Commentary on Parashat V’zot HaBerachah (And This Is the Blessing)
By Moran Rosenblit — Sep 28, 2018
D’varim (Deuteronomy) 33:1–34:12
This coming weekend, a special parasha (Scripture portion) will be read at the synagogues, and on Monday, the portion on which I am writing today will be read. Monday is the holiday of Shemini Atzeret, which is also known as Simchat Torah (the Rejoicing of the Torah).
Two verses in the portion caught my attention, as they remind me of God’s perfect timing:
Deuteronomy 33:4–5
“Torah (teaching, instruction, law) Moses charged us with, a heritage for the assembly of Jacob. And He was King in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, the tribes of Israel together.”
As the Jewish people around the world rejoice over the giving of the Torah—God’s instructions—we see a direct fulfillment of these verses, since the Torah was given to Israel through Moses as a special heritage. This is something we see to this day!
These verses also refer to the “King of Jeshurun.” While the King of Jeshurun means the King of Israel, it is striking that in these verses the King’s role in uniting the Children of Israel is something only the Messiah can (and will) do. Digging a little deeper, the Jerusalem Targum renders this thought in a messianic key: “And a king shall arise from the house of Jacob, when the heads of the people are gathered together: unto Him shall the tribes of Israel be obedient.” This echoes Genesis 49:10:
Genesis 49:10
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”
“Shiloh” is understood by many as a title of the Messiah. In both Deuteronomy 33:5 and Genesis 49:10, the King gathers (unites) the people, and the obedience of the people is to Him alone. This is yet another instance of Messiah appearing in the Torah and a fresh reminder of how faithful God Almighty is to fulfill His promises.
My dear brothers and sisters, as we close another year of studying through Scripture from Genesis to Deuteronomy, we can rejoice and celebrate the giving of the Torah, since it points to Yeshua, our true Messiah. May you be strengthened with greater assurance of His amazing capacity to redeem—both in our personal lives and in the future redemption of the entire House of Israel.
This article originally appeared on Hope for Israel and is reposted with permission.
