were building and repairing; see Nehemiah 3:17.
2 that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God above many. — that I gave my brother Hanani; who first brought him the melancholy account of the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah 1:2,
— and Hananiah the ruler of the palace; the king’s palace, in which the viceroy of the king of Persia dwelt, and now Nehemiah; to these two men he gave charge over Jerusalem; committed it to their care during his absence, who may be supposed now to return to Persia, as he had promised, Nehemiah 2:6,
3 And I said unto them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors and bar them. And appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be opposite his house.” — and I said unto them, let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; or until the heat of the day, or near noon; and shone out clearly that if any enemies were near or lying in wait they might be discovered and the inhabitants also up and ready to defend themselves:
4 Now the city was large and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. — now the city was large and great; the circumference of it, all within the wall; for that was built on its old foundation, and enclosed as much ground as ever it did:
— but the people were few therein; in comparison of the largeness of the place; for though there were 42,360 that came up at first with Zerubbabel and many more with Ezra yet a great number chose to settle in the towns and cities in the country; Jerusalem being in such a desolate condition: and the houses were not builded; some were but they were but few, many of them still lay in ruins.
5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles and the rulers and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and found written therein: — and God put into Nehemiah’s heart; every good motion in him and whatever he thought of that was conducive to the good and welfare of Jerusalem, he always ascribed it to God;
— to gather together the nobles and the rulers and the people that they might be reckoned by genealogy; that their number might be known and of what families they were and in what cities they formerly dwelt; and this was not only of use for the present purpose of Nehemiah, but was of service hereafter to show the pedigree of families and that it might be clearly known from whence the Messiah sprung:
6 these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city, — these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity; who were of the province of Judea as it was now reduced and came up out of the captivity of Babylon through the edict of Cyrus; see Ezra 2:1, where the same preface is given to the list of names as here;
7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this: — Jeshua, Nehemiah, etc; to the eleven names given by Ezra, Nehemiah adds one, “Nahamani,” the sixth. He gives the others in the same order as Ezra, but spells some of the names differently – e.g. “Azariah” for “Seraiah,” “Raamiah” for “Reelaiah,” “Mispereth” for “Mizpar,” and “Nehum” for “Rehum.”
8 the children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two;
9 the children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two;
10 the children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two;
11 the children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen;
12 the children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four;
13 the children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five;
14 the children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore;
15 the children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight;
16 the children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight;
17 the children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two;
18 the children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven;
19 the children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven;
20 the children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five;
21 the children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight;
22 the children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight;
23 the children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four;
24 the children of Hariph, a hundred and twelve;
25 the children of Gibeon, ninety and five;
26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight;
27 the men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight;
28 the men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two;
29 the men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three;
30 the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one;
31 the men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two;
32 the men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty and three;
33 the men of the other Nebo, fifty and two;
34 the children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four;
35 the children of Harim, three hundred and twenty;
36 the children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five;
37 the children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one;
38 the children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three; — the priests; it appears that only four of the courses of the priests returned from the captivity; and that the course of Abia (Lu 1:5) is not in the list. But it must be noticed that these four courses were afterwards divided into twenty-four, which retained the names of the original courses which David appointed.
40 the children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two;
41 the children of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven;
42 the children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
44 The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred forty and eight.
45 The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight.
46 The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47 the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48 the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
49 the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50 the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51 the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah,
52 the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
53 the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54 the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55 the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
56 the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
57 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, — the children of Solomon’s servants; this section and the section which follows (verses 63-65) are nearly identical in Ezra and Nehemiah. A few names only are slightly different.
58 the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59 the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
60 All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety and two.
61 And these were the ones who went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their father’s house nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. — Q. is this Tobiah different from one of the enemies of the Jews together with Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite Nehemiah 2:10?
— contrast this with Ezra 2:60, “the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.”
63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite for a wife, and was called after their name.
64 These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were as polluted, put from the priesthood. — were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood R.V. were they deemed polluted and put, Heb. they were polluted from;
ERV These people searched for their family histories, but they could not find them. They could not prove that their ancestors were priests, so they could not serve as priests. Their names were not included in the list of priests.
— Q1. Is the list polluated from the Samaritans? Were these names polluted or edited by Tobiah who had penatrated the Temple and altered the register? (for more see Tobiah in the Temple at the end)
— Q2. Did Tobiah entered his own posterity in verse 62 above as “the children of Tobiah?”
65 And the governor said unto them that they should not eat of the most holy things until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, — the whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore. It makes against the view that Ezra’s list was made in Babylon, some time before the final departure, and Nehemiah’s as made at Jerusalem, after the arrival of the exiles, that the sum total is in each case the same (see Ezra 2:64).
67 besides their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven; and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
69 their camels, four hundred thirty and five; six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments.
71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver.
72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments.
73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
Nehemiah 8
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the Water Gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. — and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe; the same who is called Ezra the priest, and scribe of the law of God, and said to be a ready one, Ezra 7:6, who came to Jerusalem thirteen years before this time; but very probably returned to Babylon again, and was lately come from thence:
— to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel; to observe what was commanded in it, and which he had ordered to be read, particularly every seventh year, at the feast of tabernacles, Deuteronomy 31:10 which was now drawing near, though this was not the precise time of reading it; hence some have thought this year was the sabbatical year; see Nehemiah 5:11.
2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. — and Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation; having a perfect copy of it, which the people knew, and therefore desired him to bring it; he brought it either out of his own case or chest, or out of the temple where it was laid up;
— upon the first day of the seventh month; as the seventh was the most important month in a religious sense, so the first day, the Feast of Trumpets, was the most important new moon (Leviticus 23:24).
3 And he read therein before the street that was before the Water Gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the Book of the Law. — and he read therein; some passages in it, here and there, from early morning) till mid-day; therefore for about six hours daily;
— from Hebrew to Aramaic; which it was necessary the people should have understanding and knowledge of; for it can hardly be thought be began and read on just in the order in which it was: this he did, “And the ears of all the people were directed to the law,” that is, the people listened attentively;
— Ezra had others standing by to relieve him: the reading was also interrupted by exposition (verses 7 to 8). Hence this progress gave rise to the Targum translation.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah, and Urijah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah, and Hashum and Hashbadana, Zechariah and Meshullam. — Pulpit of wood; literally, a tower of wood; to raise him higher than the people; that he might be better seen and heard by them all. Thirteen persons (perhaps representing thirteen tribes), however, were on what is afterwards called a platform, or stair, by his side.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it all the people stood up. — and Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); so plainly seen by them and what he did and the more easily heard for which purpose the pulpit was made for him to stand in:
— and, when he opened it, all the people stood up; that they might the better hear the law read as well as in honour and reverence of it; the Jews say (T. Bab. Megillah, fol. 21.1) that from the times of Moses to Rabban Gamaliel, they learned the law only standing; but after his death a disease came into the world, and they learned it sitting; and now it is a canon with them, that it is not necessary to stand at the reading of the law.
6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” while lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. — it is the custom with the Jews in their synagogues for the reader after he has opened the book and looked out the place he reads, to say this blessing, “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hath chosen us out of all people, and hath given us his law; blessed art thou, O Lord, who hast given us the law; and all the people answer, Amen;”
— and all the people answered, Amen, Amen: repeating the word, to declare their hearty assent to what Ezra had expressed; the Jews have many rules concerning pronouncing the “Amen”, that it must not be too quick, curt, and short, nor with too high a voice:
— with lifting up their hands; a prayer gesture; and they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground; expressing hereby the awful sense they had of the Divine Being, and their profound adoration of him.
7 Also Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the people stood in their place. — the Levites caused the people to understand the law;
— as well the words, which, being Hebrew, needed to be translated into the Chaldee or Aramic language, now the common language of the returnees; who, together with their religion had also in a great part lost their Hebrews; as also the meaning of them: they expounded the mind and will of God in what they read, and applied it to the people’s present condition.
— some think that Ezra read the law in pure Hebrew, while the Levites who assisted him translated it sentence by sentence into Chaldee, the vernacular dialect which the exiles spoke in Babylon. Others maintain that the duty of these Levites consisted in explaining to the people, many of whom had become very ignorant, what Ezra had read.
8 So they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly, and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading. — distinctly; ‘or with an interpretation’. On the word see note on Ezra 4:18. The rendering sometimes based on the supposition that the Jews had returned from Babylon speaking Chaldee or Aramaic and that in consequence the Hebrew of ‘the Law’ had to be ‘interpreted’ in the sense of ‘translated.’ This would have been necessary in Ezra’s time.
9 And Nehemiah, who is the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said unto all the people, “This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. — said unto all the people, this day is holy unto the Lord your God; being both the new moon and the feast of blowing of trumpets:
— mourn not, nor weep; which was unsuitable to a festival, and especially such an one as this, in which trumpets were to be blown, and gladness to be shown, Numbers 10:10
— for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law; perceiving they had not kept it, but had broke it in many instances, and so liable to the wrath and judgment of God in case of disobedience.
10 Then he said unto them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions unto those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” — notwithstanding the painful remembrances of their national sins which the reading of the law awakened, the people were exhorted to cherish the feelings of joy and thankfulness associated with a sacred festival;
— by sending portions of it to their poorer brethren (Deu 16:11, 14; Es 9:19), they would also enable them to participate in the public rejoicings.
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.” — so the Levites stilled all the people, made them quiet and easy, being backed by the governor: saying, hold your peace; refrain from weeping and mourning:
— for the day is holy; a festival, set apart for joy and gladness: neither be ye grieved; inwardly; as they were not to show any signs of sorrow outwardly, so they were not to cherish grief inwardly.
12 And all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to send portions and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. — and on the second day were gathered together; the second day of the month and of the new year, the day after the feast of blowing of trumpets, and after the law had been read and explained:
— unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law; some things in it, which, upon reading the day before, they observed had some difficulty in them, and which they did not clearly understand before; and therefore Ezra, a scribe in the law, for better information might be deemed better able to teach the people; which was highly commendable in them.
14 And they found written in the law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month; — that the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast of the seventh month: and this already past the second day of the same month; therefore the time was drawing near for keeping it; for it was to begin the fifteenth.
15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches and pine branches and myrtle branches, and palm branches and branches of thick trees to make booths, as it is written.” — and they found written in the law that the Lord had commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;
— and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying: “Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive branches, etc. to make booths, as it is written.”
16 So the people went forth, and brought them and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the Water Gate and in the street of the Gate of Ephraim. — so the people went forth, and brought them; went out of Jerusalem to the mountains adjacent, and fetched in branches of the said trees, one or another:
— and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house; which were flat, Deuteronomy 22:8, and they might be made anywhere, so be it they were open to the air: and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God; the common people in the courtyards belonging to their houses, and the priests and Levites in the courts of the temple, the yards or open places adjoining to them:
— and in the street of the watergate; which led to that, and seems to have been a very large street, in which many booths might be built, Nehemiah 3:26; and in the street of the gate of Ephraim; which led to the gate through which the road lay to the tribe of Ephraim, see II Kings 14:13, none were erected without the walls of the city, for fear of the enemy.
17 And all the congregation of those who had come again out of the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. — and all the congregation of them that were come again out of captivity made booths; these came to Jerusalem, and made them booths there;
— and sat under the booths; there they dwelt during the seven days of it, in commemoration of their ancestors dwelling in booths in the wilderness, see Leviticus 23:42
— for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so; Joshua observed it, when be had brought and settled the people of Israel in the land of Canaan; and it had been observed since, before this time, as appears from 1 Kings 8:2Ezra 3:4; but not so, with such exactness,
— with such zeal and affection, with such a regard to the law of God, as to read it every day of the feast, as in the next verse, and with such joy and gladness; wherefore there is no reason to suspect a corruption in the text, as some learned men may say, who supposes that Joshua is put for Josiah:
— and there was very great gladness; that they were restored unto and settled in their land, had the book of the law and the knowledge of it and were directed and enabled to observe it.
18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. — also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God; that is, Ezra; this was done by him every day during the feast, whereas only the first and last days were the holy convocations on which it seems to have been read:
— and they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the manner; prescribed in Leviticus 23:39.
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Tobiah in the Temple – Nehemiah 13:4-9
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah.
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where previously they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense and the vessels and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers, and the offerings of the priests.
6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came unto the king, and after certain days I obtained leave from the king.
7 And I came to Jerusalem and learned of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8 And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and thither I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
There are four things mentioned in particular that show the backsliding of the people: the presence Tobiah in the courts of the Temple; the failure to provide adequately for the Levites; the desecration of the Sabbath; and the return to mixed marriages.
When Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem he saw something that must have both grieved and angered him. He found that the priest Eliashib had entered into an agreement with one of the men who had been at the forefront of the opposition to the wall rebuilding.
Not only was Tobiah personally a proven enemy of the people of God, he was an Ammonite, a part of the ‘mixed multitude’ put out of the temple years before. In chapter 6 Tobiah was exerting his influence from without, and maintaining contact with some of the nobles within by letter. But now he was right inside! It is not at all surprising that Nehemiah was upset!
(a) The temple rooms that Tobiah was occupying were supposed to be used for the storage of tithes and offerings for the priests and for the service of God’s sanctuary. It was unthinkable that rooms set apart for a holy purpose should be used by a pagan opponent of the work of God.
(b) Eliashib had failed as the spiritual leader of the people and had neglected to maintain the purity of the house of God. He had not recognised the danger of having an alliance with such a man. Possibly Eliashib thought the regulations for ‘separation’ and ‘no mixing’ were far too strict and uncharitable, but we ignore God’s commands at our peril!
Nehemiah was not just grieved but determined to take radical measures to solve the problem: He threw Tobiah and all his possessions out of the temple; He restored the temple rooms to their proper function. No doubt some would see his action as being harsh but like the Lord Jesus when he cleansed the temple Nehemiah had the wisdom not to confuse ‘love’ with ‘being nice’!
The Jewish community were surrounded on all sides: Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, the Ammonites on the east, the Arabians on the south, and the Philistines (Ashdodites) on the west.
Our God shall fight for us; the Jews reminded themselves, against foes superior in numbers and strength. Their God shall fight for them. See also Exodus 15:3-6, ‘The Lord is a man of war … Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy;’ Exodus 14:14, ‘The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace …’
Nehemiah 5
1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. — there was a great cry of the people; of the poor against their rich brethren, who had oppressed them;
— for though the people in general were cured of their idolatry by their captivity, yet they were not cured of their other sins, but loved strange women, and were so covetous that they oppressed the poor and needy; and this at a time when their enemies threatened the destruction of them all.
2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat and live.” — for there were that said, we, our sons, and our daughters, are many; not that they complained of the number of their children, for a numerous offspring was always reckoned a blessing with the Jews; but this they observed to show that their families, being large, required a considerable quantity of food to support them:
— therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat and live; that is, they were obliged to take it at an exorbitant price, which is the thing complained of; or otherwise they must starve, the rich taking the advantage of their poverty and present dearth.
3 There were some also who said, “We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn because of the dearth.” — because of the dearth; not long before this, there had been a great scarcity of corn through want of rain, which God had withheld as a punishment for the people’s taking more care to build their own houses than his temple, as in Haggai 1:9-11.
— and in this time of scarcity the rich had no compassion on their poor brethren, who were forced to part with all they had for bread. And this dearth was now increased, from the multitude of the people in and near Jerusalem; from their work, which wholly took them up, and kept them from taking care of their families; and from the expectation of their enemies’ invasion.
4 There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. — we have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards; for though the priests, Levites, and Nethinims (temple assistants in ancient Jerusalem), were exempted from it, yet not the people in common; and some of these were so poor, that they could not pay it without borrowing upon their estates, and paying large usury for it.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already; neither is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.” — yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren; we are of the same nature, nation and religion: our children as their children; are circumcised as they, and have a right to the same privileges in church and state:
— and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already; sold to be servants as they might in case of the poverty of parents, Exodus 21:7, and some were sometimes taken to be bond in payment of their parents’ debts, 2 Kings 4:1
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. — Nehemiah was very angry; his indignation was excited at the excessive usury, which his own brethren and servants required.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers and said unto them, “Ye exact usury, every one from his brother.” And I set a great assembly against them. — and Nehemiah seek his own counsel; and rebuked the nobles, and the rulers: you exact usury, every one of his brothers where the Deuteronomic law forbids interest upon loans advanced to fellow Israelites, but permits them only with foreigners, Deuteronomy 23:19-20.
— this law treats only of dealing with Israelites and prohibits all idea of making gain out of assistance rendered to brethren in distress. Leviticus 25:35-37.
8 And I said unto them, “We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews who were sold unto the heathen. And will ye even sell your brethren? Or shall they be sold unto us?” Then they held their peace, and found nothing to answer. — in this assembly Nehemiah reproached them with the injustice of their behaviour.
— “We” (said he) “have, after our ability, redeemed our brethren the Jews which were sold unto the heathen; yet ye would sell your brethren.” We (that is, Nehemiah and the Jews living in exile, who were like-minded with him) have bought, in contrast to ye sell. God had redeemed their Jewish brethren from the Persians yet they were later sold to the heathen.
9 Also I said, “It is not good what ye do. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen, our enemies? — It is not good that ye do; though you get money by it, you contract guilt, and expose yourselves to the displeasure of God; ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God?
— Certainly you ought, for you profess religion and relation to him; and if you do walk in his fear, you will neither be covetous of worldly gain, nor cruel toward your brethren. They that live in the fear of God will not dare to do an ill thing, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies;
— who are round about you and are enemies to us, our God and our religion. They observe all your actions and will reproach both you for such barbarous usage of your brethren and religion for your sakes.
10 I likewise, and my brethren and my servants, might exact from them money and corn; I pray you, let us leave off this usury. — let us leave off this usury; Nehemiah invites his hearers to join with him in abandoning a custom which had been productive of such evil results. ‘This usury,’ that is, requiring of interest or of pledges.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them even this day their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the corn, the wine, and the oil that ye exact from them.” — Restore, I pray you; Nehemiah demands immediate redress for the wrongs done to fellow-countrymen. He demands restoration of property and remission of interest on loans.
12 Then said they, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. So will we do as thou sayest.” Then I called the priests and took an oath from them, that they should do according to this promise. — so will we do as thou sayest; they approved of his proposal, and readily agreed to it:
— then Nehemiah called the priests, and took an oath of them that they should do according to this promise; both in that the priests were delinquents, they were charged with issues of this kind; and second, that the priests were called to administer the oath to the nobles and rulers and rich men to oblige them the more to keep their word; an oath being sacred, priests in an holy office were made to give solemn pledge to keep them.
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, “So God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out and emptied.” And all the congregation said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise. — shook my lap; this symbolical act imprecated on every man who broke this covenant an appropriate penalty: that he be emptied of all his possessions, even as the fold of Nehemiah’s garment was emptied;
— shook it in the sight of all the people, so that anything which it might have before concealed would have been jerked violently from him. Even so, he says, may God cast forth from His protection and love, in home and work, the man who fails to abide by this oath.
14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king (that is, twelve years), I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. — have not eaten the bread of the governor; have not taken that allowance which, by the laws of God and nations, and of the king of Persia, the governors might require; that is, noy living at the expense of the people under him.
15 But the former governors who had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yea, even their servants ruled over the people, but so did I not, because of the fear of God. — the former governors that had been before me. Of these, two only are known to us, Zerubbabel and Ezra; were chargeable unto the people; the words should be rendered “had oppressed the people (ἐβάρυναν, LXX.), “had been heavy upon them;
— had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels. Rather, “had taken from them, for bread and wine, above forty shekels.” It could be forty shekels a day from the whole people, or forty shekels a year from each person as some explain;
— even their servants bare rule; the oppression exercised by the domestics and other servants of rulers is often worse than their own. This is especially the case in ancient times where eunuchs and other domestics have been the most fearful tyrants. Haman under Xerxes, Sejanus under Tiberius, Narcissus under Nero, are examples;
— so did not Nehemiah; he neither exacted money, nor allowed his servants to bear rule. Because of the fear of God. Because Nehemiah felt that it would be wrong, either absolutely or under the circumstances.
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land; and all my servants were gathered thither for the work. — yea, also Nehemiah continued in the work: overseeing, directing, and encouraging the workmen, which was his whole business; and this at his own cost;
— neither bought we any land; of his poor brethren, whose necessities gave abundant opportunities of enriching himself by good bargains. And all his servants were gathered unto the work and received no pay for their labour.
17 Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those who came unto us from among the heathen who are about us. — a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers; the “hundred and fifty” were all “rulers.” Nehemiah means to say that he entertained continually at his table 150 of the Jewish chief men or “rulers” and also an indefinite number of foreign Jews, who came on short visits to Jerusalem.
18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days, a store of all sorts of wine; yet for all this I required not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. — once in ten clays store of all sorts of wine. Literally “all sorts of wine in abundance.” Wine was probably drunk every day, but laid in every ten days.
— yet for all this. Or “with all this”- notwithstanding this great expenditure, Nehemiah took no allowance as governor. Because the bondage was heavy upon this people. The bondage intended must be that under the Persian crown, since neither the labour at the wall nor the oppression of the creditors lasted during the twelve years that Nehemiah was governor.
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. — think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that Nehemiah had done for this people. He expected not any recompence from the people, but from the Lord; and from him not in a way of merit, but of grace and good will, who forgets not what is done for his name’s sake.
Nehemiah 6
1Now it came to pass, when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left therein (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates), — as established in Nehemiah 2-4,” for their adversaries were surrounding the Jewish community on all sides: Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, Tobiah and the Ammonites on the east, Geshem the chief among the Arabians on the south, and the Philistines (Ashdodites) on the west;”
— though at that time Nehemiah had not set up the doors upon the gates; not upon all of them, though some might by the particular builders of them; and they all of them might be ready made, though not as yet put upon the hinges.
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me mischief. — the wall-building was quite finished, but doors to the gates were as yet wanting to the complete fortification of the city. The enemies sent to Nehemiah, saying, Come, let us meet together (for a discussion) in the villages in the valley of Ono.
— in the plain of Ono; which was in the same tribe, see 1 Chronicles 8:12, they might pretend a friendly meeting, to accommodate differences between them, or to converse together about the general interest of the king of Persia in those parts: but they thought to do me mischief; to kill him, or at least to confine him; this he either conjectured from their general character and behaviour, or he had intelligence of their design.
3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?” — I am doing a great work: he tells them one, but not the only, nor the principal, reason of his refusal, because his coming might cause the work to cease, not only by the neglect of it during his absence, but by his death, which they by this means might compass, though he thought it not fit to express so much to them.
4 Yet they sent unto me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same manner. — and Nehemiah answered them after the same manner; every time as before, he being as much bent on finishing the work as they were to divert him from it.
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, — an open letter in his hand, ‘open,’ not sealed. The object of this was intended that the contents of the letter should become public property. The servant himself and the adherents of Sanballat within the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6:17) would possess themselves of its contents long before it reached the hands of Nehemiah.
6 wherein was written: “It is reported among the heathen, and Geshem saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king according to these words. — that thou and the Jews think to rebel; that they had formed a scheme and were taking measures to raise a rebellion against the king of Persia and revolt from him:
— for which cause thou buildest the wall; the wall of Jerusalem for their security against any force that might be sent to quell them: that thou mayest be their king, according to these words; written in this epistle and reported among the heathens.
7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ And now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.” — and thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem; this he said to cover what he and Tobiah had been doing, tampering with, corrupting, and hiring the prophets to discourage him, and put him upon methods, whereby the work would cease:
— come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together; contrive the best method to put a stop to this report, if a false one, and to wipe off the reproach that is upon thee and may affect us; and thus partly terrifying him and partly pretending friendship to him, hoped to get him into his hands.
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, “There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.” — Nehemiah, however, saw through his stratagem and sent word to him by a messenger: “There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart,” – to invent, to feign, especially evil things.
9 For they all made us afraid, saying, “Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. — now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands; and let them not have what they will, and hope for;
— these words are directed to Sanballat, that if he was a friend, as he pretended, that instead of weakening, he would strengthen his hands by a sincere reconciliation.
10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to slay thee, yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.” — afterward Nehemiah came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up;
— either in his own house, or in a chamber in the temple, as if he had given himself up to meditation, fasting and prayer; or, as he might suggest to Nehemiah, for his safety; however he was a person Nehemiah had a good opinion of and came to him on the letters sent to him by his enemies to consult with him and the rest since they had suggested that he had appointed prophets to speak of him as a king;
— for they will come to slay thee; meaning his enemies, Sanballat and his companions: yea, in the night they will come to slay thee; that very night and therefore no time should be lost in providing for his safety.
11 And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.” — Nehemiah was not to be alarmed, but exclaimed: Should such a man as I flee? and what man like me could go into the holy place and live?
— I will not go in. This word is ambiguous; it may mean to save his life, or and save his life; probably Nehemiah used it in the latter sense, having in mind the command, Numbers 18:7, that the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
12 And lo, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me; for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. — the existence of a party among the Jews, a betrayal, who sided with Sanballat and lent themselves to his schemes, is here for the first time indicated;
— the house of Shemaiah; this man was the son of a priest (Shemaiah, the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, Neh 3:29), who was an intimate and confidential friend of Nehemiah. The young man claimed to be endowed with the gift of prophecy. Having been secretly bribed by Sanballat, he, in his pretended capacity of prophet, told Nehemiah that his enemies were that night to make an attempt upon his life.
13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. — an evil report; Nehemiah perceived that not God, but Shemaiah himself, had uttered the prophecy “against me,” and that he was hired to bring the governor into discredit as a violator of law.
14 My God, think Thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear. — my God, think thou on Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works; their wicked counsels and schemes, and not only confound and disappoint them, but reward them as they deserve:
— the prophetess Noadiah; one that falsely pretended to have the Spirit of prophecy, to deceive and destroy Nehemiah. She has been supposed to have succumbed to a bribe, like Shemaiah; we only know that together with other prophets, she endeavoured to “put Nehemiah in fear.” It is clear that she was unsuccessful.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty and two days. —Nehemiah built the wall, but earlier, Zerubbabel built the house of the Lord, the temple (Ezra 3:8, 5:2).
16 And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen who were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought by our God. — our enemies; the Samaritans, the Ammonites, the Ashdodites and the Arabians under Geshem are the special “enemies” here spoken of.
— the Phoenicians, Syrians, Moabites, etc are the other “heathen round about” the Jews. Even these last were unfriendly and disliked any increase of Jewish power and prosperity; they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. They could not but recognise a special Providence as befriending and protecting the Jews, who, after having been utterly crushed and rooted out by Nebuchadnezzar, were now reestablished in a commanding position in Palestine, and allowed to make their city once more an almost impregnable fortress.
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. — the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah; corresponding with him against Nehemiah, and against their own city and nation. So that, added to all the other wickedness of this people, there were false brethren among their great men, who favoured, aided, and abetted the designs of their enemies.
18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. — for there were many in Judah sworn unto him; to Tobiah, who not only in a private manner corresponded with him by letters, but bound themselves by an oath to him to be true to his interest, and do as he should advise them:
— because he was the son in law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah; of a family that came up with Zerubbabel from the captivity, Ezra 2:5 and very probably of considerable note:
19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. — also they reported his good deeds before me; recommended him as a very worthy man, deserving of respect and notice by Nehemiah, and to be taken into his friendship, and admitted to conversation with him, whose counsel and advice might be of service:
— and uttered my words to him; reported both what he said and did; for the word used signifies both words and actions: and Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear; perceiving, by the intelligence of his friends, that Nehemiah would have nothing to say to him, nor to do with him, he threatened him.
In the past two weeks, more than 60,000 migrants have amassed in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, directly across the border from El Paso, Texas, in anticipation of Title 42 being lifted from the border.
60,000 migrants amassed in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
“And we can only imagine it growing even further,” Mario D’Agostino, El Paso deputy city manager, told the El Paso City Council on May 23.
About a month ago, the number of migrants in Ciudad Juárez was about 15,000, D’Agostino said. He said state and federal officials keep him updated on the numbers.
Title 42 is an emergency public health order that allows for quick expulsion of nonessential travel across U.S. borders to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration had planned to lift it on May 23, but a federal judge blocked that move, keeping it in place for now.
The El Paso City Council met on May 23 to discuss invoking local emergency measures—including increasing capacity for shelter, food, and transport—to deal with an anticipated influx of illegal immigrants into the city.
The call came after Border Patrol apprehended more than 1,200 illegal immigrants on May 14 and subsequently released 119 at a charter bus station because of space constraints.
They would suffer Judgement by the sword, by famine, by pestilence and spending years in captivity to reflect and repent there. For a more sober reflection, see Ezekiel 4 – 390/40 Years and A Sword from the South!
Nehemiah’s Prayer is yet another example for us to study and emulate, especially for forgiveness against the Law of Moses (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28); Nehemiah was not merely praying for his comfort and protection. His concern was to pray for God’s people, the acknowledgement of their sins and asking for forgiveness and great mercies.
What Nehemiah admitted is unlike what Rabbi Tovia Singer and other rabbinic interpretation have in their teachings by shifting blames by assigning the “suffering servant” of Isaiah 53 to the nation of Israel “who silently endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of its gentile oppressors.” That is, to Rabbi Singer, Israel’s suffering is attributable to their wicked neighbours and not to themselves!
Making no excuses, Nehemiah confessed his people’s sin: “We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments which Thou commanded Thy servant Mose”) and acknowledged the justice of God’s judgement, severe though it had been. Nehemiah honestly admitted and confessing, “the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against Thee. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.” Nehemiah admitted Israel suffers because of her own sins, rather than blaming them on the Gentiles; Period!
Nehemiah is a man of God, his example of a Prayer should be emulated and studied today. Now for the details:
Nehemiah 1:
1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the palace at Shushan, — the words of Nehemiah; or the word used often signifies; that is, the things which Nehemiah did;
— Shushan the palace, or Susa, was the ordinary residence of the Persian kings. “The palace” or acropolis was a distinct quarter of the city, occupying an artificial eminence.
— according to Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah was cup-bearer to the Persian king, and was, at his own request, appointed for some time Pecha, that is, governor of Judah.
2 that Hanani one of my brethren came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left behind from the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, “The remnant who are left behind from the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.” — and they said unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province; in Judea, now reduced to a province of the Persian empire: are in great affliction and reproach; harassed and distressed, calumniated and vilified by their enemies, the Samaritans:
— the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire; that is, its wall and gates were in the same condition in which Nebuchadnezzar had left them, for since his times as yet they had never been set up; for this is not to be understood of what was lately done by their adversaries, which is not at all probable.
4 And it came to pass when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven — that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; sat down upon the ground in dust and ashes, after the manner of mourners, and wept bitterly, and mourned in a most sorrowful manner; and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven; that made it, and dwells in it.
5 and said: “I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and fearsome God, who keepeth covenant and mercy for those who love Him and observe His commandments, — and said, I beseech thee. The opening of Nehemiah’s prayer follows so closely the thoughts and words of Daniel’s (Daniel 9:4), that it is almost impossible to suppose that one of the two writers had not the words of the other before him.
6 let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hear the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee now day and night for the children of Israel Thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against Thee. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. — I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants; this he had continued to do ever since he heard of their trouble and calamity:
— and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned; he considered sin as the cause of all this evil that had befallen his people, and confesses it with sorrow and humiliation, and not their sins only, but his own personal and family sins.
7 We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments which Thou commanded Thy servant Moses. — we have dealt very corruptly against thee,…. Corrupted his covenant, laws, and precepts, as well as themselves, ways, and works; all which were against the Lord, contrary to his nature, mind, and will:
— and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses; the laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial.
— but trying to divert sin is a great sin by itself. King Saul justified himself by saying “for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God.” King Saul blamed his disobedience on “the people.” It wasn’t a small matter and for this, Saul lost his mind, consulted a witch and finally his kingdom was removed.
8 Remember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou commanded Thy servant Moses, saying, ‘If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations; — remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses; to declare to the children of Israel, Deuteronomy 28:64, saying, if ye transgress; the law of God:
— I will scatter you abroad among the nations; as now they had been among the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians.
— and those at the endtime, to suffer Judgement by the sword, by famine, by pestilence and spending years in captivity to reflect and repent there (for more see Ezekiel 4 – 390/40 Years and A Sword from the South!).
9 but if ye turn unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though there were some of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set My name there.’ — though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven; that is, the most distant regions; so called, because at the extreme parts of the horizon, the heavens and earth touch each other;
— yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there; that is to Jerusalem where the temple was built, and his name was called upon.
10 Now these are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power and by Thy strong hand. — whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand; touching and moving the heart of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to them.
11 O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants who desire to fear Thy name; and prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer. — and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day; meaning himself, who was to wait on the king of Persia that day, and, if he had opportunity, intended to lay the case of the Jews before him, and therefore entreats he might meet with success:
— for I was the king’s cupbearer; in the execution of which office he was often in the king’s presence, and hoped to have an opportunity of speaking to him in the behalf of the Jews; this with the Persians was reckoned a very honourable office.
The Jewish community were surrounded on all sides: Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, the Ammonites on the east, the Arabians on the south, and the Philistines (Ashdodites) on the west.
Our God shall fight for us; the Jews reminded themselves, against foes superior in numbers and strength. Their God shall fight for them. See also Exodus 15:3-6, ‘The Lord is a man of war … Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy;’ Exodus 14:14, ‘The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace …’
Nehemiah 3
1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They sanctified it and set up the doors of it; even unto the Tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the Tower of Hananeel. — Eliashib was the grandson of Joshua, the high priest contemporary with Zerubbabe;
— though he co-operated in the work of rebuilding the walls, his close connexion with Tobiah, as described in Nehemiah 13:4, shows that he compromised and did not fully sympathize with the policy of Ezra and Nehemiah in separating the Jews from any alliance or combination with other nations.
2 And next to him built the men of Jericho. And next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri. — and next to Eliashib built the men of Jericho; that is, the posterity of the ancient inhabitants of Jericho (see Ezra 2:34);
— builded Zaccur the son of Imri; who probably was the chief of the men of Jericho; again, compromising and going against the policy of Ezra and Nehemiah in separating the Jews from any alliance or with other nations;
3 But the Fish Gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof and the bars thereof. — the fish-gate did the sons of Senaah (or Hassenaah) build (see Ezra 2:35); these are of the house of Judah that returned from Babylon; they laid its beams, and set up its doors, bolts, and bars.
4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana. — Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Koz or Hakkoz; the children of Hakkoz are mentioned in Ezra 2:61; that is, these are of the house of Judah that returned from Babylon;
— Meshullam … Meshezabeel, or Meshezabel; Meshullam the son of Berechiah appears from Nehemiah 6:18 to have been one of the leading nobles and like Eliashib the high-priest; he compromised in the restoration of the walls, to have been also a close ally of Tobiah, whose son, Jehohanan, married Meshullam’s daughter. He was therefore probably opposed to Nehemiah in general policy.
5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. — Tekoites; the men of Tekoa, who do not occur among those who returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2), who furnish the solitary instance of internal opposition to the building; and as terming the common work “the work of the Lord,”
— the expression “to bring the neck to service” is, they refused to give any assistance to it with their purses or presence, but withdrew from it, as refractory oxen withdraw their necks from the yoke. This is observed to their disgrace, when the common people of their city were ready to work, and did, but they would not submit to it, either through pride or sloth or covetousness or secret compliance with the enemies of the Jews.
6 Moreover Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof and the locks thereof and the bars thereof. — the individuals specified as the builders of this gate are not further known; that is, their names are not listed among the house of Judah that returned from Babylon.
7 And next unto them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, repaired unto the throne of the governor on this side of the river. — again, these names are not listed among the house of Judah that returned from Babylon.
8 Next unto him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths, repaired. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries; and they fortified Jerusalem unto the Broad Wall. — same
9 And next unto them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, repaired. — same
10 And next unto them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired, even opposite his house. And next unto him Hattush the son of Hashabniah repaired. — same
11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab repaired the other piece, and the Tower of the Furnaces. — same
12 And next unto him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, repaired — he and his daughters. — same
13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the Dung Gate. — same
14 But Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem repaired the Dung Gate; he built it and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof and the bars thereof. — same
15 But the Gate of the Fountain Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah, repaired; he built it and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof and the bars thereof, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the king’s garden and unto the stairs that go down from the City of David. — same
16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, repaired unto the place opposite the sepulchers of David, and to the pool that was made and unto the House of the Mighty. — this Nehemiah is not Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah (Nehemiah 1:1), the author of this book.
17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part. — the constant mention of “priests,” “Levites,” and Nethinims” sufficiently indicates that the writer is concerned with the sacerdotal quarter, that immediately about the temple.
18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19 And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another piece opposite the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.
20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. — the wall from the angle to the place of the court of the prison by the king’s upper house; after him Baruch the son of Zabbai emulously repaired a second length of wall, from the angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 After him Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz repaired another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub opposite their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, by his house.
24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king’s high house that was by the court of the prison; after him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
26 Moreover the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel unto the place opposite the Water Gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, opposite the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel. — as in verse 5, the Tekoites; who do not occur among those who returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2), who furnish the solitary instance of internal opposition to the building; and as terming the common work “the work of the Lord.”
28 From above the Horse Gate repaired the priests, every one opposite his house.
29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate. — Zadok the son of Immer; the head of the priestly family of Immer. See those returning from Babylon: Ezra 2:37.
— Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah is very possibly the descendant of David mentioned in 1 Chronicles 3:22. He must have been an old man, as his son, Hattush, had returned to Jerusalem with Ezra (Ezra 8:2, 3); but still he may have taken part in the work.
30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah opposite his chamber. — the name of Meshullam the son of Berechiah occurs previously in Nehemiah 3:4; but the same individual can hardly be intended in the two verses.
31 After him Malchijah the goldsmith’s son repaired unto the place of the Nethinim and of the merchants, opposite the Gate Miphkad and to the ascent of the corner chamber. — the proximity of their work of restoration suggests that both goldsmiths and merchants represented communities largely and closely interested in the transactions connected with Temple offerings;
— for apart from the supply and repair of vessels, furniture, and dress, required for the daily ministration, the dedication of precious things would create a constant traffic close to the Temple. The merchants would establish themselves at the main approaches to the Temple and expose their wares to the throngs of worshippers and sacrificers who collected about this spot.
32 And between the ascent of the corner unto the Sheep Gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants. — the goldsmiths and the merchants were required to repair the piece of wall immediately to the south of the sheep gate, for which no individual had volunteered. Probably they had houses in the neighbourhood. They consented; and thus the entire wall was taken in hand, and the great work, which Nehemiah had conceived in his heart while still in Susa, was inaugurated.
Nehemiah 4
1But it came to pass that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was wroth and felt great indignation and mocked the Jews. — and mocked the Jews; pretending contempt in his words, when he had grief, anger, and vexation in his heart as the Samaritan faction was confined at first to scoffs and insults, showing their bitter animosity to the Jews on discovering the systematic design of refortifying Jerusalem;
— Sanballat vented his anger by ridiculing the Jews, saying before his brethren, that is, the rulers of his people, and the army of Samaria;
2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they make sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?” — and he spake before his brethren; before Tobiah, Geshem, and others, whom Nehemiah calls his brethren, because of their conjunction with him in office and interest;
— the rulers of his people, and the army of Samaria; in other words, saying publicly before his associates and subordinates, – “What do these feeble Jews? will they leave it to themselves? will they sacrifice? will they finish it to-day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps that are burned?”
— here is what Wikipedia says about the Samaritans: “There has been a history of genetic disorders within the group due to the small gene pool,” such as high incidence of austisics and cripples within their community for generations because of God’s curses upon those who show hostilities to the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem.
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, “Indeed that which they build, if a fox go up, even he shall break down their stone wall.” — and standing near Sanballat, Tobiah the Ammonite said; in the like a contemptuous, mocking and scoffing manner:
— even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall; signifying not only that it was so low that a fox could easily get up to it, or leap over it; but that the materials were so bad, and the work so poorly done, that the weight of a fox would break it down; of which creatures many were thereabout since Jerusalem was desolate, see Lamentations 5:18.
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them as a prey in the land of captivity. — hear, O our God, for we are despised; here begins the prayer of Nehemiah, who had been informed of what these men said in contempt of him, and his builders, and to whom he sent no answer, but applied to God:
— and turn their reproach upon their own head; as they have despised and reproached us, let them be despised and reproached by their neighbours:
— give them for a prey in the land of captivity; let them be carried captive, as we have been, and become a prey and booty to their enemies.
Here is what Wikipedia says about the Samaritans: “There has been a history of genetic disorders within the group due to the small gene pool,” such as high incidence of austisics and cripples within their community but of course they manage to deflect from mentioning the truth of God’s curses upon those who show hostilities to the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem.
5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before Thee; for they have provoked Thee to anger before the builders. — and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; let it not go unpunished, and even let it not be pardoned; and as a result, God had threatened the Moabites and Ammonites with utter destruction:
— for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders; by despising his people, and mocking at the work the Lord had called them to; and this they did publicly, and on purpose to discourage the workmen.
6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto half its height, for the people had a mind to work. — so built we the wall; they went on in building it, notwithstanding their scoffs and threats:
— and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof; it was carried all round the city to half the height of it: for the people had a mind to work; their heart was in it, they had a good will to it, and they made haste to finish it.
7 But it came to pass that when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry.
— Sanballat … Ashdodites; here we have a complete list of the foes of Jerusalem. See notes on Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 2:19. The Ammonites were the fellow-countrymen of Tobiah, the Arabians of Geshem (Nehemiah 2:19). With them are classed the dwellers by the coast (the Shephêlah) represented by the, Ashdodites or inhabitants of Ashdod. Ashdod was one of the principal Philistine cities (1 Samuel 5). It occupied a strong position near the sea;
— when these enemies heard that the walls of Jerusalem were bandaged, that is, that the breaches and damages in the wall were repaired, they were filled with wrath.
8 and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it. — and conspired all of them together; all the above men and people entered into a confederacy and combination:
— to come and to fight against Jerusalem; to bring an army with them, and by force cause the Jews to desist; and to hinder it; the building of the walls of it; or “to make a wandering for him” to cause them to stray from their work, to frighten them from it.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. — nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God; spread their case before him in prayer, entreating direction and help from him:
— and set a watch against them day and night because of them; to give notice of their approach that they might prepare to defend themselves; though they prayed to God and trusted in him for deliverance, they did not neglect the use of means.
10 And Judah said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall.” — the placing of the watch day and night and the continuous labour must have pressed heavily upon the people;
— also being terrified by their enemies and wearied with continual labour, Judah said: “The strength of the bearers of burdens fails, and there is much rubbish; we are not able to build the wall.” That is to say, the labour is beyond our power, we cannot continue it.
11 And our adversaries said, “They shall not know, neither see, until we come in the midst among them and slay them and cause the work to cease.” — they shall not know; as to the adversaries, their plan was evidently to watch and surprise, instead of making the threatened attack.
— or, their enemies resolved not to appear with an army before Jerusalem, but to march so secretly that the Jews should have no notice of their approach till they saw them in the city, armed and prepared to attack them suddenly, and put them to the sword.
12 And it came to pass that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, “From all places whence ye shall return unto us, they will be upon you.” — when therefore the Jews who dwelt near them, that is, in the neighbourhood of the adversaries and heard their words came to Jerusalem, “and said to us ten times (that is, again and again), that from all places ye must return to us;
— for their adversaries were surrounding the Jewish community on all sides: Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, the Ammonites on the east, the Arabians on the south, and the Philistines (Ashdodites) on the west;
— MSG And all this time our enemies were saying, “They won’t know what hit them. Before they know it we’ll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will put a stop to the work!” The Jews who were their neighbors kept reporting, “They have us surrounded; they’re going to attack!” If we heard it once, we heard it ten times.
13 Therefore set I men in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places; I even set the people by families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. — in the lower places behind the wall; to stand by and within the walls where they were lowest, and therefore most liable to the enemy’s assault; perhaps should render, ‘And I set the engines (or catapults) in the space behind the wall in well-protected positions.’
— on the higher places; upon the tops of the walls where they were finished, and the towers which were built here and there upon the wall; whence they might shoot arrows or throw stones against their enemies, when they made their approaches.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, “Be not ye afraid of them; remember the Lord, who is great and fearsome, and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses.” — “And I looked, and rose up, and said.” These words can only mean: When I saw the people thus placed with their weapons, I went to them, and said to the nobles, “Be not afraid of them (the enemies); remember the Lord, the great and the terrible,” who will fight for you against your enemies;
— their foes are banded together to compass the extermination of their race and name; their brotherhood, the blessings of family and home (sons and daughters), the ties of personal affection (wives) or cherished ancestral inheritance (house) were at stake. The enemy against whom they fought knew no pity.
15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. — thus was the design of the enemy circumvented; the enemy, on hearing that Nehemiah was prepared to meet their attack, seem to have abandoned their intention of an immediate assault;
— and the Jews returned to their work on the wall, which they had forsaken to betake themselves to their weapons.
16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields and the bows and the jackets of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. — the manner in which they resumed their building work was, that one half held weapons, and the other half laboured with weapons in hand.
17 Those who built on the wall and those who bore burdens with those who loaded — every one with one of his hands wrought in the work and with the other hand held a weapon. — just a reminder that the Jewish community were surrounded on all sides: Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, the Ammonites on the east, the Arabians on the south, and the Philistines (Ashdodites) on the west;
— they were to face God’s judgement in due time with utter destruction! For Nehemiah had prayed earlier: “Hear, O our God, for we are despised; and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them as a prey in the land of captivity.”
18 For the builders, every one, had his sword girded by his side, and so built. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. — and he that sounded the trumpet was by me; these words imply that Nehemiah was the life and soul of the defence, and that he was untiring in moving from point to point in the wall, superintending the work and directing the disposition for their welbeings.
19 And I said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. — the work is great and large; the building of the wall all around the city of Jerusalem:
— and we are separated upon the wall one far from another; some at work on one part of it, and some at another, so that the distance between one another, at least in the further part, was very considerable.
20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us. Our God shall fight for us.” — our God shall fight for us; the Jews shall fight, and even against foes superior in numbers and strength shall prevail. Their God shall fight for them. See also Exodus 15:3-6, ‘The Lord is a man of war … Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy;’ Exodus 14:14, ‘The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace …’ Cf. Deuteronomy 1:30; Deuteronomy 3:22; Deuteronomy 20:4; Deuteronomy 28:7.
21 So we labored in the work; and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. — So we laboured, or So we wrought. The word in the original being the same as that rendered ‘wrought’ in Nehemiah 4:16-17, it is best to adhere to the same English equivalent. ‘We:’ the pronoun is emphatic, that is, I and my servants.
— “So we continued to work; and one-half of my personal followers continued to keep watch, and to hold the spears.”
22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, “Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labor in the day.” — lodge within Jerusalem. i.e. “sleep” or “pass the night” there, instead of returning to their several villages or towns;
— that in the night they may be a guard to us. The very fact that they were in Jerusalem and known to be there would tend to prevent an attack; and if the enemy assaulted by night, they would be at hand and able to take their part in guarding the work. Nehemiah 4:22.
23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us, put off our clothes, except that every one put them off for washing. — saving that everyone put them off for washing; not for common washing, because dirty, but for washing on account of ceremonial uncleanness, which required washing both of bodies and garments.
China wants to expand the group of emerging economies known as BRICS, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Thursday. The economic bloc currently consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
“China proposes to start the BRICS expansion process, explore the criteria and procedures for the expansion, and gradually form a consensus,” Wang Yi, China’s state councilor and foreign minister, told an online meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, as quoted by Reuters.
BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
In an address ahead of the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged to strengthen cooperation. Xi had previously invited the Argentinian government to participate in the BRICS summit. Argentina has been striving to join the group for more than a decade. In February, during an official visit to China, Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez reiterated the request.
Monday’s virtual meeting between foreign ministers of the usual BRICS nations was reportedly followed by a broader “BRICS Plus” discussion which included representatives of Argentina, Kazakhstan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Thailand.
The group includes a number of countries that have expressed interest in joining the bloc’s New Development Bank, which was established in 2014 as a kind of counterweight to the IMF and the World Bank. The bank has already brought Bangladesh and the UAE on board, and Egypt and Uruguay are set to join the financial institution soon.
But Argentina is the only nation with a clear path to joining the bloc. A series of high-level visits and discussions between Argentinian and Chinese officials in recent months culminated in an official invitation for Argentinian Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero to join in on the meeting Thursday, reportedly at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Thursday morning, after ceremonies opened with an address by President Xi, Argentine ambassador to China Sabino Vaca Narvaja read aloud a letter penned by Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez, in which the South American head of state described BRICS as an “an excellent alternative for cooperation in the face of a world order that has been working for the benefit of a few.”
Ezra’s Prayer is another example for us to study and emulate, especially for forgiveness against the Law of Moses (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28); Ezra was not merely praying for his comfort and protection in the darkness. His concern was to pray for God’s people, the acknowledgement of their sins and asking for forgiveness and great mercies.
What Ezra admitted is unlike what Rabbi Tovia Singer and other rabbinic interpretation have in their teachings by shifting blames by assigning the “suffering servant” of Isaiah 53 to the nation of Israel “who silently endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of its gentile oppressors.” That is, to Rabbi Singer, Israel’s suffering is attributable to their wicked neighbours and not to themselves!
Making no excuses, Ezra confessed his people’s sin, (especially concerning marrying with the heatherns, thus corrupting themselves “with the filthiness of the people of the lands”) and acknowledged the justice of God’s judgement, severe though it had been. Ezra honestly admitted, “for we have forsaken Thy commandments.” Ezra admitted Israel suffers because of her own sins, rather than blaming them on the Gentiles; Period!
Ezra is known as the second Moses, his example of a Prayer should be emulated and studied today. Now for the details:
Ezra 9:
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, — here is where to get from the Orthodoxy the meaning of evening, from Exodus 29:41 (ben ha’arbayim): “And the other lamb thou shalt offer at evening, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord,” Exodus 29:41
— in Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month, and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening (ben ha’arbayim).
— Rashi comments concerning even/evening in most English Bibles but is “afternoon”
— here is his (by Rashi) explanation quoted besides the Chabad Bible Exodus 12:6 And you shall keep it for inspection until the fourteenth day of this month, and the entire congregation of the community of Israel shall slaughter it in the afternoon:
in the afternoon: Heb. בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם From six hours [after sunrise] and onward is called בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם, literally, between the two evenings, for the sun is inclined toward the place where it sets to become darkened. It seems to me that the expression בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם denotes those hours between the darkening of the day and the darkening of the night. The darkening of the day is at the beginning of the seventh hour, when the shadows of evening decline, and the darkening of the night at the beginning of the night. עֶרֶב is an expression of evening and darkness. — [from Mechilta]
6 and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. — and said, O my God; here begins the prayer of Ezra, and that with faith in God as covenant God, even when he was about to make confession of sin, and repentance for it; that prayer is right which is put up in faith, and that repentance genuine which is accompanied with faith, and flows from it:
— Ezra’s prayer, as a confession of national sin, should be compared with the prayer of the Levites (Nehemiah 9:6-38), but more especially with the prayer of Daniel (Daniel 9:4-19). As in the confession of Daniel, the personality of the speaker is merged in that of the nation, The sin of the race no less than its shame and its punishment is acknowledged in the ‘we’, ‘our’, and ‘us’. The self-abnegation and love of Ezra as of Moses (Exodus 32:32), accept the obligations of nationality as the source of guilt as well as on privilege to the individual.
7 Since the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. — since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; the sins they were guilty of had been long continued in, which was an aggravation of them:
— and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands; the ten tribes and their king into the hand of the king of Assyria, the kings of Judah, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, into the hands of the king of Babylon, with the priests and people:
— to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil; some were slain with the sword, others carried captive, and the houses of them all plundered and spoiled:
— and to confusion of face, as it is this day; being filled with shame when they reflected on their sins, the cause of those evils; and besides, the captivity of the ten tribes continued, and of many others, which exposed them to shame among their neighbours.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a constant and sure abode in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. — the “little space” was above 60 years, counting from the second year of Darius Ezra 4:24, or about 80 years, counting from the first year of Cyrus Ezra 1:1. This does not seem to Ezra much in the “lifetime” of a nation;
— a remnant to escape; rather “a remnant that has escaped.” The “remnant” is the new community that has returned from the captivity.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving to set up the house of our God and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. — for we were bondmen; for we are bondmen. Ezra explains his words ‘in our bondage’. The bondage hadn’t gone past. The Jews were still bondmen then, in servitude to the king of Persia.
10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Thy commandments, — for we have forsaken thy commandments: particularly those which related to marriages with people of other nations. Q. Were the Jewish males to be circumcised too?
11 which Thou hast commanded by Thy servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. — the land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land; these unclean and corrupt character of the surrounding nations were not given the Law of God, and those given, like the Samaritans, had perverted the Law with different interpretations; hence they were designate with special character of their “filthiness” and “abominations.”
12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever, that ye may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.’ — now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons; that is, in marriage, see Deuteronomy 7:3, where the prohibition is expressed in the same language;
— that ye may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever; that they might be strengthened and established in the land into which they were brought and enjoy all the good things it produced and leave their children in the possession of it.
13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespass, seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this, — and after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass; as famine, sword, pestilence and captivity, for their idolatries and other heinous sins:
— seeing that our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve; for they deserved eternal punishment, whereas it was temporal punishment that was inflicted, and this moderate, and now stopped; or thou hast refrained thyself from exacting of us all our sins, and hast exacted of us beneath our sins (or less than they deserve), and hast not taken vengeance on us according to all our sins.
— by not admitting but trying to divert sin is a great sin. King Saul justified himself by saying “for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God.” King Saul blamed his disobedience on “the people.” It wasn’t a small matter and for this, Saul lost his mind, consulted a witch and finally his kingdom was removed.
14 should we again break Thy commandments and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? Wouldest not Thou be angry with us until Thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? — should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? – that are guilty of abominable idolatries and all uncleanness:
— wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us; it might be justly expected: so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? any left or suffered to escape the wrath of but all consumed by it.
15 O Lord God of Israel, Thou art righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before Thee in our trespasses, for we cannot stand before Thee because of this.” — O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous; and would appear to be so, should Israel be entirely cut off, and utterly consumed for their iniquities:
— for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day; that they remained yet escaped out of captivity and escaped the wrath and vengeance of God, was not owing to any deserts of theirs but to the grace and mercy of God, who had not stirred up all his wrath, as their sins deserved:
— behold, we are before thee in our trespasses; to do with us as seems good in thy sight; we have nothing to plead on our behalf, but cast ourselves at thy feet, if so be unmerited favour may be shown us:
— for we cannot stand before thee because of this; this evil of contracting affinity with the nations; we cannot defend ourselves; we cannot plead ignorance of the divine commands; we have nothing to say for ourselves why judgement should not be passed upon us; we leave ourselves in thine hands, and at thy mercy.
Many of the prophecies in the Old Testament were meant for the endtime. “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased,” Daniel 12:4. Hence we, at the endtimes, should have better understanding of what and how those prophecies are meant to be fulfilled.
Nehemiah 1
1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the palace at Shushan, — the words of Nehemiah; or the word used often signifies; that is, the things which Nehemiah did;
— Shushan the palace, or Susa, was the ordinary residence of the Persian kings. “The palace” or acropolis was a distinct quarter of the city, occupying an artificial eminence.
— according to Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah was cup-bearer to the Persian king, and was, at his own request, appointed for some time Pecha, that is, governor of Judah.
2 that Hanani one of my brethren came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left behind from the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, “The remnant who are left behind from the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.” — and they said unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province; in Judea, now reduced to a province of the Persian empire: are in great affliction and reproach; harassed and distressed, calumniated and vilified by their enemies, the Samaritans:
— the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire; that is, its wall and gates were in the same condition in which Nebuchadnezzar had left them, for since his times as yet they had never been set up; for this is not to be understood of what was lately done by their adversaries, which is not at all probable.
4 And it came to pass when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven — that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; sat down upon the ground in dust and ashes, after the manner of mourners, and wept bitterly, and mourned in a most sorrowful manner; and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven; that made it, and dwells in it.
5 and said: “I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and fearsome God, who keepeth covenant and mercy for those who love Him and observe His commandments, — and said, I beseech thee. The opening of Nehemiah’s prayer follows so closely the thoughts and words of Daniel’s (Daniel 9:4), that it is almost impossible to suppose that one of the two writers had not the words of the other before him.
6 let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hear the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee now day and night for the children of Israel Thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against Thee. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. — I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants; this he had continued to do ever since he heard of their trouble and calamity:
— and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned; he considered sin as the cause of all this evil that had befallen his people, and confesses it with sorrow and humiliation, and not their sins only, but his own personal and family sins.
7 We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments which Thou commanded Thy servant Moses. — we have dealt very corruptly against thee,…. Corrupted his covenant, laws, and precepts, as well as themselves, ways, and works; all which were against the Lord, contrary to his nature, mind, and will:
— and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses; the laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial.
8 Remember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou commanded Thy servant Moses, saying, ‘If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations; — remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses; to declare to the children of Israel, Deuteronomy 28:64, saying, if ye transgress; the law of God:
— I will scatter you abroad among the nations; as now they had been among the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians.
— and those at the endtime, to suffer Judgement by the sword, by famine, by pestilence and spending years in captivity to reflect and repent there (for more see Ezekiel 4 – 390/40 Years and A Sword from the South!).
9 but if ye turn unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though there were some of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set My name there.’ — though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven; that is, the most distant regions; so called, because at the extreme parts of the horizon, the heavens and earth touch each other;
— yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there; that is to Jerusalem where the temple was built, and his name was called upon.
10 Now these are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power and by Thy strong hand. — whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand; touching and moving the heart of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to them.
11 O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants who desire to fear Thy name; and prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer. — and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day; meaning himself, who was to wait on the king of Persia that day, and, if he had opportunity, intended to lay the case of the Jews before him, and therefore entreats he might meet with success:
— for I was the king’s cupbearer; in the execution of which office he was often in the king’s presence, and hoped to have an opportunity of speaking to him in the behalf of the Jews; this with the Persians was reckoned a very honourable office.
Nehemiah 2
1And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him; and I took up the wine and gave it unto the king. Now I had not before been sad in his presence. — that wine was before the king; it was brought and set in a proper place, from whence it might be taken for his use:
— and Nehemiah took up the wine, and gave it to the king; the cupbearer with the Persians and Medes used to take the wine out of the vessels into the cup, and pour some of it into their left hand, and sup it up, that, if there was any poison in it, the king might not be harmed, and then he delivered it to him upon three fingers;
— now Nehemiah had not been before time sad in his presence; but always pleasant and cheerful, so that the sadness of his countenance was the more taken notice of.
2 Therefore the king said unto me, “Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” Then I was very sore afraid, — the king said, Why is thy countenance sad? – his fasting, joined with inward grief, had made a sensible change in his countenance.
— then Nehemiah was sore afraid; it was an unusual and ungracious thing to come into the king of Persia’s presence with any token of sorrow. And he feared a disappointment, because his request was great and invidious, and odious to most of the Persian courtiers.
3 and said unto the king, “Let the king live for ever. Why should not my countenance be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?” — and Nehemiah said unto the king, let the king live for ever; which some think he said to take off the king’s suspicion of his having a design upon his life, though it seems to be a common salutation of the kings in those times, see Daniel 6:6,
— why should not my countenance be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? a man’s native place, and where his ancestors lie interred, being always reckoned near and dear, the king and his nobles could not object to his being concerned for the desolations thereof.
4 Then the king said unto me, “For what dost thou make request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. —the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad? It was deemed highly unbecoming to appear in the royal presence with any weeds or signs of sorrow (Es 4:2);
— and hence it was no wonder that the king was struck with the dejected air of his cupbearer, while that attendant, on his part, felt his agitation increased by his deep anxiety about the issue of the conversation so abruptly begun;
— but the piety and intense earnestness of the man immediately restored Nehemiah to calm self-possession and enabled him to communicate, first, the cause of his sadness (Neh 2:3), and next, the patriotic wish of his heart to be the honored instrument of reviving the ancient glory of the city of his fathers.
5 And I said unto the king, “If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah,unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchers, that I may build it.” — and Nehemiah said unto the king; if it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight; Nehemiah submits what he had to say wholly to the pleasure of the king, and puts it upon his unmerited favour, and not on any desert of his own:
— that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it; the wall of it, and the houses in it; the favour was, that he might have leave to go thither, and set about such a work, for which he was so much concerned.
6 And the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him), “For how long shall thy journey be? And when wilt thou return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time. — and the king said unto me, the queen also sitting by him; which it seems was not very common for the queens of Persia to dine with the kings their husbands; as for the providence of God in it, that she having a good respect for Nehemiah and the Jewish nation and forwarded the king in his grant to him:
— so it pleased the king to send me when he promised to return unto him, not in twelve years, which was the time of his government in Judea but in a lesser space, perhaps a year at most, since in less than two months the wall of Jerusalem was finished; and it may be that he then returned to the king of Persia, who sent him again under the character of a governor, finding it was for his interest to have such a man in those parts.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, “If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over until I come into Judah, — letters be given me to the governors beyond the river; the Persian empire at this time was of vast extent, reaching from the Indus to the Mediterranean. The Euphrates was considered as naturally dividing it into two parts, eastern and western.
8 also a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall enter into.” And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. — the house that I shall enter into; the governor’s residence;
— Nehemiah assumes that the powers for which he asks involve his being appointed governor of Judaea. The king granted Nehemiah, according to the good hand of God upon him. Through God’s special favour towards him, the king was induced to grant his request.
9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. — on his way to Jerusalem, Nehemiah would pass through the provinces of various Persian satraps and governors;
— to those beyond the Euphrates he carried letters, which he took care to deliver, though by doing so he aroused the hostility of Sanballat. Being accompanied by an escort of Persian soldiers, he experienced neither difficulty nor danger by the way, but effected his journey in about three months, Nehemiah 2:8.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. — Sanballat was evidently one of the leaders of the Samaritan community (see on Nehemiah 4:2)
— although Sanballat was the Horonite; so called, either from his family, or from the place of his birth or rule, which is supposed to be Horonaim, an eminent city of Moab, Isaiah 15:5Jeremiah 48:3. This Sanballat was the person who afterward instigated Alexander the Great to build the temple of Gerizim in order to sow discord among the Jews and their neighbours.
— and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite; who was formerly a slave but now raised from a low mean estate to be governor in the land of Ammon, though still a vassal of the king of Persia:
— heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there came a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel; to which the Moabites and Ammonites were always averse, and ever bore an hatred to Israel, and envied everything that tended to their happiness.
— Sanballat. According to Josephus, Sanballat was “satrap of Samaria” under the Persians, and by descent a Cuthaean, a Samaritan (‘Ant. Jud.,’ 11:7, § 2); whose aim was to corrupt the Jewish high priest by marriage: “so that he willingly gave his daughter, whose name was Nicaso, in marriage to Manasseh, as thinking this alliance by marriage would be a pledge and security that the nation of the Jews should continue their good-will to him.” (more at the end)
11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. — after his arrival at Jerusalem, Nehemiah waited three days before taking any steps. Ezra had done the same (Ezra 8:32). It was necessary to rest after the journey, and to interchange the formalities of Eastern courtesy with the principal people of the city.
12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me. Neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, except the beast that I rode upon. — Nehemiah went out ‘by night’ with only a few attendants. He did not wish to excite the curiosity of the people or to arouse the suspicion of his foes with respect to his intended project.
13 And I went out by night by the Gate of the Valley, even before the Dragon Well and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. — and viewed the walls of Jerusalem: in what condition they were, what was necessary to be wholly taken down, and where to begin to build: it must have been a moonlight night or he could not have taken a view; for to have carried torches or lamps with them would have discovered them:
— and the gates thereof were consumed with fire; nothing of them remained.
14 Then I went on to the Gate of the Fountain and to the King’s Pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. — but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass; because of the heaps of rubbish that lay there; blocking the way. The animal could not proceed. Nehemiah therefore dismounted, and “in the night, dark as it was, pursued his way on foot.”
15 Then went I up in the night by the brook and viewed the wall, and turned back and entered by the Gate of the Valley, and so returned. — by the brook; “The brook Kidron” which skirted the city on the east.
— from this he would be able to “look up at the eastern wall” along its whole length, and see its condition. Following the brook, he was brought to the north-eastern angle of the city; on reaching which he seems to have “turned back” towards the point from which he had started, and skirting the northern wall, to have re-entered by the gate of the valley.
16 And the rulers knew not whither I went or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work. — and the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; the rulers of the city of Jerusalem, who seem to be officers of the king of Persia, since they are distinguished from Jewish rulers;
— neither had I as yet told it to the Jews; what he came about and designed to do: nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers; the principal men among the Jews, both ecclesiastical and civil: nor to the rest that did the work; of building and repairing; neither those that were employed in it, nor those that overlooked it.
17 Then said I unto them, “Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” — come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach; to their neighbours about them, who scoffed at them as a defenceless people and frequently came in upon them, and spoiled and plundered them of their goods and substance.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for this good work. — then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; of the kind providence of God in exalting him in the court of the king of Persia, in giving him an opportunity of laying the sad case of Jerusalem before him, and in inclining his heart to show favour to him, and grant his request:
— as also the king’s words that he had spoken to me; what passed between them on this subject, the commission he gave him, and the letters he sent by him to his governors on this side the river: and they said, let us rise up and build; encouraged by this account of things, they proposed to set about the work immediately:
— so they strengthened their hands for this good work; animated and encouraged one another to proceed to it at once with cheerfulness, and to go on in it with spirit and resolution.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king?” — as established in Nehemiah 2-4,” for their adversaries were surrounding the Jewish community on all sides: Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, Tobiah and the Ammonites on the east, Geshem the chief among the Arabians on the south, and the Philistines (Ashdodites) on the west;”
— the enmity and hatred of serpent’s seed against the cause of God is confined to no age or nation; the application from then to the latter days are plain.
20 Then answered I them and said unto them, “The God of heaven, He will prosper us. Therefore we His servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.” — you have no portion nor right; do not trouble yourselves about this matter, who have no possession among us, no authority over us, nor interest in our affairs or state; nor memorial in Jerusalem;
— no testimony or monument either of your relation to us by birth or religion, or of your kindness to us or to this place, but you are aliens from the children of Israel: therefore mind your own business and do not meddle with ours.
~~~
THE SAMARITANS
— the Samaritans are adversaries to the returning Jews because of (a) difference in defining what time at ben ha’arbayim when the Pascha lamb should be killed: the Jewish definition of ben ha’arbayim “between the two evenings” is “after noon and until nightfall,” whereas the Samaritans is sunset or dusk; (b) when is omer, which translated to English is rendered “wave sheaf” offering to be made: the Jews definition has it on the annual Sabbath after Pascha, whereas the Samaritans has it the day after the weekly Sabbath during the days of unleavened bread;
— (c) after counting seven weeks after the omer, on what day Shavuot is to be kept: the Jews have it on Sivan 6th, whereas the Samaritans always have it on a weekly Sabbath; (d) the three annual feasts are to be kept in Jerusalem, whereas the Samaritans have their feasts on Mount Gerizim, which they consider a sacred mountain; and (e) once in roughly three years, the Samaritan calendar starts one month later than the Jewish calendar.
Here is what Wikipedia says about the Samaritans: “There has been a history of genetic disorders within the group due to the small gene pool,” such as high incidence of austisics and cripples within their community but of course they manage to deflect from mentioning the truth of God’s curses upon those who show hostilities to the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra started the translation process, from the Sacred Text to Aramaic, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements,” Ezra 7:10. This process gave birth to the Targum.
As a result, the Targum is an indispensable source of understanding the Bible. Started by Ezra for those returning Jews from Babylon and for these returnees they could only understand the Sacred Text in Aramaic; hence the Targum is as if Ezra is speaking to them in ancient times and to us today from the Sacred Text.
The Targum is an Aramaic interpretation or paraphrased explanation of the Hebrew Scriptural text. These paraphrases or explanations were not meant to carry equal weight with the Word of God and initially it was forbidden to record them in writing, just to ensure that no one would equate them with the written Hebrew text.
But as time progressed, this rule was broken and the targumim were written down. In some instances where the wording in the Hebrew text are vague, the Targum offers an authoritative explanation. Today many rabbis and their followers have considered the targumim as authoritative and in some cases they put them as the Word of God.
Ezra 9
1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. — one chief disorder is mentioned, that of the mixed marriages (Ezra 9:2), which the new lawgiver evidently regarded as fatal to the purity of the Divine service, and to the design of God in separating for a season this peculiar people;
— doing according to their abominations; marrying promiscuously whomsoever they liked and imitating them in some of their wicked practices, into which they have been drawn by their heathen practices. To do abominations is an expression which generally means worshipping of idols; but here it seems only to signify imitating the heathen in promiscuous marriages with any nation whatsoever, a practice which, however, would soon have led them to commit idolatry.
2 For they have taken their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.” — for they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sorts; some that were widowers not only took wives to themselves of the above nations, either when they were of Babylon, where many of these nations also were, or rather since their return; but they took for their sons also; yea, some that had wives took heathen ones to them, see Malachi 2:13,
— so that the holy seed; such as the Lord had separated from other nations, chosen them to be an holy people above all others, and devoted them to his service and worship: have mingled themselves with the people of those lands; before mentioned by marrying with them:
— yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass; they were the first that went into it, were ringleaders of it, who should by their authority and example have restrained others; or they were in this first trespass; which was the first gross and capital one the people fell into after their return from the captivity.
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down stunned. — when Ezra heard this thing, he rent his garment and mantle; both his inner and upper garment. This was a token, not only of his very great grief and sorrow, but of his sense of God’s displeasure at their conduct. For the Jews were wont to rend their clothes, when they apprehended God to be highly offended;
— and plucked off the hair of his head and of his beard; this was still a higher sign of exceeding great grief. For, in ordinary sorrow, they only neglected their hair, and let it hang down scattered in a careless manner; but this was used in bitter lamentations;
— and sat down astonied; through grief and shame at their sin, that they should be so ungrateful to God, who had so lately delivered them from captivity; and through an apprehension of some great and dreadful judgement befalling them, because of so open a violation of the divine law, the transgression of which had formerly proved their ruin.
4 Then were assembled unto me every one who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away; and I sat dismayed until the evening sacrifice. — everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, that is, those who stood in awe of God and of his word and feared to violate his commands; and trembled for fear of God’s judgments upon them, and upon the whole land for their sakes, as the following words imply. Compare Isaiah 66:2,
— because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; into Babylon, and were now returned, and which was an aggravation of their transgression:
— and Ezra sat astonished until the evening sacrifice: or until the ninth hour which was about oround three o’clock in the afternoon, at which time the evening sacrifice was offered; perhaps it was in the morning when Ezra first received his information from the princes.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, — here is where to get from the Orthodoxy the meaning of evening, from Exodus 29:41 (ben ha’arbayim): “And the other lamb thou shalt offer at evening, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord,” Exodus 29:41
— in Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month, and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening (ben ha’arbayim).
— Rashi comments concerning even/evening in most English Bibles but is “afternoon”
— here is his (by Rashi) explanation quoted besides the Chabad Bible Exodus 12:6 And you shall keep it for inspection until the fourteenth day of this month, and the entire congregation of the community of Israel shall slaughter it in the afternoon:
in the afternoon: Heb. בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם From six hours [after sunrise] and onward is called בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם, literally, between the two evenings, for the sun is inclined toward the place where it sets to become darkened. It seems to me that the expression בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם denotes those hours between the darkening of the day and the darkening of the night. The darkening of the day is at the beginning of the seventh hour, when the shadows of evening decline, and the darkening of the night at the beginning of the night. עֶרֶב is an expression of evening and darkness. — [from Mechilta]
6 and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. — and said, O my God; here begins the prayer of Ezra, and that with faith in God as covenant God, even when he was about to make confession of sin, and repentance for it; that prayer is right which is put up in faith, and that repentance genuine which is accompanied with faith, and flows from it:
— Ezra’s prayer, as a confession of national sin, should be compared with the prayer of the Levites (Nehemiah 9:6-38), but more especially with the prayer of Daniel (Daniel 9:4-19). As in the confession of Daniel, the personality of the speaker is merged in that of the nation, The sin of the race no less than its shame and its punishment is acknowledged in the ‘we’, ‘our’, and ‘us’. The self-abnegation and love of Ezra as of Moses (Exodus 32:32), accept the obligations of nationality as the source of guilt as well as on privilege to the individual.
7 Since the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. — since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; the sins they were guilty of had been long continued in, which was an aggravation of them:
— and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands; the ten tribes and their king into the hand of the king of Assyria, the kings of Judah, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, into the hands of the king of Babylon, with the priests and people:
— to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil; some were slain with the sword, others carried captive, and the houses of them all plundered and spoiled:
— and to confusion of face, as it is this day; being filled with shame when they reflected on their sins, the cause of those evils; and besides, the captivity of the ten tribes continued, and of many others, which exposed them to shame among their neighbours.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a constant and sure abode in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. — the “little space” was above 60 years, counting from the second year of Darius Ezra 4:24, or about 80 years, counting from the first year of Cyrus Ezra 1:1. This does not seem to Ezra much in the “lifetime” of a nation;
— a remnant to escape; rather “a remnant that has escaped.” The “remnant” is the new community that has returned from the captivity.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving to set up the house of our God and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. — for we were bondmen; for we are bondmen. Ezra explains his words ‘in our bondage’. The bondage hadn’t gone past. The Jews were still bondmen then, in servitude to the king of Persia.
10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Thy commandments, — for we have forsaken thy commandments: particularly those which related to marriages with people of other nations. Q. Were the Jewish males to be circumcised too?
11 which Thou hast commanded by Thy servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. — the land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land; these unclean and corrupt character of the surrounding nations were not given the Law of God, and those given, like the Samaritans, had perverted the Law with different interpretations; hence they were designate with special character of their “filthiness” and “abominations.”
12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever, that ye may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.’ — now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons; that is, in marriage, see Deuteronomy 7:3, where the prohibition is expressed in the same language;
— that ye may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever; that they might be strengthened and established in the land into which they were brought and enjoy all the good things it produced and leave their children in the possession of it.
13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespass, seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this, — and after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass; as famine, sword, pestilence and captivity, for their idolatries and other heinous sins:
— seeing that our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve; for they deserved eternal punishment, whereas it was temporal punishment that was inflicted, and this moderate, and now stopped; or thou hast refrained thyself from exacting of us all our sins, and hast exacted of us beneath our sins (or less than they deserve), and hast not taken vengeance on us according to all our sins.
14 should we again break Thy commandments and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? Wouldest not Thou be angry with us until Thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? — should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? – that are guilty of abominable idolatries and all uncleanness:
— wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us; it might be justly expected: so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? any left or suffered to escape the wrath of but all consumed by it.
15 O Lord God of Israel, Thou art righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before Thee in our trespasses, for we cannot stand before Thee because of this.” — O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous; and would appear to be so, should Israel be entirely cut off, and utterly consumed for their iniquities:
— for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day; that they remained yet escaped out of captivity and escaped the wrath and vengeance of God, was not owing to any deserts of theirs but to the grace and mercy of God, who had not stirred up all his wrath, as their sins deserved:
— behold, we are before thee in our trespasses; to do with us as seems good in thy sight; we have nothing to plead on our behalf, but cast ourselves at thy feet, if so be unmerited favour may be shown us:
— for we cannot stand before thee because of this; this evil of contracting affinity with the nations; we cannot defend ourselves; we cannot plead ignorance of the divine commands; we have nothing to say for ourselves why judgement should not be passed upon us; we leave ourselves in thine hands, and at thy mercy.
Ezra 10
1Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children; for the people wept very sorely. — now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping; had confessed the sins of the people in prayer and supplication, with many tears: and casting himself down before the house of God; in the outward court before the temple, his face turned towards it, where he lay prostrate:
— there assembled to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men, and women and children; it was quickly spread abroad, both in Jerusalem and places adjacent, that such a great man, a commissioner from the king of Persia, and a priest of the Jews, was in the utmost distress, rending his garments, and plucking off his hair, and was crying and praying in a vehement manner; which brought a great concourse of people, who concluded some great sins were committed, and sore judgments were coming upon them:
— for the people wept very sore; being affected with his confessions, cries, and tears, and fearing wrath would come upon them for their sins.
2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken foreign wives of the people of the land. Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. — according to the counsel of my Lord; either of Ezra, whom he honours with this title, being a ruler under the king of Persia; or of the Lord God, according to his will declared in his words, which is his counsel:
— and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; feared to break it and dreaded the effect of such a breach; and who no doubt would follow the counsel of the Lord and join in their advice to act according to the proposal made:
4 Arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee; we also will be with thee. Be of good courage, and do it.” — arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee; who hast perfect knowledge of the law and full power from the king of Persia to see every thing done according to it; and who hast most skill to manage this matter. We also will be with thee: be of good courage.
5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear that they should do according to this word. And they swore. — then arose Ezra and made the chief priests, to swear; he admonished them of their duty in the name of God and then persuaded them to take a solemn oath, which they did, to put away their strange wives.
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. And when he came thither, he ate no bread nor drank water, for he mourned because of the transgression of those who had been carried away. — at a private council of the princes and elders held there, under the presidency of Ezra, it was resolved to enter into a general covenant to put away their foreign wives and children; that a proclamation should be made for all who had returned from Babylon to repair within three days to Jerusalem, under pain of excommunication and confiscation of their property.
7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem, — throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all the children of the captivity; who were returned from it: that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; within a time after mentioned.
8 and that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those who had been carried away. — and that whosoever would not come within three days; this was the space of time allowed, and which was decided upon for the quick dispatch of this affair to prevent any schemes that might be formed to obstruct it and lest those who had agreed to it and promised to assist in it should repent and go from their word:
— according to the counsel of the princes and of the elders; for though Ezra had a commission at large from the king of Persia to inquire into and reform all abuses, he chose not to act of himself, but to have the opinion and consent of the senate of the nation; this he prudently did to avoid their envy and that he might have less opposition and better success.
9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the great rain. — in the street of the house of God; in that street of the city which was next to the temple, and within the view of it;
— so that they might be as in God’s presence, whereby they might be awed to a more faithful and vigorous prosecution of their work. And this place they might choose rather than the court of the people, because they thought it might be polluted by the delinquents, who were all to come thither;
— and for the great rain; which now fell and which they interpreted as a token of the divine displeasure: for though it was in winter time, yet not with them a time of rain, for the former rain had fallen a month before; so that this being unusual and unexpected, they understood it as betokening evil to them.
10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, “Ye have transgressed and have taken foreign wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11 Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do His pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land and from the foreign wives.” — and separate yourselves from your strange wives; there being no mention made here of putting away their children but only their wives, it has been thought by some that they kept their children and by circumcision dedicated them to God.
12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, “As thou hast said, so must we do. — as thou hast said, so must we do; being convinced of their sin, they saw it was a duty incumbent on them to put away their strange wives and that there was a necessity of it to avert the wrath of God for them.
13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside, neither is this a work of one day or two; for we are many who have transgressed in this thing. — such an enquiry must be of a lengthy nature as the matter cannot be summarily disposed of; the people who have come in from a distance cannot in the rainy weather protract their stay in the city by living and sleeping in the open air, as they would have done had it been summer.
14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all those who have taken foreign wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.” — let now our rulers of all the congregations stand; let the great sanhedrim, or court of judicature at Jerusalem, be fixed and continued, and others:
— and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times; to the court at Jerusalem, at certain and fixed known times of their sittings there for this purpose:
— and with the elders of every city and the judges thereof; the principal magistrates of it, who were to testify that upon search and inquiry those were the men and all the men in their city, that had taken strange wives, and that they had put them away according to the order of the princes and elders; and this they proposed to be done in every city, and the account to be brought to the sanhedrim at Jerusalem, who were to sit at certain times till this affair was finished:
— until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us: which it seems had broke out in some instances, and they feared would do yet more unless this step was taken whereby they hoped it would be averted.
15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah stood against this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. — there are two views as to the correct rendering of the verse; the point of difference lies in the Hebrew words variously rendered ‘were appointed over’ and ‘stood up against’.
— (1) The rendering of the AV ‘were employed about’, though less accurate, agrees with that of the RV margin ‘were appointed over’. The Hebrew literally translated is ‘stood over’; (a) it is noticeable that this verb to ‘stand’ is the same as that used in the previous Ezra 10:12 ‘Let now our rulers be appointed (Heb. stand)’.
— (2) The rendering of the RV ‘stood up against’ has greater probability. (a) It accounts for the use of the adversative ‘only’. (b) The use of the words to ‘stand over or against’ in a hostile sense is supported by 1 Chronicles 21:1, II Chronicles 20:23, Daniel 8:25, Daniel 11:14.
— except for this verse we have no record of any of the opposition which considering the extreme severity of the measures would be almost inevitable. It is indeed a reasonable objection that the mention of the opposition is very awkwardly inserted between the people’s declaration and the statement (in Ezra 10:16) of their action.
16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, were separated according to the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names. And they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter,
17 and they made an end with all the men who had taken foreign wives by the first day of the first month. — they made an end with all the men. They ran through the whole list of those who were accused of having taken strange wives, and adjudicated on every case, by the first day of the first month, Nisan.
18 And among the sons of the priests who had taken foreign wives (namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren), there were found: Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. — they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass; to make atonement for it, and thereby set an example to others to do the same.
20 And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;
21 and of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah;
22 and of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah;
23 also of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer;
24 of the singers also: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum and Telem, and Uri;
25 moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah;
26 and of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah;
27 and of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza;
28 of the sons also of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;
29 and of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth;
30 and of the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh;
31 and of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch and Shemariah;
33 of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;
34 of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
38 and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
39 and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;
43 of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, and Joel and Benaiah.
44 All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children. — the guilty persons, it would seem, were 113 in number. They comprised 4 members of the high priest’s family, 13 other priests, 10 Levites, and 86 lay Israelites belonging to at least 10 distinct families;
— and some of them had wives by whom they had children; no mention being made of the children being put away; it may be concluded they were not, but were taken care of, to be educated in the true religion and entered proselytes at a proper time; and the rather as Ezra gave no orders about their putting away, Ezra 10:11.
Earlier, the Samaritans (Ezra 4:20-22) had succeeded in alarming the Persian court by their representations of a danger to the empire of fortifying a city, Jerusalem, notorious for the turbulent character of its inhabitants and the prowess of its kings.
Their punishment now requires them to be subjected to “a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily.”
Ezra 7
1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, — now after these things; the finishing of the temple and the dedication of it and keeping the passover: in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia; in the seventh year of his reign, Ezra 7:7, who is the same with Darius in the preceding chapter;
— Ezra the son of Seraiah; that is, grandson or great-grandson. Seraiah was the high priest put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (II King 25:18,21).
2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest”
6 this Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. And the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.
7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, and the singers and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. — as Artaxerxes began to reign in BC 464, his seventh year would be BC 458.
8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. — according to the good hand of his God upon him; there was great reason to acknowledge the favour and protection of God, in conducting them safe to Jerusalem;
— for the journey was long and difficult, and they had many impediments, (going with wives and children, flocks and herds,) and were not without enemies, by whom they were in danger of being waylaid. These, however, Ezra did not fear, but relied on the divine protection, as he told the king, Ezra 8:2, being inspired with supernatural courage and fortitude;
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements.
— Ezra was a man of God; to “seek the law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements,” yet he has formidable enemies today; namely, Fred F. Coulter, Frank W. Nelte and John W. Ritenbaugh:
— these modern pretenders accuse Ezra of corrupting God’s Word (of forging Deuteronomy 16 in particular) and thus deemed for condemnation: “Whatever I command you, observe to do it. Thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it (Deuteronomy 12:32). Forging the Bible is a serious charge, risking eternal life (Revelation 22:18-19);
— but if Ezra is indeed a man of God, who taught the statutes correctly, then these three men are identified to be condemned; for it says in Zechariah 11:8 “Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them and their soul also abhorred me.”
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord and of His statutes to Israel: — this is the copy of the letter that the King Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra; it can hardly be supposed, but that some more than ordinary means were used to obtain so great a favour from Artaxerxes, as this commission was upon which Ezra went.
12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven. Perfect peace, and at such a time. — Artaxerxes, king of kings; the Persian monarchs inherited this proud and haughty title from the Babylonians (Daniel 2:37).
— Imperial Majesty Reza Pahlavi Aryamehr ascended the throne on September 1941, known by his people as Shahanshah; translated as King of Kings; fled to Egypt when a revolution in January 1979 overthrew his reign. He died in Cairo on July 27, 1980 due to “advanced cancer” at the age of only 60.
13 I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and of his priests and Levites in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. — I make a decree, which, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, when signed, could not be changed, Daniel 6:8,
14 Inasmuch as thou art sent by the king and by his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand, — to inquire concerning Judah according to the law of thy God; to make inquiry into all abuses and deviations from your law, and to redress them;
— which is in thy hand; a copy which is now and always in thy hand, being the matter of thy daily study and exercise; which thou now carriest along with thee, the interpretation whereof belongeth unto thee.
15 and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, — and to carry the silver and gold for the temple built there; for the service of which, either for purchasing and procuring vessels that were wanting in it, or for sacrifices to be offered in it, the king and his nobles had made a voluntary contribution, and intrusted and sent Ezra with it.
16 and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem” — that thou can find; or that thou shalt find. Permission is granted to Ezra to ask for contributions from the people of other province of Babylon.
17 thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. — with their meat offerings, and their drink offerings; which always went along with the burnt offerings, according to the law of Moses; and which the king seemed to have a knowledge in any way that Ezra, acting under Divine guidance, might direct correctly in his court.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house. — bestow it out of the king’s treasure house; where the money collected by tribute, tax, and custom, was deposited; his exchequer, as it may be called.
21 “And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, — and I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river; the receivers of his tribute, tax, and custom, beyond the river Euphrates, on the side towards the land of Israel, which includes the Samariatns; that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven;
— shall require of you, it be done speedily; which seems at first a grant at large for whatsoever he should want or demand, but is limited and restrained by what follows.
22 up to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? — the phrase “the God of heaven” occurs twice, and the Persian king tries to avoid the risks of His wrath;
— for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? – for the omission of any part of his worship, occasioned by the king’s neglect.
24 Also we inform you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them. — “We certify you,” perhaps he speaks in the name of himself and his successors; or possibly he means to say that in this matter he has asked and obtained the assent and consent of his council (compare verse 28).
25 “And thou, Ezra, according to the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye those who know them not. — after the wisdom of thy God in thy hand; that is, which God hath put into thy heart, and which appears in the works of thy hand. Wisdom is sometimes ascribed to the hand, as Psalm 78:72. Or, by the wisdom of God, he means the law of God, which was said to be in his hand, Ezra 7:14.
— set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people; all the Jews on that side of the river; all such as know the laws of thy God; all that professed the Jewish religion were to be under the jurisdiction of these judges; which intimates that they were exempt from the jurisdiction of heathen magistrates;
— it was a great favour to the Jews to have such magistrates of themselves, and especially of Ezra’s nomination. And teach ye them that know them not; they were to instruct in the laws of God those that were ignorant of them, whether Jews or others, which implies that he had no objection to their making proselytes to the Jewish religion.
26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God and the law of the king, let judgement be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment.” — this passage is very prophetic, that is, it would be the situation that those who disobey would be horsewhipped at the start of the Millenium;
— and whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king; either the judge who delays judgement, or does not execute it according to the law of God, and of the king or the people, that do not obey the law of God in matters of religion, and the law of the king in civil things, Judea being now a province of the Persian empire; though some think the law of the king only refers to this law or decree of the king, which gave the Jews power to execute their own laws:
— let judgement be executed speedily upon him; horsewhipped immediately, without delay, according to the nature of his crime: whether it be unto death; if guilty of a capital crime, deserving death, let him be put to death: or to banishment; from his native country to a foreign distant land.
27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, — Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers; this is Ezra’s thanksgiving to God for the above decree: which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart; which he rightly took to be of God, who wrought in him to will and to do:
— to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem; to provide for the ornamenting of it, for vessels in it, as well as for sacrifices; for as for the building of it, that was finished. People who could identify the Unspoken Word of God are blessed if they do them (for more, see The Unspoken Will of God or the end).
28 and hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. — and hath extended mercy unto me, before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes; before Artaxerxes, his seven counsellors, Ezra 7:14 and the nobles of his realm, in being appointed by them to carry their freewill offerings to Jerusalem, and the king’s commands to his treasurers, with leave to take as many of the Jews with him as were willing to go:
— and I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; animated to undertake this work and execute this commission, being under the influence of divine favour and protection:
— and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me; he went about in the several parts where Israelites dwelt, and persuaded some of the principal men among them to go along with him to Jerusalem, showing them the king’s decree, which gave them leave; and their names and numbers are described in the next chapter.
Ezra 8
1Now these are the chiefs of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. — a list of the chief names, given by families, of those who accompanied Ezra; this is the genealogy; the names of the heads of houses is followed generally by that of the wider families they belonged to. With this list is to be compared the register of those who went up with Zerubbabel.
2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush;
3 of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males, a hundred and fifty. — by genealogy of the males; though the males only be expressed, yet doubtless they carried the women along with them as they did the little ones, Ezra 8:21.
4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males;
6 of the sons also of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males;
7 and of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males;
8 and of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males;
9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males;
10 and of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and threescore males;
11 and of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males;
12 and of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten males;
13 and of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these — Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah — and with them threescore males;
14 of the sons also of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
15 And I gathered them together at the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days. And I viewed the people and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo and to his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto u ministers for the house of our God.
18 And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20 also of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim; all of them were expressed by name.
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us and for our little ones, and for all our substance. — the little ones went along, though they may not be counted in the official total.
22 For I was ashamed to request of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath is against all those who forsake Him.” — saying, the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; that pray unto him, serve and worship him; his hand is open to them to bestow all needful good upon them, temporal and spiritual, and his power and providence are over them, to protect and defend them from all evil:
— but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him; his word, his ways and worship; his powerful wrath, or the strength and force of it, is exerted against them and they are sure to feel the weight and dreadful effects of it: and now all this being said to the king, after this, to desire a guard to protect them, it would look as if they had not that favour in the sight of God; therefore, rather than reflect any dishonour on God, they chose to expose themselves to danger, seeking his face and favour, and relying on his goodness and power.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this; and He was entreated by us. — so we fasted, and besought our God for this; sought the Lord by fasting and prayer for a good journey, and preservation in it: and he was entreated of us; accepted their prayer so that they came safe to Jerusalem.
24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests —Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them — of the Levites, the two names Sherebiah and Hashabiah are given as those of heads of houses, with whom ten other Levites were associated.
25 and weighed unto them the silver and the gold and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered. — then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests … and weighed unto them the silver; the custody of the contributions and of the sacred vessels was, during the journey, committed to twelve of the chief priests, who, with the assistance of ten of their brethren, were to watch closely over them by the way, and deliver them into the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels a hundred talents, and of gold a hundred talents;
27 also twenty basins of gold of a thousand drams, and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28 And I said unto them, “Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers. — God said, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; men being consecrated to God’s service, they are bound, above all others, to be faithful in the discharge of their duty;
— especially being intrusted with holy things, which must be carefully delivered at Jerusalem, just as they were committed to their trust. Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them; that they be not lost or embezzled, or mingled with other things, keep them together; keep them by themselves; keep them safe, till you weigh them in the temple, before the great men there.
29 Watch ye, and keep them until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.” — until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord: that is, until they had delivered them in full weight, as they had received them, in the presence of those persons as witnesses, and into their hands, in order to be laid up in the chambers and treasuries of the temple.
30 So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. — so the twelve priests and twelve Levites weight the silver and the gold, and the vessels to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God; this they undertook to do, and did.
31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go unto Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from such as lay in wait by the way. — and the hand of our God was upon them; guiding, directing and protecting them by his providence:
— and he delivered them from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way; either by intimidating them, that their enemies like the Samaritans (who were to endure much curses later in their posterity) dared not attack them, or by directing them to take a different road, whereby they escaped them.
32 And we came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days.
33 Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui. — this was done by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; these were priests:
— and with them was Jozabad and Noadia; two priests and two Levites; for since there were of both that were charged with the above things, it was proper there should be some of both, when weighed, that they might be witnesses of their fidelity.
34 By number and by weight of every one, the weight of all was written down at that time. — by number and by weight of everyone; they were delivered in by tale and weight, which exactly agreed to the number and weight in which they received them:
— and all the weight was written at that time; an account was taken in writing, and laid up, that it might not only be known hereafter what freewill offerings had been made in Babylon, but that it might be a voucher for the fidelity and integrity of those that brought them, should it ever be called in question.
35 Also the children of those who had been carried away, who had come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel: twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve hegoats for a sin offering; all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord. — those that now came along with Ezra: they offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel; by way of thankfulness for their deliverance from captivity, and for their safe journey:
— twelve bullocks for all Israel: according to the number of the tribes; and there might be some of every tribe that now came up: ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs; these and the bullocks were burnt offerings:
— twelve he goats for a sin offering; according to the number of the twelve tribes, also to make atonement for sins they had been guilty of: all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord; excepting the twelve he goats, which were a sin offering.
36 And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side of the river; and they furthered the people and the house of God. — and they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river; the governors of the provinces of Syria, Palestine, and Judea, which were on that side of Euphrates the land of Israel was: and they furthered the people, and the house of God;
— or “lifted them up” – eased them of all burdens, and freed them from all impediments, and assisted them and furnished them with everything, as the decree of Artaxerxes enjoined them; and provided everything as they required for ornamenting the temple, and for the sacrifices of it; all which is to be understood of the king’s lieutenants and governors, who obeyed his commands.
~~~
The Scriptures do not give any details about the Unspoken Will of God, but they are in the Oral Law:
The answer lies in the Four fasts of Zechariah:
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love the truth and peace.’ Zechariah 8:19
Seventeenth of Tammuz (Shiva Asar B’Tammuz, minor fast) — the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. – July 16,17, 2022
Ninth of Av (Tisha B’Av, full fast) — fall of Jerusalem on the same dates in 587 BC and 70 AD. – August 6,7, 2022
Third of Tishrei: Fast of Gedalia (Tzom Gedalia, minor fast) — assassination of Gedaliah, the righteous governor of Judah (II Kings 25:22–26). – September 28, 2022
Tenth of Tevet (Asara B’Tevet, minor fast) — the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. –January 3, 2023
Note that today these fasts are mainly observe by the Jews only — the “house of Judah” — which will turn to be a joy and into “gladness and cheerful feasts.” How so, we may ask? God must have accepted their fasts and prayers and those who participate in them would be duly rewarded, their fasts will turn into joy! Extra blessings await those who touches the heart of God; extar blessings! These four fasts are all related to Jerusalem, God’s beloved city with its Temple where God initially told Moses to build a sanctuary for Him to dwell.
The Samaritans are adversaries to the returning Jews because of (a) difference in defining what time at ben ha’arbayim when the Pascha lamb should be killed: the Jewish definition of ben ha’arbayim “between the two evenings” is “after noon and until nightfall,” whereas the Samaritans is sunset or dusk; (b) when is omer, which translated to English is rendered “wave sheaf” offering to be made: the Jews definition has it on the annual Sabbath after Pascha, whereas the Samaritans has it the day after the weekly Sabbath during the days of unleavened bread;
— (c) after counting seven weeks after the omer, on what day Shavuot is to be kept: the Jews have it on Sivan 6th, whereas the Samaritans always have it on a weekly Sabbath; (d) the three annual feasts are to be kept in Jerusalem, whereas the Samaritans have their feasts on Mount Gerizim, which they consider a sacred mountain; and (e) once in roughly three years, the Samaritan calendar starts one month later than the Jewish calendar.
Wikipedia says “There has been a history of genetic disorders within the group due to the small gene pool,” such as high incidence of austisics and cripples within their community but of course they manage to deflect from mentioning the truth of God’s curses upon those who show hostilities to the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 5
1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. — prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; this they both did in the second year of Darius; even “unto them” or “against them” reproving them for their sloth and neglect of building the temple;
— when they were careful enough to raise up goodly houses for themselves to dwell in; and for being intimidated by the command of the king of Persia, which only forbid the building of the city, that is, the walls of it, but not the temple any more than their own houses; and besides there was now a new king, from whom they had not so much to fear.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God helping them. — and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; to go on with the building of it; for they had laid the foundation before, and perhaps had carried it up to some little height, at least, before they ceased from it, Ezra 3:10;
— and with them were the prophets of God helping them; with words of counsel, comfort and exhortation, directing and encouraging them and promising them protection and success: these are the prophets before named.
Zerubbabel displays a plan of Jerusalem to Cyrus
3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them: “Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?” — Governor on this side the river; Compare Ezra 4:10 – Tatnai was apparently satrap of Syria, which included the whole tract west of the Euphrates from Cilicia to the borders of Egypt. Zerubbabel must have been, to some extent, under his authority.
— Who hath commanded you to build? – there was no doubt a perceived illegality in the conduct of Zerubbabel and Jeshua: since all edicts of Persian kings continued in force unless revoked by their successors. But they felt justified in disobeying the decree of the Pseudo-Smerdis (see the Ezra 4:7), because the opposition between his religious views and those of his successor was matter of notoriety.
4 Then said we unto them in this manner: “What are the names of the men who make this building?” — then said we unto them after this manner; in answer to their questions; namely, Ezra and other Jews replied; for though Ezra is said after this to come from Babylon in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, he might go thither on some business, and then return again at that time;
— what were the names of the men that did make this building; or employed them in it, namely, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the chief men of the Jews; they made no scruple of telling them who they were; neither ashamed of their masters nor of their work, nor afraid of any ill consequences following hereafter.
5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease until the matter came to Darius, and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. — the eye of their God was over the elders of the Jews, that they should not restrain them (from building) till the matter came to Darius; and they should then receive a letter concerning this matter;
— that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius; they were not intimidated by what the governor and those with him said to them, but went on in their work; nor did the governor attempt to interrupt them, they having referred him and their cause to Darius for the truth of what they had said, and for further information from him.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the river, sent unto Darius the king — the copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river; which is thought by some to be one of the nations mentioned, Ezra 4:9 the name being pretty near alike to two of them; but perhaps might be a distinct colony in those parts Tatnai was governor of;
7 they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: “Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known unto the king that we went into the province of Judea to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on and prospereth in their hands. — which is built with great stones; marble stones; stones of rolling as it may be rendered; which were so large and heavy that they could not be carried, but were obliged to roll them:
— and timber is laid in the walls, cedar wood, for the beams, flooring and raftering; or rather is put upon the walls, for the lining and wainscoting of them, which was done with cedar wood:
9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus: ‘Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?’ — hereupon the royal officials asked the elders of the Jews who had commanded them to build, and inquired concerning their names, that they might write to the king the names of the leading men, who act in the capacity of heads.
10 We asked their names also, to inform thee, that we might write the names of the men who were the chief of them. — to certify that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them; take the names of them in writing, that they might with certainty acquaint the king who they were, and that if it was necessary they might be called to an account for what they were doing.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up. — which a great king of Israel built and set up; King Solomon who was a great king for wisdom, honour, riches, peace, prosperity and extent of his kingdom.
12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.
— parallel Scriptures in Daniel 9:11 “Yea, all Israel have transgressed Thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey Thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him.”
13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. — but in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon; that is, the first year he was king of Babylon, having taken it, otherwise he was king of Persia many years before.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. — they were given to one Sheshbazzar, is his name, i.e., to one of the name of Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. Zerubbabel is also called פּחה, Haggai 1:1, Haggai 1:14, and elsewhere.
15 And he said unto him, “Take these vessels; go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place.” — of which and of what is said concerning them and particularly of the delivery of them to Sheshbazzar, whom Cyrus made governor of Judah and ordered him to carry them to Jerusalem, and build the temple there, and put them in it.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.’ — then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; which makes it clear, that by Sheshbazzar is meant Zerubbabel; for he it was that laid the foundation of the temple, or at least by whose order it was laid, see Zechariah 4:9;
— “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it. And thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you,” Zechariah 4:9.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house which is there at Babylon, whether it be so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.” — let there be search made at Babylon; they perhaps doubted whether proof of the decree of Cyrus remained in the archives. The decree was not found at Babylon, the most natural place for it, but in the provincial capital of Ecbatana, which Tatnai and his friends had not asked Darius to have searched (see Ezra 6:2).
Ezra 6
1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. — then Darius the king made a decree; to search the rolls in Babylon, where search was fairly made; but not finding the edict there, they searched in Achmetha, or Ecbatana, the royal city of the Medes and Persians and found it there;
— as Darius, the better to fortify his title to the crown, had married two of the daughters of Cyrus, he thought himself concerned to do every thing which might tend to the honour of that great prince, and therefore more readily confirmed the decree which he had granted to the Jews.
2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a scroll, and therein was a record thus written: — at Achmetha; that is, Ecbatana, the Median capital of Cyrus. It is probable that the original roll of parchment had been destroyed at Babylon but a copy of it was found here, probably in a Chaldean transcript.
3 “In the first year of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid — the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits, — the height thereof sixty cubits; which were thirty more than the height of Solomon’s temple, 1 Kings 6:2 though sixty less than the height of the porch, which was one hundred and twenty, II Chronicles 3:4 and which some take to be the height of the whole house; and hence it may be observed what Herod said (y), that the temple then in being wanted sixty cubits in height of that of Solomon’s:
— and the breadth thereof sixty cubits; whereas the breadth of Solomon’s temple was but twenty, 1 Kings 6:2, but since it cannot reasonably be thought that the breadth should be equal to the height, and so very disproportionate to Solomon’s temple; many learned men understand this of the extension of it as to length, which exactly agrees with the length of the former temple, 1 Kings 6:2.
4 with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber — and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. — let the expenses be given out of the king’s house; that is, “out of the Persian revenue,” a portion of the decree which was probably not observed during the later years of Cyrus and during the reign of Cambyses, and hence the burthen fell upon the Jews themselves Ezra 2:68-69.
5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought unto Babylon, be restored and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. — and also let the golden and silver vessels . . . be restored; the desecration of these vessels by Belshazzar (Daniel 5:2-3) was thus to be expiated and redressed. Every word, including the triple twice repeats of “house of God” “Jerusalem” and “temple” are most emphatic;
— emphatic? yea, because the Lord is concern about his abode with humanity: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love the truth and peace.’ Zechariah 8:19 (extra blessings await those who touches the heart of God; for more, see “The Unspoken Will of God.”)
6 “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, be ye far from thence. — who are beyond the river, be ye far from thence; keep at a distance from the Jews and give them no disturbance, nor interrupt them in their work of building of the temple, but mind your own business and government.
7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. — let the work of this house of God alone; suffer them to go on with it, and do not hinder them; it looks, by these expressions, as if he had some suspicion or hint given him that they were inclined to molest or persecute them with troubles;
— let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in his place; where it formerly stood; that is, go on with the building of it.
8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do for the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. — moreover, I make a decree, what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God; this must be considered as an additional decree of Darius, which was peculiarly made by him, in which more was granted in favour of the Jews and as an encouragement to them to go on with the building of the temple;
9 And that which they have need of — both young bullocks and rams and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are at Jerusalem — let it be given them day by day without fail, — and that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven; all which were used for burnt offerings, see Leviticus 1:2
— wheat, salt, wine, and oil; “wheat”, or “fine flour”, for the “minchah” or meat offering; “salt”, for every offering; “wine”, for the drink offerings; and “oil”, to be put upon the meat offerings, see Leviticus 2:1; according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; for the daily sacrifice, and the meat and drink offerings which attended it, Exodus 29:38.
10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. — that they may offer sacrifices . . . and pray for the life of the king; two ends are to be answered: the God of heaven is to be honoured, and the dynasty of Darius interceded for by the Jews.
11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. — whosoever shall alter this word; the warning was specially directed against the turbulent and fanatical Samaritans;
— the extremely favorable purport of this edict was no doubt owing in some measure to the influence of Cyrus, of whom Darius entertained a high admiration, and whose two daughters he had married. But it proceeded still more from the deep impressions made even on the idolatrous people of that country and that age, as to the being and providence of the God of Israel.
12 And the God who hath caused His name to dwell there, destroy all kings and people who shall put forth their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with speed.” — the God that hath caused his name to dwell there;
— who hath willed that a temple should be built there, called the temple or house of God. Destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter; Darius was touched with such a sense of the greatness of the God of the Jews, that he prays, that He who had all power in heaven and earth and was King of kings, would not only punish all those kings who went about to obstruct this work, but destroy both them and their people;
— though this temple was at length most justly destroyed by the righteous hand of God, yet perhaps the Romans, who were the instruments of that destruction, felt the effects of this curse. For that empire sensibly declined ever after, till it was wholly destroyed.
13 Then Tattenai, governor on this side of the river, Shetharboznai and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. — so they did speedily. Tatnai and Shethar-boznai showed no reluctance; they had lost their case against the Jews. Once clearly made known of the king’s wishes, they carried them out with apparent zeal. The rapid completion of the temple must be in part attributed to some good-will.
14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Idd. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. — they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai; this is a seasonable blessing that this great and unexpected success was not to be ascribed to chance, or to the kindness or good-humour of Darius, but unto God only, who, by his prophets had required and encouraged them to proceed in the work and by his mighty power disposed Darius’s heart to such kind and noble purposes.
15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. — the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year; the event around which this part of the history revolves is dated with due care; it was on the third day of the last month of the ecclesiastical year, 516-515 BC;
— Haggai (Haggai 1:15) gives the exact date of the re-commencement: the time therefore was four years five months and ten days. But, dating from the first foundation (Ezra 3:10), no less than twenty-one years had elapsed.
16 And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, — kept the feast of dedication; called in the Greek Encænia (ἐγκαίνια, LXX.), and in Hebrew ‘Khanukah’
— the same word which gives its name to the Feast of the Dedication, founded to commemorate the purification of the Temple after the pollution of Antiochus Epiphanes, cf. John 10:22. That festival was kept for eight days and began on 25th of Chislev (the 9th month).
17 and offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve hegoats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. — twelve he goats; the people are not “Judah” or “Judah and Benjamin,” but “all Israel.” On the Day of Atonement, on the new moons, and on all the great feasts the kid was the sin-offering for the people. But only here is one offered for each tribe.
18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. — they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses. The completion of the new temple was naturally followed by an arrangement of the these courses corresponding to that which had been originally made by David, and afterwards adopted by Solomon, for the service of the old temple (see 1 Chronicles 23:6-23; 1 Chronicles 24:1-19);
— this arrangement was based upon the ordinances of the law with respect to the respective offices of the two orders, as given in the Book of Numbers (Numbers 3:6-10; Numbers 8:6-26), and, so far, was according to the writing of the book of Moses. But the “courses” themselves were not established till David’s time.
19 And the children of the captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. — specially solemn Passovers were celebrated on specially solemn occasions; and these received special record at the hands of the sacred writers;
— of this kind are the Passover celebrated by Hezekiah in the year BC 726, recorded in II Chronicles 30, and that celebrated by Josiah in BC 624, recorded in II Chronicles 35. Both of these followed upon a cleansing of the temple, and restoration of the temple worship after a period of suspension.
20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together; all of them were pure, and killed the Passover lamb for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. — and killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests and for themselves; which seems to have been done by the Levites, for themselves and for the priests, and for all the people, who were not so pure as the priests and Levites; or otherwise they might have killed it themselves, Exodus 12:6.
21 And the children of Israel, who had come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land to seek the Lord God of Israel, ate, —all such as had separated themselves; from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, that is, whose had given satisfactory evidence of being true proselytes by not only renouncing the impure worship of idolatry, but by undergoing the rite of circumcision, a condition indispensable to a participation of the Passover.
22 and kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. — and kept the feast with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful; had given them both cause to rejoice, and hearts to rejoice;
— turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them; that is, king of the Persian empire, which now included the possessions and had surpassed the glory, of Assyria. The favorable disposition which Darius had evinced towards the Jews secured them peace and prosperity and the privileges of their own religion during the rest of his reign.
~ Come to my parlour ~ the spider says to the butterfly: “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.”
"Who is blind, but My servant? Or deaf, as My messenger that I sent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant?” Isaiah 42:18-19
"Where two sit together to study the Torah, the Shekinah rests between them."
“Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet! And show My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins" Isaiah 58:1
“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word out of My mouth, and give them warning from Me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die,’ and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul" Ezekiel 3:17-19
Now, consider this PROPHECY:
“And upon thy sword shalt thou depend, entering at every place: yet thou shalt be supple and credulous, and be in subjection to thy brother [Jacob]; but it will be that when his sons [the children of Israel] become evil, and fall from keeping the commandments of the law, thou shalt break his yoke of servitude from off thy neck…. and then will I kill Jakob my brother,” Genesis 27:41-42 the Targum of Jonathan
“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord who doth sanctify you'" Exodus 31:13
ISRAEL, today as in the past, has many BLIND shepherd, for it was prophesied:
“His watchmen are BLIND; they are all ignorant; they are all DUMB dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
The mission here is to provide research ARTICLES that are ENLIGHTENING and EASY TO UNDERSTAND using SCRIPTURES to help improve our knowledge and make our life better.
“I have seen a horrible thing in the house of ISRAEL; there is the whoredom of EPHRAIM, Israel is defiled” Hosea 6:10
“Shall a TRUMPET be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” Amos 3:6
“Hear, ye DEAF; and look, ye BLIND, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
Hence the RESEARCH produced here are to help us UNDERSTAND and hopefully WE all could learn together.
There's nothing special about me, except perhaps, since I was younger, I had an inner struggle between my heart and my head, hence this blog.
I produce articles that I would understand and hopefully you could too.
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You may contact me on: eqlunn@gma'l.com
Joel
A Prophecy of Esau and Jacob 
