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From: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Shechem: The Valley of Decision
Date: Monday, March 12, 2001 2:36 AM

From: ravmoshe@bellsouth.net (ravmoshe@bellsouth.net)
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: SHECHEM. THE VALLEY OF DECISION.

Shechem - A Valley of Decision
by Timothy W. Stevenson

A while ago a brother in Yahshua (Albert Navaroli) and I began a discussion on the significance of the place called Shechem. Our first exchange focused on the apparent discrepancies between Stephen's account in Acts chapter seven and the accounts recorded in Genesis (23:16, 33:19) and Joshua (24:32). One of those differences regards who purchased Shechem, Abraham or Jacob? Another, who is buried there, Joseph, or Joseph and his brothers (i.e., the other sons of Jacob)?

I decided not to dwell on the first matter, being content with the thought that if Jacob purchased the land, it was as good as if Abraham had done so, for Hebrews 7:4-10 teaches that one could be vicariously involved in the actions of Abraham because they were in his loins at the time, and Stephen's testimony seems to indicate that this relationship would work in reverse.

The second question gave me more pause, and after some research of various sources including Josephus, I could see no definitive answer regarding whether all the sons of Jacob are buried at Shechem. However Joseph's bones are undoubtably interred there.

At the AMI 2000 conference I visited the Elon Moreh table where was displayed an aerial photo of Shechem. I noted what should have been obvious from the scripture, namely that Shechem sits in a valley. To be more specific, it sets between the mountains of Gerizim and Ebal. It was at this point that something began to stir in me about the subject that my work associate had brought up: Shechem is a valley and there are bones there.

By doing a scripture search on Shechem, I found out that this was the place where Jacob buried the idols that were in the possession of his people when he returned from his personal exodus (Genesis 35:4 ). I suppose one of those idols he buried under the oak tree was the one that Rachel had stolen from her father. Shechem was an area Joseph passed through when he was searching for his brothers shortly before he was sold into slavery. It was here, upon Israel's return after their bondage in Egypt and subsequent wilderness experience, that again Joshua had the people put away their idols (Joshua 24:23-25). Also, as directed by Yahweh (Deuteronomy 11:29), half of the tribes stood before Mt Ebal and half stood before Mt Gerizim and pronounced the consequences of obedience (Gerizim) or disobedience (Ebal) to the Torah.

And, as a result of Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky's teaching that Shechem means the neck between the shoulders, I can see that the stones worn on the shoulder of the high priest may also be a type and shadow of this place, because each stone was inscribed with six of the names of the tribes of Israel (Exodus 28:9-12).

This year, while celebrating Sukkot in Tennessee with the Diffenderfers, Yahweh revealed to me another truth which I believe bears upon this question about the significance of Shechem. I have often heard and read expositions of the scripture giving wonderful teachings about the prophetic significance of the Feasts of Yahweh. However, it seems that these teachings seldom if ever conclude that followers of Yahweh should return to the observance of these seasons. During an evening worship service one evening Yahweh brought to my mind James 1:22-25.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

This defines the curse which is associated with Mt. Ebal. The result of not doing those things which are in the word of Yahweh is to forget who you are. And who was James writing to?

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus (Yahshua) Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. (James 1:1)

To not "do" the word (Mt. Ebal), and I believe specifically that part which is associated with Yahweh's appointed times, is to forget that you are Israel. But to be a doer of the Torah (Mt. Gerizim), leads to freedom and blessing. I believe this is in part shown to us during the reign of Hezekiah King of Judah.

After the fall of the Northern Kingdom Hezekiah extended an invitation to the remnant of the House of Israel to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover. Many of them, most notably those of the tribe of Ephraim, scorned the invitation.

Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles. 30:11)

The result of this celebration was that they went out immediately afterward and pulled down the "high places" (2 Chronicles. 31:1). This same experience has been manifested in my own life. I had heard the teaching on the "Two Houses of Israel" by Batya Wooten and had given it my "mental" assent. Then afterward, due to the influence of a dear friend and sister in Yahshua (Judy Landau), my family and I began to celebrate the Feast's of Yahweh and observe the true Sabbath. It was a result of participating in these true "times and seasons" that I was able to recognize and despise the counterfeit (un) holy days (i.e., high places) and pull them down. As a result of this process, the realization of my true lineage and the covenants made to me by Yahweh became "heart" as opposed to "head" knowledge. Perhaps this should be the pattern followed in our day to restore the House of Israel and subsequently all Israel. If so, the House of Judah has a great responsibility placed upon them. I am personally very grateful to my sister Judy Landau.

The children of Joseph (House of Joseph, House of Ephraim) were carried off into captivity by the Assyrians north past Mt Ebal, because they wouldn't leave those idols buried at Shechem (Leviticus 26:14-38). It was in this valley that the bones of the children of the House of Israel would, in a metaphorical sense, continued to be buried. Because of the incessant turning away of their hearts they could not be gathered unto their fathers.

Centuries later Yahshua comes to this valley to a village called Sychar near Shechem (John 4), where he meets a Samaritan woman by a well. She is an adulteress who has been married five times, and the man she is currently living with is not her husband; Yahshua would become the seventh man in her life. When they enter into a discussion about the proper place to worship, she indicates that her fathers worshiped on a mount. I believe she is referring to Mt. Gerizim.

And I believe this Samaritan woman is a type of two other women: Rachel, wife of Jacob, and Gomer, wife of Hosea. She is like Rachel in that she is involved in a life of spiritual adultery (i.e., idolatry) and like Gomer in that she is physically immoral. Like Rachel she meets the man by a well who will become her husband (as she will become part of the Bride of Messiah). The Samaritan woman becomes the feminine agent through which the House of Israel is restored, thereby reversing the trend established by Rachel when she stole her fathers idols, and which culminated with Gomer's children being scattered, not shown mercy and cast off, as indicated by their names. The Samaritan woman does this by being the first to take the message of Yahshua to the people of her village. As the people come running toward the Messiah he says,

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35

I believe Yahshua was pointing his followers to the prophecy of Ezekiel Chapter 37. Standing in a valley in which the scriptures say there are bones buried, the Savior looks upon the Samaritans who are some of the descendants of the House of Israel running toward him, and he says that this harvest is WHITE, the color of bones. I believe that the prophecy of Ezekiel began that day, and the key to its fulfillment is in Yahshua's revelation to the woman that Yahweh regards true worshipers to be those who worship in spirit and in truth. Or as Paul states:

That the righteousness of the law (Torah) might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)

The final aspect of all of this that I believe Yahweh has so far revealed to me regarding this matter is geographical. If, as the reborn, regathered House of Israel, we are standing in the Valley of Shechem, and we are facing the direction of Mt. Gerizim, we will be generally facing Jerusalem; and beyond Jerusalem is Hebron. In other words, having been restored to life by the Spirit of Yahweh and facing Mt. Gerizim, which is the mount of blessing associated with obedience to Torah, is to have our hearts turned in the direction of Zion and the cave of Macpelah where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are buried.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD (Yahweh): And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:5-6)

If we will continue to face to the north toward Mount Ebal (disobedience to Torah) and the religious system that proceeds from that direction along with it's false set of "fathers" we will remain as the lost tribes of Israel.

It is time once again for the House of Israel to bury its idols at Shechem. I believe this can only come about by facing south towards Gerizim (obedience to Torah) and then going on to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feasts of Yahweh, as we were invited to do so long ago. As we do this I believe that we will have no trouble identifying and tearing down the high places in our lives and remembering who we are.

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD (Yahweh) thy God (Elohim) hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the LORD (Yahweh) thy God (Elohim), and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the LORD (Yahweh) thy God (Elohim)will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD (Yahweh) thy God (Elohim) hath scattered thee. (Deuteronomy 30:1-3)

Shechem is a valley of decision.

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