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)
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 (look
them up, if you are not familiar with them).
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 our opening 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 places only a map can tell us where. Beware, brethren, of those ‘roads’ that
appear 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)
©2021
[1] Ancient
Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible; ©2006 Ancient Hebrew Research Center; ISBN:
1589397762 Author: Jeff Benner
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