RR Parshah Ekev Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 By Jeffery Freeman
Ekev (because, as a result of in the TLV) comes from Deuteronomy 7:12, Then it will happen, as a result of (ekev) your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them…
In Parshah Ekev, Israel is urged to obey Adonai’s commandments, blessings are promised for obedience and judgement for disobedience, the people are reminded of Adonai’s provision in the wilderness, including manna and clothing that did not wear out. The sin of the Golden Calf is recalled along with the renewal of the covenant with the second set of tablets. Israel is called to wholeheartedly love ADONAI because their prosperity depends on obedience.
When ADONAI repeats something we are being told “listen up, this is really important.” Last week, in parshah Va’etchanan the Shema was given (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
Although not an exact repeat, Deuteronomy 11:18-20 recaptures the essence of the Shema – You are to set these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul. You are to bind them as a sign on your hand, and as frontlets between your eyes. You are to teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. You are to write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Okay, you say, I get it. The Shema is pretty important in our faith. So much so that we say the Shema every day, twice even. But this is nothing new. Perhaps not. But it does point to another thought repeated multiple times in parshah Ekev.
The first time we get the thought that I am thinking of in Ekev is right at the start in Deuteronomy 7:12…as a result of your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them…
Verse 8:11 we get the reverse Take care that you do not forget ADONAI your God by not keeping His mitzvot, ordinances and statutes…
Verses 10:12-13 So now, O Israel, what does ADONAI your God require of you, but to fear ADONAI your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him…to keep the mitzvot of ADONAI and His statutes…
Verse 11:1 Therefore you are to love ADONAI your God and keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances and His mitzvot at all times.
There are more examples in Ekev, but to steal a phrase from Amos, three statements, even for four…(in Hebrew thought three is sufficient to prove an idea, four is over the top).
But this is not just a thought in Torah. What about in the B’rit Chadasha?
Matthew 7:24&26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man…Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man…
Luke 11:28 …blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.
Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of Torah who are righteous before God; rather, it is the doers of Torah who will be justified.
Jacob (James) 1:22 But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Three statements…even four…
Although the Shema was given in last week’s parshah, it is ringing like a clarion bell throughout Ekev. Hear and do…hear and do. Torah constantly reinforces this. It’s in the Prophets. Yeshua also picks up this same thought. As do the Apostles. Do you think ADONAI is trying to get our attention? (It’s in three sections of the Bible, even four!)
Let’s close with Matthew 5:18-19 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things have come to pass. Therefore, whoever breaks even one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Shabbat Shalom
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat1-Aug 202618th of Av, 5786 Parashat Eikev
De 11:22-25Isa 49:14-51:3Jas 5:7-11
In Parshah Ekev, Israel is urged to obey Adonai’s commandments, blessings are promised for obedience and judgement for disobedience, the people are reminded of Adonai’s provision in the wilderness, including manna and clothing that did not wear out. The sin of the Golden Calf is recalled along with the renewal of the covenant with the second set of tablets. Israel is called to wholeheartedly love ADONAI because their prosperity depends on obedience.
When ADONAI repeats something we are being told “listen up, this is really important.” Last week, in parshah Va’etchanan the Shema was given (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
Although not an exact repeat, Deuteronomy 11:18-20 recaptures the essence of the Shema – You are to set these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul. You are to bind them as a sign on your hand, and as frontlets between your eyes. You are to teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. You are to write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Okay, you say, I get it. The Shema is pretty important in our faith. So much so that we say the Shema every day, twice even. But this is nothing new. Perhaps not. But it does point to another thought repeated multiple times in parshah Ekev.
The first time we get the thought that I am thinking of in Ekev is right at the start in Deuteronomy 7:12…as a result of your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them…
Verse 8:11 we get the reverse Take care that you do not forget ADONAI your God by not keeping His mitzvot, ordinances and statutes…
Verses 10:12-13 So now, O Israel, what does ADONAI your God require of you, but to fear ADONAI your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him…to keep the mitzvot of ADONAI and His statutes…
Verse 11:1 Therefore you are to love ADONAI your God and keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances and His mitzvot at all times.
There are more examples in Ekev, but to steal a phrase from Amos, three statements, even for four…(in Hebrew thought three is sufficient to prove an idea, four is over the top).
But this is not just a thought in Torah. What about in the B’rit Chadasha?
Matthew 7:24&26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man…Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man…
Luke 11:28 …blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.
Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of Torah who are righteous before God; rather, it is the doers of Torah who will be justified.
Jacob (James) 1:22 But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Three statements…even four…
Although the Shema was given in last week’s parshah, it is ringing like a clarion bell throughout Ekev. Hear and do…hear and do. Torah constantly reinforces this. It’s in the Prophets. Yeshua also picks up this same thought. As do the Apostles. Do you think ADONAI is trying to get our attention? (It’s in three sections of the Bible, even four!)
Let’s close with Matthew 5:18-19 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things have come to pass. Therefore, whoever breaks even one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Shabbat Shalom
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat1-Aug 202618th of Av, 5786 Parashat Eikev
De 11:22-25Isa 49:14-51:3Jas 5:7-11
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