PARASHAT KI – TETZEI

 PARASHAT KI – TETZEI (The Great Exchange)

Brukhim Habayim Chaverim – we are entering into an exciting new phase of Torah study and participation, nevertheless as we end the Chumash (5 books) the story line is inevitable introducing us to a more prophetic and messianic path in the closing paragraphs of the Torah. We will be suddenly be catapulted from Torah and Law and seemingly strict codes of conduct to a more messianic outlook as we close Deuteronomy by this year cycle. Ki Tetzei is fascinating as a portion of study, let us turn to the portion as read in Devarim chapter 21:10 on wards

כִּֽי־תֵצֵ֥א לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ וּנְתָנ֞וֹ יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ בְּיָדֶ֖ךָ וְשָׁבִ֥יתָ שִׁבְיֽוֹ׃

“When you take the field against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your power and you take some of them captive” hold that thought right there !!!!! this does not seen like a commandment or a decree at all – more like a advise or suggestion  that Moses is giving the people. You see unlike other times the Torah says that HaShem directed the Israelite's to go to war against certain of their enemies – here the language is very different – When you go out to war ??? really!!! What is going in here chaverim? It is almost and as if HaShem is saying to them whenever you feel to the need to go to war and protect yourself – I am with you but these are things you must accomplish whenever this happens.

וְרָאִיתָ֙ בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת יְפַת־תֹּ֑אַר וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ בָ֔הּ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ וַהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְגִלְּחָה֙ אֶת־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וְעָשְׂתָ֖ה אֶת־צִפָּרְנֶֽיהָ׃ וְהֵסִ֩ירָה֩ אֶת־שִׂמְלַ֨ת שִׁבְיָ֜הּ מֵעָלֶ֗יהָ וְיָֽשְׁבָה֙ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ וּבָֽכְתָ֛ה אֶת־אָבִ֥יהָ וְאֶת־אִמָּ֖הּ יֶ֣רַח יָמִ֑ים וְאַ֨חַר כֵּ֜ן תָּב֤וֹא אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ וּבְעַלְתָּ֔הּ וְהָיְתָ֥ה לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

“And you see among the captives a woman o Beautiful form and you deeply desire her and would take her to wife, you shall bring her into the midst your house, and she shall trim her hair, pare her nails, and discard her captive’s garb. She shall spend a month’s time in your house lamenting her father and mother; after that you may come to her and possess her, and she shall be your wife”

See – the word Toar – is a fascinating word, talking about a perceptive seeing in the Soul rather that a Physical aspect of flesh, it is talking about being attracted to a inner essence of beauty and form which captivates the Minds Eye. Then the Israelite will bring her into the middle of his House (What House is it referring to?) it almost seems to be talking about a metaphysical allegory here besides a physical desire being played out. I think the Torah is talking to us in a REMEZ (Riddle) leaving it to us to try and figure out some spiritual meaning, challenging us to look deeper into ourselves and reflect the true meaning. It is almost describing how a man would allow a woman to remove her hair and pare her nails (both which are inherited from her Father) which resembles her covering and spiritual Security, and then change her garment which is soiled by impurity and bondage and come under the Israelite covering. Does it not remind you of Rav Shaul talking about the Covering in the book of Corinthians saying that the head of the man is Christ and the head of the woman is the Man. Fascinating – we are reading an allegory of the Bride that has been acquired as a spoil of war, earned and possessed by might – For we see Yeshua, he fought the Spiritual battle against Sin and overcome and bought and redeemed the bride with a payment of his Blood and his death. Yeshua has brought us into his covering, he has removed the head covering of Sin and replaced it with his, he has pared our nails and replaced it with his Essence and has removed our soiled garments of sinful deeds and replaced us with the His garments of righteousness. Oh !! how wonderful a thing he has accomplished for all humanity.

You see for the physical Israelite he sends here away if he found she was no more appealing (please do not take this the wrong way dear women) we are talking about allegories here. But he should NOT sell he on compassionate grounds because he has exposed her and made her spiritually susceptible – rather he should care for her and make sure she is under a covering elsewhere and she is free to choose for herself with dignity and respect. Now I know the language used in the scripture sounds disgusting and harsh and I also shudder when I read such things – believe me, this is the reason sometimes I think our church fathers took things very literal and misunderstood making and shunning the Jewishness of the day. But we need to look at things is correct perspective. It is True that centuries ago Humans treated each other badly, especially the Female gender being cast aside as a weaker vessel – this is all Human greed, lust of power and weakness, Human both Male and Female were sold for ECONOMIC reasons, and believe me it still goes on today in our modern word but in a more acceptable, humane and respectable manner. Centuries before even males were treated and sold as slaves because they were Human capital and would make profits for their owners (it is the same today for our Bosses and directors) except the world today is much more advanced and comfortable, there is more equality today than they has ever been, and there a lot more distribution of wealth today than there has been centuries before.

We just need to change the physical economic scenario with spiritual productivity and then suddenly our clarity on the situation comes through like light in a dark place. I say thus; if we are spiritually becoming unproductive and lethargic to work and be an asset to the kingdom of Heaven God is going to send us away Chaverim – please understand what I am trying to  discuss with you – it directly is talking about the Body of Christ that he has purchased and bought. The Lord will demand productivity and accountability form the Kehilah that he gave his life for. The problem with us is that we do not take seriously the other side of Salvation – the accountability and the productivity needs to remain being effective in the kingdom, most of the believers today have fallen into spiritual coma for the last 5-10-15 years, you know what !! God is going to assess, audit and remove the unproductive branches chaverim – I pray we all take this seriously.

Look at how messianic and prophetic the Torah is turning out to be towards the tail end of the 5 books, it is hinting to us what is to come in and how the Lord is going to have a relationship with his Bride in the future – lets read on in this fascinating portion – I want to highlight here again the Head covering because it signifies a spiritual security the man OFFERS on a woman whom he has chosen to take as a wife (the word is INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE) it is referring to the Inner man allowing the BRIDE to clean purify remove her previous head covering and come under the covering of the Israelite – who in turn is supposed to be under the Sukkah and Shekinah Glory of HaShem himself. This is what Rav Shaul in 1 Corinthians 11:3  “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” fascinating, now lets see how the Torah is progressing us into more futuristic and messianic mindset

כִּֽי־תִהְיֶ֨יןָ לְאִ֜ישׁ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֗ים הָאַחַ֤ת אֲהוּבָה֙ וְהָאַחַ֣ת שְׂנוּאָ֔ה וְיָֽלְדוּ־ל֣וֹ בָנִ֔ים הָאֲהוּבָ֖ה וְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑ה וְהָיָ֛ה הַבֵּ֥ן הַבְּכ֖וֹר לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃ וְהָיָ֗ה בְּיוֹם֙ הַנְחִיל֣וֹ אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֖ה ל֑וֹ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל לְבַכֵּר֙ אֶת־בֶּן־הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י בֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֖ה הַבְּכֹֽר׃ כִּי֩ אֶת־הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ (ס)

Deut 21:15-17 “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, but the first-born is the son of the unloved one— when he wills his property to his sons, he may not treat as first-born the son of the loved one in disregard of the son of the unloved one who is older.  Instead, he must accept the first-born, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him a double portion of all he possesses; since he is the first fruit of his vigor, the birthright is his due” Oh !!! the unloved wife takes precedence in her seed as the first born. Lets us ask ourselves this – WHO IS THE FIRST BORN OF ALL CREATION – Is not our Lord Yeshua from the unloved Wife – where is Yeshua identified with today – is it not Christianity – so what is the Torah telling us. Although Yeshua looks Christian because this is the garment and form that has been given to him by the Roman church – in effect he was brought forth out of the Christian world – but he is given the Frist Birthright. Now this is a great mystery chaverim – the One person that has 2 facets (Ya’acov & Esav) Jews and Christians. There is enough of Jewish essence in Christ internally although he externally wears the garments of Esav – this mystery is about reconciling the Jew and the gentile which Rav Shaul has much to talk about.

כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה לְאִ֗ישׁ בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֔עַ בְּק֥וֹל אָבִ֖יו וּבְק֣וֹל אִמּ֑וֹ וְיסְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ וְתָ֥פְשׂוּ ב֖וֹ אָבִ֣יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְהוֹצִ֧יאוּ אֹת֛וֹ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֥י עִיר֖וֹ וְאֶל־שַׁ֥עַר מְקֹמֽוֹ׃ וְאָמְר֞וּ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י עִיר֗וֹ בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא׃

Deut 21:18-20  “If a man has a wayward and defiant son, who does not heed his father or mother and does not obey them even after they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the public place of his community. They shall say to the elders of his town, “This son of ours is disloyal and defiant; he does not heed us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”  Hmmmmm……… where have you read something like this in the scriptures before: in Luke 7:34 Yeshua Says “The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! This is the great exchange I am talking to you about chaverim – You may be seeing a Christian Jesus – inside of him there is Jewish Yeshua !!! SUCH IS THE MYSTERIES OF God we are yet to fathom, and there is a strategy for this. Is there is no Christian Jesus today how the gentiles are to be saved. The Jew needs the Christian because he must be able to recognize the Messiah inside of him to obtain salvation, whereas the Christian needs to Jew to rectify his righteousness and  bring the Jew into his inheritance – they need each other.

Yeshua knows the wisdom and knowledge of the times which he lives in and is telling us about the Great exchange that has happened and is visible to those who are able to see the truth. That is why he says in Verse 35: “But Wisdom is justified by all her children” these are such beautiful verses chaverim that once it is exposed and expounded it is such a blessing.

וּ֠רְגָמֻהוּ כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִיר֤וֹ בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ וָמֵ֔ת וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁמְע֥וּ וְיִרָֽאוּ׃ (ס) וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה בְאִ֗ישׁ חֵ֛טְא מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֖וֶת וְהוּמָ֑ת וְתָלִ֥יתָ אֹת֖וֹ עַל־עֵֽץ׃ לֹא־תָלִ֨ין נִבְלָת֜וֹ עַל־הָעֵ֗ץ כִּֽי־קָב֤וֹר תִּקְבְּרֶ֙נּוּ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא כִּֽי־קִלְלַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים תָּל֑וּי וְלֹ֤א תְטַמֵּא֙ אֶת־אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָֽה׃ (ס)

Deut 21: 21-23 “Thereupon the men of his town shall stone him to death. Thus, you will sweep out evil from your midst: all Israel will hear and be afraid. If a man is guilty of a capital offense and is put to death, and you impale him on a stake, you must not let his corpse remain on the stake overnight, but must bury him the same day. For an impaled body is an affront to God: you shall not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess” Now please think of how many times the people in different villages almost came close to stoning our Lord and he managed to slip away quietly through their midst. This is all prophecy coming through and Yeshua living it in real time. But the real deal here is when it talks about capital punishment and the person needs to be impaled on a stake – isn’t it true that Yeshua was put on a cross and died treated as a criminal with the capital punishment that was supposed to be ours. Yeshua took on that punishment for the gentiles because we all deserve Death and capital punishment. So the ingathering of the Gentiles had to come in first before the Jew, because the Jew is supposed to be on a more higher spiritual level than a gentile. Now during Yeshua’s time the Jewish people had almost assimilated into the World system, they had lost their Jewishness Identity in God and Rav Shaul ws reminding them about the same thing

That is why he tells the Kehilah in Galatia that even the Jews who are circumcised have become like the gentiles and fallen away and their circumcision have become invalid. The Gentile however who comes into the kingdom by faith and circumcised in his heart is righteous enough as a circumcised Jew – However the Physical circumcision means nothing since the Jew himself is not able to justify himself being circumcised. In all perspective. The Jew being on a much higher spiritual level has been relegated into the background by HaShem for a time and season until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. till then blindness in part is brought upon israel so that the rectification of the world must needs come to be till then, I hope this Torah portion has been a tremendous blessing for all of us – Happy reading Chaverim – much to learn, much to know ; Shabbath Shalom and happy Life in Yeshua our Lord.