Shamar
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Some minor alterations have been made relating to Names and Attributes having been corrected.
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“Shamar - Keep it”
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, Phd.
וַיִּקַּח
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהִים,
אֶת-הָאָדָם;
וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ
בְגַן-עֵדֶן,
לְעָבְדָהּ
וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ
“And יְהוָה Elohim took the man and put him into the
Garden of Eden to tend and keep it” Bereshit -
Genesis 2:15.
Welcome to what will be, I trust a most revealing
study as we look at a rather interesting verse in Bereshit - Genesis
2:15. At first what actually appears seems to be two rather simple words in
this verse, but as we explore in what is really being said it suddenly becomes
something very beautiful and special when we apply the fullness of the original
understanding of the Ivrit - Hebrew to its
actual and original meaning it makes great sense. Although sadly it is
generally lost by so many as they sadly have lost so much of our magnificent Ivrit of ancient days!
You will soon note that this study is based very much on two important words in the Torah and these are the words, 1. “tend” - עָבַד - “Avad” and 2. “keep” - שָׁמַר - “Shamar” but which one is the more powerful one.
Let me commence with the first word “tend” - עָבַד “Avad,” which means so much more, such as to “work” and to “serve”, thus Adam was to be a “servant” to the garden, one who would lovingly take great care and work in the garden which Elohim, blessed be He, had given him!
A little later I will return how this word could also appliy to all of us, but it is closely tied together with the second word “keep,” being שָׁמְרוּ - “Shamaru” in Ivrit, and believe me this word is actually is amazingly powerful as I will reveal soon!
The Word “Keep” - שָׁמַר - “Shamar” in Bereshit-
Genesis 2:15 contains something that has in general not been fully understood,
and frankly not even by the vast majority of rabbis throughout history and the
vast majority of us as Jews to this day have little to no knowledge of the powerful
meaning and the powerful teaching that is contained within this one word! I
feel saddened that we over the centuries have never heard much about this
teaching, but it is what I am about to share with you! But the truth is sadly
no one has really been looking for it, as we should all know that most rabbis
have been far too busy adding new laws to where they had no business adding
anything, for Elohim, blessed be He, very clearly stated in His Torah;
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you,
neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the Commandments
of
“Ye shall observe to do therefore as
The truth is this, if you just read the verse in English, sadly any of the translations will not provide you very much of the meaning of what the Almighty was saying at all, for only the original Ivrit - Hebrew contains the fullness of the actual meaning and sadly many had never understood it, and give or take around within the last 2025 years those Christian translators had little to no understanding of Hebrew and they messed up their own scriptures, especially having removed so much “Hebraic thought,” considering their teacher ws 100% Jewish, as the ‘New Testament’ clearly tells us. This would have been very important … I will explain this also later! Therefore no matter the language their ‘Bibles’ translations are generally filled with countless errors, in fact the ‘King James version’ (KJV) has over 100,000 errors in it, and they are huge! Their “Old Testament” (sorry but how can Elohim’s (God) word be ‘old’, no His word lives Forever!
However, praise be to
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Keep
- Shamar:
Let me now quote two verses from Shemos - Exodus 31.
“Wherefore the children
of Israel shall “keep” - שָׁמַר – “Shamar” the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath
throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between
Me and the children of Israel for ever; for in six days
For complete understanding of this Word, let us
turn to another Scripture where this word “keep” is used.
“And
Thus it is quite clear that Adam was “tend”, meaning to “work” and “serve” or look after the garden, but he was also to “keep” it. But logic tells us
quite clearly that “tending” to the garden did not require any
watering whatsoever, as the Torah makes it very clear that our beloved Heavenly
Father provided “the dew of heaven.”
In fact Adam did not even have to weed the garden, why? Well that is very simple, there
was no such thing as weeds in Paradise, how wonderful was that? We do know
that Adam gave names to all the animals and he would have propagated many
plants, thus he would have kept himself rather busy.
But let us stop there and contemplate on the real
meaning of that rather unusual Hebrew word שָׁמַר - Shamar and שָׁמְרוּ - “Shamru” both translates
as “keep.”
The traditional phrase “keep it” does not convey the full meaning of this
very precious word, for having been translated the Hebrew word somehow lost its
value and its actual meaning and message that is no longer available to many
today! However, in Ivrit - Hebrew for those
who have a long memory, there may well be a wonderful story recalled that is
related to this wonderful and very special word, and I pray that you will be
blessed as you discover the full meaning of שָׁמְרוּ - “Shamru -
Keep”!
So many who teach the blessed Word of Elohim,
blessed be He, sadly do not really understand the full and wonderful meaning of
this Word that was given us! The important thing we need to understand is
that the Hebrew root of the word “Shamar,” which I know has a meaning and an
association of great responsibility. The truth is that it only came to me many,
many years ago.
As I said, it was many years back, when
this word hit me with a greater force whilst I was reading Bereshit -
Genesis chapter two, for suddenly the word “Shamar” made a huge
impact on me. Although I had known about this word, but this time something was
very different? The fact was that I was reminded, and I felt that Elohim,
blessed be He, somehow reminded me of something I had known from a very long
time ago. For what I had forgotten that back in 1908 in ‘Palestine’,
an organization had been formed which was called
“Ha Shomer Society” and “Shomer” being the root of “shamar”.
This was a group of men who became the “Watchmen”, “Guardians”,
“Protectors” thus they
were “Defenders” of
Jewish settlements living in Palestine, being ancient Ytsrael from constant attacks. For they were the
“Keepers” indeed of the
many villages around the country! The truth is that the word “shamar”
also means to “Guard, defend and protect, to keep and preserve” and “to treasure.”
You may ask; “Why would Elohim command Adam to ‘protect and defend’ the Garden of Eden, from what?”
Well, Adam was to protect, guard and keep the garden from
possibly, a certain evil that would be in a particular tree!
We should understand that right from the
beginning Adam knew the difference between good and evil. I know this is not what many people really ever
think of, or are even taught, but many tend to think that the Garden of Eden
was simply heaven on Earth, it was just all so beautiful and perfect, etc. But
believe me, they knew about right
and wrong, or why else did Elohim, blessed be He, give them certain
do’s and don’ts? Adam had been clearly commanded
by Elohim, that he and Chavah (Eve)
were not to eat from “the tree of the knowledge and of good and
evil” and to do so would be a grievous sin
against Elohim and it would mean their death!
This Torah reveals to us very clearly
that Adam failed in his duties “guarding and protecting” not
only the garden, but also in protecting his wife Chavah.
If he had really been a good “Shamar,” a
good “protector” and a “guardian,” that evil,
we are told was (supposedly) a ‘serpent’ would never have been able
to reach Eve! But I am well aware all that is now just hindsight.
However, I pray that husbands will learn from
this powerful message that is contained herein, for you are according to the
Word the head of the household and the Husband has a responsibility to be
the “Shamar’s” - the
“guardian, keeper and protector” of the household and family!
Thus, what does all this mean to us today? Indeed
we are commanded to be “Keepers, Guardians, Defenders and
Protectors.” We are to “Treasure” and to “Keep”
the purity of the faith - But more-so we are commanded to guard
the Purity of
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In Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of this Tanach study or possibly a particular line
within it, has touched you the most? And
how do you feel about spending more time on a more regular time Tanakh study? I
pray that you are you doing well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are
upholding as many of our blessed Mitzvoth’s?
I am well aware that the modern world sadly contains far too many
deviations as well as problems that seem to get in the way. Yet worse
than that, sadly there are far too many enticements, which can so easily throw
many off track. Thus, if there are various struggles that may be taking
place in your life at this or any time, I am well aware that it sadly it often
may have a sad and a cruel effect upon your life? Remember this, pray
for peace, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and learn to improve
your life, for אֱלֹהִים is always ready to help you! This site
is also for those who need to return to our blessed and wonderful faith, thus
work on your faith and pray and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance!
And remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
...
“Return unto Me, and I
will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy
your Sabbath Rest, thus Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה (the
LORD your God); walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My
Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I
am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה -
YaHVaH Elohim”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For our 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 - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers)
and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah (blessings)
before food and drinks, etc!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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