Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Parades: The Proper Way in Studying the Bible

The following outlines the proper way in studying the Bible. It is the Hebrew acronym for Peshat, Remez, Drash and Sod
 
  • Peshat is the plain meaning of the text.
  • Remez is a hint at another meeting. The Apostle Paul used this when he referred to not muzzling the ox when it treads the grain to also apply to helping out the Pastor who teaches the Bible to you.
  • Drash  is a story line on a verse brining in an allegory such as when Apostle Paul compared Hagar to Mt sinai and Sarah to Jerusalem.
  • Sod means secret and refers to hidden things where you have to dig a little deeper. Deut. 29:29  states: The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The following information is directly quoted from the sites referenced....

Additional information: (http://fourquestions.us/judaism/messianic/besorot.php)

The Besorot and Rabbinic Hermeneutics

The four Besorot were written in four distinct ways that match the traditional Rabbinic teaching methods. The four methods of teaching are Peshat, Remez, Drash, and Sod, and they form the acronym PaRDeS (which means “garden”). These four methods and their interactions in the text of the Besorot are described in the table below.

PARDES‏פְּשָׁט‎‏רֶמֶז‎‏דְרַשׁ‎‏סוֹד‎
TransliterationPeshatRemezDrashSod
DefinitionSimpleHintExplore, AskSecret
Literary LevelGrammaticalAllegoryParabolicMystical
Audience LevelCommon PeopleAristocrat, NobleRegal, KinglyMystic
Hermeneutic Level7 Laws of Hillel13 Laws of Ishmael32 Laws of Ben Gallil42 Laws of the Zohar
Rabbinic LevelMishnahGemaraMidrashZohar
BookMarkLukeMattityahuYochanan
PresentationServant of HashemSon of ManThe KingSon of G-d
 
 
PaRDeS

The word Pardes, (lit. orchard) is an acronym that was used in the Middle Ages to refer to four types of biblical exegesis:
    Pshat: simple, plain, intended meaning (the opposite of Drash) (sometimes inaccurately referred to as the literal meaning- see below)
Remez: alluded meaning (reading between the lines). Remez in modern Hebrew means hint. Traditionally, remez referred to methods such as gematria (word-number values)
Drash: drawn out meaning. Homiletical or interpretative meaning. Not pshat.
Sod: (lit. secret). The mystical or esoteric meaning.

Here is an example of analysing the phrase: milk and honey according to the four models.
However, there are really only two categories: Pshat (what the text says/meant) and Drash (interpretations). Professor Barry Levy, Dean of Religious Studies, McGill University, has suggested a different apporach:
    I prefer to talk about four other categories of analysis: Text, Texture, Context and Pretext. Text concerns what the text is and what it says (that's close to peshat but I avoid the word because of all the ambiguities and problems alluded to above) . Texture deals with the literary qualities of the text. Context is the historical, geographic, and cultural settings of the text. Pretext is using the text for purposes not specifically articulated in it.



Why not only use Pshat? In a way, Pshat is what the biblical scholar is trying to do: determine what the TEXT really meant. Drash allows us to find new meaning and new ideas, answering the question, (not what did the text mean) but what does the text say to ME.
Pshat means the simple meaning of the text, but it is not so simple! First of all, we have to decide what is the Pshat. (One person's Pshat is another person's Drash). It has been apocryphally attributed to the great scholar of our generation the late Nehama Leibowitz that 'Peshat is what she thought the text meant and derash is what everyone else thought.' The problem is that every reading of 'Pshat' must also be an interpretation, just like every translation is (even though it doesn't MEAN to be an interpretation). Professor Barry Levy, Dean of Religious Studies, McGill University, writes,
    Another issue is the number of possible peshats a passage may carry. Some writers spoke of "the" peshat; others recognized a plurality of peshats and limited discussion to "a" peshat. The interesting evolution of the word in Yiddish to peshettle shows that peshat came to mean only "an interpretation." The diminutive suffix gives the word a meaning something like "a little peshat" but actually it means "a derash."
Let's look at these examples:

Moses says: Give-ear O heaven that I may speak,
Let the land hear the sayings of my mouth (Deut. 32:1)
Isaiah says: Hear O heaven, and give ear O land
for the Lord speaks (Isa. 1:2)

(This is a good example of symmetry; Isaiah was probably using the language of Deuteronomy on purpose.)
Now Rabbi Akiva (2nd Century) interprets that hearing is something you do from far; give ear is something you do from close (like whispering in someone's ear):
This teaches that when Moses spoke the Torah he was in heaven... but Isaiah who was on land, began by saying Hear O heaven as it was far from him.
Ibn Ezra (medieval commentator, we'll be introduced to him more formally next module) says:
Now there is no distinction between Hear and Give-ear according to the Pshat method.
So the first problem is deciding what the Pshat is. Did the text mean to be interpreted? And if it clearly (?) did, as in the case of a metaphor,
What is the Pshat of a Metaphor?!


 

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Ancient Hebrew Research Center

The following videos will provide some insight and teaching about the Ancient Hebrew. I will upload additional lessons this week.
Go to http://hiswordevangelized.blogspot.com/ and look to the right of the page to the video feed which says Ancient Hebrew Research Center.

Additional info can be seen at: http://www.ancient-hebrew.org
Enjoy!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

An interesting video about God's Name

Names of God

As we learn about YHWH we also need to learn His names. His names demonsrate His character. In your times of need, prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, know who you cry out to. Enjoy!



I think you will enjoy this too...





Sunday, May 22, 2011

From the Aleph-Bet - THE HEBREW ALPHABET

Click on the following link to get a handout of the Hebrew Alphabet AlephBetL13_AlphabetReview.pdf

From the Aleph-Bet 1: Ep. 02 - Hebrew letter "Tuf"

From the Aleph-Bet 1: Ep. 02 - Hebrew letter "Tuf" is introduced on this second lesson of "From the Aleph-Bet" series.

Learn Biblical Hebrew - lesson 4 - Hebrew Vowels EIOU

Learn Biblical Hebrew - lesson 3 - Hebrew Vowels

Passover to Pentecost, The Feasts of The Lord

As we approach Pentacost listen to the teachings about the Feasts of The Lord. All things happen in God's timing and NOT in man's timing.





For additional information and full straming of the podcast go to: http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/feasts/2006springdvd.html

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Holidays and Holy Days - The Jewish Calendar

I discovered this video which I hope you will enjoy. It is a teaching by a Rabbi about Jewish holidays, holy days and the Jewish calendar. I think that the concepts shared in this video will bless you. Enjoy!


Visit Jewish.TV for more Jewish videos.

The Spring Festivals (Feasts) Of The Messiah

We continue to rightly divide the Word to glean a deeper knowledge of what YHWH is saying to us. Let’s look at the first verse in Leviticus 23 (New King James Version). In researching some of the key words (underlined below) we see that YHWH himself has sent out a special invitation to us to partake of His feast days. Until a year ago I had no knowledge or understanding of these “appointments”, however, as we dive deeper into the Word we find that the invitation was right under our nose and we did not see it.


Feasts of the LORD

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My [appointed] feasts.


·       Feast: Moed מוֹעֵד
Strong’s #4150 an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; also a signal (as appointed
beforehand):--appointed (sign, time)

Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide
the day from the night and let them be for signs <owth>, and for seasons <mow`ed>,
and for days, and years:

Strong’s #226. אוֹת  'owth, (in the sense of appearing); a signal


·       Convocation: miqra' מִקְרָא
Strong’s #4744 from 7121; something called out, i.e. a public meeting, also a rehearsal:


·       Proclaim: qara' קָרָא
Strong’s #7121 Root word (the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (address by
name), them that are bidden, invite, mention, publish, read,

Mt 22:3,4 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the
wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell
them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings
are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.




Question: Do you agree or disagree that the invitation is still valid and extended to us (Christians)? If you agree please state why? If you do not agree please state why?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.




Ref: http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/feasts/2008spring.pdf

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Understanding God's Appointed Times – The Feasts of The Lord in Prophecy

The following videos give an introduction to the Biblical feasts. The scripture reference is Leviticus 23. We will study the feasts in our bible study sessions.

Leviticus 23 (New King James Version)

Feasts of the LORD

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.
The Sabbath

3 ‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

The Passover and Unleavened Bread

4 ‘These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. 5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD for seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.’”

The Feast of Firstfruits

9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the LORD. 13 Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD, for a sweet aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. 14 You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

The Feast of Weeks

15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. 17 You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD. 18 And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the LORD. 19 Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering. 20 The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
22 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.’”

The Feast of Trumpets

23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’”

The Day of Atonement

26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. 30 And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”

The Feast of Tabernacles

33 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
37 ‘These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day— 38 besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD.
39 ‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.’”
44 So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD














Monday, March 14, 2011

On-Line Hebrew Roots Bible Study starts April 4th, 2011

Our on-line bible study classes will start Monday April 4th. Click here to register (FOLLOW). Registration closes April 1, 2011.

Click here to view the general syllabus. Additional information on the weekly schedule and assignments will be shared upon registration. Please email me (below) and include your contact information.

If you have quesrions please contact me at hiswordevangelized@gmail.com

Looknig forward to studying with you....Evangelist Ann

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Introductions

Introduce yourself and describe your relationship with God AND our Savior, Yeshua (Jesus).