Davarim-Chap-10-v-12-19
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Please Note: Some alterations
or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), having been corrected like it once was pre
the “Masoretic Text”.
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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 אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
This study is all about the wonderful Deuteronomy Chapter 10: verses 12-19. Its eight verses are shown in Hebrew and English and you will find that it is something amazing! (Based on the JPS-1917 version of the Torah).
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וְעַתָּה,
יִשְׂרָאֵל-מָה
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ,
שֹׁאֵל
מֵעִמָּךְ:
כִּי
אִם-לְיִרְאָה
אֶת-יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
לָלֶכֶת
בְּכָל-דְּרָכָיו,
וּלְאַהֲבָה
אֹתוֹ,
וְלַעֲבֹד אֶת-יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ,
בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ
וּבְכָל-נַפְשֶׁךָ
לִשְׁמֹר אֶת-מִצְוֺת יְהוָה, וְאֶת-חֻקֹּתָיו, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ, הַיּוֹם-לְטוֹב, לָךְ
הֵן לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם, הָאָרֶץ, וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר-בָּהּ
רַק בַּאֲבֹתֶיךָ חָשַׁק יְהוָה, לְאַהֲבָה אוֹתָם; וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם, בָּכֶם מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים-כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה
וּמַלְתֶּם, אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם; וְעָרְפְּכֶם-לֹא תַקְשׁוּ, עוֹד
כִּי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם-הוּא אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, וַאֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים: הָאֵל הַגָּדֹל הַגִּבֹּר, וְהַנּוֹרָא, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יִשָּׂא פָנִים, וְלֹא יִקַּח שֹׁחַד
עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפַּט יָתוֹם, וְאַלְמָנָה; וְאֹהֵב גֵּר, לָתֶת לוֹ לֶחֶם וְשִׂמְלָה
וַאֲהַבְתֶּם, אֶת-הַגֵּר: כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם
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“12. And now, Israel, what doth יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- the LORD thy
Eloheicha require of thee, but to fear יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- the LORD thy
Eloheicha, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- the LORD thy
Eloheicha with all thy heart and with all thy soul; 13. to keep for thy good the
commandments of יְהוָה - the LORD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day? 14. Behold, unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- the LORD thy
Eloheicha belonged the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all
that therein is. 15. Only יְהוָה
- the LORD
had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them,
even you, above all peoples, as it is this day. 16. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart,
and be no more stiff-necked. 17. For יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
- the LORD your Eloheichem, He is אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim of
elohims, and יְהוָה
- LORD of
lords, the great אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim, the
mighty, and the awful, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. 18. He doth execute justice for the ‘fatherless’ and ‘widow’,
and ‘loveth the stranger’, in giving him food and raiment. 19. Love ye therefore the stranger; for ye were
strangers in the
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Let us now
look at the Comprehensive and Critical Study with an explanation of a very
special text, in order to find its true original meaning in every way!
1. The Core Demands of the Covenant (Verses 12-13).
The Rhetorical Question: Moses begins with, “what doth יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha require of thee, but...” This phrasing mirrors the later words of the Prophet Micah (6:8). It frames the vast system of 613 mitzvot (commandments) not as an overwhelming burden, but as a ‘distilled’, ‘unified spiritual attitude’.
The Five Pillars of Devotion: This passage outlines ‘five specific internal actions expected of
Fear (Awe): “to fear יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha”. This is ‘Yirat Shamayim’ not a ‘paralyzing terror’, but a ‘profound reverence’ for the Creator’s blessed Majesty.
Affection: “to love Him”. A unique covenantal demand where ‘an emotional and volitional attachment to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is commanded’.
Total Service: “to serve... with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” The term ‘Avodah’ implies both ‘sacrificial worship’ and everyday labour dedicated to Divine ideals.
Action: “to keep... the commandments.” Inward devotion must ‘manifest as outward obedience’.
The Purpose of Law: Verse 13 contains a vital theological anchor: “to keep for thy good.” The JPS translation highlights that the commandments do not serve to benefit or feed אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. Instead, they are designed strictly for the ‘moral preservation and earthly flourishing of human society’.
2.
Cosmic Sovereignty vs. Particular Love (Verses 14-15).
The Cosmic Scale: Verse 14 uses a majestic Hebrew idiom translated as “the
heaven and the heaven of heavens.” This encompasses the physical
sky, the astronomical universe, and the unseen spiritual realms. Moses reminds
The Paradox of Choice: Verse 15 introduces a stark contrast using the word “Only”
(Rak in Hebrew). Despite owning the
infinite universe, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim chose to “delight
in thy fathers to love them.” The text explicitly anchors election
not in
3.
The Command for Radical Inward Transformation (Verse 16).
The Circumcised Heart: “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart.”
This is one of the most vital metaphors in Deuteronomy. Physical circumcision
is a sign on the flesh; ‘spiritual circumcision demands the removal of the
stubborn barrier covering the human heart’. It means opening oneself up to ‘empathy’,
‘vulnerability’, and Divine instruction.
The Antidote to Obstinacy: “and be no more stiff-necked.” This refers directly back to the Sin of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32). A stiff neck cannot bend in humility. The text demands the conscious breaking of stubborn pride.
4.
The Character of Divine Justice (Verses 17-18).
Superlative Majesty: Verse 17 uses ultimate titles: “אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of
elohims, and יְהוָה - LORDS of lords.” It describes Him as “the great אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, the
mighty, and the awful (awesome)”.
Absolute Incorruptibility: The text states He “regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” In the ancient Near East, gods and kings were easily bribed with sacrifices and flattery. The JPS 1917 emphasizes that the Sovereign of the universe cannot be bought; justice is absolute and blind to status.
The Divine Priority: How does this terrifyingly powerful אֱלֹהִים - Elohim display His majesty? Verse 18 provides a beautiful answer. He does not show His power by crushing empires, but by “executing the justice of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger.” The triad of the orphan, widow, and stranger represents the most politically and economically defenceless members of ancient society. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim acts as their legal guardian.
5.
The Mandate of Empathy (Verse 19).
The Direct Imperative: “Love ye therefore
the stranger.”
This is a direct command to replicate אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s own attitude
described in the previous verse.
The Historical Anchor: “for ye were strangers in the
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In
Conclusion - Key Study Themes for Reflection:
|
Theme: |
Scriptural Concept: |
Practical Application: |
|
Holistic Devotion. |
Heart and Soul (Levav & Nefesh). |
Intention must
always match action. |
|
Divine
Transcendence. |
Heaven of Heavens. |
אֱלֹהִים is entirely self-sufficient but chooses
relationship. |
|
Social Ethics. |
Orphan, Widow,
Stranger |
True spirituality
is measured by how a society treats its weakest members. |
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following through a number of our prophets...
“The More Torah,
the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”
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Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD
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שָׁלוֹם
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