Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: YZKCU@cunyvm.bitnet (Yaakov Kayman) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Priesthood (Re: Whose misinterpretations?) Message-ID: Date: 7 Jan 91 03:38:55 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center Lines: 92 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu This is the third of the three articles I said I would post on this subject. Regarding Psalms 110:4, among the entire chapter, I have looked at the chapter, and find two alternative interpretations. In one, the chapter speaks of Abraham, who is referred to many times (by 'Efron the Hittite, to cite one example) as "adoni" (my master), and the priesthood spoken of in verse 4 refers to both priesthood and kingship to be granted to his descendents, the priesthood to Aaron and the kingship to Judah (from whom David came, and from whom the Messiah will come). The reference to Malki- Tzedek is just that: a reference to the event of Abraham's giving tithes to Malki-Tzedek. The kings referred to in verse 5 are Kedarla'omer and his three fellow-kings against whom Abraham waged war to save his nephew, Lot, and the gathered corpses referred to in verse 6 are those of the Egyptians after their drowning in the Red Sea at the time of the Exodus. In the other interpretation, the chapter refers to King David himself, and the priesthood spoken of in verse 4 refers exclusively to kingship, which is described as at a higher level than ordinary (Levitical) priest- hood. The reference to Malki-Tzedek in this case is a comparison. The kings referred to are those of 'Amon, the Philistines, and of the seven Cana'anite nations fought and conquered by King David, and the gathered corpses are Sancheriv (the Assyrian king)'s cohorts who were killed by a plague when they attacked Jerusalem. To all those "interested" in seeing me "explain" my way out of various predicaments they believe they may have put me in, I assure you that the Jewish Torah (there is no other Torah) makes no mention or hint of the one you hold to be your messiah and/or deity. While I'm sure you, among others, would love to see my people robbed of its rightful legacy, with that same legacy devolving upon yourself /selves, you will have to find a way to do so without the support of the Jewish Torah. I submit you will fail miserably in this attempt. Though the assumption of conditionality in the promise of the Jews' becoming a kingdom of priests is correct, G-d's Covenant with us, on which the promise is conditioned, is that of our observance of our Jewish Torah, having nothing at all to do with you. We were once, and will again be that kingdom of priests and holy nation mentioned in Ex. 19:6. Furthermore, not only will we do it without your help, but we'll do it in spite of your opposition. The point, however, if you recall, was that there is no lasting biblical context of priesthood outside of the family of Aaron. This has not been contradicted. Ponder, if you will, the UNCONDITIONAL language employed in Numbers 25:10-13, which says: "And G-d spoke to Moses saying,"Pinchas, the son of E-l'azar, the son of Aharon the Kohen(priest) turned away My Anger from the Children of Israel in his taking up My Jealousy (the jealousy of My Name) in their midst, and I did not destroy the Children of Israel in My Jealousy. Therefore say, "Behold, I give him My Covenant of peace. And there shall be to him and his seed after him an EVERLASTING covenant of priesthood.""" In no place is this made conditional upon behavior - not his, not that of his descendants and certainly not that of the Nation of Israel. While I fully understand that Christians believe otherwise (for what are to me quite obvious reasons in this case), as is their right as members of an utterly different and completely separate faith from my own, which is Judaism, the Jewish Torah does not deal with J____, even though it most certainly does deal with the Messiah. Though I respect your right to believe in whatever you wish, the Jewish faith does not believe as you do. At this point, I will take my leave of your newsgroup, limiting my sometime participation in it to those times that both involve Jewish interest and where such involvement is, in my opinion, needed to further that interest. Jewish Law, citing Deut. 33:4 and Psalms 147:19,20, for- bids a Jew from teaching Torah to a non-Jew, though a rabbi whose rab- binic opinion I sought as a result of an understanding Christian's Bible questions, told me that in the specfic case where a non-Jew wished in good faith to better understand Judaism, I could answer such questions. As the "questions" I have seen in this group are of any nature but that, I will teach you no more Torah. To those wanting to know an inoffensive term to use in place of the of- fensive "O.T.," which implies the existence of something newer and bet- ter, a claim categorically rejected by all practicing Jews, "Torah," or "Tanakh", the Jewish names for the Jewish legacy, are best. To the still hoped-for mutual respect for the very real, very basic, and very many differences between Judaism and Christianity, Yaakov K. -------- Yaakov Kayman (212) 903-3666 City University of New York BITNET: YZKCU@CUNYVM "Lucky is the shepherd, and lucky his flock Internet: YZKCU@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU about whom the wolves complain"