~ Prove all things; hold fast on that which is good. I Thessalonians 5:21
Showing posts with label Gad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gad. Show all posts

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Genesis 49:11-19


i.      Genesis 49:11 – Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
§        Choice vines will be in abundance, so much that one would tie his ass to it
§        The press will be so full of grapes that it will reach up to the garments and stain them
j.      Genesis 49:12 – His eyes [shall be] red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
§        Does this point back to Judah or is it still pointing to Shiloh?
§        Much of what is said regarding the destiny of Judah can be applied to the Lord Jesus Christ in that:
o       He is the Lord of His Father’s Children
o       He receives the praise of the “joint heirs”
o       He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
·        Revelation 5:5 - And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda…
o       He possesses the scepter
·        Hebrews 1:8 - But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.
o       He is the lawgiver
·        James 4:12 - There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
o       He is Shiloh that will gather the people of the nations
·        John 12:32 - And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.
o       He is living water, the vine that we are to abide in that refreshes the soul.
·        John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
·        Isaiah 55:1 - Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
§        We can see that Judah will be very prosperous and we need look no further than Solomon to see this fulfilled.  Yet even today we see Judah is very prosperous.
k.      Genesis 49:13 – Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he [shall be] for an haven of ships; and his border [shall be] unto Zidon.
§        Zebulun à exalted
§        Jacob prophecies:
o       Dwell in haven of sea
·        Joshua 19:10-11 - And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that [is] before Jokneam;
·        But is this the “latter days”?
o       Shall be a haven for ships
o       Border unto Zidon
·        Zidon - צידון Tsiydown, ancient Phoenician city, on Mediterranean coast north of Tyre; means hunting
o       1 Chronicles 12:33 - Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: [they were] not of double heart.
·        The tribe of Zebulun is later known for being skilled with weaponry and their loyalty to the king.
l.      Genesis 49:14 – Issachar [is] a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
m.      Genesis 49:15 – And he saw that rest [was] good, and the land that [it was] pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
§        Isaachar à there is recompense
§        Jacob prophecies:
o       Strong ass couching between two burdens
o       Became a servant to tribute
§        Two burdens - משפתים mishpath, masculine noun 1) fire-places, ash-heaps 2) sheepfolds, saddlebags
§        Spiritually and perhaps mentally lethargic and utterly unambitious. Seeing the prospect of "rest" and a good "land" and "pleasant," this tribe would rather surrender other advantages and become a group who would "stoop over with the shoulder to take on a burden," working for others in work that required only the contented exertion of brute strength, Yea, they were ready to become a "toiling labour band" for others as long as a fair measure of ordinary creature comforts could be enjoyed. Such an unprogressive, unambitious attitude has nothing noble about it. Leupold, Commentary on Genesis
§        The name Issachar is related to the root sakkîr, "a day labourer"
o       Is Jacob warning him not to set his goals too low?
§        1 Chronicles 12:32 - And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.
o       Did the tribe heed Jacob’s warning in becoming men who had understanding of the times?
§        What Issachar the individual demonstrated as a trait Jacob prophecies the entire tribe will develop
n.       Genesis 49:16 – Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
o.      Genesis 49:17 – Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
§        Dan à a judge
§        Jacob prophecies:
o       Shall judge his people
·        Samson was one of the most famous of the judges
·        Judges 13:2…24 - And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name [was] Manoah; and his wife [was] barren, and bare not… And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
o       Shall be a serpent by the way
·        Will be a subtle, but powerful warrior
·        Samson was of the tribe of Dan
o       Will bite the horse’s heel
o       Several ancient records report that a Semitic people called Danaan were expelled from Egypt and sailed to Greece to establish the early Greek civilization.  Could this Danaan be a reference to a portion of the tribe of Dan?
§        Dan brought idol worship into the camp at several points
o       Judges 18:30 – And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
o       1 Kings 12:28-30 – Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.  And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went [to worship] before the one, [even] unto Dan. 
·        Jereboam set these sites up out of jealousy if fear that if Israel returned to Jerusalem to worship that the two kingdoms would reunite and he would lose his throne.
o       Amos 8:14 – They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.
§        Is it possible that this phrase “serpent by the way” refers to the antichrist descending from the tribe of Dan? Some scholars believe this
o       Daniel 11:37 – Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
·        Specifically mentions “the God of his fathers” which gives some indication that he will be of the tribes of Israel
o       Jeremiah 8:16-17 – The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.  For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which [will] not [be] charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
§        Dan is vacated from the tribes of the 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe) but is redeemed in the millennium
o       Revelation 7:5-8 – Of the tribe of Juda [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.
·        Levi is added in lieu of Dan
o       Ezekiel 48:1 - Now these [are] the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east [and] west; a [portion for] Dan.
§        1 Chronicles 12:35 - And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
§        Judges 18:29 - And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city [was] Laish at the first.
o       The children of Dan seemed to have an affinity for naming regions after themselves and could be an identifying characteristic for identifying the tribe in history.
o       Judges 5:17 - Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
·        Tells us that at least a portion of Dan were sea dwelling people
o       The following geographical features have some form of Dan in their name:
·        Dnieper – major European river in Ukraine
·        Dniester – Eastern Europen river that empties into the Black Sea
·        Danube – major river that transverses most of Europe
·        Eridanus – The mythical name for the River Po of northern Italy
·        Anodanus – another name for the Rhone river of Switzerland and France
·        Codanus Sea (Baltic)
·        Scandianavia
·        Sweden
·        Denmark
o       Could it be that the Danites of the tribe of Dan eventually became the Danes of Denmark and were prominent Vikings who sailed with a serpent or dragon head on their ships?  There are vast amount of articles that both speculate and provide evidence that Dan was a tribe of explorers and were a fierce bunch
p.      Genesis 49:18 – I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
§        Salvation…this is the first mention of the word salvation in the Bible, what is the Hebrew word for salvation? ישועה yĕshuw`ah, the name of our Lord and Savior whom we refer to as Jesus Christ.  Here after blessing Dan, Jacob calls out for salvation and in doing so calls out for Y’shuah!
§        Waited - קוה qavah, to wait, look for, hope, expect
o       Jacob waits, expects, is looking for the salvation of YHVH, which is Y'shuah Ha MaShiach, Jesus the Christ! In the midst of his prophetic blessing.
§        Hebrews 11:13-14 - These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
o       This is the salvation for which Jacob waited
q.       Genesis 49:19 – Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
§        Gad àa troop
§        Jacob prophecies:
o       A troop shall overcome
·        1 Chronicles 12:14 - These [were] of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least [was] over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
·        Jeremiah 49:1 - Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why [then] doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?
·        Deuteronomy 33:20 - And of Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
                                                                                                                i.     Moses prophesied that Gad will become a nation with a large population and will build a strong military under it’s rulers that it will use against other nations.
                                                                                                               ii.     Jacob prophesies that in the latter days this militaristic nation of Gad “will be overcome”
o       He will overcome at the last
·        If Jacob were speaking of a nation in the latter days, what nation could “fit the bill” of rising to power with a fierce military only to be overcome by an alliance of other nations?
·        Additionally since this nation was initially overcome, they have regained prominence on the world stage.
·        Could Gad be Germany who rose to power with a strong military lashing out aggressively at neighboring nations only to be overcome by an alliance of nations?  Since then Germany has recovered to produce the fourth largest GDP among all nations.  Something to consider.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Genesis 29:29-30:13

L.     Genesis 29:29 – And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
§        Bilhah - בלהה Bilhah, "troubled"
M.     Genesis 29:30 – And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
§        Imagine Leah, here she is married to a man who wanted her sister and the only reason he’s married to her is due in part to her deception.  Her self-confidence had to be rather low.
§        Here we can see he was given Rachel and then he worked the seven years, he didn’t have to work the seven years first.
N.     Genesis 29:31 – And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.
§        God looks upon our circumstances and accommodates in unusual ways
§        Hated – loved less
§        We can see here the problems with polygamy.  We find Leah unloved and hoping to win the affection of her husband with the delivery of each new son
§        Rachel who is loved by her husband is jealous of the fact that her sister can have children,
§        No one seems happy and this is all due to Laban’s deceit
O.    Genesis 29:32 – And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah, Leah invokes the covenant name for each of her sons, and Rachel invokes it for Joseph
§        Reuben - ראובן Rĕ'uwben, "behold a son"
§        Apparent from Leah’s statement theat the Lord has looked upon her “affliction” that she is living in misery
P.     Genesis 29:33 – And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I [was] hated, he hath therefore given me this [son] also: and she called his name Simeon.
§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah
§        Simeon - שמעון Shim`own, "heard"
§        Another son, another statement of anguish; however, even though Jacob may not love her as much as Rachel, he is apparently spending some time with her.  More evidence that a marriage should be according to God’s perfect Will between one man and one woman.
Q.     Genesis 29:34 – And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah
§        Levi – לוי Leviy, "joined to"
§        Leah cannot be blamed for wanting to be joined to her husband exclusively, however, she does not seem to consider the circumstances surrounding her predicament.  Jacob loved Rachel from the start, its not like he ever loved Leah she usurped her sisters rightful place and now she laments her situation.
R.    Genesis 29:35 – And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah
§       Judah – יהודה Yĕhuwdah, "praised"
§       Leah finally surrenders to God, rather than making a negative statement about her personal relationship with her husband, she has grown to a point where she is fully dependent upon God.  She therefore makes a positive statement, praising the Lord and naming her son “the Lord be praised”.
 
Chapter 30
I.               Jacob’s Family is Growing (Genesis 30:1-25)
A.     Genesis 30:1 – And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
§        Rachel lashes out and blames Jacob for something that he clearly has no control over.  Rather than seek God to grant her children, she blames and hurts the one that loves her the most.
§        What motivates these feelings within Rachel? Envy of her sister.  Not necessarily her inability to have children as much as it is her sister’s ability too have children.  Even though she has something her sister doesn’t have (Jacob’s love) she is not content with that.  Is it wrong for her to want children of her own? Of course not, but that does not seem to be the motivating factor.
o       Isaiah 54:1 - Sing, O barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
§        Other women who are barren that end up having prominent children include:
o       Sarah – Genesis 11:30
o       Rebekah – Genesis 25:21
o       Manoah’s wife (Samson’s mother) – Judges 13:2
o       Elizabeth Luke 1:7
o       Hannah – 1 Samuel Chapter 1
-        Hannah’s situation is very similar to that of Rachel, yet Hannah behaves entirely different.
-        Compare/Contrast Hannah with Rachel
RACHEL
HANNAH
One of two wives, the other was fruitful she was barren
One of two wives, the other was fruitful she was barren
Was preferred by her husband
Was preferred by her husband
Provoked by the other wife
Provoked by the other wife
Envious of her sister’s ability to birth children
Wept and fasted to have children
Went to her husband with a sense of entitlement
Prayed to the Lord in humility (“poured out my soul before the Lord”)
Wanted Children
Wanted a Child
Demanding
Submissive
Wants the child as a power piece
Wants to give the child to the Lord
Wanted children more than her husband’s love, to the extent that she gave him to another woman
Was comforted by her husband when he said “am I not better to thee than ten sons?”
Named her firstborn son Joseph meaning the Lord has taken away my reproach and shall add to me another.  This is an indication that she needed a child to validate her and is already looking forward to the next child and not exhibiting thanksgiving for the one she just gave birth to.
Named her firstborn son Samuel meaning “asked of God” acknowledging that he was the son she had asked for and God granted her request.

These are Hannah’s words after she gave up Samuel to the service of the Lord: “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the Lord: My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in Thy salvation.  There is none holy as the Lord: For there is none beside Thee: Neither is there any rock like our God…”
Rachel gave her handmaid to Jacob a second time producing Naphtali, and eventually had two sons of her own in Joseph and Benjamin
Hannah gave birth to three more sons and two daughters

§        2 Peter 1:8 - For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
B.     Genesis 30:2 – And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, [Am] I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
§        One thing leads to another, Rachel hurts Jacob with her accusations, Jacob gets angry and lashes back.  Even though what he said was truthful, it was probably not the right to say this to her out of anger.
o       Deuteronomy 7:14 - Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.
§        What did Rachel expect Jacob to do? Maybe she could have simply asked Jacob to pray that God would give her children, but instead we see what comes next seems to transpire out of sibling rivalry competing for the same husband.
o       Psalm 127:3 - Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.
C.     Genesis 30:3 – And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
§        Rachel appears hurt and desperate, rather than trust God she follows the example of Sarah, giving her hand maid to her husband
§        She would rather have children that were not hers biologically than to feel somehow beneath her sister.
o       Her sisters sons would have been her nephews, but rather than demonstrate her love for them she wanted her own to use as power pieces in her struggle with her sister.
o       This was in accordance with the code of Hammurabi:
§145- If a man takes a wife, and she bears him no children, and he intends to take another wife: if he take this second wife, and bring her into the house, this second wife shall not be allowed equality with his wife.

§146- If a man take a wife and she give this man a maid-servant as wife and she bear him children, and then this maid assume equality with the wife: because she has borne him children her master shall not sell her for money, but he may keep her as a slave, reckoning her among the maid-servants.
D.    Genesis 30:4 – And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
§        Wife – אשה 'ishshah, woman, wife, female
E.     Genesis 30:5 – And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
F.     Genesis 30:6 – And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
§        Note that Rachel names the son even though it is Bilhah’s.  This clearly shows that even though Bilhah was given to Jacob for a “wife” she did not rise to the level of Rachel or Leah.  (See Code of Hammurabi §145 above)
§        God - אלהים 'elohiym
§        Dan - דן Dan, "a judge"
o       “God hath judged me” à “God has given sentence in my favor”
G.    Genesis 30:7 – And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
§        Conceived - הרה harah, to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor
o       Conceived again would indicate two separate pregnancies and therefore two separate intimate moments with Jacob.  We see from this that Rachel was willing to trade her husband’s affections for children that were not even her own.
§        So even though Rachel already had one son by way of Bilhah, that didn’t satisfy her envious thirst for equality with her sister.
§        No complaints from Jacob
H.    Genesis 30:8 – And Rachel said, with great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
§        No mention of God
§        Naphtali - נפתלי Naphtaliy, "wrestling"
o       What a contentious home, Rachel is sowing seeds of strife in her children because of her jealousy of Leah
I.       Genesis 30:9 – When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
§        Leah, who had already bare Jacob 4 sons is now driven by her rivalry with Rachel to hand over her handmaid to Jacob. 
§        This is an irrational decision by Leah, she has four sons of her own and for the sole purpose of competing with her sister she turns her handmaid over to Jacob.
o       This actually seems to run counter to the intent of Hammurabi’s code in that a wife would normally turn her handmaid over to her husband unless she is barren, clearly Leah is not barren.
§        Still no complaints from Jacob
J.      Genesis 30:10 – And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
K.    Genesis 30:11 – And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
§        Gad - גד Gad, "troop"
L.     Genesis 30:12 – And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
§        Leah, who has been competing for Jacob’s affections makes her task even more difficult by bringing another woman into the marriage.
§        These decisions are not rational, and are motivated by sin, but God shows that He is able to bring good out of evil
§        Jacob has been a real sport throughout all of this ordeal, never once complaining about all of these demands that his wives have put on him.
§        Note that it doesn’t say she conceived again only that she bare him a second son, this may indicate that Gad and Asher were twins.
M.   Genesis 30:13 – And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
§        Asher - אשר 'Asher, "happy"
§        Why is she suddenly happy? She says because the daughters will call her blessed.  Wasn’t she already blessed with her own children, why does it take a son from the bondwoman to make her happy?  Is her happiness rooted in maintaining an advantage over her sister?