NITZAVIM: The name of the fifty-first reading from the Torah is Nitzavim, which means "you are standing." The name is derived from the first verse of the portion in which Moses says, "You stand (nitzavim) today, all of you, before the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 29:10). In this portion, Moses invites the entire assembly of Israel to take on the covenant. He warns them that if they sin they will go into exile, but he also predicts that, in the future, they will repent and God will return them to the land of Israel. In some years, Nitzavim is read together with the subsequent Torah portion, Vayelech.
VAYELECH: The name of the fifty-second reading from the Torah is Vayelech, which means "and he went." The name is derived from the first word of the first verse of the portion: "So Moses went (vayelech) and spoke these words to all Israel." In this short portion, Moses commands an assembly for a public Torah reading and covenant renewal once every seven years. He then finishes writing the scroll of the Torah and has it deposited in the holy of holies next to the ark of the covenant.
The haftarah for parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech (i.e., Isa. 61:10-63:9) is the last of the seven readings from the prophets that are consecutively read before Rosh Hashanah. These "haftarot of comfort" foretell of the restoration of the Jewish people and of the coming of the Messianic Era. In this week's reading, the future salvation of the nation of Israel is described. The LORD promises to shine His glorious light upon the Jewish people and to reveal His glory, despite the hour of darkness and tribulation that comes upon the earth.
This beautiful portion sounds the note of rapturous exultation regarding the restoration of Israel after their long exile. Just as a seed must "fall to the ground and die" (John 12:24) in order to become reconstituted into newness of life, so will Israel, after having been nearly destroyed in the Great Tribulation, return to life when they receive their King in the days of His glorious kingdom.
"For Zion's Sake, I will not keep silent..." Zion (or Jerusalem) is central to the Jewish heart since it is the focal point of God's redemptive plan for humanity. God began the creation of the universe there, and the very dust of Mt. Moriah is said to have been used to create Adam (who was later placed in the "garden which lay to the East"). Indeed, it was in Jerusalem that Abraham met with Malkhi-Tzedek (Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1) and afterward offered Isaac upon Mt. Moriah (Gen 22:1-19). King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel (2 Sam 24:18-25), and the First Temple was built there (1 Kings 6-8; 2 Chron 3:1-2). Zerubbabel and Nehemiah built the Second Temple in Jerusalem (Neh 4-6) which King Herod later remodeled. And of course by means of His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection from the dead, the Messiah performed His sacrificial work in Jerusalem.
Before the great celebration occurs, however, there is the ominous vision of the LORD judging the nations during the time of the Great Tribulation. After this, paradise is restored, and Jerusalem is made the praise of all the earth. This is the climax of Jewish redemptive history, when "all Israel will be saved."
| Torah Portion | Haftarah Portion(s) | B'rit Chadashah Portion(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30 | Isaiah 61:10-63:9 | Luke 24:1-43 |
| Romans 10:1-18 | ||
| Bonus Materials | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nehemia's Wall | Torah Pearls | Prophet Pearls |
| Nitzavim | ||
| Vayelech | ||
| Hebrew4Christians | Table Talk - Nitzavim | Table Talk - Vayelech |
| Commentary | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardelle -ver1 | Tim Hegg -part1 | Tim Hegg -part2 | Tim Hegg -part3 |