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SOME STUDY GEMS:
Click on the gem below to read the study notes:
Bastard
- Deut 23:2 “No one of illegitimate birth H4464 does enter the assembly of
- Zec 9:6 “And a bastard H4464 shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.”
Some translations use the following words : foreigners, mixed race, bastards, child of incest
The Hebrew word is MAMZER H4464 – mamzēr, and this word only appears TWICE in the entire Hebrew Bible, as per verses quoted above. The fact is – the meaning of this word is truly unknown! It is one of those words that have lost its’ meaning, and there are actually a debate on its’ meaning. Does it really matter what this word means? This has most probably nothing to do with a person born out of wedlock or incest, or mixed race, or any race for that matter. The Scripture verses mention entering the assembly of the Temple, and living in Ashdod. Currently this does not apply to us, so we don’t have to worry about the meaning of MAMZER, so don’t let the meaning foreigner or bastard offend you, as these are peoples’ translations that don’t know for sure what the meaning is.
So the lesson here is, not only are there no perfect English translations out there, but even some Hebrew meanings have been lost. That is why it is a good thing when you find a Hebrew word, compare it with other sentences where the same word is used, and see if it does make sense.
Divorce
Deut 24:4 “then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled, for that would be an abomination before YHWH”
The abomination is not that she was divorced, or remarried. Verse 2 says, “And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.” What is defilement, is when she returns to the former husband that sent her away. The problem is going back. Another better translation on verse 4 says this, “Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled;” She is defiled the moment she goes back to the former husband.
And out of interest, the word defiled is the word TAME H2930 – ṭāmē‘, which we have used before. It is the same word for being unclean, when you touch a unclean animal, or touch certain carcasses, etc. But YHWH adds it is an abomination, so it is like eating pork, which is also unclean and an abomination. Certain unclean things cannot be helped for, and is more natural. Other unclean things are done on purpose and have a choice to it, whether to do it or not.
IMPORTANT SCRIPTURES / PROPHECIES:
| Deut 23:1-8 – Assemblies of YHWH – Certain rules when an assembly is held. |
| Deut 23:9-14 – War Camp – Certain rules to keep camp clean |
| Deut 23:15-16 – Slaves/Workers – When a slave wants to work for someone else |
| Deut 23:17-18 – Temple rules – No male/female prostitution allowed |
| Deut 23:19-20 – Money – Not to add interest to your fellow brothers/Israel/Hebrews |
| Deut 23:21-23 – Making an vow – Fulfill your vows, it is not a sin not to vow. |
| Deut 23:24-25 – Fellow Israelites – You can eat of your neighbors fields, but don’t harvest it for yourself |
| Deut 24:1-4 – Divorce – A woman is not allowed to return to her former husband |
| Deut 24:5 – War – A man doesn’t go to war within first year of marriage |
| Deut 24:6,10-15 – Money – Do not take collateral for a debt. Reposses/removing something that is someones’ source of livelihood is forbidden. Do not go into someone’s house to claim your payment. Do not take payment from a poor man in a way that he suffers. Do not oppress anyone who is poor or needy. Give people their wages when they expect it. |
| Deut 24:7 – Fellow Israelites – Not allowed to kidnap, sell him or treat him harshly |
| Deut 24:8 – Leprosy / Tzara’at – Watch out for leprosy, go immediately to the priests |
| Deut 24:16 – Own your sin – Do not blame your parents or children, each is responsible for his own sin |
| Deut 24:17-22 – Fatherless, Strangers, Widows – Do not twist judgements and rules for them, always be fair/righteous. Leave extra/forgotten harvests for the strangers, fatherless and widows. |
| Deut 25:1-3 – Judgement – In the case when the wrongdoer must be beaten |
| Deut 25:4 – Animals – Do not muzzle an ox while it is plowing |
| Deut 25:5-10 – Brothers – In the case when a man dies and leaves wife without son to keep the heritage, the woman can insist that the brother fulfill the duty. If the man refuses, remove his sandal (like in story with Boaz & Rut) |
| Deut 25:11-12 – Men / Woman – When men fight, the woman is never allowed to hurt a man by his genitals. |
| Deut 25:13-16 – Money – Your scales and measurements must be perfect, do not cheat in scales/measures |
| Deut 25:17-19 – Remember – Remember what Amalek did |
| Deut 26 – Tithe / First-fruits – Confessions with tithing and first-fruits of land |
