Randy Felton
Potter’s Clay Ministries, Inc.
417 NW 42^nd St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Shalom2@cox.net
www.haydid.org/potter.htm

Children

Since this is a class that is addressing the family from a Jewish perspective, we will not spend much time on traditional Christian roles. I will try to show the concept as followed through the New Testament and how it applies. I firmly believe that our Christian teachings come directly from the traditional Jewish teachings. Jesus was raised as a Jewish child, in a Jewish home. The Disciples and Apostles of the first church were all Jewish. If we want to pattern our lives after Jesus, then I would think we should raise our children after the same pattern He was raised by.

In Jewish tradition, the central purpose of marriage is to have children. We have the commandment in Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful and multiply. The house of Hillel (Bet Hillel, or in our understanding; the school of Hillel) taught that the requirement was met by one child of each sex. According to Shammai, two boys. Children were considered a blessing and a childless man was considered dead. A woman that did not bear a child in the first 10 years of marriage was subject to divorce. Such was the importance of children.

It was the father’s responsibility or duty, to circumcise and redeem the first born, if a son, and to provide him with a proper education, a trade and a wife. According to some, the father should teach him how to swim. A father must also see his daughter married. The mother is instructed to breastfeed her children during the first 24 months. A father was expected to provide for his children until they reach the age of majority. The synod of Usha held that children must only be provided for until the age of seven. A father bears moral responsibility for his children only while they are minors. That responsibility ends for girls at the age of 12 and one day, and boys at 13 and one day, even though the boy does not attain majority in the matters of real estate and such matters until the age of 20.

The children’s major obligation toward their parents was to honor them, and if they are needy, to provide them with food, clothing and personal attention. A child who beat or cursed his parents was subject to capitol punishment. Deuteronomy 21: 18-21 says that a rebellious son should be stoned to death. Children who offend their parents may be dispossessed. This action is frowned upon in other circumstances.

Religious education was seen as of utmost importance. I have two schools of thought that I have found regarding the early education. One says that at age 5 the child should be taught scripture, at age ten, Mishnah, at 13 to fulfill the Torah, and at age 15 to study Talmud. The other opinion is that a child should be taught as soon as his speech is distinct. The scripture that would first be taught to a child is the "shema", found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

As you can see, foundations were laid very early. It was, and still is, customary to bless the children on the eve of Sabbath and sometimes on Saturday evening at the close of the Sabbath. The father lay his hands on the children’s heads or kisses them on the forehead and recites the traditional blessing. For boys it is; May you be like Ephraim and Manasseh. For girls; May you be like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah. Often the children are blessed by the parents at the close of the synagogue service, on holidays, and the eve of Holy Days. The mother will also bless the children, both small and adult. It is customary for a parent to bless his children from his deathbed. If a grandparent is alive, their blessing is also sought after on special occasions. Children should also be blessed on the occasion of a wedding. We often find ourselves missing out on some of the most precious moments with our children because we are too busy to stop and realize that we need to bless our children. More importantly, our children need to be blessed by us.

We Bless Our Sons.

"May You be like Ephraim and Manasseh"

We are looking at the blessing we recite over our sons on the Sabbath. The question before us is; What does it mean to be as Ephraim and Manasseh? Why is the blessing connected to them and not to David or Solomon or one of the patriarchs? I believe it is because it is Messianic in nature. First we will look at Ephraim and Manasseh to see just who they were.

We will start with the first born, Manasseh. He was born of Joseph and his name means forgetful. Joseph had two sons by Asenath, the daughter of Poterpheriah the priest of On. Asenath was Egyptian. Joseph named Manasseh because he said "he has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house." When brought to Jacob to receive his blessing, Jacob crossed his hands and deliberately blessed Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. In this act the double blessing of the first born was passed on to the youngest. In Jacob’s blessing is the promise that Manasseh will become a people and he shall also be great. Genesis 48:20 Jacob says: " In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh." This pattern is followed today in the Sabbath blessing we are studying.

After the blessing, Jacob "adopted" the two boys. Instead of splitting Joseph’s inheritance in two for them, he assured each a full portion of inheritance in the land. Once adopted, they could not be passed over in the future. They each now became patriarchs and the tribes which grew from them carried their names.

In the Promised Land, Israel, the territory of Manasseh was located on both sides of the Jordan River. The great judge Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh, I Judges 6:15. Historically, Manasseh is given preeminence at times. This is probably due to the larger territory and population. The city of Shechem was in the land of Manasseh and was quite prominent.

The literal meaning of Ephraim is "twin land" or "double land". Joseph named Ephraim because as his second son, Joseph was doubly blessed. However the name had prophetic implications. He was elected and chosen over his older brother and was to rule over him. This is reflected in the "double portion" blessing from Jacob.

This idea of a double portion is really quite practical. Within the culture, the eldest son held a special place. He was to serve at banquets for his father. He was also to arrange and take care of the family business when he reached the age of 30. The oldest son was the one to settle family disputes between his father and other members of the family. He was also to care for and continue to raise his younger siblings in the absence of his father. Thus, the double portion allowed the means to carry out the responsibilities.

In later years Ephraim came to such prominence among the nations that the whole of northern Israel became known as Ephraim. In other words, Ephraim became a euphemism for the 10 northern tribes. See Isaiah 7:2.

Ezekiel 37:19 speaks of the two sticks, Ephraim and Judah becoming one and is speaking of the joining of the two kingdoms of Israel into one. Judah and the 10 northern tribes. Verse 16 speaks of Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions. This is referring to the restoration and reunification of Israel and has nothing to do with Gentiles. The Israelites will be brought out of the heathen nations and gathered into Israel, Ezekiel 37:21-22.

Historically, the naming of northern Israel became common under the rulership of Omri 882-873 BC. Ezekiel was writing around 597-585 BC. So the historic platform Ezekiel was writing from gave the understanding of the reuniting of both houses of Israel. Ephesians 2:14 speaks of the middle wall of partition being broken down that the two may become one. This is speaking of Gentiles and Israel becoming one in Messiah. It is a different occurrence from the passage in Ezekiel. Two different situations and two different groups of people. I believe the valley of dry bones in the same chapter speaks of the same time and the same thing occurring. When Israel became a nation in 1948, the dry bones came to life and from then to now, the Israelites have been gathered into the land and the two houses are becoming one. We may call them Jews, but it is my firm conviction that all 12 tribes are represented in the peoples who are being gathered into the nation before our very eyes. The whole of Ezekiel 37 is happening in our lifetimes.

Blessing – We bless our daughters

"May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah." So goes the blessing for our daughters each Sabbath. Who are these women and why do we want our daughters to be like them?

First I want to take a look at just what each name means in Hebrew and then we will look at their stories and their character.

Sarah – "And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her." Genesis 17:15-16

Sarah was a woman of promise. God blessed her by allowing her to have children at the advanced age of 90. Sarah was beautiful, so beautiful that at the age of 65, Abraham felt it necessary to conceal the fact that they were married to guard his life for fear that Egyptians would kill him and take Sarah for themselves.

The name change is from " A princess of her own people" to "A princess for all mankind". As with Abraham, the promise was to "expand her tent".

Rebekah - From Gesenius; " a rope with a noose," not unfit as the name of a girl who ensnares men by her beauty.

Genesis 24:15-20 tell us that she was kind to strangers and animals. She became the wife of Isaac and gave birth to Jacob and Esau. As with Sarah, Rebekah was beautiful and Isaac claimed Rebekah as his sister to protect himself from the men of Gerar. Rebekah also heard from God regarding the great nations that would rise from her children.

Rachel – Sheep, coming from a root which means to cherish. Rachel kept her father’s sheep. She was cherished by Jacob. Rachel was beautiful and shapely (Genesis 29:30) and like Sarah was also barren, but the Lord did not forget her and she finally gave birth to Joseph. Genesis 30:25 Rachel also gave birth to Benjamin and then died. Genesis 35:18-19.

Leah – "wearied", the eldest daughter of Laban who was given to Jacob by deceit. Leah was said to be "weak" or "dull" of eye, which may mean her eyes lacked luster (a sign of beauty). She bore many children, some of whom were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah. Half of the 12 tribes of Israel were born to Leah and her hand maiden. The rest to Rachel and her hand maiden. Clearly, Leah was blessed to give life to so many of the house of Israel. She was not as beautiful as Rachel, but was blessed through birth. Leah also stood with Jacob against her father and was considered faithful even though she had to struggle to maintain her rightful place in the marriage.

Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah, the four names recited in the Sabbath blessing on our daughters. May you be beautiful. May you hear from God. May you be fruitful and have children who grow to be men of stature. May you be found faithful even in the midst of struggle. May you always cleave to your husband in adversity. May you not forget the Lord your God and give Him praise in all things.

These are the things we wish on our daughters when we bless them with the names of our matriarchs. All were divinely chosen by God to fulfill His purpose. All chose to serve the Lord and seek His face to answer their hearts cry. What more could we want for our daughters?

Return to Potter's Clay Homepage