Israelites, Edomites, and the World (23 July 2017, 29 Tammuz, 5777)
In our article on Zechariah ch.11 we saw that:
Zechariah speaks of two sticks.
Zechariah 11:
7 SO I FED THE FLOCK FOR SLAUGHTER, IN PARTICULAR THE POOR OF THE FLOCK. I TOOK FOR MYSELF TWO STAFFS: THE ONE I CALLED BEAUTY, [NOAM i..e. Pleasant] AND THE OTHER I CALLED BONDS [CHOVLIM - Bruiser]; AND I FED THE FLOCK.
10 AND I TOOK MY STAFF, BEAUTY [NOAM i.e. Pleasant] , AND CUT IT IN TWO, THAT I MIGHT BREAK THE COVENANT WHICH I HAD MADE WITH ALL THE GENTILES.
14 THEN I CUT IN TWO MY OTHER STAFF, BONDS [CHOVLIM - Bruiser]; THAT I MIGHT BREAK THE BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN JUDAH AND ISRAEL. [[Or rather: "I will root out my second stick, BRUISER, whose aim was to undo the brotherhood between Judah and between Israel." And henceforth they will be able to re-unite!
The Hebrew word translated as "Bruiser" is "Chovlim" a word sometimes translated as "BONDS," i.e. "ties, knots, of rope, etc." This a possibility but "Bruiser" (i.e. "inflict bruises, blows") is also possible according to the Hebrew and fits the context better, see RADAK, see Mordecai Zer-Kevod in "Daat Mikra.".
The Hebrew word translated as "cut in in two" is GDA which may also be rendered as "break in two," or "uproot."
Zechariah 11:14 can be interpreted (as explained by Rabbi Moshe Valley)
"I WILL ROOT OUT MY SECOND STICK, BRUISER, WHOSE AIM IS TO UNDO THE BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN JUDAH AND BETWEEN ISRAEL."
This interpretation is actually a more literal one than the NKJV!
Zechariah (according to Rabbi Moshe Valley, 1697- 1776, Padua, west of Venice, Italy) explains that
Up until then there will have been a cause, a negative force, that disallowed brotherhood between Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes. This cause will be removed! This verse is potentially VERY IMPORTANT!
Here is a complete translation and paraphrase of the relevant commentary of Zechariah 11:14. It is framed in Mystical Kabbalistic Terminology but should be easy enough to understand.
# In the same way as the rulership over the Gentiles in a Charitable Way was cut off and removed at the time when their fall was decreed (Zechariah 11:8-10) so too will it be necessary to cut off and remove the ASPECT OF HARSH JUDGMENT from Israel at the time of their favor and success.
This is the reason why it said at the beginning, AND I TOOK MY STAFF, BEAUTY, AND CUT IT IN TWO, THAT I MIGHT BREAK THE COVENANT WHICH I HAD MADE WITH ALL THE GENTILES ( Zechariah 11:10). Now he says, "I will root out my second stick, BRUISER, whose aim is to undo the brotherhood between Judah and between Israel." That is to say, HE will root out and remove from them altogether that Aspect of Harsh Judgment that previously would undo the fraternity and cause division between Judah and between Israel. This intervenes between the head and the body. All the time that the Aspect of Harsh Judgment ruled over Israel it was not possible for the Upper Lights to illuminate the lower ones. That was the reason for the constant quarrelling between Judah and Israel. This will no longer be the case at the time when the Principle of Charity rules. On the contrary, at that time there will be love, fraternity, peace, and friendship, among them. The expansion of Charity spreading out leads to Unity. This is the secret of the expression: "The envy of Ephraim shall depart, And the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, And Judah shall not harass Ephraim." (Isaiah 11:13). #
Two Sticks are spoken of (Zechariah 11:7): the first stick [Noam- PLEASANT] and the second stick [CHOVLIM - Bruiser].
The ALMIGHTY will cease to show favor to the Gentile Nations of Europe.
This is the first stick [Noam- PLEASANT] which HE breaks (Zechariah 11:10).
The ALMIGHTY will remove the barrier preventing Judah and the Ten Tribes from re-uniting.
This is the second stick [Chovlim - BRUISER] which HE also breaks (Zechariah 11:14).
Here we see TWO STICKS used to symbolize the breaking of powers that impeded the growth and unification of Judah and the Ten Tribes.
When the impediments are done away with Unity will come about.
Here we see TWO STICKS used to symbolize the breaking of powers that impeded the growth and unification of Judah and the Ten Tribes. When the impediments are done away with Unity will come about.
Ezekiel 37 spoke of this:
Ezekiel (NKJV) 37:
15 AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME, SAYING, 16 AS FOR YOU, SON OF MAN, TAKE A STICK FOR YOURSELF AND WRITE ON IT: "FOR JUDAH AND FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, HIS COMPANIONS." THEN TAKE ANOTHER STICK AND WRITE ON IT, "FOR JOSEPH, THE STICK OF EPHRAIM, AND FOR ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, HIS COMPANIONS." 17 THEN JOIN THEM ONE TO ANOTHER FOR YOURSELF INTO ONE STICK, AND THEY WILL BECOME ONE IN YOUR HAND.
18 AND WHEN THE CHILDREN OF YOUR PEOPLE SPEAK TO YOU, SAYING, "WILL YOU NOT SHOW US WHAT YOU MEAN BY THESE?" 19 SAY TO THEM, "THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD: 'SURELY I WILL TAKE THE STICK OF JOSEPH, WHICH IS IN THE HAND OF EPHRAIM, AND THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, HIS COMPANIONS; AND I WILL JOIN THEM WITH IT, WITH THE STICK OF JUDAH, AND MAKE THEM ONE STICK, AND THEY WILL BE ONE IN MY HAND.'" 20 AND THE STICKS ON WHICH YOU WRITE WILL BE IN YOUR HAND BEFORE THEIR EYES.
21 THEN SAY TO THEM, "THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD: 'SURELY I WILL TAKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM AMONG THE NATIONS, WHEREVER THEY HAVE GONE, AND WILL GATHER THEM FROM EVERY SIDE AND BRING THEM INTO THEIR OWN LAND; 22 AND I WILL MAKE THEM ONE NATION IN THE LAND, ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL; AND ONE KING SHALL BE KING OVER THEM ALL; THEY SHALL NO LONGER BE TWO NATIONS, NOR SHALL THEY EVER BE DIVIDED INTO TWO KINGDOMS AGAIN. 23 THEY SHALL NOT DEFILE THEMSELVES ANYMORE WITH THEIR IDOLS, NOR WITH THEIR DETESTABLE THINGS, NOR WITH ANY OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS; BUT I WILL DELIVER THEM FROM ALL THEIR DWELLING PLACES IN WHICH THEY HAVE SINNED, AND WILL CLEANSE THEM. THEN THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.
24 DAVID MY SERVANT SHALL BE KING OVER THEM, AND THEY SHALL ALL HAVE ONE SHEPHERD; THEY SHALL ALSO WALK IN MY JUDGMENTS AND OBSERVE MY STATUTES, AND DO THEM. 25 THEN THEY SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN TO JACOB MY SERVANT, WHERE YOUR FATHERS DWELT; AND THEY SHALL DWELL THERE, THEY, THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, FOREVER; AND MY SERVANT DAVID SHALL BE THEIR PRINCE FOREVER. 26 MOREOVER I WILL [C]MAKE A COVENANT OF PEACE WITH THEM, AND IT SHALL BE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH THEM; I WILL ESTABLISH THEM AND MULTIPLY THEM, AND I WILL SET MY SANCTUARY IN THEIR MIDST FOREVERMORE. 27 MY TABERNACLE ALSO SHALL BE WITH THEM; INDEED I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 28 THE NATIONS ALSO WILL KNOW THAT I, THE LORD, SANCTIFY ISRAEL, WHEN MY SANCTUARY IS IN THEIR MIDST FOREVERMORE.'
Ephraim has "an innate purity. "
cf.
Hosea (NKJV) 14:
1 O Israel, return to the LORD your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
2 Take words with you,
And return to the LORD.
Say to Him,
Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.
Rabbi Moshe David Valle opines on the above:
14:2 Valle. # ... THE IMPURITY AND DEBASEMENT OF THE TEN TRIBES WAS NOT THEIR TRUE NATURE. THE POWER OF REPENTANCE CAN ELEVATE A PERSON TO A GREATER HEIGHT THAN HE EVER HAD BEFORE.
THE ISRAELITES HAVE AN INNATE PURITY. THEY THEREFORE DO NOT HAVE TO TRY VERY HARD TO RETURN TO WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IF THEY HAD NOT SINNED.
THE NON-ISRAELITE PEOPLE ARE NOT LIKE THIS.... #
The Ten Tribes needed to Reform the World!
Hosea (NKJV) 14:
8 EPHRAIM SHALL SAY, 'WHAT HAVE I TO DO ANYMORE WITH IDOLS?'
I HAVE HEARD AND OBSERVED HIM.
I AM LIKE A GREEN CYPRESS TREE;
YOUR FRUIT IS FOUND IN ME.
Valle: # IT IS A KNOWN MATTER THAT ISRAEL DID NOT DESCEND INTO THE REALMS OF POLLUTION OTHER THAN FOR THE NEED TO CLARIFY HIS DESTINY. HE NEEDED TO FULFILL THE WILL OF GOD AND REFORM THE WORLD THROUGH REDIRECTING ITS FORCES. WHEN THIS IS DONE THEY SHALL RETURN TO THEIR SOURCE. THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO REMAIN IN THAT SITUATION ANY MORE. THIS IS THE MEANING OF, 'EPHRAIM SHALL SAY, 'WHAT HAVE I TO DO ANYMORE WITH IDOLS?'" (Hosea 14:8). #
Judah was also Punished for Not Reforming the Ten Tribes!
Rabbi Valli understands Hosea to say that Judah was also to be Punished because of Ephraim! Judah did not attempt to turn Ephraim back to the right track. Consequently, says Rabbi Valle, they themselves were influenced by the Ten Tribes and were to be punished in a similar way as to they had been.
Hosea 12:
2 THE LORD HAS A DISPUTE WITH JUDAH,
AND WILL PUNISH JACOB ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS,
AND REPAY HIM ACCORDING TO HIS DOINGS.
RABBI VALLE SAYS THAT EPHRAIM INFLUENCES THE REST OF ISRAEL AND ALL OF MANKIND!
HOSEA 13:
1 WHEN EPHRAIM SPOKE, TREMBLING,
HE WAS EXALTED IN ISRAEL.
BUT HE INCURRED GUILT THROUGH BAAL WORSHIP AND HE DIED.
Ephraim is a power in the world. Rabbi Valle says that all mankind is influenced through Ephraim. When Ephraim transgresses in his deeds and opinions he engenders division and contention to themselves and to all of Israel. This is what is meant by the expression "trembling" (Hosea 13:1). In Hebrew the word is "retet." It connotes "reverbation." When Ephraim speaks or acts it has a resonating effect on the rest of Israel.