We’re All Trying to Get to the Same Place!

We’re All Trying to Get

To the Same Place!

And you all will succeed! Most folks hold religions that claim to deliver faithful followers to ‘heaven’ or some form of ‘Nirvana’. Some religions claim exclusivity, declaring that followers of other religions will not make it, and other religions allow for followers of other faiths to be included in everlasting bliss.

What is true? If everyone is trying to get to the same place, and if that place is good, will they all succeed?

First, not everyone is trying to get to the same place. Some folks know they are going to hell, and they seem to want it that way. Most folks don’t believe in a literal Hell—or if they do, they believe that a loving, merciful god would never send them there.

More folks believe in a ‘heaven’ than in a hell, and far more folks believe in a ‘heaven’ than in a god. Not many hold strongly to a ‘no heaven, no hell’ annihilation concept, especially when they are in danger of dying.

The Bible is one of the faiths that is exclusive. It holds,

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that this man does stand here before you whole by the name of Messiah Yeshua [Salvation] of Nazareth whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead—even by Him. ¹¹This is the stone that was set at nothing by you builders, Who is become the head of the corner. ¹²Neither is there salvation in any other! For there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

If the Bible is true, other faiths (including some ‘Christian’ faiths) that hold other ways and means of Salvation (from sin and unto everlasting life) are wrong.

If all the folks trying to get to the same place will succeed, religion is basically useless, except as it structures societies.

Most folks comfort themselves in the certainty that they and their loved ones are going to a heaven. Only a rare funeral includes a statement that the deceased was damned. ‘Christian’ preachers often pronounce the dead in bliss, in the arms of Jesus.

The Bible states,

Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 There is a way that is straight to the faces of a man, and the ways of death are her afterward!

The way appears straight, but it leads only to ways going to death.

Messiah Yeshua (Salvation, transliterated ‘Jesus’) warned the Israelis who will live during the Tribulation,

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the narrow gate! For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in there. ¹⁴Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way that leads unto life, and there are few who find it.

This text must be taken literally, and it refers to Mount Zion near the end of the Tribulation (as do all the surrounding texts). All the instructions of the God of the Bible are very specific.

Religion is quite profitable. Folks donate a lot of money to all religions each year. Clerics and priests of the many religions can promise the dead almost anything; once a person is dead, it is rather hard to return and tell the cleric or priest, “You were dead wrong!” Religion offers no money-back guarantees.

Some forms of ‘Christianity’ spend much time telling folks ‘how to get saved’, and give them guarantees that if they confess certain things and pray a certain prayer, meaning it in their hearts, they are saved. They appeal to folks fearing Hell or desiring heaven when they die, and they speak as if they have certain knowledge from God about a person’s salvational status. If their faiths are contrasted to Abraham’s faith listed in Genesis, the contrasts will abound.

Knowing and caring about only a few texts never shows a love for the word of any god, but contempt. Biblical Saints valued every word that proceeded out of the mouth of the Biblical God. The Bible declares,

Romans 10:17 Faith is by hearkening, and hearkening is by the word of God.

A person who claims to hold the Biblical faith claims to have hearkened (heard and acted). Even the hearkening itself is by the Word of God. When did these vendors of cheap ‘salvation’ who know practically nothing of the Word of God ever hearken? They claim to know the way of salvation; they give the ways of death to suckers. They give security to folks supposedly trying to get to ‘the same place.’ Only, they don’t really know where they themselves are going.

The Bible is the most ignored popular book in the world. If the proportion of professionals in the Bible who actually know and understand the book were calculated, the number would be shockingly small. A person can sound educated in the pulpit, but let a child ask a reasonable Biblical question, and few Biblically educated folks on the earth will know the answer. No profession on earth has such a low standard as the religion profession. Consider the Biblical caliber of the normal Sunday School or Sabbath School teacher as an example.

Is Truth hard to find?

Romans 1:18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the Truth in unrighteousness ¹⁹because what is known of God is manifest among them; for God manifested to them! ²⁰For the invisible things of Him from creation of the world—both His eternal power and divinity—are perceived unto their being without excuse, being understood by the things made.

If God has made Truth, His eternal power, and His divinity obviously clear (manifest), has He hidden the way of life? Many want to go to a heaven; few care about what happens after death, though some like to discuss it. Most just don’t like the Biblical God, and many view His description with bitterness. Wherever they are trying to get, it isn’t in the same place with the Biblical God. Yet, strangely, if the Biblical record is true, all folks in the Lake of Fire and Sulfur (‘Hell’) will always be right there with this very God, feeling the intensity of His wrath! They will not avoid Him, but will ‘enjoy’ the Hell of His company throughout time.

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, ¹⁰the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God that is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation! And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb [referring to Yeshua]. ¹¹And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever! And they who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name, have no rest day nor night.

This is the same place that all are ‘trying to get to’ if they will not receive the love of the Truth:

2 Thessalonians 2:10b They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, ¹²so that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Instead of attempting to arrive at a place, wouldn’t the wise choice be to find the true God?

If you don’t know how, try obtaining a better translation of the Bible (like the King James Version, that uses the more specific forms of pronouns). Read Genesis very carefully, asking many questions in each verse, writing your questions and proposed answers if you are able. You will learn much by your questions, and you will find the answers if you continue with patience. Most folks are in a hurry; they are in a damned hurry.

May 11, 2011July 5, 2017

How Can One Know that She Pleases God?

Introduction

This is a copy of an examination given to those at the Way House of Ministries to Women, Arkansas sometime in 1990. Terri was one present, and the following is a copy of the examination as she wrote it (with a few grammar corrections). Please note the careful answers, and the way she went about proving her answers.

1. How can one know that she is pleasing God?
a. Write out the reason.
b. Give Biblical proof for each part of your answer.

A. God is consistent. Jehovah’s standard of righteousness and justice never changes. Based on these two things plus the testimony that those in the Bible who in the fear of God, obeyed, they pleased God by following the same standard of righteousness and justice.

God never changes.

B. God is consistent: Proof:

Mal 3:6 “I am Jehovah I change not.”
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should grieve himself; hath he not said, and shall He not do it? or hath he spoken or and shall he not make it good?”
Romans 11:29 “The gifts and callings of God are without repentance.”
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is not variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Hebrews 13:8 Messiah Yeshua is the same yesterday, and today and forever.”

Those who feared Jehovah obeyed— There are several cases of those who followed His standards and pleased Him. In Hebrews 11:2 the Bible states, “For by it (Faith) the elders obtained a good report.” This good report means that Jehovah was very pleased by what they did and most importantly by their fear of Him. Jehovah was very pleased by Abel. Jehovah even testified of His gifts (Heb 11:4). Enoch’s whole testimony was that He pleased God.

Abraham was an example of someone who obeyed (Heb 11:8).
Sarah also was one who pleased Jehovah.
Joseph so obeyed Jehovah and kept His Standard that he refused to sin when given the opportunity.
David was a man after Jehovah’s heart.
Elizabeth and Zacharias were two Saints who definitely met the requirements for pleasing Jehovah. Luke 1:6 “And they were both righteous before Jehovah walking in all the commandments and ordinances of Jehovah blameless.

Because of all these facts, if one knows the standards and justices of Jehovah, and obeys, then they should know with utter certainty that they please Jehovah.

March 11, 2011August 6, 2016

Gossip

Incomplete Paper on

Gossip

Apologia

This paper is an editorial opinion. The Bible doesn’t deal much with gossip except to show Yehovah’s hatred of those who practice this, and how sinful and destructive it truly is. This document is therefore for readers to just consider; I don’t pretend that it falls into the category of Biblical Truth. The document also hasn’t been edited; I expect that you will find errors in it. (If you let me know, I can correct the errors.)

Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Proverbs 26:22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Definition

Gossip: Any form of communication in which:

true or false negative, private information is communicated for entertainment
true or false negative, private information is communicated that results in self-aggrandizement (making self look more important)
true, partial or false negative, private information is communicated that lowers the estimation of another person or destroys a person’s reputation
true, partial or false negative, private information is communicated that spreads hurt feelings, one’s own bitternesses, and/or rancor to others
none-of-your-business questions are asked as if the one asking has the right and even responsibility to ask those questions
true, partially true, or false information is communicated or asked that adversely affects relationships, raises suspicions, brings hurt feelings, and/or harms trust

Those who gossip normally painlessly sow discord, while keeping (or seeming to keep) ‘squeaky clean,’ offering no real personal investment in and responsibility for solutions to the problems that have been raised. They sometimes think of themselves as doing a service by informing others. Their words leave damage without benefit and are usually harmful, sometimes even causing death. They are often very successful in killing relationships that have been long-standing and very strong.

The following will examine made-up cases to consider whether each is a case of gossip using a proposed checklist.

“Is a person gossiping if information is passed that another is doing monetarily poorly, and that others have helped?”

Suppose a person, like Paul in Corinthians, is communicating with the Corinthian Saints that the Saints in Jerusalem are monetarily suffering, and they need help. Other congregations have helped, and Paul desires that the folks in Corinth (where they are monetarily doing much better than most other congregations) will help the poor Saints. He therefore communicates that to them, and they respond. Consider the checklist to see if it is gossip:

Checklist	Information
Is it true, partially true, or false information?
Is it negative, private information that is communicated for entertainment?
Is it negative, private information communicated for self-aggrandizement?
Is it true, partial or false negative, private information that lowers the estimation of the other person or destroys the person’s reputation?
Is it true, partial or false negative, private information that spreads bitterness, hurt feelings, rancor (violent anger), and/or other relationship killers?
Is it in the form of ‘none-of-your-business’ questions that are asked as if the one asking has the right and even responsibility to ask those questions?
Is it true, partially true, or false information that is communicated or asked that adversely affects relationships, raises suspicions, brings hurt feelings, and/or harms trust?
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?

The following is an example of a filled-in table:

Checklist	Information
Is it true, partially true, or false information?	It is true information.
Is it negative, private information that is communicated for entertainment?	It isn’t private information, and it isn’t for entertainment. It can be viewed as negative, but not regarding the actions and behaviours of those involved. It shows a lack, not a negative behaviour.
Is it negative, private information communicated for self-aggrandizement?	No; the person telling it is not made to look larger and more important because of it.
Is it true, partial or false negative, private information that lowers the estimation of the other person or destroys the person’s reputation?	It does not do that. Rather, it describes that the person is having a financial difficulty, and raises the reputation of those who are suffering for doing right.
Is it true, partial or false negative, private information that spreads bitterness, hurt feelings, rancor (violent anger), and/or other relationship killers?	No, it is instead useful for helping and for increasing bonds of relationship.
Is it in the form of ‘none-of-your-business’ questions that are asked as if the one asking has the right and even responsibility to ask those questions?	No.
Is it true, partially true, or false information that is communicated or asked that adversely affects relationships, raises suspicions, brings hurt feelings, and/or harms trust?	No.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	It is; if the group’s financial fall is too great, others who care can then intervene; also, the declaration that others have intervened is beneficial information.

Thus, we have a principle: Every communication in which a person participates must be for benefit, not for detriment. The above case was for benefit.

“Is a person gossiping if that person warns another that a person not present is participating in some evil practice?”

Suppose that Johnny calls Sammy to tell him that Billy is lying about Sally. Sammy knows Billy and Sally. Sammy wonders why Johnny is saying these things to him about Billy. Sammy knows that Johnny and Billy were good friends only a week ago, and Sammy has not heard anything from Sally. Sammy asks Johnny how he knows that Billy is saying these things, and Johnny says that his sources are good, and that he heard how hurt Sally is. Is this gossip?

Consider the checklist that Sammy can use:

Checklist	Information
Is it true, partially true, or false information?	Sammy has no clue. (That is a bad sign.)
Is it negative, private information that is communicated for entertainment?	Sammy has no clue. (That is a bad sign.)
Is it negative, private information communicated for self-aggrandizement?	Sammy doesn’t feel right about this; it does make Johnny look bigger; Sammy did not find any comment from Johnny indicating that Johnny had done or said anything to help mollify the situation; Johnny is talking, not benefiting.
Is it true, partial or false negative, private information that lowers the estimation of the other person or destroys the person’s reputation?	This communication, if believed, will greatly ruin the reputation of Billy, and could do great harm to Sally.
Is it true, partial or false negative, private information that spreads bitterness, hurt feelings, rancor (violent anger), and/or other relationship killers?	It absolutely does this.
Is it in the form of ‘none-of-your-business’ questions that are asked as if the one asking has the right and even responsibility to ask those questions?	No.
Is it true, partially true, or false information that is communicated or asked that adversely affects relationships, raises suspicions, brings hurt feelings, and/or harms trust?	Yes.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	It is not of any benefit, since Sammy can do nothing about it that is good; it will do harm, and the harm will be great.

This, therefore, rates as gossip.

“Is a person gossiping if that person warns another person that a third person is a gossip?”

Suppose that Johnny emails Sammy warning Sammy that Billy is gossiping about Sammy. Is this friendly warning gossip? Use the checklist:

Checklist	Information
Is it true or false information?	Sammy doesn’t know. Even if Sammy knew, that still wouldn’t help.
Is it communicated for the purpose of entertainment?	Sammy doesn’t know. Sammy has no clue regarding Johnny’s motives.
Is it communicated for self-aggrandizement?	Sammy doesn’t know why Johnny is communicating this. It appears to be a friendly warning, but Sammy is bothered, because he has a working conscience.
Does its communication lower the estimation of the other person or destroy the person’s reputation?	It will destroy the reputation of Billy if Sammy believes it. If Sammy believes it, Sammy will become very angry at Billy.
Does it spread bitterness, ranker (violent anger), and other relationship killers?	Absolutely, yes.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	It absolutely is not; this type of communication always causes harm.

Thus, it is gossip.

How could Sammy have responded to Johnny in this email communication? One good way to respond is to ask questions of the following variety shown in the email:

Johnny, I received your email about Billy. How did you hear that Billy said what he said? Who told you? Secondly, what did you say to the person who told you, unless you were the witness? If you were the witness, what did you say to Billy? What am I supposed to do with this information? I do not know it firsthand, and I am not permitted to react to the testimony of one even if you are an eyewitness. What would you like me to do with this information? Finally, what are your plans to deal with your source?

If you know that the person will respond with belligerence (that is, will become angry, and will throw back words and actions of anger) and feel insulted by you, you do not have to respond in the way shown above; silence is much wiser. Yet, if you realize that it is worth the risk, including blowing what there is in the relationship to pieces, and you do not desire to relate to that person under that circumstance, ‘have at it.’

When Does Gossip Most Often Occur?

It normally happens in long-term relationships, where the parties involved feel the most relaxed and free to express whatever is on their hearts. The parties then begin to express much more than beneficial facts; they express fears, suspicions, frustrations, slants, and every other form of insecurities leading to ‘flushing mouth disease.’

Gossip is terribly infectious. It leads to folks re-quoting others with embellishments that are often total changes in what occurred.

A violent part of gossip is the setting of motives. Whenever anyone determines the motives of another, that person is God! (Glory!) Only God can know the real motive and intent of any person. He alone can read minds, and He even knows what a person doesn’t know about that person. Thus, be sure to bow down to anyone who tells you the motives of another, and worship him.

How Should One Handle a Person Who is Inquisitive?

Some folks ask, observe, and pry their way into others. They keep questions rolling, observing body language, and drilling until they hit pay dirt. How should they be diplomatically handled?

One way is to say to the person, “That is a good question! You can ask so and so next time you see the person!” If the person is insistent, you can then ask, “Why do you want to know?” That is a cut-off question, because now, you are inspecting that person and that person’s motive straight from the admission of the person.

Folks will gossip in questions. “Did you know about this? I just learned such and such!” If this is in an email, a good way is to delete it, and behave as if it went into limboland, cyberspace.

Another good response is to say, “That really bothers you, doesn’t it! I can tell that it really concerns you!” That will force the person to explain why it is so important. During that time, no gossip is occurring, and the other person is in a sweat.

Another way is to respond, “I think we had better keep our noses out of it.”

The idea is to refuse to be dragged into the gossip chain.

When folks are speaking together in person, diplomacy is far more difficult, and requires practice. It is excellent when properly done. Sometimes, changing the conversation on a fluke is wise. For example, suppose a person is at a party, and is in conversation with the national gossip. The person starts to ask questions. If you see an opportunity at the party, you can deftly say, “Oh, excuse me! I need to help with that table….” And take off.

“Did you know that Billy is saying such and such about you?”

A good response is, “As long as he is picking on me, he is leaving some poor soul alone!” A person who has any strength and sense won’t mind being the topic of gossip if that will relieve another who doesn’t have strength and gossip fortitude from being tormented. Another response is this: “Well, darn, I didn’t know I was that important!”

Thinking before filtering is a great error. Those who are wise and who hear another beginning to do this will smoothly change the topic in order to ‘cover the nakedness of’ the other person. If the person is a thinker, the person will later realize what was done, and will appreciate the move.

The following is a Tribulation text (as all the Proverbs are), warning how to keep from stupidly being killed:

Proverbs 17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love. And he who repeats a matter separates very friends.

To show just how evil this is, consider this End Times Proverbs text:

Proverbs 6:16 Yehovah hates these six things. Indeed, seven are an abomination unto Him:

A proud look
A lying tongue
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that devises wicked imaginations
Feet that are swift in running to mischief [violence]
A false witness that speaking lies
He who sows discord among brethren.

Several of these are persons, not acts. Yehovah hates every person who sows discord among brethren. There is no exception. No person in that category can possibly be born of God doing that. Sowing discord is necessarily always in the form of gossip, and it is combined with bitterness. Pride is always participant in gossip and bitterness. No person can possibly have bitterness of the evil type without pride; every gossip shows pride. Being hated by Yehovah doesn’t sound too good.

Some folks gossip with the idea of benefiting. They really think in their perverted little minds that they are doing good. If they were, they would be part of the solution, and not diagnosticians.

If a person gives his opinion or comment on a situation, is that gossip?

Suppose that Johnny gives his opinion to Sammy that a particular doctor isn’t a good doctor, because Johnny didn’t like him. Johnny says to Sammy, “The doctor didn’t spend any time with me, and I don’t think that he really knows what he is doing.” Is this gossip? Consider the checklist:

Checklist	Information
Is it true or false information?	Sammy doesn’t know.
Is it communicated for the purpose of entertainment?	There is no evidence that this is for entertainment.
Is it communicated for self-aggrandizement?	Sammy doesn’t know; Johnny may give the impression that he is expert on many things; it would be, in that case. Otherwise, it may or may not be.
Does its communication lower the estimation of the other person or destroy the person’s reputation?	Yes. (That doesn’t mean that it is false.)
Does it spread bitterness, ranker (violent anger), and other relationship killers?	It doesn’t, in this case; it isn’t a personal relationship.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	It is potentially beneficial, but then, it may be false, and even harmful. That doctor may have done well with others.

This may not fit the idea of gossip, but it still should be taken as one person’s opinion, and not as fact. If several (who do not know Johnny) testify that the doctor isn’t the best, that may be wise to consider.

The Case of the Bad Doctor

Suppose that Johnny needs surgery. He asks Sammy about Doctor Gutt. Sammy tells Johnny that he has heard other folks that have used this doctor speak of him in a negative way. In Sammy’s mind, his intent is to benefit Johnny. Is this gossip?

Checklist	Information
Is it true or false information?	Sammy doesn’t know.
Is it communicated for the purpose of entertainment?	No.
Is it communicated for self-aggrandizement?	That is unlikely.
Does its communication lower the estimation of the other person or destroy the person’s reputation?	It certainly lowers the estimation of Doctor Gutt, and it could destroy his reputation if it were spread widely. On the other hand, Doctor Gutt may be destroying his own reputation.
Does it spread bitterness, ranker (violent anger), and other relationship killers?	There is no indication that these folks have a relationship with Doctor Gutt. This might prevent it.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	It is potentially beneficial, and it doesn’t have to have harm if it is true. It could greatly lower the confidence that Sammy has in the doctor when surgery requires confidence. That would be harmful.

There is nothing wrong with obtaining recommendations for a profession and a person in that profession. Some web sites are dedicated to gathering testimonies from various sources regarding professions including medicine. So often, one person can receive excellent treatment, and another what the person considers terrible treatment from the same professional. Still, obtaining recommendations is not wrong. It is right, however, to go straight to the sources (the previous patients). Listening to a third party describe these recommendations isn’t the right way to go about this.

Is Discussing a Relationship Gossip?

Suppose Johnny and Sammy are emailing each other. Johnny has a problem with Billy, and tells Sammy about the problem. Sammy writes back, and gives Johnny ideas of how to be wise, how to benefit, and how to handle communications with Billy that if taken, may truly lead to a better relationship and solution to the problem between Johnny and Billy. Is this gossip?

Checklist	Information
Is it true or false information?	Sammy won’t know, but if he is wise, he will temporarily consider that Johnny’s testimony is true for the sake of the email conversation.
Is it communicated for the purpose of entertainment?	No. Johnny has expressed frustration. He is concerned.
Is it communicated for self-aggrandizement?	No.
Does its communication lower the estimation of the other person or destroy the person’s reputation?	Sammy easily can refuse to believe what Johnny said about Billy while advising Johnny; that is being disinterested.
Does it spread bitterness, ranker (violent anger), and other relationship killers?	No; it does the opposite. The idea is to help Johnny do right in his relationship with Billy.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	It is as long as Johnny doesn’t later use it as a weapon. (That is a risk that is usually worth taking.)

It is not gossip. It is actually a good way to hone each other in relationship propriety.

Is forwarding an email to a third party gossip if the email contains anything pertaining to the third party without the third party knowing that the email was communicated?

Suppose Johnny sends the following email to Sammy:

From Billy to Johnny

Johnny, I received your note. I really resent what Sammy said at the event. It wasn’t true, and he had no right to say it. I find Sammy to always be saying things like that; he has hurt many folks.

This is indeed gossip.

Is Prayer a Potential Form of Gossip?

Johnny sees Sammy, and describes that Billy is having a difficulty. Johnny then prays, and gives information about Billy that Billy would not want known. The information he gives isn’t pertinent to the solution, but is used so that Sammy will fully understand everything that Johnny knows (or thinks he knows) about Billy and situation. Is this gossip?

Checklist	Information
Is it true or false information?	Sammy doesn’t know if it is true, partially true, or completely false. It probably won’t be completely false.
Is it communicated for the purpose of entertainment?	Most public prayers are. No matter what folks think about public prayers, most are for entertainment, and not for the real situation. One can tell; think of how little affected the one praying and those hearing are by the prayer. A prayer that is not for entertainment will be heartfelt by all concerned.
Is it communicated for self-aggrandizement?	Yes, it is. No matter what Johnny thinks he is doing, he is still bragging about how much he knows of the situation. That is self-aggrandizement.
Does its communication lower the estimation of the other person or destroy the person’s reputation?	It certainly does.
Does it spread bitterness, ranker (violent anger), and other relationship killers?	Yes. It depends on the hearer and the wisdom of the hearer, but in normal hands, yes.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	No. It can be very harmful.

Prayer is often used as a vehicle for gossip. Missionary letters home can be used the same way.

There are valid and good reasons for group prayer:

If the prayer is for the group so that the group itself can be beneficial and/or withstand persecution
If the prayer involves all in the group regarding another for whom the prayer is being given, all in the group desiring to benefit that person
If the person praying desires witnesses of the contents of the prayer so that the details will be recognized if Yehovah grants the prayer, the witnesses being or not being in faith

Is a Request for Prayer by the Person Present a Potential Outlet for Gossip?

Johnny asks Sammy for prayer, because Johnny is struggling. Johnny says, “Sammy, pray for me; I am struggling and frustrated. Billy is spreading rumours, Sally now hates me, and every time I get together with them, I am miserable. They make me feel so uncomfortable. I don’t like the way they talk about others, and they are mean to me and to others.” Is this gossip? What Johnny is doing can easily be a means of gossip. The issue now lies with Sammy. What he does with it makes the difference. Does he give wise counsel to Johnny? Does he believe Johnny? Prayer and gossip can easily be the same thing.

When folks are quick to place blame on others for many things, they, themselves are bitter, and they are gossips, especially when they are Teflon. No accusation of wrongdoing on their parts ever sticks to them; they are always innocent.

When folks are quick to call others liars (even if they are), they themselves are confessing being a liar. Self-deceit is the first step toward bitterness, and it is what makes folks unable to see truth. Even when confronted with the truth, they accuse others as if they are looking in a mirror, because all they see are themselves. If they were to see the very image of God on others, they might see Truth. Instead, they only see themselves, and that in the best light, while they see others as what they themselves are.

Can an Accusation be a Way of Pumping a Person for Gossip?

Johnny is conversing with Sammy. Johnny says, “Well, you were rude to Billy, and he is still hurt over it.” Sammy answers, “I was not! Billy deserved everything I said because he did this, this and this!” Johnny then tells Sally and Billy what Sammy said.

A common practice with news folks is to start with a false premise so that the responder will feel obligated to expound, defend, and give information that he or she otherwise would not have given. It is brilliant. A good answer would be, “Where did you learn that? Next question, please.”

A Person Asks for an Opinion

Johnny and Sammy and emailing. Johnny asks Sammy for his opinion on a situation that involves Billy and Sally. Johnny says, “Billy and Sally are trying to get the fellowship hall painted green, and they are saying that any other color is just not intelligent. What do you think?” Is this gossip, or can this introduce gossip?

Checklist	Information
Is it true or false information?	Sammy doesn’t know.
Is it communicated for the purpose of entertainment?	Not in this case.
Is it communicated for self-aggrandizement?	It could; Sammy doesn’t know.
Does its communication lower the estimation of the other person or destroy the person’s reputation?	Yes, it does, and it certainly could, because Johnny worded it in such a way that it makes Billy and Sally seem narrow-minded and even potentially belligerent.
Does it spread bitterness, ranker (violent anger), and other relationship killers?	Yes; if Sammy believes this, and likes blue, it could make for hard feelings and kill relationships.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	Because we had to think so long on this, the answer is that it can produce harm. The benefit of the communication is uncertain.

Thus, it is gossip. This has to do with the way Johnny worded it. Consider the following communication to see the difference:

“I heard several others describe their desire that the fellowship hall be painted green. They do not seem to consider other colors as potentially beneficial. Do you have a color in mind, and if so, can you describe good reasons for considering other colors?” In this conversation, it may be that the undescribed person used to be an interior decorator, and has good reasons for a particular color choice. The point, then, is often how a communication is worded. If the topic is the color of the paint, and not the individuals involved, that isn’t gossip. It is totally impossible to gossip about a paint color.

When Johnny tells Sammy his opinions of what occurred, Sammy will be wise if he starts by telling Johnny that he (Sammy) wasn’t there, and doesn’t know what transpired from God’s perspective. Sammy, then, will not assume that everything that Johnny said is “God’s truth.” Then, Sammy should concentrate on Johhny’s behaviour and responses, not on the behaviour and responses of the third part. That way, Sammy is being a good friend to Johnny. (Johnny won’t like it.)

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Defensiveness in conversations is the worst way to proper gossip and to kill relationships. The classic novels portray this so well. Being defensive is only beneficial under the rarest of circumstances. Those who are wise will not defend, but will consider the other persons (I am speak of the accusers), and will seek to be of benefit to their mitigation of bitterness if at all possible. (In far too many cases, it isn’t possible, because persons with bitterness feel gravely insulted if anyone seeks to try to alleviate the bitterness; it is their baby! It is their child! It is the very foundation of the justice upon which they have stood! Speaking against the bitterness in any way is as if you are slapping the person across the face and making the very reasons for the bitterness seem minor.

Do not defend yourself in these conversations, and do not defend those whom you love or those whom you don’t love. Defending those whom you love will act as a perverted proof that you know the badness of their character; their character should stand on its own. Those who defend the ones they love the most are doing what appears to be a cover up. Defenses always feed gossip chains! Gossip cannot survive silence; it must always be communicating. Defending is a form of communication; it is gossip food.

One accusation of a very bitter person who is gossiping is this: “You are on so-and-so’s side! You have taken that person’s position!” Then, that person communicates this to others who are gullible. A gullible person is one who takes information as if it is truth and doesn’t even look to see if it is truth. No person can be both wise and gullible at the same time:

Psalms 19:7 The Teaching of Yehovah is perfect, restoring the being. The testimony of Yehovah is certain, making the gullible wise.

A gullible person is a sucker.

There are some who are mentally retarded; their learning curve is very low compared to the general population. They are gullible; they believe what folks say because they respect them. If they are taught the Teaching of Yehovah, however, they can exceed in wisdom far above geniuses.

Bitterness is a baby that a person loves. Don’t touch that baby if the person is showing this symptom. Don’t! You will get burned.

There are times when ignoring (that is, not responding to) a person’s bitterness is very wise. There are times when it is not wise. Experience will teach the difference.

The Pajama Case

Sally’s daughter Judi just had a baby: her second one. Sally’s best friend is Susie. Susie and Sally are talking. Lilly knows both Sally and Susie from school days, though Lilly isn’t in regular contact with Judi or Sally. Lilly asks Susie if it was necessary for Lilly to purchase a gift for the new grandbaby. (The answer was not specific.) This conversation was later repeated to Sally. Sally became upset. She showed that she was upset with Lilly. This gave Lilly the impression that she did need to give a gift to Judi for her baby to avoid hurt. Lilly obtained a gift, and took it to Judi, being accompanied by Susie. Judi took the gift, but gave no response of thankfulness; she was very cold. Had gossip taken place?

There is no true proof that gossip occurred, but there was also no reason that Judi should respond the way she did unless something had been said. Gossip itself is not the real problem; the recipient of gossip is the real problem in cases like this. Anyone who receives gossip, then behaves differently on the basis of gossip is the wrongdoer that does damage as great as the gossip and gossiper themselves.

The best way to react to gossip is one of the following (and there can be other ways):

Ignore it
Place it back into the craw of the one speaking it: that is, cause the gossiper to be responsible for doing benefit, since that person is the reporter. A reporter who only reports and doesn’t help (if help is possible) is an evil person even if the person works for a newspaper.

Man and Wife Gossip

Johnny and Sally are married. Johnny tells Sally information that is gossip if it goes beyond their conversation to the ears of others. Do husbands and wives have the right to tell each other whatever they want about others? Husbands and wives have responsibilities. Folks who focus on rights never focus on responsibilities. Folks who focus on responsibilities rarely mention rights. Those who focus on responsibilities have sense; those who focus on rights are set for bitterness. Husbands and wives should theoretically be able to speak with each other without boundaries; this isn’t real life, unfortunately. They must be diplomatic with each other in most cases. If a husband knows that saying something about another will affect his wife in such a way that she will have a hard time being normal with that person, he doesn’t need to say anything unless his wife will be in danger.

The Obvious

Some forms of gossip are just obvious. Some gossipers are just obvious. They speak in a different way, they physically position themselves in a different way, and they move their eyes in a particular way that advertises that they are gossiping. Since this document is for the purpose of communication forms that might be far more difficult to spot, I will not try to cover the many obvious gossip scenarios.

Men Versus Women

Many are convinced that women are more gossipy than men. If this were true, it would be based on an obvious observation: women communicate more than men in many cultures. The worst gossipers are not necessarily women. Men early learn to gossip in school. Their type of gossip is more deadly. Entire wars are run on campaigns of gossip: spreading fear, rumours and lies about enemies. If truth were spoken during wars, some wars would fall apart.

The Attack of Cowards

Gossip is a form of attack. It is used by cowards, persons with low or non-existent morality, and the worst scum of society. Gutter-bound incurable drunks who beg for money for alcohol are far higher on the morality level than gossips. Yet, gossips are found among the highest-ranking persons in society. High-society gossip is deadly entertainment; entire magazines are dedicated and devoted to it. It is Biblically worse than blood sports done in the Roman arenas. Yet, it is considered an acceptable practice by a large majority of the population, including many who are fervent and dedicated churchgoers. How many sermons per year are dedicated to defining and decrying gossip?

It is masked and morphed into many forms. One form is anger. The following is an example.

Fury Expressed

Johnny is communicating with Sammy by email. Johnny writes the following email:

Sammy,

How could you listen to Billy? You know that Billy is a liar. Billy has always been a liar! You don’t know what Billy did to Sally, and I can’t tell you that because I was told in confidence. I assure you, Billy is a liar, and you are siding with Billy! Can’t you see who your real friends are? How can you take sides with Billy? Billy did terrible things to Sally! You need to wake up!

Several things should be evident about this email. First, Johnny is furious with Billy, and Johnny is now becoming furious with Sammy just because Sammy won’t take Johnny’s word about Billy. Sammy doesn’t have Johnny’s information; yet Johnny expects Sammy to take Johnny’s word that Billy is a terrible person and a liar. Johnny is a violent gossip, and a very bitter person. Yet, Johnny has no clue that he is both of these. Johnny feels more like a victim—a victim of Sammy (for not believing him without evidence).

Johnny is outraged that Sammy could even listen to Billy. As far as Johnny is concerned, even listening to Billy is a great moral evil on Sammy’s part! Johnny’s bitterness is so great, that it will destroy Johnny. He will physically be ruined!

Johnny’s accusation that Billy is a liar is pure and open gossip. (Even if Billy is the world’s worst liar, Sammy doesn’t know this or have evidence of this; thus, Johnny is gossiping. Gossip is worse than lying, in the Bible; gossip always involves lies or unproven half-truths.

The statement, “You don’t know what Billy did to Sally, and I can’t tell you that because I was told in confidence” is another form of gossip. It is very self-aggrandizing (showing a pride level on the part of the speaker that is far above normal evil pride). It is also what I call, “junior high,” meaning that it is the type of communication that mean-spirited and evil junior high students (grades seven through nine) would say and use. Many adults never advance in their sense, justice, or social skills beyond junior high.

Next comes the statement, “I assure you, Billy is a liar, and you are siding with Billy!” Sammy will be very wise to soon have nothing to do with Johnny. Johnny is using a friendship to twist the arm of a friend into violating every principle of proper justice. The whole concept of, “Take my word for it!” is a violation of justice.

Here is the twisting and perverting of propriety: “Billy is a liar, and you are siding with Billy!” This accusation is akin to stating, “If you don’t believe me over and above any information from any other source that you might use, you are siding with Billy against all justice!” Thus, a person who desires to judge in the Biblical manner is taking sides by refusing to be biased. Now, that is a lie! It is also gossip, though it is said straight to the other person. (Such an accuser won’t just communicate this to the person involved; that person will tell it to others, and will spread rumours and gossip about the person, about Sammy, in this case.)

The plea comes: “Can’t you see who your real friends are?” This is a plea that is akin to a lawyer and a judge deciding a case while sitting in Joe’s Bar, with the lawyer telling the judge, “Remember who are your friends in the upcoming election!” It is a plea for corruption. It shows the most vile and villainous type of character.

The question, “How can you take sides with Billy?” Is akin to the question, “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?” Sammy hasn’t taken any sides, but Johnny is fully convinced that he has!

Next comes another juicy piece of gossip: “Billy did terrible things to Sally!” Johnny really thinks in his perverted mind that he just kept a confidence and didn’t gossip! After all, he didn’t give details. In truth, he just acted out the worst form of gossip; it is based on accusations without proof or evidence.

The final statement, “You need to wake up!” is true. Sammy does need to wake up. He needs to quit communicating with a bitter and vicious gossip who has degraded himself to the lowest forms of ungodly violence and hatred, and who desires to spread his bitterness to as many as will listen. Yet, Johnny feels very justified in his stands. Many gossips don’t know they are gossips, and would openly state that gossip is a terrible sin!

Another Root Cause of Gossip

Where does gossip like this arise, especially in a person (like Johnny) who would condemn gossipers? It arises from bitterness. While I have mentioned bitterness several times in this document, I have a separate document on bitterness that is designed for children. Some gossip for the entertainment value; others use gossip as a spy would spread lies in order to undermine rivals.

Gossip Paranoia

Gossipers usually fear gossip! They know the power of it; they don’t desire to be targeted. This produces a form of paranoia to which gossipers are very susceptible.

Let folks compare notes on gossipers in such a way that the gossipers know they are being closely viewed and their actions are being weighed, and they will demonstrate this paranoia. It can show itself in the form of strong belligerence and threats, and it can show itself in the form of very strong defensiveness (to try to ‘prove’ that the communications were not gossip, but were truth). Gossipers feel violated when they are topics of conversation in which they are not present.

They can dish it out; they cannot take it.

Can a Gossiper be Born of God?

Some Saints have gossiped. It is quite possible for a person to gossip without realizing that he has done this. That doesn’t make it innocent; it shows that the person was involved in self-deception. The gossiper who didn’t realize that something was gossip hasn’t understood propriety in communications. If the person is indeed born of God, the person will be easily correctable. Every fearer of God has received the love ofthe truth, besides the truth. One who loves the truth will always be correctable. One who defends and fights off correction with something akin to, “I know I am right, and I know I did right in this case” has not received the love of the truth. Find anyone who isn’t correctable, and that person isn’t born of God.

Team Gossips

Gossips love gossips. Folks tend to team up with gossips. They fear each other, because any team member can then gossip about another who is part of the team, and can ruin that person’s reputation. Thus, gossips will do what is necessary to please other members of the gossip team. There is usually one leader; the rest bow to the gossip leader. If even a slight suspicion of disloyalty arises, the gossip leader will quickly spread a rumour about the disloyal person, and that person’s reputation will be destroyed within the group. This is also ‘junior high.’

Because the fear of being badly viewed is so high, any supposed fear of God will quickly be of no consequence compared to the fear of being smeared. The following is an example:

Johnny, Billy and Sally are team gossips. Billy is very bitter against his father, and Sally is bitter against her aunt. Johnny is just bitter against almost everyone, but supposes that he fears God. Johnny is speaking to Sammy; Sammy has nothing to do with gossip, and he also hates bad bitterness. Johnny and Sammy previously got along very well; they both enjoyed looking at the Bible together. Now, in Johnny’s and Sammy’s conversation, Sammy speaks well of Billy’s father. Johnny tells Sammy that Billy’s father is no good. This makes no sense to Sammy; he wonders where Johnny gets this. As their conversation progresses, Johnny becomes more and more angry that Sammy just doesn’t see how bad Billy’s father is. One problem is that Johnny fears Billy gaining a bad view of Johnny. That fear is so strong, that soon Johnny’s and Sammy’s relationship is destroyed. Sammy doesn’t know what happened, or why. Sammy wasn’t defending anyone; he just wouldn’t go along with Johnny’s assessment. Sammy didn’t know that Johnny, Billy and Sally were team gossips. Had he known this, he might have been wiser, and avoided Johnny in the first place.

Work Gossip

Johnny and Sammy are working together in one area of an office, and Billy and Sally work in another. Billy and Sally must code information so that Johnny and Sammy can then process it; this is a normal daily function. Billy and Sally become angry for some reason, and refuse to code up to speed. Johnny and Sammy wait for the coded material to come so that they can do their work. This work slow-down becomes obvious to Johnny and Sammy who may have to work overtime to catch up because of the intentional slow-down of Billy and Sally. Johnny and Sammy discuss what Billy and Sally are doing. Does this constitute gossip? Consider the checklist:

Checklist	Information
Is it true or false information?	It is true information.
Is it communicated for the purpose of entertainment?	It is not for entertainment; it is part of a work function.
Is it communicated for self-aggrandizement?	It is not communicated for this purpose.
Does its communication lower the estimation of the other person or destroy the person’s reputation?	The communication itself has no effect on the reputation of Billy or Sally; the communication has to do with proper functioning of the office.
Does it spread bitterness, ranker (violent anger), and other relationship killers?	It does not do that as long as Sammy and Johnny keep the communication professional without personal comments about Billy and Sally.
Is the communication potentially beneficial without any harm?	It is potentially beneficial; it can be used to participate in solving the disgruntled work slow-down frustration of Billy and Sally.

If in Sammy’s and Johnny’s communication expressions are of disappointment in Billy and Sally and of their manipulation to the system, to others, and to get what they desire, this falls either one way or the other. It is gossip if Sammy and Johnny flame up the anger toward Billy and Sally, and do no benefit. If, on the other hand, Sammy and Johnny carefully consider how they can benefit both the office and Billy and Sally by assuaging (lessening the potency of) Billy’s and Sally’s anger and frustration at being overworked, according to them, this is not gossip. Sammy and Johnny may not be in a position to do anything beneficial, but if they at least do not use words and actions to do harm, and if they desire to be beneficial if they can, they are not gossiping; they are demonstrating proper character.

Overhearing or Witnessing a Personal Attack Conversation

Johnny, Sammy, Billy and Sally are in a crowded room. Billy is expressing very strong words to Sally, describing that she has done wrong and has hurt others. Sammy overhears or witnesses this conversation, and is aware of much more than what he is hearing. He knows that Sally’s behaviour and deportment (how one conducts oneself and carries oneself before others) have been excellent; not merely good, but in every way beyond all reproach. Sammy sees that Sally is not defending herself, and that she is devastated by the strong and accusatory words of Billy. Sally begins to move toward the exit of the gathering. Sammy moves in her direction, and catches up to her. He starts by saying to her that he did overhear the conversation, and that Billy is wrong in his observations about Sally and about the situation. Is this gossip?

As long as Sammy is very careful not to say things that he shouldn’t about Billy, but instead keeps the conversation about Sally and her good conduct, he may freely state that Billy does not properly understand the issues that he spoke with her. That is not gossip. Sammy can be of use to Sally to console her to a little degree in this issue.

Suppose that Sammy tells Sally that Billy is a bitter person who states things and accuses folks without knowing the facts. Is this gossip?

This paper is opinion without Biblical text!

February 28, 2011July 5, 2017

Concerning the Sabbath

Copyright ^©February 6, 2001 Saar Shalom Center

What is the non-Israeli Saint’s relationship to the Sabbath? What is the Israeli’s relationship to the Sabbath when the Temple is not functioning? I will explore these issues by using every Biblical text translated Sabbath or Sabbaths. Only pertinent texts will be considered.

1. The Basic Sabbath Command

Exodus 16:23 And he said to them, “This is what Yehovah has said: ‘To-morrow is the rest, the holy sabbath, of Yehovah. Bake what ye will bake, and cook what ye will cook; and lay up for yourselves all that remains over to be kept for the morning.'” And they laid it up for the morning as Moses had commanded. And it did not stink, neither was there any worm in it. And Moses said, “Eat it today. For today is sabbath to Yehovah. Today ye shall not find it in the field. Six days shall ye gather it. And on the seventh day is sabbath—on it there shall be none.” And it came to pass on the seventh day that there went out from the people to gather, and they found none. And Yehovah said to Moses, “How long do ye refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for Yehovah hath given you the sabbath; therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread for two days. Abide every man in his place. No man is to go from his place on the seventh day.” And the people rested on the seventh day.

The Sabbath was identified by no manna to collect. The Israelis were commanded to stay in their tents, cook what they were going to cook, and not do manna gathering. This text pertained to the Israelis during the time of the manna, and cannot be applied to other times and periods without manna.

2. The Ten-Commandment Sabbath

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day to sanctify it. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work. And the seventh day is the sabbath of Yehovah thy God. Thou shalt not do any work–thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy bondman, nor thy handmaid, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days Yehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore Yehovah blessed the sabbath day and sanctify him.

This text involves the following:

· Sanctify the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the property of Yehovah, for the purpose of ceasing from one’s labour (the word Sabbath means cease). Every individual Israeli must do this.

· Work six days. No shorter work week was given to the Israelis. (Anyone who could not work would not be in violation of the ceasing of the Sabbath.)

· Slaves, servants and work animals must cease from labor. Every common branch of Judaism permits hired workers to do labour for the Jewish community on the Sabbath in defiance of the above command.

· The Israelis must rest because Yehovah rested. The Israelis must reflect this within their own gates. This is not pertinent to gentiles. Israelis who obtained properties on the other side of the Jordan were commanded to observe the same ceasing.

The gender of the pronoun referring to the Sabbath is masculine, but the word for Sabbath is feminine. The Sabbath must have a wider significance.

3. The Sabbath As a Sign Between Yehovah and the Children of Israel

Exodus 31:13 And thou, speak thou unto the children of Israel, saying, “Surely my Sabbaths shall ye guard. For he is a sign between me and you throughout your generations to know that I, Yehovah, am your sanctifier. And ye shall guard the Sabbath. For he is holy to you. The profaner of her dying shall die. For all who do in her errands, and that being shall be cut off from the midst of her people. Six days shall errands be done. And on the seventh day is the sabbath of Sabbath(s), holy to Yehovah. Every errand-maker on the sabbath day dying shall die. And the children of Israel shall guard the sabbath to do the sabbath to their generations, a covenant of hidden-time. Between me and between the children of Israel, a sign is he to the hiding. For six days Yehovah made the heavens and the earth. And on the seventh day he ceased and was ‘re-beinged.'”

The Sabbath must be guarded and watched, making sure that nothing violates.

The word Shabbat (Sabbath) is feminine, yet the Hebrew regularly refers to it as masculine, and like a person. In traditional Judaism, the Sabbath is called a queen and is hailed in as the sun sets. This violates the regular spelling of the masculine pronoun. The Massorites (who placed the pronunciation dottings into the Hebrew text) placed feminine pronunciation dottings over the masculine pronouns referring to the Sabbath. It is read as if the Sabbath is a ‘she’ rather than a ‘he’. (One way certain texts that are believed to be spelled wrong are corrected is by changing these dottings.) If the masculine pronoun is erroneous, why is it always made at the same times and places in many texts? It isn’t in error. The Sabbath is the person of the Messiah.

How can the Sabbath be a sign that Yehovah is the Sanctifier of the Israelis? A sign is a person, place, thing or event which serves as an evidence to another that something is true or will take place. If the Sabbath is the Messiah, the Sanctifier of Israel, this is a sign! How can a ceasing be a person? How can the Messiah be Yehovah Who sanctifies Israel? He is. According to Judaism, an infinite God cannot be born as a man. Yet Yehovah is omnipotent, and all things (morally and ethically right) are possible. The miracle of the Sabbath is Messiah, Israel’s Sabbath.

Guarding the Sabbath against violation is the safeguard against violating the Messiah Who is holy to Israel. Without him, Israel has no rest. He belongs to Israel, being a son of the herd:

Exodus 29:1 And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest’s office: Take one young bullock (literally, a son of the herd).

The Sabbath is called her, and the one profaning her will certainly die. The Sabbath is a type, and Messiah is the antitype (the answer to the mystery of the type). Profaning her incurs the death penalty. Yehovah thus shows Israel the importance of the Sabbath and what she typifies. Profaning anything is treating it commonly rather than special, as if it is no one’s property. A public telephone is a profane telephone (even though it is owned by the telephone company) because anyone may use it to call. A private telephone is a holy telephone. Profane and holy are opposites.

The word being (in and that being shall be cut off from the midst of her people) takes a masculine pronoun. This is followed by she shall be cut off from the midst of her people, showing the relationship between the being (feminine) and the man (masculine) who is occupying the being. By making the pronoun feminine and saying she shall be cut off from her people, the text is not only referring to the man who is violating, but the being that will be damned. A man cut off from his people will die, but a being cut off from her people is damned! Yehovah sees this Sabbath with this importance.

What is the Sabbath of Sabbath(s) (in and on the seventh day is the sabbath of Sabbath(s), holy to Yehovah)? The Hebrew Shabbat Shabbaton is special compared to all Sabbaths. But this is a regular Sabbath! The regular Sabbath is that special to Yehovah. Violating this Sabbath is contemning all Sabbaths, and is holding the Messiah Himself in contempt.

Yehovah commanded the Israelis to guard the sabbath to do the sabbath to their generations—as long as they exist. Parts of the Sabbath require the Temple or Tabernacle, however, and they cannot be done according to the Torah until the next Temple is built.

The Sabbath is a covenant. Anyone thinking that he is required to do the Sabbath must also think himself in this particular covenant with Yehovah. This is not a covenant of Salvation or Grace, but is part of the whole Torah made between Yehovah and physical, literal Israel.

The hiding in a sign is he to the hiding is the Hebrew word OLAM, the opposite of YODEA, knowing. Yehovah revealed many things in earth’s history and future. Yehovah did not reveal events before the creation of the earth, nor after its destruction (with a very few exceptions). These are hidden. A covenant which is to the hiding is one which stands until the earth is destroyed with fire. At that time, the covenant will no longer be in force. The Torah of Moses commands will not be needed occupants of the New Earth, because it was designed and given to keep unbelieving Israelis alive until they might come to faith. In the same manner, the Sabbath covenant has force until the earth is no more and the New Earth exists. There will be no need to cease from one’s labours.

And on the seventh day He ceased and was ‘re-beinged’. To cease and ‘re-being’ is to stop working and doing errands, and to have one’s being restored. If Yehovah did this for the sake of man, it is important for man.

4. Regarding the Fire

Exodus 35:1 And Moses congregated all the witnessing-group of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yehovah commanded to do them. Six days shall an errand be done. And on the seventh day the Holy-One shall be to you. The sabbath of Sabbath(s) is to Yehovah. Every doer in him of an errand will die. Ye shall not kindle a fire in all your dwellings on the Day of Ceasing.”

A witnessing group is a congregation witnessing an event. The Scriptures declare that Israelis are Yehovah’s witnesses (even if the cult group thinks that it replaces Israel). Yehovah introduces a new aspect of the Sabbath to be guarded. Fire kindling requires real work. This is not the transferring of fire from one burning fire location to another, but kindling—striking or rubbing in order to make sparks or use friction to start a fire. If an Israeli’s fire went out, he could obtain fire from a neighbour.

5. The Day of Coverings Sabbath

Leviticus 16:29 And she shall be to you for a statute of hidden time. In the seventh month on the tenth of the month, ye shall humble your beings. And every errand ye shall not do–the native-born and the sojourner who sojourneth among you. For on that day he shall cover for you to cleanse you from all your sins before Yehovah. Ye shall be clean! A sabbath of Sabbath(s) she is to you. And ye shall humble your beings, a statute of hidden-time.

This is the Day of the Coverings Sabbath, YOM HAKIPPUREEM. No errand is permissible. This Sabbath requires the Israelis to humble their beings, knowing their true rank, position and responsibilities before Yehovah and men, and living that way from then on. Coverings for sins and cleanness are provided for the Israelis when they truly and permanently humble themselves before Yehovah.

6. General View of the Sabbaths

Leviticus 19:2 Speak unto all the witnessing-group of the children of Israel, and say unto them, “Holy-ones shall ye be. For I Yehovah your Gods am holy. Ye shall fear a man his mother and his father. And my Sabbaths shall ye guard. I am Yehovah your Gods.

Yehovah describes Himself in the plural form, being all Israel’s Gods. There are no other true and living gods. The Israelis are commanded to be holy ones, owned only by Yehovah and living that way. Yehovah belongs to His Saints, and is also Holy. He is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, owned by them as God. Any Israeli who fears Him and obeys His commandments also owns Him as his Gods.

While the Israelis must fear Yehovah, they must also fear mother and father. (The text does not refer to parental abuse, which in Israel was illegal.) Fearing parents does not mean that the child must always obey. If the parents violated Torah and commanded their children to participate, they had to obey the Torah rather than parents.

The plural Sabbaths is used because there are different Sabbaths. (‘Seventh Day Adventists’ claim to keep the Sabbath whle ignoring many Sabbaths. Folks like to pick and choose, especially when they think they replace Israel.) The Sabbaths are to be guarded because Yehovah is the Israelis’ Gods. Fearing the parents and guarding the Sabbaths are in the same category according to Yehovah.

7. Avoiding Pollution of the Land

Leviticus 19:29 Do not profane thy daughter, to give her up to whoredom lest the land practice whoredom, and the land become full of a plot. My Sabbaths shall ye guard and my sanctuary shall ye fear. I am Yehovah. Turn not unto necromancers and unto soothsayers. Seek not after them to make yourselves unclean. I am Yehovah your God.

The Sabbaths guard Yehovah’s land from pollution. Causing one’s daughter to whore for profit, using necromancers, etc. will pollute Yehovah’s land, and He will throw offenders off. The Sabbaths must be guarded, and Yehovah’s sanctuary is the be feared. The Israelis must fear Yehovah, mother, father, and the sanctuary. If the Sabbaths are kept, the land will not be overworked.

8. An Introduction of All the Sabbaths Starting with the Friday-Evening Sabbath

Leviticus 23:1 And Yehovah spoke to Moses to say, “Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, ‘The appointments of Yehovah which ye shall call them callings of the Holy-One, these are they–mine appointments. Six days thou shalt do an errand. And in the seventh day is a Sabbath of Sabbath(s), a calling of the Holy-One. Every errand ye shall not do. He is the Sabbath to Yehovah in all your settlements.'”

The Sabbath is an appointment, a calling of the Holy-One. It belongs to Yehovah and must be done in all the settlements of the Israelis.

9. The Passover

Leviticus 23:4 “‘These are the appointments of Yehovah, callings of the Holy-One which ye shall call them in their appointment. In the first month in the fourteenth of the month, between the two evenings is the Passover to Yehovah. And on the fifteenth day to this month is the solemnity of the Matzahs to Yehovah. Seven days shall ye eat matzahs (unleavened bread). On the first day a calling of the Holy-One shall be to you. Every errand of work ye shall not do. And ye shall bring-near fireward to Yehovah seven days. In the seventh day is a calling of the Holy-One. Every errand of work ye shall not do.'”

The Passover is another Sabbath given to Israel, and not to another other race.

10. Waving

Leviticus 23:9 And Yehovah spoke unto Moses to say, “Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, ‘When ye shall come unto the land which I am giving unto you, and ye shall harvest her harvest, and ye shall bring the first Omer of your harvest unto the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before Yehovah for your acceptance. From the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave him. And ye shall make, in the day of your waving the Omer, a perfect lamb the son of his year to an ascending-sacrifice to Yehovah and his grain-offering, two tenths of fine flour mingled with oil, fireward to Yehovah–a sweet savour, and her drink-offering of wine, a fourth of the hin. And ye shall not eat bread and roasted-grain and green-grain until this self-same day, until ye have brought the brought-near-offering of your Gods, a statute of hidden-time to your generations in all your dwellings. And ye shall count for yourselves from the morning after the Sabbath from the day that ye brought the Omer of the wave-offering, seven Sabbaths. They shall be perfect. Unto the-day-after the seventh sabbath shall ye count fifty day(s). And ye shall bring-near a new grain-offering to Yehovah. Out of your dwellings shall ye bring bread of waving, two of two tenths of fine flour they shall be. Leaven they shall be baked, first-fruits to Yehovah. And ye shall bring-near with the bread seven perfect lambs, the son of a year, and one bull, the son of the herd, and two rams. They shall be an ascending-sacrifice to Yehovah, and their grain-offering and their drinks-offering, fireward–a sweet savour to Yehovah. And ye shall make one kid of the goats for a sin-offering and two lambs the son of a year for a sacrifice of peaces-offering. And the priest shall wave them upon the bread of the first-fruits a wave-offering before Yehovah upon the two lambs. They shall be holy to Yehovah to priest. And ye shall call in this selfsame day a calling of the Holy-One. He shall be to you. Every errand of work ye shall not do, a statute of hidden-time in all your settlements to your generations. And in your harvesting the harvest of your land, thou shalt not finish the corner of thy field in thy harvest. And the gleaning of thy harvest thou shalt not glean. To the humble and to the stranger thou shalt forsake them. I am Yehovah your God.'”

And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month shall ye have a rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. No manner of servile work shall ye do; and ye shall present an offering by fire to Yehovah.'” And Yehovah spoke unto Moshe to say, “Only, in the tenth to this seventh month, a Day of the Coverings is he. A calling of the Holy-One he shall be to you. And ye shall humble your beings. And ye shall-bring-near fireward to Yehovah. And every errand ye shall not do in this selfsame day. For the Day of Coverings is he to cover upon you to the faces of Yehovah your Gods. For all of the being which will not be humbled in this selfsame day, and she shall-be-cut-off from her peoples! And all the being which shall do every errand in this selfsame day, and I will damn that being from the midst of her people. Every errand ye shall not do, a statute of hidden-time to your generations in all your settlements. He is a Sabbath of Sabbath(s) to you. And ye shall humble your beings in the ninth to the month in the evening. From evening unto evening ye shall cease your Sabbath.”

And Yehovah spoke unto Moshe to say, “Speak unto the children of Israel to say, ‘In the fifteenth day to this seventh month is the Solemnity of the Succot (booths) seven days to Yehovah. In the first day is a calling of the Holy-One. All errand of work ye shall not do. Seven days ye shall bring-near fireward to Yehovah. In the eighth day, a calling of the Holy-One will be to you. And ye shall bring-near fireward to Yehovah. He is an arresting. Every errand of work ye shall not do.

“‘These are the Appointments of Yehovah which ye shall call them, callings of the Holy-One to bring-near fireward to Yehovah ascending-sacrifice and grain-offering, sacrifice and pouring-offerings, a matter of a day in his day besides the Sabbaths of Yehovah and besides your gifts and besides all your vows and besides all your liberalities which ye shall give to Yehovah. Only in the fifteenth day to the seventh month, when ye gather the produce of the land, ye shall solemnize the Solemnity of Yehovah seven days. In the first day is a Shabbaton and in the eighth day is a Shabbaton. And ye shall take for yourselves in the first day the fruits of a majestic tree, palms of palm-trees and a cluster of a tree of compacts and willows of the brook. And ye shall rejoice before Yehovah your Gods seven days. And ye shall solemnize him, the Solemnity to Yehovah, seven days in the year–a statute of hidden-time to your generations. In the seventh month ye shall solemnize him. In Succot ye shall sit (reside) seven days–every native-born in Israel shall sit in succot so-that your generations shall know that in succot I made-sit (reside) the children of Israel when I sent-them-out from the land of Egypt. I am Yehovah your Gods.'” And Moses declared the set feasts of Yehovah to the children of Israel.

The Israelis are commanded to cease from errands, but the sacrifices go on seven days a week. Some priests do their labours on the Sabbaths. It is their work to oversee the sacrifices and to keep the altar clean.

The Sabbaths act as timing marks. And ye shall count for yourselves from the morning after the Sabbath from the day that ye brought the Omer of the wave-offering, seven Sabbaths. The timings of other events depend upon these Sabbaths. Yehovah did not give other races Sabbaths to mark events.

Verses 23 through 25 record the shortest Israeli solemnity, a blowing of Trumpets. This is a Shabbaton (a strong word for a Sabbath). It has the following stipulations:

· No Israeli may run an errand.

· The Israelis (plural) must bring near fireward to Yehovah (what they must bring is found in Numbers 29).

· There is to be a blowing of trumpets. These trumpets are silver, not the shofars (ram’s horns):

Numbers 10:1 And Yehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Take thee two trumpets of silver. Of turned-work shalt thou make them. And they shall be for thee for the calling of the witnessing-group and for the journeying of the camps. And they shall blast with them. And all the witnessing-group shall keep-appointment-unto thee at the opening of the Tent of Appointment. And if they blast with one: and the princes the heads of the thousands of Israel shall keep-appointment unto thee. And ye shall blast a sounding. And the camps that lie on the east parts shall go journey. And ye shall blast a second sounding. And the camps that lie on the south side shall journey. A sounding shall they blast for their journeys. And when the congregation is to be congregated, ye shall blast, but ye shall not do a sounding (i.e., not an extended trumpet blowing: no long notes). And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blast with the trumpets. And they shall be to you for a statute of hidden-time to your generations. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall sound with the trumpets. And ye shall be remembered before Yehovah your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. And in the day of your gladness and in your appointments and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blast with the trumpets over your ascending offerings and over the sacrifices of your peaces offerings. And they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Yehovah your God.

Numbers 29:1 And in the seventh month on the first of the month a calling of the Holy-One shall be to you. All errand work ye shall not do. A day of sounding shall be to you. And ye shall make an ascending -offering for a sweet savour to Yehovah, one bull the son of the herd, one ram, seven perfect lambs sons of a year. And their grain-offering is flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bullock, two tenths for a ram, and one tenth for one lamb throughout the seven lambs, And one kid of the goats a sin offering to cover upon you beside the ascending-sacrifice of the month and his grain-offering, and the daily ascending-sacrifice and his grain offering, and their pouring-offerings according to their justice–a sweet savour fireward to Yehovah.

The silver trumpets must be blasted the first of each month and in the seventh month. This Sabbath requires both the sounding of the silver trumpets and the blood sacrifices commanded. It is a memorial event—something is being remembered. What is this event? (I don’t yet know.)

And ye shall call in this selfsame day a calling of the Holy-One. This Sabbath requires this. Anyone thinking he can keep these Sabbaths outside of the Land of Israel without doing these requirements including the blowing of the trumpets and the sacrifices is dilluded.

Verse 26 refers to the Day of the Coverings which is a Sabbath of Sabbath(s) in which the Israelis must humble their beings. It is like the weekly Sabbath except for the death penalty for any Israeli who does not humble his being in it.

Verses 37 and 38 include the following which must be done along with the Sabbaths:

· The appointments of Yehovah

· The various sacrifices and offerings

· Gifts to Yehovah

· Vows to Yehovah

· Voluntary offerings which one’s heart prompts him to do

Not included in this list are the various functions of the priesthood on behalf of Israel which also must be done.

The Sabbath does not stand alone. Many other things must accompany the Sabbath in order for the Sabbath to be being properly kept or guarded.

Verse 39 includes two Shabbatons, the first and last days of Succot, or Booths:

· The normal Sabbath requirements must be met including the doing of no errand, and thus a ceasing from one’s labours.

· Boughs of leafy trees, willows, palm branches, whatever grows on trees as leaves are to be taken, and the one taking them is to rejoice before Yehovah seven days.

· Each native-born Israeli must dwell in booths seven days because Yehovah caused the Israelis to dwell in booths when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.

One Sabbath requires rejoicing while another humbling one’s self. One requires taking branches while another requires that no sticks be gathered. All have one requirement in common—no errand may be run. All are given to Israel. Anyone who wants to join with the Israelis to become part of the People of Israel may voluntarily do so (and thus take on the responsibilities and the dangers).

11. The Sabbath Table

Leviticus 24:1 And Yehovah spoke unto Moshe to say, “Command the children of Israel. And they shall take unto thee pure finely-cut olive oil for the light-bearer to make-ascend a lamp always. From outside to the vail of the testimony in the Tent of Appointment Aharon will order him from evening unto morning to the faces of Yehovah always, a statute of hidden-time to their generations. Upon the clean Menorah he will order the lamps to the faces of Yehovah always.

“And thou shalt take fine-flour, and thou shalt bake her, twelve Hallahs. Twelfth-portions will be to one hallah. And thou shalt put them, two orders, six of the order, upon the clean table to the faces of Yehovah. And thou shalt give upon the order pure frankincense. And she shall be for bread for I-will-remember-her fireward to Yehovah. In the Day of the Sabbath, in the Day of the Sabbath, he will order him before Yehovah always from with the children of Israel, a covenant of hidden-time. And she shall be to Aharon and to his sons. And they shall eat him in the Holy Place. For Holy of Holies is he to him from the fires of Yehovah, a statute of hidden-time.”

The pronouns switch between thou and he. The thou is Moses, and the he is Aharon or one of his sons in his lineage. Verse 8 shows Aharon’s Sabbath responsibility to order the table before Yehovah. The Sabbath cannot be kept if Aharon or one of his sons is not ordering the table. The Tabernacle or Temple is necessary for the Sabbath to be guarded according to the command of Yehovah.

12. The Land Gets a Break

Leviticus 25:1 And Yehovah spoke unto Moshe in Mount Sinai to say, “Speak unto the sons of Israel, and say thou unto them, ‘When ye shall come unto the land which I am giving to you, and the land shall cease a Sabbath to Yehovah. Six years thou shalt sow thy field and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard and thou shalt gather her produce. And in the seventh year shall be Shabbat Shabbaton to the land, Shabbat to Yehovah. Thy field thou shalt not sow and thy vineyard thou shalt not prune. The volunteer of thy harvest thou shalt not harvest and the grapes of thy separated-one thou shalt not diminish. The year of the Shabbaton will be to the land. And the Shabbat of the Land shall be to you for food for thee and for thy servant and for thy female-servant and for thine hired-worker and for thy settler of the sojourners with thee. And for thy beast and for the animal which is in thy land shall be all her produce for food.'”

The land of Israel has a ceasing (Sabbath) just as every individual in Israel. Animals, slaves and the land must guard the Sabbath. Yehovah threw the Israelis off the land because they worked the soil on her Sabbaths.

13. Jubilee

Leviticus 25:8 And thou shalt publish to thee seven Sabbaths of years, seven years seven strokes. And they shall be to thee the days of seven Sabbaths of the years, nine and forty year(s). And thou-shalt-make-pass a blasting shofar in the seventh month, in the tenth to the month. In the Day of the Coverings ye shall-make-pass the shofar in all your land. And ye shall sanctify the year of the fifty year(s). And ye shall call a liberation in the land to all her dwellers. A Flowing is he. She shall be to you. And ye shall return a man unto his possession, and a man unto his family ye shall return. A Flowing is he. The year of the fifty year(s) she shall be to you. Ye shall not sow and ye shall not harvest her [plant] volunteers, and ye shall not cut-away her separated-ones. For a Flowing, he is Holy. She shall be to you. From the field ye shall eat her produce. In the year of this Flowing, ye shall return a man unto his possession. And when ye shall sell a sale to Thy neighbour or purchase from the hand of thy neighbour, ye shall not tyrannize a man his brother. Via the number of years after the Flowing ye shall purchase from thy neighbour. Via the number of years of produce he shall sell to thee. To the mouth of the greatness of the years ye shall multiply his purchase, and to the mouth of fewness of the years ye shall diminish from his purchase. For the amount of produce he will sell to thee. And ye shall not tyrannize a man his neighbour. And thou shalt fear from thy Gods. For I am Yehovah thy Gods.

This Jubilee is also a Sabbath of the land, though Sabbath is not used. No work is to be done on the fields. They are to be left alone. The following are included:

· The shofar blast (singular) must pass throughout all the land.

· Sanctification of the 50th year must be done at that time.

· A liberation is called to all the dwellers of Israel, foreign slaves being excepted.

· Every Israeli returns back to his possessions and properties. If this is not done, this Sabbath is not being kept.

· Each Israeli must fear from Yehovah his Gods.

14. The Land’s Sabbaths, With or Without Israel

Leviticus 26:23 “And if via these ye will not be-corrected to me, and ye will walk hostilely with me, and I will walk, even I, with you via hostility. And I will smite you, also I, seven concerning your sins. And I will bring upon you a sword avenging the vengeance of the Covenant. And ye shall be gathered unto your cities. And I will send pestilence in your midst. And ye shall be given into the hand of an enemy via My breaking for you the staff of bread. Ten women shall bake your bread in one oven. And they shall return your bread by weight. And ye shall eat and not be satisfied.

“And if via this ye will not hearken to Me, and ye will walk hostilely with Me, and I will walk with you via the heat of hostility. And I will correct you, even I, seven concerning your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons. And the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. And I will damn-out your high-places. And I will cut-off your solar-images. And I will give your carcases upon the carcases of your rollers [referring to a derisive name for idols carved from logs which roll, now called totem polls]. And My being shall loathe you. And I will give your cities destruction. And I will desolate your sanctuaries. And I will not savour via the savour of your sweet-savour. And I will desolate, I, the Land. And your enemies who are dwelling in her shall be desolated concerning her. And you will I scatter in the races. And will draw out a sword after you. And your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. Then shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths all the days of the desolation. And ye are in the land of your enemies. Then shall the land cease and enjoy her Sabbaths. All the days of the desolation she shall cease that which she did not cease in your Sabbaths during your dwelling upon her. And the remaining-ones with you and I will bring softness [versus resoluteness] into their heart in the lands of their enemies. And the voice of a shaken leaf shall chase them. And they shall flee the flight-of a sword. And they shall fall, and none chaseth. And they shall stumble a man upon his brother as from the faces of the sword, and a chaser is not! And there will not be to you a standing before your enemies. And ye shall be damned among the races. And the land of your enemies shall eat you. And they that remain in you shall pine away in their iniquity in the lands of your enemies. And even in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them. And they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers with their transgression which they transgressed with Me, and even that they walked with Me with hostility. Even I, I will walk with them in hostility. And I will bring them into the land of their enemies–or then their foreskinned heart will bend. And then they will accept their iniquity. And I will remember My covenant Jacob, and even My Covenant Isaac. And even My Covenant Abraham will I remember. And the Land will I remember. The land shall be forsaken from them. And she shall enjoy her Sabbaths in her desolation from them. And they shall accept their iniquity because and because via My justices they contemned, and My statutes their being abhorred. And even also this–during their being in the land of their enemies–I did not contemn them and I did not abhor them to finish-off them, to break My Covenant with them. For I am Yehovah their Gods.”

Yehovah will choose the land over the Israelis if the Israelis violate on His land. Yehovah enforces the land’s Sabbaths. Israelis who are not in Israel cannot do many of the Sabbath commandments. Israelis enslaved in a foreign land cannot even cease on the Sabbaths of Yehovah.

15. Gathering Sticks Can Be Fatal

Numbers 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward because it was not declared what should be done to him. And Yehovah said unto Moses, “Dying, the man shall die. All the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.” And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones. And he died as Yehovah commanded Moses.

Violating the Sabbath is a death-penalty offense, as bad as murder in Yehovah’s eyes. There is no sacrifice for such offenses. Does this apply to gentiles, or Jews at this time? The Sabbath cannot be kept at this time (without the Temple, priesthood and the sacrifices). Even the most fervent Hassidic Jew living in the Land of Israel can keep only a shell of the Sabbath, not the Sabbath. He can cease from his labours and refuse to tend his field every seventh year. He can keep his servants and animals from labour on the Sabbath. He cannot enforce the Sabbath stonings of other Israelis nor do the Sabbath-required sacrifices, however. He must wait until the Temple is restored and the Land of Israel is freed from foreign Sabbath-inhibiting elements.

16. Sabbath Sacrifices

Numbers 28:1 And Yehovah spake unto Moses to say, “Command the children of Israel and say unto them, ‘My brought-near-offering, my bread for my fires, a savour of My sweetness shall ye guard to bring-near to Me in his appointment.’ And thou shalt say to them, ‘This is the fireward-offering which ye shall bring-near to Yehovah: two perfect lambs sons of a year of the first year two to a day, an ascending-sacrifice always. The one lamb shalt thou do in the morning and the second lamb shalt thou do between the evenings, and a tenth of the ephah of fine-flour for a grain-offering mingled with the fourth of the hin of beaten oil, an ascending-sacrifice of always which is done in Mount Sinai for a savour of sweetness fireward to Yehovah. And his pouring is a fourth of the hin for the one lamb. Via the Holy-One he shall pour the pouring of strong-drink to Yehovah. And the second lamb shalt thou do between the evenings. As the grain-offering of the morning and as his pouring thou shalt do fireward, a savour of sweetness to Yehovah.

‘”And on the sabbath day are two perfect lambs sons of a year and two tenths of fine-flour, a grain offering mingled with oil, and his pouring, the ascending-sacrifice of Shabbat in his Shabbat upon the ascending-sacrifice of the continuance and her pouring.'”

This is commanded twice daily every day of every year, as well as every Sabbath of every week. If a single Sabbath goes by without the appropriate sacrifice, the Sabbath has been violated. Yehovah did not design the Sabbath only for individual use, but for all Israel.

The following paragraphs include the rest of the Sabbath passages, some not pertinent to an understanding of the topic. Pertinent ones will receive titles.

2 Kings 4:23 And he said, “Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? [it is] neither new moon, nor sabbath.” And she said “Well.”

2 Kings 11:5 And he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that ye shall do. A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house…”

2 Kings 11:7 “And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of Yehovah about the king.”

2 Kings 11:9 And the captains over the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. The covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house and the king’s entry without turned he from the house of Yehovah for the king of Assyria.

17. Cooking Kohath-Style on the Sabbath

1 Chronicles 9:32 And of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites are over the Bread of Faces to prepare every sabbath.

The Kohathites had to cook on the Sabbath to prepare the Bread of Faces in order to keep the Sabbath.

1 Chronicles 23:31 …and to offer all ascending-sacrifices unto Yehovah in the Sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts by number according to the order commanded unto them continually before Yehovah.

2 Chronicles 2:3 “Behold, I build an house to Name Yehovah my Gods to sanctify to Him, to incense before Him sweet incense, and for the Order of continuance, and for the ascending-sacrifices for the morning and for the evening, for the Sabbaths and for the new moons and for the appointments of Yehovah our God. This is to hidden-time concerning Israel.”

2 Chronicles 8:13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the appointments, three times in the year: in the feast of unleavened bread and in the feast of weeks and in the feast of tabernacles.

2 Chronicles 23:4 “This is the thing that ye shall do. A third part of you entering on the sabbath of the priests and of the Levites, are porters of the doors…”

2 Chronicles 23:8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath with them that were to go on the sabbath. For Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

2 Chronicles 31:3 [He appointed] also the king’s portion of his substance for the ascending-sacrifices, for the morning and evening ascending-sacrifices, and the ascending-sacrifices for the Sabbaths and for the new moons, and for the set feasts as written in the law of Yehovah.

2 Chronicles 36:21 …to fulfil the word of Yehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath to fulfil seventy years.

Nehemiah 9:14 “…and the Shabbat of Thy Holy-One Thou madest known unto them, and commandedst them commandments, statutes and laws by the hand of Moses thy servant….”

Nehemiah 10:31 “And the people of the land are bringing ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell. We will not buy it of them on the sabbath or on the holy day. And we will leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.”

Nehemiah 10:33 “…for the Bread of the Order and for the continual grain-offering, and for ascending-sacrifices of the continuance, the Sabbaths, the new moons, for the Appointments, and for the holy [things], and for the sin offerings to cover upon Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.”

18. Guarding the Gates on the Sabbath

Nehemiah 13:15 “In those days saw I in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses, as also wine, grapes and figs, and all burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. And I testified in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein who brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem. 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? 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.’ And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. And of my servants set I at the gates. There should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.”

Nehemiah 13:21 “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 came they no more on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and they should come keep the gates to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, this also. And spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.”

Guarding the gates is work, and is part of sanctifying the Sabbath. A Levite with this responsibility must work on the Sabbath.

Ezra and Nehemiah could not enforce the death penalty for Sabbath violation. Once the Kingdom of Yehovah was exiled, the right to enforce the Law of Moses was denied. The Sabbath cannot be kept without a way to stop violation.

19. Sabbath Songs

Psalms 92:1 A Psalm, Song for the sabbath day. [It is] good to give thanks unto Yehovah and to sing praises unto Thy Name, Most High.

The Scriptures contain songs dedicated to the Sabbath.

20. Sabbaths Wrongly Done Are Disgusting

Isaiah 1:13 “Bring no more vain oblations! Incense is an abomination unto me! The new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies–I will not be able! “

A Sabbath improperly kept is wrong, equal with not doing it.

Yehovah gave the Sabbath as a gift to Israel within the terms of the Torah. As long as the Israelis spurn the Torah, Israelis will not be able to enjoy the benefits of the Sabbath, and it will be as much a burden as it would have been a delight. The most Orthodox Jews work hard to rest on the Sabbath! They have many rules, regulations and stipulations that make modern Sabbath keeping more of a profession for the highly educated, and many of these regulations violate the Torah:

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Yehovah your God which I command you.

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February 27, 2011July 5, 2017

About the Jews…

About the Jews

Prepared for First Baptist Church
Benton, Arkansas

A Little Background

A common Jewish saying goes, “Where there are two Jews, there are three opinions.” Many Jews have engaged in discussions, arguments, points of law and various ideas throughout the centuries. Some have learned to argue so well that they are able to argue points they do not hold as if they held those perspectives.

Jewish history is responsible for this. The Jews often either segregated themselves or were segregated due to their distinct cultures, dress, food, etc., The Jewish social commonality was the study of the Talmud. The Talmud consists of commentaries on the commentaries on the Torah. Rabbis long ago wrote commentaries on the Torah. Rabbis of later centuries viewed those commentaries as from the Spirit of God, and they wrote commentaries on the commentaries. The result was a massive set of hallowed commentaries that included regulations for Jewish life.

The rabbis who wrote those regulations often disagreed with each other. One rabbi would write one regulation, and another would disagree with it and would write another. Still other rabbis would expand on the regulations already written, both for and against. Yet veneration of these rabbis dictated that no one openly challenge their authority. The Jews thus learned to exist with great conflicts as if they were part of life.

When Jews trained in the Talmud studied law in any country, they nearly always excelled. Almost any law code was far simpler than the Talmud, and learning Gentile law codes was very easy. The same was true for medicine. Learning medicine was far easier than the Talmud, and Jewish doctors could easily become very great.

What do Jews Believe?

A common question asked by Gentiles is, “What do Jews believe regarding … ?” This question sounds reasonable, but it is based on an erroneous assumption: that Jews hold a common belief. The saying above, “Where there are two Jews, there are three opinions” automatically eliminates the possibility of a common belief among Jews.

There are five main religious forms of Judaism: Hassidic Orthodox, Orthodox, Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist. Yet, these do not express what individual members of these groups believe. Many who belong to an Orthodox synagogue do not believe what the rabbi believes; membership does not require a commonality of faith. It only requires a commonality in public practices. (Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism don’t even require that.)

Membership has benefits, and most who join do so for the sake of the benefits. (This is the same in religious organizations throughout the world. Most who join churches have little knowledge of or interest in the true faith of those churches. They are only required to say and do certain things, and are accepted into the membership. Few give weight to what they say.)

Hassidic Orthodox Jews

Hassidic Orthodox Jews are the most religious in the various forms of Judaism. They are the group often seen davening (moving their upper bodies forward and back as if in mourning) at the Western (‘Wailing’) Wall. They follow certain rabbis (teachers) who are or were considered the greatest examples of men closest to God. Their dress code is very strict as are their food requirements. They cannot eat foods prepared by folks who do not follow the strictest rabbinic commands. Some would be driven to starve before they would touch traifah (any unclean food, though literally referring to animals found torn, like road-kill). They would not shake hands with a Goy (Gentile) lest they become unnecessarily unclean; yet they are usually most affectionate toward their family and friends and very willing to help fellow Jews in need. Peter (in the Bible) maintained the same standards regarding Gentiles until a voice told him to not call anyone unclean whom God has cleansed (the text indicating that most indeed are unclean). Uncleanness has nothing to do with cleanliness—personal hygiene; it has to do with Yehovah’s standards of propriety for anyone to come into Yehovah’s congregation during an event that Yehovah commanded. The rabbis added many commands to the Biblical commands regarding cleanness/uncleanness. Hassidic Orthodox Jews (Hassidim) live according to the rabbinic additions as well as to ones found in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).

Commands that Hassidim observe include the Sabbath (starting on Friday as the sun sets and ending on Saturday as the sun sets). They do no work, driving, business or switching on a light on the Sabbath. (If the light will be necessary, it is turned on before sunset.) They do no cooking on the Sabbath. (Hot meals are prepared before the Sabbath and are placed in warmed ovens so that the Sabbath meal can be served hot.) They do no walking beyond a prescribed distance on the Sabbath.

All these practices have nothing to do with faith in the existence of God. Some Hassidim fervently believe in God (whom they call HaShem meaning the Name), and others do not. Tradition and community are the most powerful forces.

Hassidim honor the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the prophets and the writings (in other words, the entire ‘Old Testament’). They honor the rabbinic commentaries on the Torah as much as the Torah. They honor the rabbinic commentaries on the commentaries on the Torah as much as or more than the Torah believing that the rabbis were given infallible abilities to explain the Torah. (The same belief is commonly found in fundamental ‘Conservative’ Christianity; writers of commentaries are honored as if they wrote from the Spirit of God in their explanations.) The difference is that Christian Conservatives do this by practice but not by direct acknowledged policy, which is more or less what you get with Talmudists.)

Every aspect of everyday life is regulated for the Hassidim. Most are quite content with this. Such regulation brings a great sense of peace, purpose and the feeling of closeness to God even if it avoids questions that must be asked if one will understand the Bible. They think their rabbis understand Biblical texts in the deepest ways, and they rely on them for their own standing before God. They understand that God is like their rabbis in both dress and perspectives.

Orthodox Jews

After the Hassidic Orthodox Jews come the Orthodox Jews. They don’t maintain the same level of strictness and study as the Hassidic Orthodox Jews, but they hold a very religious practice. Hassidic Jewish males wear broad-rimmed, fur-bound black hats while Orthodox Jews will wear a kippah (meaning cap, and in Yiddish is called a yarmulke pronounced yamikah) or a black hat. Hassidic Jews wear a ‘prayer shawl’ at all times they are dressed, while Orthodox Jews do not necessarily do this all the time. Orthodox Jews are very strict regarding foods, maintaining rabbinic kashrut (kosher laws). But some will freely shake the hands of others and are not known for being so strict regarding touching Gentiles or becoming unclean. They are definitely stricter in their lifestyles than their Christian counterparts who claim to be part of a form of orthodox Christianity.

Orthodox Jews will not drive on the Sabbath (unless they are cheaters; and there are always some cheaters who put the rules aside when they are not being seen), and will not work or do business on it.

Hassidic Orthodox Jewish and Orthodox Jewish women are the greatest advocates of the maintenance of the religion. Religious Jewish women scorn Jews who are not religious. They are often very kind to Gentile women interested in their faith, showing them the Orthodox life and discussing all issues with them. Most Orthodox and Hassidic Orthodox women can be very kind to those who inquire, and they will show open contempt for Jews who violate strict regulations and live a pagan lifestyle. Jewish men seem to be the heads of the homes, but in reality Jewish women hold the societies together by maintaining the highest standards. The men respond by doing the same. (This is also true in strict Islamic cultures.)

Reform Judaism

Also known as the Judaism of Reform, this is not ‘Reformed Judaism;’ Reformed Judaism does not exist. The Judaism of Reform came about because of Jewish history and practice by which Jews were always outside of Gentile society. Some Jews aspired to be accepted among the Gentiles and to not be ostracized due to religion, clothing and foods. The founders determined to make some reforms in Judaism in order to bring peace between Jews and Gentiles. This was accomplished through compromise (on the part of the Jews). Reform Judaism at first looked little different from Orthodox Judaism except for men not consistently wearing a kippah and special clothing, but over time more and more parts of Judaism were shed in order to conform to Gentile society. Reform Judaism finally became viewed as the faith or faithlessness of Gentilized Jews. The only belief a Reform Jew could not hold was in Jesus. Reform Jews could be Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu, Shinto, whatever, as long as belief in Jesus was not part of it.

Reform Judaism was not very popular at first, seen as being held by destructive radicals. It later became more popular and soon became much like attending a liberal church. The order of service includes repetition and readings with little ‘audience’ participation. (Hassidic Orthodox and Orthodox services are much longer and include much more participation, and focus on texts and their meanings and applications.) Shorter Reform services center around the rabbi’s usually very liberal sermons that discuss social issues. Orthodox and Hassidic Orthodox Jews often do not view Reform rabbis as true rabbis. Reform Jews always view Orthodox and Hassidic Orthodox rabbis as rabbis indeed.

Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism was born out of Reform Judaism, though a person attending would not necessarily conclude that. Some in the Reform movement saw Reform Judaism with its liberal teachings, acceptance of homosexuality and lesbianism, etc. as a way to deplete the Jewish world of Jews by turning them into Goyim (Gentiles). They did not desire to become Orthodox, but they did want a maintenance of some traditions, certainly during services. Thus, the Conservative movement was born. The services allow for men and women to sit together (not done in Orthodox and Hassidic Orthodox services), but kippahs are worn.

One main feature of Conservative Judaism is its worship of the Sabbath Queen. The Sabbath is viewed as a woman, and her arrival is honored as if she is royalty or deity. Songs are sung in her honor.

Conservative Judaism has a perfect counterpart in Conservative Christianity. They are both called Conservative because the idea is to conserve some trappings and traditions while not being so strict. Orthodox means straight doctrine, implying strict codes of right and wrong with strong, clear lines of behaviour that must not be passed. Conservatism is far more ‘accepting’ (and thus, far more liberal), focusing on a few well-chosen issues (like abortion among Christians) rather than on strict faith and practice. The same is true in Conservative Christianity. It isn’t orthodox (straight-doctrined), though its adherents are convinced it is. Conservative Christianity is famous for only taking some texts literally while viewing others as symbolic or allegorical according to personal preferences (not according to a standard that the Author gives for determining which is which). The accent in both Conservative Judaism and Conservative Christianity is in how things look; neither group accents deeply studying texts beyond lip service.

Curiously, forms of Christianity that are called Orthodox (like the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.) are very liberal (that is, loose in their interpretations) in many places. They are not orthodox (straight-doctrined) in those areas. The same is true in both Orthodox and Hassidic Orthodox Judaism. They are both very liberal in areas where their rabbis did not desire to be strict. One example is the text in Exodus that blatantly states when the Jews are to start each year: in the spring. Even the most Orthodox Jews (along with the most liberal of Jews who still claim Judaism) celebrate the start of the year (Rosh HaShanah) in the fall, a full six months away from the time given in the command.

The Rest

Most of the Jews do not fall under any of the above categories of Judaism. Most have no established belief in a god. Only a few have been attracted to modern Christianity. Jews who become Christians either go for Charismatic forms where they can maintain being Jewish or they go for the most liberal forms of Christianity such as Unitarianism. This is often necessary to be accepted by their Gentile neighbours who put up religious fronts in order to make it in society. They are like so many politicians who find being part of some church imperative to be elected, choosing ones with the least spiritual demands.

Jews who attend Conservative churches are often treated differently than their Gentile counterparts, either being elevated to an impossibly high status or being told that they must reject their ‘Jewishness’ and join the (Gentile) church, conforming to it and its standards in order to be accepted by God.

Politics

Jews are generally politically liberal. That is probably due to their history. When historical conservative governments arose, Jews usually did not fare well and were often targeted for being different. Some Jews are politically very conservative. Jews will usually maintain two sets of opposing views without feeling any conflict. Even the most Orthodox Jews will have no problem voting for a liberal politician if that politician is strong toward Israel and toward those things that will benefit (or do less damage to) the Orthodox Jewish community. Yet the most liberal Jews will support the most conservative candidates who voice a strong view for or against what those Jews support or are against. One of the most liberal and famous Jewish lawyers in the United States is very conservative on certain issues, as he has openly acknowledged. No person can understand the Jews without knowing that the same Jewish person will take opposing views on almost the same issues, and will stand up strongly for both.

The Jews are like everyone else, except more so.

If a Jew invents a political system, a religion or a mixture, many Gentiles will go after it as if it is a revelation from God. Karl Marx was Jewish, and to this day the largest population on earth (the various races of the Chinese) still espouse his religion/political system called Communism. A close examination of Karl Marx’s instruction on Communism will show that it is almost entirely stolen from the Biblical book of Acts with one exception: Mr. Marx determined to leave God out of it. Saints in Acts held all things in common and benefited each other just as Mr. Marx suggested man (in general) would naturally do. His system instead became a means of authoritarian corruption and slavery. But whenever a Jewish person proposes a system like this, many go after it. How effective would a Jewish person be who proposed taking the Word of God literally?

Mainly Jewish folks invented the Hollywood movie industry, and the whole world went after it. That industry has been beneficial in some ways and highly destructive in others. The world still goes after it. Even violent anti-Semites watch television.

Jewish names loom much greater in proportion to their population in the life-saving medical fields, with Jews discovering numerous vaccines and medical techniques.

Jews were blamed for the Black Plague because they didn’t tend to be so affected by it. The plague was exacerbated by Gentile superstitious stupidity. Jewish communities were affected less, and this is perhaps attributable to different cultural practices. Some outspoken Gentiles claimed that Jews were poisoning their wells, causing the Plague. Violence against the Jews became widespread, and the Jews were driven out of Europe. Think what could have been done had folks with sense considered the situation.

So-called ‘Christians’ have blamed Jews for ‘killing Christ.’ (Some who claim to be Christians currently do this.) The Bible places responsibility for His death on Jews, Gentiles, Yehovah and Yeshua in various texts. Those who blame the Jews do so with often violent results. Yet the Bible states that the Jews are responsible for Salvation (as I later quote).

Jewish Patriotism

Some have accused the Jews of having no patriotic loyalty. Rumors of Jews being international and even causing wars have been spread by lying books like Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The majority of Jews have been poor, not wealthy. As of a few years ago, no Jewish person was the president of any bank in the United States. Some Jews have done well, but so have some Gentiles. Jews have been loyal to any country where they have lived if that country has treated them well. (Most have not treated them well for long.) They have worked hard, and often had their wealth stolen (consider European history). Yet, in any country where they have been able to live and do well, they have aided that country with their means and blood. Traitors can be from any race; Jews have rarely been traitors.

A number of Jews supported the Revolutionary War with funding. The United States has acknowledged this benefit on its paper money, employing Jewish symbols:

Obviously, if a country turns against the Jews, the Jews must either leave or die. This has often occurred in Jewish history. Jews tend to stay too long and be too loyal even when this is foolish.

As for Jewish internationalism, because Jews live in most all countries of the world and share a cultural commonality, they are able to expedite trade and benefits. Many non-Jews have prospered through this trade.

The Torah

Wherever Jews go, the Torah goes with them. Wherever Jews go, the Bible goes with them. (That includes the ‘New Testament’.) That doesn’t mean that Jews in general believe the Bible. Most Jews do not believe in the Biblical God. Most are agnostic (agnosos indicating ignorance); they don’t know. Most who do believe in a god or gods do not believe in a Biblically described God (the same being true of most who claim to be Christian). Jews are found in most world religions. Yet where the Jews go, the Torah also goes; the Truth of the Word of God also follows.

Friends of Jews are friends of the Bible. Those who ignore Jews or who stand against them ignore the Bible or stand against it. This is a most curious phenomenon. Jews represent the Bible whether they want to or not.

What About When the Jews Do Wrong?

I am sometimes asked, “What about when the Jews do wrong? Are you saying that I must be for them in order to be right with God?” The Jews did wrong under Moses’ administration. Moses killed some of them to save all of them. Moses was never against the Jews. He was against individuals who violated the Torah and whose violation was about to bring the very destructive wrath of Yehovah upon Israel. That isn’t the same as standing against the Jews.

Jews belong to Yehovah. Standing against them is standing against Yehovah’s property. It is up to Yehovah to deal with them or to use whomever He will to deal with them. Anyone who presumes to speak for God by dealing with the Jews will find Yehovah’s fury set against him. If a Jewish person does wrong and you are in the position and have the responsibility to deal with him, do so. But do not stand against the Jews; it has everlasting consequences.

Does God Favor the Jews over the Gentiles?

If the Jews do wrong, Yehovah deals with them harder for the same offenses. (The Bible states that this is the case.) They have Truth because He gave them Truth. They are held responsible for what they have been given. If they don’t know, it isn’t because they don’t have access. Even if a Jewish person were on a desert island in a prison cell, and were given only food, water and clothing, the Jewish person would not be isolated from Yehovah’s Spirit. Abraham heard from Yehovah, and he had no Bible. John was in prison on Patmos. He was temporarily removed from there, taken into the heavens and into the future to view things to come. No Jewish person is isolated from God, nor can be. If he or she desires to know, Yehovah will make sure he or she knows. (The same is true for any Gentile who desires to know.)

Yehovah owns the Jews. (He does not claim ownership over other races.) He has vowed to benefit them if they will obey His Torah (in other words, do their responsibilities). He has also vowed to bless those who bless Avraham, and He transferred that blessing to Isaac and then to Jacob.

Yehovah favours the Jews in some ways and violently goes after them in others as He would not do with pagan races. This favour has to do with a group, not with individuals. Most Jewish individuals find Yehovah’s attention anything but a privilege. As was said in Fiddler on the Roof, “Why can’t you choose someone else?”

Some are jealous of the Jews. They are jealous for the blessings—blessings that Jews have not enjoyed since the time of the promise, but they are not jealous for the guaranteed cursings that Jews have abundantly obtained for disobedience to the Torah.

Salvation is of the Jews

Anyone who believes the Bible believes that Salvation is of the Jews. Instead of being jealous of the Jews, those who have any interest and belief in the Bible need to present to the Jews the very Salvation that Jews have given to all who believe. They need to drive the Jews to jealousy. Romans 11 states this. Any form of Christianity that does not have this as its primary and central goal does not truly believe in the resurrection of the dead. For Messiah will return with those who have died in faith only after Israel (including every living Israeli) has finally been made entirely righteous in faith.

Yeshua says (which is explicit in a similar way), “Ye will not see me again until ye say, ‘Blessed is He Who comes with the Name Yehovah.’” He was saying what the corporate Body of the Jews have yet to state. Of course that leaves out any kind of manipulation or mechanism of ‘faith’ on the part of Christians to make (or cause) Yeshua to come back.

How Can One Understand the Jews?

Read the Bible. It perfectly and completely describes the Jews. Jews who are far more gracious than nearly any American you will meet are described in the Bible; Jews who are more wicked and violent than most criminals are also described.

Yehovah has given Jews the responsibility to rightly portray Him to the world. Jews are best equipped for their assignments just as Saints from all races will be equipped for their different assignments.

Before I went to Israel, I experienced the local culture of some Jews in the United States. I was shocked to find a very different culture in Israel, a culture that I could not reconcile with my experiences. Jews are not standard. They reflect cultures in which they live; yet they hold a different culture no matter where they live. I found that I could understand Jewish cultures best by studying the Bible and the character of Yehovah! No one in possession of a Bible knows Yehovah if that person does not understand the Jews since understanding the Jews and Yehovah go hand in hand as one reads the Bible. Anyone who hates the Jews is bitter against Yehovah, not to mention a bitter enemy OF Yehovah.

Didn’t God Turn to the Gentiles Because the Jews Refused to Obey?

Yehovah is divorced. The Bible directly states this. Yehovah was married to Jerusalem; He is now divorced from her. He will remarry her again. Yehovah has not ‘let Israel be’ since the divorce; He has been keeping an eye on her. Anyone who touches the Israelis touches the pupil of His eye. (That is rather sensitive.) Yehovah has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.

He foreknew the Israelis before He chose them. He would be a failure if He chose wrong. He has sense. Yehovah has not turned to the Gentiles and away from Israel.

Look at what the Gentiles have done in the way of Biblical scholarship in the last 1800 years. Look at what they haven’t done. How many understand the purpose of the red heifer? How many understand the vital types of the sacrifices in the Torah? How many understand the details of the Tribulation as described throughout the book of John? How many can rightly and fully explain Matthew 5-7? How many know what the Ark of the Testimony pictures? Given 1800 years, what have the Gentiles done? Have they made a pure Christianity with a definite and right standard according to what the Bible describes in all details?

The Gentiles have done no better, and have done far worse than the Jews. At least in the days of Yeshua (Jesus) a number of folks were declared righteous, and they knew that one could successfully and consistently refuse to sin by the power of God.

God hasn’t turned to the Gentiles. He has been silent. Yehovah is silent when He is angry.

As one person stated, “It reminds me of what people say about psychics – – why don’t they always win at horse racing? What has occurred to me about the Jews and Yehovah is that He knows the end from the beginning and doesn’t place bets on any losing horses since He knows how the race turns out.”

Replacement Theology

Popular in Gentilized (and unfortunately in so-called ‘Messianic Jewish’) theology is the view that the Gentiles have replaced Israel (or, in the case of Messianic Judaism, the view that modern Jews have replaced Israel). This violent theology is pervasive even among many who claim to be friends of Israel.

When pastors, preachers and teachers steal texts that are specifically for Israel for their own theological applications, they are practicing Replacement Theology. Not only is this stealing and dishonest, it totally blinds hearers to Truth and teaches an illegitimate faith (and thus an illegitimate salvation).

Replacement Theology is an attempt to annihilate the Jews. Folks who use it may not have that in mind, but they are as guilty as those who think that all Jews are stingy while claiming that they are not racist. Reading the Bible is not for the mindless; it is designed for children (who take things literally) and for thinkers who are willing to consider Truth. Yehovah also designed the Bible so that those who love a lie could erroneously use it.

Yehovah entrusted His Word to the Jews first, and He will entrust His Word to the Jews finally. They will teach Gentiles His Word during the entire Millennium while He reigns. The Jews will teach His Word literally.

Yeshua told the mostly unbelieving Jews that they are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. He never said that to any other group. (He never said that to any individuals.) Jews have been chosen by a ‘right wise’ God to be the light of the world (a light to the Gentiles) and to be the salt of the earth (bringing real flavor to life). They have already been given these abilities. All who fear the God of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob have a responsibility toward the Jews just as the Jews have a responsibility toward the Gentiles. If one group does not presently fulfill its responsibilities, does that release the other from responsibility?

http://www.sschotsprings.com/about_the_jews.html

This paper updated with edits on March 22, 2006

November 22, 2010July 5, 2017

Exodus 11 and 12 Death and Unleavened Bread

Death and Unleavened Bread

Background and Printed Text: Exodus chapters 11 and 12

Exodus 11:1 And Yehovah said unto Draw [Moshe], “I will bring one further strike upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward, he will send you from this. He finished according to his sending. Thrusting, he will thrust you from this!

² “Speak thou, na, in the ears of the people. And they have asked a man from with his neighbour and a woman from with her neighbour utensils of silver and utensils of gold.” ³And Yehovah gave favour of the people in the eyes of Egypt. The man Draw [Moshe] is also very big in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of the slaves of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of the people!

⁴And Draw [Moshe] said, “So said Yehovah, ‘As halving the night, I am exiting in the midst of Egypt. ⁵And every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die—from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting upon his chair unto the firstborn of the slave-woman who is after the millstones, and every firstborn of beast.’ ⁶And a big scream will be in all the land of Egypt that was not like him, and will not increase like him. ⁷And a dog will not cut his tongue to all the children of Israel to/from a man and unto a beast, so that ye will know that Yehovah will segregate between Egypt and between Israel! ⁸And all these thy slaves will descend unto me. And they will worship to me to say, ‘Exit thou!—thou and all the people that is with thy feet!’ And afterward I will exit.” And he exited from with Pharaoh via heats of nose!

⁹And Yehovah said unto Draw [Moshe], “Pharaoh will not hearken unto you so that my wonders are multiplied in the land of Egypt.” ¹⁰And Draw [Moshe] and Oy!-Conception! [Aharon] did all these wonders to the faces of Pharaoh. And Yehovah gripped the heart of Pharaoh. And he did not send the children of Israel from his land.

Chapter 12

Exodus 12:1 And Yehovah said unto Draw [Moshe] and unto Oy!-Conception! [Aharon] in the land of Egypt to say, ² “This month is the head of months to you. He is the first to you to the months of the year.

³ “Speak-ye unto all the congregation of Israel to say, ‘In the 10th to this month, and they have taken to them a man a lamb for the house of fathers, a lamb for a house. ⁴And if the house will-be-too-little from being from a lamb, and he will take, and his neighbour near unto his house, via the blanketing of beings.’ Ye will blanket a man to the mouth of his eating concerning the lamb.

⁵ “A perfect male son-of-a-year lamb will be to you. Ye shall take from the sheep and from the goats. ⁶And he shall be to you for a guarding until the 14th day to this month. And ye shall slaughter him between the evenings—all the congregation of the witness of Israel.

⁷ “‘And they shall take from the blood. And they shall give upon two of the doorposts and upon the lintel, upon the houses in which they will eat him.

⁸ “‘And they shall eat the flesh in this night roasted of fire. And they shall eat him, Matzahs upon bitternesses.’ ⁹Ye shall not eat from him raw and boiling, boiled in water, but rather fire-roasted, his head upon his knees and upon his approach.

¹⁰ “And ye shall not make-remain from him unto morning. And ye shall burn the remainder from him unto morning in fire.

¹¹ “And ye shall eat him thus: your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your walking-staff in your hand. And ye shall eat him in haste—he is the Skip-Over to Yehovah!

¹² “And I will cross-over in the land of Egypt in this night. And I will smite every firstborn in the land of Egypt from Adam and unto cattle. And I will do justices via all gods of Egypt. I am Yehovah!

¹³ “And the blood shall be to you for a sign upon the houses where ye are. And I will see the blood. And I will skip-over above you. And the strike will not be in you for a slaughter when I smite in the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ “And this day shall be to you for a remembrance. And ye shall solemnize him a solemnity to Yehovah to your generations. Ye shall solemnize him, a statute of Hider!

¹⁵ “Ye shall eat Matzahs seven days. Indeed, ye shall make-cease leaven from your houses in the first day. For every eater of vinegar, and that being shall-be-cut-off from Israel from the first day unto the seventh day.

¹⁶ “And a calling of a Holy-[One] is in the first day. And a calling of a Holy-[One] shall be to you in the day seven. He will not do any errand in them. He alone shall do for you only what he will eat for every being.

¹⁷ “And ye shall guard the Matzahs. For in this selfsame day I made-exit your armies from the land of Egypt. And ye shall guard this day to your generations, a statute of Hider. ¹⁸Ye shall eat Matzahs in the evening in the first, in the 14th day to the month, unto the day one and twenty to the month in the evening.

¹⁹ “Leaven will not be found in your houses seven days. For every eater from vinegar, and that being—in a sojourner and in a native of the land—shall be cut-off from the witness of Israel! ²⁰Ye shall not eat every vinegar! Ye shall eat Matzahs in all your dwellings!”

²¹And Draw [Moshe] called to all elders of Israel. And he said unto them, “Draw-ye and take-ye a flock to you—to your families. And slaughter-ye the Skip-Over! ²²And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop. And ye shall immerse in blood that is in a basin. And ye shall cause-to-touch unto the lintel and unto two of the doorposts from the blood that is in the basin.”

“And ye, ye shall not exit—a man from the opening of his house—unto morning. ²³And Yehovah will cross-over to smite Egypt. And He will see the blood upon the lintel and upon two of the doorposts. And Yehovah will Skip-Over above the opening. And He will not give the Slaughterer to come unto your houses to smite.

²⁴ “And ye shall guard this speech for a statute to thee and to thy children unto Hider. ²⁵And he shall be when ye shall come unto the land that Yehovah will give to you just-as He spoke. And ye shall guard this service!

²⁶ “And he shall be, for your children shall say unto you, ‘What is this service to you?’ ²⁷And ye shall say, ‘He is the Sacrifice of Skip-Over to Yehovah Who Skipped-Over above the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt in His smiting Egypt! And He rescued our houses!’”

And the People bowed. And they worshipped. ²⁸And they walked. And the children of Israel did just-as Yehovah commanded Draw [Moshe] and Oy!-Conception! [Aharon]—they did so!

²⁹And he was in the half of the night. And Yehovah smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits upon his chair unto the firstborn of the captive who is in the house of the pit, and every firstborn of cattle! ³⁰And Pharaoh arose that night, and all his slaves, and all Egypt. And a big scream was in Egypt. For there is not a house where there is no death there!

³¹And he called to Draw [Moshe] and to Oy!-Conception! [Aharon]… night!… and said, “RISE-YE! EXIT-YE FROM THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE!—also ye! Also the children of Israel! And walk-ye! Serve-ye Yehovah as ye spoke— ³²also your flock! Take-ye also your herd just-as ye spoke! And WALK! And bless-ye also me!”

³³And Egypt was strong upon the People to hurry to send them from the land. For they said, “All of us are dead-[ones]!”

³⁴And the People lifted his dough before he will ‘vinegarize,’ their kneadingtroughs bound-up in their clothes upon their shoulder. ³⁵And the children of Israel did as Draw [Moshe] spoke. And they asked from Egypt utensils of silver and utensils of gold and clothing. ³⁶And Yehovah gave the favour of the People in the eyes of Egypt. And they asked them. And they rescued Egypt.

³⁷And the children of Israel journeyed from Raamses to Succot as 600,000 feet of the valiant-ones, beside a little-one. ³⁸And also a great mixture ascended with them, and a very heavy flock and herd of livestock!

³⁹And they baked the dough that they made-exit from Egypt, discs of Matzah. For it was not ‘vinegarized;’ for they were forced from Egypt. And they were not able to WHAT?WHAT? themselves. And they also did not make victuals for themselves.

⁴⁰And the settlement of the children of Israel where they lived in Egypt is 30 year[s] and 400 year[s]. ⁴¹And he was from the end of 30 year[s] and 400 year[s]. And he was in this selfsame day. All armies of Yehovah exited from the land of Egypt! ⁴²He is a night of guardings to Yehovah to make-exit from the land of Egypt! He is this night to Yehovah, guardings to all the children of Israel to their generations!

⁴³And Yehovah said unto Draw [Moshe] and Oy!-Conception! [Aharon], “This is the statute of the Skip-Over: Every son of a foreigner will not eat in him. ⁴⁴And every slave, a man bought of silver and thou hast ‘fronted’ him, then he will eat in him. ⁴⁵A sitter and a hireling—he will not eat in him. ⁴⁶He shall be eaten in one house. Thou shalt not make-exit outside from the house from the flesh. And ye shall not break a bone in him. ⁴⁷All the witness of Israel—they shall do him!

⁴⁸ “And if a sojourner will sojourn with thee and will do Skip-Over to Yehovah, ‘front’ to him—every male! And then he will approach to do him. And he shall be as a native of the land. And every foreskin shall not eat in him! ⁴⁹One teaching will be to the native and to the sojourner sojourning in your midst.” ⁵⁰And all the children of Israel did just-as Yehovah commanded Draw [Moshe] and Oy!-Conception! [Aharon]—they did so!

⁵¹And he was in this selfsame day. Yehovah made-exit the children of Israel from the land of Egypt upon their armies!

I. Finished! (verse 1)

Yehovah told Pharaoh, “I will bring one further strike upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward, he will send you from this.” Yehovah then added, “According to his sending, he finished.” This will be the last of Pharaoh’s refusing to send the Israelis.

Yehovah told Moshe how Pharaoh will deal with the Israelis: “Thrusting, he will thrust you from this!”

Questions

1. Why did Yehovah view what He was about to do as a strike?

2. Why did Yehovah attack Egypt when the Egyptians couldn’t do anything about what their leader caused?

3. To what does this refer in “Afterward, he will send you from this”?

4. What does “He finished according to his sending” mean? Identify the pronouns (He and his).

5. Explain “Thrusting, he will thrust you from this”:

II. Utensils of Silver and Gold (verses 2-3)

Yehovah gave Moshe an assignment for the Israelis to do. He must speak this in the ears of the people of Israel. Each man and woman must ask from an Egyptian neighbour for utensils of silver and gold.

Yehovah gave favour into the eyes of Egypt toward the Israelis; otherwise, they wouldn’t have given precious valuables.

Moshe is very big in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of Pharaoh’s slaves, and in the eyes of the people!

Questions

1. How could Moshe speak in the ears of the people of Israel? Wouldn’t that take years?

2. Did the Israelis only have to ask for utensils of silver and gold? What is a utensil?

3. What happened when “Yehovah gave favour of the people in the eyes of Egypt”?

4. Did the Egyptians feel threatened into giving these items?

5. What does “Moshe is very big in the land” mean?

6. Moshe was very big in the eyes of what groups?

III. The Firstborn Warning (verses 4-8)

Moshe came to Pharaoh. He gave him terrifying information for the next . He told them, “So said Yehovah, ‘As halving the night, I am exiting in the midst of Egypt.’” Halving the night refers to midnight.

Yehovah’s speech continued, “And every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die—from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting upon his chair unto the firstborn of the slave-woman who is after the millstones, and every firstborn of beast.” Yehovah will kill every firstborn in Egypt!

“And a big scream will be in all the land of Egypt that was not like him, and will not increase like him.” The Egyptians will respond with screams to all the dead firstborn. While these screams will occur through Egypt, Yehovah explained what would happen in Israel: “And a dog will not cut his tongue to all the children of Israel to/from a man and unto a beast, so that ye will know that Yehovah will segregate between Egypt and between Israel!” (The dog cutting his tongue refers to barking.)

“And all these thy slaves will descend unto me.” Yehovah gave this speech to Moshe! All Pharaoh’s slaves will descend unto Moshe! “And they will worship to me to say, ‘Exit thou!—thou and all the people that is with thy feet!’” The slaves of Pharaoh will beg Moshe to leave with all the Israelis, including the entire people at Moshe’s feet!

Moshe continued, “And afterward I will exit.” Moshe then left Pharaoh with great anger!

Questions

1. What does “As halving the night” mean?

2. Where is Yehovah going if He is exiting in the midst of Egypt?

3. What will Yehovah do in Egypt?

4. Why is Yehovah attacking the firstborn, when some of those are little children and babies?

5. What does “the slavewoman who is after the millstones” mean?

6. Isn’t Yehovah’s killing a slavewoman’s child cruel, since she doesn’t have freedom?

7. What are the purposes of all these attacks, besides convincing the Egyptians to send the Israelis?

8. Why didn’t Yehovah slaughter the leaders of Egypt who held the Israelis instead of going after little children?

9. Will firstborn die if they are females?

10. What does “a big scream will be in all the land of Egypt that was not like him, and will not increase like him” mean?

11. What does “a dog will not cut his tongue to all the children of Israel to/from a man and unto a beast” mean?

12. What is the purpose for Yehovah causing the dogs owned by the Israelis to refrain from barking?

13. Who is speaking in these verses, and to whom is he speaking?

14. Who is me in, “And all these thy slaves will descend unto me”?

15. If Pharaoh’s slaves will descend and worship to Moshe, what is happening, and why are they doing this?

16. What does “that is with thy feet” mean?

17. What does “he exited from with Pharaoh via heats of nose” mean?

18. Why was Moshe so angry?

IV. The Recap (verses 9-10)

Yehovah told Moshe again, “Pharaoh will not hearken unto you…” Yehovah then told Moshe what the result of Pharaoh’s refusal will be: “…so that my wonders are multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

The text now gives this information about all that has been done and will yet be done: “And Draw [Moshe] and Oy!-Conception! [Aharon] did all these wonders to the faces of Pharaoh. And Yehovah gripped the heart of Pharaoh. And he did not send the children of Israel from his land.”

Questions

1. Yehovah said, “Pharaoh will not hearken unto you so that my wonders are multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Hadn’t His wonders already been multiplied in the land of Egypt? What did Yehovah mean?

2. Do Egyptians today know about these events that occurred in Moshe’s day?

3. Again, what happened when Yehovah gripped the heart of Pharaoh?

V. New Year (chapter 12, verses 1-2)

Yehovah commanded both Moshe and Aharon to give this command to the Israelis: “This month is the head of months to you. He is the first to you to the months of the year.” This month is the month in which the spring of the year occurs.

Questions

1. What does “This month is the head of months to you” mean?

2. Why did Yehovah repeat what He said by saying, “He is the first to you to the months of the year”?

3. Exactly when is this month? Does it refer to one of the months of the year that we use?

4. Why did Yehovah choose this month to be the first month of the year?

VI. One Lamb (verses 3-4)

Yehovah commanded Moshe and Aharon to speak unto all the congregation of Israel, and to say the following: “In the 10th to this month, and they have taken to them a man a lamb for the house of fathers, a lamb for a house.” They will be slaughtering, cooking and eating this lamb.

“And if the house will-be-too-little from being from a lamb, and he will take, and his neighbour near unto his house, via the blanketing of beings.” Thus, if one house of persons has too few folks to eat an entire lamb, a house of persons and a neighbouring house of persons will together take one lamb so that one lamb will ‘blanket’ (will cover) the eating of both houses. Yehovah explains and commands: “Ye will blanket a man to the mouth of his eating concerning the lamb.” Thus, the Israelis will make certain that they will know how much all the members of a house can eat so that they can determine if two houses will come together to eat one lamb.

Questions

1. How could Moshe and Aharon speak unto all the congregation of Israel?

2. What does “they have taken to them a man a lamb for the house of fathers” mean?

3. Should more than one lamb be acquired if the household is very large?

4. What does “if the house will-be-too-little from being from a lamb” mean?

5. What will they take in, “And if the house will-be-too-little from being from a lamb, and he will take, and his neighbour near unto his house”?

6. What does via the blanketing of beings mean?

7. What does the instruction, “Ye will blanket a man to the mouth of his eating concerning the lamb” mean?

8. Why is it so important that each person will have enough lamb to eat? What does this picture?

VII. Male Yearling (verses 5-6)

Yehovah now explained how to determine what lamb is acceptable: “A perfect male son-of-a-year lamb will be to you. Ye shall take from the sheep and from the goats.” Thus, a goat is also an acceptable animal.

Yehovah commanded the Israelis to guard the animal until the 14th day of this first month. They then must slaughter him “between the evenings.” All the congregation of the witness of Israel must do this slaughter.

Questions

1. Why must the lamb be a perfect male son-of-a-year lamb?

2. What does “to you” mean in “A perfect male son-of-a-year lamb will be to you”?

3. Why did Yehovah give the option of taking the lamb from the sheep and from the goats?

4. How many days must the Israelis keep the lamb?

5. What does “he shall be to you for a guarding until the 14th day to this month” mean, and what is the purpose of this?

6. Why does the text only refer to one lamb in all of its parts as if there is only one lamb in mind?

7. Why did the Israelis have to guard this lamb if they were only going to slaughter him in the end?

8. What occurs on the 14th day of every Israeli month?

9. Who is him in, “And ye shall slaughter him between the evenings”?

10. What does “between the evenings” mean?

11. Why must they slaughter the lamb exactly between these evenings?

12. Who will do the slaughter of the lamb, according to this text?

13. What is “the witness of Israel,” and what does that mean?

14. This event with one lamb can only occur under what one condition?

VIII. The Given Blood (verse 7)

After slaughtering this perfect one-year-old male goat or sheep lamb, they must take some of the collected blood, and they must give that blood “upon two of the doorposts and upon the lintel, upon the houses in which they will eat him.”

Questions

1. Why must they take from the blood (instead of taking all the blood)?

2. Why does the text say that they will give the blood upon the doorposts and lintel instead of saying that they will splatter the blood there?

3. Why did they have to place the blood particularly upon two of the doorposts and upon the lintel, and what is a lintel and what are doorposts?

4. Why did they have to eat the lamb? Why couldn’t they just slaughter the lamb, and place the blood?

5. Why did they have to eat the lamb in the same houses where they placed the blood?

6. Did the Israelis understand these things when they did what Moshe said to do?

7. Do the Israelis and other folks (like those who claim to be Christian) understand these things today?

8. Must a person understand these things in order for them to work for the person?

IX. Roasted Lamb and Matzahs (verses 8-9)

The Israelis must roast the sheep or goat lamb, and they must eat the meat of the lamb in this one night. Yehovah then commanded, “And they shall eat him, matzos upon bitternesses.” (Matzos/matzahs are pieces of unleavened bread.)

There are two ways the Israelis are not to eat the sheep or goat lamb: “Ye shall not eat from him raw and boiling, boiled in water, but rather fire-roasted…”

The entire lamb must be roasted with “his head upon his knees and upon his approach.”

Questions

1. Why did the flesh have to be roasted (instead of baked, boiled, or treated in some other fashion)?

2. What are matzahs?

3. What do matzahs picture?

4. What does “And they shall eat him, Matzahs upon bitternesses” mean?

5. What is wrong with eating from the lamb either raw or boiling, boiled in water?

6. Why is fire-roasting so important?

7. The text next states, “his head upon his knees…” What does this mean?

8. The text also states, “his head … upon his approach.” What does that mean?

9. Could the Israelis eat the head and every part of the lamb?

X. No Remainder (verse 10)

Yehovah gave two commands regarding any leftovers from the lamb: “And ye shall not make-remain from him unto morning,” and “ye shall burn the remainder from him unto morning in fire.”

Questions

1. What does “And ye shall not make-remain from him unto morning” mean?

2. What were they commanded to do with leftovers?

3. Why did they have to get rid of lamb leftovers?

4. Why did they have to burn the remainder of the lamb (instead of throwing the rest away, giving it to friends, or burying it)?

5. Why does the text say, “ye shall burn the remainder from him unto morning in fire” instead of this: “ye shall burn the remainder from him before morning in fire”?

6. Look carefully at verse 10. It starts with this: “And ye shall not make-remain…” Verse 9 above starts with this: “Ye shall not eat from him…” Above that is verse 8, though, that starts with this: “And they shall eat the flesh…” Verse 7 also has they, and verse 5 has you and ye. Why does the text keep switching from you and ye to they and them? In other words, why do the pronouns go from being as if the speaker is speaking directly to the Israelis to speaking about the Israelis?

XI. Dress Code (verses 11-12)

How must the Israelis be dressed while eating the lamb? “And ye shall eat him thus: your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your walking-staff in your hand.”

How quickly must the Israelis eat the lamb? “And ye shall eat him in haste.” Why must they be dressed like this and eat the lamb so quickly? “He is the Skip-Over to Yehovah!”

Yehovah next told what He will be doing at the same time that these other events will be occurring: “And I will cross-over in the land of Egypt in this night. And I will smite every firstborn in the land of Egypt from Adam and unto cattle. And I will do justices via all gods of Egypt.”

Yehovah then gave His signature: “I am Yehovah!”

Questions

1. What three items did the Israelis have to have or wear while eating the lamb?

2. What does “loins girded” mean?

3. Why did they have to have (or have to wear) these three things?

4. Why is hand singular in “and your walking-staff in your hand”?

5. Why did the Israelis have to eat the roasted lamb in haste?

6. What does “he is the Skip-Over to Yehovah” mean?

7. Why does the text now state that He will cross over instead of skip over?

8. What does “I will do justices via all gods of Egypt” mean? What will happen?

9. Why did Yehovah now state, “I am Yehovah”?

XII. Blood (verse 13)

He now explained the purpose of the blood: “And the blood shall be to you for a sign upon the houses where ye are. And I will see the blood. And I will skip-over above you. And the strike will not be in you for a slaughter when I smite in the land of Egypt.”

Questions

1. What was the purpose for the blood, according to verse 13?

2. Who will see the blood? Who will skip over above the Israelis?

3. If Yehovah is so kind, gentle and good, why would He do a slaughter in the land of Egypt?

XIII. Memories (verse 14)

A new Holy Day will be born: “And this day shall be to you for a remembrance. And ye shall solemnize him a solemnity to Yehovah to your generations. Ye shall solemnize him, a statute of Hider!” This Holy Day is called Passover in English.

Questions

1. Why does Yehovah sometimes command that a day be for a remembrance? Is it just because it was an important day in the past?

2. What does solemnize mean?

3. What must the Israelis do if they will solemnize this day?

4. What does to your generations mean?

5. Why is this a solemnity to Yehovah instead of being a solemnity to the Israelis?

6. What is Hider?

7. What is a statute?

XIV. Matzahs (verse 15)

The Israelis must eat only unleavened bread if they eat any bread during the next seven days. They must cause all leaven to cease from their houses in the first day. Yehovah then warns, “For every eater of vinegar, and that being shall-be-cut-off from Israel from the first day unto the seventh day”—that is, anyone who eats any form of vinegar during the seven days will be cut off from Israel!

Questions

1. Why must the Israelis eat matzahs seven days?

2. Do the seven days include the day of the Skip-Over?

3. How can the Israelis “make-cease leaven” from their houses?

4. What does this ‘making cease’ leaven picture?

5. What does vinegar picture?

6. What does eating vinegar picture?

7. What will happen to every Israeli who eats vinegar during these seven days?

8. How many of the Israelis must do these commands?

XV. Callings (verse 16)

Yehovah now told the Israelis, “A calling of a Holy-[One] is in the first day.” He didn’t explain in this text whether that meant that a Holy One will do the calling or whether the Israelis will call the Holy One.

Yehovah continued, “And a calling of a Holy-[One] shall be to you in the day seven.”

Yehovah then referred to one person using the pronoun he: “He will not do any errand in them. He alone shall do for you only what he will eat for every being.”

Questions

1. This text refers to two callings of the Holy One. What are these events? Are they the same event?

2. What does “He will not do any errand in them” mean?

3. What does “He alone shall do for you only what he will eat for every being” mean and show if the reader takes it literally?

XVI. Guarding (verses 17-18)

Yehovah’s commands to the Israelis continued: “And ye shall guard the Matzahs.” It is as if the Matzahs are in danger! But why must they guard the matzahs? “For in this selfsame day I made-exit your hosts from the land of Egypt. And ye shall guard this day to your generations, a statute of Hider.” (A statute of Hider is a statute that continues until the planet ends.)

Yehovah even told them when to eat the Matzahs: “Ye shall eat Matzahs in the evening in the first, in the 14th day to the month, unto the day one and twenty to the month in the evening.”

Questions

1. What is involved with guarding the matzahs, and why do they need guarding?

2. What armies are these?

3. How long did it take the armies of the Israelis to exit from Egypt?

4. Why must they guard this day to their generations?

5. When the Israelis exited from Egypt, where did they go?

6. How many days must the Israelis eat matzah, according to this text?

XVII. No Vinegar, No Leaven (verses 19-20)

“Leaven will not be found in your houses seven days.” (Yehovah is serious when He commands!) “For every eater from vinegar, and that being in a sojourner and in a native of the land shall be cut-off from the witness of Israel!” Yehovah states this warning again: “Ye shall not eat every vinegar!” He tells what they must eat: “Ye shall eat Matzahs in all your dwellings!”

Questions

1. No leaven must be found in the houses of the Israelis for which seven days?

2. Why must no leaven be found during those seven days?

3. What is wrong with eating vinegar? What does this typify?

4. What is a sojourner?

5. What is a native?

6. What does “shall be cut off from the witness of Israel” mean?

7. Why will Yehovah cut off even sojourners from the witness of Israel if they eat vinegar?

8. How many types of vinegars are included in this restriction?

9. If you look at a Passover section (in the spring of the year), you will find several products that are “kosher for Passover” that include vinegar. What does this text have to say about these products?

10. In how many of the dwellings of the Israelis must matzah be eaten?

XVIII. The Skip-Over (verses 21-23)

Moshe now called to all the elders of Israel. He commanded them: “Draw-ye and take-ye a flock to you—to your families.” Thus, Moshe made the elders responsible to both draw—that is, to remove from the larger flocks—and to take a flock for them and their families. The elders had to then slaughter the Skip-Over!

Moshe told them what to use to move the blood from the collection pot to the lintel and the two doorposts: “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop. And ye shall immerse in blood that is in a basin. And ye shall cause-to-touch unto the lintel and unto two of the doorposts from the blood that is in the basin.” (Hyssop is a plant.)

Moshe’s commands were now warnings: “And ye, ye shall not exit—a man from the opening of his house—unto morning.” Why must they not exit? “Yehovah will cross-over to smite Egypt. And He will see the blood upon the lintel and upon two of the doorposts. And Yehovah will Skip-Over above the opening. And He will not give the Slaughterer to come unto your houses to smite.”

Questions

1. Moshe called to all elders of Israel, telling them to draw and take a flock to them—to their families. What did drawing and taking a flock to them show?

2. The text continues, “And slaughter-ye the Skip-Over.” Why didn’t it say to slaughter sheep and goats?

3. What is hyssop?

4. Why must they take a bunch of hyssop?

5. The next statement is this: “And ye shall immerse in blood that is in a basin.” Explain this curious wording:

6. What is a lintel?

7. What are doorposts?

8. What does the touching of the lintel and the doorposts using the hyssop bunch dipped in blood show?

9. Yehovah commanded the Israelis to not exit from the opening of the house unto morning. Houses didn’t have indoor plumbing; there were places outside where folks used what we call ‘the restroom.’ What were they supposed to do if they had to use the restroom?

10. Why couldn’t they go outside of the house until morning?

11. Did the Israelis remain in their houses during the first Skip-Over (about which we are reading)?

12. Verse 23 stated that “Yehovah will cross-over to smite Egypt.” Is that what He said He would do? Explain.

13. What will cause Yehovah to skip over above the opening of a house?

14. Why does the text refer to the opening instead of the door? What is the difference between an opening and a door?

15. Who is this Slaughterer?

16. Why does the text use the word give instead of send?

XIX. Guarding Speech and Service (verses 24-25)

Moshe next warned the Israelis to guard this speech that he had been giving to them. They must view this speech as a statute “to thee”—that is, to the people of Israel as one unit—“and to thy sons”—that is, to all the sons of the people of Israel—unto Hider.

When the Israelis finally will “come unto the land that Yehovah will give to you just-as He spoke,” the Israelis must guard this service!

Questions

1. Why is guarding this speech so important to Yehovah and for the Israelis?

2. Why can’t they just forget the speech itself, but keep it recorded in the Bible, only studying it in detail just before it will occur? Wouldn’t that be the same thing?

3. What is a statute?

4. What is Hider?

5. Again, why must the Israelis guard this speech unto Hider?

6. What “shall be” when the Israelis shall come unto the land that Yehovah will give to them?

7. What is a service?

XX. The Question (verses 26-27)

Moshe prophesied that the Israelis’ sons will say unto the Israelis, “What is this service to you?” The Israelis must answer, “He is the Sacrifice of Skip-Over to Yehovah Who Skipped-Over above the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt in His smiting Egypt. And He rescued our houses!”

Questions

1. What do the children mean by the question, “What is this service to you?”

2. Look at the wording of verse 27. Yehovah commanded the Israelis to say to their children, “He is the Sacrifice of Skip-Over to Yehovah Who Skipped-Over above the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt in His smiting Egypt,” speaking of them. He then commanded them to say, “And He rescued our houses”—speaking of us. Why did Yehovah tell them to word it this way?

3. Where will all these houses that were rescued (in the future) be located?

XXI. Perfect Obedience (verses 27-28)

Moshe had called the elders. The People of Israel now bowed, prostrated—that is, they lay flat and face-down to the ground, and then they got up and walked to their places. The sons of Israel did exactly as Yehovah commanded Moshe and Aharon! They did so!

Questions

1. What is the difference between bowing and worshipping?

2. To whom did the people bow?

3. Whom did they worship?

4. Where did they walk?

5. Why does the text twice say that the children of Israel did as Yehovah commanded Moshe and Aharon?

XXII. The Half-Night Smiting! (verses 29-30)

At midnight, when the night is split in half, Yehovah smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt! He smote Pharaoh’s firstborn “who sits upon his chair” and all other firstborn ones right down to the firstborn of the captive who is in the house of the pit (the prison). He also smote every firstborn of cattle!

Pharaoh got up that night, as well as all his slaves and all of Egypt. There was a very big scream in all of Egypt since there wasn’t a house where there wasn’t death in that house!

Questions

1. What is the half of the night?

2. Who is he in, “And he was in half of the night”?

3. Why did Pharaoh arise that night? What awoke him?

4. Why did the slaves arise that night?

5. Was Pharaoh himself a firstborn?

6. Why was there a big scream in all of Egypt?

7. How many Egyptian houses were completely free from anyone dying in that night?

8. Were all the dead males?

XXIII. The Command to Exit (verses 31-32)

Pharaoh called to Moshe and Aharon in the middle of the night. And he said, “Rise-ye! Exit-ye from the midst of my people!—also ye!—also the sons of Israel! And walk-ye! Serve-ye Yehovah as ye spoke—also your flock! Take-ye also your herd just-as ye spoke! And walk! And bless-ye also me!”

Questions

1. Were Moshe and Aharon close to where Pharaoh was when Pharaoh called to them?

2. Why does the text say “… night! …”?

3. The words and wording that Pharaoh used to tell Moshe, Aharon and the Israelis to leave show what about Pharaoh’s mental state?

4. Pharaoh said, “RISE-YE! EXIT-YE FROM THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE!—also ye!” To whom is Pharaoh referring by the first ye, and to whom is he referring by the second ye?

5. Why did Pharaoh command them to serve Yehovah?

6. Pharaoh twice commanded, “Walk!” What did he mean?

7. Why would this man whose son was newly slaughtered by Yehovah now command, “And bless ye also me”?

8. Was Pharaoh now a believer in Yehovah?

XXIV. Sending Israelis with Fear (verse 33)

All of Egypt greatly urged the Israelis to leave! They now wanted to send them from the land, and they wanted them to go as soon as possible. The Egyptians thought, “All of us are dead-[ones]!”

Questions

1. Why did the Egyptians so strongly urge the people of Israel to leave the land?

2. Were they right to fear that Yehovah might kill them all?

3. Were the Egyptians being mean or cruel when they hurried the Israelis to leave the land of Egypt?

XXV. Dough, Valuables and Rescue (verses 34-36)

The people of Israel was used to preparing flour to make bread on a daily basis. Bread was a very important part of the diet of the Israelis. When the Egyptians awoke them and urged them to quickly leave, one of the valuables that the Israelis knew they had to carry was the dough being prepared to make bread. The entire people lifted the people’s dough before the dough will become sourdough (which is very delicious if properly made). This is described as vinegarizing in the text. The Israelis also took their kneadingtroughs with them, binding them in their clothes upon their shoulder.

The children of Israel did as Moshe spoke by asking Egypt for utensils of silver and utensils of gold, and clothing. Yehovah gave to the Israelis the favour of Egypt when they asked the Egyptians. This act of receiving gold, silver and clothing rescued Egypt.

Questions

1. What kind of bread were the Israelis making in verse 34?

2. How did they carry the dough?

3. How did they make dough in the first place?

4. What does “before he will vinegarize mean?

5. Why did they bind up their kneadingtroughs in their clothes and upon their shoulder (as if they all shared just one shoulder)?

6. If they asked for these utensils from Egypt, whom did they ask?

7. Silver is valuable, and gold is even more valuable. Isn’t clothing very inexpensive?

8. What does “Yehovah gave the favour of the People in the eyes of Egypt” mean?

9. What were the Egyptians thinking that they became willing to give valuables to their slave neighbours?

10. Did Yehovah make the Egyptians change their minds by using His own power to overrule what they were thinking?

11. Why does the text describe favour being given in the eyes of the Egyptians?

12. Who rescued Egypt, and how did this occur?

XXVI. The Multitude’s Mix (verses 37-38)

The children of Israel journeyed as a giant group. They went from Raamses to Succot in the first leg of their journey. There were 600,000 feet of valiant ones that were walking. This number didn’t include the count of little ones. The Israelis were joined by a great mixture of other folks. They traveled with a heavy flock and a heavy herd of livestock.

Questions

1. How far is Raamses from Succot?

2. How many valiant ones traveled, according to this text?

3. Why did Yehovah describe it this way instead of giving the number of persons, and why is this important?

4. Why does the text mention the number of valiant ones instead of the entire population?

5. What was the total population of the Israelis leaving at this time?

6. Why does the text say, “beside a little one” instead of, say, “besides the little ones,” and why doesn’t it mention the women, the teenagers, the elders, etc.?

7. Of what did this great mixture (that ascended with the Israelis) consist?

8. What is a very heavy flock?

9. What is a herd of livestock?

XXVII. Eating Matzah (verse 39)

The group became hungry. They baked the dough that they had brought from Egypt; they were discs of matzah (unleavened bread). None of the bread was ‘vinegarized’—it hadn’t leavened, and it hadn’t gone to sourdough. The Israelis had been forced from Egypt.

The Israelis were not able to “What?What?” themselves—they hadn’t had time to ask questions about how they were supposed to provide anything for themselves. They hadn’t had opportunity to make victuals for themselves.

Questions

1. What are discs of Matzah?

2. What does “they were not able to WHAT?WHAT? themselves” mean?

3. What are victuals?

4. Why didn’t they make victuals?

XXVIII. Exiting after Centuries, and Guarding (verses 40-42)

The children of the man whose name was Israel settled in Egypt and remained in that same location for 430 years. At the very day that period of time ended, all the armies of Yehovah exited from the land of Egypt. That very night is a night of guardings to Yehovah to cause an exit from the land of Egypt. This is the very night that belongs to Yehovah that all the children of Israel must guard to their generations!

Questions

1. How long did the Israelis live in Egypt?

2. The text states, “And he was from the end of 30 year[s] and 400 year[s].” Who was from the end of 430 years?

3. What does “And he was in this selfsame day” tell the reader?

4. What are these armies of Yehovah that exited from the land of Egypt?

5. What does “He is a night of guardings to Yehovah to make-exit from the land of Egypt” tell the careful reader?

6. On which night will these guardings take place?

XXIX. The Statute of the Skip-Over (verses 43-47)

Yehovah communicated information about the statute of the Skip-Over to Moshe and Aharon:

Every son of a foreigner will not eat in him.
Every slave that has been bought using silver and who has been ‘fronted’ (circumcised) will eat in him.
A ‘sitter’ (squatter) and a hireling (person hired from another land) will not eat in him.
The Skip-Over must be eaten in one house.
The meat from the Skip-Over must not be taken outside of the house.
No one is permitted to break a bone of the Skip-Over.
Everyone who is part of the witness of Israel shall do the Skip-Over.

Questions

1. Why can’t a son of a foreigner eat in the Skip-Over?

2. What does “fronted him” mean?

3. The text states, “every slave, a man bought of silver and thou hast ‘fronted’ him, then he will eat in him.” Must the slave believe in Yehovah to eat the Skip-Over?

4. Suppose that a slave has been captured in a war, and therefore wasn’t bought using silver; can he still eat the Skip-Over lamb?

5. What is a sitter?

6. Why can’t a sitter eat in the Skip-Over lamb?

7. What is a hireling?

8. What is wrong with a hireling eating in the Skip-Over?

9. Suppose that a sitter or a hireling truly desires to eat in the Skip-Over: is there a way that the person can?

10. Why must the Skip-Over be eaten in one house?

11. What is wrong with breaking a bone in the cooked lamb?

12. Explain “All the witness of Israel—they shall do him”:

XXX. Statutes Regarding the Sojourner (verses 48-50)

If a sojourner (a traveler from another land) will sojourn with the people of Israel and will do Skip-Over to Yehovah, every male in the group with the sojourner must first be circumcised. Only then is he allowed to approach to do the Skip-Over. The sojourner will then be as the native Israeli. No foreskin is permitted to do the Skip-Over.

There is one teaching to the native and to the sojourner who sojourns in the midst of the Israelis.

All the children of Israel did exactly as Yehovah commanded Moshe and Aharon. They really did!

Questions

1. Who can be a sojourner?

2. The text states, “if a sojourner will sojourn with thee…” Does the sojourner have to stay with an Israeli (that is, lodge in the Israeli’s tent or house) in order to qualify?

3. Who is thee in “if a sojourner will sojourn with thee”?

4. What must the sojourner do in order to do Skip-Over to Yehovah?

5. Why must every male in the group submit to circumcision if just one desires to do the Skip-Over?

6. What must the person approach in order to do the Skip-Over?

7. Is Yehovah calling an uncircumcised person a foreskin?

8. Why does Yehovah have one teaching (Torah) for the native and the sojourner instead of different teachings for the two groups?

9. Again, what is so amazing about the children of Israel doing just as Yehovah command Moshe and Aharon?

XXXI. The Israelis Finally Exit upon their Armies (verse 51)

In that very day, Yehovah exited the children of Israel from the land of Egypt upon their armies!

Questions

1. What took place in this selfsame day?

2. How did they exit upon their armies?

We’re All Trying to Get

To the Same Place!

How Can One Know that She Pleases God?

Introduction

Incomplete Paper on

Gossip

Apologia

Definition

“Is a person gossiping if information is passed that another is doing monetarily poorly, and that others have helped?”

Checklist

Information

Checklist

Information

“Is a person gossiping if that person warns another that a person not present is participating in some evil practice?”

Checklist

Information

“Is a person gossiping if that person warns another person that a third person is a gossip?”

Checklist

Information

When Does Gossip Most Often Occur?

How Should One Handle a Person Who is Inquisitive?

“Did you know that Billy is saying such and such about you?”

If a person gives his opinion or comment on a situation, is that gossip?

Checklist

Information

The Case of the Bad Doctor

Checklist

Information

Is Discussing a Relationship Gossip?

Checklist

Information

Is forwarding an email to a third party gossip if the email contains anything pertaining to the third party without the third party knowing that the email was communicated?

Is Prayer a Potential Form of Gossip?

Checklist

Information

Is a Request for Prayer by the Person Present a Potential Outlet for Gossip?

Can an Accusation be a Way of Pumping a Person for Gossip?

A Person Asks for an Opinion

Checklist

Information

The Pajama Case

Man and Wife Gossip

The Obvious

Men Versus Women

The Attack of Cowards

Fury Expressed

Another Root Cause of Gossip

Gossip Paranoia

Can a Gossiper be Born of God?

Team Gossips

Work Gossip

Checklist

Information

Overhearing or Witnessing a Personal Attack Conversation

Concerning the Sabbath

Copyright ©February 6, 2001 Saar Shalom Center

1. The Basic Sabbath Command

2. The Ten-Commandment Sabbath

3. The Sabbath As a Sign Between Yehovah and the Children of Israel

4. Regarding the Fire

5. The Day of Coverings Sabbath

6. General View of the Sabbaths

7. Avoiding Pollution of the Land

8. An Introduction of All the Sabbaths Starting with the Friday-Evening Sabbath

9. The Passover

10. Waving

11. The Sabbath Table

12. The Land Gets a Break

13. Jubilee

14. The Land’s Sabbaths, With or Without Israel

15. Gathering Sticks Can Be Fatal

16. Sabbath Sacrifices

17. Cooking Kohath-Style on the Sabbath

18. Guarding the Gates on the Sabbath

19. Sabbath Songs

20. Sabbaths Wrongly Done Are Disgusting

About the Jews

A Little Background

What do Jews Believe?

Hassidic Orthodox Jews

Copyright ^©February 6, 2001 Saar Shalom Center