Greet /salute no man by the way
Velo tishaloo lishlom eesh badarech
Luke 10:4 Carry neither purse,
nor scrip,
nor shoes:
and salute no man by the way.
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
2 He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
3 Go!
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Luke 10:1
The NIV version has
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. The number 72 is not found in the original.
Greek numbers have only one correct spelling, there are no variations for writing numbers to words.
Greek Translation for seventy:
εβδομήντα. evdomínta. More Greek words for seventy. εβδομήντα. evdomínta seventy. εβδομήκοντα.
Strong’s Greek: 1440. ἑβδομήκοντα (hebdomékonta) — seventy
Interesting note that in Hebrew the word seventy – שבעים,
is in essence, 7x the number 10.
(Recall all Hebrew letters have a numerical value).
The number 70 means
‘Elder’:as in 70 elders who went up with Moses and
a ‘Righteous’ (14) ‘
Life’ (5).
70 = 14 x 5
Elder = a ‘Righteous – Life’
The picture of Ayin is as an Eye;
so in Hebrew the character Ayin
is used to represent the number 70.
EYES OF THE LORD (70) – Letter ‘Ayin’
AYIN The sixteenth Hebrew letter ‘Ayin’:
The spiritual number 16 means ‘Sacrifice’.
So this number of His Disciples may not have been so ‘random’; having a spiritual significance we may have missed….
It could be said…..that
The Eyes of the Lord were on the disciples, who, becoming righteous before Him were willing to sacrifice their lives in obedience to His Calling.
He sent the seventy disciples, two and two, that they might strengthen and encourage one another.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
At this point in His ministry, Jesus/Yeshua tells them not to be concerned with taking extra provisions for their journeys as they went to
preach the gospel,
heal the sick,
and cast out demons.
He tells them that the harvest is very great but there are a few laborers.
He tells them to
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
This sounds very strange and not how we think Jesus/Yeshua would behave. Again because our mindset is of the western world we think that a nod of the head, a wave, a smile or shaking someone’s hand, even a hug takes very little time.
So why did He command His 70 disciples to salute no man by the way?
It seems that it was simply because they were on important kingdom business going out ahead of Messiah; and they must not waste time in idle conversation with people that they would meet along the way.
However, we need to get a clearer picture as it still seems a little like rude behavior.
If a person from Middle Eastern countries came to the west saw us rushing to catch trains planes and buses etc. and see us just nod or wave to a friend in passing.
They would think that we were very rude.
Why?
because no local resident of the middle eastern countries would ever do that.
When locals walk through towns and the villages and meet someone they know they rush up to them and embrace them, kissing them on both cheeks just as the father of the prodigal son did.
Then they each place their right hand over the heart then on their lips and then slowly raise it to their forehead after that they clasp each other’s hands.
When they put their hand over the heart they are saying: With my heart I love you.
Next on their lips, meaning: With my lips I give you the kiss of friendship.
And then when raising it to their forehead is signifying: I esteem and respect you.
They exchange greetings and ask about each others welfare; following that they question each other with complementary speeches. which would take at the very least another half hour, then having embraced once more they go their separate ways.
Time is of little consequence to the local villagers and you seldom see anyone in a hurry.
They frequently stand for hours repeating over and over the same words such as:
is there peace/shalom with you? is there peace/shalom with your house?
We should remember that when we read in the Scriptures example in Genesis 37:14
is it well?
It means: is there peace? Shalom?
Also in
(KJV) 14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
Also
A similar direction is found
in
2Kings 4:29
It was because of this custom of such long greetings that Elisha said to Gehazi his servant:
(KJV) 2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
For the very same reason, this like charge is given to Gehazi, and which, as commentators observe, was, that he might not talk for hours with people he met and be stopped on the way; and that his mind might not turn to any other thing, either by word or deed.
So Jesus/Yeshua’s intention, by this order was, not to teach them to be rude or dismissive, or to be aloof and discourteous. It was that they might complete their task in a timely manner, and rather than to neglect, or hinder a work of such great importance, they would not take time with common cultural customs.
Even today when friends meet in the middle eastern nations they say one to another
Peace be unto you.
and when they leave one another they say
God go with you.
To a male friend it would be, Mar salaam
To a female friend, Mar salaami.
The reply to a man would be
peace remain with you; allah selmack,
and to a woman, allah selmick.
It’s a very curious thing because, even if someone was really wanting to kill you – when you meet them on the street they will stop and greet you saying:
may your days be blessed,
peace to your lives,
go in peace.
The Scriptures have many greetings which are still common today.
A final thought is that when Gabriel appeared to Mary in Nazareth to announce to her that she was to be the mother of the Messiah.
Mary was troubled in her mind to know what manner of salutation was used by the Angel.
Was it the usual form of greeting? was it because she wondered if it was flattery? Or did it have a genuine meaning?
These greetings found in the Scriptures can still be heard every day in the villages of Israel and surrounding nations and it helps us to better understand what He said to His disciples.
Salute no man by the way.
He was very well aware of the Jewish greetings which were very formal, sometimes hypocritical, and consumed much time. It’s said that it often took from 1 to 3 hours to complete these formal greetings!
If two Arabs of equal rank meet each other, they extend to each other the right hand, and having clasped, they elevate them as if to kiss them. Each one then draws back his hand and kisses it instead of his friend‘s, and then places it upon his forehead. The parties then continue the salutation by kissing each other‘s beard.
They gave thanks to God that they are once more permitted to see their friend – they pray to the Almighty in his behalf. Sometimes they repeat not less than ten times the ceremony of grasping hands and kissing.
There is such an amount of insincerity, flattery, and falsehood in the terms of salutation prescribed by etiquette, that Messiah who is truth itself, desired His representatives to do without them as far as possible, perhaps even carefully to rebuke them.
These instructions were also intended to reprove another inclination which an Oriental can scarcely resist, no matter how urgent his business. If he meets an acquaintance, he must stop and make an endless number of inquiries and answer just as many. If they come upon people making a bargain or discussing any other matter, they must pause and intrude with their own ideas, and enter keenly into the business, though it in no wise concerns them; and more especially, an Oriental can never resist the temptation to assist “where accounts are being settled or money counted out.”
Now the command of Jesus/Yeshua, strictly prohibited all such greetings, because they would waste time, distract attention, and in many ways hinder them faithfully completing their important mission.
The saluting and greeting of friends, therefore, was a ceremony which consumed much time; and it was because of this, that on this occasion, Messiah told them not to delay their journey by greeting others.
שלום בית אובך
Shalom bayit haze
שלום בית
Shalom bayit
literally: peace [at] home
Hebrew translation from Greek:
שלום לבית הזה –
shalom labayit hazeh
Peshitta, Aramaic in Hebrew letters:
שלמא לביתא הנא –
shlomo l’bayta hana
Luke 24:36
But whatever house you enter, first say,
Peace to this house.
Luke 10:5
Greek: Ειρηνη τω οικω –
Eirene to oiko
The son of peace –
That is, if the house or family be worthy,
or be disposed to receive you in peace and kindness.
See also Matthew 10:13.
The phrase
son of peace
is an Aramaic idiom
which does not exist in English.
The son of peace means:
one disposed to peace,
or
peaceful and kind in his disposition.
Compare with Matthew 1:1.
Worthy: deemed one worthy,
one whose heart was ready
to receive the message of
PEACE/SHALOM
they brought.
Go not from house to house.
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
Luke 10:4-7
A son of peace
or
a man of peace
is a very godly person
(So this does include women.)
Ps 37:37
of such a person the scripture says:
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Perfect meaning: blameless and upright with clean repentant/humble heart before the Lord.
Again
the shalom
the peace…
This sounds strange to us however, there were many people who needed to hear the good news and time was of the essence.
When a stranger arrived in the Village or Town, it was usual for the people to invite him to eat with them…. one after another would ask.
There is a very strict custom with this offer of hospitality: involving much hypocrisy (notice how this world has appeared in the previous three references to strange scriptures and remembering how Yeshua/Jesus hated hypocrisy).
In this custom any failure to observe this law of hospitality is violently resented by the whole neighborhood and often results in Families fighting.
In observing this cultural hospitality huge amounts of time are wasted. It also leads to gossip and foolishness which every way would sabotage the success of the disciples spiritual mission.
It was because of all of these hindrances they were told to avoid them.
Jesus/Yeshua, was sending them out to
call people to repentance…
not to be honored and fed huge meals wherever they went; so He told them to find a suitable place to stay, and to remain there until their work in that place was completed.
Go not from house to house carry no scrip.
The scrip is the whole dried skin of a kid, (a young goat). It is fastened to the belt or to a cord and is thrown over the shoulder and under the outer garment.
In this scrip, the traveler carries with him bread, figs and olives enough to last on his journey. In Luke 9:3 The disciples were told not to take script or food with them.
And he said unto them,Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
He sent His 12 disciples out also, who by this time were able to teach others what they had received from the Lord. They must not try to gain favor or influence people getting respect by their outward appearance, they were to go just as they were.
Take nothing for your Journey. Traveling without any burden which is much easier if you have nothing to carry. They were on His business, sent by Him, and He assumed their care, and instructed them NOT to trust themselves, or any other person but in Him alone.
neither staves,
The Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read just one in number,
“neither staff, rod, or club”;
but in all the rest in the plural.
in Matthew; we read,
one staff was allowed.
These were His instructions
in Mark 6:8
Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
though more than one were forbidden:
nor scrip;
or bag to put provision in;
Neither bread, neither money;
gold, silver, or brass, to buy bread with; because they were to have it, wherever they came, given them, as their due, and the reward of their labour;
neither have two coats apiece;
The word apiece is left out in one copy, nor is it in the Vulgate, Latin and the eastern versions, which read as in Matthew 10:10 though the word does express the sense which was not that they should not have two coats among them, but not two apiece; or in common terms, each man should not have 2 coats as in
having a change of clothes;
Nor shoes;
any more than those they had upon their feet; which would have been sandals.
Matt. 10:9-10 and salute no man by the way;
that they might not be delayed or hindered in their journey; by time consuming customs, and long inquiries into the health of family and friends, and the business they were engaged in, etc.,etc,. drawn out at great length, which was often the case at meeting on the road:
What were they to be doing?
Luke 9:1-2 tells us
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils,
and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to
preach the kingdom of God,
and to
heal the sick.
The caution of not being obedient is echoed in
1 Timothy 5:13
And withal they learn to be idle,
wandering about from house to house;
and not only idle,
but tattlers also and busybodies,
speaking things which they ought not.
The difference between
Roman peace
and
Hebrew shalom:
One can dictate a peace; shalom is a mutual agreement.
Peace is a temporary pact; shalom is a permanent agreement.
One can make a peace treaty; shalom is the condition of peace.
Peace can be negative, the absence of commotion. Shalom is positive, the presence of serenity.
Peace can be partial; shalom is whole.
Peace can be piecemeal; shalom is complete.
True biblical shalom refers to:
an inward sense of completeness or wholeness.
Although it can describe the absence of war, a majority of biblical references refer to an inner completeness and tranquility.
In Israel today, when you greet someone or say goodbye, you say, Shalom.
You are literally saying,
may you be full of well-being
or,
may health and prosperity be upon you.
“Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’” Num.6:23-26
Many are familiar with the Hebrew word
shalom or peace.
The common western definition of peace is — the absence of conflict or war —
but in Hebrew it means so much more.
Shalom is taken from the root word shalam, which means, “to be safe in mind, body, or estate.”
It speaks of completeness, fullness, or a type of wholeness that encourages you to give back — to generously re-pay something in some way.
Strong’s Hebrew: 7965.
שָׁלוֹם (shalom) — completeness …
Shalom שָׁלוֹם;
also spelled as
sholom, sholem , sholoim, shulem
is a Hebrew word meaning:
peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye.
Hebrew is read from right to left
Shalom שָׁלוֹם
is a noun from the three letter verb root
Shalam שָׁלַם.
Shalom is defined as: Completeness, Soundness, Wholeness, Welfare, Peace, Function, Fullness, Health, Safety, Security, Tranquility, to Restore, to Repay, to Reward, to Make Amends, to Make Restitution, to Make Good….
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