We study the Torah according to the triennial cycle every Sabbath. (Why?)
We must understand the paragraph divisions in Torah, which are inspired by the Spirit and preserved by Moses and the Jewish scribes (but discarded by the English translators), are key to help us understand what God is trying to tell us. He wants to be understood, and has provided these helps to aid us! We must also understand how the Spirit teaches through Torah by common theme.
Today is the 136th Sabbath of the triennial cycle: parashah (Torah portion) Ekev /Adhere, Deu 7:12 – 8:20. Read Deu 7:12 – 8:20 at Bible Gateway, or Deu 7 and 8 from the Hebrew Bible in English.
Deu 7:12-16 ends with a parsha stumah, a weak paragraph division.
Deu 7:17-26 ends with a parsha p’tuchah, a strong paragraph division.
This means that Deu 7:12-26 is teaching a single overarching theme.
Deu 8:1-18 end with a p’tuchah (and is teaching a single overarching theme).
Deu 8:19-20 ends with a p’tuchah (and is teaching a single overarching theme).
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