Rehoboam and the
Rebellion of the Northern Tribes of Israel
Hebrew: Mechoqeck
By OvadYah Avrahami
Awesome Biblical
Proof that:
The rejection of
Judaism and its Rabbinical leadership is in direct violation of the
Declarations of the G-d of Israel according to which:
Judah is the Judicial
Authority (Mechoqeck) of HaShem on earth
Judah is the sole
representative of the Kingdom of HaShem on earth
The Rabbinical
leadership is the authorised Teacher of the Torah of HaShem –
AND ABOVE ALL! - - -
Judah is ?……READ ON for this staggering Revelation!
Index to Original Article on Kol Ha’Tor
The Original
Rebellion of the Ten Tribes of Israel
In the time
of King Solomon (970 - 931 BCE), the ancient Kingdom of Israel
split into 2 opposing sectors: 'Israel' - the Northern sector, 10 Tribes,
Main City Shechem; and 'Judah' – the southern kingdom, 2 Tribes, with
their Main City Jerusalem. After this, the Tanach (OT) specifies and
refers to the various sectors by referring to “Israel and Judah”.
It also refers to the Ten Tribes as “Ephraim’ or Joseph’. The alert reader
should bear this division in mind and steer away from the general concept that
the Jews of today represent all of 12-tribed Israel. The Bible record is
very distinct in its reference to this division. You are welcome to read the
following article on Kol Ha’Tor:
Kol Ha’Tor Presents – “Bible Confirmations of the Regathering of the Tribes of Israel”
The Northern Ten Tribes (10-Israel) vehemently rejected the religious
authority of Judah and sunk into paganism under the rule of King Ahab, Jezebel
and others. This soon earned 10-Israel the rejection of HaShem and
they were cut off from the Covenant with HaShem and exiled amongst the nations
to become known as the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.
For purposes of our topic, we are particularly interested in the
historic cultural and religious attitude of 10-Israel towards Judah’s
Mechoqeck leadership, which led to their rejection by HaShem, The seldom
read books of Kings and Chronicles record this history of the two greatly
divided Kingdoms in very interesting style – once one is aware of this great
rift in God’s People and when comparing it with the culture and attitude today,
of these Ten Tribes which, in miraculous fulfilment of Ezekiel 37:15 and
other Prophecies, are being re-identified and slowly re-united with
Judah.
The Divine Purpose? To mould them into One nation again, who will
worship Him in unity, and according to His Torah or Laws. We will then
relate it to our topic, in an effort to resolve the ever popular rejection of
Judaism and its Rabbinical leadership in the light of their Divine appointment
as the Mechoqeck of HaShem.
It should be stressed here, that this Reconciliation of the 2 Divided
Houses of Israel, forms the main
platform for the entire Message of Redemption (Hebrew: Geulah), or
Salvation, of the Bible. It is this Reconciliation which requires the
return of 10-Israel to Torah - not a selective observance according to the
notions and desires of individuals, but Torah as interpreted by the appointed
Lawgivers (Mechoqeck) of HaShem according to a
3500-year Academy of Rabbinic interpretation.
Though 'Redemption'
has become somewhat of a cliché in the vocabulary of Rabbis, a quick review of
its deeper meaning would receive the acknowledgement of any qualified Rabbi on
earth that it refers to "the re-establishment of the 12-Tribed Kingdom
of Israel." For this purpose, almost every synagogue in the
world will feature in its structure a reference to, or symbols of the 12 Tribes
of Israel. Just as the Board Room of the Municipality in Jerusalem in the
striking features of its ceiling, features the 12 flags of the 12 Tribes -
while only Judah is currently present on their board.
The Arrogance of 10-Israel against the Inviolable Covenant
1 Kings 11:9 records how HaShem
became angry with the Judean King Solomon because his heart had turned away
from HaShem who favoured him particularly. HaShem undertook to tear His
Kingdom away from Solomon.
1 Kings 11:9 – “For
your father David’s sake however (from the Tribe of Judah) … I will not
tear the whole Kingdom (away). For the sake of David, and for
the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen, I will leave … one
Tribe..” This Tribe would be Judah, as both history and Scripture
confirm:
2 Kings 17:18 – “HaShem
was enraged with Israel and thrust them away from Him. There was none
left but the Tribe of Judah only."
His Purpose with retaining one
Tribe, is explained in 1 Kings 11:13:
I Kings 11:13 – “So
that My servant David will always have a Light in My Presence in Jerusalem,
the City I have chosen as a Dwelling Place for My Name.”
This links up with His Divine
Intention of selecting Judah as His Shevet (Tribe) and Mechoqeck. This is
part of the fulfilment of the Divine Blessing of Judah to remain an on-going,
identified Tribe before Him.
This is re-affirmed in 2
Chronicles 13:5:
2 Chronicles 13:5 – “Do
you not know that HaShem the G-d of Israel, has given the sovereignty
(Kingdom) of Israel to David forever? It is an inviolable Covenant!"
In the chapters (1 Chronicles
11-13) surrounding this monumental statement, we read of the straying of 10-Israel
under their own appointed King Jeroboam, who disowned and rejected the
Levites and Priests of Judah who were in Northern Israel. These
priests returned to Judah and Jerusalem to serve HaShem with Judah. They were
joined by former members of 10-Tribe Israel.
I Chronicles 11:15 –
“members of all the tribes (of 10-Israel) who were wholeheartedly devoted to
the worship of HaShem.”
Surely, here is a clear indication
of the spirit of HaShem’s elect! – to come OUT of paganism and anti-Judah
opposers and to return to and join Judah, HaShem’s sole remaining Kingdom
Tribe!
In these chapters (and many
others in these ‘hidden records’ of Chronicles and Kings) we also find clear
defining of the spirit, attitude and actions of 10-Israel:
- 1 Chronicles 12:1 – “They soon
rejected the Law of HaShem.
- 1 Chronicles. 13:9 – “They drove
out the priests of HaShem to make priests of their own liking.1 Chronicles 10:16
– “10-Israel called out: “What share have we in David? We have no
inheritance in the son of Jesse! … henceforth, look after your own House,
David!” They thus rejected the House of Judah and the Faith and Law of
HaShem.
- 1 Chronicles 10:19 “And the
House of (10) Israel remained separated from the House of David until the
present day.”
In these seldom read books we also find a clear description of the
spirit that is so prevalent in 10-Israel today, sifted amongst the nations,
from whence many of them are waking up to the Call of Return to their ancient
Roots. Thus, we read in 2 Kings 17:18 onwards, how that the king of
Assyria brought foreigners back to the land of Northern Israel (Samaria) to
replace the exiled 10-YTribers. It is said that because the once
fertile land no longer provided its bountiful produce to the strangers, they
were taught the Ways of "the G-d of the Land (of Israel).
2 Kings 17:33 – “They
worshipped HaShem and their own gods at the same time, with the rites
of the countries from which they had (come) been deported ... They
did not ... conform to the Statutes of HaShem, or the rituals, or the Law
or the Commandments which HaShem had laid down for the sons of Jacob ...
Israel."
10-Israel in exile amongst the
nations would experience the opposite. Having rebelled against and lost
these Laws of HaShem, they would be exposed to the rites of the strange nations
amongst whom they would be exiled. At their return, it is obvious that
they would return to the Way and Laws of HaShem, while retaining and clinging
to some of these pagan rites. It is for this very reason that HaShem has
retained the Tribe of Judah to serve as His Lawgiver and Interpreter
(Mechoqeck) at their Return. It is also logic that they would resist this
corrective Guidance, due to their exposure to the pagan ways and their total
loss of proper Guidance in His Ways.
Prophecy of Redemption
Teaching
the Prophetic Message to the Next Generation
In these hidden books we also
find a wonderful Prophecy:
2 Chronicles 15:3 – “Many
a day Israel will spend without a faithful God, without priest (Cohen,
Rabbi) to teach, without Torah (for they have rejected and pulled away
from the Mechoqeck of HaShem). But in their distress they will return
to HaShem, the G-d of Israel. They will seek Him, and He
will let them find Him.”
But it will be in a time of
trouble amongst the nations – verse 5 – 7. There will be those who try to
twist this as applying to the Jews (Judah) Verse 1-3 of this chapter
however clearly defines that it refers to 10-Israel and not to Judah.
In 1 Kings 12:26 onwards, we read
about 10-Israel’s King Jeroboam, how he declared his anti-Judah religious
practises, after rejecting the Judah leadership – for fear that
10-Israelites would return to the Jewish Faith and thus cause his death:
- He built a new non-Jewish Temple
at Bethel;
- He appointed priests from ordinary
non-Levite families;
- He moved the ‘Jewish’ feasts a
month on, from the 7th to the 8th month.
This all sounds peculiarly
familiar to the attitude of modern 10-Israelites who reject the Mechoqeck
leadership of Judah and insist on having their own Beth Din’s, their own
temples distinctly separated from Judah, their own ‘corrected’ Bible
Calendar, and their own appointed teachers and priests.
It is also conspicuous how these
rejecters of Judah’s Mechoqeck authority, generally will dodge these clear
Scriptural records of ancient 10-Israel’s rebellion against Judah’s authority,
by attributing their rejection to “the higher taxes that Judah enforced on
them.” Closer analysis will show that they are simply persisting
today in the very same rebellion of their forefathers.
Do they not know that HaShem the
G-d of Israel has given the sovereignty (Kingdom) of Israel to David forever? It is an inviolable Covenant!
Is it not clear, also in light of
the Prophecies of re-uniting 10-Israel and Judah into ONE nation; ONE House
again; that the Divine Intent according to this inviolable Covenant must be to join His Kingdom, the rulership of
which had been allotted to Judah – the Kingdom of David?
These rebelling 10-Tribers daily
pray: “Let thy Kingdom come …?” Is there another Kingdom, another inviolable Covenant?
All that will change, and all
that can possibly change in a future dispensation, is the leadership
guidance. When the Ruling Messiah comes, He will take over the Rule from
Judah - until that Time, Judah is in
charge!
Significantly, 10-Israel
under the influence of their King Jeroboam, pronounced their own (temporal)
doom when they proclaimed:
1 Kings 12:16 – “What
share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the Son of Jesse!"
Every returning 10-Israelite
today, stands before this vital decision: Who will they join:
- That part of 10-Israel which
rebels against Judah’s Mechoqeck appointment or:
- Will they return in humility to
Judah to learn from its teachers?
An even Higher Calling yet!
"The Final Redemption of All
Israel"
Painting by Jewish artist Yossi Rosenstein; This magnificent picture of the final Day of
Reckoning shows the climactic last day regathering of the Elect from both houses of Israel. Click on the Link to Purchase Paintings from his gallery.
Psalm 78 gives a lengthy
overview of the history of Israel’s provoking of G-d (read the
entire Psalm) and concludes with God’s election of Judah in preference to
Israel (Ten Tribes) Yet, in this He provided a Way of Escape for
10-Israel:
Psalms 78:67 – “Moreover He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the
tribe of Ephraim (10-Israel): But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount
Zion which he loved. And He built His Sanctuary, a copy of High
Heaven, founding it firm like the earth which He established for ever.
He chose David also, His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From
following the ewes great with young, He brought him to feed Jacob His people,
and Israel His inheritance heritage.”
Judah would oversee His Sanctuary
on Mount Zion where His Holy City Jerusalem is built. By maintaining the
Sanctuary of HaShem and its inherent religious ‘System’, Judah would
spiritually lead, feed, teach and care for 10-Israel – His heritage or
dominion.
This is also confirmed in Psalms
114:2:
Psalms 114:2 – “Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion.”
This is a much quoted portion in
the Jewish Pesach ceremony, saying that at the sight of the 12 Tribes
leaving Egypt during the Exodus, “the mountains and hills skipped like rams”
(verse 6) at the sight of the Purpose of God, to rule through His elect over
the world, was being set in process.
Of course, we know today, that
the final fulfilment would be achieved in the 2nd Exodus, at the
Return of all 12 Tribes from across the world where they have been exiled and
dispersed amongst the nations.
Jeremiah 16:14; 23:7
– “However,
the days are coming, declares HaShem, when men will no
longer say, 'As surely as HaShem lives, who
brought the Israelites up out of Egypt, but they will say, 'As surely
as HaShem lives, who
brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the
countries where he had banished them.' For I will restore them to the
land I gave to their forefathers.”
Just as in any country, kingdom
or domain, there has to be a legal judicial body. In the Kingdom of
HaShem on earth, it is Judah. In the future Kingdom it will be His elect,
under direct leadership and guidance of Messiah (God) Himself.
Just as the citizens of any
country will always have criticism and dislikes with certain issues of the
ruling law system, so, in the Kingdom of HaShem there is a majority of
professing citizens who criticise, object and even reject the judicial
rule instituted by HaShem Himself. Just as citizens in any country take the
rule of law in their own hands, so the citizens of HaShem’s Kingdom do try and
temporarily get away with making their own adaptations of the law of the
country.
“Judah
his sanctuary” – G-d set up and mandated His
true System of worship under the guidance of His Mechoqeck, the Jews. He
made them His peculiar people who would be settled in the Land of Israel,
controlling the City which bears His Name and His favour - Jerusalem.
His Temple would be in Jerusalem, controlled by Judah. This would be His abode;
His sacred dwelling-place. While the Temple was there, Judah was the principal
or leading tribe, recognized as the tribe where power and leadership was to be
concentrated, and from which the ruling Messiah was to proceed.
“Judah was his Sanctuary.”
– the verb "was" in the original Hebrew is in the
feminine conjunction. Judah is therefore here personified as a virgin
(Isaiah 22:4), "the daughter of My people" (Psalms 45:12). The choice
of Judah as "His sanctuary" or holy dwelling, denotes the elect
nation's separation from the world and consecration as "holy unto HaShem
her God" (Deuteronomy 7:6; Exodus 19:5-6). Judah is chosen as being, from
the time of the carrying away of the Ten Tribes, the surviving heir of the
ancient Divine Promises belonging to it (Psalms 76:1).
Blessed are the people who have
God's Sanctuary among them (Exodus 25:8; Ezekiel 37:26).
Ezekiel 37:26-28 – “I
(HaShem) will put My sanctuary among
them forever. My dwelling place will be above them; I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Then the nations will know that I, HaShem, make Israel holy, when My Sanctuary
is among them forever.'"
While it is generally accepted
that this Sanctuary refers to God’s Personal Physical Presence and Rule in His
Kingdom, the question may now arise whether this ‘Sanctuary’ could refer
to Judah in any way. There may be a hint in favour of this reasoning by
the emphasis in the Hebrew word meanings represented in bold above, viz.
- Among them – Hebrew b’tochem –
literally ‘within their midst’.
- Above them – Hebrew ‘uleihem’
- ‘Over above’ them, as in the Israeli airline El-Al (lit. ‘to and above’) This text is generally translated
as ‘with them’.
Our next section further down
will shed some further light on this probability; “and Israel His dominion” – over whom, or through whom, He
would rule His Kingdom. The Hebrew word used here for dominion, is memshalot,
i.e. the plural form – ‘and Israel His dominions.’ The plural
denotes them being ‘many nations’ according to the Promises to the patriarchs:
Abraham, Yitzchak and Ya’acov.
And then the Ultimate!
The most amazing revelation
awaits us as we consider yet another Divine Declaration in the Hebrew
Scriptures regarding Judah’s designation and calling in the Plan of HaShem for
humanity.
Our study thus far has given us
some deeper insight into the Divine Mandate decreed upon Judah, as defined in
our main text under review - Genesis 49:10 above. A golden rule of Bible
study is to read any quoted texts in their wider context within a paragraph,
chapter or section. In applying this to our theme text, Gen. 49:10, we
find, in the verse just prior (verse 8) a staggering bold Prophetic declaration
about Judah – the Jews:
Genesis 49:8 – “Judah,
your brothers will praise you; your
hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down (mishtachaveh)
to you."
The Hebrew word ‘mishtachaveh’
means ‘to bow down in worship’ The 1st Command, a most logic
one, acceptable to even those believers who regard themselves as totally free
from the Law, decrees that:
Exodus 20:3-5 – “You
shall have no other gods before Me …You shall not worship (mishtachaveh) them or serve
them.“
“The children of Judah’s father”
who would bow down (worship?) before Judah (the Jews) could refer to Judah’s 11
brothers, viz. the 10 Northern Tribes and Benjamin. It could also
possibly refer to even all 12; including a sector of Judah, if
perhaps the object of this bowing down would refer to a select sacred segment
within Judah.
Do
we have a Scriptural suggestion of a total absurdity here, or is there more to
it than meets the eye at first glance?
“For you are ‘gods’ (elohim)!”
The Bible applies the term ‘god”
(elohim) also to human beings – His nation!
Let us read this statement
straight from the Scriptures:
Psalms 82:1 – “G-d
(Elohim) stands in the divine assembly (amongst His elected). Among the
gods (elohim) He dispenses Justice… (v. 6) I once said, ‘You too are gods (elohim) – sons of
the Most High, all of you!’”
Note, that HaShem is addressing His elect with
this bold statement. But, of whom did He say this, ‘You too are
gods”?
Exodus 7:1 – “HaShem said to Moses, ‘See, I make you
god (elohim) to Farao (Pharaoh), and Aaron your brother is to be your prophet…”
From Exodus 21:7 and Deuteronomy
19:17 it is clear that the judges and rulers of Judah of old, in these
designations, were referred to as ‘elohim’ (gods). HaShem mandated them with His own
Rulership, as a King designates his authority and rule to his subordinates; as
a CEO of a business corporation designates the management of his company to his
board of directors.
The question that those Messianics
who reject Rabbinic authority has to answer to, is whether such
subordinates have to be obeyed and consulted for leadership and execution of
the will and requirements of their superiors?
NOW – For the Ultimate of Ultimates!
Scripture seems to hint that the ‘over-comers’
will “become God” themselves.
Daniel 7:13-23 – “I
gazed into the visions of the night, and I saw coming on the clouds of
Heaven, one like a Son of Man (the obvious general conclusion from this is
that it refers to Messiah - but read on). He came to the One of Great
Age (the normal conclusion here is that it refers to 'G-d the Father' -
thus, Messiah approaching the Father - read on!) and was led into His
presence.
On him (the son of
man?) was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship and men of all nations and
languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away nor will his empire be destroyed."
Who is this ‘Son of Man” who will
have an eternal sovereignty? Most Messianic believers and Hebraic
restorers assume that we have here a prophecy of "the Messiah taking the
Kingdom Rule which the Father appoints Him."
But is that truly what the Word
says? No! And when we discover what the implication of this prophetic
vision truly is, then we will also realize the error of these Messianics who
interpret this section of Scripture as a “duality of the Father and the Son",
making "2 Gods" - which is totally an unscriptural and pagan
concept, gravely insulting and dethroning the One True God!
Let us read directly from the
Scriptures what this vision of Daniel entails – to discover who this "one
like the Son of Man coming to the Ancient of Days" really refers to.
Daniel 7:15 – “Daniel
was deeply disturbed and the vision alarmed him. (Daniel is a Jew who
believes in One True G-d only). So I approached one of those who were
standing by and asked him to tell me the Truth about all this. And
in reply he revealed to me what all these things meant. ... Those (like a
“Son of man, coming on the clouds) who are granted sovereignty is the saints of the Most High and the
Kingdom will be theirs forever, forever and ever!”
In inquiring after the Little
Horn in the vision, which persecuted these overcoming saints, it is
confirmed once more in verse 21, 22 that the persecution would
continue "... until the coming
of the One of Great Age Who gave Judgment in favour of the saints of the
Most High, when the time came for the saints to take over the Kingdom."
A third confirmation follows in
verse 27: "And the sovereignty and kingship, and the splendours of
all the kingdoms under heaven, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His sovereignty (the one like
unto the Son of Man, coming on the clouds) is an eternal sovereignty,
and every empire will serve and obey him."
Accordingly,
our main text for this study, Genesis 49:10, becomes a microcosm for this often
misinterpreted Prophecy of Daniel 7 - as we will suggest in our final conclusion.
Do you realise what the mind
shattering implication of this 'Secret' is? I say it with great
trepidation, fearing what some humans will do in accepting and applying this
Revelation:
We shall be like G-d. We shall
become G-d! - If we truly prove victorious like He did.
Psalms 82:6 - "I (G-d v.1)
have said 'You are Elohim' (The title of HaShem) and all of you are 'sons
of G-d' (the Most High)."
The true implication for
Returning 10-Israel
For Returning 10-Israel, the
implication and Message should be clear: “Be Holy as HaShem is Holy”.
Commit yourselves fully to the
requirements of G-d – which is BACK into Torah Covenant together with Judah. This will require
in-depth knowledge of His Torah. The Body of Returning 10-Israel, as
the ‘dominion of HaShem’, therefore has to subject themselves to the
learning, teaching and the authority of Judah’s ‘elohim’ – the judges and
rulers;
- The Mechoqeck of HaShem
- The Sanctuary of HaShem
With this controversial interpretation, though strictly
according to statements proclaimed by the Bible itself, we run the risk to be
accused of deifying Judah; of presenting ‘strange gods’; of making man to be
God! This would be true if we rejected the clear directives in the Bible
on this issue.
More
Revelation on Gen. 49:10
Scripture interprets itself - and
Truth is thereby confirmed:
There is a generally accepted and
commonly quoted English translation, even in Jewish publications of our theme
text, which neither makes proper nor ethical sense. We are referring
to the actual section which refers to "the Mechoqeck" and which
defines, seemingly, its position or nature, viz.
Genesis 49:10 - “The
sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver (Mechoqeck) from between his
feet ..."
There is an alternative rendering
in English publications, of the Hebrew "mi'bein ruglaiv",
viz. "... from between (or amongst) his legs.". The word "ruglaiv"
can refer to both of his two feet or legs. For obvious reasons, the
Hebrew publications render the less coarse English alternative of
"feet".
Upon questioning the validity of
this general translation, the following revealing alternative meaning was
discovered - a meaning which makes far more sense and which, in fact, would
confirm overall Truth in general.
This would include a meaning
which also would give depth and correct guidance to especially the returning 10
Tribers. It would also be perfectly in line with the Mechoqeck theme that
we have analyzed thus far. Most of all, it gives credence to the very
sole fundamental source of anti-Rabbinism - i.e. the Oral Torah, or Rabbinic
interpretation of the Torah. The latter being the final obstruction in the
way of re-awakening 10-Tribers and Hebraic Roots Restorers.
While this may be the very reason
why this alternative meaning would therefore be objected against and rejected
by the opposers and rejecters of Oral Torah, it will also serve as the
convincing factor to serious returning 10-Tribers who struggle so much with all
the confusion caused by resistance against this very Key factor on HaShem's
List of Truth Secrets!
So, what are we referring
to? What is the alternative, hidden meaning of "ruglaiv"?
In Hebrew, there is a word
referring to "traditions, customs." It has the same roots and
the same spelling in Hebrew as our textual word under discussion. It is
related to the same basic "regal" that, strangely has an
English alternative: "regular".
Can you grasp the association
already?; regular, habitual, customary, or traditional. The same applies
with the Hebrew alternatives of the same root format "r-g-l". It
refers to "(walking) according to traditions" as well as to physical
feet and legs.
Thus, our Hebrew word "ruglaiv"
could refer to "his customs", "his regular habits,
traditions". The Alternative word in Hebrew for "Traditional
Jewish/Rabbinic religious Custom" is "Halacha" (lit. “The Walk”)
- from the root "to walk". The overall relationship is clear!
We therefore submit an
alternative and, most likely, closer translation of the text as follows:
"The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the Mechoqeck (Law Giver
faculty) based on (or from amongst) his customs and traditional interpretations..."
Further confirmation
Genesis 49:10 - “The
sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver (Mechoqeck) from between
his feet ..."
Now that we realize that this text could refer to Judah's
Customs or traditions rather than 'feet' or 'legs', let us have a closer look
at the immediately preceding Hebrew word "mi'bein",
for which we have suggested the meanings of "based on" or
"from amongst."
We have since come across amazing
further evidence. But first, let us place this discussion in proper
context. This whole in-depth discussion of
Genesis 49:10 and its explicit Divine Mandate of the Tribe of Judah as God's
Lawgiver (Mechoqeck) has become necessary as a result of the world-wide
awakening of Bible students to a Love for the Land of Israel and the Jewish
people. This again has lead Bible students and commentators to the
discovery of age-old Prophecies in the Bible regarding the End Time
awakening of the Lost Ten Tribers in exile across the world, to their original
Hebraic Roots (in fulfilment of the Dry Bones Prophecy of Ezekiel 37.
This Prophecy concludes:
Ezekiel 37:11-14 – “Then he said to me: “Son
of man, these bones are the people of Israel (the context of the Bible clearly
defines between 'Judah' - the Southern Kingdom of the Jews - and 'Israel' -the
Northern Kingdom of the 10 Tribes, today the contested area of Shomron,
referred to by the world as "the Occupied Territories").
They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our
hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is
what the Sovereign HaShem says: My people, I am going to open your graves
and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you, my people, will know that I am HaShem, when I open your graves and
bring you up from them. I will put My Spirit in you and you will live,
and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I
HaShem, have spoken, and I have done it, declares HaShem’”
Clearly, the Divine Intention is expressed of a Return to
and settling of the Original Bible Land. World-wide, there are today a
multitude of such reawakening non-Jewish Bible students who are increasingly
becoming aware of a craving to identify with and return to the Land.
Generally though, these people, who are no doubt reawakening 10 Tribers
according to the Main Prophetic Message of the Bible, are strongly opposed to
the "authority of the Rabbis" of Judah. This is no different
from the rebellion of their ancient forefathers against the Mechoqeck authority
of Judah; a rebellion which in fact caused their Exile and cut-off from the
Covenant of HaShem with His People.
From the international political
side, there is the world-wide pressure on the State of Israel to relinquish
their ownership of the Shomron to their declared enemies; the Arabs. The Shomron
happens to be the Original Heart Land of the 10 Tribes after the allotment
of the Tribal Territories by Joshua (long before the erection of Jewish
Jerusalem even).
The process of any possible
Return to and settlement of the Land by these re-awakened Ten Tribers thus
become entangled with their recognition or not of Judah, who happens to be the
national rulers of this highly contested piece of Land. The entire Final
Scenario of the Redemption and the Establishment of the Kingdom therefore
hinges on this recognition!
Hence the importance of a correct
interpretation of Genesis 49:10 is NOT to diminish from the importance of all
else.
Having established the context
and the importance of Gen. 49:10's true meaning, let us now continue with our
study - looking at the meaning of "from amongst".
The Nation of Israel
encamped around the Wilderness Tabernacle at Shiloh
Recently, in searching for a
Torah Command for the need and necessity "to settle the Land",
our attention was focussed on the following Scripture:
Joshua 22:19 – “(The historic time setting for this statement was in the
time of the Tabernacle erected in Shiloh, and the Tribes having been
allotted their areas, taking possession of it).
... if the land of your possession is
unclean, then cross over to the land of the possession of HaShem, where His
Tabernacle stands, and take possession among us; but do not rebel
against HaShem, nor rebel against us, by building yourselves an
altar besides the altar of HaShem our God."
If we read the entire chapter in context, then it is
clear that the issue was about Identity and the settling of the Land.
Because some of the Tribes lived East of the Jordan, they were concerned about
retaining their identity with the nation of the Tabernacle in Shiloh.
They therefore built an altar across the Jordan River "as a witness"
between them and the nation in Shiloh, that they were intricately ONE nation,
which the people from Shiloh interpreted as a break away from centralized and
pure Torah worship. It almost caused a war between them.
Joshua's reprimand to them should be a wake-up Call to
re-awakening 10-Israel today: "Take possession of the Land from amongst
us - do not rebel against HaShem and against His appointed guardians of
Torah (Mechoqeck) and do not build yourself an alternative religion to the
established Faith of HaShem."
Here we have that concept of "from amongst"
again. While the Hebrew word "mi-bein" (as used in Genesis
49:10) conveys the same meaning, Joshua uses the word "b'tocheinu".
When we trace the meaning of "b'tocheinu",
we discover an amazing concept, represented by both words in Hebrew: the
concept of "being intrinsically part of." It becomes even more
amazing when we find that the English words used for both concepts
intertwine!
Modern concepts have aroused the need for new Hebrew words
to be created - and all these Hebrew and English words intertwine in the effort
to give proper meanings. The common link between the two words; both in Hebrew
and in the English equivalents, define "intricate and intimate
UNITY".
Let us explain:
- “b'tocheinu” is the word used in Genesis 1 for
"the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden." In Hebrew it is
used for "dwelling amidst my own people".
And then there is a host of modern concepts listed in the
Hebrew dictionary which are linked to the root of this word, like
intra-cellular, intravenous (injecting food, medicine directly into the blood -
life-stream), intra-state, intra-national, etc (all denoting "intricate
unity").
- “bein” similarly, is used for words like
international, inter-oceanic, inter-personal, interplanetary.
inter-state, inter-marriage, intermediary, inter-denominational.
Note the concept of total interlocking,
binding, linking or uniting together across barriers as one, interconnecting
them, the urge for unity underlying all these words.
Tel
Shiloh where the Wilderness Tabernacle dwelled down during the Era of Eli the
Judge and the Prophet Samuel, until King David brought it to Jerusalem
So, Joshua pleads here for intrinsically intimate
association between contending sectors of the nation, in order to settle the
Promised Land It is this intimate relationship which seems so impossible
to nurture between the two divided Houses of Israel today, much because of the
opposing by 10-Israel of the concept which they abhor, i.e. to become
intrinsically ONE with Judah.
Yet, ironically, these opposers of such intimate UNITY
between the two Houses all have the same zeal and urge:
- To want to be one with Judah, but on their own
conditions; according to their own likes and wishes which they want to base
Torah on; according to their own interpretation, not Judah's. Just like ancient
10-Israel!
Is this not what Joshua referred to and counseled against,
viz. "building their altar beside the altar of HaShem our God,
rebelling (like ancient 10-Israel) against HaShem, rebelling against (Joshua
and Co.) Israel's appointed leadership?"
This division has been evident for the last 2800 years
between the two Houses of Israel - so much so, that the Shechinah (Visible
Presence) of HaShem has departed from us. The Return of the Shechinah awaits
our Reconciliation! If G-d 'departed' because of strife and rebellion
against His Directives, then surely, He would NOT return amongst these same
conditions?
Surely, the onus is on US, the contending parties in this
Divide. What an awesome responsibility! What a glorious achievement if we
can bring it about!
Fine tuning our definition: so, let us venture an alternative, and hopefully the inspired and correct
translation of this phrase in Genesis 49:10:
Genesis 49:10 – “The Sceptre
shall not depart from Judah, nor the Mechoqeck (Law Giver faculty)
(which should be) intricately part of, or based on, his customs and traditional
interpretations ...which means, Rabbinic Oral Torah ... until
Shiloh comes ..."
Reasoning from the common attack
by opposers that this refers to "Rabbinic man-made or self-made traditions”;
this interpretation will fall also. However, a few moment's contemplation
on where these "Rabbinic traditions" really originate from,
will give the lightning flash of Truth: viz. that it stems from a
3500-year faithful conglomeration of interpretations for Bible injunctions,
many of which are NOT defined in the Bible at all. It comes from the time
of Moses. It includes the deliberations of men who dedicated their lives
to faithful examination, thought and discussion with equally dedicated thinkers
throughout more than 3 millennia. Can you think of any other academic
faculty that can make such claims?
Can we ... shall we, merely
discard these interpretations and guidelines with one foul swoop from the table
as most anti-Rabbinists do?
G-d forbid!
Final
Conclusion
Genesis 49:10 - “The Sceptre
shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver (Mechoqeck) from between his feet,
until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the obedience of the people (the nations)
be.”
Summarising our findings from
this study, it would be reasonable to suggest a descriptive paraphrased
alternate for this text as follows:
Transliterated
of Text, Genesis 49:10 - “The rule and the tribal Identity shall not depart
from Judah, nor his judicial and educational authority (Mechoqeck) based
on his customs and traditional interpretations, until One like the Son of Man
(representing the overcomers in the reconciled and re-united 12 Tribes of
Israel) comes; and unto him (ultimate qualifying re-united 12-Israelites in the
Likeness of God) shall the obedience of the nations be.”
What a Calling!!!! What a
Great designation to miss out on if we fail!
The author is co-founder of the KOL HA’TOR Vision for the
Restoration of the re-united 12-Tribed Kingdom of Israel.
Contact details:
Web Site: http://www.kolhator.org.il
info@kolhator.org.il
P O Box 3174
Karnei Shomron
ISRAEL
44855
Tel. +972 52 7474834
Skype: bibrev
_______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES:
Jewish sources: Interpretation of 'Shiloh'
Ancient Jewish
tradition identified this mysterious person called "Shiloh" in
Genesis 49:10, as being the Messiah:
- "Until Shiloh
comes": this alludes to the King Messiah" - Midrash Genesis Rabbah
98.8, ibid 99.9
- "The Messiah's
name is Shiloh" - Midrash Lamentations Rabbah I.16.51
- The Targums [Ancient
Aramaic translations and paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible] are almost unanimous
in giving "Shiloh" a Messianic interpretation for they rendered
Genesis 49:10:
- "Until the
Messiah comes whose is the Kingdom" - Targum Onkelos
- "Until the time
King Messiah shall come, whose is the kingdom" - Targum Jerusalem
- "Until the time
King Messiah shall come whose is the kingship" - Targum Neofiti I
- "Until King
Messiah shall come, the youngest of his sons" - Targum Ps. Jonathan or
Jerusalem I
There is great
insight in the extensive Targumic and rabbinic tradition (see Rashi ad loc.,
Sanhedrin 98b B.T.; Midrash Genesis Rabbah 98.8; 99.8; Tanchumah Vayehi 10;
Midrash haGadol I.735-739; Journal of Philology Vol. XIV [1885] pp.4-22), that
ascribes a Messianic interpretation to the verse: "The scepter shall not
depart from Judah...until Shiloh comes and to him shall be the obedience of the
peoples."
They knew that the
ancestral right to kingly leadership, resting in the Davidic line of the tribe
of Judah, would cease at the coming of the "Messiah, the son of
David" (a common appellation of King Messiah found in rabbinic writings).
For the Messiah was the culmination of the royal line originating from David,
the first king of the tribe of Judah.
And just as King
David was "the youngest" (1 Samuel 16:11; 17:14) of Jesse's sons, so
the Messiah at the end of the line of David's "sons" may be said to
be "King Messiah...the youngest of
his [King David's] sons" - Genesis 49:10. Targum Ps. Jonathan or Jerusalem
Targum I.
The scribes knew that
what belonged to him (the King Messiah) "whose it is," was the
scepter, the kingdom and the obedience of the peoples. Furthermore they also
knew that this mysterious personage was to have a very precious heritage in
store for him at his coming, which is why the later redactors of the Septuagint
rendered Genesis 49:10 in their revisions:
There are
abundant writings from the ancient rabbis that the name “Shiloh,” is an
idiom for the Messiah. The word “Shiloh,” was frequently used to
describe the Messiah.
Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b, Rabbi Johanan - “The
world was created for the sake of the Messiah, what is this Messiah’s name? The
school of Rabbi Shila said, “His name is Shiloh, for it is written: until
Shiloh comes.”
The
Targum Yerushalmi further states:
Targum Yerushalmi – “Kings shall not cease from the house of
Judah…until the time of the coming of the King Messiah….to whom all the
dominions of the earth shall be subservient.”(The Search for the Messiah, Page
100, Dr. Mark Eastman)
All the three Targums
interpret Shiloh of the Messiah. As many of the Jewish writers do, both
ancient and modern {Zohar in Gen. fol. 32. 4. & in Exod. fol. 4. 1. &
in Numb. fol. 101. 2. Bereshit Rabba, fol. 98. sect. 85. 3. Jarchi & Baal
Hatturim, in loc. Nachmanidis Disputat. cum Paulo, p. 53. Abarbinel. Mashmiah
Jeshuah, fol. 10. 1. R. Abraham Seba, Tzeror Hammor, fol. 36. 4. & 62. 2}.
It also is the name of the Messiah in the Talmud {T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 98.
2}, and in other writings {Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2}.
************
You might Want to Read the Entire
Series on “Judah the Mechoqeck”
“Judah - The Lawgiver of God – Part One”
“Judah
- The Lawgiver of God
– Part Two”
The world around is
quickly becoming transformed into a polarizing a world of two choices: for G-d
or for Satan, for Goodness or for Evil, for Restoration of All Israel or
against the restoration of the House of Israel and the House of Judah. As it
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as we know them to be will soon disappear and we will have only one choice
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This comes to one
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