Lesson Two: Genesis 7-50
“And he said: Blessed be HaShem, the G-d of Shem, and may K'na'an [Canaan] be his servant. May G-d enlarge Yafat [Japheth], and may He dwell [y’shakan] in the tents [b’ahalei] of Shem..."
B'reshit 9:26-27a
How goodly are thy tents [ohalecha], O Ya'akov, and thy tabernacles, O Yisra'el!
B'midbar 24:5
The scepter shall not depart from Y'hudah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
B'reshit 49:10
The Problem, the Solution, the Redeemer
- Last week we saw that although created in order to fellowship with G-d, man was banished from the Presence of HaShem.
- In the process of banishing man, and cursing the ground, HaShem promised a Seed from woman to crush the head of the serpent. Incorrectly, Chava [Eve] thought her first born son was that Redeemer.
- Mankind grew more and more corrupt. Only Noach and sons, and their wives were saved from destruction.
- The line of the Redeemer: the Seed of the woman > Shat [Seth] > Noach [Noah].
The Tents of Shem
- Gen 9:26-27: First mention of HaShem being the “G-d of.” First mention of HaShem being blessed.
- The “tents of Shem” was to be “His” dwelling [shakan, as in the “Sh’kina”]
- Gen 11:10-11: Shem lived 500 years after the flood. He lived until Ya’akov was an adult.
- Tradition holds that he taught Torah to Avraham, Yitz’chak, and Ya’akov. Regardless, Shem was more than just a positive influence. The Redeemer would come through Shem’s line, and redemption was to be found dwelling in the tents of Shem.
Avraham, Descendent of Shem, Descendent of Ever
- Gen 10:21; 25: The blessing narrows from Shem to Ever. Ever [to pass over, from the other side] is an ancestor of Avraham.
- Gen 12:1-4: Avram was told to “pass over” to a land. He obeyed.
- All the nations of the earth were to be blessed “in Avram.”
- Gen 15:1-6: Avram is promised a Seed [singular] as well as many descendants. Sarai was barren.
- Gen 15:7-20: HaShem makes a covenant with Avram. He promises:
- Seed
- Land
- Descendants.
- Gen 14:13: Avram, “the Hebrew” [ha-ivri]. “One who has passed over.”
Promises Fulfilled, Miracle Births
- Gen 18:10-12: Although past menopause, Sarah was promised a son.
- Gen 20:1-4: G-d rejuvenated Sarah. The Enemy wants to pollute the line again. G-d intervenes. Sarah’s son was Avraham’s, not another’s.
- Gen 21:1-4: Yitz’chak, a promised seed.
- Gen 25:21: Ya’akov, miracle birth.
Yisra’el
- Gen 32:22-31: Ya’akov becomes Yisra’el. He “passed over.”
- Gen 49:1-10: Ya’akov’s 12 sons. The scepter, the Lawgiver with Y’hudah.
Patterns to Watch
- Genesis 22: “The Akeidah” [binding]. Yitz’chak suffers a type of death, and represents substitutional merit.
- Yosef [Joseph] is a “king” in a foreign land. He is unrecognizable to his brothers. When he speaks to them in Hebrew, they recognize him and accept him.
Summary
- The line of redemption is narrowed. Seed of woman > Shat > Shem > Ever > Avraham > Yitz’chak > Ya’akov > Y’hudah.
- The promised Seed in Genesis 3 is related to the blessing and redemption of all nations. Somehow, in some way, it has to do with the sons of Yisra’el, “crossing over,” and “tents.”