Subject: Hebraic Roots Glossary - Part 9
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 22:59:40 +0000
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
From: JOHANVR <johanvr@srvnac3.nac.ac.za>
Subject: Comprehensive Glossary of Hebraic Terms - Part 9
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Reply-to: JOHANVR@NAC.AC.ZA
Expository Glossary
of Terms Used in
Messianic Teaching (Part 9)
Copyright February 1998
Expository Glossary of Terms used in Messianic Teaching
Order this Glossary from:
Johann van Rooyen
PO Box 5276
HELDERBERG
7135
SOUTH AFRICA
Size: A4 pages
Price: R60.00 (postage included) (South Africa Currency)
Please send ______ copies of Glossary of Terms used in Messianic
Teaching, to:
Name: (Prof / Dr / Mr / Ms /
Pastor) __________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Postal code: ______________
Amount included: ______________
Please send ______ copies of Glossary of Terms used in Messianic
Teaching, to:
Name: (Prof / Dr / Mr / Ms /
Pastor) __________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Postal code: ______________
Amount included: ______________
Preface
This Expository Glossary of Terms used in Messianic Teaching was
developed for a Messianic study group that has been meeting in the
Helderberg area of South Africa since mid-1995. We plan to publish
three studies on the Messiah, entitled:
King Messiah
The Coming of King Messiah
The Festivals of King Messiah.
The Expository Glossary of Terms used in Messianic Teaching explains
unfamiliar terms that talmidim (students) will encounter in their
studies.
Students are requested to notify us (in writing) of all difficult
terms used in the three monographs listed above, which have been left
out, ore are not adequately explained, in the Glossary.
Key
Entries followed by the symbol [G] are Greek terms.
Entries followed by the symbol [L] are Latin terms.
Entries followed by the symbol [A] are Aramaic terms.
Almost all other foreign-language entries are Hebrew.
(Part 9)
Lost tribes of Israel
During the Assyrian exile, the majority of the ten northern tribes of
Israel were taken to Assyria and settled in the towns of the Maday
(Medes). These are the so-called "ten lost tribes of Israel." Very
few of them returned to Eretz Yisra'el. The Assyrians did not capture
every Israelite; a few stayed behind and intermingled with Gentiles
settled there by the Assyrians, forming the Shomeromites (Samaritans).
They were a mixed people and practiced a mixed worship, centred on
Mount Gerezim. Before the captivity of Israel, there were also
intermarriage between the tribes. However, Jewish marriage is
Patrilocal, and the tribal affiliation of children is that of the
father. In other words, if a man from the tribe of Yahudah married a
woman from the tribe of, e.g., Asher, they would settle in Yahudah
(close to his father's house) and their children would be from the
tribe of Yahudah too.
The Babylonian excile followed about 130 years after the Assyrian
excile. The two southern tribes, Yahudah and Binyamin, as well as the
Levi'im among them, were taken to Bavel (Babylon). After the Maday
and Parsians (Medes and Persians) under Koresh broke the power of
Bavel, a certain percentage of them returned to Eretz Yisra'el under
the Davidic Prince Zerubbavel, Ezra the scribe and Nechemyah. After
the destruction of the second temple in 70 YM, these went into the
Diaspora.
Yosefus Flavius gives the generally accepted understanding of his
generation: "Only two tribes are scattered in Asia Minor and Europe
and they suffer the yoke of Rome. But even now the ten tribes are on
the other side of the Euphrates, uncounted thousands and a nation of
great multitudes." Note that he states that the descendants of the 10
lost tribes are located in Asia.
Responsible, peer-reviewed science finds evidence of the 10 lost
tribes in Asia; in contrast, the very questionable pseudo-science of
"Israel-vision" groups place the 10 tribes in Europe, Brittain,
America, Nieu Zealand, Australia and South Africa. There are several
types of "Israel Vision" groups. The more responsible among them
maintain a "possibility" teaching, i.e. that there is a possibility
that a particular person from any of these countries descends from
Israel. The "Brit-Am" books by Yair Davidy represent this more "sane"
and non-racist flavour of "Israel Vision." Irresponsible "Israel
Vision" groups, who are usually white supremacist racists, maintain an
"identity" teaching. The craziest brand of "Israel Vision"
pseudo-science maintains that the throne of Brittain is the throne of
David.
The "identity" form of "Israel Vision" teaching excercises a perverse
attraction on naive people-usually poor and uneducated white people.
Instead of merely being "John Smith from Birmingham," one is now a
illustrious member of the royal tribe of Judah; instead of being "Dirk
the Dutchman" or "Ben from Bloemfontein" one is now a true-blooded
Israelite from the tribe of Zebulon or Asher. This leads to an
exalted and romantic view of one's descent, inheritance and destiny;
it gives "elite remnant status" to an otherwise all-too-ordinary
suburban existence. This is why people with character-flaws that
cause them to be attracted to cults, are particularly susceptible to
the "identity" type of "Israel Vision" teachings. To these misled
people we can quote the following Scriptures:
1Timothy 1:4
.nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These
promote controversies rather than Elohim's work-which is by faith.
Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and
quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
1Corinthians 2:1-5
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or
superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about Elohim.
2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Yahushua
Messiah and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and
with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise
and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,
5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on Elohim's
power.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, ``My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness.'' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses, so that Messiah's power may rest on me.
Yeshayahu 42:6
"I, YHWH, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your
hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the
people and a light for the Gentiles,
Yeshayahu 49:6
.He says: ``It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to
restore the tribes of Ya'akov and bring back those of Yisra'el I have
kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may
bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
Luke 2:32
.a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people
Israel."
Acts 13:47
For this is what YHWH has commanded us: "I have made you a light for
the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
Acts 26:23
.that the Mashiach would suffer and, as the first to rise from the
dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.''
Yeshayahu 11:10
And in that day there shall be a Root of Yishai, which shall stand as
a banner for the peoples; [Gentile] nations will rally to him, and his
place of rest will be esteemed.
The Devar of YHWH told the prophet Z'kharyah that Gentile nations will
have a portion in the Kingdom of Messiah:
Z'kharyah 14:16
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked
Yerushalayim will go up year after year to worship the King, YHWH
Tzva'ot, and to celebrate [Hebrew: chagag, i.e. dance] Chag Sukkot.
Teaching that only those with Isaelite blood will have an inheritance
in the Kingdom, is unsound nonsense preached by irresponsible
hermeneutical cowboys, from which all who are blessed by sanity and
discernment should distance themselves.
We have stated that responsible, peer-reviewed science finds evidence
of the descendants of the 10 lost tribes in Asia, and not in Europe,
Brittain or America. This ties in with a literal understanding of.
Yesha'yahu 11:15-16
15The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching
wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it
up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals.
16There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left
from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt.
Note that this text places (much of) the lost tribes to the east of
the river Perat (Euphrates). Responsible science looks at customs,
archaeology, language, names of the tribes, and names by which the
Creator is called.
Lets summarise the findings of responsible science.
The Shinlung Menashe live on the border between India and Myanmar
(formerly called Burma). They reside mainly in Manipur and Mizoram.
The entire community is aware of its Israelite origins, and being a
remnant of the tribe of Menashsheh. The name "Menashsheh" appears
repeatedly in their prayers and literature. The majority of the
Shinlung Menashe practice Judaism; some of them have already made
aliyah to Eretz Yisra'el.
The Pathan tribe of Afghanistan and Pakistan are mostly Muslim.
However, proof of Israelite identity abounds, e.g. in their division
into tribes called Asher and Reuben.
The Cashmere nation of northern India are mostly Muslim, but they use
the Jewish calender. Ju or Joo is a suffix to many names; this is
related to the suffixes "yah" and "yahu" of Hebrew names.
The Chiang tribe of Chiang-min of northwest China live in Szechuan,
near the Tibetan border. They are mostly practicing Christians.
Early Christian missionaries to China called them "the ancient
Hebrews of China." Their tradition holds that they are sons of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and had reached China after migration from
the Middle-East. They still use a priestly rod bearing the image of
Nehustan-the name given to the bronze serpent that Mosheh made and
raised upon a pole in the wilderness (cf. #). Scripture calls China
by the name Sinim-see Yesha'yahu 49:12.
Scripture teaches that, when the Go'el (Redeemer) comes to Tziyon, the
dispersed of Israel will be gathered from the four corners of the
earth, the House of Israel together with the House of Yahudah:
Yesha'yahu 11:15-16
#
Yechezk'el 37:19-22
#
Let us and rejoice and be glad in this sovereign act of covenantal
faithfulness of YHWH, practise responsible, peer-reviewed science and
exegesis, and steer clear of worthless speculation, however strong its
superficial romantic appeal.
Lulav
Plural: Lulavim
Palm branch, with myrtle and willow sprigs attached; with the etrog,
it is the symbol of Sukkot.a palm branch taken as one of the four
species on the Feast of Booths.
Luther, Martin
In the early years of the Reformation, Luther was quite friendly
towards Jewish people. He was hopeful that they would support him and
accept Yeshua as the Messiah when he broke from the Catholic Church
and its heresies. However, when the Jewish people rejected his
approaches as well as his movement, Luther turned very anti-Semetic.
He made very harsh anti-Semetic statements, especially toward the end
of his life. Adolf Hitler often quoted Martin Luther to justify some
of his actions in Germany toward the Jewish people. The book Our
Hands our Stained by Blood by Dr. Michael Brown traces the history of
Christian anti-Semitism, and quotes the anti-semitic statements of
Martin Luther.
One of the best books on this subject is the 34th vol. of The Works of
Luther. A friend of mine bought the volume recently for research of
these allegations and we found them to be true. The most offensive
anti-semitic work we found was Luthers treatise on "The Jews and Their
Lies". I was shocked that Luther could write that and at the same
time write his essay "Against the Antinomians"- which was full of the
truth of the importance of the law (ten commandments) to believers.
He also wrote another paper "Against the Shabatarians" (those who keep
the Sabbath) of which I thought was disappointing. In that paper he
talks of how to prove to the Jews that they are no longer G-d's chosen
people. He also states that several of the prophecies of Jerimiah and
other prophets never came to pass and never will since G-d is through
with the Jews. Check it out some time. If you don't want to buy it,
you could try looking for it at a local university library or maybe
even a city library. May He bless and keep you.
Regarding the anti-semitism of Martin Luther, the following quotation
about and by Martin Luther is taken from Rabbi Joseph Telushkin's
book, Jewish Wisdom, pp 469-471.
Occasionally, some of the most philosemitic and antisemitic statements
have been made by the same person. Early in his career, Martin Luther
(1483-1546) hoped that the Jews would join him in his protests against
the Catholic Church, and convert to his brand of Christianity. During
this period, Luther wrote in his pamplet, That Jesus Christ was Born a
Jew:
Our fools and jackasses, our priests, bishops, sophists, and
monks have treated the Jews in such a manner, that if one
wished to become a true Christian he might better become
a Jew.
Less that two decades later, after his outreach to the Jewish
community failed to garner converts to Christianity, Luther turned
against the Jews with fury, advocating the community's destruction.
I shall give you my sincere advice [about what to do with the Jews] --
to set fire to their synagogues or schools -- that their houses also
be razed and destroyed . . . instead they might be lodged under a roof
or in a barn . . . -- that all their prayer books and talmudic
writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blasphemy are
taught, be taken from them -- that their rabbis be forbidden to teach,
henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb -- that safe conduct on
the highways be abolished completely for the Jews -- that usury be
prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold
be taken from them But if we are afraid that they might harm us ...
then eject them forever from the country.
-- Martin Luther, On the Jews and Their lies, advising German
rulers on the treatment of Jews: see Jeremy Cohen, "Traditional
Prejudic and Religious Reform: The Thological and
Historical Foundations of Luther's Anti-Judaism," pages 81-102.
A selection from Luther's positive and negative writings
about the Jews is found in Jacob Marcus, ed., The Jews in
the Medieval World, pages 166-169.
I would threaten to cut their tongues out from their throats
in they refuse to accept the Christian proof that God is a
trinity, not a plain unity.
-- Martin Luther; cited in Maire Syrkin, ed.,
Hayim Greenberg Anthology, page 114
Some four hundred years later, Adolf Hitler claimed, "He
[Luther] saw the Jew as we are only beginning to see him today"
(Friedrich Heer, God's First Love, Page 286).
When you baptize a Jew, hold his head under water for five
minutes. -- Bulgarian proverb
But there is a verse in Hebrew 13:7 that has made me tremble:
"Remember those who rulel over you, who have spoken the word of God
to you, whose faith follow, CONSIDERING THE OUTCOME OF THEIR CONDUCT".
The end of the life of Luther was not a good example. He went against
those of the reform-movement who preached the good news and baptized
the believers by letting them be executed because they baptized
people who had already been "baptized" as children! Theese "heretics"
where called "second time baptizers" and were therfore persecuted and
executed by Luther. In the beginning he had a positive attitude
towards the jews. He thought that they would recieve his gospel as he
had left the false teachings of the Catholic Church. But when he saw
that they didn't accept his movement and teachings he went against
them with all kind of acusations. The last preaching he gave was against
the jews. Four days later he was dead!
I cannot accept the "christian" teaching that says that their faith
is built on Luther. If we consider the outcome of his conduct, we have
to ask ourselves if he is worthy to be a foundation to build upon.
Is it enough to go back to Luthers reform? Or shall we go back to the
origin of the gospel?
Messianic Jewish believer Dr Stephen Yulish writes:
"Martin Luther's anti-Semitism is a huge stumbling block for my Jewish
brothers and sisters. Being a former history professor who lectured
about anti-Semitism, I know a great deal about Martin Luther. Jews say
to me, "you want me to believe that that anti-Semite is in heaven but
my grandparents are in hell?"
Know Christian, that next to the Devil thou hast no enemy more cruel,
more venomous and violent than a true Jew." see Lucy davidowicz's
excellent history "The War Against the Jews".
Luther's seminal work in his area was "Von den Juden and Jren Luegen"
About the Jews and their Lies published in 1543.
Some excerpts:
"They are thirsty bloodhounds and murderers of all Christendom" they
were a heavy burden, like a plague, pestilence, pure misfortune in our
country." "They want to rule the world". "They are arch criminals,
killers of Christ and all Christendom." "They were often burned to
death upon the accusation that they had poisoned water and wells,
stolen children and torn and hacked them apart, in order to cool their
temper secretly with Christian blood."(pdiii3)
One cannot effectively witness to Jewish people, especially educated
Jews, without having to deal with this. Is Luther in Heaven? Only God
knows. Did he ask God for forgiveness for these sins before he died.
We can only hope that he did. If he did not then he had to face God's
judgment.
Can Christians still sin after they are saved. Obviously. Should they?
Obviously not! Do they need to ask God for forgiveness. Obviously.
did Martin Luther influence Adolf Hitler.? Obviously! This great man
of the Protestant Reformation was seduced by haSatan to spread his
lies. This should humble all of us and keep us on our knees in
prayer."
Ma'ariv
Evening prayer service.evening prayers after sunset. Service after
dark.
Ma'asei haTorah
Works of the Law.
A technical term is 1st century Judaism, referring to the aspects of
the Torah that set Israel apart from all the other
nations- circumcision, the dietary laws (Kashrut) and the keeping of
Shabbat.
Ma'aser
Plural: Ma'asrot.
Tithes given to the Kohen, the Levite or the poor.
Mabul
Flood, specifically the deluge in the days of No'ach.
Maccabees
#There are two mayor reason because the Council of Yavneh (90 b.M)
#did not include the books of Maccabees in the Tanak as Scriptures.
First is the "internal evidence" as the author of the book confess and
never said the ispired formula: "This said the L-rd". Second is the
external evidence: the Hasmoneans' family, once in the political control
of Yisrael after they def. the Syriam's army, introduced a illegal monarchy
in Israel. As we know, only the Davidic descendent trough Salomon has
the right to seat in the Throne of David as king of Yisrael. The Messiah
has to come from this royal descendence. At the moment as the
Hasmoneans declared theyself to be kings dynasty in Israel they
destroy the royal framework for the Messiah to arise.
So if that fact had was confirmed trough inclusion the books in the
TANAK, the Council had declared them as legitimate royal dynasty and
replace the Davidic Lineage and destroy the Torah. Except for this
error, the hasmoneans or Maccabees
(Mikamojah B'elim Adonai) was considered as good shepherd for comun
jews at that time.
However, for us, if Israelites or Messianic Jews and Messianic
Believers, there is another reason because we don't accepted it as
inspired books:
Yeshua. In Yohanan (John) 10 we have the story of Yeshua in
Yerushalayim rejoicing in the Hanukah Festival (Vr. 20-23). In that
occasion he present himself to Yisrael as a Good Shepherd and
said: "He who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold but
enter through the derech hasha'ar ( climbs in some other way), he is
a ganav (thief) and a shoded (robber)" (Vr.1).
So Yeshua declared that the action of the Maccabees to proclaim
theyself as a royal family in Israel is similar to the false shepherd
( really a thief).
Therefore, that specific actions invalided them to wrote and inspired
book worthy to be in the Tanak.
At the same time, the presence of Yeshua in Yerushalayim for Hanukkah
endorse the festival as valid for His talmidim ( disciples). Shalom to
All and again, Hag Sameah.
Machah
To stroke or rub; by implication to erase; also to smooth (as if with
oil), i.e. grease or make fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to abolish,
blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, utterly, wipe
(away, out).
Machzor
Literal meaning: repetition.
A special prayer book used during Regalim (Pilgrimage festivals) and
Mo'edim (appointed times). There are machzorim for (inter alia) Rosh
HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.
Maftir
Last part of Torah reading on a given Shabbat or festival.the man who
is "called up" to the reading of the concluding passage.
Magen
Shield. A term for the Messiah. Psalm 84:9 says,
"Behold, O Elohim, our Magen (Shield),
and look upon the face of your Mashiach."
This verse is in the style of Hebrew parallelism-saying the same thing
twice, in different words. Note that the parallelism links the Magen
with the Mashiach. If we do remez with Yesha'yahu 21:5b,
Arise you princes, anoint the magen.
at the interpretative level of the sod (deeper meaning), reading it in
its context, we identify the latter text as a prophecy that the
princes (i.e. believers, who have all been made royalty by the
covenantal love of the Father and the faithfulness of the Son) will be
resurrected ("arise") and caught up to heaven to attend the coronation
of King Messiah ("anoint the magen") shortly before the annihilation
of eschatological Babylon in Yom YHWH. This annihilation will
precipitate the Chevlai Shel Mashiach (Yirmeyahu 51:7), catapulting
the False messiah into office at an emergency summit meeting held in
Europe (Revelation 17).
Magen Avot
A short summary of the Sabbath Amidah prayer, recited on Erev Shabbat
(Sabbath Eve) after the silent prayer.
Maggid
Preacher; generally itinerant, and popular because of his clever
parables.narration.
Mah Nishtanah
Four questions asked by a child during the Pesach Seder service.
Mahoz
Plural: Mahozim.
Fortification. Fortified stronghold.
Makoum
"Place." The sages applied this term to the Almighty. He is not in
the universe; He is HaMakoum (The Place); the universe is in Him.
When we suffer bereavement, we can pray to the Almighty as HaMakoum,
asking Him to fill the void, the empty place within our hearts, with
His dwelling presence (the Sh'khinah) and His comfort (the Menachem).
Malakh
Messenger, "angel." The sages taught that a malakh takes the legal
identity of the one who sent him in all his dealings with those he is
sent to.
Malakhi
Malachi. "My makakh," i.e. "my messenger." The Messiah is the
Messenger of the very Face of YHWH, the exact representation of His
Being. The name YHWH is in Him; He has all the attributes of the
Father.
Malkot
The penalty of lashing.
Malkut Shamayim
The Kingdom of Heaven, i.e. the Kingdom of YHWH Elohim. In this
phrase, as in many other expressions dating from the last half of the
Second Temple period, the term "heaven" is used as an evasive synonym
or circumlocution for YHWH, the personal name of the Almighty. The
fact that, in the Net Testament scrioptures, the term "heaven" is a
circumlocution or evasive expression for the personal names of YHWH,
is widely misunderstood in Christianity-hence the deplorably
otherworldly and pagan "we are going to heaven for eternity" myth.
The truth is that the Malkut Shamayim is coming to the redeemed
remnant of mankind and to the earth. What has been lost in Adam, is
gained and restored in Messiah Yahushua, the corporate representative
of the Yisra'el of Elohim-redeemed Yisra'el and Gentiles grafted into
the commonwealth of Yisra'el.
The teaching of some dispensationalists that there is a difference
between the "Kingdom of Heaven" and the "Kingdom of God" is an
incorrect teaching dating from a time when there was little
appreciation of the communication principle of hermeneutics.
Maoz Tsur
Best-known Chanukah song. An English version of the song is entitled
"Rock of Ages."
Order this Glossary from:
Johann van Rooyen
PO Box 5276
HELDERBERG
7135
SOUTH AFRICA
E-Mail: JOHANVR@NAC.AC.ZA
End of Part 9
**********************************************************************