Study Desk

(RY: vi, LY: v) Adonai said to Moshe, "The time is coming for you to die. Summon Y'hoshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I can commission him." Moshe and Y'hoshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.

"Therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the people of Isra'el. Have them learn it by heart, so that this song can be a witness for me against the people of Isra'el.

(RY: vii, LY: vi) For when I have brought them into the land I swore to their ancestors, flowing with milk and honey; and they have eaten their fill, grown fat and turned to other gods, serving them and despising me, and broken my covenant;

then, after many calamities and troubles have come upon them, this song will testify before them as a witness, because their descendants will still be reciting it and will not have forgotten it. For I know how they think even now, even before I have brought them into the land about which I swore."

Adonai also commissioned Y'hoshua the son of Nun with these words: "Be strong and full of courage; for you are to bring the people of Isra'el into the land about which I swore to them; and I will be with you."

For I know how rebellious and stiffnecked you are! Here, even while I am still alive with you today, you have rebelled against Adonai ; so how much more will you do so after my death?

(Maftir) Assemble for me all the leaders of your tribes and your officials, so that I can say these things in their hearing, calling heaven and earth to witness against them —

Then Moshe spoke in the hearing of the whole assembly of Isra'el the words of this song, from beginning to end: Haftarah Vayelekh: Hoshea (Hosea) 14:2(1)–10(9); Mikhah (Micah) 7:18–20; Yo'el (Joel) 2:15–27 B'rit Hadashah suggested reading for Parashah Vayelekh: Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 13:5–8

"For I will proclaim the name of Adonai . Come, declare the greatness of our God!

The Rock! His work is perfect, for all his ways are just. A trustworthy God who does no wrong, he is righteous and straight.

"He found his people in desert country, in a howling, wasted wilderness. He protected him and cared for him, guarded him like the pupil of his eye,

He said, ‘I will hide my face from them and see what will become of them; for they are a perverse generation, untrustworthy children.

"‘For my anger has been fired up. It burns to the depths of Sh'ol, devouring the earth and its crops, kindling the very roots of the hills.

For our enemies have no rock like our Rock — even they can see that!

Vengeance and payback are mine for the time when their foot slips; for the day of their calamity is coming soon, their doom is rushing upon them.'

(vi) "‘For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, "As surely as I am alive forever,

"Sing out, you nations, about his people! For he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will render vengeance to his adversaries and make atonement for the land of his people."

For this is not a trivial matter for you; on the contrary, it is your life! Through it you will live long in the land you are crossing the Yarden to possess."

The reason for this is that both of you broke faith with me there among the people of Isra'el at the M'rivat-Kadesh Spring, in the Tzin Desert; you failed to demonstrate my holiness there among the people of Isra'el.

So you will see the land from a distance, but you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Isra'el." Haftarah Ha'azinu: Sh'mu'el Bet (2 Samuel) 22:1–51 B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Ha'azinu: Romans 10:14 –21; 12:14–21; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 12:28–39