RR Nitzavim-Vayelech Deuteronomy 29:9(10) – 31:29(30) By Jeffery Freeman
Shabbat Shalom,
This week we have another double portion, Nitzavim (you are standing) and Vayelech (and he went). The names come from Deuteronomy 9(10) You are standing (nitzavim) today, all of you, before ADONAI your God…and Deuteronomy 31:1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. To get the English name “and he went” for this parshah, we need to go back to the Hebrew of this verse. Vayelech Mosheh…which translates to “And he went, Moses.” Not the best English, but proper Hebrew.
In Nitzavim everyone is called to enter into the covenant, future generations are bound to ADONAI’s commands. Exile is warned for disobedience but promises future restoration following repentance. Torah is not far away. There is a choice of life or death, and an urging to seek life through loving ADONAI and keeping his commands. In Vayelech Moses is speaking on his 120th birthday. He announces that Joshua will replace him. He calls Joshua and all Israel to be strong and courageous. A public reading of Torah is commanded to be conducted publicly every seventh year during Sukkot. The people are warned that they will stray from ADONAI.
From Nitzavim, Deuteronomy 31:2 one of the traditional Jewish birthday blessings is derived. Moses is speaking, I am 120 years old today. Then in Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was not dim nor his vigor gone. The birthday blessing is Ad me’ah v’esrim shana - May you live until 120 (like Moses, with strength, wisdom, and joy in your heart.) Not a bad blessing to wish for someone. But a lesson? Maybe not.
Deuteronomy 29:9(10) You are standing here, all of you, before ADONAI your God – the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your wives, and the outsider within your camp…a lot of yous and yours in this passage. But note, in the Hebrew all of them are the plural form.
In verse 11(12) the Hebrew shifts to singular – Each of you is to cross over into the covenant of ADONAI your God that He is cutting with you today…
This reminds us of each persons’ individual responsibility to God’s covenant. No person is too insignificant. No one is given a free pass. Yes, God made his covenant with the whole nation, the entire body of believers. But the nation (body) is composed of individuals, and the preservation of the national covenant is dependent upon these individuals. 1 Corinthians 12 You are the body of Messiah, and members individually.
When we talk about experiencing a personal relationship with Yeshua, this is exactly what this is telling us about. Moses was telling the people and us today that a corporate covenant is not enough for salvation.
Yeshua picks up on this theme in John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, I am way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Without a personal relationship with Yeshua, we can’t even plead our case before God. We will be on our own.
In Matthew 7:23 we get an even scarier warning from Yeshua concerning people without a personal relationship with Him - Then I will declare to them: I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’
John explains lawlessness in 1 John 3:4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness – indeed, sin is lawlessness. And in verse 6, No one who abides in Him (Yeshua) keeps on sinning. John is reminding us that we cannot have a relationship with Yeshua and live a life of intentional sin.
Without a relationship with Yeshua, we have no advocate. No advocate, no Book of Life.
Revelations 20:14 If anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
There is one sure way to dodge the lake of fire.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and Find me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Acts 2:38 Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh.
Shabbat Shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 5 Sep 2026 23rd of Elul, 5786
Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech Leil Selichot
De 31:20-30 Isa 61:10-63:9
This week we have another double portion, Nitzavim (you are standing) and Vayelech (and he went). The names come from Deuteronomy 9(10) You are standing (nitzavim) today, all of you, before ADONAI your God…and Deuteronomy 31:1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. To get the English name “and he went” for this parshah, we need to go back to the Hebrew of this verse. Vayelech Mosheh…which translates to “And he went, Moses.” Not the best English, but proper Hebrew.
In Nitzavim everyone is called to enter into the covenant, future generations are bound to ADONAI’s commands. Exile is warned for disobedience but promises future restoration following repentance. Torah is not far away. There is a choice of life or death, and an urging to seek life through loving ADONAI and keeping his commands. In Vayelech Moses is speaking on his 120th birthday. He announces that Joshua will replace him. He calls Joshua and all Israel to be strong and courageous. A public reading of Torah is commanded to be conducted publicly every seventh year during Sukkot. The people are warned that they will stray from ADONAI.
From Nitzavim, Deuteronomy 31:2 one of the traditional Jewish birthday blessings is derived. Moses is speaking, I am 120 years old today. Then in Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was not dim nor his vigor gone. The birthday blessing is Ad me’ah v’esrim shana - May you live until 120 (like Moses, with strength, wisdom, and joy in your heart.) Not a bad blessing to wish for someone. But a lesson? Maybe not.
Deuteronomy 29:9(10) You are standing here, all of you, before ADONAI your God – the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your wives, and the outsider within your camp…a lot of yous and yours in this passage. But note, in the Hebrew all of them are the plural form.
In verse 11(12) the Hebrew shifts to singular – Each of you is to cross over into the covenant of ADONAI your God that He is cutting with you today…
This reminds us of each persons’ individual responsibility to God’s covenant. No person is too insignificant. No one is given a free pass. Yes, God made his covenant with the whole nation, the entire body of believers. But the nation (body) is composed of individuals, and the preservation of the national covenant is dependent upon these individuals. 1 Corinthians 12 You are the body of Messiah, and members individually.
When we talk about experiencing a personal relationship with Yeshua, this is exactly what this is telling us about. Moses was telling the people and us today that a corporate covenant is not enough for salvation.
Yeshua picks up on this theme in John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, I am way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Without a personal relationship with Yeshua, we can’t even plead our case before God. We will be on our own.
In Matthew 7:23 we get an even scarier warning from Yeshua concerning people without a personal relationship with Him - Then I will declare to them: I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’
John explains lawlessness in 1 John 3:4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness – indeed, sin is lawlessness. And in verse 6, No one who abides in Him (Yeshua) keeps on sinning. John is reminding us that we cannot have a relationship with Yeshua and live a life of intentional sin.
Without a relationship with Yeshua, we have no advocate. No advocate, no Book of Life.
Revelations 20:14 If anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
There is one sure way to dodge the lake of fire.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and Find me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Acts 2:38 Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh.
Shabbat Shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 5 Sep 2026 23rd of Elul, 5786
Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech Leil Selichot
De 31:20-30 Isa 61:10-63:9
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