2012. 4. 30. 19:37
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The Holy Scriptures in Hebrew
Shabbat Shalom Israel,
Welcome to Tazria-Metzora (‘She Conceives’ and ‘Infected One’), this week’s
Parsha (Torah portion).
Parsha (Torah portion).
These two portions of Torah are combined this week to accommodate the number
of Sabbaths this year and will be read in synagogues around the world during
this week’s Shabbat (Saturday) service.
of Sabbaths this year and will be read in synagogues around the world during
this week’s Shabbat (Saturday) service.
Please read along with us. We know you will be blessed!
TAZRIA (She Conceives)-METZORA (Infected One)
Leviticus 12:1__15:33; 2 Kings 7:3__20; Luke 7:18__35; Matthew 23:16__24:2, 3-31
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites: A woman who becomes pregnant
and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as
she is unclean during her monthly period.’” (Leviticus 12:1__2)
and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as
she is unclean during her monthly period.’” (Leviticus 12:1__2)
This week's Torah portion specifies laws of purification, including those
pertaining to childbirth. Yeshua's mother, Miryam, would have diligently
followed these laws and regulations.
While last week’s Parsha (Shemini) dealt with Biblical dietary regulations,
this week’s study deals with the laws of tumah (ritual impurity) and
tahara (ritual purity).
this week’s study deals with the laws of tumah (ritual impurity) and
tahara (ritual purity).
The laws pertaining to purification, including post childbirth, purity in
marriage (niddah), and leprosy are discussed.
marriage (niddah), and leprosy are discussed.
These regulations may be understood in purely hygienic terms, or for their
religious significance, or both.
religious significance, or both.
The issue, however, is not one of clean versus unclean, but pure (tahor) versus
defiled (tameh).
defiled (tameh).
Certainly, as Believers we strive to be pure and clean in heart before
the Lord.
the Lord.
This rabbi is reading from a Jewish prayerbook in
the synagogue before removing the Sefer Torah
scroll, which is covered in an ornate mantle, from
the Ark behind him.
The Biblical Regulations of Childbirth
“Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding.
She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her
purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the
woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days
to be purified from her bleeding.” (Leviticus 12:4__5)
She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her
purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the
woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days
to be purified from her bleeding.” (Leviticus 12:4__5)
The Bible specifies a waiting period for purification after childbirth__33 days
if a male child is born and 66 days if a female child is born.
if a male child is born and 66 days if a female child is born.
It provides no explanation why the period of impurity (tameh) is double when
a woman gives birth to a female child instead of a male child.
a woman gives birth to a female child instead of a male child.
After the specified period of ritual impurity (as in the menstrual period), a
burnt offering was brought to the priest.
burnt offering was brought to the priest.
When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to
bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb
for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. He
shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she
will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.
bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb
for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. He
shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she
will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.
These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl.
(Leviticus 12:6__7)
(Leviticus 12:6__7)
A woman was to bring a year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon
or a dove for sin offering when the required days of purification were completed.
Today, for ritual purity, a Jewish woman customarily visits the mikvah (ritual
water immersion) after childbirth before resuming sexual relations with her
husband. There are mikvahs in every orthodox Jewish community throughout
the world.
water immersion) after childbirth before resuming sexual relations with her
husband. There are mikvahs in every orthodox Jewish community throughout
the world.
As well, instead of the prescribed offering that was to be made at the Temple,
today parents generally visit the synagogue in order to give thanks to God for
a speedy recovery from childbirth and for the blessing of their newborn child.
today parents generally visit the synagogue in order to give thanks to God for
a speedy recovery from childbirth and for the blessing of their newborn child.
This is when the female child is given her Hebrew name.
A mother and child at the Western (Wailing) Wall
plaza, a remnant of the wall that surrounded the
sacred Temple's courtyard.
The male child, however, is named at his brit milah (circumcision) on the
eighth day.
eighth day.
“And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”
(Leviticus 12:3)
(Leviticus 12:3)
In keeping with the Law of Moses, the Messiah was named Yeshua when
He was eight days old, on the day of his circumcision (Luke 2:21).
He was eight days old, on the day of his circumcision (Luke 2:21).
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, He was named
Jesus [Yeshua], the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.”
(Luke 2:21)
Jesus [Yeshua], the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.”
(Luke 2:21)
[His Hebrew name, Yeshua, has been transliterated as 'Jesus' in English
since it comes from the Latin transliteration 'Iesus.']
since it comes from the Latin transliteration 'Iesus.']
An Israeli mother proudly holds her son after his brit milah, while her own
mother beams beside her.
Biblical Regulations Concerning Leprosy
“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue
from evil and your lips from telling lies.” (Psalm 34:12__13)
from evil and your lips from telling lies.” (Psalm 34:12__13)
Much of this Parsha concerns leprosy.
Although the word lepra is used in the Septuagint, and is translated as leprosy
in English, in Hebrew, the actual word is tzaraat.
in English, in Hebrew, the actual word is tzaraat.
This word comes from tzara, means "to have a skin disease," although the root
of tzaraat may actually mean "smiting."
of tzaraat may actually mean "smiting."
The Hebrew word tzara is a broad term thought to encompass diseases
such as leprosy, ringworm (see above photo), psoriasis, impetigo, and
tropical sores.
While we automatically relate leprosy to the modern-day affliction of
leprosy, which is accompanied by swelling of organs and rotting of the limbs,
a better translation might be “scaly affliction.”
leprosy, which is accompanied by swelling of organs and rotting of the limbs,
a better translation might be “scaly affliction.”
Three manifestations of tzaraat are mentioned in the Torah: an affliction of
human skin (Leviticus 13:2); an affliction of garments (Leviticus 13:47); and
an affliction of houses (Leviticus 14:34).
human skin (Leviticus 13:2); an affliction of garments (Leviticus 13:47); and
an affliction of houses (Leviticus 14:34).
A person afflicted with tzaraat was called metzora, and was to be isolated from
the community in order to prevent defiling and infecting others through contact.
the community in order to prevent defiling and infecting others through contact.
“Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be
unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
[Tameh! Tameh!] As long as they have the disease they remain unclean.
They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45__46)
unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
[Tameh! Tameh!] As long as they have the disease they remain unclean.
They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45__46)
Women praying at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.
According to rabbinical tradition, tzaraat is an affliction from God as
punishment for the very serious sin of lashon hara (evil tongue), which is
defined as true speech for malicious purposes; for example, in Numbers 12:10,
Miriam was stricken with tzaraat after speaking evil of Moses and his wife.
punishment for the very serious sin of lashon hara (evil tongue), which is
defined as true speech for malicious purposes; for example, in Numbers 12:10,
Miriam was stricken with tzaraat after speaking evil of Moses and his wife.
Although lashon hara is an extremely serious sin, slander or defamation, which
is called hotzaat shem ra (spreading a bad name), is a graver sin.
is called hotzaat shem ra (spreading a bad name), is a graver sin.
Gossip, called rekhilut, is also forbidden by Jewish law.
Judaism considers malicious gossip a type of moral leprosy, an evil contagion,
and the leper should be put outside the camp until they are healed.
and the leper should be put outside the camp until they are healed.
“Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that
endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:16)
endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:16)
Also, when a house was infected with ‘leprosy,’ the stones and timber infected
with mildew or dry rot would be removed and carried off to a designated place
outside the camp (Leviticus 19:44-45). If that didn’t work, then the house was
totally dismantled.
with mildew or dry rot would be removed and carried off to a designated place
outside the camp (Leviticus 19:44-45). If that didn’t work, then the house was
totally dismantled.
Likewise, sometimes a situation in our lives or relationship has become so
defiled and unhealthy that it must be leveled to the ground. We must start
over in a new place, trusting that God will help us to begin anew.
defiled and unhealthy that it must be leveled to the ground. We must start
over in a new place, trusting that God will help us to begin anew.
Torah scroll with a yad (Torah pointer) for keeping one's place while reading.
Spiritual Leprosy
How does all this apply to Believers in Yeshua (Jesus) today?
When it comes to sin amongst Believers, there must be an attitude of grace
toward the faults and weaknesses of others, but there must also be wisdom.
toward the faults and weaknesses of others, but there must also be wisdom.
The Bible tells us to not fellowship with those who call themselves Believers
and yet persist in serious sins__not even to eat with them! They must remain
outside the camp until they repent.
and yet persist in serious sins__not even to eat with them! They must remain
outside the camp until they repent.
“But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims
to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or
slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people."
(Corinthians 5:11)
to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or
slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people."
(Corinthians 5:11)
Anyone who repents, however, can be cleansed of their sins through the blood
of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).
of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).
Christian pilgrims immersing themselves in the Jordan River in northern Israel.
Haftorah (prophetic portion)
In this week’s Haftorah (prophetic portion) we read the story of Naaman,
captain of the army of the King of Aram. He was a mighty man of valor but
also a leper (metzora).
captain of the army of the King of Aram. He was a mighty man of valor but
also a leper (metzora).
Naaman’s wife had an Israelite servant girl who was captured during an Aramean
raid on Israel, and she advised that Naaman should go to the prophet Elisha
in Israel for healing.
raid on Israel, and she advised that Naaman should go to the prophet Elisha
in Israel for healing.
Naaman eventually did go, but the experience was nothing that he expected.
Elisha didn't personally meet with Naaman, but sent a messenger who
instructed him to dip seven times in the Jordan River.
instructed him to dip seven times in the Jordan River.
At first, Naaman took offense, since he expected a more personal touch. He
was, after all, the captain of the army.
was, after all, the captain of the army.
And then, to add insult to injury, he was told to wash in the insignificant,
tiny Jordan River!
tiny Jordan River!
“I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the
name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of
my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better
than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be
cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. (2 Kings 5:11)
name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of
my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better
than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be
cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. (2 Kings 5:11)
Fortunately for Naaman, his servants had the courage and faithfulness to challenge him.
Naaman repented of his attitude of pride and superiority, and obeyed the prophet.
Elisha refuses the gifts of Naaman, by Pieter de Grebber
Naaman’s Leprosy is Healed
When Naaman immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, his flesh became like
that of a little child (na’ar katan), and he was made clean (tahor__ritually pure).
that of a little child (na’ar katan), and he was made clean (tahor__ritually pure).
This ritual water immersion is called the ‘mikvah’__the Jewish custom from which
the Church derived the rite of baptism.
the Church derived the rite of baptism.
Furthermore, since seven is the number of perfection, rest, completion and
wholeness in the Bible, when Naaman entered the mikvah and was immersed seven
times, he was healed mind, body and soul, and he believed in the God of Israel!
wholeness in the Bible, when Naaman entered the mikvah and was immersed seven
times, he was healed mind, body and soul, and he believed in the God of Israel!
“Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood
before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except
in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’” (2 Kings 5:15)
before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except
in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’” (2 Kings 5:15)
Bar mitzvah boy (age 13) reading from the Sefer Torah scroll
Mankind can only find healing from moral leprosy in the teachings of the
Word of God, in the rivers of the Living Water of the Jewish Scriptures, and
their fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah!
Word of God, in the rivers of the Living Water of the Jewish Scriptures, and
their fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah!
Shabbat shalom from all of us, here at the ministry in the Holy Land!