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

This is another 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) if those who actually open up their Bibles to read in a Jewish/Hebrew cycle of readings, & thoroughly discern, have come to seek insight) into the study of the Scriptures.  So,with this Hebrew Shabbat(or Sabbath day) if those who actually open up their Bibles to read in a Jewish/Hebrew cycle of readings, & thoroughly discern, nonetheless studied the Torah portion of C(K)ḥukat – חֻקַּת, & from the Jewish or Hebraic Calendar in the year 5780 this Sabbath day would probably fall on the, 11th – יא, on the & 12h – יב, of the month of Tammuz – תמוז., (The Hebrew Calendar corresponds to a Lunar cycle of the Moon)but,  from an Ethiopic-Christian perspective and calculation these readings from the Scriptures would align to what is known as the year of 2012/7512; with references known to be YäHíggu Ti’ízáz Y’h’ Näw – የሕጉ ትእዛዝ ይህ ነው, on the 26th – ፳፮, & on the 27th – ፳፯, of the month of (ወርኀ) of Sänæy – ሰኔ.  The Ethiopic calendar, which 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).

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Readings:

Numbers 22: 2 – 25:9

Micah 5:6 – 6:8

Romans 11: 25-32

 

As we go forward in our studies, this Sabbath study, Israel after conquest had grown strong in the plain of Moab.  A king of Moab, who’s name was Balak, had seen what the children of Israel did to their adversaries in the habitations that were adjacent to his dominion.

[Numb. 22: 2-4]

King Balak, then sent messengers to a known “sorcerer“, or man of secret knowledge, whom wasn’t an Israelite; his name was called Balaam.  Balak devised a plan to have the children of Israel cursed; for they grew strong, the king and the people of Moab feared Israel.   So, it seemed to Balak, that if somehow he could have the children of Israel diverted from their focus then, they could be defeated and driven out of the lands, which they had now possessed.

[Numb. 22: 5-6]

The elders of Moab, along with the elders of Midian, together plotted against the children of Israel.  As messengers of Balak, the king of Moab, willing to compensate, for this endeavor, they went to Balaam, in a place called Pethor to present the words of Balak.

[Numb. 22: 7]

So, Balaam’s take is cordial with the king of Moab’s messengers & he welcomes them to stay the night, while he utilizes some time, to deliberate with God, whether the children of Israel could be cursed, & how to go about doing so.  God(YHWH), comes to Balaam, in a dream, and speaks with him about the men, who have come to him, & for what purpose.  Balaam says to God, that the men are of, Balak-king of Moab, and they sought him to curse the children of Israel.  After consultation with God, Balaam is not permitted to curse the children of Israel, nor to go with the messengers of Balak to Moab.  The next morning, Balaam tells the messengers that he cannot curse Israel nor go with them to the king; for God refused.  The messengers returned to Moab, and told the king, Balak, the news and the reasoning thereof.

[Numb. 22: 8-14]

But, Balak was persistent of Balaam to grant his request, so Balak sent others nobles of his influence to further persuade Balaam to Moab.  Balak offered Balaam, honour of distinction within his kingdom, but Balaam refused a second time; not budging a inch,  unwilling to incline his ear to the possible gifts of gold & silver, in abundance.

Balaam, to the messenger/nobles(servants) of Balak,

“…If Balak would give me his house

full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond

the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more…”

[Numb. 22: 18]

Though, with his mind already made up about the situation, which Balak was in high pursuit of, Balaam gives a place to rest for the messengers sent by Balak, for a second night.  In that night, God spoke with Balaam once more saying; if the men of Balak call for you to travel with them, go with them to Balak in Moab.  But, Balaam rose up in the morning and just went with the messengers of Balak, more than likely with no intent giving reverence to the words God spoke; mainly because God’s anger was then kindled against Balaam.  So, while Balaam was on the way to Moab, riding on his donkey, an angel of God appeared in their way, holding a sword-in-hand, standing as an adversary; but only the donkey’s eyes were open to see.  The donkey turned aside, out of the way, into a field, & Balaam smote the donkey in attempt to force the donkey to obey his command.  Balaam mounted the donkey again, and continued along the way, but, in the field there was a vineyard with a two walls on each side.  The angel appeared a second time; with the donkey’s eyes being the only one to see again, so the donkey threw itself towards one wall, crushing Balaam‘s foot into it.  Balaam, smote the donkey a second time.  The angel, then went further on the road and stood, this time in a narrow place where there was no place to turn, to the left or right.  This time seeing the angel, the donkey fell down under Balaam, angering him to smite the donkey a third time with a staff.  At this point, God gave speech to the donkey; and the donkey ask Balaam, why had it been struck three times, along the road.  Balaam answering the donkey said, gave reason because the donkey would not yield to his command, also mentioning that if he had a sword, he would’ve killed the donkey.

But, the donkey spoke once more saying, that was it not the same donkey which Balaam always had ridden; and had there ever been another day where the donkey acted in the manner that it did on this day.  Balaam answered no.  Then God opened Balaam‘s eyes to see the angel, as well; Balaam bowed down falling on his face.  Then the angel explained why the appearances were made and had not the donkey turned off the road those three times, Balaam would have been slain.

[Numb. 22: 15-35]

After Balaam‘s encounter on the road to Moab, he comes to Balak, but Balak, unknowing of whether his request had been answered officially or not, Balak lets Balaam know that he is not prepared to fulfill the giving of a honorable title or position that was previously promised to him, since he does not know if Balaam had come to Moab, to acknowledge the request of cursing Israel or not.  Balaam goes through the process of seemingly preparing to curse Israel, but, again an inquiry must be made to God(even of his{Balaam’s} psuedo-sorceric powers); this time with the words of God coming to Balak through Balaam.

[Numb. 22: 36-41]

Balaam has Balak set up seven altars upon a place called Kirjath-Huzoth.  There atop that high place overlooking the children of Israel, Balak did as Balaam said, in setting up seven altars.  The seven altars  had a bullock and a ram on each, as offerings & while Balak awaited an answer from Balaam; Balaam inquired of God what was next. God met Balaam, and Balaam told God that the seven altars were in place with their offerings.  God then told Balaam to return to Balak & he shall speak.  Balaam returned to Balak & then God’s words came through Balaam. 

Balaam to Balak,

“…How shall I curse, whom God

hath not cursed? or how shall defy,

whom the LORD hath not defied?…”

[Numb. 23: 1-8]

Balak, the king of Moab, unsatisfied with the results atop Kirjath-huzoth, pleaded with Balaam to attempt again to curse Israel from another vantage point.  So, he brought Balaam to the field of Zophīm(atop Pisgah)
built the seven altars again, and put the offerings in place.  There he awaited a second answer from Balaam.  Balaam, spoke again to God, & God told him to return to him again & the words would be put in his mouth.

Balaam to Balak, in Zophīm(on Pisgah), 

“…Rise up, Balak, and hear, harken to me,

thou son of Zippor:…” _vrs.18

“…God is not a man, that he should lie;

neither the son of man,

that he should repent:

hath he said, and not do it?

or hath he spoken,

and shall he not make it good?…” _vrs.19

[Numb. 23: 9-19]

“…Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his…” Balaam the Sorcerer [Numb. 23: 10]

In spite of two blessings from Balaam, Balak proposes one more attempt to curse Israel, from another place.  Then he brought Balaam to Peor,that looked out toward Jeshimon. 

[The pattern of the seven altars.]