Hypothesis:
Biblical authority is the responsibility of the Sons of Israel to obey the Torah and to instruct the family of Yah to hear and do.
In this study we will search the Torah to clearly define biblical authority, and how that may affect whether a woman can teach in a mixed assembly or not? My personal view is that biblical authority should always be defined by scripture (starting in the Torah) and if so proven; must be accepted by everyone. Scripture must clearly support this hypothesis. Let us start in the Torah in the book of Leviticus Chapter 18; Father tells the prophet (Moses) to address the Sons of Israel.
The LORD spoke to Moses, He said: 'Speak to the Sons of Israel and say to them."
This word Sons in the Hebrew is the word בְּנֵ֣י (be·nei), which most people think means children, because KJV translators erroneously translated it to children, but it means Sons. The word for Children is ילדים (Yeladim) and the word for daughters is בנות (Banot).
This whole chapter is dealing with conjugal relationships. Yah does not instruct the woman about this but the men. In the next chapter the heading in the Jerusalem Bible is Worship, and this time Yah directs Moses to speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel.
YHVH spoke to Moses; He said; 'Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them."
This language leads the reader to understand that there is a difference, saying the whole community means that the women and children were gathered to hear. Although most of the verbiage is still directed toward the men, Abba makes it clear to all what is expected. In Leviticus 20, Yah also mentions to Moses that he is directing His words to the Sons of Israel, but at this point the whole assembly of Israel is still present so I would have to assume that though he directs His words at the Sons, the whole community is still hearing everything. Why is this important? If you look at the language of the Torah, Yehovah directs most of His verbal instructions that He gives Moses to the Sons of Israel, which are clearly the men. Why?
CONSECRATION OF THE FIRST-BORN MALES
In Exodus God directs Moses:
“Consecrate all the first-born to me the first issue of every womb, among the sons of Israel. Whether man or beast, this is mine.”
Exodus 13:1, 2:
The passage makes it clear that from among the ‘sons of Israel,’ whether man or beast, these were to be consecrated to Him.
As Yah continues instructing them concerning the law of the first-born, He notes, “As He swore to you and your Fathers he would do.”
“When Yahweh brings you to the land of the Canaanites—as he swore to you and your fathers he would do—and gives it to you, you are to make over to Yahweh all that first issues from the womb, and every first-born cast by your animals; these males belong to Yahweh.”
Exodus 13:11,12 | The Jerusalem Bible
These consecrated males became the pretext for the priesthood. According to biblical tradition (Biblical law since it is written in the Torah itself) the first-born son always received the right of the first-born, whereby he would become the head of the family and inherit a double portion of his father’s estate. See Gen 25:29-34
Ismael was the precedent for establishing the difference between a child of promise and a child born another way. Since Ismael was not through Sarah who Yah had said He would give Abraham a child, Ismael did not receive the right of the first-born.
“God said to Abraham, “I will change the name of Sarai, your wife, to Sarah. I will bless her and give her a son, and you will be the father. She will be the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will come from her.”
Abraham bowed facedown on the ground and laughed. He said to himself, “Can a man have a child when he is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth to a child when she is ninety?” 18 Then Abraham said to God, “Please let Ishmael be the son you promised.”
God said, “No, Sarah your wife will have a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will make my agreement with him to be an agreement that continues forever with all his descendants.
“As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will bless him and give him many descendants. And I will cause their numbers to grow greatly. He will be the father of twelve great leaders, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will make my agreement with Isaac, the son whom Sarah will have at this same time next year.” After God finished talking with Abraham, God rose and left him.”
Genesis 17:15-20
This example reveals Yah’s sovereignty over men. When Joseph had twins by his Egyptian wife, Jacob chose Ephraim to be head of the family over Manasseh who was born first. These scriptures reveal and support the idea that there is a right given to Fathers over their descendants, and also supporting the reality of a Torah observant man’s right and authority over his family.
“After Joseph got up, he brought his two sons over to Jacob again. He led his younger son Ephraim to the left side of Jacob and his older son Manasseh to the right. 14 But before Jacob gave them his blessing, he crossed his arms, putting his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on the head of Manasseh. 15 Then he gave Joseph his blessing and said:
My grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac worshiped the יהוה God. He has been with me all my life, and his angel has kept me safe. Now I pray that he will bless these boys and that my name and the names of Abraham and Isaac will live on because of them. I ask God to give them many children and many descendants as well.”
Genesis 48:13-16
In the scriptures being head of the family was always and only a right and responsibility laid upon Sons, not daughters. Being head of the family is about the expectation from Father God upon His own Sons whom He consecrated to himself. Yah made His Sons who follow His Torah responsible and accountable for their families. In a biblical observant community where Yah reigns, that means that Torah observant men, husbands, and fathers were accountable and were expected to keep the Torah, to teach their families as Sons of Israel.
In the United States, in our times men have not understood this reality and have left too much upon the shoulders of the women and it isn’t any wonder women feel like they have to do things on their own, not able to put trust in the men.
WHO IS A SON OF ISRAEL? Three Points
In bible times it was easy to determine who was a son of Israel, they kept record of the descendants of Jacob. But since the beginning of the dispensation of grace how do we know who is a son of Israel? First, we have to understand what Israel is and how they came to be in the first place. This leads us to the story in the scripture about how Jacob became Israel.
1.) Who is Israel?
I will begin by asking a question I’ve never heard anybody ask except myself:
Why would the Great Spirit, the Most High, the God of Heaven and Earth, expressed in the scripture to Moses as YHVH send an Angel to wrestle with a man? And not just any Angel but what scholars call the Theophany of God.
“And Jacob was left alone.
And there was one that wrestled with him until daybreak who, seeing that he could not master him, struck him in the socket of his hip, and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him. He said, ‘Let me go, for day is breaking’ But Jacob answered, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’.
He then asked, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Jacob’, he replied.
He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have been strong against God, you shall prevail against men’.
Jacob then made this request, ‘I beg you, tell me your name’, but he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ And he blessed him there.
Jacob named the place Peniel, ‘Because I have seen God face to face,’ he said ‘and I have survived’.”
Genesis 32:22-31
Jacob obtained a new name by his experience and this was the answer to his request for a blessing. To become a Son of Israel, YOU HAVE TO WANT IT, so much so that you will be like Jacob; not letting go until you receive it. This is how anybody of the human family can become adopted into the family of Israel.
If you will , you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. He has placed before you fire and water; stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooes will be given to him. For great is the wisdom of the LORD; He is mighty in power and sees everything; His eyes are on those who fear him, and He knows every deed of man. He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, and he has not. given any one pemission to sin.
Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20
"you must keep my laws and my customs. Whoever complies with them will find life in them. I am Yahuvah."
Leviticus 18:5
2.) Did Outsiders become Israelites?
Even before Yeshua, before the New Testament, it is revealed in scripture times when other peoples joined Israel and became a part of the tribes. In the book of Exodus, a mixed multitude came out of Egypt with Moses and Aaron. This means that there were other ethnic peoples that were also slaves to the Egyptians who joined the Israelites in their exodus.
Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds--a great deal of livestock.
Exodus 12:37, 38
These weren’t direct descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but they chose to be a part of Israel and serve YHVH. The story of Ruth the Moabitess is a perfect example of someone converting to the Torah before Christ. And her story clearly reveals the law of the kinsmen redeemer at work.
3.) What is the Law of the Kinsmen Redeemer?
A woman cannot be a kinsmen redeemer, only a male kinsman close in relation could redeem someone out of slavery or indebtedness (Ruth 4:7-10). This is an example of authority given to Torah observant men in the scripture. The apostle Paul makes conversion clearer for us in his writings to the churches after Yeshua’s blood atoned for mankind. During Yeshua’s life and after His death it became more and more clear that the gentiles a.k.a., nations, could be grafted into the commonwealth of Israel because of Yeshua’s sacrifice.
"The Jews rejected Yeshua as the Messiah, but as Paul states in his letter to the Romans, this opened the door to the whole world:
For if their (the Jews) rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough (Yeshua) offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
But if some of the branches were broken off (the Jews), and you (gentiles), although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith."
Romans 11:15-20
How one becomes an Adopted into the family of Israel.
Now in order to become a part of the commonwealth of Israel you must believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, repent of your sins and be baptized in Yeshua. Acts 2:38
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua Ha'Mashiach for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom YHVH our Eloheinu will call."
Acts 2:38, 39
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
Romans 8:14-16
Biblical example of Male expectations
“Three times a year all your menfolk are to appear before יהוה your God in the place he chooses: at the feast of Unleavened Bread, at the feast of Weeks, at the feast of Tabernacles. No one must appear before יהוהempty-handed.”
Deuteronomy 16:16
Of course, these men would also bring their families with them, if they had families. My point is that it is the men that are expected to present themselves. Authority is about responsibility and accountability to Yah and in keeping to His word. Does that mean that woman don’t have to keep Yah’s word, God forbid! They should all the more keep it since they have husbands and fathers who teach them to do so.
It is clear that according to the Torah, Torah observant men are given authority over their families, being made responsible as the head that Yah holds accountable to teach and to do Yah’s Law as a son of Israel. Whether a son by lineage or a son by adoption either way they are biblically accountable. Now many people go back to Genesis to support a man’s authority:
To the woman he said: ‘I will multiply your pains in childbearing, you shall give birth to your children in pain. Your yearning shall be for your husband, yet he will lord it over you.’
Genesis 3:16 | The Jerusalem Bible
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Genesis 3:16 | King James Version
And although this does support his right it is clear throughout the whole Torah that men, belonging to Yah’s communities, hold this right and responsibility. The first thing that comes to mind is the scripture that teaches the family hierarchy.
In the Torah in the book of Numbers Chapter 30:
“Moses spoke to the leaders of the tribes of the sons of Israel. He said, this is what Yahweh has ordered: “If a man makes a vow to Yahweh or takes a formal pledge under oath, he must not break his word: whatever he promises by word of mouth he must do.
“If a woman makes a vow to Yahweh or takes a formal pledge during her youth, while she is still in her father’s house, and if he hears about this vow or pledge made by her and says nothing to her, her vow, whatever it may be, shall be binding, and the pledge she has taken, whatever it may be, shall be binding.
But if the father on the day he learns of it expresses his disapproval of it, then none of the vows or pledges she has taken shall be binding. Yahweh will not hold her to it, since her father has expressed his disapproval.
“If, being bound by vows or by a pledge voiced without due reflection, she then marries, and if her husband hears of it but says nothing on the day he learns of it, her vows shall be binding and the pledges she has taken shall be binding.
if on the day he learns of it he expresses his disapproval to her, this will annul the vow that she has made or the pledge that binds her, voiced without due reflection. Yahweh will not hold her to it.”
This chapter discusses the Law concerning vows. If a wife or a daughter living in her father’s house makes a vow and the father on the day he hears of it expresses his disapproval the vow(s) would not be required of them by Yah. If the father on the day he hears of his wife’s or daughters vow says nothing, then her vow is binding on her. These passages show clear authority and responsibility held by the father.
And this passage then leads me to the words of the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11:3
“However, what I want you to understand is that Messiah is the head of every man, man is the head of woman and Yah is the head of Messiah.”
HOW IS THE MESSIAH THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN?
1.) Yeshua is the first-born or first-fruit of the resurrected.
“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
I Cor. 15:20-22
2.) Yeshua was there with Yah when everything was made.
…He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.…
John 1:2-4
"For it was fitting for Him [Yeshua], for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings"
Hebrew 2:10
3.) Yeshua exemplifies the reality of His authority as humble servitude and selfless sacrifice.
It is clearly illustrated in the following story of the Mother of the sons of Zebedee the reality of Yeshua’s authority.
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, we are able.
And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 10:35-45 | King James Version
The above passage shows us how Yeshua exercised authority by taking responsibility. He already had authority by many biblical reasons. He obtained authority of the priesthood when He allowed himself to be baptized by John who held the priestly authority being the eldest son of the High priest Zachariah. He held authority over the demonic world since Yehovah made all things subject to Him through His obedience. He was the Servant prophesied of by Isaiah chapter 53 and in many other places in scripture. And He demonstrated His authority by washing His disciples’ feet during the last supper. This is why He referred to himself as the Son of man.
Women will not prosper as long as they continue to get in the way of Abba being represented the way He himself determined He wants to be represented.
YESHUA WAS THE SECOND ADAM
Adam came first then Eve. Just like Adam was created a perfect man, Adam disobeyed Yah and brought upon humanity death and destruction even though it was Eve that disobeyed first, it was Adam who was ascribed the blame in the end. Yeshua too was a perfect man in all his ways, and thus was a worthy offering for mankind, offering himself up. Yah gave Yeshua the authority to lay down his life and to take it up again.
“Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.”
I Corinthians 15:45-49
HOW WAS YESHUA PERFECT?
He kept the Torah, and taught his family to do so. His family was the Israelite people. He operated in the Authority expected of him by His Heavenly Father.
From this proof in scripture it is clear that women have no right to teach or usurp authority over men in teaching the Torah or the Bible to a mixed crowd of men and woman. Women are able to stand and give testimony of Yah’s goodness, able to sing, they can minister to other women, teach the children, they can prophesy and operate in the gifts of the spirit, whichever gifts they have received, but they are not given authority to teach over the sons of Yah.
Scripture does teach and encourage older women to teach the younger, and of course it is established in scripture that women had a great degree of influence in the lives of their own sons whether they kept the Torah or no. This is evident when you look at the kings of Israel and Judah in the books of Chronicles and Kings. A king that did what was right in the eyes of Yah often had a Torah observant Mother.
This authority should not even be desired by women, it is a heavy responsibility. Women have another powerful responsibility and that is to bring Yah’s children into this world, to love them and nurture them, to teach them how to respect the Creator by teaching them to respect the Word of Life being taught by the Sons of Yah. What man can accomplish having a family by himself without a blessed woman to wife?
"Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
Genesis 2:24
With this authority Men ought to behave themselves with humility, not lording over people as the adversary do, or the Nicolaitans who teach rebellion to Yah’s Word while claiming to be Yah’s people. But like King David who called himself a dog, understanding the great honor that is to be found in being acceptable to our God and Creator.
There are many teachings about this topic out of the New Testament, and so I will not bring these scriptures into the discussion, since they often cause more harm than good. This study was meant to establish biblical authority and family hierarchy out of the Torah.
In Conclusion, Yah consecrated the first born males, these males became the pretext for the Aaronic Priesthood. The very act of consecrating the males to himself shows His owns sovereignty over His creation and dually expresses His expectation upon His consecrated sons. If had a son, and I set him apart for myself to represent me, this would be the expectation. He represents me. That is what Yeshua did, and still does and He taught us to follow His example.
In Yeshua,
Brother Hernandez
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