Torah Study: “D’varim” (Words) DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:22…
The word "Deuteronomy" comes from the Greek words "Deuter" and "Nomo" (Second or repetition and "law") Not that there is a different "law" from what was received on Mt. Sinai, it is the same, yet a repetition of the same, reminding the Children of Israel of what they received from God 40 years ago.
We begin the final book of the original five books of the Torah, in which Moshe wrote down all the statutes, commandments, precepts, details, and other instructions that Adonai dictated to him to record. We must remember that Israel received the first 10 commandments directly from the mouth of Adonai, written down in stone, and given to the people, as a form of “Ketubah” or “marriage contract. Later, Adonai called Moshe back up to the mountain, and there, He dictated the rest of the Torah, the remaining 603 commandments, which Moshe wrote down on scrolls.
603 were written down by Moshe, yet dictated by Adonai, and 10 were dictated and written by YHVH himself. All in all, we must conclude that ALL the TORAH comes from YHVH, whether directly or indirectly written. This book of Deuteronomy is the last. Moshe began writing it, and it was probably finished by Yehoshuah (Joshua) or another leader.
The book recounts the travels and experiences that “Am Yisrael” undertook and endured over 40 years. Moshe retells the experience somewhat as a father would relate to his son. Let’s say that father and son travel across the USA for 6 months, then, perhaps 10 years later, the father would remind the son of their trip by remembering their “experiences” “Remember son, the time when we were traveling through Texas and, well, you insisted in exploring that abandoned house, even when I said it would NOT be a good idea…….”
The father tells both the good experiences and the bad experiences, the times when the son obeyed and the times when the son disobeyed. Moshe is doing the same thing. This is similar to last week’s Bible study, “Masei” (journeys), in which Moshe relates the journeys of Israel.
An interesting midrash is the difference and similarity between two words; “D’varim” (words) and “D’vorim” (bees) One could say that the words that Moshe spoke to the Israelites were like the “stings of bees” and after giving this message, a little later on, Moshe went up Mt. Pisgah a died, just like when a bee stings, it leaves the stinger in the victim and dies. One could also say that the words that Moses spoke to the Children of Israel were also like "bee stings" to himself, like a saddened father who has to tell it "like it is" to a disobedient and rebellious son.
What can we learn from the beginning of D’varim? Are we mature enough to receive rebuke? From elders? From others who are in authority? When a believer or even a non-believer is rebuked, it is for his or her good, either to bring that person to the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua, or to turn that person from error to walk in harmony with the Torah.
Moshe tells the people the words of Adonai: “YHVH your Elohim spoke to us in Horeb, saying, 'You have dwelt long enough in this mountain…turn you and take your journey…. (1:6)
It seems that “Am Yisrael”(The People of Israel) was in their “comfort zone”. They were at Mt. Horeb. Perhaps they wanted to stay right there, yet it was NOT the promised land. It was where they received the Torah, it was where they received instruction, but now they have to go to where Adonai wanted them to be.
The Hebrew word for "turn" in 1:6, is "P'nu" from the root word/verb "Pana." It means to "face and turn towards...with a definite purpose. The Israelites received their instruction (Torah) at Horeb; now they would have to put it into practice. This describes the whole learning institution. We go to college and sit under the instruction of professors of Medicine, Law, dentistry, mechanics, engineering, Bible studies, etc... Once we graduate, we need to put into practice what we have learned. With God's Word, we never STOP learning; there is always something new we didn't see before. We need to put our learning (understanding) into practice (wisdom).
It is interesting that the word “Horeb” is written without a “vav”. The word “Horeb” in Hebrew has only three letters: “Chet,” “Resh,” and “Beit”. These are the same letters that spell out the word “Sword,” which is “Cherev”. So we have “Chorev” and “Cherev”. The only difference is the vowels “o” and “e”. Is there a “remez” here? A symbolism? The sages say that in a way, Moshe is telling the people; “You have received the Torah at “Chorev” now, continue towards the Promised Land, the Land of Canaan, and put into practice the Torah. If you disobey, a curse will fall upon you and the “Cherev” (the Sword) will pursue you. So, it is either “Obedience” which you learned from the Torah at “Chorev” …or…the “Cherev” will destroy you for “disobedience”.
We could also look at the two words in another way. The Torah came down to "Horeb" to be given to Israel, and amid the Torah, there was a "Cherev" (Sword). The Torah or the Bible is the "Sword of the LORD." Do we know how to use it?
Now, the Israelites were right at the border of Moab and Canaan; the Jordan River separated the two nations. It was time to leave their “comfort zone” and “cross over” and conquer the pagan peoples, and lay claim to the land! They had fought giants before, you know, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, especially if Adonai “falls” them.
Remember that it all starts in Egypt (Mitzraim) the land of “restriction”, Moshe leads them out, symbolizing a sort of Messiah, leading them to Mt Sinai, they receive the Torah, for 40 years they undergo instruction, go through both “good times” and “bad times” sometimes, “very bad times” when YHVH chastised and killed many of them for disobedience and rebellion. Yet now, it is time for the promise to be fulfilled, the “Promised Land.”
We go through the same thing in our lives. We start out being liberated from our “Egypt,” we are liberated from the “lost world and the ways of the lost” by accepting Yeshua as our Messiah and LORD. We grow in faith, in spiritual maturity, or…perhaps fail in our relationship with YHVH, going through valleys and dark places, yet always emerging into the light of Torah again. Sometimes we get comfortable in one place, or doing one thing, yet God is saying…” turn now and take your journey” or “continue your journey and continue to grow in faith, expose yourself to different situations, yet always trusting in The LORD.
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