{"id":6421,"date":"2008-10-16T14:36:01","date_gmt":"2008-10-16T22:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/?p=6421"},"modified":"2008-10-17T09:53:20","modified_gmt":"2008-10-17T17:53:20","slug":"live-torah-talk-with-monica-joey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/?p=6421","title":{"rendered":"Live Torah Talk With Monica &#038; Joey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Click <a href=\"http:\/\/yourmoralleader.camstreams.com\/\">here<\/a> to join the fun.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re discussing the last Torah portion &#8212; Vezot Haberachah (Deuteronomy 33 and 34).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/V%27Zot_HaBerachah\">According to Wikipedia<\/a>:<\/p>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\">\n<div style=\"width: 252px;\" class=\"thumbinner\"><a title=\"&ldquo;The Lord . . . came from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law to them.&rdquo; (Deut. 33:2.)\" class=\"image\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Image:Lightning02.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"211\" border=\"0\" width=\"250\" class=\"thumbimage\" src=\"http:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Lightning02.jpg\/250px-Lightning02.jpg\" alt=\"&ldquo;The Lord . . . came from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law to them.&rdquo; (Deut. 33:2.)\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"thumbcaption\">\n<div class=\"magnify\"><a title=\"Enlarge\" class=\"internal\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Image:Lightning02.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"11\" width=\"15\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/skins-1.5\/common\/images\/magnify-clip.png\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;The Lord . . . came from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law to them.&rdquo; (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:2.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:2.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:2.<\/a>)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\">The blessing of Moses<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before he <a title=\"Death\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Death\">died<\/a>, <a title=\"Moses\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moses\">Moses<\/a>, the <a title=\"Man of God\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Man_of_God\">man of God<\/a>, bade the <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Israelite\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israelite\">Israelites<\/a> farewell with this <a title=\"Blessing\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Blessing\">blessing<\/a>: <a title=\"Names of God in Judaism\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Names_of_God_in_Judaism\">God<\/a> came from <a title=\"Biblical Mount Sinai\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Biblical_Mount_Sinai\">Sinai<\/a>, shone on them from <a title=\"Seir\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seir\">Seir<\/a>, appeared from <a title=\"Desert of Paran\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Desert_of_Paran\">Paran<\/a>, and approached from Ribeboth-kodesh, <a title=\"Lightning\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lightning\">lightning<\/a> flashing from God&rsquo;s <a title=\"Relative direction\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Relative_direction\">right<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:1&ndash;2.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:1%E2%80%932.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:1&ndash;2.<\/a>) God <a title=\"Love\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Love\">loved<\/a> the people, holding their hallowed in God&rsquo;s <a title=\"Hand\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hand\">hand<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:3.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:3.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:3.<\/a>) The people followed in God&rsquo;s steps, accepting God&rsquo;s <a title=\"Torah\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Torah\">Torah<\/a> as the <a title=\"Cultural heritage\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cultural_heritage\">heritage<\/a> of the congregation of <a title=\"Jacob\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jacob\">Jacob<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:3&ndash;4.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:3%E2%80%934.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:3&ndash;4.<\/a>) God became <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Monarch\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monarch\">King<\/a> in <a title=\"Jeshurun\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jeshurun\">Jeshurun<\/a> when the <a title=\"Tribal chief\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribal_chief\">chiefs<\/a> of the <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tribes\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribes\">tribes<\/a> of <a title=\"Israel\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israel\">Israel<\/a> assembled. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:5.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:5.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:5.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses prayed that the <a title=\"Tribe of Reuben\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Reuben\">Tribe of Reuben<\/a> survive, though its numbers were few. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:6.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:6.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:6.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses asked God to <a title=\"Hearing (sense)\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hearing_%28sense%29\">hear<\/a> the <a title=\"Human voice\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_voice\">voice<\/a> of the <a title=\"Tribe of Judah\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Judah\">Tribe of Judah<\/a>, restore it, and help it against its foes. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:7.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:7.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:7.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses prayed that God would be with the <a title=\"Levite\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Levite\">Levites<\/a>, who held God&rsquo;s <a title=\"Urim and Thummim\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Urim_and_Thummim\">Urim and Thummim<\/a>, whom God tested at <a title=\"Massah\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Massah\">Massah<\/a> and <a title=\"Meribah\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meribah\">Meribah<\/a>, who disregarded <a title=\"Family\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Family\">family<\/a> ties to carry out God&rsquo;s will, who would teach God&rsquo;s <a title=\"Law\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law\">laws<\/a> to Israel, and who would offer God&rsquo;s <a title=\"Incense\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Incense\">incense<\/a> and <a title=\"Korban\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Korban\">offerings<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:8&ndash;10.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:8%E2%80%9310.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:8&ndash;10.<\/a>) Moses asked God to bless their substance, favor their undertakings, and smite their enemies. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:8&ndash;11.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:8%E2%80%9311.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:8&ndash;11.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses said that God loved and always protected the <a title=\"Tribe of Benjamin\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Benjamin\">Tribe of Benjamin<\/a>, who rested <a title=\"Security\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Security\">securely<\/a> beside God, between God&rsquo;s <a title=\"Shoulder\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shoulder\">shoulders<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:8&ndash;12.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:8%E2%80%9312.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:8&ndash;12.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\">\n<div style=\"width: 252px;\" class=\"thumbinner\"><a title=\"&ldquo;Zebulun . . . and Issachar . . . shall suck the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.&rdquo;\" class=\"image\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Image:White_Sands_NM12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"166\" border=\"0\" width=\"250\" class=\"thumbimage\" src=\"http:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d3\/White_Sands_NM12.jpg\/250px-White_Sands_NM12.jpg\" alt=\"&ldquo;Zebulun . . . and Issachar . . . shall suck the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.&rdquo;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"thumbcaption\">\n<div class=\"magnify\"><a title=\"Enlarge\" class=\"internal\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Image:White_Sands_NM12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"11\" width=\"15\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/skins-1.5\/common\/images\/magnify-clip.png\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;Zebulun . . . and Issachar . . . shall suck the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.&rdquo;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Moses called on God to bless the <a title=\"Tribe of Joseph\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Joseph\">Tribe of Joseph<\/a> with <a title=\"Dew\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dew\">dew<\/a>, the yield of the <a title=\"Sun\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sun\">sun<\/a>, crops in season, the bounty of the <a title=\"Hill\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hill\">hills<\/a>, and the favor of the Presence in the <a title=\"Burning bush\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Burning_bush\">burning bush<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:13&ndash;16.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:13%E2%80%9316.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:13&ndash;16.<\/a>) Moses likened the tribe to a firstling <a title=\"Cattle\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cattle\">bull<\/a>, with <a title=\"Horn (anatomy)\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Horn_%28anatomy%29\">horns<\/a> like a wild ox, who gores the peoples from one end of the <a title=\"Earth\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Earth\">earth<\/a> to the other. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:17.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:17.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:17.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses exhorted the <a title=\"Tribe of Zebulun\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Zebulun\">Tribe of Zebulun<\/a> to rejoice on its <a title=\"Quest\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quest\">journeys<\/a>, and the <a title=\"Tribe of Issachar\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Issachar\">Tribe of Issachar<\/a> in its <a title=\"Tent\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tent\">tents<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:18.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:18.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:18.<\/a>) They invited their kin to the <a title=\"Mountain\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mountain\">mountain<\/a> where they offered sacrifices of success; they drew from the riches of the <a title=\"Sea\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sea\">sea<\/a> and the hidden hoards of the <a title=\"Sand\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sand\">sand<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:19.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:19.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:19.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\">\n<div style=\"width: 302px;\" class=\"thumbinner\"><a title=\"&ldquo;Gad . . . dwells like a lion.&rdquo; (Deut. 33:20.)  (brick panel from the Procession Way of Babylon, now at the Louvre)\" class=\"image\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Image:Passing_lion_Babylon_AO21118.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" class=\"thumbimage\" src=\"http:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Passing_lion_Babylon_AO21118.jpg\/300px-Passing_lion_Babylon_AO21118.jpg\" alt=\"&ldquo;Gad . . . dwells like a lion.&rdquo; (Deut. 33:20.)  (brick panel from the Procession Way of Babylon, now at the Louvre)\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"thumbcaption\">\n<div class=\"magnify\"><a title=\"Enlarge\" class=\"internal\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Image:Passing_lion_Babylon_AO21118.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" height=\"11\" width=\"15\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/skins-1.5\/common\/images\/magnify-clip.png\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;Gad . . . dwells like a lion.&rdquo; (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:20.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:20.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:20.<\/a>) (brick panel from the Procession Way of <a title=\"Babylon\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Babylon\">Babylon<\/a>, now at the <a title=\"Louvre\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Louvre\">Louvre<\/a>)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Moses blessed the God who enlarged the <a title=\"Tribe of Gad\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Gad\">Tribe of Gad<\/a>, who was poised like a <a title=\"Lion\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lion\">lion<\/a>, who chose the best, the portion of the revered chieftain, who executed God&rsquo;s judgments for Israel. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:20&ndash;21.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:20%E2%80%9321.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:20&ndash;21.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses called the <a title=\"Tribe of Dan\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Dan\">Tribe of Dan<\/a> a lion&rsquo;s whelp that leapt from <a title=\"Bashan\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bashan\">Bashan<\/a>. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:22.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:22.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:22.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses told the <a title=\"Tribe of Naphtali\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Naphtali\">Tribe of Naphtali<\/a>, sated with favor and blessed by God, to take possession on the west and south. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:23.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:23.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:23.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses prayed that the <a title=\"Tribe of Asher\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe_of_Asher\">Tribe of Asher<\/a> be the favorite among the tribes, dip its <a title=\"Foot\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foot\">feet<\/a> in <a title=\"Oil\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oil\">oil<\/a>, and have <a title=\"Door\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Door\">door<\/a> <a title=\"Deadbolt\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deadbolt\">bolts<\/a> of <a title=\"Iron\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iron\">iron<\/a> and <a title=\"Copper\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Copper\">copper<\/a> and <a title=\"Security\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Security\">security<\/a> all its days. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:24&ndash;25.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:24%E2%80%9325.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:24&ndash;25.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Moses said that there was none like God, riding through the heavens to help, an everlasting refuge and support, Who drove out the enemy. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:26&ndash;27.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:26%E2%80%9327.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:26&ndash;27.<\/a>) Thus Israel dwelt untroubled in <a title=\"Safety\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Safety\">safety<\/a> in a <a title=\"Land of Israel\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Land_of_Israel\">land<\/a> of <a title=\"Cereal\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cereal\">grain<\/a> and <a title=\"Wine\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wine\">wine<\/a> under heaven&rsquo;s dripping dew. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:28.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:28.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:28.<\/a>) Who was like Israel, a people delivered by God, God&rsquo;s protecting <a title=\"Shield\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shield\">Shield<\/a> and <a title=\"Sword\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sword\">Sword<\/a> triumphant over Israel&rsquo;s cringing enemies. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:29.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=33:29.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 33:29.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\">The death of Moses<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Moses went up from the <a title=\"Steppe\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Steppe\">steppes<\/a> of <a title=\"Moab\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moab\">Moab<\/a> to <a title=\"Mount Nebo (Jordan)\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mount_Nebo_%28Jordan%29\">Mount Nebo<\/a>, and God showed him the whole land. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:1&ndash;3.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:1%E2%80%933.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 34:1&ndash;3.<\/a>) God told Moses that this was the land that God had <a title=\"Oath\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oath\">sworn<\/a> to assign to the descendants of <a title=\"Abraham\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Abraham\">Abraham<\/a>, <a title=\"Isaac\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Isaac\">Isaac<\/a>, and Jacob. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:4.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:4.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 34:4.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>So Moses the servant of God died there, in the land of Moab, at God&rsquo;s command, and God <a title=\"Burial\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Burial\">buried<\/a> him in the <a title=\"Valley\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Valley\">valley<\/a> in the land of Moab, near Beth-peor, although no one knew his burial place. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:5&ndash;6.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:5%E2%80%936.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 34:5&ndash;6.<\/a>) Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his <a title=\"Eye\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eye\">eyes<\/a> were undimmed and his vigor unabated. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:7.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:7.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 34:7.<\/a>) The Israelites <a title=\"Mourning\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mourning\">mourned<\/a> for 30 days. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:8.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:8.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 34:8.<\/a>) <a title=\"Joshua\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Joshua\">Joshua<\/a> was filled with the spirit of <a title=\"Wisdom\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wisdom\">wisdom<\/a> because Moses had laid his hands on him, and the Israelites heeded him. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:9.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:9.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 34:9.<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Never again did there arise in Israel a <a title=\"Prophet\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prophet\">prophet<\/a> like Moses, whom God singled out, <a title=\"Face\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Face\">face<\/a> to face, for the signs and portents that God sent him to display against <a title=\"Pharaoh\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pharaoh\">Pharaoh<\/a> and <a title=\"Ancient Egypt\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ancient_Egypt\">Egypt<\/a>, and for all the awesome power that Moses displayed before Israel. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/~jnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:10&ndash;12.&amp;src=HE\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au\/%7Ejnot4610\/bibref.php?book=%20Deut.&amp;verse=34:10%E2%80%9312.&amp;src=HE\">Deut. 34:10&ndash;12.<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Click here to join the fun. We&#8217;re discussing the last Torah portion &#8212; Vezot Haberachah (Deuteronomy 33 and 34). According to Wikipedia: &ldquo;The Lord . . . came from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/?p=6421\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[590],"tags":[13614,7902,13615,13612,13613,13611],"class_list":["post-6421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-torah","tag-accepting-god","tag-torah-portion","tag-tribe-of-benjamin","tag-tribe-of-judah","tag-tribes-of-israel","tag-urim-and-thummim"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6421"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6423,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6421\/revisions\/6423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}