The Haftarah for Parashat Pinchas

The Haftora is read from the book of Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1-2:3.

The story line of this week's Haftarah: The Haftorah starts with Yirmiyahu's appointment as a Prophet. Then we read about Jeremiah's first two visions. His first vision is of an almond tree's rod. The second is the vision of a boiling pot. Hashem gives Jeremiah encouragement not to be afraid of the responses. The Haftorah concludes with his first message to the Jewish people.

The connection between this week's Parasha and the Haftara: The Haftorah of the first forty-one Sidros is related to one or more points touched upon in its Sidra. After the Destruction of the Second Temple, however, the sages ordained that the Haftorah read on the three Shabbasim between the 17th of Tammuz and the ninth of Av be drawn from the prophecies that forewarned the nation of the First Temples Destruction. For it was on the Seventeenth of Tammuz that the enemies of Israel breached Jerusalem's walls and on the Ninth of Av that each of the two temples was burned to the ground. The three Haftorahs are called the Telasa Dephuranusa - three of affliction. They are the opening chapters of Jeremiah and Isaiah, and each threatens the dire consequences that would be visited upon Israel in response to its sinfulness. Nevertheless, each of the Haftorahs of gloom ends on a note of hope and inspiration.

Haftorahman's Lesson of the week: Deliver the message without fear of the response.

Yirmiyahu's (Jeremiah's) Biography: The meaning of his name is "Hashem will elevate." He was the son of Chilkiya also a prophet. He was a Kohen. He was born in Anatot, 2 miles north of Jerusalem in the land of Benjamin. He spoke at childhood and cursed the day he was born. Isaiah came before Yirmiyahu, and Ezekiel comes after. Jeremiah wrote 3 Books: Jeremiah - 52 chapters, Eicha (Lamentations), and Melachim (The Book of Kings). He began prophesizing when he was 18 and continued for 40 Years. Jeremiah was born with a circumcision. He was a descendant of Rehab, Jericho's innkeeper that Joshua saved. Jeremiah's prophecies took place before, during, and after the destruction of the Bait Hamikdash (Holy Temple). The Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. He remained in Jerusalem after its destruction with Gedalyah ben Achikam, The man who the fast of Gedalyah is named after. Shafan was his scribe. Shafan brought the scroll he found in the Bait Hamikdash to Jeremiah, which was originally written by Moses. It was open to the verse "Hashem will bring you and your elected King to a nation unknown to your fathers." That scared people into changing their ways He was chosen by Hashem in 624 B.C.E. to be a prophet. About 2625 years ago. Jeremiah claimed he was too young for the job. Jeremiah lived in Jerusalem. He was never married and he never had children. He was the head of the Mishmeret Hakohanim (The Guard by the Priests doing work in the Holy Temple). They were the custodians of the Ark of the Lord. He wore a wooden yolk around his neck. Jeremiah was known as the Weeping Prophet. He was born in 640 B.C.E. on Tishah Be'av. The time span of the book 66 years. Baruch was his friend and disciple. He was stoned to death after fleeing to Alexandria, Egypt.

The structure of the Book of Jeremiah.

• Jeremiah's commission
• Call to Prophecy
• The broken covenant
• Prophecy to Judah and gentiles.
• Judgment nears
• King Zedkiya and the 70 year captivity.
• Jerusalem falls
• Babylonians invade Israel and Jerusalem.

Timeline: 2650 years ago

Map: The Haftorah takes place in Jerusalem

Written by: The Haftorahman - Reuven Gavriel ben Nissim Ebrahimoff 5762-2002

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