Torah Pearls #51 – Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20)

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Torah Pearls Nitzavim, alah, bitterness, choice of life or death, Circumcised, Circumcised flesh, Circumcised heart, Circumcision, covenant, curse, David, Deuteronomy, drunkard, exile, Ingathering, Joshua, kibbutz, mysterious, nehemia gordon, Nitzavim, oath, parashah, Parsha, parshas, parshat, prosperity, repentance and forgiveness, revealed, root, secret, secrets, sober, Torah Pearls, Torah Portion, wormwoodThis episode of The Original Torah Pearls is on the Torah portion of Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20). The trio revels in this portion containing the five verses that sum up the entire Bible—the wonderful and terrible responsibility given to mankind to choose. But what qualifies one to choose the life-giving covenant? Social status? Being in the camp? Does the name of God provide a clue? And how is this covenant sealed—with a kiss or a curse? Is comprehension of the covenant too difficult for stiff-necked mortals? Whose name do we call on for help? Gordon concludes with a Hebrew word study that reveals what true prosperity looks like for those choosing Torah—a radiant bride with a loving and joyful groom. Continue reading →

Prophet Pearls #50 – Ki Tavo (Isaiah 60:1-22)

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Prophet Pearls Ki Tavo, glory of Israel, haftarah, Isaiah 60:1-22, Keith Johnson, ki tavo, ki tavo haftarah, ki tavo prophets portion, nehemia gordon, parashah, Parsha, parshas, parshat, Temple MountThis week, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion for Ki Tavo covering Isaiah 60:1-22. Gordon and Johnson revel in this sixth in a series of seven “Haftarot of Consolation,” as the prophet Isaiah details the future glory of Israel. Gordon and Johnson provide eyewitness accounts of the fulfillment of some of the prophecies—such as walls built by foreigners and the ingathering of exiles. Word studies include uri/wake up, kavod/glory leaving, netzer/branch and hamas/violence. We learn that signs of a hastening are going on right now and that eternal life on Earth is a Jewish concept. In closing, Johnson prays for the day when there are no coups and no confusion and Messiah reigns from Jerusalem. Continue reading →

Torah Pearls #50 – Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8)

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Ki Tavo - Joshua's Altar Mount EvalThis episode of The Original Torah Pearls is Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8). After revealing the identity of the “wandering Aramean,” we discuss the name commanded to be spoken seven times during the first fruits offering. A vivid picture is painted of the tribes standing on Mounts Ebal and Gerizim declaring the blessings and the curses across the bowl-shaped valley. But why are the curses so complicated and the blessings so simple?  Gordon lets us in on marginal notes that direct how some of the more graphic phrases in the Torah are to be read in public. He also proposes an explanation for the statistically insignificant Jew becoming a byword among the nations. Could the exile and its miseries be as much of a sign as the miraculous ingathering? And while our heavenly Father many times commands the whole hearts and souls of his people, to what one cause does he pledge his? Continue reading →

Prophet Pearls #49 – Ki Teitzei – Prophecy Fulfilled

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Prophet Pearls Ki Teitzei, A.J. Bernard, dead sea scrolls, drash peshat, drash versus peshat, drash vs peshat, edom rome, Essenes, holy spirit judaism, holy spirit ruach ha-kodesh, illuminational exegesis, Ki Teitzei, Ki Teitzei haftarah, messianic prophecies, Messianic prophecy, nehemia gordon, parashah, parshas, parshat, pesher habakkuk, Prophecy, Prophet Pearls, prophets, ruaḥ ha-qodesh, teacher of righteousness essenes, teacher of righteousness yom kippur, tovia singer counter-missionary, wicked priest, YeshuaIn this special bonus episode,  I discuss with Methodist Pastor A.J. Bernard whether Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled in the New Testament. Seydel wrote: “This teaching was fantastic…I really loved hearing the two perspectives. I believe these kinds of discussions are so important because they help us to see Scripture from another point of view. Hopefully this will lead to respect and love for our fellow believers in Yehovah. Thank you so much for this wonderful teaching. It truly was a blessing to me.” Continue reading →

Torah Pearls #49 – Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19)

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Torah Pearls Ki Teitzei, Amalekites, bastard, ben sorer, blot out name, civil laws, collateral, cursed, Deuteronomy, divorce, dog, domestic laws, donkey and ox, fidelity, hanged on tree, hanging, harlot, inheritance, Ki Teitzei, levirate marriage, Malachi, mamzer, Methodist, nehemia gordon, parapets, parashah, Parsha, parshas, parshat, plowing, presence of the Lord, presence of Yehovah, prostitute, prostitution, puppy, rape, rebellious son, repossession, rights of firstborn, sexual immorality, shechinah, shekhinah, slavery, sowing, tassels, tenth generation, Torah Pearls, Torah Portion, tzitzit, uncleanness, weaving, women’s rights, wool and linenThis episode of The Original Torah Pearls is on the Torah portion of Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19). An uninformed reading of the archaic civil and domestic laws in this portion might leave one scratching the head, but the trio deftly removes cultural and language barriers so that the principles behind these pearls can be applied to the modern age. Discussions reveal what is at the heart of: Torah fashion statements, plowing with a donkey and an ox, installing parapets and taking millstones. Ki Teitzei underscores that the Torah is for all people, for all time—as its laws not only remedied ancient Canaanite traditions but also reached ahead to 20th century America when women’s rights finally began to get with the program. The portion concludes with the mind-bender of remembering to forget—and a reminder from Gordon that it’s a curse to have one’s name blotted out. Continue reading →

Unity vs Uniformity

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Since the 1980s I have been striving to understand our Creator's holy calendar and live in accordance with the times He hard-wired into Creation. Over the years I have seen a proliferation of calendar systems among those turning to Scripture, as my own understanding has also grown and deepened. Calendar disputes have led to division and strife since the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls. However, I believe that honoring our Creator's calendar to the best of our ability, should not be something that divides us. Continue reading →

Hebrew Voices #23 – The Temple Floor Lady (Rebroadcast)

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Hebrew Voices, Frankie Snyder, Temple Mount Sifting Project, ancient, archaeological, excavations, paving stones, Jerusalem, Temple, 1st century, Mosaic, opus sectile, ancient world, House of Prayer for All Nations, God's people, nations, prophetic, Yehovah, salvation, mankind, Ancient Floor LadyIn this episode of Hebrew Voices, I meet with The Temple Floor Lady, Frankie Snyder. Frankie works at the Temple Mount Sifting Project in Jerusalem, reconstructing ancient floors. Frankie explains how she pieces together the pieces of floor discovered in the archaeological excavations. I got excited when she showed me, and let me touch, the ancient paving stones that covered the surface of the Jerusalem Temple in the 1st century CE. Unlike a Mosaic, which makes use of uniform cubes, the "opus sectile" floors of the Temple were made up of light and dark stones from all over the ancient world, cut into diverse shapes and sizes, and fit together into a grand puzzle to form intricate patterns. As I was speaking to Frankie I realized the floor tiling of the "House of Prayer for All Nations" was a picture of God's people. Made up of diverse colors and shapes, coming from far off lands with different backgrounds and ideas, the nations flowing unto Jerusalem will prophetically fit together into Yehovah's plan of salvation for mankind! Continue reading →