Prophet Pearls #25 – Tzav (Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23)

In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion of Tzav covering Jeremiah 7:21-8:3,  9:22-23. In this portion paralleling the sacrifices in Leviticus, Gordon traipses through millennia to offer explanations for the perplexing statement, … Continue reading →

In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion of Tzav covering Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23. In this portion paralleling the sacrifices in Leviticus, Gordon traipses through millennia to offer explanations for the perplexing statement, “I didn’t command you to bring sacrifices.” So, were sacrifices allowed or commanded? Plan A or plan B? A remedy for idleness or a method for learning principles?

Regarding the “places of Topheth,” Gordon explains how Judaism and Christianity both adopted the “valley of the son of Hinnom” as a metaphor for hell and provides extra-biblical sources from the first and 12th centuries documenting the human sacrifice rituals of the Canaanites. Gordon and Johnson also address the question, “If human sacrifice didn’t cross God’s mind, then why his command to Abraham?” In closing, Hebrew word studies for sakal (sin-chet-lamed) and yada (yud-dalet-ayin) teach us more precisely what qualifies as boast-worthy.

"...let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows Me" (Jeremiah 9:23)


I look forward to reading your comments!

Audio TranscriptRead more

Transcript

Prophet Pearls #25 – Tzav (Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23)

Nehemia: Shalom and welcome to Prophet Pearls, face-to-face in the city of the prophets, Jerusalem, with Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson. I am so excited to be here. Keith, can you say hello to the people?

Keith: I’ve been taken up. [laughing]

Nehemia: You’ve been taken up? I don’t even know what that is.

Keith: Last week the sun turned to darkness.

Nehemia: Wait, so now we’re living in the new heaven and the new earth?

Keith: Yes, that’s right.

Nehemia: Yofi. Well, what I want to do is remind people of why we came to Israel. Because we’re actually recording Prophet Pearls sitting here in a safe house in Jerusalem.

Keith: Yes.

Comments

donald murphyMarch 29, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Wonder y u guys still teach from the christian falseness??? Asking for the world.

donald murphyMarch 29, 2024 at 11:48 AM

Dagny, I often ask myself that question also. Surely our Father Yehovah hears the screams of the little ones. You think that these nations would be destroyed because of this sin.

JAYApril 17, 2023 at 7:15 AM

This was gooood! Thank you!
We have been missing the point for thousands of years. Lets practice, practice, practice….. Yehova’s Loving Kindness, Compassion, understanding for our brethren.
Yeshua tried to make us understand best. A friend that gives his life for his friends, A Love that Loves even if death is its penalty; For all humankind.
To love one another deeply from the heart! Can we dare love like this…. then we will feel/see/know His Spirit, His Glory, His Joy, the Springs of Living Waters, and nothing else is so important as this. This is what He did, the true Lamb of The Father, he did it to show us the way. What a great treasure!!!
Lets walk in His Love!!!

Much love to all our brothers and sisters! May His Love and Peace abound in our hearts!!!

Reyes NavaApril 13, 2023 at 10:57 AM

yes and then they try to entice others to drink from the cup of their wicked brew…

donald murphyApril 2, 2023 at 5:37 PM

yup it is. That is one reason y I wonder y
these guys spend so much time on it…

Mia KicehMarch 30, 2023 at 8:01 PM

God doesn’t change.
People mingle their traditions with their faith then try to justify their actions.

MiriMarch 28, 2023 at 6:49 AM

There’s no stripes in that verse. The word is chavrato- his friend, close friendship, like 2 study partners in yeshiva. If you knew Hebrew, you wouldn’t accept & repeat false doctrines that lead to imagined embellishments from agenda driven translations.

donald murphyMarch 26, 2022 at 7:22 PM

Tim I think u would be wrong.

NunyavBizMarch 15, 2022 at 8:17 AM

Well MOSES said 10x they needed to sacrifice, not commanded by Yah…as also Yah said, Tell Pharaoh Israel is My firstborn but we never hear Moses say that

Leaves HealSeptember 5, 2021 at 5:16 PM

Yours is in assuming that I do.

JoyApril 10, 2021 at 8:37 PM

I’m going to invite people to go look up three passages, Micah Chapter 6 verses 7-8. 1 Samuel Chapter 15:22, and Jeremiah Chapter 7 verse 10.
According to NKJV, Jer 7:10 reads, “and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?”
And The Scriptures version says ‘We have been delivered – in order to do all these abominations!’
Is this the correct verse you meant? If so, I don’t get how this verse speaks of focusing on God, on the obedience, and not the sacrifices. These people are not being obedient at all nor focusing on YHVH.
The other two verses you reference are spot on.
I have been struggling with the purpose of sacrifices for a long while and this episode answered some of my questions. Thank you!

donald murphyMarch 27, 2021 at 5:46 PM

your mistake is in assuming that christianity is true.

Nunya BizMarch 24, 2021 at 12:44 AM

Valley of Tears= Valley of Son of Hinnon? Idk but…
Abe knew Isaac wud be resurrected.

SarahApril 11, 2020 at 9:37 AM

The elephant in the room is human sacrifice does not enter into the heart of YHVH yet Christianity is based on human sacrifice. Where was the derailment?

charles SMarch 31, 2020 at 8:14 PM

No. Just no.
Please try again…

Leaves HealNovember 17, 2019 at 1:11 PM

I hear that sadness. It’s real.

PatriciaOctober 21, 2019 at 9:43 AM

At least in the Hebrew sacrificial system there is an element of humaneness: the animal is killed before it is burned…as opposed to throwing a fully conscious and sentient creature alive into a fire. Rightly did David it sum it up when, confronted with his sin of taking a census of the people, and told to choose his punishment, he said, “Let me fall into the hands of God, for his mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” ‘Nuff said right there.

PatriciaOctober 19, 2019 at 8:09 AM

Dante’s book was entitled Divine Comedy…it was a satire, a ridicule of all the Greek ideas of the afterlife. It was not meant to be taken seriously, But unfortunately it was by the Western world and Christianity. And it became the source for the doctrine of Hell & eternal punishing ever since…ridiculous but sad.

SylviaMarch 24, 2019 at 10:41 PM

Thank you, Nehemiah & Keith! I always come away from your broadcasts refreshed & elated with a deeper understanding. Shalom & many blessings!!

SylviaMarch 24, 2019 at 10:25 PM

Crucifixion is hinted at & described in the Tanakh, not called “cross” or “crucifixion.” Verses such as “Cursed is every man who is hung on a trre,” & the torture verses in Isaiah 53, describe the cross & the Crucifixion method. “By His stripes, we are healed” is a direct reference to flogging. The visions aren’t necessarily comprehendable to the prophet who sees them. Their job is to broadcast the message & record it.

Eduardo DiazMarch 21, 2019 at 9:32 AM

I am a bit puzzled, because if the Latin word “CRUX” (which means Wood) appears in the writings of SHEMTOV, being that word (CROSS), the Israelites did not know it? ….. just like the word CRUCIFY, is also not in the Hebrew scriptures ?…

Sheila PriceMarch 31, 2018 at 4:24 PM

Thank you once again, Nehemia and Keith for your teachings… I always come away having learned more about Hebrew words, customs, and figures of speech and knowing Yehovah just a little bit better… and that is all I could possibly boast in, I am nothing without Him.

auntgannyMarch 23, 2018 at 1:39 PM

Centurylink, did you perhaps miss the command that Yehovah gave in Ex. 3:18 when Yehovah revealed Himself to Moses and told him what he was to say to the King of Egypt or Exodus 8:27?

Exo 3:18
And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.”
Exo 8:27
We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.

The word for sacrifice in both verses is:
zâbach, zaw-bakh’; a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice):—kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay.

Centurylink.netMarch 23, 2018 at 1:22 AM

Ex 8 – 10. No where does Yehovah say, Let my people go that they may Sacrifice to me. Yehovah says that they worship me. Is assumption this G-d; wants sacrifices like other gods? Worship can mean serve, and serve can mean live in such a way as to reflect My image among the nations.??

Dagny BeckMarch 20, 2018 at 7:15 PM

That was a lesson I would never have gotten in a main stream church. I have to say I had to stop it in Nehemia’s description of child sacrifice several times because I felt my chest filling with anxiety. I read a story today about an abortion doctor talking about slitting the throat of abortion babies so they will not cry. I am not sure how much more wicked this world has to get before the King comes and puts an end to this. So sad.

servingfaithfullyApril 8, 2017 at 6:50 AM

Or does verse 23 explain verse 22. Doesn’t it have some additional words beyond “but”? “But (“as well”, or “in addition to” or “more”), this thing I commanded……” In other words, I didn’t just command sacrifices, in addition, I commanded obedience.

servingfaithfullyApril 8, 2017 at 6:34 AM

Could it be that YHVH did not command sacrifices of burnt offerings (don’t eat it but burn it totally) before Sinai and therefore, prior to that, they ate of their sacrifices? Just a thought to try to reconcile apparent contradictions.

tim verbruggheDecember 1, 2016 at 9:27 AM

Dear Nehemia,
you say that sacrificing animals was never Yehovah’s intention. only afer the golden kalf, he sets the form for offering, because people have an urge to offer, even though god never asks for it.
my question or thought:
why will there be sacrifices in the end times, when the messiah is here on earth?
i assume that god’s plan is to restore everything as he has intended his creation in the beginning.
for me, the idea of a restored world ‘with’ sacrificial system does not comply with the intended beginning ‘without’ the sacrices

please help me out, share your thoughts

SarahMay 26, 2016 at 8:33 PM

When Jeremiah 8:1-2 were under discussion, about the sun, moon and stars being loved, served, sought and worshipped, what came to my mind was believing in, and giving heed to astrological signs. Looking to astrology to guide one’s life and making decisions was common then, and is still common today. Some people take astrology seriously, while others might just read their astrocast Online “just for fun.” Even when Ronald Reagen was in the White House, his wife, Nancy was very much involved with astrology–had her own personal astrologist. I remember reading at the time that she was a strong influence on the President. Of course, one can’t believe everything one reads. But that’s what I thought about when you and Keith discussed these verses.

HarmonyApril 6, 2015 at 3:01 PM

Thank you for the word studies you included in this Prophet Pearls, they give me an better understanding that wouldn’t have been available without them .wonderful

Leaves HealMarch 31, 2015 at 6:09 PM

I didn’t say “no eternal consequences.” (That’s God’s to manage; not ours.) I said that there’s no evidence in the Elder Testament for eternal torture. Dante’s Inferno (not Scripture) is an illogical and unmerciful form of “eternal consequences.”
Eternal torture would not produce learning or healing or any other blessing that we see the Almighty continually working toward throughout Scripture.

Nicole Chaplain-PearmanMarch 30, 2015 at 3:16 PM

Leaves Heal, while its was said that this place of sacrifice was a metaphor for the image of Hell, nobody on this broadcast said that there were no eternal consequences for sin. You’re making assumptions. Most of the sin in the world doesn’t seem to have “here and now” consequences, in fact the wicked seem to prosper often at the expense of the righteous. If sin has no eternal consequences, the Hitlers, Stalins and Pol Pots of the world get away wither deeds. If sin has no eternal consequences why does it need to be atoned for at all, either by the Levitical system or anything else?

Leaves HealMarch 30, 2015 at 10:08 AM

From your mouth to God’s ears.

Leaves HealMarch 30, 2015 at 10:05 AM

Touche.
0.01% would likely be more accurate.
Thank you for the correction.
One for you:
“you’re” (you are), not “your” (belonging to you)
There’s nothing wrong with using a tool ($) in your hand for good, if you have it. It’s the twisting of it into “power” (aka “elohim” / “gods”) that becomes unholy.

Suzanne UttsMarch 28, 2015 at 2:36 PM

Wonderful teaching!

ChrisMarch 28, 2015 at 11:45 AM

You mistake the >$250K/yr 1%-ers with the uber rich 0.1%-ers which most have and are have profiting from the bad banking system and coming economic disaster. The 1% are full of hard-working entrepreneurs that bust their tuchus’ for their $250K+ per yr. Try not to use generalizations if your going to throw stones.

DonMarch 28, 2015 at 8:55 AM

Just a few scriptures to add to my last post. Mic2:2 Isa10:1-3 Ecc3:16 5:8 and James 2:6 only a few samples!!! PRAISE YAH FOR HE SHALL DELIVER US and end this worldwide insanity!!!

DonMarch 28, 2015 at 8:31 AM

Leaves Heal Well said!!! See also Psalm 94 where it is mentions the throne of iniquity enacting their evil laws. Is not the whole earth FILLED with thrones of iniquity to rob [plunder] the poor [the weaker] the widows [a widow in beaver county Penna. USA lost her $300k home over 6 dollars and 30 cents the ” judge” justifying it by stating ITS THE LAW!!!] and to rob the fatherless??? I think one could easily cite at least 50 scriptures condemning this worlds so called “justice system” DO WE EVEN BEGIN IMAGINE HOW EVIL THINGS REALLY ARE? I fear we don’t!!! May our DELIVER soon come. Shalom to all who love PEACE

EsterMarch 28, 2015 at 12:01 AM

That is my fav verse too, Jer 9:24-boast in your yada relationship with YHWH.
Todah! for your efforts and sharing these pearls with us. Shalom!

Leaves HealMarch 27, 2015 at 6:51 PM

Vomituous ancient picture and practice.
Good to understand, though. Good to register that the Almighty is not the god of eternal torture we were reared to believe in.
It messes with some foundational stuff in Chri*tendom, though. If there’s no eternal torment-style “natural consequence for sin,” then why did Je*us die? If the consequences of sin are concrete, here-and-now, life-and-death, but not eternal torture, then we need only the ONE Savior, Yehowah. Yashua becomes only a tool in His hand to deliver TaNaK throughout the world, albeit through the horrors of Chri*tendom.
You’re messing with foundational stuff, guys. 😉
Honored to see it.

Leaves HealMarch 27, 2015 at 6:44 PM

“You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.
–Exodus 23:8

Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul; So they weave it together.
–Micah 7:3

Leaves HealMarch 27, 2015 at 6:41 PM

Hear that.
Not only that, but through funding both sides of elections so that corporations “own” the politicians we “elected.” Legislation doesn’t favor the mega-corporation on accident.
May the idols fall, and may Yehowah have mercy on those who dwell in their shadow. We all belong to Him.

DonMarch 27, 2015 at 1:53 PM

Hey guys sure was worth listening to. But did you sort of miss step a bit at the end? Did W B and the other 1% become rich via hard work or thru manipulating the FAKE paper money system that we are ALL SLAVES to???

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