The Sabbath of Vision and the 9th of Av
This Sabbath is known as the Sabbath of Vision from the opening words of Isaiah, which is the Haphtorah for the Torah Reading Devarim:
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 / Isaiah 1:1-27
This is the third and final “Haphtorah of Rebuke” in the cycle leading up to the 9th of Av and this “vision of Isaiah” and is quite frankly not a pleasant one.
We are fast approaching, according to Jewish tradition, a “day upon which, in the words of the Talmud, ‘disasters recurred again and again to the Jewish people.’”
According to Jewish tradition:
- Both temples were destroyed on the 9th of Av,
- Betar, the last stronghold of the BarKochba stand is taken on the 9th of Av
- The Decree that the Children of Israel would not enter the land because of the 12 spies incident is believed to have taken place on the 9th of Av,
- The plowing of Jerusalem in 136 CE is said to have happened on the 9th of Av,
And, - The expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 is said to have been issued on this fateful day!
The book of Lamentations is read during this time.
As you can imagine, this is a fast day. Aside from Yom Kippur, it is the only 24 hour fast observed by the Jewish people.
With all of these bad things though, the rabbis began to expect that this day would ultimately bring in something good for the people of God. In a midrash, it says, “The Messiah, the Savior, was born on the day that the Temple was destroyed.” (Lam. Rab.1)
The Bible provides two dates for the destruction of the Temple. In 1 Kings 25:8-9 it says that this took place on the 7th, while the prophet Jeremiah says that it happened on the 10th (Jeremiah 52:12). This is reconciled in the sources by stating that the final phases of the destruction began on the 7th and by the 10th it was completely ruined.
Jewish sources relate that the 1st Temple was ultimately destroyed because the people committed 3 major sins; murder, idolatry and immorality.
The 2nd Temple, we are told, was destroyed because of the sin of Sinat Chinam (Hatred without cause or baseless hatred).
Based upon the fact that both Temples were destroyed, but for the different reasons listed above, the conclusion reached was that baseless hatred was equal to the three sins of murder, idolatry and immorality.
According to Hebrew texts of the gospel of Matthew, it is reported that Yeshua was ultimately “taken” due to sinat chinam - hatred without cause. (Matthew 27:18 - See for example “Hebrew Gospel of Matthew”, by George Howard, page 142 Hebrew text)
A fast was established in the fifth month to commemorate the fall of the Temple. The purpose of this fast (or any fast) is called into question by God in Zechariah (see Zech 7:1-7), and then later a prediction is given that these times of sorrow will be turned to joy and gladness (Zech 8:18ff).
Here also we are reminded of what true religion is. Notice Zechariah’s mention of the fatherless and widows - a point brought out in the Torah lesson today.
If baseless hatred brought about the destruction of the Temple and was associated with the handing over of Yeshua, then it stands to reason that both Christian and Jews should strive to work against this sin called Sinat Chinam.
The opposite of this sin would be the idea of “love without cause”, or in Hebrew, Ahavat chinam - baseless love!
Love is truly what torah faith is all about. We should apply love inwardly and outwardly until it is evident to all around us.
That love is the essence of the Torah is pointed out by Yeshua clearly in Mark 12:28ff.
This brings us to Deuteronomy where this first and greatest commandment is recorded, and where we find ourselves in the regular cycle of annual torah readings.
A thought for the day - God can change us. Moses begins his work with God by saying of himself, “lo ish devarim“, “I am not a man of words”, and yet by the end of the torah he seems to be quite the orator. (compare Exodus 4:10 to Deuteronomy 1:1).
It is often believed that God will use our talents to advance the cause of the Kingdom of God, but I propose that God can give you talents that you do not have and is not restricted to any set of gifts that you currently possess.
Deuteronomy is often thought of as merely a “repetition of the law”, a recap of things we already have read, but this is not the case. An example is that chapters 12-26 contain laws - nearly 100, and of those listed, there are approximately 70 that have not been mentioned previously in our story!
Enjoy the study session and let us know what you think of the class by casting your vote!
An audio version of this class is available at www.rootsoffaith.org/blog-and-podcasts
Ross Nichols