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"You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand."
- Exodus 23: 1 , New Living Translation, see link below.
Chapter 23
1 A very short paraphrase on the first phrase of verse one. Which some will find objectionable, and dispute, but here it is anyway:
Don't gossip.
We'll now restart the chapter.
Chapter 23
1 - 3
"lo" (no / not) "nasa / nasah" (lift / bear / carry (includes idea of doing so willingly)) "shema" (news / report / rumor) "shav" (worthless / false / empty). "al" (nothing / not) your "yad" (hand) with "rasha" (wicked / evil / guilty) "hayah" (to be / become) "ed" (witness / evidence) for "chamas" (violence / cruelty / injustice).
Not shall you "achar" (follow / 'go along with') "rab" (many / chief) to do "ra'" (evil / harm / 'cause distress') - nor shall you "anah" (testify / speak) in "rib" (dispute / quarrel / lawsuit) to "natah" (bend / spread (as in 'to dilute')) after "rab" (many / chief) to "natah" (bend / spread (as in 'to dilute')) (justice is implied). And to "dal" (poor / weak / low) "lo" (not) "hadar" (glorify / favor / etc) in his "rib" (dispute / quarrel / lawsuit).
The message of standing against injustice, including gossip, especially when the victim is the poor or powerless, is a constant throughout Scripture, and comes to a sharp point at the end of the OT in the Minor Prophets, as we saw in our study of them (see quote and link below), and is one of the central messages Christ preached during his ministry. The Chosen People are NOT to be involved with that.
4 - 7 Paraphrase and Discussion:
If you find the animal.....
Let's skip that and listen to Him:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." - Matthew 5 : 43 - 44 (GNT, link below).
These verses are the basis for His statement from the Sermon on the Mount, also recorded in Luke 6. Which is why we study the OT, because He had to make these points to people who who knew these things, or should have, and had failed to live by them. If you have any further questions about this overall idea, compare what Moses said about "an eye for an eye" and so on, with what HE said in Matthew 5: 38.
Just because we are in Exodus, let's look at a couple of the key words from these verses. In four, where most translations have 'enemy', they are correct, the Hebrew word is "oyeb" and that is exactly what it means, including the idea that they hate you, and see you as an adversary or foe. Then in five it uses the word "sane" (hates / detests / is hostile 'toward you'), and in both you are told to 'do the right thing' and return the ox or help out the over-burdened donkey. Which is EXACTLY what Jesus told His followers to do..... without the ox being involved.
8 - 9 Summary:
Don't take a bribe to pervert justice against the righteous. Don't oppress the stranger because you were strangers in Egypt.
We just discussed justice at the beginning of this chapter, this was repetition for emphasis after the bit about doing good to your enemy, so we'll move on.
10 - 12 Review and Summary:
This is the beginning of the discussion of the Sabbath Year, based on the Sabbath Day, and then comes the Seven Weeks of Years which we have previously mentioned and don't need to go into here.
They will work their fields and orchards for six years, then let them 'rest' for the seventh. Which, until the advent of crop rotation, was needed. Then it restates the regulation of working for six days and resting on the seventh.
13
and in "kol" (all) that I "amar" (said) to you "shamar" (keep / guard / observe). And "shem" (name (includes 'the idea')) of "'elohim" (gods (not as proper noun)) "acher" (other / another) "lo" (no / not) "zakar" (remember / call to mind / mention) - "lo" (no / not / nor) "shama" (heard / declared) from your "peh" (mouth).
They just left a land with over two thousand known and named gods of every sort, good ones, evil ones, and some that appear to have been both at the same time. Fine... They're being told to not talk about them any more, or any of the ones in the land they're going to. Whether or not this applies to us is worth discussing, however, we can also look at various ones like Elijah who challenged Ba'al, by name, to his face, or at least a couple of hundred of his friends, on the mountain in 1 Kings 18.
14 - 18 Review and Summary:
Remember back in back during the Tenth Plague in Exodus 12 and thereabouts? There were Two remembrances instituted, this confirms them, and adds one more. The first is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and then the Feast of First Fruits (the first born from the Passover) when crops are planted, and then the Feast of the Harvest (Ingathering) later.
... and while you're at it ...
"lo" (not / no) "zabach" (offer sacrifice) with "chamets" (leavened 'bread') with the "dam" (blood) of My "zebach" (the sacrifice offered) - "lo" (not / nor) "luwn" (remain / be left) "cheleb" (fat / 'best portion) of My "chag" ('festival sacrifice' (includes the idea of feast)) until "boqer" (morning (literally: 'the morning after')).
This comes back up in Leviticus. They are told, beginning in chapter 6, to keep the fire on the altar burning "all night". Which should take care of any remaining fat.
19 Short Review and Discussion:
.... Bring the First Fruits of the land to the House of GOD. And don't boil a young goat in its mother's milk.
This comes up later... the goat part. Which is why you will never see a "kosher cheeseburger" that is made of real cheese, and real meat.
20 - 23 Short Paraphrase, Review and Summary:
You're getting a travel agent... be nice and listen to him, and you'll get to where you're going. And he'll help defeat your enemies.
Well, that's about it. The list of 'usual suspects' is the same, only a slightly different order from chapter three. What is interesting about the angel is that it says that he, the angel, will not "nasa" (bear / carry) their "pesha" (transgressions / rebellion) for My Name is on him.
It almost reads like GOD has had His fill of them, and needs a break. You almost feel sorry for the poor angel who drew that duty given what we know about the people and their leader so far.
.....what?... we were just thinking that, did it get added to the study? Yeah. oh well,.. too late to delete it now.
The list of maladies is interesting. No one will "shakol / shakal" (miscarry / have a young child die), or be "aqar" (barren / childless). This is a promise that there will be future generations.
"emah" (fear / dread / terror) will be sent before them... We see this when they take Jericho in Joshua 6. And then the "tsirah" (hornets / wasps (stinging insects)) are mentioned in Deuteronomy 7 and go to work in Joshua 24.
They will actively displace those that are there, otherwise the land will become "shemamah" (waste / desolate), and the wild animals take over.
The promise is 'little by little' they will settle the land now called The Holy Land... from the Desert to the Sea.
...and while you're at it, ignore their gods....
33
"lo" (no / not) they "yashab" (dwell / inhabit) your "erets" (land / country / territory), "pen" (otherwise / or) you "chata" (sin / do wrong / offend) against Me. "ki" (for) if you "abad" (serve) their gods, "ki" (because / for) be to you "moqesh" (trap / stumbling block).
We see that this became true over and over again throughout the OT. When they occupied the land, they did not eliminate the locals, and instead, began to accept them and their ways, and their gods. To the point of having pagans in the palace... Can we have Queen Jezebel stand up and wave to the audience?... yes, thank you ma'am. See 1 Kings 16.
And, of course, it got them into trouble.
End Chapter 23
"And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!"
- Exodus 24: 11, New Living Translation, see link below.
Chapter 24
1 - 4 Summary and Review:
YHWH invites Moses back up the mountain with Aaron, who we know. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron as named in Exodus 6 :23. And seventy of the elders of Israel and "shachah" (bow down, prostrate, worship) from "rachoq" (distance / far).
Moses is told to come near YHWH alone, but the rest of them have to stay back, and the people cannot got up the mountain.
Moses told the people the words and "mishpat" (ordinances / decisions) of YHWH, the people agreed and said with one voice to do all YHWH had said. And Moses wrote all the words of YHWH, he rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, with 12 pillars for the 12 tribes of Israel.
There is no other information about how the elders of Israel, and here they are not named as the elders of the Sons of Israel, about how they were chosen as 'elders' other than what the word "zaqen" (old 'in years' / aged / elder) implies. Well, that and they had to have been able to physically climb the mountain.
5 Summary and Comment:
Moses has young men do the "olah" (burnt offerings) and "zabach" (sacrifices) "shelem" (peace offering) to YHWH of "par" (young bull).
There may be a translation issue with one of the terms used in this verse in some English editions. Technically speaking an 'ox', is a castrated bull, which is used as a draft animal, pulling plows and carts. Which was FORBIDDEN as a sacrifice in Leviticus 22 : 24
"If an animal has damaged testicles or is castrated, you may not offer it to the Lord. ..." (NLT link below)
However, as that law had not been given yet. The animals used here could have been actual oxen.
6 - 8 Summary:
Moses takes half the blood of the sacrifices in basins and sprinkled it on the altar. Then he read the Book of the Covenant (which he had just written) to the people. Then they said they would do all that YHWH said and "shama" (listened (includes obey)). And took Moses the rest of the blood and "zaraq" (scattered / sprinkled) it on the people.
This was both their consecration, their being set apart for Holy Service, and the symbol of their sanctification, their acceptance by God, and the ratification of the covenant with Him.
9 - 11 Summary and discussion:
And went up the mountain Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and the seventy elders. And they saw the "'Elohim" (God) of Israel, and under His "regel" (feet) "maaseh" (deed / work / product) "libnah" (white / transparent) "sappir" (sapphire (also gemstone), and it was like "etsem" (essence / substance) "shamayim" (heavens / sky) in "tohar" (purity / brightness / cleanness (also: glory)).
But on the "atsil" (noblemen / chiefs) of the sons of Israel "lo" (not / no) did he "shalach" (set / stretch out) "yad" (hand) - so they "chazah" (see / behold / perceive) "'Elohim" (God), and they "akal" (ate) and "shathah" (drink).
There is no doubt that they were in the Presence of God. However, the text does not describe anything other than the floor under Him. In Exodus 33 : 20 we are told that no mortal can see God's face and live, which was said to Moses, "the man that knew God face to face", and who asked for God to show Himself to, and only passed by so Moses could see His back.
We also don't know what delivery service took the meal up to the top of the mountain. There's nothing in the text about Moses or any of the others packing a picnic basket, or of God supplying lunch, or anything else. They simply went, and it was there.
Time has passed, we don't know how much. One clue is who is with Moses now, who was not listed earlier.
12 - 16 Summary:
YHWH tells Moses to come back up on the mountain and he will give him stone tablets of the law and commandments which HE has written so Moses can teach them.
So Moses goes up the mountain with Joshua, his "sharath" (attendant / servant) to God. Moses said to the elders, wait for us here until we come back. Aaron and Hur are with you. A man with "dabar" (matters / issues) can go to them.
And Moses goes up the mountain and he was covered with the cloud. And "shakan / shaken" (resided / inhabited / abide) the "kabowd" (glory / splendor) of YHWH "har" (mount) "sinay" (Sinay), and covered it the cloud six days - and He called to Moses on the seventh out of the cloud.
17 :
The "mareh" (appearance / sight / form) of "kabowd" (glory / splendor) of YHWH was like "esh" (fire / flames) "akal" (eating / consuming) the top of the mountain in the eyes of the sons of Israel.
"For our God is a devouring fire." Hebrews 12 : 29 (NLT link below)
17 Summary and Discussion:
Moses went into the midst of the cloud for forty days and nights.
At this point there is no word as to what Joshua was doing, what Moses ate and drank, or if he slept in the cloud, or anything else.
"Forty Days (years)" is a recurring theme for a period of time in the Bible. That was how long it rained on Noah, Moses was in Midian for forty years, the spies that went into Canaan for Moses were out that many days, that was how long Goliath acted out in front of the army of Israel, Elijah's journey was forty days, that was how long Jonah said Nineveh had before it would fall, Jesus was in the wilderness that long, and Israel in Exodus is about to be in the wilderness for ... years. And it was the 'days' period between His Resurrection and the Ascension, and now it is seen as the season of Lent (which is NOT in the Bible). What's so special about that number? We have no idea, it is never otherwise explained.
There's been a lot of speculation about it, and a lot of arithmetic done showing it as the product of various counts of days or years. None of them are overly convincing as many ancient calendars, including the Jewish one, are based on the Lunar cycle, which, oddly enough, isn't 40 days and nights in length.
End Chapter 24
Selected Resources:
All links will open in a new tab/window, all were working as of original date of posting:
Interlinear English / Hebrew: Chapter 23 https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/23.htm
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611_Exodus-Chapter-23/
New Living Translation https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2023&version=NLT
Good News Translation https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=GNT
A Study of The Minor Prophets: "afterword"
The second category of central ideas is the drum of Social Justice that very nearly every Minor Prophet beats repeatedly in their book.... except for Jonah, whom we'll come back to in a minute. We repeatedly see the Prophets telling everybody else to not rip off the poor, to be nice to widows and orphans, to not feast while others are starving, and so on. Such as in Amos 4 : 1 and 2 (NIV):"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, 'Bring us some drinks!' The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: "The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks."This one came true when the survivors of an invasion were led off to slavery in a foreign land with hooks in their noses.
https://centralparkchurchofchrist.org/minorprophets/bookof12.htm
NOTE: The Bible Study Lesson presented above is posted as a reference document to begin a conversation of the topic. And that's it. Please accept it at such.
http://centralparkchurchofchrist.org
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