於2012-01-06發佈

每週一妥拉 2012/1/1-1/7
從古時起,世界各地的猶太會堂會一週一次在安息日讀經,從摩西五經(妥拉)到先知的書(先知書)。每週的讀經內容都有一個希伯來名稱,其出自經文內容起頭的字。每週慣例讀經的實例剛好記載在路加福音四章16節,耶穌來到拿撒勒的會堂,讀了一段先知書(以賽亞書61章)。我們發現每週一次閱讀這些內容,不僅提供我們機會,與世界成千上萬的猶太人來確認神話語的內容,在我們為以色列與猶太人的代禱上,聖靈更時常貼切的啟發具體的內容禱告。

這週的閱讀(1/1-1/7)稱為『住在』(VaYechi)『雅各住在埃及地』,讀經進度為:
妥拉:創世記47:28-50:26
先知書:列王記上2:1-12

*創世記48:3-4 .『雅各對約瑟說:全能的神(El Shaddai)曾在迦南地的路斯(即伯特利,參考28:19)向我顯現,賜福與我,對我說:我必使你生養眾多,成為多民,又要把這地賜給你的後裔,永遠為業。』 

伯特利(神的殿)位於耶路撒冷的北方,是便雅憫支派古時的地界。雖然從士師時代開始,神就允許其他人掌管神應許給以色列的地,但那總是很短暫的時期,起因於雅各後裔遠離神。然而,神聖的應許終究持續堅立。在這裡的『為業』是一個複合名詞ahuzat-olam,意思是『世代存留』,也就是『永遠掌握、取得、擁有』。這解釋了何以國際上要求解決以色列和阿拉伯之間問題的『兩個國家方案』,終將行不通。一個主權國家的建立是永久的,全能的神在這裡已對雅各的後裔─以色列頒佈永遠的命令。就連前以色列總理夏隆(2006年一月中風昏迷至今),不得不在壓力下放棄以色列在加薩走廊與西岸部分的土地,卻仍在2003年承諾,伯特利和細羅會在以色列的主權下繼續成為猶太人的家園,我們視其宣言意義非凡。

*創世記48:5. 『我未到埃及見你之先,你在埃及地所生的以法蓮和瑪拿西這兩個兒子是我的,正如流便和西緬是我的一樣。 』事實上,因著流便的罪,他長子的名分透過以法蓮與瑪拿西這兩個兒子,歸到拉結的長子約瑟身上(參考歷代志上5:1-2)。『猶大勝過一切弟兄,君王也是從他而出;長子的名分卻歸約瑟。』

*創世記48:20. 『當日就給他們祝福說:以色列人要指著你們祝福說:願神使你如以法蓮、瑪拿西一樣。於是立以法蓮在瑪拿西以上。 』在許多希伯來的家庭裡,今日父親仍在星期五晚上用這段話為兒子祝福。

*創世記49:2-27. 這首卓越詩篇帶著先知性話語、審判與宣言,是雅各對兒子所說的話,被一般學者視為『聖經中最古老的延伸經文之一』(當然作者臨終話語的內容與立場亦是受聖靈感動而來)。內容包含許多相當罕見或獨特的希伯來文與詩詞用語、古典文法與罕見的排列用法;因此,雖然有幾處的真正意思並不確定,但那卻不是重點,重點是很難理解這些話對雅各兒子或支派的確切應用。然而,是聖靈將這些話放在人的裡面,使他們說出古時的謎語(詩篇78:2)。從神出來的話語絕不徒然返回,直到所命定的成就為止,我們相信從這首詩而來的話語仍適用在雅各的後裔當中,並猜想在神的時候會有更多啟示來闡明神的這些工作。畢竟,雅各在預言之先就說裡面有『你們日後必遇的事』(創世記49:1)。

*創世記49:5-7.『西緬和利未是弟兄;他們的刀劍是殘忍(希伯來文:哈瑪斯)的器具。我的靈啊,不要與他們同謀;我的心哪,不要與他們聯絡;因為他們趁怒殺害人命,任意砍斷牛腿大筋。他們的怒氣暴烈可咒;他們的忿恨殘忍可詛。』

人的怒氣並不能成就神的義(雅各書1:20)。在過去一年與最近幾個月,以色列猶太人在示劍附近(這裡是西緬和利未發生暴力攻擊之處),以及伯特利和細羅附近都有用暴力對抗阿拉伯鄰居的事證。許多行動並不是出於自我防衛或還擊對方;而是他們把對政府的怒氣訴諸於阿拉伯人身上。一些清真寺遭到蓄意破壞與焚燒,牆上出現『價格標籤』(Price Tag)的標語。當政府摧毀屯墾區附近的違章建築,其『代價』(Price)就是屯墾區定居者用暴力對抗阿拉伯鄰居。在阿拉伯區的橄欖樹林也不斷遭到蓄意破壞,並時而毆打阿拉伯人,塗鴉一些種族方面的威脅字眼(如阿拉伯人去死等)。如此的行為雖然不是所有猶太定居者在爭取領土時的寫照,卻也屢次不斷浮上台面。

請禱告:抵擋用來描繪西緬與利未的暴怒的靈─特別是那些勇敢尋求解決他們在猶大與撒瑪利亞的產業問題。惡者不要神的話在此區域得著應驗(參考上週的先知書:以西結書37:21-23)。許多對這些定居者不實的謊言,無論是透過憎恨與錯誤,或是放大他們思想裡在性格與罪性方面的軟弱,仇敵會盡其可能來破壞他們的名譽與信用。禱告神對定居者關乎彌賽亞的啟示,這會帶來潔淨與公義,還有神聖的方向─一個永久住在這地、得著城邑的能力(以西結書36: 27-28; 33-35)。

*創世記49:10-11. 『圭必不離猶大,杖必不離他兩腳之間,直等細羅【就是賜平安者】來到,萬民都必歸順。猶大把小驢拴在葡萄樹上,把驢駒拴在美好的葡萄樹上。他在葡萄酒中洗了衣服,在葡萄汁中洗了袍褂。』

這段經文在歷史上充滿極大的奧秘,其中一部份與『細羅』(Shiloh)這個字所代表的希伯來文翻譯有關。然而,經文清楚說到他們會來到『杖』真實歸屬的那位,祂配得『萬民歸順』。在新約裡似乎有更進一步的線索:馬太福音21:2-7提到當耶穌進到耶路撒冷,會有一隻驢駒拴在那邊;啟示錄7:14則提到那些『用羔羊的血把衣裳洗白淨的』。

*創世記49:20. 『亞設之地必出肥美的糧食,且出君王的美味。』有趣的是,在這裡『肥美』這個字正是希伯來文『油』(shemen)的字根。四百年後從摩西口裡出現了類似的先知性話語,亞設被描繪為『得他弟兄的喜悅,可以把腳蘸在油中』(申命記33:24)。最近在以色列西北海岸持續發現豐富的石油、天然氣與油的蘊藏量,其中包括亞設支派的古老地界!

下週的閱讀進度(1/8-1/14)被稱為『名字』(Sh'mot),妥拉─出埃及記1:1-6:1;先知書─以賽亞書27:6-28:13; 29:22-23。

馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士(Martin & Norma Sarvis) 
於耶路撒冷


THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parashah) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

The readings for this week are called VaYechi-"and [Jacob] lived")
TORAH: Genesis 47:28-50:26
HAFTARAH: I Kings 2:1-12

*Genesis 48:3-4 (Translation: Robert Alter). . "And Jacob said to Joseph, 'El Shaddai appeared to me at Luz [i.e. Bethel, see 28:19] in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, "I am about to make you fruitful and multiply you and make you an assembly of peoples, and I will give this land to your seed after you as an everlasting holding."'" Bethel or Beit-El (House of God) lies just north of Jerusalem within the ancient borders of the tribe of Benjamin. Although God has, from the time of the Judges, allowed other peoples to take control of lands promised to Israel, it has always been a temporary situation in response to the seed of Jacob turning away from his God. Yet, the Divine promises continue ultimately to stand. The word here translated "holding" (NKJV: possession) is actually part of a compound noun ahuzat-olam - "holding for the ages" (Everett Fox). At its heart it has to do with that which is "seized, grasped, possessed, and held onto for eternity". This explains why the current internationally demanded "two-state" solution for peace between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs will ultimately not work. The very establishment of a sovereign state implies permanence, and God Almighty (see El Shaddai above) has decreed that permanence here is to the seed of Jacob-Israel. We see it as significant that Ariel Sharon (see above), even when wavering under pressure to give up Israeli rule over Gaza and parts of Judea and Samaria, affirmed a commitment in 2003 that Bethel and Shilo would remain a home for Jews under Israeli sovereignty.

*Genesis 48:5. "And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine." In fact, because of Reuben's sin, his birthright was transferred to the sons of Joseph, the first-born of Rachel (see I Chronicles 5:1-2). "Yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph's".

*Genesis 48:20. "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" In many Hebrew households, this blessing is still used on Friday evenings by a father over his sons.

*Genesis 49:2-27. This remarkable poem in which prophetic words, judgments and pronouncements are spoken by Jacob over his sons is generally conceded by scholars to be "one of the oldest extended texts in the Bible" (which of course need not in any way imply that its content and positioning in the author's final narrative was not inspired by the Holy Spirit). It contains many rare or unique Hebrew words and poetical terms, archaic grammatical forms and unusual syntax; consequently, there are quite a few places where the exact meaning is uncertain-and when this is not the case, its exact applicability to the son or tribe can be perplexing. Yet, it is the Holy Spirit who breathed these words who reveals mysteries and in their time will bring "dark sayings" to light (Psalm 78:2). Words sent forth from God do not return until they have accomplished all of the purposes for which they were sent-we believe that words from this poem are still working their way out in and through the descendants of Jacob.and suspect that in God's timing there will be yet revelation to clarify those workings as is necessary in days to come. After all, Jacob preceded his prophecy by stating that it consisted of "what shall befall you in the last days" (Genesis 49:1).

*Genesis 49:5. "Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruel violence (Hebrew: hamas) their trade. Let my soul not enter into their secret council, their assembly my presence shun. For in their fury they slaughtered men, at their pleasure they tore down ramparts. Cursed be their fury so fierce, and their wrath so remorseless!" The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20). During the past year, and increasingly within recent months, Israeli Jewish settlers in both the vicinity of Shechem (where the violent attack of Simeon and Levi took place) and near Bethel and Shilo have resorted to violence against their Palestinian Arab neighbors. Many of these acts have not been in self defense, or even in retribution for offenses against them; rather, they have resorted to taking out their anger at the Israeli government for perceived offenses against them by taking it out on the Arabs. A number of mosques have been vandalized and burned, with the slogan "Price Tag" painted on the walls-i.e. When the government destroys illegally-built structures near the settlements, the "price" exacted by the settlers will be violence against their Arab neighbors. There have also been repeated outbreaks of vandalism on Arab olive groves, and occasional beatings of Arabs and scrawling of racist threats ("Death to Arabs", etc.). While actions such as these do not epitomize those of all Jewish settlers in the contested territories, they do tend to surface disturbingly often. 

PLEASE PRAY: against the spirit of wrath which characterized Simeon and Levi - especially in those Jews who are heroically seeking to work the land of their inheritance in Judea and Samaria. The Evil One does not want the Word over this region to be fulfilled (see last week's Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:21-23). Many lies are spread about these settlers; whether through hatred and falsehoods, or though capitalization upon weaknesses of character and sinfulness within their midst, he will do what he can to blight their reputation and credibility Pray for revelation of God and of His Messiah to the settlers which will bring cleansing and righteousness and godly direction-and with it, a capacity to live permanently in the land and to inhabit its cities (Ezekiel 36: 27-28; 33-35).

*Genesis 49:10-11. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Binding his donkey to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes." There have historically been great mysteries surrounding this passage, some of them related to what exactly is meant by the Hebrew translated "Shiloh". However, there is little questioning that it speaks of one who would come to whom the "scepter" would truly belong, and who would be worthy of "the obedience of the people." And there are further hints in the New Testament: Matthew 21:2-7 refers to a donkey and its colt upon which Yeshua would enter Jerusalem, and Revelation 7:14 speaks of those whose garments will have been "washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb."

*Genesis 49:20. "Bread from Asher shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties." It is interesting that "rich" here is a word which has shemen-"oil" as its root. In a similar prophetic word from Moses over 400 years later, Asher will be portrayed as "most blessed of sons.favored by his brothers", and as "dipping his feet in oil" (Deuteronomy 33:24). Recently vast deposits of petroleum, natural gas and probably oil, have continued to be discovered in fields off the north-western coast of Israel-territory included within the ancient boundaries of the tribe of Asher!

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (8-14 January 2012: Sh'mot-"Names") will be: TORAH: Exodus 1:1-6:1; HAFTARAH: Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23]