Torah 101-Vayera

I.

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS STUDY QUESTIONS (from Lech

Lecha)

1) Question for Genesis 12-13:

Where do we see proof about how old the written Torah really is, when we compare
place names here that are used later in Tanakh?
VAYATEK MISHAM HA-HARAH MIKEDEM LE-VEYT-EL (12:8) = and he
moved on from there to the mountain of the east of Bethel. Please see 1 Kings 12.
When Jeroboam successfully split the kingdom into north and south and took the
Northern tribes into his rulership, he set up shrines at Dan and Bethel in an effort to
discourage visits to the Temple in the south. There is no reason for Jeroboam to do
this unless he too knew the history of Abraham from the book of Genesis! Therefore,
even in 931 BCE, it is clear that the Torah text was well circulated and understood.
Contrast this to the liberal view that priests in King Josiahs time wrote the Torah and
placed it in the walls shortly before Josiah found it, which happened about 300
years later. Therefore, it must be viewed as historical fact that the written Torah of
Moshe existed at least as far back as the establishment of the Monarchy, if not much
earlier than this, which is my view.
2) Question for Genesis 14-15:
Abrahams servants are called something that hints at a special occasion thousands of
years in their future. What is the term and what is the occasion?
CHANICHAV (14:14) = fighting men but more accurately dedicated men. Other
rabbis say students because the term in Hebrew implies devotion and loyalty to
Abram. From this word we also get HANUKKAH, the Feast of Dedication for the
Temple.
3) Question for Genesis 16-17:
What do Hagar and the Apostle Paul have in common? Hint: It has something to do
with what Hagar is told.
VEHITANI TACHAT YEDEYHA (16:9) = and submit yourself to her, or literally,
bring yourself back under her authority. This word TACHATH or under is the
same word in the Aramaic NT that underlies terms like under the law and is
referred often to by Paul in his letters. In that case it denotes using ritual in Torah as
an authority rather than YHWH. In the same way, Hagar is commanded to surrender
to Sarah to be TACHATH or under her authority.
4) Haftorah Question of the Week: Isaiah 40:27-41:16
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How does the prophet Isaiah hint at the fact that Moses isnt the only prophet to have
an extremely intimate relationship with Abba YHWH?
AVRAHAM OHAVI or Abraham my friend appears in Isaiah 41:8, but the word
for friend is different than that used for say Jethro, Moses father in law (REU).
This word for friend is derived from AHAVA, the Hebrew word for LOVE, hinting
at far more than a partnership or casual friendship. Abba YHWH rather trusts
Abraham as a beloved one because Abraham was Torah observant (Genesis 26:5)
and that relationship is very similar to the description given by Abba YHWH
regarding Moses
6

Yahweh said: Listen to my words! if there is a prophet among you, I reveal myself
to him in a vision, I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses; to
him my whole household is entrusted; 8 to him I speak face to face, plainly and
not in riddles, and he sees Yahweh's form. How, then, could you dare to criticize
my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:6-8 NJB)

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II.

QUESTIONS FOR THIS TORAH PORTION (Vayera)

Please NOTE:

For clarity and time constraints, if I elect to not read the whole parsha (which
is the case this week) I may still ask questions relating to the portions I did not
read!
5) Question for Genesis 18-19:
Why does Abba YHWH seem to need to go down and look upon Sodom when He
already can perfectly see and understand what is going on there from His position in
heaven?
6) Question for Genesis 20-21:
How is Abraham by our standards today still not being 100% accurate even when he
confesses his deception to Abimelech?
7) Question for Genesis 22:
There is a man who is mentioned in this parsha who may have become more famous
under another name. Who is he?
8) Haftorah Question of the Week: 2 Kings 4:1-37
How is a miracle that began here continued or completed in the NT?
9) Renewed Covenant Commentary: Yaakov 2:14-24
James 2:14Literally "restore life", not "save" as often translated.
James 2:21- (two)
Some theologians allege this teaching to be opposite of the Pauline Epistles, such as
Galatians. The reality is that Paul was grossly misquoted whereas Ya'akov was not. Rav
Shaul did not accept empty ritual devoid of proper spiritual focus. He was Torah
Observant; he kept the Moedim (feast days), the Shabbat, and took one or more Nazirite
vows; he fasted on Yom Kippur, ate "clean" food and lived a Set Apart life in Mashiyach
Y'shua. The fact is that Romans 7:12 totally harmonizes Galatians with, and
complements, Galatians and Ya'akov.
A very clear wordplay exists here, with the phrase asiq l'Aiskaq, or "offering Yitzchak".
Asiq is a very rare word used for "offering"; the only reason to do so is to show a clever
association between the Aramaic spelling and sound of these two words.
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James 2:24The Hebrew word for a righteous soul = tsadiq; righteousness = tsedeq; justified =
tsadaq; notice they are the same word. A soul without righteousness can never be
"justified" regardless of what theologians claim. The original root word for justified
relates to righteous action. However, mainstream Christianity teaches that a person is
"justified" solely on the merits of belief in Y'shua, and that observing Torah is impossible.
Even in Ya'akov's day, some individuals wanted cerebral belief to "justify" themselves,
which is impossible. Y'shua's person (example) and Spirit is meant to literally be
imparted into us; this must be evidenced by our actions, otherwise we do not belong to
him. Theological, or cerebral "belief" without works, is dead religion; but active literal
Faith comes to life in Mashiyach. Torah Observance/obedience is clear evidence that we
have passed from death to life. See John 5:29, Matthew 7:23.

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