Vayishlach - Day #7

Vayishlach, וַיִּשְׁל - And He Sent  

Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4-36:43

Haftarah: Hosea 11:7-12:12, 

Obadiah 1:1-21

Shabbat: Genesis 36:20–43

36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father. 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 26 These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah, 30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel. 32 Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place. 34 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35 Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith. 36 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 37 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place. 38 Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39 Baal Hanan, the son of Achbor, died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

40 These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, 41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 43 chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.

Today’s Meditation:

Here is a history of Esau’s descendants, Including Kings and Chiefs. For some reason, this history and these particular names are essential. In today's world, we don’t pay much attention to ancestry or the recording of names and family trees (some people do). I tried to go back just to my grandparents and their parents, and it took me years to find names and cities of birth. And quite honestly, because my great-grandparents were in Poland, I have very little information about them. It has been impossible to get details. However, when we read the Torah, we see that great detail is given to names in ancestral lines. Maybe we should try this too. You can start today and record all the relatives you know by name. 

Today’s Challenge:

Today, you can start making a family tree. Start with those you know. And start researching. Visit a website like Ancestry.com and sign up. It is worth every penny. Typically, you can accomplish a great deal in a month. It is crucial to do this for your children and grandchildren. Our ancestors have interesting and some life-changing stories. It’s time you recorded them.

This Week’s Haftarah: Hosea 11:7-12:12, Obadiah 1:1-21

Hosea 11:7-12:12

My people are determined to turn from Me.

  Though they call to the Most High,

    He certainly won’t exalt them.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

    How can I hand you over, Israel?

    How can I make you like Admah?

    How can I make you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned within Me,

    My compassion is aroused.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger.

    I will not return to destroy Ephraim:

    for I am Elohim, and not man; the Holy One among you;

    and I will not come in wrath.

10 They will walk after Hashem,

    who will roar like a lion;

    for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt,

    and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;

and I will settle them in their houses,” says Hashem.

12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,

    and the house of Israel with deceit.

    Judah still strays from Elohim,

    and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

12:1 Ephraim feeds on wind,

    and chases the east wind.

    He continually multiplies lies and desolation.

    They make a covenant with Assyria,

    and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 Hashem also has a controversy with Judah,

    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;

    according to his deeds he will repay him.

3 In the womb, he took his brother by the heel;

    and in his manhood he contended with Elohim.

4 Indeed, he struggled with the angel and prevailed;

    he wept, and made supplication to him.

    He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us,

5     even Hashem, the Elohim of Armies;

    Hashem is His name of renown!

6 Therefore, turn to your Elohim.

    Keep kindness and justice,

    and wait continually for your Elohim.

7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand.

    He loves to defraud.

8 Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich,

    I have found myself wealthy.

    In all my wealth, they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

9 “But I am Hashem your Elohim from the land of Egypt.

    I will yet again make you dwell in tents,

    as in the days of the solemn feast.

10 I have also spoken to the prophets,

    and I have multiplied visions;

    and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

11 If Gilead is wicked,

    surely they are worthless.

In Gilgal, they sacrifice bulls.

    Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob fled into the country of Aram,

    and Israel served to get a wife,

    and for a wife, he tended flocks and herds.

Obadiah 1:1-21

The vision of Obadiah. This is what Hashem Elohim says about Edom. We have heard news from Hashem, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let’s rise up against her in battle. 2 Behold, I have made you small among the nations. You are greatly despised. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ 4 Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there,” says Hashem. 5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes? 6 How Esau will be ransacked! How his hidden treasures are sought out! 7 All the men of your alliance have brought you on your way, even to the border. The men who were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you. Friends who eat your bread lay a snare under you. There is no understanding in him.”

8 “Won’t I in that day”, says Hashem, “destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mountain of Esau? 9 Your mighty men, Teman, will be dismayed, to the end that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter. 10 For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever. 11 In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them. 12 But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress. 13 Don’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity. 14 Don’t stand in the crossroads to cut off those of his who escape. Don’t deliver up those of his who remain on the day of distress. 15 For the day of Hashem is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head. 16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so will all the nations drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been. 17 But in Mount Zion, there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will possess their possessions. 18 The house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble. They will burn among them, and devour them. There will not be any remaining to the house of Esau.” Indeed, Hashem has spoken.

19 Those of the South will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the lowland, the Philistines. They will possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria. Benjamin will possess Gilead. 20 The captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev. 21 Saviors will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be Hashem’s.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

In Obadiah 1:15, we read a fearful admonition, “For the day of Hashem is near all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.” Nations and the people within them believe that they can cheat, kill, and steal without repercussion. Simply not true. A nation may get away with sin for a while, but not for long. Every deceitful nation has been brought down throughout the centuries. Now the country I live in, the United States of America, is also in trouble. For over 50 years, we have legalized abortion, and over 60 million babies have had their lives terminated in the womb. The womb is supposed to be the safest place in the world; now it is truly unsafe. There will be (and has been) a severe consequence from Hashem for what we have done. We have blood in our land, and that is one of the seven things that Hashem detests (Proverbs 6:16-19). Only sincere, heartfelt prayer and repentance will save us. 

Today’s Haftarah Challenge: 

Take a minute to reflect on any negative actions you have imposed on others. You most certainly would not like to be treated that way. Write them down. Repent and make amends. If you are unable to make amends directly to the people you have hurt, then go to Hashem and do it through Him. Otherwise, be fearful for your “deeds will return upon your own head.” That would not be very good. Let’s avoid that if we can.

Vayishlach - Day #6

Vayishlach, וַיִּשְׁל - And He Sent  

Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4-36:43

Genesis 35:12–36:19

35:12 The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will provide the land.”

13 Elohim went up from him in the place where he spoke with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the name of the place where Elohim spoke with him “Bethel”.

16 They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor. 17 When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”

18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. 19 Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21 Israel traveled and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. 27 Jacob came to Isaac, his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.

28 The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. 29 Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.

36 Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite; 3 and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth. 4 Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel. 5 Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan. 6 Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because of their livestock. 8 Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.

9 This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir: 10 these are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the descendants of Adah, Esau’s wife. 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the descendants of Basemath, Esau’s wife. 14 These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, 16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These are the chiefs who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah. 17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs who came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. 18 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs who came of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem is giving Jacob the Land. You would think that with the age of the writings of the Bible, this would prove that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jews. But for centuries, even thousands of years, this Land has been the most highly contested on the planet. Every day, I try to pray that the Land will be given back to the People of Hashem (all of it) and that there will be shalom, peace, and safety in the Land. It’s a good prayer. Would you also pray it? Remember, the Mashiach will return to the Land, specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem. It all belongs to Hashem, and He gave it to the Jewish people. His people. And to all of us who join hands with them, we will be able to live there too.

Today’s Challenge:  

Here’s my challenge today. We read in today’s reading that Rachel dies in childbirth. As we go through life, we will likely encounter many family members and friends who become pregnant. Commit to praying for them regularly. Even though childbirth is safer in our generation than ever before, there are still huge risks involved. Hashem hears our prayers and often answers them, so let us pray for anyone we know who is pregnant today for a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Vayishlach - Day #5

Vayishlach, וַיִּשְׁל - And He Sent  

Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4-36:43

Genesis 34:1–35:11

34:1 Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her. 3 His soul joined to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young lady, and spoke kindly to the young lady. 4 Shechem spoke to his father, Hamor, saying, “Get me this young lady as a wife.”

5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah, his daughter; and his sons were with his livestock in the field. Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to talk with him. 7 The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it. The men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had done folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing that ought not to be done. 8 Hamor talked with them, saying, “The soul of my son, Shechem, longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. 9 Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You shall dwell with us, and the land will be before you. Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it.”

11 Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will give. 12 Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife.”

13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with deceit when they spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, 14 and said to them, “We can’t do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us. 15 Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised, 16 then will we give our daughters to you; and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our sister, and we will be gone.”

18 Their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. 19 The young man didn’t wait to do this thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter, and he was honored above all the house of his father. 20 Hamor and Shechem, his son, came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying, 21 “These men are peaceful with us. Therefore, let them live in the land and trade in it. For behold, the land is large enough for them. Let’s take their daughters to us for wives, and let’s give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men consent to us to live with us, to become one people, if every male among us is circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23 Won’t their livestock and their possessions and all their animals be ours? Only let’s give our consent to them, and they will dwell with us.”

24 All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor, and to Shechem his son; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. 25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword, came upon the unsuspecting city, and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and Shechem, his son, with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away. 27 Jacob’s sons came on the dead, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, that which was in the city, that which was in the field, 29 and all their wealth. They took captive all their little ones and their wives, and took as plunder everything that was in the house. 30 Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number. They will gather themselves together against me and strike me, and I will be destroyed, I and my house.”

31 They said, “Should he deal with our sister as with a prostitute?”

35 Elohim said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to Elohim, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments. 3 Let’s arise and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to Elohim, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”

4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5 They traveled, and a terror of Elohim was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there Elohim was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.

9  Elohim appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. 10 Elohim said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel. 11 Elohim said to him, “I am Elohim Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body.

Today’s Meditation:

Dinah seems to be the only sister mentioned among Jacob’s sons. Usually, when that happens, the big brothers will really defend their little sister. They were heartbroken that Shechem took her to his home and slept with her.They devised a plan to kill Shechem and all the men. But what I find to be interesting in today’s reading is that in verse 3, “His soul joined to Dinah”. 

I have heard before in religious circles that when a man sleeps with a woman, they are spiritually joined before Hashem. Back then, there was no formal marriage; you announced that you were married and then slept together. Remember that Elohim says in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” In the eyes of Hashem, when a man and wife have sex, they become one. Their souls join together. That is the way Hashem created us. Should we be having sex outside of marriage, if indeed our souls join?

Today’s Challenge: 

For those of you who have had sex outside of marriage, you may want to repent today and break “soul ties” with that person. I have attended religious conferences that focused solely on this topic, and they would pray special prayers. It is serious to be tied to someone this way, and if you haven’t gone to Hashem and repented, I urge you to do so today.