Shabbat Reading

FRIDAY PRAYER POINTS
JUNE 29TH, 2018

1. We began this morning by reading Psalm 121.
o I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where shall my help come from? My help comes from YHWH, who made Heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. YHWH is your keeper; YHWH is your shade on your right hand…YHWH shall keep you from all evil; He shall keep your soul. YHWH shall keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.Psalms 121:1-8
o Thank You that You who do not slumber nor sleep watches over both us and Your people Israel.
o You are our Keeper – our Guardian, our Protector – and we praise You for being that to us (Psa. 3:3).
o What a joy to see that this 3,000 year old Psalm is as current today as it was back then (Jer. 1:12).
o We declare that Your Word is settled forever in heaven (Psa. 119:89).
o For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.Psa. 36:9
2. Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees are streaming towards Israel's Golan borders – fleeing from an assault against these "rebels' by both Syria and the Russian Air Force. Jordan, which is already housing more than a million Syrian refugees, has closed its border. What should Israel do?
o Lord, where is the American administration which was part of the deal to create an area in southwestern Syria as a de-escalation zone? Wake them up to how their inaction is ruining their reputation of being a faithful ally here in the Middle East (Matt. 5:37).
o Download Your plans to the IDF concerning how to handle this situation (Prov. 19:21).
o Protect Israel's soldiers as they protect Israel's borders.
o Impart to them the ability to know the innocent from the terrorists among them.
o Based on Romans 8:28, we ask that You would watch over this looming situation and bring out of it the most amount of glory to Yourself and the salvation of multitudes of these mostly Islamic refugees.
o Not to us, O YHWH, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for Your mercy and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where now is their God? But our God is in Heaven; He has done whatever He has pleased.Psa. 115:1-3
o Lord Yeshua, continue to reveal Yourself to many refugees among the Muslims (Rev. 1:17-18).
o As they see the true face of Islam – may many flee to You for safety, salvation and peace (John 16:31).
o Is it time for Israel to extend its borders outward to provide a safe zone for these Syrians (Isa. 54:2-3)?
o We bless You for Israel annexing the Golan. Continue to protect it from enemy attacks (Psa. 35:1-3).
o Release angelic protection for all of Israel's north and northeast borders (Psa. 35:4-8).
o Lord, as Israel has two borders under attack today – the Syrian-Lebanese and the Gazan borders – please watch over Malachi 1:5b: YHWH will be magnified upon [and beyond] the border of Israel.
3. On July 16th, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet. One of the topics on their agenda is Syria. Reports are that Trump will accept Syrian President Assad's rule over that nation as long as all foreign militaries leave – probably with the exception of Russia's. Also, we are hearing that if not, the US will give Israel a "green light" to attack all Iranian bases in Syria.
o YHWH brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He breaks the plans of the people. The counsel of YHWH stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.Psa. 33:10-11
o The king's heart is in YHWH's hand as the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He will.Prov. 21:1
o Based on the above verses and many others, Lord we ask that You will assert Your sovereignty over this meeting and only allow that which furthers Your divine purposes to come forth (Rev. 17:17).
o Prepare Israel to know what to do and how to respond to the results of this meeting (Isa. 42:9).
o Make it very clear to Putin that leaving Iran in Syria is a danger to Russia's plans as well as to Israel.
o Thank You for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the Israeli security cabinet for enforcing their red-lines re: Iranian activity in Syria (Ezek. 37:10).
4. Netanyahu has been under constant pressure in all areas of his life – both private and political.
o Abba, we are amazed at how well he continues to function and we thank You for that (Psa. 80:17).
o We ask that You instruct Bibi and teach him the way he should go; that You will counsel him and Your eye will always be on him (Psa. 32:8; Prov. 16:9).
o As he is Your appointed man to lead Israel at this time, continue to sustain him (2 Sam. 19:33).
o May Netanyahu discover Psalm 50:15 and make it a reality in his life: Call on Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
o Pour out on Bibi the gift of delegation (Ex. 18:13-26).
o Surround him with people whom he can trust so that he can delegate to them (Neh. 7:2; Prov. 20:6).
o Bring around him godly counsel – both in his political and personal life (Prov. 27:6).
o Forbid bitterness from growing in his family over all the personal attacks they have endured (Eph. 4:31).
o As Sara Netanyahu goes to trial in mid-July, draw her to Yourself (Jer. 31:3).
o In Your timing, raise up a worthy replacement for Netanyahu to lead Israel (Dan. 2:21).
5. Israel's Gaza border is far from peaceful. While the huge demonstrations are over, the firebomb kites are still setting Israeli lands ablaze and there are daily attempts by Hamas terrorists to breach the security fence and commit terror attacks on Israeli communities and against IDF soldiers. Also, Hamas has started to shoot rockets at Israel in response to Israeli attacks on the kite-flyers.
o We give You the glory that with all the demonstrations there was no loss of life on the Israeli side and no breaching of the security fence (Psa. 121:4).
o Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; also let those who hate Him flee before Him…He scatters the people who delight in war.Psa. 68:1, 30b
o Implant Your plans to IDF strategists and tacticians so that the army knows what to do (Josh 6:2-5).
o Abba, if Israel should extend its border into Gaza and create a no-go zone on Hamas' side of the fence, lead the IDF on how to do it and give Israel wisdom on how to explain it to the world.
o Lord, we grieve that it is Your land that is on fire (Lev. 25:23). Protect it for Your holy name's sake.
o Expose the spirit behind so many in the "save the planet' movement: that they will do whatever it takes to protect Mother Earth – but are totally silent when Father God's land is being destroyed (Rev. 11:18b).
o Protect Israel from this anti-God spirit that as infiltrated the environmentalist movement.
o Divide the Hamas leadership and let them fight each other (Psa. 129:5).
o Thank You that Abbas' Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria is at war with Hamas (Psa. 55:9).
6. While Iran is still the number one threat to the nation of Israel, God is hearing our prayers and shaking that nation to its foundations. What a shock to hear this people who used to cry "Death to America," and "Death to Israel," now shouting "Death to Palestine," and "Death to the Dictator," that is the Ayatollah Khamenei who runs Iran.
o Lord, forgive us for even thinking that Iran is an existential threat to Israel, as You have stated, Thus says YHWH, who gives the sun for a light by day and the laws of the moon and of the stars for a light by night…YHWH of Hosts is His name; if those ordinances depart from Me…then the seed of Israel shall cease being a nation before Me forever. Thus says YHWH, If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below searched out, then I will cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says YHWH. (Jer. 31:35-37)
o Yet Iran is Israel's most dangerous enemy today, so we thank You for shaking it internally as protests against the regime explode in its streets.
o Protect and use the ordinary Iranian citizen to overturn that wicked Shi'ite regime (2 Kings 9:32-33).
o Pour spiritual fuel on these protests to root out Your enemies who have called for the destruction of Your people and Your nation (Psa. 83:1-4, 16-18).
o Turn Iran's regular army and its police to stand with the people against the regime (2 Kings 9:11-13).
o For I will cause Elam [modern Iran] to be afraid before their enemies and before those who seek their life, and I will bring evil on them, even My fierce anger, says YHWH. And I will send the sword after them until I have destroyed them;Jer. 49:37
o Thank You for the growing Body of believers in Iran. Teach them how to pray and act (2 Pet. 4:7).
o Prepare even now the next generation of Iranian leaders (Isa. 45:1-4).
o Remove all anti-Zionist spirits from them and from the Body of Messiah (Gen. 12:3a).
o We proclaim to Iran's current regime: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also will reap. (Gal. 6:7)
7. We are approaching the unveiling of US President Trump's "deal of the century" – this is a "peace deal" between Israel and…? And that is the most interesting part, as God has done such a good job of hardening the Palestinian leadership's hearts that there is no one on the other side with whom Israel could even talk to. So the US peace team is aiming for a regional deal that includes Egypt, Jordan, maybe Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf States. Yet the danger is what are they planning to ask from Israel.
o Lord, protect Your land from being divided any further (Lev. 25:23; Ezek. 36:5).
o We thank You for all that Trump and his team have done for Israel, especially in the UN, but God warn him that if he dares to touch Your land, America will become even more divided than it is now. Behold, in those days…when I will bring again the exiles of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. I will fight with them there for My people and for My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land. (Joel 3:1-2)
o Wake up Trump's Christian spiritual advisory council to warn him away from dealing with Your land as if it is just another real estate deal – and so ending up by blaspheming You (Ezek. 35:12-13)!
o Use Bibi's background as an historian and his deep insight and commitment to Israel's security to "Just say 'No'," to anything that would endanger Israel (Jud. 11:23-24).
o If possible, for America's sake, scrap this plan and may it never be presented.
o God, this Shabbat's Torah portion shows us how You turned the curses of Balaam into blessings. Do it again if there is any curse that comes with this peace plan (Deut. 23:5).
o Somehow may Trump and his team be lead to read from this section and may these verses come alive to them: God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Num. 23:19); Surely, there is no enchantment against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What God has worked! (Num. 23:23); Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you. (Num. 24:9b)
8. Israel's water situation is desperate. While we have enough water to drink and use around the house, waters from heaven that feed underground aquifers, refresh nature and are depended on by farmers have been lacking for several years. We need God to intervene.
o Lord, as You said in Isaiah 41:17-20, we need You to create new water sources in this – Your land.
o Please God, do not allow the Sea of Galilee to become saline and destroyed as a fresh water lake.
o You said that if we ask You to do it, You would make this land like the Garden of Eden. We are asking today (Ezek. 36:35-37).
o Send rain out of season (Jam. 5:17-18) .
o Anoint Israel hydrologists to come up with new ways of producing fresh water (Prov. 16:9; 19:21).
o With all the crises that the government has to deal with, please do not let this one be ignored.
o Are there any among the vanities of the nations who make rain fall? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not You, O YHWH our God? Then we will wait on You; for You do all these things.Jer. 14:22
We also prayed for aliyah, the return of the Jews in exile to Israel. Ask God to stir up the nest of the Jewish people in your specific nation and for them to see that it is imperative to return home now. Also ask that the Church in your nation will see its obligation to help them to return (Isa. 49:22).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

Hebrew Language

- Hebrew of the Hebrews: One whose parents are both Hebrews (Phi 3:5; Co2 11:22); a genuine Hebrew. - Hebrews: (Act 6:1) were the Hebrew-speaking Jews, as distinguished from those who spoke Greek. (See GREEKS.) - Hebrew language: The language of the Hebrew nation, and that in which the Old Testament is written, with the exception of a few portions in Chaldee. In the Old Testament it is only spoken of as "Jewish" (Kg2 18:26, Kg2 18:28; Isa 36:11, Isa 36:13; Ch2 32:18). This name is first used by the Jews in times subsequent to the close of the Old Testament. It is one of the class of languages called Semitic, because they were chiefly spoken among the descendants of Shem. When Abraham entered Canaan it is obvious that he found the language of its inhabitants closely allied to his own. Isaiah (Isa 19:18) calls it "the language of Canaan." Whether this language, as seen in the earliest books of the Old Testament, was the very dialect which Abraham brought with him into Canaan, or whether it was the common tongue of the Canaanitish nations which he only adopted, is uncertain; probably the latter opinion is the correct one. For the thousand years between Moses and the Babylonian exile the Hebrew language underwent little or no modification. It preserves all through a remarkable uniformity of structure. From the first it appears in its full maturity of development. But through intercourse with Damascus, Assyria, and Babylon, from the time of David, and more particularly from the period of the Exile, it comes under the influence of the Aramaic idiom, and this is seen in the writings which date from this period. It was never spoken in its purity by the Jews after their return from Babylon. They now spoke Hebrew with a large admixture of Aramaic or Chaldee, which latterly became the predominant element in the national language. The Hebrew of the Old Testament has only about six thousand words, all derived from about five hundred roots. Hence the same word has sometimes a great variety of meanings. So long as it was a living language, and for ages after, only the consonants of the words were written. This also has been a source of difficulty in interpreting certain words, for the meaning varies according to the vowels which may be supplied. The Hebrew is one of the oldest languages of which we have any knowledge. It is essentially identical with the Phoenician language. (See MOABITE STONE.) The Semitic languages, to which class the Hebrew and Phoenician belonged, were spoken over a very wide area: in Babylonia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine and Arabia, in all the countries from the Mediterranean to the borders of Assyria, and from the mountains of Armenia to the Indian Ocean. The rounded form of the letters, as seen in the Moabite stone, was probably that in which the ancient Hebrew was written down to the time of the Exile, when the present square or Chaldean form was adopted. - Hebrews, Epistle to: (1.) Its canonicity. All the results of critical and historical research to which this epistle has been specially subjected abundantly vindicate its right to a place in the New Testament canon among the other inspired books. (2.) Its authorship. A considerable variety of opinions on this subject has at different times been advanced. Some have maintained that its author was Silas, Paul's companion. Others have attributed it to Clement of Rome, or Luke, or Barnabas, or some unknown Alexandrian Christian, or Apollos; but the conclusion which we think is best supported, both from internal and external evidence, is that Paul was its author. There are, no doubt, many difficulties in the way of accepting it as Paul's; but we may at least argue with Calvin that there can be no difficulty in the way of "embracing it without controversy as one of the apostolic epistles." (3.) Date and place of writing. It was in all probability written at Rome, near the close of Paul's two years' imprisonment (Heb 13:19, Heb 13:24). It was certainly written before the destruction of Jerusalem (Heb 13:10). (4.) To whom addressed. Plainly it was intended for Jewish converts to the faith of the gospel, probably for the church at Jerusalem. The subscription of this epistle is, of course, without authority. In this case it is incorrect, for obviously Timothy could not be the bearer of it (Heb 13:23). (5.) Its design was to show the true end and meaning of the Mosaic system, and its symbolical and transient character. It proves that the Levitical priesthood was a "shadow" of that of Christ, and that the legal sacrifices prefigured the great and all-perfect sacrifice he offered for us. It explains that the gospel was designed, not to modify the law of Moses, but to supersede and abolish it. Its teaching was fitted, as it was designed, to check that tendency to apostatize from Christianity and to return to Judaism which now showed itself among certain Jewish Christians. The supreme authority and the transcendent glory of the gospel are clearly set forth, and in such a way as to strengthen and confirm their allegiance to Christ. (6.) It consists of two parts: (a) doctrinal (Heb. 1 - 10:18), (b) and practical (Heb. 10:19 - 13:25). There are found in it many references to portions of the Old Testament. It may be regarded as a treatise supplementary to the Epistles to the Romans and Galatians, and as an inspired commentary on the book of Leviticus. - Hebron: A community; alliance. (1.) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. It was built "seven years before Zoan in Egypt" (Gen 13:18; Num 13:22). It still exists under the same name, and is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Its earlier name was Kirjath-arba (Gen 23:2; Jos 14:15; Jos 15:3). But "Hebron would appear to have been the original name of the city, and it was not till after Abraham's stay there that it received the name Kirjath-arba, who [i.e., Arba] was not the founder but the conqueror of the city, having led thither the tribe of the Anakim, to which he belonged. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron" (Keil, Com.). The name of this city does not occur in any of the prophets or in the New Testament. It is found about forty times in the Old. It was the favourite home of Abraham. Here he pitched his tent under the oaks of Mamre, by which name it came afterwards to be known; and here Sarah died, and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen 23:17), which he bought from Ephron the Hittite. From this place the patriarch departed for Egypt by way of Beersheba (Gen 37:14; Gen 46:1). It was taken by Joshua and given to Caleb (Jos 10:36, Jos 10:37; Jos 12:10; Jos 14:13). It became a Levitical city and a city of refuge (Jos 20:7; Jos 21:11). When David became king of Judah this was his royal residence, and he resided here for seven and a half years (Sa2 5:5); and here he was anointed as king over all Israel (Sa2 2:1, Sa2 2:11; Kg1 2:11). It became the residence also of the rebellious Absalom (Sa2 15:10), who probably expected to find his chief support in the tribe of Judah, now called el-Khulil. In one part of the modern city is a great mosque, which is built over the grave of Machpelah. The first European who was permitted to enter this mosque was the Prince of Wales in 1862. It was also visited by the Marquis of Bute in 1866, and by the late Emperor Frederick of Germany (then Crown-Prince of Prussia) in 1869. One of the largest oaks in Palestine is found in the valley of Eshcol, about 3 miles north of the town. It is supposed by some to be the tree under which Abraham pitched his tent, and is called "Abraham's oak." (See OAK.) (2.) The third son of Kohath the Levite (Exo 6:18; Ch1 6:2, Ch1 6:18). (3.) Ch1 2:42, Ch1 2:43. (4.) A town in the north border of Asher (Jos 19:28). - Hegai: Eunuch, had charge of the harem of Ahasuerus (Est 2:8). - Heifer: Heb. 'eglah , (Deu 21:4, Deu 21:6; Jer 46:20). Untrained to the yoke (Hos 10:11); giving milk (Isa 7:21); ploughing (Jdg 14:18); treading out grain (Jer 50:11); unsubdued to the yoke an emblem of Judah (Isa 15:5; Jer 48:34). Heb. parah (Gen 41:2; Num 19:2). Bearing the yoke (Hos 4:16); "heifers of Bashan" (Amo 4:1), metaphorical for the voluptuous females of Samaria. The ordinance of sacrifice of the "red heifer" described in Num 19:1; compare Heb 9:13. - Heir: Under the patriarchs the property of a father was divided among the sons of his legitimate wives (Gen 21:10; Gen 24:36; Gen 25:5), the eldest son getting a larger portion than the rest. The Mosaic law made specific regulations regarding the transmission of real property, which are given in detail in Deu 21:17; Num 27:8; Num 36:6; Num 27:9. Succession to property was a matter of right and not of favour. Christ is the "heir of all things" (Heb 1:2; Col 1:15). Believers are heirs of the "promise," "of righteousness," "of the kingdom," "of the world," "of God," "joint heirs" with Christ (Gal 3:29; Heb 6:17; Heb 11:7; Jam 2:5; Rom 4:13; Rom 8:17). - Helah: Rust, (Ch1 4:5, Ch1 4:7), one of the wives of Ashur. - Helam: Place of abundance, a place on the east of Jordan and west of the Euphrates where David gained a great victory over the Syrian army (Sa2 10:16), which was under the command of Shobach. Some would identify it with Alamatta, near Nicephorium.        

HalleluYAH

- Hallelujah: Praise ye Jehovah, frequently rendered "Praise ye the Lord," stands at the beginning of ten of the psalms (Ps. 106, 111-113, 135, 146 - 150), hence called "hallelujah psalms." From its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise. The Greek form of the word ( alleluia ) is found in Rev 19:1, Rev 19:3, Rev 19:4, Rev 19:6. - Hallow: To render sacred, to consecrate (Exo 28:38; Exo 29:1). This word is from the Saxon, and properly means "to make holy." The name of God is "hallowed", i.e., is reverenced as holy (Mat 6:9). - Halt: Lame on the feet (Gen 32:31; Psa 38:17). To "halt between two opinions" (Kg1 18:21) is supposed by some to be an expression used in "allusion to birds, which hop from spray to spray, forwards and backwards." The LXX. render the expression "How long go ye lame on both knees?" The Hebrew verb rendered "halt" is used of the irregular dance ("leaped upon") around the altar (Kg1 18:26). It indicates a lame, uncertain gait, going now in one direction, now in another, in the frenzy of wild leaping. - Ham: Warm, hot, and hence the south; also an Egyptian word meaning "black", the youngest son of Noah (Gen 5:32; compare Gen 9:22, Gen 9:24). The curse pronounced by Noah against Ham, properly against Canaan his fourth son, was accomplished when the Jews subsequently exterminated the Canaanites. One of the most important facts recorded in Gen. 10 is the foundation of the earliest monarchy in Babylonia by Nimrod the grandson of Ham (Gen 10:6, Gen 10:8, Gen 10:10). The primitive Babylonian empire was thus Hamitic, and of a cognate race with the primitive inhabitants of Arabia and of Ethiopia. (See ACCAD.) The race of Ham were the most energetic of all the descendants of Noah in the early times of the post-diluvian world. See table: Ham Families scattered to the extreme south Cush Mizraim Phut Canaan The Ethiopians and their colonies The Egyptians and their colonies The Libyans and Mauritanians The Canaanites, Phoenicians, and their colonies - Haman: Of Persian origin), magnificent, the name of the vizier (i.e., the prime minister) of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Est 3:1, etc.). He is called an "Agagite," which seems to denote that he was descended from the royal family of the Amalekites, the bitterest enemies of the Jews, as Agag was one of the titles of the Amalekite kings. He or his parents were brought to Persia as captives taken in war. He was hanged on the gallows which he had erected for Mordecai the Jew (Est 7:10). (See ESTHER.) - Hamath: Fortress, the capital of one of the kingdoms of Upper Syria of the same name, on the Orontes, in the valley of Lebanon, at the northern boundary of Palestine (Num 13:21; Num 34:8), at the foot of Hermon (Jos 13:5) towards Damascus (Zac 9:2; Jer 49:23). It is called "Hamath the great" in Amo 6:2, and "Hamath-zobah" in Ch2 8:3. Hamath, now Hamah, had an Aramaean population, but Hittite monuments discovered there show that it must have been at one time occupied by the Hittites. It was among the conquests of the Pharaoh Thothmes III. Its king, Tou or Toi, made alliance with David (Sa2 8:10), and in 740 B.C. Azariah formed a league with it against Assyria. It was, however, conquered by the Assyrians, and its nineteen districts placed under Assyrian governors. In 720 B.C. it revolted under a certain Yahu-bihdi, whose name, compounded with that of the God of Israel (Yahu), perhaps shows that he was of Jewish origin. But the revolt was suppressed, and the people of Hamath were transported to Samaria (Kg2 17:24, Kg2 17:30), where they continued to worship their god Ashima. Hamah is beautifully situated on the Orontes, 32 miles north of Emesa, and 36 south of the ruins of Assamea. The kingdom of Hamath comprehended the great plain lying on both banks of the Orontes from the fountain near Riblah to Assamea on the north, and from Lebanon on the west to the desert on the east. The "entrance of Hamath" (Num 34:8), which was the north boundary of Palestine, led from the west between the north end of Lebanon and the Nusairiyeh mountains. - Hamath-zobah: Fortress of Zobah, (Ch2 8:3) is supposed by some to be a different place from the foregoing; but this is quite uncertain. - Hammath: Warm springs, one of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali (Jos 19:35). It is identified with the warm baths (the heat of the water ranging from 136 degrees to 144 degrees) still found on the shore a little to the south of Tiberias under the name of Hummam Tabariyeh ("Bath of Tiberias"). - Hammedatha: Father of Haman, designated usually "the Agagite" (Est 3:1, Est 3:10; Est 8:5). - Hammelech: The king's, the father of Jerahmeel, mentioned in Jer 36:26. Some take this word as a common noun, "the king", and understand that Jerahmeel was Jehoiakim's son. Probably, however, it is to be taken as a proper name.        

AMEN or AMEIN or OMEIN

AMEN OR AMEIN?
The Hebrew of the First Covenant [Old Testament] reveals to us that the Scriptural Hebrew word (which means: so be it, or verily or surely) is
"Amein" (Phonetic Spelling is          “aw-mane”) and not "Amen".
Anyone can confirm this in Strong’s Concordance, No 543 in its Hebrew Lexicon, or in Aaron Pick's Dictionary of Old Testament Words for English Readers. 

I personally write it as “Ahmein” – it sounds exactly the same as the phonetic spelling and does NOT ALTER the word, nor does it alter the pronunciation of the word!  The letters “ah” appears TWICE in Almighty Father Y-ah-u-ah’s Name and ONCE in Messiah Y-ah-u-shu-a’s Name! In them everything is established (so be it)!

Why then, has this Scriptural word "Amein" been rendered as "Amen" in our versions? Again we can see how the pagans have been made welcome, been conciliated, by adopting the name of pagan deity into the Church.

The Egyptians, including the Alexandrians, had been worshipping, or been acquainted with, the head of the Egyptian pantheon, Amen-Ra, the great Sun-deity, for more than 1 000 years, B.C.E. Before this deity became known as Amenra – he was only known as Amen among the Thebians. This substitution of "Amen" for "Amein" was greatly facilitated by the fact that this Egyptian deity's name was spelt in Egyptian hieroglyphic language with only three letters: AMN. 

On the other hand, the Egyptian deity AMN is rendered by various sources as AMEN, or AMUN, or as AMON. However, the most reliable Egyptologists and archaeologists, such as Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, Dr. A.B. Cook, Prof. A Wiedemann, Sir W.M.F. Petrie, and A.W. Shorter, as well as some authoritative dictionaries, all render the name of this Egyptian deity as AMEN. This AMEN was originally the Theban "hidden god who is in heaven" -- "the hidden one, probably meaning hidden sun". Funk and Wagnalls, Standard College Dictionary, describes it, "AMEN: In Egyptian mythology, the god of life and procreation... later identified with the Sun-god as the supreme deity, and called 'Amen-Ra'.

"James Bonwick, Egyptian Belief and Modern Thought”, repeatedly and frankly calls the Sun-deity of Egypt by its correct name: AMEN. He states on pp. 123-125, "AMEN ... is in a sense, the chief deity of Egypt - supreme divinity. Whatever else he is, he must be accepted as the sun ... the hidden god, the solar aspect is clear ... there is the disk of the sun ... the sun Amen ... His identification with Ba’al ... establishes him as a solar deity ....

"  Smith's Bible Dictionary expresses AMEN as, "an Egyptian divinity ... he was worshipped ... as Amen-Ra, or 'Amen the Sun'." Herodotus recorded for us how the Greeks identified their Zeus with Amen-Ra. Yahushua Messiah calls Himself "the Amein" in Rev 3:14. 

Substituting a title or name of Yahushua with the name of the great hidden Sky-deity or the great Sun-deity of the Egyptians, Amen, is inconceivable! The difference is subtle, but it is there. By ending our prayers "Amen" instead of "Amein", one could very well conclude: We have been misled to [unintentionally] invoke the name of the Egyptian Sun-deity at the end of our prayers!
From the Book “Come out of Her My People” by C.J. Koster

Shabbachtani and Things

- Rye: =Rie (Heb. kussemeth ), found in Exo 9:32; Isa 28:25, in all of which the margins of the Authorized and of the Revised Versions have "spelt." This Hebrew word also occurs in Eze 4:9, where the Authorized Version has "fitches" (q.v.) and the Revised Version "spelt." This, there can be no doubt, was the Triticum spelta, a species of hard, rough-grained wheat. - Sabachthani: Thou hast forsaken me, one of the Aramaic words uttered by our Lord on the cross (Mat 27:46; Mar 15:34). - Sabaoth: The transliteration of the Hebrew word tsebha'oth , meaning "hosts," "armies" (Rom 9:29; Jam 5:4). In the LXX. the Hebrew word is rendered by "Almighty." (See Rev 4:8; compare Isa 6:3.) It may designate Jehovah as either (1.) God of the armies of earth, or (2.) God of the armies of the stars, or (3.) God of the unseen armies of angels; or perhaps it may include all these ideas. - Sabbath: (Heb. verb shabbath , meaning "to rest from labour"), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Gen 2:2). "The sabbath was made for man," as a day of rest and refreshment for the body and of blessing to the soul. It is next referred to in connection with the gift of manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness (Exo 16:23); and afterwards, when the law was given from Sinai (Exo 20:11), the people were solemnly charged to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Thus it is spoken of as an institution already existing. In the Mosaic law strict regulations were laid down regarding its observance (Exo 35:2, Exo 35:3; Lev 23:3; Lev 26:34). These were peculiar to that dispensation. In the subsequent history of the Jews frequent references are made to the sanctity of the Sabbath (Isa 56:2, Isa 56:4, Isa 56:6, Isa 56:7; Isa 58:13, Isa 58:14; Jer 17:20; Neh 13:19). In later times they perverted the Sabbath by their traditions. Our Lord rescued it from their perversions, and recalled to them its true nature and intent (Mat 12:10; Mar 2:27; Luk 13:10). The Sabbath, originally instituted for man at his creation, is of permanent and universal obligation. The physical necessities of man require a Sabbath of rest. He is so constituted that his bodily welfare needs at least one day in seven for rest from ordinary labour. Experience also proves that the moral and spiritual necessities of men also demand a Sabbath of rest. "I am more and more sure by experience that the reason for the observance of the Sabbath lies deep in the everlasting necessities of human nature, and that as long as man is man the blessedness of keeping it, not as a day of rest only, but as a day of spiritual rest, will never be annulled. I certainly do feel by experience the eternal obligation, because of the eternal necessity, of the Sabbath. The soul withers without it. It thrives in proportion to its observance. The Sabbath was made for man. God made it for men in a certain spiritual state because they needed it. The need, therefore, is deeply hidden in human nature. He who can dispense with it must be holy and spiritual indeed. And he who, still unholy and unspiritual, would yet dispense with it is a man that would fain be wiser than his Maker" (F. W. Robertson). The ancient Babylonian calendar, as seen from recently recovered inscriptions on the bricks among the ruins of the royal palace, was based on the division of time into weeks of seven days. The Sabbath is in these inscriptions designated Sabattu, and defined as "a day of rest for the heart" and "a day of completion of labour." The change of the day. Originally at creation the seventh day of the week was set apart and consecrated as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is now observed as the Sabbath. Has God authorized this change? There is an obvious distinction between the Sabbath as an institution and the particular day set apart for its observance. The question, therefore, as to the change of the day in no way affects the perpetual obligation of the Sabbath as an institution. Change of the day or no change, the Sabbath remains as a sacred institution the same. It cannot be abrogated. If any change of the day has been made, it must have been by Christ or by his authority. Christ has a right to make such a change (Mar 2:23). As Creator, Christ was the original Lord of the Sabbath (Joh 1:3; Heb 1:10). It was originally a memorial of creation. A work vastly greater than that of creation has now been accomplished by him, the work of redemption. We would naturally expect just such a change as would make the Sabbath a memorial of that greater work. True, we can give no text authorizing the change in so many words. We have no express law declaring the change. But there are evidences of another kind. We know for a fact that the first day of the week has been observed from apostolic times, and the necessary conclusion is, that it was observed by the apostles and their immediate disciples. This, we may be sure, they never would have done without the permission or the authority of their Lord. After his resurrection, which took place on the first day of the week (Mat 28:1; Mar 16:2; Luk 24:1; Joh 20:1), we never find Christ meeting with his disciples on the seventh day. But he specially honoured the first day by manifesting himself to them on four separate occasions (Mat 28:9; Luk 24:34, 18-33; Joh 20:19). Again, on the next first day of the week, Jesus appeared to his disciples (Joh 20:26). Some have calculated that Christ's ascension took place on the first day of the week. And there can be no doubt that the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost was on that day (Act 2:1). Thus Christ appears as instituting a new day to be observed by his people as the Sabbath, a day to be henceforth known amongst them as the "Lord's day." The observance of this "Lord's day" as the Sabbath was the general custom of the primitive churches, and must have had apostolic sanction (compare Act 20:3; Co1 16:1, Co1 16:2) and authority, and so the sanction and authority of Jesus Christ. The words "at her sabbaths" (Lam 1:7, A.V.) ought probably to be, as in the Revised Version, "at her desolations." - Sabbath Day's Journey: Supposed to be a distance of 2,000 cubits, or less than half-a-mile, the distance to which, according to Jewish tradition, it was allowable to travel on the Sabbath day without violating the law (Act 1:12; compare Exo 16:29; Num 35:5; Jos 3:4). - Sabbatical Year: Every seventh year, during which the land, according to the law of Moses, had to remain uncultivated (Lev 25:2; compare Exo 23:10, Exo 23:11, Exo 23:12; Lev 26:34, Lev 26:35). Whatever grew of itself during that year was not for the owner of the land, but for the poor and the stranger and the beasts of the field. All debts, except those of foreigners, were to be remitted (Deu 15:1). There is little notice of the observance of this year in Biblical history. It appears to have been much neglected (Ch2 36:20, Ch2 36:21). - Sabeans: Descendants of Seba (Gen 10:7); Africans (Isa 43:3). They were "men of stature," and engaged in merchandise (Isa 45:14). Their conversion to the Lord was predicted (Psa 72:10). This word, in Eze 23:42, should be read, as in the margin of the Authorized Version, and in the Revised Version, "drunkards." Another tribe, apparently given to war, is mentioned in Job 1:15. - Sabtah: Rest, the third son of Cush (Gen 10:7; Ch1 1:9). - Sabtecha: The fifth son of Cush (id.). - Sachar: Hire. (1.) One of David's heroes (Ch1 11:35); called also Sharar (Sa2 23:33). (2.) A son of Obed-edom the Gittite, and a temple porter (Ch1 26:4).        

YESHUA dan Hari Raya SUKOT

Shalom,

Apa yg Yeshua tulis ditanah ?

Yohanes 8:6 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Mereka mengatakan hal itu untuk mencobai Dia, supaya mereka memperoleh sesuatu untuk menyalahkan-Nya. Tetapi Yesus membungkuk lalu menulis dengan jari-Nya di tanah.

Apakah yang MESIAS tulis saat itu? Tidak ada seorangpun yang mengetahui apa yang YESHUA tulis pada saat itu.

Tetapi...

Ada beberapa PETUNJUK yang dapat kita pelajari, dan memungkinkan kita untuk mengetahui apa yang YESHUA tulis pada saat itu ketika IA diperhadapkan kepada perempuan yang dituduh berzinah.

Beberapa PETUNJUK itu adalah:

1.)
Kejadian tersebut terjadi pada HARI RAYA "SUKKOT" (HARI RAYA "PONDOK DAUN").

Yohanes 7:2 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Ketika itu sudah dekat hari raya orang Yahudi, yaitu hari raya PONDOK DAUN.

Yohanes 7:10 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Tetapi sesudah saudara-saudara Yesus berangkat ke pesta itu, IA-pun PERGI JUGA KE SITU, tidak terang-terangan tetapi diam-diam.

2.)
Pada HARI RAYA "SUKKOT", YESHUA masuk ke "BEIT HA'MIKDASH" (BAIT SUCI), dan mengajar di situ, memberikan "MIDRASH".

Yohanes 7:14 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Waktu pesta itu sedang berlangsung, Yesus masuk ke Bait Elohim lalu mengajar di situ.

3.)
Dari "MIDRASH" yang diberikan oleh YESHUA pada HARI RAYA "SUKKOT", ada beberapa orang yang menjadi percaya, dan ada beberapa orang dari SANHEDRIN yang menjadi iri hati.

Yohanes 7:31 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Tetapi di antara orang banyak itu ada BANYAK YANG PERCAYA kepada-Nya dan mereka berkata: "Apabila Kristus datang, mungkinkah Ia akan mengadakan lebih banyak mujizat dari pada yang telah diadakan oleh Dia ini?"

Yohanes 7:32 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Orang-orang Farisi mendengar orang banyak membisikkan hal-hal itu mengenai Dia, dan karena itu imam-imam kepala dan orang-orang Farisi menyuruh penjaga-penjaga Bait Elohim untuk menangkap-Nya.

4.)
Pada puncak HARI RAYA "SUKKOT", yaitu HARI KE-7 dari HARI RAYA "SUKKOT", dikenal dengan nama "HOSHANA RABBAH" pada saat IMAM BESAR BAIT SUCI membawa AIR dari kolam SHILOACH (SILOAM) ke dalam altar BAIT SUCI, YESHUA menjelaskan bahwa ritual itu adalah mengenai DIRI-NYA.

Yohanes 7:37 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Dan pada hari terakhir, yaitu pada puncak perayaan itu, Yesus berdiri dan berseru: "Barangsiapa haus, baiklah ia datang kepada-Ku dan minum!

Yohanes 7:38 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI) 
Barangsiapa percaya kepada-Ku, seperti yang dikatakan oleh Kitab Suci: Dari dalam hatinya akan mengalir aliran-aliran air hidup."

Yohanes 7:39 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Yang dimaksudkan-Nya ialah Roh yang akan diterima oleh mereka yang percaya kepada-Nya; sebab Roh itu belum datang, karena Yesus belum dimuliakan.

Yohanes 7:40 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI) 
orang di antara orang banyak, yang mendengarkan perkataan-perkataan itu, berkata: "Dia ini benar-benar nabi yang akan datang."

Yohanes 7:41 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI) 
lain berkata: "Ia ini Mesias." Tetapi yang lain lagi berkata: "Bukan, Mesias tidak datang dari Galilea!

Yohanes 7:42 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Karena Kitab Suci mengatakan, bahwa Mesias berasal dari keturunan Daud dan dari kampung Betlehem, tempat Daud dahulu tinggal."

Yohanes 7:43 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Maka timbullah pertentangan di antara orang banyak karena Dia.

Yohanes 7:44 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Beberapa orang di antara mereka mau menangkap Dia, tetapi tidak ada seorangpun yang berani menyentuh-Nya.

5.)
Melihat hal itu, para imam kepala dan orang-orang Farisi menjadi marah dan iri hati.

Yohanes 7:45 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Maka penjaga-penjaga itu pergi kepada imam-imam kepala dan orang-orang Farisi, yang berkata kepada mereka: "Mengapa kamu tidak membawa-Nya?"

Yohanes 7:46 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Jawab penjaga-penjaga itu: "Belum pernah seorang manusia berkata seperti orang itu!"

Yohanes 7:47 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Jawab orang-orang Farisi itu kepada mereka: "Adakah kamu juga disesatkan?

Dari poin no.1 - no.5 kita melihat bahwa yang membenci YESHUA adalah bukan keseluruhan orang-orang Yahudi, tetapi hanya orang-orang Yahudi di dalam SANHEDRIN, yaitu para imam kepala dan orang-orang Farisi.

Kemudian kita lihat poin selanjutnya.

6.)
"HOSHANA RABBAH" adalah HARI KE-7 dari "SUKKOT". Setelah "HOSHANA RABBAH", maka perayaan selanjutnya adalah "SHEMINI ATZERET", yaitu HARI KE-8 dari "SUKKOT", seperti yang diperintahkan di dalam Bilangan 29:35.

Bilangan 29:35 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Pada hari yang kedelapan haruslah kamu mengadakan perkumpulan raya, maka tidak boleh kamu melakukan sesuatu pekerjaan berat.

Pada saat "SHEMINI ATZERET", YESHUA tetap memberikan pengajaran-Nya, memberikan MIDRASH.

Yohanes 8:1 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
tetapi Yesus pergi ke bukit Zaitun.

Yohanes 8:2 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Pagi-pagi benar Ia berada lagi di Bait Elohim, dan seluruh rakyat datang kepada-Nya. Ia duduk dan mengajar mereka.

Yohanes 8:3 - Terjemahan Baru (TB-LAI)
Maka ahli-ahli Taurat dan orang-orang Farisi membawa kepada-Nya seorang

Israel and Ya'akov

- Israel: The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen 32:28), because "as a prince he had power with God and prevailed." (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob's descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called "Israelites," the "children of Israel" (Jos 3:17; Jos 7:25; Jdg 8:27; Jer 3:21), and the "house of Israel" (Exo 16:31; Exo 40:38). This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Psa 73:1; Isa 45:17; Isa 49:3; Joh 1:47; Rom 9:6; Rom 11:26). After the death of Saul the ten tribes arrogated to themselves this name, as if they were the whole nation (Sa2 2:9, Sa2 2:10, Sa2 2:17, Sa2 2:28; Sa2 3:10, Sa2 3:17; Sa2 19:40), and the kings of the ten tribes were called "kings of Israel," while the kings of the two tribes were called "kings of Judah." After the Exile the name Israel was assumed as designating the entire nation. - Israel, Kingdom of: (975-722 B.C.). Soon after the death of Solomon, Ahijah's prophecy (Kg1 11:31) was fulfilled, and the kingdom was rent in twain. See map, Kingdoms of Israel and Judah Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents (Kg1 12:2, Kg1 12:3). Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten the burdensome taxation and services which his father had imposed on his subjects (Kg1 12:4), and the rebellion became complete. Ephraim and all Israel raised the old cry, "Every man to his tents, O Israel" (Sa2 20:1). Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:1-18; 2 Chr. 10), and Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem, Judah and Benjamin remaining faithful to Solomon's son. War, with varying success, was carried on between the two kingdoms for about sixty years, till Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with the house of Ahab. See table of Kingdoms: Kingdoms of Israel and Judah Dura-tion of Kings of Israel Commence-ment of Reign Kings of Judah Dura-tion of Reign Margin of A.V. Ussher Reign 22 Jeroboam (Kg1 12:20, Kg1 12:25; 13:1-34; 14:1-20) 975 976 Rehoboam (Kg1 12:21; Kg1 14:21; 2 Chr. 10:17-12:1 17 958 959 Abijah (Kg1 15:1; 2 Chr. 13) 3 955 956 Asa (1 Ki. 15:9-24; 2 Chr. 14:1-16:14) 41 2 Nadab (Kg1 15:25, Kg1 15:31) 954 955 24 Baasha (Kg1 15:28; Kg1 16:1) 953 954 2 Elah (Kg1 16:8) 930 930 0 Zimri (Kg1 16:11, Kg1 16:12, Kg1 16:15) 929 930 12 Omri (Kg1 16:21) 929 930 22 Ahab (Kg1 16:29 to Kg1 22:40) 918 919 914 915 Jehoshaphat (Kg1 22:41; 2 Chr. 17:1-21:1) 25 2 Ahaziah (Kg1 22:51; 2 Ki. 1) 898 896 12 Jehoram (2 Ki. 3:1-9:26) 896 895 892 891 Jehoram (Kg2 8:16; 2 Chr. 21) 8 885 884 Ahaziah (Kg2 8:25; Kg2 9:16; Ch2 22:1) 1 28 Jehu (2 Ki. 9:1-37; 10:1-36) 884 883 Athaliah (Kg2 11:1; Ch2 22:10) 6 878 877 Jehoash (2 Ki. 11:4-12:1; 2 Chr. 23-24) 40 17 Jehoahaz (Kg2 13:1) 856 855 16 Jehoash (2 Ki. 13:10-25; Kg2 14:8) 841 839 839 837 Amaziah (2 Ki. 14:1-20; 2 Chr. 25) 29 41 Jeroboam II. (Kg2 14:23) 825 823 810 808 Uzziah or Azariah (Kg2 14:21, Kg2 14:22; Kg2 15:1; 2 Chr 26) 52 11 Interregnum 0 Zachariah (Kg2 15:8) 773 771 0 Shallum (Kg2 15:13) 772 770 10 Menahem (Kg2 15:16) 772 770 2 Pekahiah (Kg2 15:23) 761 759 20 Pekah (Kg2 15:27; Kg2 16:5) 759 757 758 756 Jotham (Kg2 15:32; Ch2 27:1) 16 742 741 Ahaz (2 Ki. 16; 2 Chr. 28) 16 9 Second Interregnum 9 Hoshea (2 Kings 17:1-23) 730 730 726 726 Hezekiah (2 Ki. 18:1-20:21; 2 Chr. 29:1-32:33) 29 Samaria taken (2 Ki. 17-18 721 721 698 697 Manasseh (2 Ki. 21:1-18; 2 Chr. 33:1-20) 55 643 642 Amon (Kg2 21:19; Ch2 33:21) 2 641 640 Josiah (2 Ki. 22:1-20; 23:1-30; 2 Chr. 34-35) 31 610 609 Jehoahaz (Kg2 23:31; Ch2 36:1) 0 610 609 Jehoiachim (Kg2 23:34; Kg2 24:1; Ch2 36:5) 11 606 606 Captivity of two tribes (2 ki. 24) 599 599 Jehoiachin or Coniah (Kg2 24:8; Ch2 36:9 0 599 599 Zedekiah (Kg2 24:17; Kg2 25:1; Ch2 36:11) 11 588 588 Jerusalem destroyed (2 Ki. 25) Extent of the kingdom. In the time of Solomon the area of Palestine excluding the Phoenician territories on the shore of the Mediterranean did not much exceed 13000 square miles. The kingdom of Israel comprehended about 9375 square miles. Shechem was the first capital of this kingdom (Kg1 12:25) afterwards Tirza (Kg1 14:17). Samaria was subsequently chosen as the capital (Kg1 16:24) and continued to be so till the destruction of the kingdom by the Assyrians (Kg2 17:5). During the siege of Samaria (which lasted for three years) by the Assyrians Shalmaneser died and was succeeded by Sargon who himself thus records the capture of that city: "Samaria I looked at I captured; 27280 men who dwelt in it I carried away" (Kg2 17:6) into Assyria. Thus after a duration of two hundred and fifty-three years the kingdom of the ten tribes came to an end. They were scattered throughout the East. (See CAPTIVITY.) "Judah held its ground against Assyria for yet one hundred and twenty-three years and became the rallying-point of the dispersed of every tribe and eventually gave its name to the whole race. Those of the people who in the last struggle escaped into the territories of Judah or other neighbouring countries naturally looked to Judah as the head and home of their race. And when Judah itself was carried off to Babylon many of the exiled Israelites joined them from Assyria and swelled that immense population which made Babylonia a second Palestine." After the deportation of the ten tribes the deserted land was colonized by various eastern tribes whom the king of Assyria sent thither (Ezr 4:2 Ezr 4:10; Kg2 17:24). (See KINGS.) In contrast with the kingdom of Judah is that of Israel. (1.) "There was no fixed capital and no religious centre. (2.) The army was often insubordinate. (3.) The succession was constantly interrupted so that out of nineteen kings there were no less than nine dynasties each ushered in by a revolution. (4.) The authorized priests left the kingdom in a body and the priesthood established by Jeroboam had no divine sanction and no promise; it was corrupt at its very source." (Maclean's O. T. Hist.) - Issachar: Hired (Gen 30:18). "God hath given me," said Leah, "my hire (Heb. sekhari )... and she called his name Issachar." He was Jacob's ninth son, and was born in Padan-aram (compare Gen 28:2). He had four sons at the going down into Egypt (Gen 46:13; Num 26:23, Num 26:25). Issachar, Tribe of, during the journey through the wilderness, along with Judah and Zebulun (Num 2:5), marched on the east of the tabernacle. This tribe contained 54,400 fighting men when the census was taken at Sinai. After the entrance into the Promised Land, this tribe was one of the six which stood on Gerizim during the ceremony of the blessing and cursing (Deu 27:12). The allotment of Issachar is described in Jos 19:17. It included the plain of Esdraelon (= Jezreel), which was and still is the richest portion of Palestine (Deu 33:18, Deu 33:19; Ch1 12:40). The prophetic blessing pronounced by Jacob on Issachar corresponds with that of Moses (Gen 49:14, Gen 49:15; compare Deu 33:18, Deu 33:19). - Italian band: The name of the Roman cohort to which Cornelius belonged (Act 10:1), so called probably because it consisted of men recruited in Italy. - Italy: Act 18:2; Act 27:1, Act 27:6; Heb 13:24), like most geographical names, was differently used at different periods of history. As the power of Rome advanced, nations were successively conquered and added to it till it came to designate the whole country to the south of the Alps. There was constant intercourse between Palestine and Italy in the time of the Romans. - Ithamar: Palm isle, the fourth and youngest son of Aaron (Ch1 6:3). He was consecrated to the priesthood along with his brothers (Exo 6:23); and after the death of Nadab and Abihu, he and Eleazar alone discharged the functions of that office (Lev 10:6, Lev 10:12; Num 3:4). He and his family occupied the position of common priest till the high priesthood passed into his family in the person of Eli (Kg1 2:27), the reasons for which are not recorded. (See ZADOK.) - Ithrite: Two of David's warriors so designated (Sa2 23:38; Ch1 11:40). - Ittai: Near; timely; or, with the Lord. (1.) A Benjamite, one of David's thirty heroes (Sa2 23:29). (2.) A native of Gath, a Philistine, who had apparently the command of the six hundred heroes who formed David's band during his wanderings (Sa2 15:19; compare Sa1 23:13; Sa1 27:2; Sa1 30:9, Sa1 30:10). He is afterwards with David at Mahanaim, holding in the army equal rank with Joab and Abishai (Sa2 18:2, Sa2 18:5, Sa2 18:12). He then passes from view. - Ituraea: A district in the north-east of Palestine, forming, along with the adjacent territory of Trachonitis, the tetrarchy of Philip (Luk 3:1). The present Jedur comprehends the chief part of Ituraea. It is bounded on the east by Trachonitis, on the south by Gaulanitis, on the west by Hermon, and on the north by the plain of Damascus. - Ivah: Overturning, a city of the Assyrians, whence colonists were brought to Samaria (Kg2 18:34; Kg2 19:13). It lay on the Euphrates, between Sepharvaim and Henah, and is supposed by some to have been the Ahava of Ezra (Ezr 8:15).