Zechariah 1:12-14

12: And He is answering Angel of YHWH and He is saying YHWH of Armies how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah against which you menace these 70 years? 13:  And He is answering YHWH את [ALEPH TAV/FIRST LAST] the Angel (the one speaking with me) with good words and comfortable words 14: And He is saying to me the Angel the one speaking with me

Comments: ^{Zechariah 1:12} The Angel of the LORD is asking the question. ^{See notes in verses 10-11 about who the Angel of the LORD is.}

^{Zechariah 1:12} If the Angel of the LORD in this verse, is the same Angel of the LORD who is identified as the Almighty in Numbers 22, then what we have here is a conversation within the Godhead.

^{Zechariah 1:13} YHWH ALEPH TAV is answering. The ALEPH TAV First Last is answering. Bible translators consistently neglect to include the Hebrew letters ALEPH TAV after the Tetragrammaton where it is present. They admit they do not know what the two letters mean when they follow the names of God, so they just leave them out of literally all Bible translations.

ALEPH and TAV are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alephbet and are present together in the first verse of Genesis, giving contextual meaning to the two letters when found within that framework. In the beginning ELOHIM ALEPH TAV created the heavens and the earth. ELOHIM FIRST LAST created the heavens and the earth. What is so difficult about that to comprehend?

Bible scholars, and most especially Bible translators, have a responsibility to share what they know with the unwashed masses—not withhold Bible knowledge through omissions in translations. This fault tracks back to institutions of higher learning.

In the beginning ELOHIM ALEPH TAV created the heavens and the earth ^{Genesis 1:1}. And YHWH ALEPH TAV answered… ^{Zechariah 1:13}. What’s so hard about that? Experts in the biblical languages, Bible colleges, and seminaries should be teaching what they can but have no business being the gatekeepers of theological understanding.

They say they don’t know what the letters ALEPH TAV mean when presented together as a word in the Hebrew text (they certainly do not mean “the”)? Then include them in our Bibles untranslated and add a footnote to that effect. That would be responsible scholarship.

Zechariah 1:11 commentary

 

and they are saying We have walked to and fro through the earth and behold all the earth sits still and is at rest

Comments: ^{Zechariah 1:11} The troop of Angels on horses who are behind the Captain—the Angel of the LORD—are the ones who are speaking. This angel troop is patrolling for something. They are not patrolling to see what humans are up to. They are looking for activity by the god of this world and his military and leaders. Jesus and Paul called them “princes.”

The angel patrol, seen by Zechariah, is part of the armies of heaven, a patrol led by the Captain of the Armies of Heaven—the Angel of the LORD—and was patrolling for enemy activity in the cosmic war for possession of planet earth. This is what the battle of Armageddon will be about—possession of planet earth. Both human and celestial armies will be clashing on the day Christ returns ^{Revelation 19}. It will be epic. Touchdown Jesus

The god of this world system—the Satan ^{John 12:31,14:30,16:11, 1 Corinthians 2:6,8, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2} has armies. The heavenly angel troop, seen by Zechariah, was referencing the fact that they found no evidence of cosmic enemy (army) activity when they said all the earth was still and at rest.

Zechariah 1:10-11 commentary

 

10: And the man that stood among the myrtle trees [on the red horse] answered and said These [are] whom He, YHWH, sends to and fro through the earth 11: And they [the ones behind him] are answering the Angel of YHWH—the one standing among the myrtle trees [the one on the red horse ^{verse :8}]

Comments: ^{Zechariah 1:10-11} in Numbers 22:33-35, the Angel of the LORD is YHWH. Is it possible that the Angel of the LORD, the messenger on the red horse speaking to Zechariah, is the same Angel of the LORD seen by Balaam ^{Numbers 22:23-35}? The word usually translated as angel in this verse, is also translated as messenger, Jesus is referred to as Messenger in Malachi 3:1. Read more about this HERE.

Acts Chapter 8: Demon Possession Deliverance Miracles and Sorcery

    1: And Saul was consenting to his death And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles 2: And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him 3: As for Saul he made havoc of the church entering into every house and haling men and women committed them to prison 4: Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word 5: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christos to them 6: And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke hearing and seeing the miracles which he did 7: For unclean spirits crying with loud voices came out of many that were possessed by them and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed 8: And there was great joy in that city 9: But there was a certain man called Simon which beforetime in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria giving out that himself was some great one 10: To whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying This man is the great power Ton Theon 11: And to him they had regard because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries 12: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom Ton Theon and the name of Iesous Christos they were baptized both men and women 13: Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondered beholding the miracles and signs which were done 14: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word Ton Theon they sent to them Peter and John 15: Who, when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16: For as yet he was fallen upon none of them only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesous 17: Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit 18: And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given he offered them money 19: Saying Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands they may receive the Holy Spirit 20: But Peter said to him your money with you may it be to destruction because the gift Ton Theon you did think by riches may be obtained 21: you have neither part nor lot in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight ton Theon 22: Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and supplicate Ton Theon if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you 23: For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity 24: Then answered Simon and said Pray you to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me[1] 25: And they when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans 26: And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying Arise and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza which is desert 27: And he arose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem for to worship 28: Was returning and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet 29: Then the Spirit said to Philip Go near and join yourself to this chariot 30: And Philip ran there to him and heard him read the prophet Esaias and said Understand thou what you read 31: And he said How can I except someone should guide me And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him 32: The place of the scripture which he read was this He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb dumb before his shearer so opened he not his mouth 33: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away so who declares his generation / geneology (genea) for its life is taken from the earth[2] 34: And the eunuch answered Philip and said I pray thee of whom speaks the prophet this of himself or of some other man 35: Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached to him Jesus 36: And as they went on their way they came to a certain water and the eunuch said See here is water what hinders me [from being] baptized 37: And Philip said If you believe with all your heart you may And he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 38: And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him 39: And when they were come up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing 40: But Philip was found at Azotus and passing through he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea

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[1] Simon was no doubt aware of the deadly accuracy of Peter’s words regarding the consequences of his sin due to the fate of Ananias and Sapphira.

[2] Genea G1074 Generation (denoting geneology rather than posterity); fathered; birth; nativity; that which has been begotten; whole multitude of people living at the same time—a generation; a presumed derivative of G1085 genos kindred; offspring; descent

This verse is a quote from the Old Testament, Isaiah 53:8, which contains no hint of posterity—only geneology—so the Hebrew must be taken into account. 

From, God’s Word to Women, Study 495: “The suggestion is this: There being no neuter gender in Hebrew, the word for "generation" is masculine in form; but following English usage we should translate the pronoun "it," not "he.” "Who considered His generation, for it was cut off out of the land of the living.” And so it was; by setting aside female kinship, and reckoning kinship by males only, no place was left to record the unique generation of Christ Jesus, of a woman only.” -Katherine Bushnell 

Additional commentary pending for this chapter. Questions and comments are welcome.

Moses Prince of Egypt: Acts 7:19-22

19: The same dealt elusively with our kindred and evil entreated our fathers so that they cast out their young children to the end they might not live 20: In which time Moses was born and was exceeding beautiful and nourished up in his father's house three months 21: And when he was cast out Pharaoh's daughter took him up and nourished him for her own son 22: And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds[1] 23: And when he was full forty years old[2] it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel[3] 24: And seeing one of them suffer wrong he defended and avenged the oppressed and smote the Egyptian 25: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them[4] but they understood not 26: And the next day he showed himself to them as they strove and would have set them at one again saying Sirs[5] you are brethren why do you wrong one to another 27: But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away saying Who made you a ruler and a judge over us [6] 28: Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday[7] 29: Then fled Moses at this saying and was a stranger in the land of Midian where he begat two sons[8] 30: And being fulfilled forty years[9] there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush 31: When Moses saw it he wondered at the sight and as he drew near to behold it the voice of the Lord came to him 32: Saying I [am] Ho Theos of your fathers, Ho Theos of Abraham and Ho Theos of Isaac and Ho Theos of Jacob Then Moses trembled[10] and dared not look 33: Then said the Lord to him take off your shoes from your feet for the place where you stand is holy ground

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[1] It was the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in our eyes how things went with Moses. God made him a beautiful and charismatic infant, who instantly captured the heart of an Egyptian princess who defied her father’s proclamation and adopted him as her own (she no doubt understood that he was one of the Hebrew babies who should have been killed by Pharaoh’s edict). She apparently doted on him as he grew and gave him every advantage her royal status could afford. There is reason to believe that his physical beauty, physical strength, and personal charisma only increased as he grew older. Though he later claimed to be slow of speech, this passage reveals that Moses was mighty in both words and deeds before he left Egypt at the age of forty. The son of Pharaoh’s daughter, obviously grew into a strong and charismatic leader, even as a young man. He was physically attractive, physically strong, well educated, highly intelligent, and very popular among the Egyptians.

[2] Moses spent a full forty years enjoying the “good life” as a member of the royal family, though his conscience must have pricked him from time to time about the disparity between his situation and that of his “brethren” the Hebrews the scriptures say he did not attempt to connect with them until he was forty years of age. Did something happen that made the time especially ripe in his heart to obey that prompting from the Holy Spirit to visit his enslaved people?

[3] We cannot say that everything that “comes into our hearts” is from God ^{Jeremiah 17:9}, but at times, that could be the case, as with Moses when he felt the urge to “visit his brethren.” This verse also tells us that Moses likely understood that he was a Hebrew, or at least had empathy for the Hebrew slaves due to spending time in his mother’s home for an undisclosed period of time during his infant and toddler (possibly longer) years.

[4] Moses understand, by the time he was forty years old, that he would be part of the deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery (detailed prophecy of deliverance given to Abraham ^{Genesis 15:13-14}). He did not understand that deliverance was yet another full forty years away. God had many things to teach him before he was ready to become His instrument. As a prince in Egypt, Moses had power and influence. He likely could have led an abolition movement with some degree of success in alleviating the burdens among the Hebrew slaves. But God had other plans, plans to bring glory to himself, and judgment to Egypt, by accomplishing a supernatural deliverance, where no one—not even the mighty Prince Moses—could take credit for freeing the Hebrew slaves from Egyptian bondage.

[5] There are myriads of examples in Bible translation where groups including women are called “men.” In all cases where a woman is addressed directly, the translators simply call her “woman”—not ma”am. Not madam. Just “woman.” Yet in this instance, where men are squabbling among themselves and even physically fighting, the translators do not simply call them “men,” but, instead, use deference and respect by addressing the unruly group as, “sirs.” When it comes to women and men, Bible translators have exercised an unconscionable double standard in, as the writer of proverbs puts it, applying varying weights and a false balance ^{Proverbs 20:23}.

[6] Was it common knowledge that Moses—the son of Pharaoh’s daughter—was a Hebrew? Why else would a slave have spoken to an Egyptian (a member of the royal family no less) in such a way? It appears that the Egyptian princess who adopted him did not attempt to hide where he came. Exodus 2:6 reveals that she understood immediately that he was one of the condemned Hebrew children, yet she adopted him, allowed a Hebrew woman to nurse him, and gave him a name that forever indicated that he was a foundling. Even so, the Bible reveals that this rescued son of Hebrew slaves was saved from the sword, reared in a royal home, given a royal education, and became mighty in words and deeds. His genealogy does not seem to have adversely affected his status within the Egyptian culture he was placed in as an infant, but the words and attitude of the Hebrew slave towards Moses, could indicate a resentment smoldered among the Hebrew men that one of their own escaped the caste of slave all the rest were trapped in. 

YHWH ELOHIYM seems to take pleasure in choosing the most unlikely of people and elevating them from the most impossible of circumstances to the Throne or to the next highest position in the land:  Moses, from a condemned Hebrew infant to a Prince of Egypt—mighty in words and deeds; Joseph, from a slave in Egypt to the second ruler under Pharaoh; Esther, an unknown woman from a King’s harim to Queen and Empress of Media-Persia; David, from following after the sheep to the throne of Israel.  And finally, the creator himself, who visited his creation as one of them—a baby born in a stable—will sit on the throne of David to rule—not only the world, but—the universe and everything that exists outside of the space/time continuum we know as our universe.

[7] Moses had an unbridled temper which caused him to commit murder and flee the good life in Egypt (at the age of 40). His temper was going to cause him trouble forty-plus years later as well (when he had largely tamed it and became God’s Law-Giver). But even after he became known as the meekest man on earth, his hot temper would cost him the Promised Land ^{Numbers 20:7-12}.

[8] Moses found favor with Jethro, a Priest of Midian (after using his infamous temper, might, and skill in rescuing the priest’s daughters from bullies at the well), and was permitted to dwell among them. As an immigrant to Midian, Moses assimilated into their culture, married one of Jethro’s daughters, and the mighty [former] prince adopted the life of a shepherd.

[9] We know that everything about the life of Moses had to do with set times and seasons God had already spoken to Abraham about (concerning the enslavement and deliverance of his descendants in Egypt). The way this verse is worded (when the forty years were fulfilled), reveals that the forty years Moses spent in Midian as a shepherd were just as crucial [to his future role as the deliverer] as the first forty years he had spent in Egypt as a member of the royal family.

Herein lies a paradox concerning the preparation Moses received before becoming God’s man and Israel’s deliverer. The forty years he spent as a noble personage were an integral part of who he was. We must assume this part of his upbringing (and the effect it had on his psyche) was important—to Moses’ future as the supreme leader in a theocracy—as YHWH saw fit to allow that part of his development to continue a full forty years (though he tempered it somewhat by allowing Moses to understand his genealogy and permitted his birth mother to nurse him among the Hebrew slaves for an undisclosed length of time—possibly not weaning him for up to three years ^{Samuel 1:20-24}). After that, YHWH spent another forty years deconstructing what Moses had learned as an Egyptian big shot. Only after the building and tearing down process in Moses’ life was completed, did God feel Moses was ready for the awesome responsibility of leading millions of Israelite's from slavery into freedom (and could handle the unbelievable amount of power God would bestow on him to accomplish that feat). Only after eighty years of preparation, did God reveal himself to Moses in the miracle of the burning bush, and deliver his commission to go tell Pharaoh... 

[10]

Moses trembled at the awesome sight of the burning bush, but not the news that he was not an Egyptian—he already knew he was descended from Hebrew slaves.

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