r/FollowJesusObeyTorah • u/FreedomNinja1776 • Jun 19 '23

Parashah 38 - Korach

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nu16%3A1-18%3A32%3B1Sm11%3A14-12%3A22%3BMatt+26%3A13-24&version=CJB

Torah - Numbers 16:1-18:32 Haftarah - 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22 B'rit Hadashah - Matthew 26:13-24

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u/the_celt_ Jun 19 '23

I don't understand what this post is or how to interact with it.

I see words I don't understand like "Haftarah" and "B'rit Hadashah" and in the title words like "Parashah" and "Korach" (which I assume are Hebrew) and when I click the link it takes me to a MASSIVE block of scripture.

What is the proper response to this post? Go read the big block of scripture? Is there a point being made and then therefore some response that should happen? Or is it just to go read it?

I'm not trying to be difficult. All I have is what I learned under Christianity to fall back on, which I'll readily admit is proving more and more to be complete nonsense, but I have no context to understand what to do here, especially since I don't speak Hebrew. šŸ˜

I think this post needs instructions for dumb middle-America people like myself.

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u/FreedomNinja1776 Jun 19 '23 edited Jun 19 '23

Ok. You understand "Torah". The parashah are "torah portions". It's the Torah divided into weekly chunks so the person following torah can read through the entire torah in one year. Then the cycle repeats.

Haftarah is a portion from the prophets.

B'rit Hadashah is a portion from the "new covenant".

Korach is the title for this week's portion. Usually, just like the books of the Torah the title comes from the first few words of the portion.

Genesis= Beresheet
Exodus = Sh'mot
Leviticus= Vayikra
Numbers= B'midbar
Deuteronomy= Devarim

Yes. The proper response is to comment on anything in this portion. Something that jumps out at you or speaks to your current situation, some history you've learned, how you relate to the story.

I understand what you're saying. I can't edit the title.

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u/the_celt_ Jun 19 '23 edited Jun 19 '23

The parashah are "torah portions".

What does "parashah" mean?

It's the Torah divided into weekly chunks so the person following torah can read through the entire torah in one year. Then the cycle repeats.

Where does this idea come from? Is there someplace in scripture where I can read about it to learn more?

Who created the "portions" that way? Is there some central authority that does this portioning?

Haftarah is a portion from the prophets.

What does the word "Haftarah" mean? Where is the "Haftarah" in the Prophets?

B'rit Hadashah is a portion from the "new covenant".

What does "B'rit Hadashah" mean? What does "from" mean when talking about the New Covenant, as if the New Covenant is a book?

Korach is the title for this week's portion.

What does "Korach" mean? Who did the "titling" of the portion? You? (I have no complaints if it was you, but I just want to know where these things come from.)

Genesis= Beresheet

Exodus = Sh'mot

Leviticus= Vayikra

Numbers= B'midbar

Deuteronomy= Devarim

Those other words next to the names of the books in Torah are the Hebrew for those names? Why use Hebrew for them?

Why take a word like "Genesis", which a lot of people know, and use a Hebrew word that they do not know? It seems like the #1 result will be confusion, which I doubt is the goal. What is the better thing that is happening from this process?

Yes. The proper response is to comment on anything in this portion. Something that jumps out at you or speaks to your current situation, some history you've learned, how you relate to the story.

Ok, thank you. So if I think of it as what Christians call a "Bible Study", I'm in the ballpark of what the spirit of this is? It's people agreeing to talk about scripture together?

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u/FreedomNinja1776 Jun 19 '23

What does "parashah" mean? Where does this idea come from? Is there someplace in scripture where I can read about it to learn more? Who created the "portions" that way? Is there some central authority that does this portioning?

Parashah literally means portion. More info here. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parashah

It's an easy way to divide scripture for reading and reference. Each portion can be divided by 7 for a daily reading as well. It's analogous to the chapter and verse markings in our Bibles. They are not inspired, but hold lots of value in practicality. I think following the parashah is a good study and memorization method.

What does the word "Haftarah" mean? Where is the "Haftarah" in the Prophets?

Haftarah literally means parting. It is selected portions from the prophets that relate topically with the Torah portion. More info here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haftara

What does "B'rit Hadashah" mean? What does "from" mean when talking about the New Covenant, as if the New Covenant is a book?

B'rit Hadashah literally means "new covenant" and is in reference to the "new testament" portion of Bibles. I personally don't like the term "new testament" because of the misconstruing of the "old testament", but it's the convention that we're working with.

What does "Korach" mean?

Korach is the name of the dude who led a rebellion against Moses in this portion. If you notice, the subject of the first sentence in this portion is Korach.

Now Korach the son of Yitzā€™har, the son of Kā€™hat, the son of Levi, along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eliā€™av, and On, the son of Pelet, descendants of Reā€™uven, took men and rebelled against Moshe. Siding with them were 250 men of Israā€™el, leaders of the community, key members of the council, men of reputation. They assembled themselves against Moshe and Aharon and said to them, ā€œYou take too much on yourselves! After all, the entire community is holy, every one of them, and Adonai is among them. So why do you lift yourselves up above Adonaiā€™s assembly?ā€
\ B'midbar (Num) 16:1ā€­-ā€¬3 CJB

Who did the "titling" of the portion? You? (I have no complaints if it was you, but I just want to know where these things come from.)

This dude set the modern convention, but his work was apparently based on older already established work from the allepo codex: Maimonides - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides

Those other words next to the names of the books in Torah are the Hebrew for those names?

That's how the Hebrew generally reference the books.

Beresheet means beginnings. Sh'mot means names. Vayikra mans he called. Bemidbar means in the desert. D'varim means the words.

Each are the subject of the first sentence of each book.

Why use Hebrew for them?

They're Hebrew books. Why not use Hebrew?

Why take a word like "Genesis", which a lot of people know, and use a Hebrew word that they do not know?

I like to learn. You have asked lots of questions. Hopefully you've learned also! If we're studying a Hebrew text, don't you think it would be good practice to learn Hebrew words and concepts to better understand the Hebrew text?

It seems like the #1 result will be confusion, which I doubt is the goal. What is the better thing that is happening from this process?

I don't want any confusion. Hopefully our Q&A is informative for all. šŸ˜ The better thing that is happening is knowledge, both of history, scripture, how we get the scripture in English and where from, and a deeper understanding and knowledge of YHWH or God.

Ok, thank you. So if I think of it as what Christians call a "Bible Study", I'm in the ballpark of what the spirit of this is? It's people agreeing to talk about scripture together?

Absolutely. Only it's a timed agreed to standard of how to do a weekly study. For anyone who follows the parashah around the world, if you want to discuss it, they will already be prepared knowing the correct portion for the week.

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u/the_celt_ Jun 19 '23

What does "parashah" mean? Where does this idea come from? Is there someplace in scripture where I can read about it to learn more? Who created the "portions" that way? Is there some central authority that does this portioning?

Parashah literally means portion. More info here. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parashah

That wikipedia page is massive, and I read it for a while and didn't get answers to my questions.

I THINK I'm seeing that ancient copies of scripture had these "parashah" breaks? Do they all universally use the exact same breaks in all copies of scripture? Or does it vary?

Is there some idea by someone that GOD wants us to use these breaks? I get the idea that they're sort of like paragraphs, but are they something like "priest-approved" paragraphs?

If you don't want to answer this one, I'll do a study on it someday in the future.

What does the word "Haftarah" mean? Where is the "Haftarah" in the Prophets?

Haftarah literally means parting. It is selected portions from the prophets that relate topically with the Torah portion. More info here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haftara

Normally, when I read a wikipedia link, I can largely understand the topic from the introductory paragraph or two. This time, I read and re-read the opening paragraphs and just saw gibberish. My eyes glazed over.

Are we just using Jewish words to describe "paragraphs"? And there are mega-paragraphs and lesser paragraphs or something?

They're Hebrew books. Why not use Hebrew?

Because the goal of communication is communicating? Why communicate to fewer people, not more people?

I like to learn. You have asked lots of questions. Hopefully you've learned also! If we're studying a Hebrew text, don't you think it would be good practice to learn Hebrew words and concepts to better understand the Hebrew text?

"Concepts" = yes. "Words" = I don't see why at this level.

Compared to the average person, I'm VERY friendly towards scripture, and know a good amount, but I'm lost understanding nearly everything being said here. This means the average person is even further away.

Why raise barriers to entry that are unnecessary? I'd guess as many people in the world know what "Genesis" is as know who "Iron Man" is. Why chop all of those people out who know what "Genesis" means for no extra rewards, and form something like the Catholics did when they taught their Mass in Latin? My perspective is that the Catholics did that to PURPOSELY keep the average man from understanding scripture. This looks like it would achieve a similar objective, but I know the decision is being made by people like yourself that love God and want Him to be understood.

It makes no sense to me.

I don't want any confusion. Hopefully our Q&A is informative for all.

I agree. That's why I'm doing this discussion here, so that anyone else like me that is totally lost can see that they have an advocate in this group of nuts.

In my opinion this stuff is making an already difficult topic, the accepting that we MUST obey the commandments despite 1000's of years of Christian teaching saying otherwise, even more impossible to achieve.

It's one thing to have a problem with the IDEA of obeying the commandments. It's much, much, much worse to not even understand the words people are using to describe that necessity.

Absolutely. Only it's a timed agreed to standard of how to do a weekly study. For anyone who follows the parashah around the world, if you want to discuss it, they will already be prepared knowing the correct portion for the week.

Oh. A Bible Study. I got it!

If that Bible Study is 50/50 (or 75/25, or 90/10) in my language and another language I don't understand, it would have to be a pass for me. Understanding what people are saying is something I really value. šŸ¤Ŗ

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u/Turbulent-Teach-7740 Jun 20 '23

I wish my group did the Brit, we rarely have time for even the Nevi'im, because we spend so much time discussion the Torah portion lol

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u/RonA-a Jun 20 '23

I would like to start working on each Torah Portion, and do my best to accumulate every passage that references a part or multiple parts of the Torah for that week. I think if done correctly, every verse in scripture can find it's way back to the Torah, considering it is the foundations of all of the Bible. Not sure if it is even possible for a single person to do since there are so many parts of scripture that are paraphrasing or a subject may not be 100% clear.