In today’s Torah portion, Vayechi, we read the beginning of the blessings from Jacob (Israel) to his sons. In particular this year the blessing of Judah stood out to me. “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you. The…
Tag: Judah
Praise, Lifting Hands – Hebrew: Yadah
The name ‘Judah’ or Y’hudah in Hebrew comes from yadah and means ‘praise.’
Parashah 54: V’zot (This is the blessing)
‘Saints’ or ‘holy ones’ are living persons, not dead, contrary to some ideologies. Sha’ul writes to the Corinthians calling them ‘saints,’ those “who have been set-apart by Yeshua the Messiah and called to be God’s holy people” (1 Corinthians 1:2). Saints will one day judge the world and receive a glorious inheritance (1 Corinthians 6:2, Ephesians 1:18). Saints are to love one another, and their prayers rise to Elohim like incense (Colossians 1:4, Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4). Yeshua will be glorified through the saints (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
2 Kings 17 – Replacement Samaritans
Assyria was a warring kingdom and took captives from every nation in the Middle East along with countries in Africa. After Samaria was taken captive, the Israelites living there were taken to Assyria where they eventually assimilated into the culture around them. Those who had been taken captive from other nations were moved into Samaria so that the land would be populated again. These new tenants worshiped the gods from their native nations and the God of Israel didn’t approve. The king of Assyria, Sancheriv, sent a priest to live in Samaria to teach the new residents about Israel’s God. Still, everyone made gods of their own and put them in temples on high places.