Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Continuing: In the previous post, we discussed the things waited for, from the Greek word prosdechomai, meaning to receive for one’s self, things only understood by patient persistence, which before the experience weren’t realized. As we saw, the last of Luke’s examples of things in this way waited for is Joseph of Arimathaea waiting for the kingdom of God. His first example was Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel.

We saw Simeon’s name meaning “heard,” alluding to God’s people following false doctrine, the created bad advice heard from the son of perdition. In Luke, it was in telling of him again hearing the LORD and by it seeing Him as Jehovah’s salvation, personified in Jesus, the consolation of Israel he experienced.

We saw the name of the place Arimathaea as from the Hebrew words har (mountains) and mattan (gift), and with the name Joseph (meaning Jehovah will continue, add, and gather), telling of where the LORD’s body rests while we are separated from it by our sins (erroneous understanding).

The above ideas are connected through the first appearance of the five times used Hebrew word mattan, in Geneses 34:12. There the sins, spoken of in Genesis 49:5 thru 7, of Simeon and Levi are seen, which brought trouble and contempt upon all God’s people. It is from there, in Shechem, meaning burden (of men’s words), Jacob is told to leave and go to Bethel (the house of God) which in Canaan. Before saying this it says of the same place, “Jacob came to Luz,” the name meaning “almond tree,” which we know is speaking of something new springing forth. It is then the LORD appears and tells him he shall no longer be called Jacob, “but Israel shall be your name.”

This new thing happens after Jacob buried the idols (“strange gods”) his wives brought with them out of Padan-aram, meaning the high places (palaces, the existing order) from where they have been ransomed and delivered. We are told there Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died, names meaning the order that ensnared them died, speaking of the teaching of the mother and nurse. After this Jacob heard God speaking to Him.

Earlier, In Genesis 32:28, when Jacob is first told his name is Israel, it is by a man. This is the beginning of the beginning. It speaks of God coming to mentally grapple with him, speaking through a man. Jacob, at this point, is ignorant of God and how He works, and also ignorant of the fact he is entering into the promised land. What follows is his journey out of ignorance and into the realization, first of El-Elohe-Israel (God is the God of Israel), and then El-Beth-El (God’s Family is God {dwelling with them and in them}).

The realization comes through the LORD unknown teaching him into the ways of peace and civilization (Shalem), which is demonstrated in Jacob making peace with Esau. It is from this peace Dinah the daughter of Leah wandered into the world, their names meaning judgment and weary, telling of the degeneration, by neglect, away from sound doctrine.

The “unknown” aspect is portrayed as the name Jehovah is last used in Genesis 32:9 as Jacob recalls when the LORD, in Genesis 31:3, told him to return to the land of his fathers and family, and He would be with him.

The LORD’s name doesn’t appear again until Genesis 38:7 when we are told of Him ending the life of Judah’s first and wicked son, Er, meaning he was “woke.” His wife Tamar, meaning palm tree (upright), after a series of events gives birth to twins (fathered by Judah) named Pharez, meaning breach, and Zarah, meaning rising of light. During their birth, Zarah’s hand came out first and the midwife “bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying ‘This one came out first.'” Pharaz was fully born first, and He, Tamar, and Zarah are all mentioned in Matthew 1:3 (Pharez and Tamar in the line of Jesus).

The name Zarah is from the one time used Hebrew word zerach, which is from the eighteen times used word zarach. The first time zarach appears is in Genesis 32:31, in telling of when the “sun rose” upon Jacob, after he wrestled with the man (the LORD unknown), as He passed over Peniel, meaning the face (presence) of God, at the beginning of the beginning.

Friends, these are all speaking in patterns of this moment when God’s people realize God’s presence, and looking back on the experience we see it is what the LORD, in His word, promised and foretold. The one time zerach is used it is in Isaiah 60:3 in telling of our “rising.” In verses 1 zarach is the glory of the LORD “risen” upon us, and in verse 2 it is when darkness covers the earth, and the LORD has risen (“arise”) upon us.

Isaiah 60
1 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen [zarach] upon you.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise [zarach] upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising [zerach].
4 Lift up your eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to you: your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
5 Then you shall see, and flow together, and your heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto you, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto you.
6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian [strife] and Ephah [gloom]; all they from Sheba [those perfected as promised] shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.
7 All the flocks of Kedar [darkness – who have been ignorant of the LORD] shall be gathered together unto you, the rams of Nebaioth [the high places of power] shall minister unto you: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
8 Who are these that fly as a cloud [with understanding], and as the doves [as an expected end] to their windows [they come to see]?
9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish [those who have fled from their vow] first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.
10 And the sons of strangers shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister unto you: for in my wrath I smote you, but in my favor have I had mercy on you.
11 Therefore your gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto you the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
13 The glory of Lebanon [purity] shall come unto you, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box [all the upright] together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons also of them that afflicted you shall come bending unto you; and all they that despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you; The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
16 You shall also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shall suck the breast of kings: and you shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make your officers peace, and your exactors righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.
19 The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: but the LORD shall be unto you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.
20 Your sun shall no more go down; neither shall your moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be your everlasting light [giver of understanding], and the days of your mourning shall be ended.
21 Your people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Genesis 32
9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which said unto me, Return unto your country, and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which you have shown unto your servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12 And you said, I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, saying, Whose are you? and whither go you? and whose are these before you?
18 Then you shall say, They be your servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall you speak unto Esau, when you find him.
20 And say you moreover, Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present [gift] that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women-servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok [the pouring out {of the gift}].
23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day [until his initial understanding came].
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day break. And he said, I will not let you go, except you bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is your name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince have you power with God and with men, and have prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray you, your name. And he said, Wherefore is it that you do ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose [zacach] upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank [overcame {prevailed against} the things he {God’s people} forgot].

Genesis 33
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with you? And he said, The children which God has graciously given your servant.
6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
8 And he said, What meanest you by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my LORD.
9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that you have unto yourself.
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray you, if now I have found grace in your sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen your face, as though I had seen the face of God [El-Beth-El], and you were pleased with me.
11 Take, I pray you, my blessing that is brought to you; because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you.
13 And he said unto him, My lord knows that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
14 Let my lord, I pray you, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly [“we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent {go before} them which are asleep ” 1 Thessalonians 4:15], according as the cattle that go before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir [come away from se’iyr, a he goat, a misleader, a devil when in God’s place],
15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with you some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needs it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth [booths, a dwelling outside the house of the misleading], and built him a house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 And Jacob came to Shalem [peace], a city of Shechem [the place burdened by men’s words], which is in the land of Canaan [where is zeal, without knowledge], when he came from Padanaram [the high places, from where the LORD has paid the price to redeem us]; and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.
20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

Genesis 34
1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter: which thing ought not to be done.
8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
9 And make you marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
10 And you shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade you therein, and get you possessions therein.
11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what you shall say unto me I will give.
12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift [mattan], and I will give according as you shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
15 But in this will we consent unto you: If you will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
17 But if you will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.
18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.
19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.
20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,
29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?

Genesis 35
1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.
2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
7 And he built there an altar, and called the place El-Beth-El: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 But Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth [oak of mourning/weeping].
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10 And God said unto him, Your name is Jacob: your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be your name: and he called his name Israel.
11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins;
12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you will I give the land.
13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.
16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; you shall have this son also.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave [the journey of the dead] unto this day.

The name Rachel appears to be from two words, raz, meaning hide (in a mystery or secret], and cheyl (chel or chayil) meaning an army. It is telling of where the hosts of the LORD “ford” the river of death, and are there hidden (“rae”) in a mystery.

Psalms 122
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2 Our feet shall stand within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together:
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you.
7 Peace be within your walls [cheyl – in His army], and prosperity within your palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within you.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.