Genesis-Chap-17-1-27
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please
do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the
following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org”
(SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations
or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Genesis 17 marks the transition from the promise to the seal. Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) appears to Avram to establish an “everlasting covenant”. This chapter is defined by the transformation of identity signified by the changing of names and the introduction of a physical sign in the flesh to mark the separation of the holy seed.
YYYYYYY
Let us first read Genesis Chapter 17: 1-27. (JPS-1917 version of our Torah).
1. “And
when Avram was ninety years old and nine, יְהוָה - the
LORD appeared to Avram, and said unto him: ‘I am אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
Almighty; walk before Me, and be thou
wholehearted. 2. And
I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will
multiply thee exceedingly’. 3. And Avram fell on
his face; and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
talked with him, saying: 4. ‘As for Me, behold,
My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the
father of a multitude of nations. 5. Neither shall thy name any more be called Avram, but thy name shall be Avraham
(Abraham); for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. 6. And I
will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings
shall come out of thee. 7. And
I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and
thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be a אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
unto thee and to thy seed after thee. 8. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the
YYYYYYY
Below we can view the commentary regarding verses 1 to 27:
Verses 1-3: (The Walk of Perfection): יְהוָה - the LORD appears as El Shaddai (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Almighty). He commands: “Walk before Me, and be thou whole-hearted”. Avram falls on his face in reverence as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim begins to speak.
Verses 4-8: (The Name Change): No longer shall he be called Avram (Exalted Father), but Avraham (Father of a Multitude). אֱלֹהִים - Elohim promises that kings shall come out of him and reaffirms the gift of the “land of thy sojournings” as an everlasting possession.
Verses 9-14: (The Token of the Covenant): אֱלֹהִים - Elohim institutes circumcision (Brit Milah). Every male child at eight days old must be circumcised. It is the “token of the covenant” between אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and Avraham’s seed; the “uncircumcised male” is to be cut off from his people for breaking the covenant.
Verses 15-17: (Princess Sarah): Sarai’s name is changed to ‘Sarah’ (Princess). אֱלֹהִים - Elohim explicitly promises she will bear a son. Avraham laughs, not in derision, but in wonder questioning how a man of a hundred and a woman of ninety can conceive.
Verses 18-21: (The Choice of Isaac): Avraham pleads for Ishmael, but אֱלֹהִים - Elohim clarifies: the covenant will be established with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear at “this set time in the next year”. Ishmael is blessed with greatness and twelve princes, but the spiritual inheritance belongs to Isaac.
Verses 22-27: (The Immediate Obedience): אֱלֹהִים - Elohim finishes speaking and “goes up from Avraham”. In “the selfsame day”, Avraham circumcises himself, Ishmael, and every male in his household, demonstrating instantaneous and total obedience to the Divine command.
YYYYYYY
My Closing Message:
Genesis 17 teaches us that a relationship
with the Divine eventually requires a permanent mark on
our lives. It is not enough to have a promise in the heart; there must be a
sign in the “very flesh”. By changing the names of the patriarch and matriarch,
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim demonstrates that the
covenant does not just change our future, it changes who
we are. Despite the long years of waiting, the “Selfsame Day”
obedience of Avraham reminds us that when אֱלֹהִים - Elohim speaks, the only holy
response is action!
YYYYYYY
Please
Note: “hebraicstudies”
links are located down the page!
This
site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us,
especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very
much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember
what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via
several of our prophets...
“Hebraic Studies” motto is
as follows;
“The More Torah,
the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and
please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts,
and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with
you!
Enter ...