Hebraic point of view
I was researching a certain topic and encountered with many different people's blogs and websites. Since I started to be interested in the original language, my eyes have been opened to see more people's websites with this topic. I feel like I am often changing my course of how I understand the word of God. Most recent change is from 'from Jewish point of view' to 'from the ancient Hebraic point of view.'
Why? I will write one example. If some animals are unclean to eat, I would think that it would be not-kosher. Kosher means ritually pure, fit, permissible, etc... If the Biblical unclean animals can be made permissible to eat by making it kosher somehow, would it become permissible because of the culture that developed over the long period of time? Then how a pig was valued is different in the Leviticus days and in the 21st century.
Right after I started to be familiar with some Hebrew words, I learned that the word 'abba' is not Hebrew. It is Aramaic. But I heard some preachers (who studied Hebrew) say that it is Hebrew. Some people say that they heard little Jewish children say 'abba' when they want their dad. I set it aside for awhile because I didn't know what to think of it. Then I encountered with one website saying that the word 'abba' used to be only in Aramaic, but in modern Hebrew language it is used as 'dad.' A-ha. Even Japanese language is changing. There are a lot of new words the younger generations use that I am not familiar with. Those words are not in the dictionaries, either. So if we learn from the modern Hebrew, some meaning in the Bible becomes different.
So I thought that I need to go back to the original time and read the Bible through the ancient Hebraic point of view, and not form the modern Jewish point of view or from our own eyes in this time of the history in order to understand our God more. The Lord Jesus is for all of us who believe. I believe that. I am just curious to know more.
Why? I will write one example. If some animals are unclean to eat, I would think that it would be not-kosher. Kosher means ritually pure, fit, permissible, etc... If the Biblical unclean animals can be made permissible to eat by making it kosher somehow, would it become permissible because of the culture that developed over the long period of time? Then how a pig was valued is different in the Leviticus days and in the 21st century.
Right after I started to be familiar with some Hebrew words, I learned that the word 'abba' is not Hebrew. It is Aramaic. But I heard some preachers (who studied Hebrew) say that it is Hebrew. Some people say that they heard little Jewish children say 'abba' when they want their dad. I set it aside for awhile because I didn't know what to think of it. Then I encountered with one website saying that the word 'abba' used to be only in Aramaic, but in modern Hebrew language it is used as 'dad.' A-ha. Even Japanese language is changing. There are a lot of new words the younger generations use that I am not familiar with. Those words are not in the dictionaries, either. So if we learn from the modern Hebrew, some meaning in the Bible becomes different.
So I thought that I need to go back to the original time and read the Bible through the ancient Hebraic point of view, and not form the modern Jewish point of view or from our own eyes in this time of the history in order to understand our God more. The Lord Jesus is for all of us who believe. I believe that. I am just curious to know more.
Tazria, haftarah (prophets & writing), and NT
Haftarah ( prophets & writing) for the Tazria portion is from 2Kings 4:42-5:19.
Chapter 4:42 to the end is fascinating. I didn't know a story like this was in the OT. There is a story like this in the New Testament. I am too lazy to look up but I believe the Jewish people can tell what season of the year this happened. I am terrible with this kind of things so I don't know.
Naaman's story
I have always admired the young girl's courage to tell Naaman about the prophet in Samaria. She had been captured and taken to the foreign country, working as a maid. Her situation didn't look good, but she had faith, and that faith caused her to say “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” Would I have passionate enough faith to tell someone that God can heal him/her?
God sometimes uses foolish-looking things to deal with us. Are we willing to look unimportant? I see that God also performs miracles quietly. In Japan I heard a lot of people apologize for not having a dramatic and significant story before they gave their testimonies. I think they are the miracles to believe and follow like that. God loves you!
This portion stirred my heart many years ago when I was praying for my mother. When I knew her heart wanted to believe (though she was not open totally) but there were a lot of obligations she had to do, I used to ask God to forgive her and give her guidance regarding all those cultural things she needs to perform in the daily life in Japan.
New Testament portion covers both feeding the multitudes and healing the leprosy.
Chapter 4:42 to the end is fascinating. I didn't know a story like this was in the OT. There is a story like this in the New Testament. I am too lazy to look up but I believe the Jewish people can tell what season of the year this happened. I am terrible with this kind of things so I don't know.
Naaman's story
I have always admired the young girl's courage to tell Naaman about the prophet in Samaria. She had been captured and taken to the foreign country, working as a maid. Her situation didn't look good, but she had faith, and that faith caused her to say “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” Would I have passionate enough faith to tell someone that God can heal him/her?
God sometimes uses foolish-looking things to deal with us. Are we willing to look unimportant? I see that God also performs miracles quietly. In Japan I heard a lot of people apologize for not having a dramatic and significant story before they gave their testimonies. I think they are the miracles to believe and follow like that. God loves you!
This portion stirred my heart many years ago when I was praying for my mother. When I knew her heart wanted to believe (though she was not open totally) but there were a lot of obligations she had to do, I used to ask God to forgive her and give her guidance regarding all those cultural things she needs to perform in the daily life in Japan.
New Testament portion covers both feeding the multitudes and healing the leprosy.
She conceives (Tazria) #2
Chapter 13 is about skin infection.
Dr. Feinberg in Walk Leviticus! says the infection is different from Hansen's Disease or contagious leprosy.
The title at the beginning of chapter 13 in English Standard Version says "Laws About Leprosy "and the second verse says "and it turns into a case of leprous disease." New American Standard Bible calls it leprosy also.
It is confusing...is it because of the nature of the Hebrew language?
I use New American Standard Bible for study, and New Living Translations when I try to capture the big picture instead of studying words. I have also been using King James version because I can check the corresponding Hebrew words.
In King James Version, it says "and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy." It says 'like the plague of leprosy.' So I see that it is not leprosy in the original language.
Dr. Feinberg in Walk Leviticus! says the infection is different from Hansen's Disease or contagious leprosy.
The title at the beginning of chapter 13 in English Standard Version says "Laws About Leprosy "and the second verse says "and it turns into a case of leprous disease." New American Standard Bible calls it leprosy also.
It is confusing...is it because of the nature of the Hebrew language? I use New American Standard Bible for study, and New Living Translations when I try to capture the big picture instead of studying words. I have also been using King James version because I can check the corresponding Hebrew words.
In King James Version, it says "and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy." It says 'like the plague of leprosy.' So I see that it is not leprosy in the original language.
She conceives (Tazria)
Leviticus 12:1-13:59
This portion is about the law for a woman who gives birth or bears seed (chapter 12) and the law concerning skin infection (sometimes translated 'leprosy' from the Greek word lepra).
It bothered me a bit to know that the woman is unclean when she gives birth. Just a little. Reading the explanation in "Walk! Leviticus" gave me a little more understanding from a different point of view. It says,
(Tam'ah means defiled.)
This portion is about the law for a woman who gives birth or bears seed (chapter 12) and the law concerning skin infection (sometimes translated 'leprosy' from the Greek word lepra).
It bothered me a bit to know that the woman is unclean when she gives birth. Just a little. Reading the explanation in "Walk! Leviticus" gave me a little more understanding from a different point of view. It says,
"Women do not sin by giving birth to children (Gen. 1:28). Nor do their subsequent rites of purification require laying on of hands, confession, an asham, or a different offering for the birth of a boy or girl. But the loss of blood diminishes a mother's wholeness, rendering her incomplete and thus tam'ah (cf. Lev. 12:4,5,7). Only the passage of time restores her wholeness."
(Tam'ah means defiled.)
Encouraging God
I have been working on a chart on Abraham's life, then Isaac, and on to Jacob. (What happened to Leviticus? Well, I am way behind as usual, but I will post some more later...soon, I hope.) I love categorizing and charting because I don't do well if I am just reading long sentences. I do this in order to comprehend more and make things simple.
I noticed something I never thought of before.
Abram was already 99 when he was told:
that God's covenant was with him,
that his name was going to be Abraham,
that the uncircumcised was to be cut off,
that Sarai's name was going to be Sarah,
that she was the one who would give Abraham a son.
Then he went down to Gerar and told a lie about Sarah (this was the second time to tell the same lie). But the king Abimelech had a dream from God. He was innocent. It is clear that Abimelech did not touch Sarah. This is one year before Isaac was born. Then God told the king that Abraham was a prophet, and he could pray for him.
What was the prayer and what was the result of the prayer?
I don't see how he prayed but as a result, the wombs of the women at the King's palace were opened. (Genesis 20:17-18) I really don't know how soon they could see that the LORD healed them, but I would think that Abraham was greatly encouraged by the fact that his prayer healed the barrenness of the king and his household. Then Isaac was born when Abraham was 100. I see this incident in Gerar as a great encouragement to Abraham! His faith must have grown rapidly. God used the situation to encourage him!!
approximate translation
アブラハムの人生を表にしてまとめると言う作業をしていまして、そして自然とイサクとヤコブの人生へと続けています。それがはたして何なんだと言われるかもしれませんが、私としては長い文章を読むということが大変で、表にしたりするとわかりやすくなるのです。おもしろいです！そして以前は気づかなかった事に気づいたりするともっとおもしろいのです。
アブラムが９９歳のとき、彼は"私の契約はあなたとともにある”といわれ、また、名前がアブラハムになるということ、永遠に割礼が契約のしるしとなること、サライの名前もサラとなること、そしてサラがアブラハムに息子を産むことなどを神様から語られました。でもその後に彼はゲラルに行きそこで二度目のうそをつきます。サラは私の妹だと。でもゲラルの王の夢によって神さまがあらわれてそこで王が無実であることが私たちにわかります。彼はサラには触れていないのです。そして。。。アブラハムが祈ったら、王とその妻と女奴隷たちが癒され、胎が開かれました。
アブラハムの祈りがどのようだったのか、いつそんなことが癒されたって言うのがわかったのかとかは聖書にはないけれど、このことはアブラハムの信仰の大きな励みになったはず！祈りによって閉ざされていた胎が開かれ、子供がうまれるようになった(創世記20：17-18）。。。そして１００歳の時、年寄りのアブラハムとサラにイサク誕生。神様はアブラハムを励ましてくださったのだと思いました。表を書いたことによってこの話の流れを見ることができて、このタイミングも理解することができました。ヽ(^◇^*)/ おすすめです。
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I noticed something I never thought of before.
Abram was already 99 when he was told:
that God's covenant was with him,
that his name was going to be Abraham,
that the uncircumcised was to be cut off,
that Sarai's name was going to be Sarah,
that she was the one who would give Abraham a son.
Then he went down to Gerar and told a lie about Sarah (this was the second time to tell the same lie). But the king Abimelech had a dream from God. He was innocent. It is clear that Abimelech did not touch Sarah. This is one year before Isaac was born. Then God told the king that Abraham was a prophet, and he could pray for him.
What was the prayer and what was the result of the prayer?
I don't see how he prayed but as a result, the wombs of the women at the King's palace were opened. (Genesis 20:17-18) I really don't know how soon they could see that the LORD healed them, but I would think that Abraham was greatly encouraged by the fact that his prayer healed the barrenness of the king and his household. Then Isaac was born when Abraham was 100. I see this incident in Gerar as a great encouragement to Abraham! His faith must have grown rapidly. God used the situation to encourage him!!
approximate translationアブラハムの人生を表にしてまとめると言う作業をしていまして、そして自然とイサクとヤコブの人生へと続けています。それがはたして何なんだと言われるかもしれませんが、私としては長い文章を読むということが大変で、表にしたりするとわかりやすくなるのです。おもしろいです！そして以前は気づかなかった事に気づいたりするともっとおもしろいのです。
アブラムが９９歳のとき、彼は"私の契約はあなたとともにある”といわれ、また、名前がアブラハムになるということ、永遠に割礼が契約のしるしとなること、サライの名前もサラとなること、そしてサラがアブラハムに息子を産むことなどを神様から語られました。でもその後に彼はゲラルに行きそこで二度目のうそをつきます。サラは私の妹だと。でもゲラルの王の夢によって神さまがあらわれてそこで王が無実であることが私たちにわかります。彼はサラには触れていないのです。そして。。。アブラハムが祈ったら、王とその妻と女奴隷たちが癒され、胎が開かれました。
アブラハムの祈りがどのようだったのか、いつそんなことが癒されたって言うのがわかったのかとかは聖書にはないけれど、このことはアブラハムの信仰の大きな励みになったはず！祈りによって閉ざされていた胎が開かれ、子供がうまれるようになった(創世記20：17-18）。。。そして１００歳の時、年寄りのアブラハムとサラにイサク誕生。神様はアブラハムを励ましてくださったのだと思いました。表を書いたことによってこの話の流れを見ることができて、このタイミングも理解することができました。ヽ(^◇^*)/ おすすめです。
