Monday, July 9, 2018

Your Daily Slice


Tammuz 26
Walk the Way



“The unclean does not pass over it, but it is for those who walk the way, and no fools wander on it.” (Isa 35:8 ISR)



The Hebrew word that has been translated as ‘unclean’ in our opening verse is a word we are well familiar with from our yearly Torah cycle; it is the word ṭâmê' (Strong’s H2931), and it means one that is ceremonially and religiously impure, defiled, and unclean.  Torah is filled with examples of what is unclean (see the book of Leviticus); however, let me go one step further, as it would apply to our verse from Isaiah.  Someone who is unclean is one who has deliberately and repeatedly chosen to reject and defile the Torah of our Elohim, one who has no remorse, and one who has treated as common the kadosh things of our Creator.  Such a one will never be found on this “Way of Set-apartness”.

The word that has been translated as ‘fool’ is the Hebrew word 'ĕvı̂yl (Strong’s H191), and I believe that Jeff Benner has the best definition of this word:  One who acts without consideration or regard for a desirable outcome.”[1]  Other dictionaries include the sense of perverseness with their definition, as well as one who despises wisdom.  According to Isaiah, such a one could not even accidently stumble upon the “Way of Set-apartness”; it is beyond their comprehension and understanding.

This highway, this “Way of Set-apartness”, is for those who have fulfilled the Deu 10:12-13 requirements.  The love and commitment that they have for the One who created them, the desire to serve Him, carefully watching over and keeping the Torah to the best of their ability, is evident in their life and lifestyle, their halacha.  This highway is for them, as they have chosen, this day, whom they would serve (see Jos 24:15).

The Peshitta has a slightly different twist on this verse, which is worth a second look:

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; AND THERE SHALL BE NO ROAD BESIDE IT; fools shall not err therein.” (Holy Bible From The Ancient Eastern Texts: Aramaic Of The Peshitta by George M. Lamsa (1933), emphasis mine)

We have all seen frontage roads that run parallel to a major interstate or highway.  These frontage roads appear to be headed in the same direction as the highway; however, they are not the highway, and eventually they veer off to only a map can tell us where.  Beware, brethren, of those ‘roads’ that seem to be headed in the same direction as this “Way of Set-apartness.”  They are nothing but deception, and will take you where you do not want to go.


Blessed are the perfect in the way, Who walk in the Torah of יהוה!” (Ps 119:1 ISR)

©2018



[1] Ancient Hebrew Dictionary, ©2009 Jeff Benner

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