Babel, Pagan God’s and the Lost Tribes

Babel, Pagan God’s and the Lost Tribes

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

In archeological and critical historical religious literature the authors (usually agnostic, atheist or secular) often attempt to make one believe other cultures are older and predate that of Scriptural writ, simply because physical evidence found is often older than the earliest Biblical manuscripts. They claim that the Biblical writers took traditions and stories from these so called older cultures and adopted them as their own creation story and flood account and so on. However, if one believes the inerrancy of Scripture one would easily realize that the entire world was at one time one people, language and culture until the confounding of the languages at the Tower of Babel. Thus, in the post Babel world everyone took the shared traditions and legends from the Creation to the Flood and all the prophecies of redemption and messiah that lies therein and molded into what each people group has become. This is why every people group has a creation and flood story.  Just because most all cultures practice or practiced at one point animal sacrifice, have legends of virgin births, god-men messiahs, and just because they appear in Christianity and Nazarene Judaism in the truthful events does not mean they were gleaned from a pre-Biblical pagan culture of Mesopotamians, Canaanites or what have you. No, we did not rip stories from them and claimed them as our own holy history, they ripped stories from us.

I read books such as “The Two Babylons” and see how Satan has perverted the truth in each culture in an attempt to drive them away from the truth, yet the grain of the truth lies within each culture; which lends to the possibility of a pagan culture to come to the truth. Indeed, it is an ingenious plan of the evil one to hide truth in plain sight, yet disguised in cultural paganism.

Since Canaan was a descendant of Hamm, one of Noach’s three sons, and was the Land and People whom Israel (Shem’s descendants) conquered, and seeing as they were distant relatives of one another, it stands to reason their language, culture and expressions for and worship of the Most High were similar, even after the incident at Babel.

Even with Abraham, G-d was not known as YHWH.

Exd 6:2-4 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I [am] the LORD (YHWH): And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] God Almighty (EL SHADDAI), but by my name YAHWEH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

In other words, G-d was known to Abraham by one or more of His Canaanite, generic pagan names, another common one was El Elyon (G-d Most High). El Shaddai was letting Abraham know that He was displeased with the Canaanites and He was planning on giving their land to him and his descendants.

It is no surprise G-d had “pagan” names or rather titles, I should say, like El Elyon and even sometimes Ba’al (Lord). Again, these were moreso titles and descriptions than they were proper names of a deity.

I’m not saying pagan religions are acceptable in G-d’s sight or are legitimate expressions of worshiping the One and Only G-d, but I believe they are traceable to the G-d of Abraham and the religion of His people.

For instance, all the Asian/Oriental/Near East religions such as Buddhism and its splinter groups like Taoism, Confucius-ism, and Jainism can be traced to Judaism through Kabbalah. For the main tenants and philosophies therein are virtually the same. We can even say this about Hinduism and its offshoots of Sikhism and the adherents to Hare Krishna, it too seem to have come from ancient Kabbalah. I realize for some this is a far stretch because they don’t see Kabbalah as being as old as Judaism, but according to Tradition and extra Canonical books like Enoch speaks of a mystic spiritual tradition that has been handed down from the beginning and has presently taken its form of expression to us in Kabbalah. And ironically scientist have turned to Kabbalah only to discover it speaks of things such as string theory and even medical facts; Kabbalah has at times beaten science to the punch (See: “Science and Kabbalah” by Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr). Although Hinduism is sometimes called polytheistic, this is not entirely correct. Hindus actually believe the various deities in their pantheon are manifestations or emanations of the same single G-d.

Ironically here are certain striking similarities between the Hindu god Brahma and his consort Saraisvati, and the Jewish Abraham and Sarai, that are more than mere coincidences. Although in all of India there is only one temple dedicated to Brahma, this cult is the third largest Hindu sect. A carry over from when we were one people at Babel? 

Krishna was before Christ but his exploits and teachings have some striking similarities. Author Kersey Graves (1813-1883), a Quaker from Indiana, compared Jesus Christ's and Krishna's life. He found what he believed were 346 elements in common within Christian and Hindu writings. Maybe this was a form of ancient prophecy about the Messiah being preserved in Pagan religions. http://www.religion-cults.com/Eastern/Hinduism/krishna.htm

Even Native American spirituality in ritual and philosophy at times mirrors Judaism uncannily and though archeological evidence it is believed by some that the Cherokee people and possible the Lakota have Hebrew blood or at least were influenced  by Hebrews who came to the America’s via Davidic and Solomonic trading ships (See: The Judaokee People” By Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr).

Even Egypt for a short time (18^th dynasty) went back to a monotheistic religious state under Pharaoh Akhenaten to worship the one and only G-d he called Aten. It is impossible to discuss Aten without mentioned his biggest promoter, the pharaoh Amenhotep IV, or Akhenaten. Early in his reign, Akhenaten worshipped both Amon (the chief god in Thebes at the time) and Aten. Amon at one time the supreme god of Egypt which in many ways resembled the G-d of Israel. The belief and worship of Amon-Ra and Aten is thought and speculated by some to have been influenced by Joseph when he was second in command of Egypt and it carried over into other rulers and dynasties. Amon in the Egyptian language means, the one who is unseen, which would describe the G-d of Israel who has no image to represent Him. Amon in Hebrew means master builder and which, if influenced by Joseph could be his attempt to point Egyptians to YHWH the Creator in a way they would understand. Ra, was the original sun god and supreme deity of Egypt and the contract name Amon-Ra many have been used to indicate that the master builder is the supreme God who made the sun and all of creation. In the time Amon-Ra was worshipped it Egyptians became somewhat monotheistic and all other Egyptians gods were said to be one with Amon-Ra and emanate from him. Similar to YHWH, the G-d of Israel and Messiah Yeshua, the Ruach HaKodesh and His Sefirot (Attributes).

Zoroastrianism was the ancient Persian monotheistic religion which took many ideals and words from the Hebrew religion as it was then and thus looks and sounds like Judaism at times.

Thus out side of the Abrahamic religions and post Exilic times I believe traces of Hebraism and its faith from after the Assyrian captivity and dispersion of the 10 tribes can be found in pagan religions and cultures.

For example, I was watching a Viking movie and heard one of the Vikings say “Odin help us!” And it struck me how similar Odin is to Adon, the Hebrew word for Lord and where we get the name, Adonai.

Odin, is the Norse (Anglo-Saxton) Father God , God of wisdom, wealth, inspiration, poetry, battle, hunting, magic, prophecy. Odin (Woden) – Adon – Adonai

Like with the Cherokee deity Yowah, looks and sounds a lot like the personal Name of G-d found in the Bible, Yahweh. Spelled: Yod-Hey-Vav (Waw)-Hey. In Hebrew there were no vowels and interestingly enough these names we are exploring have the same consonants but different vowels.

In the morphing of words through the ages, through various languages and cultures with the change in accent and inflection, usually the consonants remain the same and the vowels change and so it is easily to see how Yahweh can become Yowah and Adon can become Odin.

Coincidence, I am not a big believer in coincidences.

Before we go any further allow me to say that I am not promoting, endorsing or condoning British-Israeliteism, but there are rumors, legends and speculations that some of the Vikings could have come from one of the lost ten tribes, especially portions of Dan, Gad, Zebulon, Naphtali, and Benjamin.

So could the similarities between the name and character of Odin and Adon indicate that post Assyrian captivity or Babel link? 

Adonis, originally a Phoenician god (Phoenicia being modern day Lebanon), also known in Greek mythology as the god of rebirth and vegetation, worshipped in mystery religions for untold eons. Again, the Name is uncannily similar to the Hebrew Adon; Adonis – Adon – Adonai.

The new kid on the block is the Bahai faith which originally came from a Muslim, but sees all other religions and prophets and their messages an extension or facet of the same religion and thus loosely blends the traditions and teachings of all into a unified system.

The reason the various religions of the world became pagan is that after Babel is that the various people groups took the creation and flood story with them, including the Torah (Divine Laws of G-d) as it was known up to that time and through their culture formed it into a separate and distinct religion and so trace elements of “Hebrew” religion can be found.

This is like diluting something in water so you can barely taste what was the originally there. Yet to put it “sciency”… trace elements could be found if tests were run on it.

A great book that fleshes this out is “Eternity in Their Hearts” by Don Richardson. He makes comparisons of tribal religions and peoples he worked with, to things in Scripture. One of which is the concept of the city of refuge which the peoples he worked with had and thus was able to share with them the Word.

However, there is even debate in this area regarding timing. Did it come from Babel or from Sinai or both? I have already covered how it could have came from Babel, but from Sinai means that when YHWH gave the Torah He spoke and His voice, His Torah reverberated throughout the world and those truly seeking the One True G-d heard and obeyed and influenced their culture by it. Well, I must say I have to be as Forrest Gump on this issue as he was on free will and fate, “I think it’s a little of both.”

Then we have Christianity and Islam, direct cuts from the cloth, so to speak, for both religions traces their roots to Judaism via Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael respectively.

It is my belief that in reaching out to other peoples and religions one must find the inroad so as to guide one back to the original source; the G-d of Israel.

What of epiphanies, miracles and personal spiritual encounters and experiences of other religions; are they valid or a delusion?

If valid, is G-d a deceiver, taking on whatever form in whatever religion?

G-d is infinite, boundless; we as finite creations can’t help but put G-d in a nice little box of our own design.

Do I believe in supernatural events and or manifestations in other religions are real?

Yes. They can only come from one of two sources; G-d or the fallen angelic legions, the Devil, Satan, the Evil One, whatever you want to call it. For in the instance of a healing, if the malady is supernatural in origin, all the demonic entity has to do is to remove its influence or “hand” off of the individual and V’wallah! Presto! It looks as if a miracle has occurred, someone has been healed. In which case it will either slowly return over time or another, possibly worse malady will replace it.

If it be from G-d, whether a healing or an epiphany or a revelation of spiritual truth; if it comes from G-d the healing will be permanent and medically recordable, though by all means not necessarily explainable by medicine. If it is a revelation, the truth will be universal regardless of what guise it takes.

When G-d reveals Himself or speaks to a pagan or one of another faith, G-d may look to them as indigenous to their religion. G-d will slowly, by degrees, reveal Himself like a light controlled by a dimmer switch so as to slowly reveal and acclimate one to the Truth and not to blind them with it by a sudden blast of full force light from a pitch black state. This would look so shocking and startling that the receiver of the revelation will automatically deem it a lie from the other side and disregard it.

Secondly, the truth may be revealed so plainly, however, the pagan clothes it and filters it through their own religious world view and thus in the retelling it looks as if it came from his religion.

Yeshua to Jesus

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

One of the big mysteries in Christianity and Messianic/Natsari Judaism is the alleged cover up of Yeshua the Messiah’s Hebrew Name. There are a lot of religious conspiracy theorists out there who claim this. I use to believe it too because of all the Anti-Semetic and Anti-Nomian garbage that has made its way into the English versions of the Brit Chadasha (New Testament). But I think I have finally figured it out.

We know that the Messiah’s Name, “Yeshua” is shortened form of the Hebrew, “Yehoshuah (Joshua)” but why in the Greek Septuagint they used “Joshua” but for the Greek New Testament they call, Yeshua/Joshua; Jesus!?

I am by no means fluent in Koine Greek or Hebrew, whether ancient or modern… Heck, I’m not the greatest of my mother tongue, English! But I have taken Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew in College and I am increasing my knowledge and proficiency in the languages one day at a time and I think I discovered how they got Jesus out of Yeshua.

Since Yeshua means, “Yah’s Salvation.” I use to say, “Why not make the Greek name of Messiah, “Theo-Sotar” (which is Greek for “G-d’s Salvation”) to symbolize Yeshua’s Name in the Greek? But I believe I have discovered why the translators did what they did, and it wasn’t to hide the Hebrew Name of Messiah, nor was it to secretly link Messiah to Zeus as I have heard and read by many Messianic/Natsari believing circles. On the contrary, it was, I believe to distinguish Messiah’s Name from others.

My thoughts are confirmed by this author of this website:

“The reason that the interpreters made the mistake is because the Greek translation of Jesus and Joshua are exactly the same. The same translation is used in the Septuagint (for the name of Joshua) as in the Greek scriptures of the New Testament. I'm just guessing that somewhere along the line, someone thought that the Lord's name should be distinguishable from the other "Joshuas" in the Bible (because there are others). I'm just guessing on that one. I also guess that Anglo Saxons, fresh from defeat at the Crusades, were willing to give the Lord a more Englishly pleasing name than, Yeshua (I'm using the more modern name and the one recognized worldwide as our Lord's true name in Hebrew), which had (and has) a Middle Eastern sound to it.” -- http://www.wheres-the-church.com/yhoshua.html

In the Septuagint the translators transliterated the Hebrew name Yehoshuah to sound as close to the Hebrew as possible in the Greek and thus we get in the English; Joshua. Now so as not to confuse the Old Testament Joshua with the Messiah or any other Joshua for that matter the translators translated Yehoshuah into Greek. They took the Hebrew Yud and made it a Greek Iota. The Shin became a Sigma and the Vav became an Omicron-Upsilon and it is necessary for a final sigma to be placed at the end of the word to distinguish that the name is masculine. Greek grammar rules require that the Hebrew Ayin, the “ah” sound be dropped and BAMB! Yeshua becomes Jesus in the English.

“Dr. Daniel Botkin pinpoints the interchangeableness of the names Joshua and Jesus noting that Neh. 8:17 has Yeshua (Jesus) for Yehoshua (Joshua). Joshua’s name in Greek is (also) Yeasous and is seen in the Septuagint (Josh. 1:12; 2:11; 3:1; 4:4, etc.) which predates the Messiah’s birth by more than 200 years. Botkin also says that this too is proof that ‘Yesous has no connection to Zeus’ for the Jewish Sages who wrote the Septuagint would have been well aware of the pagan god by that name and wouldn’t have used those Greek letters to form Joshua’s name with it if they thought there was a connection to it or to ‘Hail Zeus!’ as some infer.”-- http://www.seedofabraham.net/jesusyeshua.html

Now, I do not use the name Jesus Christ, I do not like it for what anti-Semites and anti-Nomians have made the name to come to symbolize. I use Messiah’s Hebrew Name, Yeshua Ha Moshiach. But even though this issue of Yeshua to Jesus has caused a lot of confusion in religious circles today I pray that a little knowledge of the languages involved we can see how Yeshua became Jesus.

Premarital Sex and the Torah

Premarital Sex and the Torah

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Conservative Catholic and Protestant Christianity have been seen as prudish in regards to their view on sex and the abstinence of such until marriage. But what is the Jewish view and what does the Torah say regarding sex before marriage?

It may come as a shock to most that the 613 Mitzvot of Torah says absolutely nothing about premarital sex. Nothing!

Why do you suppose this is? For the answer I believe we have to look at history, time, place and culture. Back in the days of the Tanak (Old Testament) in the Middle East within the confines of a Hebraic culture premarital sex was virtually a non-issue because once puberty hit at 12 and 13 years of age one was considered an adult and was eligible for marriage and so the raging hormones could be satisfied right away within marital bonds. There was no awkward teenage period we have in the Western world and culture today where the young had to curb their sexual libido.

Back then the culture was set up that young children were more mature than children of today, sheer survival and the hard and demanding life of the Middle East forced youngsters to grow up fast and so you transitioned from childhood to adulthood very fast with no adolescent stage in between. This shouldn’t seem all that strange, for only 100 years ago many of our grandparents and great grandparents married at 13, 14, 15 and 16 years of age! This is unlike today where society and culture has produced teenagers that are still very immature and it would be utterly foolish and irresponsible for them to marry and so we teach and encourage them to remain abstinent from sex until marriage. Sex is not just pleasurable and natural to our nature, it is a holy act according to G-d and Torah (Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:5-6, Eph. 5:31). Virginity is seen as a once in a life time gift one saves for ones spouse as a sign of self-control, restraint loyalty, fidelity, commitment and love. The act of sex itself was used to seal a marital contract, to make valid a marriage and so though pre-marital sex is not mentioned in the Torah, because of culture and what sex meant in that day and time implies that it is only for marriage. Sex comes with hefty responsibility where children can be conceived as a result, and we all know how children are one of the greatest responsibilities in life. I do not think personages of the times of the Tanak would look favorably upon pre-marital sex for the very reasons I just cited.

A woman known not to be a virgin was looked down upon and not desirable for marriage, many became prostitutes because no one would marry them. The Torah implies premarital sex is wrong because a woman after consummating the marriage didn’t soil the marital sheets with her blood was seen as evidence of not being a virgin.


Deuteronomy 22:13-17


"If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then turns against her, and charges her with shameful deeds and publicly defames her, and says, 'I took this woman, but when I came near her, I did not find her a virgin,' then the girl's father and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of the girl's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.
"The girl's father shall say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man for a wife, but he turned against her; and behold, he has charged her with shameful deeds, saying, "I did not find your daughter a virgin." But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.

Physiologically, only the human female has a distinctively perceived sign of virginity, the hymen. The presence of such in the backdrop for ‘evidence of virginity in of brides. Here in the verse cited above we see ‘the evidence of the girl’s virginity’ was ‘the garments’. The gown brides wore for the very purpose of giving proof that they were a virgin. Here we find the physical proof a torn Hymen will generally produce: blood. This is symbolic of oneness, the covenant of blood.


“Many people are surprised to learn that the Torah does not prohibit premarital sex. I challenge you to find any passage in the Jewish scriptures that forbits a man from having consensual sexual relations with any woman he could legally marry. It's just not there!...


This is not to suggest that Judaism approves of pre-marital sex or promiscuity. Quite the contrary: traditional Judaism strongly condemns the irresponsibility of sex outside of marriage. It is considered to be improper and immoral, even though it is not technically a sin. In fact, to prevent such relations, Jewish law prohibits an unmarried, unrelated man and woman from being alone long enough to have sexual relations. But these laws come from the Talmud and the Shulchan Aruch, not from the Torah….


While premarital sex is considered sinful by the rabbinic community, the rabbis also recognize the human desire for sexual interaction. Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman is to be reserved for their union upon marriage when they become one with God. Several centuries ago, rabbis deemed the age of eighteen the proper age for marriage. This custom was put into effect to mitigate the desire for premarital sex. The only limits placed on sexual activities in the Torah are prohibitions against adultery and incest.



In biblical times, a man was not prohibited from having sexual relations with a woman, as long as it led to marriage. The Bible never explicitly states a woman and man may not have sexual intercourse prior to marriage; therefore, no sanction was imposed for premarital sex, but it was considered a violation of custom.


In Jewish law, the principles of modesty, zenut, forbid women from being promiscuous. A man must concentrate on his daily studies and praying, rather than being concerned by the sexuality of a woman. Thus, the rabbinic scholars of the Talmud prohibited prostitution and premarital sex (with no intention of marriage).” -- Ariel Scheib, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org



 
Though sex before marriage (pre-marital sex or sexual promiscuity), assuming one is talking of sexual intercourse (oral, vaginal and anal) or perversion of the same; is not specifically mentioned in the Torah, the Word of G-d as a whole implies it is wrong by calling it “fornication.”

The word “fornication” in the Bible (specifically the New Testament) is the Greek word “pornia,” where we get the word, “pornography” from, and the biblical definition entails adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, prostitution, incest, and rape. It is a broad word for sexual misconduct and or perversion. 

Merriam-Webster, as well as the American Heritage dictionary defines fornication as: “consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.” 

Though the Torah is silent on the issue of pre-marital sex, the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) isn’t, because it was a different time, place and culture, yet still dealt with the Hebrew people and handled the issue based on Torah principles. We will see that the Brit Chadasha written by Jews and Rabbi’s based on Torah prohibits pre-marital sex. It was written in a time and place of Western cultural influence where they did not usually marry at puberty, but later in life as is the norm in the Western World today.

The following a few select passages taken from the English Standard Version dealing with pre-marital sex where fornication is rendered sexual immorality.

Matthew 5:28

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 7:2

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Colossians 3:5

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Hebrews 13:4

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Jude 1:7

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.


Rev. 21:8

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.


So we see, though the Torah does not specifically address the issue of Premarital sex, taking the Bible as a whole we can clearly see that it is wrong and considered a sin and it is best for one to wait until their married to have sex.

Premarital Sex and the Torah

Premarital Sex and the Torah

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Conservative Catholic and Protestant Christianity have been seen as prudish in regards to their view on sex and the abstinence of such until marriage.  But what is the Jewish view and what does the Torah say regarding sex before marriage?
It may come as a shock to most that the 613 Mitzvot of Torah says absolutely nothing about premarital sex. Nothing!
Why do you suppose this is? For the answer I believe we have to look at history, time, place and culture. Back in the days of the Tanak (Old Testament) in the Middle East within the confines of a Hebraic culture premarital sex was virtually a non-issue because once puberty hit at 12 and 13 years of age one was considered an adult and was eligible for marriage and so the raging hormones could be satisfied right away within marital bonds. There was no awkward teenage period we have in the Western world and culture today where the young had to curb their sexual libido.
Back then the culture was set up that young children were more mature than children of today, sheer survival and the hard and demanding life of the Middle East forced youngsters to grow up fast and so you transitioned from childhood to adulthood very fast with no adolescent stage in between. This shouldn’t seem all that strange, for only 100 years ago many of our grandparents and great grandparents married at 13, 14, 15 and 16 years of age! This is unlike today where society and culture has produced teenagers that are still very immature and it would be utterly foolish and irresponsible for them to marry and so we teach and encourage them to remain abstinent from sex until marriage. Sex is not just pleasurable and natural to our nature, it is a holy act according to G-d and Torah (Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:5-6, Eph. 5:31). Virginity is seen as a once in a life time gift one saves for ones spouse as a sign of self-control, restraint loyalty, fidelity, commitment and love. The act of sex itself was used to seal a marital contract, to make valid a marriage and so though pre-marital sex is not mentioned in the Torah, because of culture and what sex meant in that day and time implies that it is only for marriage. Sex comes with hefty responsibility where children can be conceived as a result, and we all know how children are one of the greatest responsibilities in life. I do not think personages of the times of the Tanak would look favorably upon pre-marital sex for the very reasons I just cited.  
A woman known not to be a virgin was looked down upon and not desirable for marriage, many became prostitutes because no one would marry them. The Torah implies premarital sex is wrong because a woman after consummating the marriage didn’t soil the marital sheets with her blood was seen as evidence of not being a virgin.

Deuteronomy 22:13-17


"If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then turns against her, and charges her with shameful deeds and publicly defames her, and says, 'I took this woman, but when I came near her, I did not find her a virgin,' then the girl's father and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of the girl's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.
"The girl's father shall say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man for a wife, but he turned against her; and behold, he has charged her with shameful deeds, saying, "I did not find your daughter a virgin." But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.


Physiologically, only the human female has a distinctively perceived sign of virginity, the hymen. The presence of such in the backdrop for ‘evidence of virginity in of brides. Here in the verse cited above we see ‘the evidence of the girl’s virginity’ was ‘the garments’. The gown brides wore for the very purpose of giving proof that they were a virgin. Here we find the physical proof a torn Hymen will generally produce: blood. This is symbolic of oneness, the covenant of blood.

“Many people are surprised to learn that the Torah does not prohibit premarital sex. I challenge you to find any passage in the Jewish scriptures that forbits a man from having consensual sexual relations with any woman he could legally marry. It's just not there!...
This is not to suggest that Judaism approves of pre-marital sex or promiscuity. Quite the contrary: traditional Judaism strongly condemns the irresponsibility of sex outside of marriage. It is considered to be improper and immoral, even though it is not technically a sin. In fact, to prevent such relations, Jewish law prohibits an unmarried, unrelated man and woman from being alone long enough to have sexual relations. But these laws come from the Talmud and the Shulchan Aruch, not from the Torah….
While premarital sex is considered sinful by the rabbinic community, the rabbis also recognize the human desire for sexual interaction. Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman is to be reserved for their union upon marriage when they become one with God. Several centuries ago, rabbis deemed the age of eighteen the proper age for marriage. This custom was put into effect to mitigate the desire for premarital sex. The only limits placed on sexual activities in the Torah are prohibitions against adultery and incest.
In biblical times, a man was not prohibited from having sexual relations with a woman, as long as it led to marriage. The Bible never explicitly states a woman and man may not have sexual intercourse prior to marriage; therefore, no sanction was imposed for premarital sex, but it was considered a violation of custom.

In Jewish law, the principles of modesty, zenut, forbid women from being promiscuous. A man must concentrate on his daily studies and praying, rather than being concerned by the sexuality of a woman. Thus, the rabbinic scholars of the Talmud prohibited prostitution and premarital sex (with no intention of marriage).” -- Ariel Scheib, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org  

 

Though sex before marriage (pre-marital sex or sexual promiscuity), assuming one is talking of sexual intercourse (oral, vaginal and anal) or perversion of the same; is not specifically mentioned in the Torah, the Word of G-d as a whole implies it is wrong by calling it “fornication.”

The word “fornication” in the Bible (specifically the New Testament) is the Greek word “pornia,” where we get the word, “pornography” from, and the biblical definition entails adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, prostitution, incest, and rape. It is a broad word for sexual misconduct and or perversion.

Merriam-Webster, as well as the American Heritage dictionary defines fornication as: “consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.”

Though the Torah is silent on the issue of pre-marital sex, the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) isn’t, because it was a different time, place and culture, yet still dealt with the Hebrew people and handled the issue based on Torah principles. We will see that the Brit Chadasha written by Jews and Rabbi’s based on Torah prohibits pre-marital sex. It was written in a time and place of Western cultural influence where they did not usually marry at puberty, but later in life as is the norm in the Western World today.

The following a few select passages taken from the English Standard Version dealing with pre-marital sex where fornication is rendered sexual immorality.

 

Matthew 5:28

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 7:2

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Rebellion and Witchcraft

Rebellion and Witchcraft

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

I Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

This verse has always captured my attention and has come to mind in many instances in my walk, which has caused me to reevaluate and question my own motives and actions and in turn has kept me from much heartache and distress.

What did Samuel really mean by this verse? This verse was spoken by the Prophet and Priest Samuel to King Saul which was followed by a Divine judgment against Saul, dethroning him when he failed to follow Divine instructions in regards to Israel’s campaign against the enemy to utterly destroy everything. Instead Saul made what he felt was a justifiable excuse to spare the enemies king and reserve the best of the flock and heard so as to sacrifice to YHWH. Despite Saul’s “good intentions” and his seemingly “justifiable excuse,” bottom line is, he disobeyed and Saul’s actions were deemed by G-d as rebellion, equal to the Torah prohibition against witchcraft.

Samuel shot down Saul’s lame excuse anyway by saying:

I Sam. 15:22 …Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines rebellion as opposition to one in authority or dominance. A usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government. Saul, by his disobedience and not following fully YHWH’s instruction against the enemy, rebelled against those instructions which out of the mouth of YHWH is Divine Kingdom Law. Saul, being a king himself surely would not accept a subject compromising his clear cut commands, interpreting them his own way, and not carrying them out to the letter; so why would he expect YHWH to?

The Hebrew word for rebellion in this verse is, “meriy” which come from the root word meaning bitter. So we can gather that at the root of all rebellion is a seed of bitterness. The question is, bitterness against what or whom, and why? Such definition and questions makes every case of rebellion unique and a bit of a detective story or psychologist’s analytical query to come to the answers to the questions posed so as to make sense of the why of it all.

The verbiage of this verse applied to Saul would indicate that Saul was not innocent in his actions, but willingly and knowingly rebelled and went against YHWH’s commands because of a root of bitterness that had festered in his heart and soul. Perhaps due to the fact that a few chapters prior (Chapter 13) Samuel rebuked Saul for performing sacrifices without him which Saul was prohibited by Torah from making and not qualified to make. Perhaps it’s the bitterness that comes from an adult child resenting his parents for disapproving of decisions he has made and feels that he can never please them and resents that it appears that they are attempting to run his life. Perhaps Saul does not fully accept that Samuel is G-d’s mouthpiece and does not necessarily believe that what Samuel says is truly from G-d. When one reads the Scriptural narrative one can get the impression that Saul feels as if, “You do not respect me as king, you think I am incompetent. Who do you think you are trying to tell me what to do? You do not think I can make right decisions on my own. You do not think I am wise. How dare you question my G-d given authority and actions!? I am king and I’ll show you!”

I Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Sin is defined by I John 3:4 in that sin is a breaking and or disobedience to the Torah. And so even though G-d’s commands to Saul given through His mouthpiece, the Prophet and Priest Samuel, is not apart of the 613 Commandments of Torah, since the instructions come from YHWH Himself it is as authoritative as one of the 613 Mitzvot of Torah itself. Samuel is making it clear that Saul did not rebel against him but YHWH!

Witchcraft is the Hebrew word “kesem” which also means divination, all of which are clearly prohibited by Torah (Exd. 22:18, Deut. 18:11).

Merriam-Webster defines divination as the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers or unusual insight; intuitive perception. So in essence Samuel is saying Saul is putting himself in the place of Almighty G-d! He is saying that by Saul’s actions he is claiming to be wiser that G-d and thus by default making himself to be as a god by rejecting YHWH’s instructions and going by his own. And was this not the temptation connected to the sin of Adam and Eve?

Gen. 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Satan was saying, by rejecting G-d’s commands and making decisions for yourself, you are acting as a god. This, because of power and false freedom is a very attractive prospect for many people. As the old saying goes, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Stubbornness is “patsar” in Hebrew means to peck at something and carries the connotation of being dull; pressing a point to the point of numbness and staying in a rut till you stagnate. It says in the main verse we are looking at that stubbornness is as iniquity. Iniquity means, “Torahlessness, without law, without Divine instruction.”  Therefore we can conclude that by Saul bitterly and willingly rejecting G-d’s commands he has become conscious-less in disregarding Torah in favor of his own ideas and way of doing things. He is by default staying in his mental rut and dullness that he is wiser than G-d Himself! So I suppose with the sin of bitterness we can also throw in pride and arrogance as well which is the very sin which caused Lucifer (Satan) to fall from and be cast out of heaven. Idolatry is also connected to this stubbornness and is saying that Saul has become his own idol, his own god, for he accepts his verdicts above that of YHWH and his rebellion is a subtle form of self worship.

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Wow! The path of bitterness leads to multiple infractions; one sin leading to another as the falling of dominos! Who would have ever thought that bitterness and resentment could lead to vaunting oneself as god!?

I Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

This verse is easily applicable and gives insight into ones daily life in that obeying ones parents, husband, Rabbi, employer, and government, one is in obedience to G-d :

Col. 3:20   Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Eph 5:22-25 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Messiah is the head of the congregation: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the congregation is subject unto Messiah, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Messiah also loved the congregation, and gave himself for it;

Matt. 23:1-3 Then spake Yeshua to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Eph. 6:5-7 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Messiah; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Messiah, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Rom. 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

One may say but wait, doesn’t it say it is better to obey G-d rather than man (Acts 5:29). Yes, it does, but only in matters where mans instructions goes against that of G-d’s.

If and when we walk in obedience in all aspect of our lives we will experience Divine favor as Yeshua did.

Luke 2:52 And Yeshua increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Ponderings of the Pentateuch #11 Dec. 11, 2010

RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Pentateuch

Parashah #11 Vayigash “And He Drew Near”

Gen. 44:18-47:27

Ezk. 37:15-28

Gen. 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Jewish Tradition, Midrash, The Book of Jasher, and the Hebrew words of the Torah indicate Joseph was originally a spoiled brat, a tattle tale and a Daddies boy who made his brother’s lives miserable; especially the sons of the handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah, and thus we see the brothers get him back, but go way overboard. It took all those years of slavery and imprisonment to beat the childish negative traits out of Joseph. He had to be refined in the crucible of suffering in order to be purged of his juvenile ways and be seasoned and mature to be a Patriarch, leader and savior.

I Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Many times we find ourselves in a “G-d, how could You let this happen to me” – type of situations and wonder what we have done to deserve this. But we must remember….

James 1:2-4, 12 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.  
I Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

I Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

I Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Job suffered, Abraham had his 10 trials, Joseph had his fair share of tribulation, Moses, David and Yeshua all had their wilderness experiences and Daniel and his three Hebrew companions were tested and in the midst of it, it was by far not pleasant but in the end they all came out on top and the trials made them better people and stronger vessels for YHWH’s use.

Gen. 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

We see by Joseph’s statement he matured and was wise to test his brothers before he revealed himself and when he found they too had been refined we see no indication of malice or revenge in Joseph’s heart. With maturity comes revelation; Moderchai and Rav Sha’ul recognized this.

Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

In our haftarah portion Ezekiel tells us the necessity of harsh exile in order for Judah and Ephraim (Israel) to be refined in order to be unified again in the future.

Ezk. 37:19-23 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.

So if you find yourself in a rough patch, dry spell or between a rock and a hard place, know that Moshiach has gone before you and you are not alone.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

As the Scriptures often say, “And it came to pass…” trials come to pass, they are temporary and we need to see them as drill sergeants who is there to toughen us up and make  us better believers for His Glory!

Shabbat Shalom and Shavuah Tov!

-- Rabbi Yehudah

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In Defense of Chanukah (And other non-High Holy Days)

In Defense of Chanukah

(And other non-High Holy Days)

By Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

There are those of the Hebrew Roots – Natsari Movement who are Sola Scriptura or Karite like in their beliefs and practices and who come against extra Biblical celebrations not commanded in the High Holy Day line-up of Leviticus 23. Their fall reverb defense is:

Deut. 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

They feel by celebrating pertinent moves of G-d and Historic events within Jewish History but out side Leviticus 23 is “adding” to the Word of G-d. Since when is giving G-d the praise and glory for something adding to the Torah and since when is giving YHWH the credit a sin!?

No one is saying… well maybe a few orthodox religious extremists… that you HAVE to observe Purim, Chanukah, Yom HaShoah, Tu’ B’Shavat, Lag B’Omer, and other Jewish holidays or you are sinning against the Torah and or are going to hell. Such Jewish observances outside of Leviticus 23 is optional and by the observation is not in any way adding to the Torah, especially Leviticus 23.

Usually the first extra Biblical observance to be condemned by usually well intending Karite-ish Natsarim is Chanukah. The first argument is that “we should not add or take away from Torah.” Then they go to John ten and make the claim Yeshua was there for the Feast of Dedication (Chanukah) but that He did not participate in the celebration. Wow! What an assumption based on nothing. They say that because the passage doesn’t say “He went up to Jerusalem” means that He just happened to be there for Chanukah but was not a participant of it. The reason it says that He did not “go up” to Jerusalem is because that was a Hebraic idiom to indicate sacrifice at the Temple which many Festivals required, but was not required regarding Chanukah and so “He was there” instead of “He went up.”

John 10:22-23 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

If He was so against Chanukah then why was He even there at this “questionable” event and why did He use this when confronted to imply that He was Moshiach!? He could have easily used this as a platform to disapprove of Chanukah and preach against it using the argument used to day, “Do not add or take away from Torah…” But we see no such thing. All He did was disapprove of their hypocrisy and their tricks to try to trap and stone Him. He said nothing about Chanukah. The issue was His Messiahship, not the Feast of Dedication they were participating in. It was clear to me Yeshua was there to join in the Chanukah festivities.
Chanukah was originally kept at the same time as Sukkot and then, due to the Maccabees was held as it is today on the 25^th of Kislev (I Kings 8, II Chron. 7). When the exiles returned they kept Chanukah (Ezra 6:16-17). I Maccabees 4:52-59 and II Maccabees 10:1-8 recounts the reason we celebrate Chanukah today. Seems to me is Messiah had a problem celebrating Chanukah He had ample opportunity to be very clear in the matter. Instead we see he was silent on it and the passages seem to point to the fact that instead He celebrated Chanukah.

As mentioned earlier, the dates for celebrating Chanukah have changed through out the ages.  A new date for each time the Temple was built and dedicated, or cleansed and rededicated.  But to this day we keep the days set forth by the Maccabees in I Maccabees 4:59 and II Maccabees 10:8 because that was the last rededication until the Messiah returns to build the 3^rd Holy Temple.  Chanukah today commemorates the rededication of the Temple, the defeat of the Greco-Syrian invaders, affirms our Jewishness, and commemorates the miracle of the oil. 

Because of II Maccabees 10:8 (who some Natsarim regard as cannon) commanding the Jewish people to keep the 25^th day of the month of Kislev and the 7 days that follow, we see Yeshua in John 10:22-23 keeping Chanukah!  If Messiah celebrated Chanukah, that’s good enough for me!
Another extra-Biblical Jewish holiday that gets attacked is Purim.

The Brit Chadasha is by far not an exhaustive commentary on the first century beliefs and practices of the Jewish believer; it is but a series of snap shots in time.

The Brit Chadasha was never written with the intent of becoming ‘Scripture.” The Besorah (Gospels) are mostly a historical, testimonial type of document as a witness to Yeshua that falls way short of the entirety of His life, activities, teachings and miracles. It has been said by one of the writers of the Besorah that all the libraries and books couldn’t contain such information (John 21:25). Other parts of the Brit Chadasha are instructional correspondence between a Sheliachim (an Apostle) and various synagogues.

Much of the Brit Chadasha is written in such a way that it is assumed the readers were Torah Obedient and knew about many of the customs and traditions of Judaism.

This being said, it is a given and obvious that Yeshua kept the Saturday Sabbath, went to synagogue (Luke 4:16), participated in the Feasts of Leviticus 23 and even celebrated a non-biblical feast called Chanukah (John 10). But what about Purim, it is mysteriously not mentioned in the Brit Chadasha just as G-d’s Name is not found in the text of the book of Esther. So did He observe it? I think it is safe to say He did because though it is not mentioned he did, Yeshua was a Torah Observant Jew even keeping many of the customs and traditions of His people which Purim was one of them:

Esther 9:28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

The reason it is not mentioned as being celebrated in the Brit Chadasha is because in the time of Yeshua, Rome occupied and ruled Israel and thus Purim was ban as a public festival out of fear it would insight rebellion among the Jews against Rome. However, the Meggillah was still permitted to be read and Purim was allowed to be observed in private. Wouldn’t Chanukah incite such rebellion too, why was it celebrated and not Purim? Great question, it is because Chanukah was all about the defeat of Rome’s enemy; the Greco-Syrians and encouraged the Jews to celebrate that fact by allowing Chanukah observance to continue (John 10).

So though the motive by such Karite-ish Natsarim is well intended, I really do not think they have a strong, let alone solid case for one not to celebrate extra-Biblical Jewish holidays.

Regarding these extra holidays Rav Sha’ul said:

Rom. 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Fundraising on the Sabbath

Fundraising on the Sabbath

By Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

In Orthodox Judaism money is not carried or handled on Shabbat and thus one gives their “tithe” or “offering” during the week or after the Havdalah service immediately at the close of Shabbat.

Synagogues do not have offering plates or take up a collection as they do in Christian churches. They have what is called a tzedakah box in which a congregant on their own regularly puts monetary funds into the box for synagogue expenses, charities and such. No service, no songs, no passing of the offering plate. But I see no problem carrying money for the purpose of dropping it in the tzedakah box on Shabbat at the Shul, for monetary offerings temporarily take the place of sacrifices. And if sacrifices were given and offered on Sabbath and High Holy Days which were equal to the Sabbath, and even some pilgrimage sacrifices were exchanged for money and a festive meal with the Priests, I see no problem with dropping in a monetary sacrifice on Shabbat.

However, I do take issue with raising money for projects such as a charity drive, building fund, youth projects or even a missions project. In the Brit Chadasha even Rav Sha’ul would not permit the Corinthian synagogues to collect money for him on Shabbat.

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 

Sha'ul is requesting that donations for him and his work be set aside on the first week, which is Sunday. This money was to be collected ahead of time so that when Sha'ul arrived, the money would be ready to take to the believers in Jerusalem for distribution. Business matters, especially those regarding money are not conducted on the Sabbath; therefore any collecting of this sort would have to be done sometime during the week, Sunday through Friday. The Sabbath is not the topic here in this verse; a donation for the saints is. These were Jewish and Gentile believers who kept the traditions of the Jewish faith and worshiped on Shabbat, not Sunday. Nothing in this passage indicates a Sunday worship service; this verse merely speaks of a practical matter regarding fundraising; not about replacing G-d's Sabbath with a Sunday collection service! 

Business is not conducted on Shabbat and seeing as business deals with work, a livelihood; making and exchanging money, money in a business manner is not handled on Shabbat. Therefore we do not buy or sell on Sabbath.
Fundraising is actually a career for some people and is thus deemed as business or work, no matter how charitable or G-dly the cause and therefore fundraising is different than the giving of ones monetary offering which can be given on Sabbath and is hence not permitted (Exodus 20:10, 31:15, Lev. 23:3, Deut. 5:14, Amos 8:5, Neh. 10:31, 13:15,19)