Why read the Bible in Hebrew? A thread on the Bible & the future of capitalism. h/t @Ari Lamm. This week we will read about covenant - BRIT. The weekly portion is called Nitzavim based on the root: NTZV. It's translated as "You stand this day" but that misses the point.

"Stand" can also be עמד. From the root AMD. The specific use of "Nitzavim" from the root NTZV is not accidental. The Bible continues that the purpose of NTZV (standing) is: "to enter into the covenant of your God יהוה, which your God יהוה is concluding with you this day," 2

So why does the Bible use NTZV? Because it reminds us of other covenants and broken covenants. particularly SOCIO-ECONOMIC covenants. Here goes. After Abraham circumcises himself, he is sitting outside of his tent and the three men/angels come to see him (Genesis 18) 3

How does the Bible describe their arrival? NiTZaVim. The same description as Deuteronomy 29. Here too the English translation is standing. What do they come to tell Abraham? That his wife will have a child who will inherit him based on his values and...4

that God was about to destroy Sodom. Why did God destroy Sodom? Because they broke the socio-economic covenant between societies members. As the prophet Ezekiel says (16/49)...5

"Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom; pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Sodom is the prime example of society bereft of covenant and brotherhood. Prove it?...6

When Lot runs away from a smoldering Sodom, he is instructed by the messengers not to look back at the destroyed city. His wife looks back and she is famously turned into a PILLAR of salt. Or so says the English translation. (Genesis 19/26) But what about the Hebrew?...7

You guessed it. Lot's wife was turned into a נציב מלח. A NeTZiV of salt. She bears witness to a broken socio-economic covenant. Therefore we also understands God's promised punishment in this week's portion of NeTZaVim for those Israelites who abrogate the covenant. 8

"and that its whole land is sulfur, salt, and burning, that it is not sown, and does not grow, and grass does not sprout there, like the overthrow of SODOM and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which God overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:" It is also why the opening is...9

A list of ALL socio economic strata of society. From the elites to the lowly woodcutters & water drawers. "You stand (NiTZaVim)this day all of you before YHWH your God; your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel..." 10

"Your little ones, your wives, and your foreigner who is in the midst of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water;" (Deuteronomy 29/9-10) But that is not all. 11

When Abraham's servant goes to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac, he comes to a well & crafts a "test" to identify a proper bride for Isaac: "Here I am STANDING by the spring of water, and the daughters of the townsmen are coming out to draw water. What was he looking for? 12

"May it be that the young lady to whom I say, 'Please, tilt your pitcher so I may drink', and she says, 'Drink and I will give your camels to drink, too', it is she whom you have selected for your servant, for Yitzchak," He is exploring the socio economic covenant in...13

Rebecca's homeland of Haran. Will they treat strangers kindly and extend him food and drink. What is the hebrew word for "standing"? Yup. NiTZaV. The servant was NiTZaV by the well. But there is more. 14

When God promises Jacob that his offspring will inherit the land of Israel (Genesis 28), It says God was standing. The hebrew? "NiTZaV" and how does Jacob respond? He promises that if this covenant is upheld, he will tithe all of his belongings. Essentially he responds to... 15

God's promise with a commitment to create an economic covenant with those less fortunate in society. The same word appears in Joseph's dreams about the future of the economy. Remember that Jacob was a shepherd. His children were shepherds. But...16

Joseph dreams of an agricultural future. "Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field and my sheaf rose and even stood erect, and, behold, your sheaves surrounded and bowed down to my sheaf." When the economy changes like in the industrial revolution and...17

the current technological revolution, it can leave people behind. Joseph's dream of the coming agricultural revolution was threatening to his shepherd brothers. What's the word the Bible uses for "stood erect"? "NiTZaVA. That same word. What is Joseph telling the brothers?... 18

Fret not, I see the future & I will take care of you. Unlike shepherding flocks which is very flat, distribution of agriculture is hierarchical. Joseph tells his brothers - if they follow his lead, he will take care of them. That's why the sheathes bowed down to him because...19

The structure of the economy and society were changing but Joseph was telling them that he will have their back through the change. In fact, he did and ended up supplying everyone food, including his brothers. He kept the covenant alluded to by the word NiTZaVa in his dream. 20

When Joseph finally reveals himself to the brothers the English translation says "Standing" twice in the verse in Genesis 45. But the first standing his NiTZaVim and the second is AMaD in the hebrew. 21

"Joseph could not control himself before all who were standing (NiTZaVim) before him, and he called, "Remove everyone from before me." So, no one was standing (AMaD) with him when Yosef made himself known to his brothers." The Bible tells us who the real covenant of...22

Brotherhood was with. For more on this see my book "The Tree of Life and Prosperity" chapter 7 amazon.com/Tree-Life-Pros… The same word choice pervades the story of Balaam and his attempt to curse the Jewish people and ...23

abrogate the covenant between God and the people. And of course appears in the story of the covenant at Sinai. Why should we pay attention to this today? Because the economy is a covenant. It is a covenant that must be renewed lest we become Sodomic. 24

I think there are 2 covenantal societies in the West: Israel & USA. Israel has a 4,000 year old covenant. The USA only 250 years. I'd humbly suggest that what must emerge as future of capitalism is what I've begun calling "Covenantal Capitalism"! /END but much more to come...