The-Chosen-People

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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 main 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”.

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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 יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“The Chosen People”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

The idea that we the Israelites are the “Chosen People” and have a special relationship with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) is ever present in Hebraic sources. However, the nature of this relationship is not without complication and some ambiguity. However I will cover if it is right or wrong, for His Word is truth!

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Let us look at the origins of the “Chosen Concept”:

The notion of we Israelites being chosen has its root in a good number of verses. One of the most prominent being in Deuteronomy Chapter 7: verses 6 to 8 (JPS), which states ...

“For thou art a holy people unto יְהוָה - the LORD thy Elohim: יְהוָה - the LORD thy Elohim hath chosen thee to be His own treasure, out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth. יְהוָה - the LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people, for ye were the fewest of all peoples, but because יְהוָה - the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore unto your fathers, hath יְהוָה - the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt”.

Thus, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim did not choose us Israelites because of our numbers; rather, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim chose the Israelites and freed us from slavery because אֱלֹהִים - Elohim loved us and because אֱלֹהִים - Elohim had made promises to our ancestors, those being our Torah patriarchs: ‘Avraham’, ‘Isaac’, and ‘Jacob’. This, of course, begs the question: why did אֱלֹהִים - Elohim choose the patriarchs?

In the Torah, the choice of Avraham is assumed and no explanation for it is given. In Genesis 12, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim appears to Avram without any introduction, and commands him to leave his pagan father’s home.

The covenant between אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and the freed Israelite slaves at Mount Horeb (not Sinai) is central to the idea of being chosen. The covenant concretized Hebrew chosenness by establishing that the Israelites would abide by the Torah in return for special Divine protection. Elohim chose us the Hebrews for this purpose.

Exodus 19:5 captures the following view ...

“Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My Covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples”. (JPS).

How can we possibly feel, being chosen as a solo special people, but there is another strand of thought which maintains that the choosiness derives from an inherent quality. Was it because we Hebrews were endowed with “Divine influence?” This was passed on genetically, and it includes a capacity for prophecy and the privilege of receiving special Divine providence. All the other nations of the earth are subject to a more general providence and the whims of the natural world.

In our ancient times, it was believed that our choosiness was reflected due to a “native talent”.

Although there have been various ideas about being chosen, still, most forms of Hebraism have retained the factual scriptural concept.

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Let us now look at six powerful verses that clearly makes the point! All verses are from the JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh.

Deuteronomy 7:6:

“For thou art a holy people unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim: יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim hath chosen thee to be His own treasure, out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth”.

Deuteronomy 14:2:

Exodus 19:5-6:

“Now therefore, if ye will hearken unto My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine; and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel’”.

Amos 3:2:

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities”.

Psalm 135:4:

“For יְהוָה - the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His own treasure”.

Isaiah 41:8-9:

“But thou, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My friend; Thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the uttermost parts thereof, and said unto thee: ‘Thou art My servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away’”.

I am sure the above verses will have made up all our minds re this subject!

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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...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

He 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!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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