Pt 2 RasTafari Sabbatical | Exodus Rss#13| S’moch [Simoch] | Shemot | "Names" @LOJSociety

Torah Reading

Exodus 1:1-6:1

Prophets Reading

Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23

New Testament Reading

Acts 7:17-35; 1 Cor 14:18-25

Shemot (????) is both the title for the second book from the scroll of the Torah and the title of the first Torah portion therein. Shemot means “names.” The English-speaking world calls this book Exodus. The Hebrew title for the book comes from the opening phrase of the book: “Now these are the names (shemot) of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob” (Exodus 1:1).

As we study the first week’s reading from the book of Exodus, we find the children of Israel in slavery. It seems at first that the God of their forefathers has forgotten them. But God has not forgotten His promises. He remembers His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and brings a Redeemer to their children’s children, for the sake of His name, with love.