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Parasha 32: Behar (On/In Mount) Vayikra/Leviticus 25:1-26:2

*All Scripture References from The Orthodox Jewish Bible- Referred To As OJB- unless otherwise noted

Joe Snipes (Torah Teacher) Gates To Zion Ministries

“And Hashem [YHWH] spoke unto Moshe in Mt. Sinai, saying,

Speak unto the Bnei Yisroel [Sons of Yisrael], and say unto them, When ye come into HaAretz [The Land] which I give you, then shall HaAretz [The Land] observe a Shabbos [Shabbat] rest unto Hashem. [YHWH]” (Vayikra/Leviticus 25:1-2 OJB- definitions mine)

As usual, the title for our parasha comes from the first few opening words. I quoted the opening verses because I wanted to draw your attention to something we said earlier. The word Behar means in or on the mount. Now please notice that the mount spoken of here is…in or on Mt. Sinai. Yet, where are we? The place where we are is after the mishkan is built, the priests have been consecrated and ordained, and after the incident with Nadab and Avihu. This is still while Moshe is in/on the Mount with YHWH which is back in Shemot/Exodus. Why does this parasha find its way here in Vayikra at this point?

In verse two we are told that what YHWH is instructing Moshe about in order that he give these words to the sons of Yisrael, is about The Land…Yisrael. The reason that these instructions are included here, is because they are about holiness. YHWH is showing that the place where He is bringing Yisrael is land that He Himself has sanctified, set apart, to be the home for His people. A holy Elohim, has obtained a holy people, and they are to live in a holy land.

Out of all the earth, there is no holier place than The Land of Yisrael. We have seen this same thing when it came to the days of the week. All of the days are the same, until YHWH chooses ONE day and sets it apart. Then that day becomes holy and is set apart from all of the other days. Thus you have the weekly Shabbat on the seventh day. Even so, all of the earth is full of land, but YHWH has chosen the land of Cana’an to be the home for His Am Segulah/Treasured People.

 “Ha’aretz [The Earth/Land] is Hashem’s [YHWH’s], and the fullness thereof; the tevel (world), and they that dwell therein.” (Tehillim/Psalms 24:1 OJB- definitions mine )

“Therefore shall ye be shomer [guard] over all the mitzvoth [commandments] which I command you today, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess ha’aretz [the land], whither ye go to possess it;

And in order that ye may prolong your yamim [days] on ha’adamah [the earth], which Hashem [YHWH] swore unto Avoteichem [Fathers] to give unto them and to their zera [seed], Eretz Zavat Cholov U’devash (Land that Floweth with Milk and Honey).

For ha’aretz [the land], whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as Eretz Mitzrayim [The Land of Egypt], from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy zera [seed], and wateredst it with thy foot, as a gan (garden) of herbs:

But ha’aretz [the land], whither ye go to possess it, is an eretz [land] of harim (hills) and beka’ot (valleys), and drinketh mayim of the matar [rain] of Shomayim [heavens];

An eretz [land] which Hashem Eloheicha [YHWH Your Elohim] careth for; the eyes of Hashem Eloheicha [YHWH Your Elohim] are always upon it, from the reshit hashanah (beginning of the year) even unto the acharit shanah (end of the year).” (D’varim/Deuteronomy 11:8-12 OJB- definitions mine))

There is no more holy land than The Land which YHWH has provided for His people, Yisrael. This is one of the main reasons that there is so much conflict around the land of Yisrael today. It is the place that He has chosen. He designated it, and hasatan [may his name be blotted out forever] wants whatever YHWH has, because it is his evil desire to usurp YHWH at every hand. Within The Land, is also the place that YHWH has established His earthly throne, on the Temple mount in Yerushalayim! Just as he tried to take the throne from YHWH in heaven (see Yeshayahu/Isaiah 14), and failed; he desires to at least take the earthly one.

We are about to see indeed how special this Land really is. It is unlike any other place on earth, and YHWH has given Yisrael instructions on how to treat it when they arrive there. READ THE REMAINDER OF PARASHA BEHAR HERE

Count The Omer With Gates To Zion Ministries

The counting of the Omer has always been an integral part of YHWH’s will in the destiny of His covenant nation of Yisrael. When Yisrael left Mitzrayim/Egypt in the exodus with Moshe, they were setting out for a meeting with YHWH at Mt. Sinai. It was there that they were to receive the Torah, YHWH’s loving Instructions, that would teach His people how to live and walk in His ways. In its essence the Torah was a ketubah, or wedding contract. It was YHWH’s offer to Yisrael to become united with Him in marriage. However, before Yisrael would be ready for such a wonderful destiny something would have to happen to transform them for such a holy destiny.

The rabbis tell us that during Yisrael’s enslavement in Mitzrayim/Egypt, they had fallen into a terrible state of  moral/spiritual declension. In fact, if they had fallen only one degree further, then Yisrael would have been beyond hope of redemption. YHWH in His great mercy sent Yisrael a deliverer in Moshe Rabbeinu (Our Teacher). Under Moshe’s leadership Yisrael was led out of Mitzrayim/Egypt by YHWH’s outstretched arm of power and provision. YHWH’s people were about to experience a great transformation.

It took 50 days (49 + 1) in order for Yisrael to reach their destination at Mt. Sinai. The number 50 in Torah has to do with Yovel, or jubilee. It is a time when the captives are set free and all debts are cancelled. The people of Yisrael in that seven week period had become a holy nation. YHWH called them His Am Segulah, or Treasured People. It was there at Mt. Sinai that YHWH offered His Torah to Yisrael and they accepted. It was with a great display of lightenings and thunderings (lit. torches and voices in Hebrew) that YHWH brought Yisrael to be His betrothed bride.

The restoration of the Whole House of Yisrael is today in great need of transformation. This great need is for both individual, as well as corporate, transformation. As we look out on the landscape of the Messianic restoration it almost looks like an impossible hope that Yisrael might ever become ONE nation again. However, what is impossible with men is most definitely possible with YHWH!

So, as we enter this Omer count today, let us with great faith believe that what YHWH did for Yisrael of old, He will again do for Yisrael today. It is written and prophesied in YHWH’s word that the Taberncacle of David will again be raised up. Yet, it will not be with the ingenuity and strength of men. No! It will be by His Ruach! Please read over the following instructions on counting the Omer with heartfelt kavanah/intensity as you count and pray for YHWH to do a great work of transformation for you and the Whole House of Yisrael. Cry out for your own heart, and for Yisrael as a whole. May YHWH hear our cry and answer us. O Abba YHWH, know our thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting. (Tehillim/Psalms 139:23-24)

The Omer Prayer And Count

In the Omer count you always begin with the traditional prayer. You will find this prayer on the link to the Omer Counting page below. The Omer Count goes for seven full weeks and one extra day. You begin by counting the days of the first week like this. “Today is day one of the Omer count.” This is followed by, “Today is day two of the Omer count.” You do this until the seventh day. Then you will say Today is seven days, which is one week of the Omer.” The second week you will say, “Today is eight days, which is one week and one day of the Omer,” and so on. You will continue like this through all seven weeks and one day. At then end we will have arrived at Shavuot!

When The Omer Is Counted

The Omer is usually counted approximately 30 minutes after sundown. Although it may be counted any time after that; the rabbis say that if you forget to count in the evening, you may count the next day up until sundown. However, you should not say the prayer, only the Omer count.

What if you forget to count a day? Brother Judah says that if you forget to count the entire day, then you are not allowed to continue the count. You may join others who count, but you are not allowed to count yourself. This idea comes from the fact that we are told by Moshe to count seven FULL weeks. This mean complete, and if you miss one complete day, then the count is not complete. However, at Gates To Zion Ministries we believe that Abba YHWH is able to show grace should you forget. I am not trying to allow for personal disregard or laxity. The Omer count is VERY important and an integral part of YHWH’s commandments concerning the transformation process leading up to the Feast of Shavuot. I am simply stating that if one genuinely fails to count the Omer on a specific day, then certainly a heart felt prayer of forgivenss would be honored before YHWH in the greatness of His mercy. Our blessed Abba knows our hearts. Let us strive to obey always. Yet, when we fall short, then let us fall upon Abba’s grace and with repentant hearts carry on.

May our blessed Abba YHWH  help us as we pray and count. I pray that we may all come to the Feast of Shavuot with joy and great expectancy this year.

The Omer Counting Prayer

Begin by saying the following prayer each evening of the count:

BA-RUCH A-TAH YHWH E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER

Blessed are You, YHWH our Elohim, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Omer Counting Prayer For The Whole House Of Yisrael

YHWH our Elohim, we come to you in the Name of our blessed Mashiach Yeshua. Please hear our prayer. Be gracious to us and bless the Whole House of Yisrael. Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us and show us Your great salvation. We cry out to You today, to turn our captivity, the captivity of the Whole House of Yisrael. Strengthen us, purify us. You are the mighty and Awesome One. You know our hearts and the secrets of our innermost being. We call upon You in all of Your graciousness and holiness. Blessed be the Name and glory of Your Kingdom for ever and ever.

Master of the Universe, You have commanded us to count the Omer through Your servant, Moshe. In blessed obedience to Your great Torah, as we count, purify us from evil and uncleaness. Purify us from arguement and division. Purify us from pride and a judgemental spirit. You have commanded us to count seven full weeks and a day, so the souls of Your people Yisrael may be delivered and transformed. That we might again be found worthy to be called Your Am Segulah, Your Treasured People. Therefore may it be Your will YHWH, our Elohim, and the Elohim of our fathers, in obedience to the Omer we have counted today: May the Whole House of Yisrael be transformed and conformed to the image of Your Son, our blessed Yeshua HaMashiach. May You quickly be able to bring about the reunion of the Whole House of Yisrael in answer to this prayer. May all of Yisrael be rectified and purified, and made ready again to receive our blessed Mashiach Yeshua in order that we may be able to enter into Your blessed Kingdom. Amein.

The Daily Omer Count