Parashot Pinchas

To truly understand some events in this week’s Torah reading try reviewing what has happened to the nation of Yisra’el. Let your mind go back in time and imagine Yisra’el enslaved.

Think for just a minute about the terrible treatment the Hebrews endured for hundreds of years by the Egyptians. Now, can you imagine this huge group of people leaving the bondage of slavery and the harsh taskmaster of Pharaoh? What excitement! What chaos!

Millions leave behind all they know to establish their own country and to follow their leader Moshe. They want to govern themselves, to cast off oppression and be free. They also want to return to the true worship of the deity of there forefathers.

Now imagine the madness that takes place as this throng of people journey to their own land. They have no rules, no stop signs, and no government. All they know is bondage and all they know how to act like are slaves. They grumble and they complain. At times this newly born nation behaves in pure rebellion and at other moments they obey their leader in humble submission. One day the society longs for the land of Egypt and the next day they desire their private homeland. The people need laws, they need rules for living, and so they look to their leader for instructions.

To help the nation develop, the people are given a national constitution directly from the Creator of the Universe. The Torah is spoken to Moshe and relayed to the community. Obedience to the Almighty’s instructions brings blessing and unity while disobedience results in curses and dispersion.

Because of their incessant rebellion the generation of people that were freed from slavery will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. A new age group and a new leader will possess the territory and firmly establish the nation. Just before Moshe is to lead the country into their Promised Land even Moshe, the humble nasi, is stopped from entry. A different leader is to be chosen for this young nation, the nation of Yisra’el.

Moshe is told in the book of Bamidbar to “take Yah’hoshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before El’azar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.” Through this simple process of dedication, leadership was transferred from one generation to the next and an example was set for future generations.

The example of semikah

The Hebrew term for the transference of authority and leadership is “semikah.” Semikah literally means, “leaning” or “laying on of hands.” The patriarchs originally used this simple procedure to bestow divine blessings. The Fathers of our faith would confirm birthright and protection as found in Beresheet 48:14-18 through the laying on of hands. The Lewites were brought before YHWH and the children of Yisra’el put their hands on them as a type of ordination. And semikah at one time also constituted as the dedication of some of the animals that were to be sacrificed on an altar.

The person offering the animal would place his hands upon the sacrifice in a symbolic transmission of punishment. “The act was carried out by the owner laying both his hands with all his might between the horns of the animal immediately before it was dispatched,” reads the Encyclopedia Judaica. The sinner would confess wrongdoing over the animal, and the substitute bore the punishment of the sin.

Moshe ordained through semikah the 70 elders of Yisra’el who would help interpret Torah. In Bamidbar he was setting aside Yah’hoshua as the undisputed leader of the new nation. Thousands of years later Rabbi Yahshua would use semikah often to heal the sick and transfer blessings. Finally, today modern semikah is more or less, “a rabbinical degree which authorizes a person to answer questions and resolve disputes regarding Jewish law,” says the website Judaism 101. Because of corruption and disagreements on halakhah semikah has dwindled away from the place of priority it once held to become a simple ordination by some groups. Others refuse to do semikah at all. Yet the examples of Moshe and Yahshua are to be considered much deeper than just establishing someone as a “rabbi.” Following the Torah’s leading shows that semikah should be part of the Hebraic lifestyle.

In the Brit Chadasha Rabbi Sha’ul (Paul) taught that what took place in the wilderness occurred to represent life to believers today. 1 Corinthians 10:1,6, “Do not be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea…now these things occurred as examples.” The Almighty YHWH was forming a culture and lifecycle for Yisra’el with the different ordinances and process that He gave. This nation’s guidance and culture was given in the form of Torah. Semikah was just one of the many aspects to this set apart lifestyle.

Semikah appears throughout the Bible in various uses like:

It is interesting to consider exactly “how” Moshe did semikah with Yah’hoshua. The Torah says that Yah’hoshua already was “a man in whom is the Spirit.” Through semikah Moshe imparted more wisdom and authority to the new leader. “Moshe did as YHWH commanded him. He took Yah’hoshua and had him stand before El’azar the priest and the whole assembly. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as YHWH instructed through Moshe,” Bamidbar 27:22-23. Moshe placed both of his hands upon Yah’hoshua - not just one hand. Moshe gave Yah’hoshua twice of what YHWH asked. Perhaps Moshe understood what a huge job it was to lead Yisra’el and so he transferred a double portion to his heir.

The Torah says that Moshe was to “Give him some of your authority (glory) so the whole Israelite community will obey him.” Moshe was transferring his authority to his successor, but Yah’hoshua would only receive part of Moshe’s anointing. Yah’hoshua would take Moshe’s place but he had to express his own authority. He couldn’t ride on Moshe’s memory. To this the Talmud says, ‘Of your glory’ – but not all your glory. The elders of that generation said: The countenance of Moshe was like that of the sun; the countenance of Yah’hoshua was like that of the moon.”

The power of touch

Through the process of laying on of hands a physical bond is connected. In the Scriptures, Moshe touched Yah’hoshua; the Lewites touched the sacrifices; Yitz’chak touched his sons; Ya’akov touched his grandsons; El’isha touched the king; Yahshua touched the helpless. Somehow through these simple connections divine blessings were bestowed and heaven and earth were joined. Authority, healing, consecration, and ba’racha were all conveyed though touch. Semikah seems to release the gifts of Elohim, 2 Timothy 1:6.

Moshiach’s ministry

Moshiach Yahshua ministered with semikah on many occasions. He laid hands on and brought healing to the unclean lepers. He touched the blind and their eyes were opened. He did semikah to a deaf man and hearing was restored. Yahshua even took a young maiden by the hand and saved her from death. “The people brought to Yahshua all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them,” Luke 4:40. Moshiach also imparted blessing through semikah. Then little children were brought to Yahshua for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Yahshua said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there,” Mattitiyahu 19:13-15. Before Yahshua ascended into Shamayim He told the talmidim that they would continue His ministry of semikah. “You will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well,” Mark 16:18. Maybe Yahshua understood that every day behavior disconnects people and what is often needed is just a simple touch.

Over and over again the early believers in Moshiach followed His instructions. The book of Acts is full of stories of healing and blessing being imparted through semikah. People who experienced mikvah (baptism) had hands layed upon them in Acts 8:16-19. And just like Yah’hoshua, Sha’ul and Barnabas along with the first deacons were set apart to avodah (spiritual service) through semikah. You see, just as semikah is the word used when an animal is consecrated to sacrifice, so to the word represents leadership’s sacrifice to serve people and Elohim.

Semikah should NOT be an idea that is foreign to believers, but part of everyday life. Hebrews 6:3 says that the laying on of hands is an “elementary principle of Moschiach.” When the people around us are sick we should lay hands upon them and pray in belief for healing. When our children are hurt we should hold them in our arms and bless them. When the time is appropriate we should touch those near us and speak a ba’racha upon them using the Divine name of YHWH. Semikah is just one part of Torah living – it was for Moshe and Yahshua and should be for today.

*for all things Biblical go to www.emetministries.com