Devarim / Deut. 31:1-30
Haftarah: Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27
Brit Hadashah: Matittiyahu / Matthew 21:9-12
VaYelekh means “and was“.
Summary
The section of VaYelekh (and he was) recounts the events of the last day of Moses’ earthly life.
This is how our parsha begins:
וַיֵּלֶךְ מֹשֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Vayelej Moshe vayedaber et-hadevarim ha’eleh el-kol-Yisra’el.
31:1 And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel,
31:2
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם בֶּן־מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי הַיֹּום לֹא־אוּכַל עֹוד לָצֵאת וְלָבֹוא וַֽיהוָה אָמַר אֵלַי לֹא תַעֲבֹר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּֽה׃
(G#4) Vayomer alehem ben-me’ah ve’esrim shanah anoji hayom lo-ujal od latzet velavo v’Adonay amar elay lo ta’avor et-haYarden hazeh.
31:2 and said to them, Today I complete one hundred and twenty years of age; I won’t be able to go out or come in anymore; and Adonai has told me: “You will not cross this Jordan”.
Moses transfers leadership to Yehoshua and writes (or concludes the writing of) the Torah on a scroll that he leaves in the hands of the Leviim to be kept in the Ark of the Covenant.
The precept of Hakel (gather) is given: every seven years, during the festival of Sukkot of the first year of the cycle of Shemitah (sabbatical), all the Jewish people, men, women, and children, must gather in the Temple of Yerushalaim, where the king must read of the Torah in front of them.
VaYelekh concludes with the prediction that the Jewish people will depart from the covenant with Adonai, causing Adonai to go into hiding, but also with the promise that the words of the Torah “will not be forgotten from the mouths of your descendants.”
1st Comment
Devarim / Deut. 31:2
“Today I am one hundred and twenty years old; I can no longer go or come, and HaShem has said to me, “You shall not pass this Yard.”
According to the Talmud, this was the 7th of Adar, the day of Moses’ birthday.
Now the time had come for his death.
That is why he first bids farewell to the people, cf. v. 1-6, then introduces them to Yehoshua, his successor, cf. v. 7-8, and finally, he commands them to make a public reading of the Torah every sabbatical, cf. v. 9-13.
2nd Comment
Devarim / Deut. 31:3a
“Adonai your Elohim shall pass before you; He will destroy these nations before you and you will dislodge them.”
According to archaeological discoveries at Yericho (Jericho), from the years around 1400 a.EC, there were plagues in the land of Kenáan that caused the population to be decimated.
This happened just before the conquest of the children of Israel.
In this way we see how HaShem passed in front of them, destroying much of the population of the seven nations.
3rd Comment
Devarim / Deut. 31:6
“Be firm and courageous, do not fear or be terrified before them, for Adonay your Elohim is the one who goes with you; he will not let go of you or forsake you.”
Fear is eliminated by the certainty that HaShem is with me, as written in Psalm 23:4a:
“Even if I pass through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear any evil, for you are with me“
4th Comment
Devarim / Deut. 31:6-7
“Be firm… be firm“
The Hebrew word that has been translated as “firm” is jazak, which means “strong,” “firm,” “hard,” “violent,” “powerful.”
Firmness is a force of inner resistance that allows man not to become discouraged and to back down in times of crisis.
Firmness is necessary to be able to keep the commandments in times of opposition.
Firmness is necessary to be able to win in moments of attack.
When there is temptation to feel discouraged, it is important to stand firm so that you can move forward and see HaShem’s supernatural hand.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58 it is written:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm, constant, always abounding in the work of Adonai, knowing that your work in Adonai is not in vain.”
In Ephesians 6:10-18 it is written:
“For the rest, strengthen yourselves in Adonai and in the power of his strength. Put on all the armor of Elohim so that you can stand firm against the insidiousness of the devil. For our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against powers, against the powers of this world of darkness, against the spiritual hosts of evil in the heavenly regions. Therefore, take all the armor of Adonai, so that you can resist on the bad day, and having done everything, be firm. Be firm, therefore, girded YOUR WAIST WITH THE TRUTH, CLOTHED WITH THE BREASTPLATE OF JUSTICE, and shoehorn ED YOUR FEET WITH THE APPREHENSION OF THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE; in everything, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to extinguish all the lit darts of the evil one. Also take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Ruach/Spirit which is the word of Adonai. With all prayer and supplication pray at all times in the Ruach/Spirit, and thus, watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”
In Matittiyahu / Mt. 10:22 it is written:
“And you shall be hated of all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
In Matittiyahu / Mt. 24:13 it is written:
“But whoever endures to the end shall be saved.”
In Mark 13:13 it is written:
“And you shall be hated of all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
Firmness, courage, endurance, perseverance, patience and faithfulness are ingredients that have to be present in a leader and in a people who will fulfill the commandments of HaShem in a world full of opposition.
In Hebrews 10:35-39 it is written:
“Therefore, do not discard your trust, which has great reward. For you need patience, so that when you have done Adonai’s will, you will obtain the promise. FOR IN A VERY SHORT TIME, THE ONE WHO IS TO COME WILL COME AND IT WILL NOT TAKE LONG. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE BACKS DOWN, MY SOUL WILL NOT BE PLEASED IN HIM. But we are not one of those who retreat to perdition, but of those who have faith for the preservation of the soul.”
The opposite of having faith is going backwards.
The one who retreats loses his soul.
In Luke 9:62 it is written:
“But Yeshua said to him, “No one, who after putting his hand on the plow looks back, is fit for the kingdom of Adonai.”
5th Comment
Devarim / Deut. 31:8
“Adonai will go before you; He will be with you, he will not leave you or forsake you; do not be afraid or cower.”
Yehoshua needed to be affirmed so that he would have full conviction of divine presence and intervention in his mission.
His trust could not be placed in himself, but in HaShem.
6th Comment
Devarim / Deut. 31:9
“And Moses wrote this Torah and gave it to the priests, sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of HaShem, and to all the elders of Israel.”
The midrash counts:
“On the eve of the seventh of Adar, the day of Moses’ death, he heard a heavenly voice announcing his coming death. He immediately began to write thirteen copies of the Torah miraculously; he wrote twelve for the twelve tribes, and one which he deposited in the Sacred Ark, so that if anyone took the liberty of falsifying it, he could always consult, and that it would remain intact. Moses also thought, if I take care of the whole day of the Torah, the angel of death will have no power over me. But the sun shone until Moses had finished his work.”
Most likely this is an exaggeration, as in many of the midrashim, but this shows us the concept that the Torah was given to the twelve tribes of Israel, so that no one would say that it only must be fulfilled by the tribe of Levi.
The Torah was not given to be hidden in the ark alone.
Or only for the children of Levi, but to be used and read every day and applied in the daily life of all Israel.
Beloved, are you reading the Torah every day?
“He gave it to the priests … and to all the elders of Israel.”
The Torah is not in heaven, as we said in the parashat above (cf. 30:12), is in the hands of men.
Nothing can be added or removed anymore.
Levitical priests have the greatest responsibility to keep and teach the Torah to the people.
Then the responsibility falls on the elders of all Israel.
This also teaches us that the interpretation of the Torah is not a private matter, but it is important to consult and listen to the interpretation that the wise men of Israel have made throughout history, cf. 2 Peter 1:20-21.
20 “First of all, keep in mind that no prophecy of Scripture arises from anyone’s interpretation. 21 For prophecy has not had its origin in human will, but the prophets spoke on behalf of Adonai, impelled by the Ruach/Spirit of Holiness. “
In Malachi 2:4-7 it is written:
“Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that my covenant may continue with Levi,” says Adonai of the armies. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave him to revere; and he revered me and was full of fear at my name. The true Torah was in his mouth, and there was no iniquity on his lips; in peace and righteousness he walked with me and turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of the priest must keep wisdom, and men must seek the instruction of his mouth, for he is the messenger of Adonai of hosts.”
Conclusion
I repeat: “Firmness, courage, endurance, perseverance, perseverance, patience and faithfulness are ingredients that have to be present in a leader and in a people who will fulfill the commandments of HaShem in a world full of opposition. “
Rabb. Shaul spoke to the Jews of Ephesians the importance of standing firm,
Ephesians 5:14-16
14 “For this reason he says, ‘Wake up, you who sleep, and rise from the dead, and Mashiach de will enlighten you. 15 Therefore be careful how you walk; not as fools, but as wise men, 16 making good use of time, for days are bad. “
We wish each other on Rosh Hashanah “May you have a good and sweet year.”
But bad days are coming.
And we will not be begged to abandon our faith in Yeshua as the Mashiach of Yisrael and the New World Order.
We will be tortured to the point of Yeshua as King of kings and Lord of lords.
All the powers of the world will fall apart and only Mashiach will reign.
Yeshua said to Kefas/Peter:
Lucas 22:33-37
33 ““Adon,” Kefas / Peter replied, “I am willing to go with you both to jail and to death. 34 “Kefas / Peter, I tell you that today, before the rooster (singer) sings, three times you will deny that you know me. 35 Then Yeshua said to all, “When I sent you without purse or purse or purse or sandals, did you lack anything? — Nothing,” they replied. 36 —Now, on the other hand, whoever has a purse, let him carry it; likewise, he who has a bag. And he who has nothing, let him sell his mantle and buy a sword. 37 For I tell you that what is written must be fulfilled in me: “And it was counted among the transgressors.” Indeed, what has been written about me is being fulfilled. “
Lucas 21:36
“But watch over at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape from all these things that are about to happen, and that you may stand before the Son of Man. “
1 Thessalonians 5:6
“Therefore, we do not sleep like others, but let us be alert and sober. “
Romans 13:11
“And {do everything} this, knowing the time, that it is time to wake you up from sleep; for salvation is now closer to us than when we believed. “
1 Corinthians 16:13
“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, behave manly, be strong. “