Home » Learning » Parasha Audio & Notes » Parashat Shelach

Audito & Notes for Parashat Shelach

Parashat Shelach - Bemidbar / Numbers 13:1–15:41 - Haftarah Reading: Joshua 2:1–24

The Biblical Basis For Israel - Studies In End Time Prophecy - Part III

Play Streaming Audio:

Download MP3 file  

I. Introduction

A. The Personal Aspect of the Brit Milah

1. The 70 facets of the Torah
2. Your actions determine what your descendants inherit?
3. Herzl's grandfather (Simon Loeb Herzl) and the legacy of Zionism

B. Review: "Eretz Yisrael"- God's key to understanding the end times.

1. "Ikvot HaMoshiach" - The Footsteps of the Messiah - Psalm 89:52; Acts 1:6
2. The culmination of history- Zc 12:1-4; Mt: 24:1ff
3. Borders, Promises, and Covenants
4. Borders &Kedushah (Holiness)- Lv 18:24-30
5. Borders & Yerusha (National Conquest) - Gn 15:1ff
6. "Brit Bein HaB'tarim" - The Covenant between the pieces - Gn 15:1ff

C. Parashat Shelach - Nu 13:1-15:41 Abbreviated Outline

1. Moses sends twelve spies to the Land of Canaan. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig, to report on a lush and bountiful land. But ten of the spies warn that the inhabitants of the land are giants and warriors "more powerful than we"; only Caleb and Joshua insist that the land can be conquered, as G-d has commanded.
2. The people weep that they'd rather return to Egypt. G-d decrees that Israel's entry into the Land shall be delayed forty years, during which time that entire generation will die out in the desert. A group of remorseful Jews storm the mountain on the border of Land and are routed by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
3. The laws of the menachot (meal, wine and oil offerings) are given, as well as the mitzvah to consecrate a portion of the dough (challah) to G-d when making bread. A man violates the Shabbat by gathering sticks and is put to death. G-d instructs to place fringes (tzitzit) on the four corners of our garments so that we should remember to fulfill the mitzvot (Divine commandments).

D. Brit Milah - Personal Aspects of Kedushah

II The Biblical Basis For Israel - Studies In End Time Prophecy

A. Partnering with God - The Personal Connection to the Land

B. Brit MIlah - The personal connection to the land - Gn171ff

1. God appeared - a theophany? - V1a cp Jn 8:56-59
2. Revealed Himself - v1a Onkelos
3. El Shaddai-The One who has sufficient mercy & power to give what is necessary 7 and is entirely independent of any other being - Rashi v1b
4. Walk before me- halachah - as my servant - faith - obedient to my commandments - v1c
5. Be perfect without a divided heart v1d cp Lv 21:16-22:25
   a. Personal Kedushah - Dt 18:9-13
   b. Avram's incomplete obedience regarding his future heir cp. Gn16: 1ff
   c. Many times we are the source of our own troubles
6. My covenant with you- the personal aspect
   a. God - my covenant
   b. Avram - with you [and your descendants]
7. 7. Avram prepares himself to be made vulnerable by "throwing himself down" on his face.
8. 8. Next Week

C. Circumcision is a reminder of one's personal connection to Eretz Yisrael - cp Ezk 44:9

III. Conclusion

A. "Ikvot HaMoshiach" - The Foot steps of the Messiah

B.  Partnering with God - The Personal connection to the land

C.  Circumcision of the heart