Proof of Prophecy? (9 October 2016,7 Tishrei, 5777)
Contents:
1. Introducing Levi
2. Jeremiah 33: The Prophesied Restoration of Judah and Israel
(1) Future Purification
(2) The Restoration of Judah and Benjamin
(3) David Rules Over the House of Israel!
(4) Promises to David and Levi
(5) The Two Families of Rulers; David and Levi
3. The Prophesy about Levi Fulfilled in Judah
4. David in the Ten Tribes?
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It was predicted that from the Tribe of Levi would emerge Lawgivers who could interpret the Law.
The Blessing of Moses to Levi:
[Deuteronomy 33:8] And of Levi he said:
Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be with Your holy one,
Whom You tested at Massah,
And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah,
[Deuteronomy 33:9] Who says of his father and mother,
I have not seen them;
Nor did he acknowledge his brothers,
Or know his own children;
For they have observed Your word
And kept Your covenant.
[Deuteronomy 33:10] They shall teach Jacob Your judgments,
And Israel Your law.
They shall put incense before You,
And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.
[Deuteronomy 33:11] Bless his substance, LORD,
And accept the work of his hands;
Strike the loins of those who rise against him,
And of those who hate him, that they rise not again.
# Why did Levi not merit a [Tribal] Inheritance in the Land of Israel and its spoils [at the time of conquest] together with his brothers? The reason is he had been separated out to serve the LORD, to work for HIM, and to teach His ways, His righteous paths and His just judgments to the multitude, as it says, "THEY SHALL TEACH JACOB THY JUDGMENTS, AND ISRAEL THY LAW" [Deuteronomy 33:10]. For this reason they [the Levites] are absolved from regular requirements: They do not have to fight in wars like the rest of Israel. They do not inherit or bequeath to others through the force of their arms, rather they are the Armies of the Almighty, as it says, "BLESS, LORD, HIS Prowess" [Deuteronomy 33:11]. Levi was blessed and merited the offerings given to the Almighty, as it says, "I AM THY PART AND THINE INHERITANCE" [Numbers 18:20]. #
MAIMONIDES (1135 - 1204 CE), Mishneh Torah, Book 7, Zeraim, the Laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee Years 13:12.
The Almighty promised that the precedence of the Tribe of Levi in such matters would always be preserved for them:
Jeremiah 33:
17 For so says the LORD, David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.
19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
20 So says the LORD, If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time,
21 then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers.
22 As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.
23 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
24 Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD chose, He has rejected them? Thus they despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight.
25 So says the LORD, If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established,
26 then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.
Concerning descendants of David we discussed this matter in our article,
Sons of David as Rulers
http://www.britam.org/Proof/Attributes/roleDavid.html
# Literally speaking, the promises to David and to the Levites do not necessarily mean that they will always have rulers and ministers over the Houses of Israel. Rather, the Biblical promises may be understood to state that descendants of David and Levi will always be available to fulfill their ancestral functions whenever the Promised Messianic Order shall be instituted or whenever the Children of Israel are worthy.
Even so, it may be that many of the Rulers over the exiled Israelites and those who ministered to them in Britain, America, and elsewhere are (and were) descended from the Houses of David and Levi. #
The above message is valid BUT there is also something in both David and Levi having descendants today who fulfil to some degree their inherited function.
Descendants of David would therefore be found among the monarchs and rules of Israelite peoples.
Levi are the inherited interpreters of the Law.
They still fulfill this function today among the Jewish People.
Most of Levi is to be found among the Jews: When the Ten tribes separated from Judah they began to practise idolatry. The Levites mostly left and went to Judah.
2-Chronicles 11:
13 And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him. 14 For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the LORD.
A greatly disproportionate number, perhaps MOST, of the prominent religious expounders of the Torah Law-makers throughout history have been descended from Levis.
No-one decides or regulates this. Most Jews are not aware of it. It just happens.
This in itself is a proof not only of descent from Levi but even of the Torah itself!!!
cf.
Deuteronomy 17:
9 " .. you shall consult with the Levitical Priests and the judge who is in office in those days; they shall announce to you the decision in the case."
See:
Levi and Torah Law
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/levirabbi.html
See Also:
Levi. The Companion of God and his Tribe
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/levi.html
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2. Jeremiah 33:
The Prophesied Restoration of Judah and Israel
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(1) Future Purification
Jeremiah was under arrest and confined by Zedekiah, the King of Judah, while Jerusalem was under siege.
The Babylonians were besieging the city. The Babylonians are referred to in Hebrew as the "Casdim." English Translations renders this as "Chaldeans." Jerusalem was in a state of ruination. Many of the houses had been broken up to provide building materials for reinforcing the defences. Worse was to come with the city and Temple about to be destroyed. In the midst of all this Jeremiah was told in prophecy that in the future both Judah and Israel (i.e. the Ten Tribes who had already previously been taken into Exile) will be restored (33:7). They will both be purified of their iniquities and pardoned (33:8). This will be a wondrous thing in the eyes of all nations of the world (33:9).
Jeremiah 33
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying, 2 Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, 3 Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. 4 For thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which are broken down to make a defense against the siege ramps and against the sword, 5 While they are coming to fight with the Chaldeans and to fill them with the corpses of men whom I have slain in My anger and in My wrath, and I have hidden My face from this city because of all their wickedness: 6 Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first. 8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. 9 It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.
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(2) The Restoration of Judah and Benjamin
Jeremiah is told that the whole of the territory of Judah and Benjamin will be restored (33:12-13).
Judah and Benjamin were the two main Tribes of the Kingdom of Judah. They provided the basic ancestral stock from which emerged the present Jewish people.
When the Ten Tribes separated from Judah and set up their own kingdom the tribe of Benjamin remained. Judah and Benjamin comprised the Kingdom of Judah.
They were later joined by most of the Tribe of Levi (2-Chronicles 11:12-13) and by refugees from the Ten Tribes who were however only a minority contingent. Most of the Ten Tribes remained in the north, in the kingdom of Israel, and were exiled by the Assyrians. They then came to lose consciousness of their ancestry.
Jeremiah 33
10 Thus says the LORD, Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, It is a waste, without man and without beast, that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast,
11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,
Give thanks to the LORD of hosts,
For the LORD is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first, says the LORD.
12 Thus says the LORD of hosts, There will again be in this place which is waste, without man or beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who rest their flocks.
13 In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who numbers them, says the LORD.
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(3) David Rules Over the House of Israel!
Jeremiah prophesies concerning the House of Israel i.e. the Ten Tribes, and the House of Judah, i.e. the Jews.
He also speaks about the House of David (33:15, 17) and the Levites (33:18).
14 Behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.
16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.
17 For thus says the LORD, David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.
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(4) Promises to David and Levi
David will always have a descendant to rule over Israel (33:21).
The Levites will always be available as minister (33:21).
Both will increase and multiply enormously (33:22).
19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 Thus says the LORD, If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, 21 then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.
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(5) The Two Families of Rulers; David and Levi
Jeremiah speaks of the two families (33:23) that have been chosen.
From the context this is referring to the House of David and the "descendants of Jacob" will rule over "the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (33:26).
23 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD chose, He has rejected them? Thus they despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight. 25 Thus says the LORD, If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, 26 then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.
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3. The Prophesy about Levi Fulfilled in Judah
In previous articles, we discussed different aspects of Levi:
Levi. The Companion of God and his Tribe
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/levi.html
Deuteronomy 33:
11 Bless [Levi], O LORD, his substance,
and accept the work of his hands;
crush the loins of his adversaries,
of those that hate him, so that they do not rise again.
Levi the Copper. Levites as Policemen?
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/copper.html
Levi as Bureaucrat. Levites and Official Duties
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/bureaucrat.html
Deuteronomy 17:
9 ...you shall consult with the levitical priest and the judge who is in office in those days; they shall announce to you the decision in the case.
Levi and Oral Law. Levitical Cohans and Great Teachers
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/levirabbi.html
Malachi 2 (NASB):
4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi, says the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
According to Scripture, Levi was destined to interpret the Law. This is the Oral Tradition!
The Bible gives us the basic message of God including the Law. This Law cannot be understood without Rabbinical Interpretation.
Like it or not this is the way things are and how God wanted it.
Rabbinical Interpretation is given by Rabbis.
You have Rabbis who decide things and Rabbis who learn the decisions.
For the sake of conveniences let us refer to the Rabbis who decide things as Illustrious Rabbis.
Most of these throughout the generations are from the Tribe of Levi i.e. Levis and Cohens.
How does this work in our time?
Levites comprise ca. 10% of the Jewish population.
Amongst Religious Jews the proportion of Levis may be a little greater but not noticeably so.
From out of the Religious Jews you find a small number (maybe 10% in the state of Israel, much less in the USA) who learn Torah full time.
Again once again the proportion of Levites may increase but not by much.
From the full-time learners of Torah emerge the illustrious Rabbis who decide how the Law is to be applied in practical terms.
A good percentage of Illustrious Rabbis (50% to 75 %) are Levites!!
It just turns out that way as if natural talents passed on through the Tribe come to the fore as PROPHESIED !!!!
We therefore see that Prophesies including that of Jeremiah ch.33 concerning Levites are fulfilled in Judah.
Malachi 2:
6 True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
Jeremiah 33 prophesied concerning Levi and David.
Could it be that the prophesy about Levi was fulfilled in Judah and that about David in the Ten Tribes?
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4. David in the Ten Tribes?
Sons of David. Descendants of David were to be Among the Rulers of Israel
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/attributes/roledavid.html
Quotations:
# The House of David reigned in Judah and quite a few families amongst the present day Jews trace themselves back to David. The Jewish Biblical Commentators Rashi (10401105) and Abarbanel (1435-1508), the family of Dayan in Spain and Syria as well as the Maharal (1512-1609) and many other famous Rabbinical scholars were descended from King David. A good number of Jews should be able today to trace themselves back to King David. Apart from descendants of David who are to be found amongst the modern Jews there are others. Numerous people from the Tribe of Judah were also exiled together with the Lost Ten Tribes. The Sons of David had once been appointed as administrators over all Israel (2-Samuel 8;18). Later members of the House of David had intermarried with leaders of the Northern Kingdom and passed over to live in those areas. In this and other ways descendants of David must have penetrated the ranks of the exiled Israelites.
The rulers of Dan in Northern Galilee were evidently from the House of David. So was the ruling house of the Khazars, and the ruling house of Iberia in the Caucasus and of the Sacae in Sakastan in iran. All these were associated with the Scythians whose kings were related to each other. The Scythians moved to Western Europe and their kings moved with them.
# From these monarchic and aristocratic lines came the early kings of Scandinavia, of the Franks, and of the AngloSaxons.
# There was once a semi-autonomous Principality in Narbonne (southern France) described by Arthur J. Zuckerman (A Jewish Princedom in Feudal France, 768-900, New York, 1972). It was ruled by a Jewish Prince of the House of David whose offspring intermarried with the aristocracy and Royal Line of France and these with that of Normandy, Scotland, and England.
In these and other ways descendants of David may have become rulers of the Ten Tribes in the west.
Edward-iv of England (1442-1483) traced his ancestry back to King Jehoshaphat (867-851 BCE) of Judah. Jehoshaphat was a descendants of King David.
We thus find the Prophecy of Jeremiah ch. 33 concerning Levi and David having come to pass.
All this however presupposes an acceptance of the Legitimiacy of Judaism. at least for Judah, in our time.