Greetings in the name of His & Her Imperial Majesties Qedamawi Haile Sellassie I & Itege Menen Asfaw,

I welcome you all to one of the many interpretations of the Scriptures from the light of Ras Tafari by, I, Lidj Yefdi (pronounced Lij, Yef-dee). I assure you that if you are patient with me, come with a willing mind and heart(ready to learn), you will receive more than what you might have asked for, in seeking the perspective of a Ras Tafarian’s I-sight (eyesight) into the study of the Scriptures. So,with this Hebrew Shabbot(or Sabbath day) if those who actually open up their Bibles to read in a Jewish/Hebrew cycle of readings, & thoroughly discern, have come to the Torah portion of W(V)ayeKH’i-וַיְחִי.  On the Jewish or Hebraic Calendar in this year 5774, this Sabbath day would probably fall on the 10th-י, & the 11th-יא, of the month of Tebet–טֵבֵת, for this week, in this mode of study; for those out in the diaspora or outside of Jerusalem/Israel.  (The Hebrew Calendar corresponds to a Lunar cycle of the Moon) &, from an Ethiopic-Christian perspective, in what may be known as the year 2006/2026/7506, on the Ethiopic calendar.  This calculation, with its readings from the Scriptures, would align to the 4th-፬, & the 5th-፭, on the (ወርኀ)month of Tah’sas-ታኅሣሥ.  In the Scriptures, what is also known as TeQ’emeT’e-ተቀመጠ.  The Ethiopic calendar is solar (with its correspondence to the Sun) aligns to this Sabbath (or Senbet-ሰንበት) in the Ethiopian language of Amharic, which is currently one of the languages of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (the other language being Ge’ez-(ግእዝ).

Readings:

Genesis 47: 28 – 50:26

I Kings 2:1 – 3:12

I Peter 1: 1-9

Hebrews 11: 22-22

* FAST OF TEB(V)ET *

This portion of our studies in the Scriptures, deals Jacob‘s(Israel) tenure in Egypt.  Jacob(Israel), felt that the time drew near to his death, so he spoke to his son, Joseph; telling him of an obligation he would like his son to fulfill.

Jacob(Israel) desired to be laid to rest among his ancestors in the land of Canaan, which God has promised that his descendants would inherit.

[Gen. 47: 28-30]

Joseph, after speaking with his father, Jacob(Israel) and taking into account that his father drew close to his death; Joseph brought his two sons, Manasseh & Ephraim.  Jacob(Israel), told them to come closer for he would bless them according to the covenant he received from God from his ancestors: Abraham & Isaac.  Oddly, Jacob(Israel), blessed Ephraim, the younger son, in the place of the elder son, Manasseh.  Even, after the attempts of Joseph, who noticed that his father blessed his younger son in the place of his eldest and vice-versa.

[Gen. 48: 1-22]

After blessing his grandchildren, Jacob(Israel), then proceeded to bless all of his children, as well.  Each one receiving a blessing, pertaining to themselves.

[Gen. 49: 1-33]

Jacob(Israel), then died in Egypt & Joseph, made preparations for his body & burial, but more importantly the fulfillment of his oath to his father.  Because Joseph, was such a great man of stature in Egypt, the passing of his father was a grievous thing among the Egyptians.  This was so much so, that when Joseph, went to Pharaoh and told him of the oath that his father wished him to fulfill, Pharaoh allowed it, even allowing many of the elders of the house, and of the land, along with servants of the house to go with him to Canaan.  But, upon arrival into the land of Canaan, the Canaanites saw the people that brought up Jacob(Israel), from Egypt, & they saw them mourning at Atad….& said “this is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians.”  Which brought about the name of Abel-Mitz’raim-אָבֵל מִצרַיִם, which translates to the “Meadow of Egypt“, or the “Mourning of Egypt.“

[Gen. 50: 1-14]

Joseph’s brothers, though surely after their father’s passing that Joseph would in one or another return the favor for their jealousy from their past.  But Joseph did no such thing, but returned to Egypt & witnessed the birth of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren until his death.  Joseph also made oath with the Israelites that they should bring his bones out of Egypt & into Canaan

[Gen. 50: 15-26]