Even though Moshe understands that he dishonored the holiness of Adonai before Isra’el and received just consequence for his sin, he still pleads with Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh to enter the Promised Land. He has spent 42 years with this multitude of stubborn, ungrateful people who did nothing but whine and complain. Now that he can taste the ‘milk and honey’ in the air, he wants to touch it with his feet, but Adonai will only allow him to observe it from a mountain top.
Tag: Ten Commandments
Parashah 18: Mishpatim (Rulings)
The Ten Commandments did not complete the instructions of Adonai. He continued to reveal His Torah with His mishpatim or rulings. Mishpat is a Hebrew noun which means ‘judgment or rights.’ Mishpat deals with the act of sitting as a judge and rendering a verdict so that judicial issues are properly executed.
Parashah 17: Yitro (Jethro)
Family terminology designating male in-laws are not specific in Middle Eastern culture. Terms for a woman’s male relatives are the same for her father, brother or even grandfather. The ending ‘-el’ in Reu-el is Hebrew for ‘God’ suggesting he has a relationship with Elohim while Yitro is called a priest. In a patriarchal society, the men were the spiritual leaders of the family and it appears both Reu’el and Yitro have that position either with the title of el or the name Yitro.