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ויגש Vayigash – (‘He approached’)
Gen 44:18 – 47:27
In this parsha study we will examine the meaning of the name of the land called ‘Rameses’ where the Israelites live which is within Goshen in the Land of Egypt. Even though it is an Egyptian name we will see that when ‘Rameses‘ is spelt with Hebrew letters it gives us a clue as to what it represents. We will see that ‘Rameses’ represents the horse-like outer walls of the heavenly temple and to Pharaoh Satan’s evil world system of Paganism. Horses have Spirit and ‘Rameses’ is related to Horses and the Thunder of Judgement and War in the last days. ‘Rameses‘ represents the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation chapter 6 and their final one way mission. The bride is likened to horses in Pharaoh’s Chariot. And the bride must make herself ready for King Messiah before she becomes fit for marriage and to ride with her Lord in the heavenly chariot.
Key Verse
And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of ‘Rameses‘, as Pharaoh had commanded.
Genesis 47:11
וַיֹּושֵׁב יֹוסֵף אֶת־אָבִיו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶם אֲחֻזָּה בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּמֵיטַב הָאָרֶץ בְּאֶרֶץ רַעְמְסֵס כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה פַרְעֹֽה׃
Background
Care of torahportions.org
- Genesis 44:18 | Judah Pleads for Benjamin’s Release
- Genesis 45:1 | Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
- Genesis 46:1 | Jacob Brings His Whole Family to Egypt
- Genesis 46:28 | Jacob Settles in Goshen
- Genesis 47:11 … and the land of Rameses in particular!
- Genesis 47:13 | The Famine in Egypt
Rameses
Our key verse for this study on ‘Rameses’ is in the verse listed above in Genesis 47:11. Joseph placed his Father and brothers in the land of Goshen which in this verse is called the land of Rameses. This may refer to all Goshen being Rameses or Rameses being the particular district in the greater area of Goshen. It is important that the name is mentioned because no detail in scripture is there by chance.
Later by the time of the Exodus a few hundred years later we read in Exodus 1:11 that Rameses becomes a treasure city built through Israelite labour (we will talk more about that in the upcoming Parsha ‘Shemot’).
So why are we told the name of this place called Rameses. What is Rameses all about. Of course the name is Egyptian. But the name in our inspired Torah is spelt in Hebrew letters. And it is this spelling that gives us a clue as to what its name represents and this is confirmed later in the scriptures as we shall see.
H7486 רעמסס - ra‛mesês
Of Egypt origin; Rameses or Raamses, a place in Egypt: - Raamses, Rameses.
The name Rameses occurs five times in the scripture, all of them in the Torah, the first five books.
rameses, 4 Gen 47:11, Exo 12:37, Num 33:3, Num 33:5
raamses, 1 Exo 1:11
The name ‘Rameses’ in Hebrew just so happens to be made up of two words that are often related.
The name Rameses is all about the Horse and the thunder of battle and war.
The first part of the name Rameses is made up of the verb for thunder, Raam, which as a noun is the name for the mane of a horse. Raam is a horses mane.
The second part of the name Rameses is related to the word for horse in Hebrew, Sus, סוס.
It just so happens that the Bride in Song of songs is likened to a company of Horses in Pharaoh’s chariots, Song of Solomon 1:9, we will talk about that in more detail shortly.
Anyway the theme of thunder and battle and trumpet blast and the destruction of Pharaoh’s Chariots is also related to the horse.
This is why the Song of Moses is so relevant to what Rameses represents.
Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
The idea of the judgement of Pharaoh’s horses and riders is brought to it’s greatest fulfilment in the book of Revelation which we will talk about shortly. In the mean time you will just have to ‘hold your horses‘!
Thunder & the horses mane
The horses mane, רעמה, raama, is also related to the idea of thunder, raam, רעם because the mane quivers in the wind.
H7483 רעמה - ra‛mâh rah-maw'
Feminine of H7482; the mane of a horse (as quivering in the wind): - thunder.
Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
Job 39:19
הֲתִתֵּן לַסּוּס גְּבוּרָה הֲתַלְבִּישׁ צַוָּארֹו רַעְמָה׃
There was a son of Ham also named Ramah meaning Thunder.
H7484 רעמה rah-maw'
The same as H7483; Ramah, the name of a grandson of Ham, and of a place (perhaps founded by him): - Raamah.
Total KJV Occurrences: 5
raamah, 5 Gen 10:7 (2), 1Ch 1:9 (2), Eze 27:22
Thunder is about Judgement
Thunder is about Judgement. Judgement of the Israel and the judgement of the nations.
H7482 רעם rah'-am From H7481; a peal of thunder: - thunder. Total KJV Occurrences: 6 thunder, 6 Job 26:14, Job 39:25, Psa 77:18, Psa 104:7 (2), Isa 29:6
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
Psalms 77:18
At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
Psalms 104:7
Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
Isaiah 29:6
There are many other examples of thunder and judgement!
H7481 רעם raw-am'
A primitive root; to tumble, that is, be violently agitated; specifically to crash (of thunder); figuratively to irritate (with anger): - make to fret, roar, thunder, trouble.
Total KJV Occurrences: 13
roar, 3 1Ch 16:32, Psa 96:11, Psa 98:7
thundered, 3 1Sa 7:10, 2Sa 22:14, Psa 18:13
thundereth, 3 Job 37:4-5 (2), Psa 29:3
thunder, 2 1Sa 2:10, Job 40:9
fret, 1 1Sa 1:6
troubled, 1 Eze 27:35
Horses
The second part of the word ‘Rameses‘, רַעְמְסֵס
is related to horses.
H5483 סס / סוּס soos
From an unused root meaning to skip (properly for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight): - crane, horse ([-back, -hoof]). Compare H6571.
The bride is related to the Horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
Song of Solomon 1:9
So too, the Israelites that live in Rameses are compared to horses which is inferred by the actual name Rameses.
During the Exodus, Miriam exalts in song and says…
And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exodus 15:21
Thus the horse is related to the exodus and then ultimately to the events of Revelation where we have the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (as we shall see later).
A Horses or a Worm?
The Word סוס, sus, means horse but the word סס, sas <two sameks not to ohs> means some sort of worm. The idea perhaps is that Pharaoh’s mighty horses and horsemen are but worms because they do not take heed to God’s word.
The Strongs concordance has perhaps incorrectly defined the word sas, H5580 as a moth. This appears to be incorrect. Stones Hebrew English Tenak correctly translates it as worm. And so does the KJV. Mr Stone must have skipped a line when reading. Anyway godbless him. To err is human. His concordance has been a countless blessing to many for generations.
H5580 סס sâs
From the same as H5483; a moth (from the agility of the fly): - moth.
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
Isaiah 51:8
כִּי כַבֶּגֶד יֹאכְלֵם עָשׁ וְכַצֶּמֶר יֹאכְלֵם סָס וְצִדְקָתִי לְעֹולָם תִּֽהְיֶה וִישׁוּעָתִי לְדֹור דֹּורִים׃
So if we don’t pay attention to the Lord, all our might will come to nothing. And if we be but worms and do take heed to God’s word then we will one day be clothed in his glory and power. The Egyptian town of ‘Rameses’ and what it represents as Pharaoh’s horsemen Charioteers will one day be humbled to a worm. Meanwhile the bride of Messiah will replace them and their place of temporary honour.
Kings & Horses
Kings are often related to horses as necessary engines of war chariots. But Kings are not to go into the world system and become enmeshed in ‘Egypt’ to further their political and military adventures. They are instructed to follow the Lord and trust in Him.
But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Deuteronomy 17:16
So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king’s house, they slew her there.
2 Chronicles 23:15
Horses & Battle
Throughout history the Horse has been associated with battle due to its use in war and it’s fearlessness.
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
Job 39:18-25
And during the exodus the mention of Pharaoh’s horses and chariots being cast into the sea is emphasised. This is prophetic of the future destruction of Satan’s evil system during the events in the tribulation.
In Deuteronomy we are reminded and instructed by Moses about horses and battle…
And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day;
Deuteronomy 11:4
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 20:1
As noted earlier the bride is compared to the horse.
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
Song of Solomon 1:9
Horses have Spirit!
The four outer walls of the temple are literally called the four spirits in Ezekiel chapter 42. This is because the four walls face the four compass points, North, South, East and West and thus the four winds.
It is proverbial that the horse has spirit and the bible confirms this because the word for spirit is related to the outer walls of the temple in Ezekiel 42 which are related to the four horses in Zechariah’s vision and the four horsemen of Revelation.
Ezekiel 42:15-2015 וְכִלָּה אֶת־מִדֹּות הַבַּיִת הַפְּנִימִי וְהֹוצִיאַנִי דֶּרֶךְ הַשַּׁעַר אֲשֶׁר פָּנָיו דֶּרֶךְ הַקָּדִים וּמְדָדֹו סָבִיב סָבִֽיב׃
16 מָדַד רוּחַ הַקָּדִים בִּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּה חֲמֵשׁ־מֵאֹות קָנִים בִּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּה סָבִֽיב׃
17 מָדַד רוּחַ הַצָּפֹון חֲמֵשׁ־מֵאֹות קָנִים בִּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּה סָבִֽיב׃
18 אֵת רוּחַ הַדָּרֹום מָדָד חֲמֵשׁ־מֵאֹות קָנִים בִּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּֽה׃
19 סָבַב אֶל־רוּחַ הַיָּם מָדַד חֲמֵשׁ־מֵאֹות קָנִים בִּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּֽה׃
20 לְאַרְבַּע רוּחֹות מְדָדֹו חֹומָה לֹו סָבִיב סָבִיב אֹרֶךְ חֲמֵשׁ מֵאֹות וְרֹחַב חֲמֵשׁ מֵאֹות לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְחֹֽל׃
15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.
16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
17 He measured the north side , five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed.
19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
20 He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.
So the word translated ‘side’ is the word ruach, רוח, which also means spirit!
Later in Zechariah chapter 6 these walls or spirits are depicted in a vision as horses. This is an unfolding revelation.
1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
2 In the first chariot were red horses;
and in the second chariot black horses;
3 And in the third chariot white horses;
and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
Zechariah 6:1-5
The Horse & the Rider
The four outer walls of the temple are related to horses, which are the four winds. The theme of horses and the walls of the temple are related to the horse and the rider being thrown into the sea which Myriam sang about during the Exodus, . There is a far greater fulfilment of this later in the last days.
The idea of the four winds which are the four horses is developed further in the book of Revelation where these horses and horsemen are sent from heaven on a one way journey of judgement to the earth. The four horsemen represent the outer walls of the heavenly temple or angelic encampment. There is sin in the heavenly realm that is being expunged with one final mission.
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. 5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
Isaiah 34:4-5
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Joel 2:30
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Revelation 6:12-14
The following verses in the book of Revelation describe the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. You will notice that Thunder, raam/raama in Hebrew, is associated with the opening of the first seals of Revelation chapter 6. And thunder is related to horses and the horses mane as noted earlier.
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Revelation 6:1-8
Also see;
Revelation 9:7,9,16,17; 14:20; 18:13; 19:11,14,18,19,21;
other instances of the word horse in the New Testament:
Acts 23:23,32; James 3:3;
Conclusion
There is a battle between two Kingdom’s and two companies of horses. One belongs to Messiah and another to the Pharaoh of Egypt which is a picture of Satan, the Dragon. As one set of horses goes down, another set of horses goes up. The outer court of the temple is related to the gentiles and the bride.
We all knew that girls love horses. And the Bride is related to a company of horses. At present the bride of Messiah has not made herself ready and is living in Gentile land’s for the most part in a spiritually hostile environment. Soon the remnant of the lost tribes shall leave their green Goshen’s, their lands of Rameses like a company of wild horses let loose to the Promised Land.
It just so happens (a phrase I use too much but that’s just the way it is), anyway it just so happens that the Haftara reading for Parsha Vahigash, is Ezekiel 37:15-28 which is about the Two Sticks, Judah & Ephraim (Israel) become one. They were one in Egypt in Rameses and they shall become one again when back in the land. Then once there the Bride must make herself ready to meet the king, Yeshua, even as Esther made herself ready to become Queen. Only then can the Horse and the Rider be truly thrown into the sea forever. And the true bride will be like a company of horses within the eternal chariot of God, free at last to gallop and run as the wind blows. And that wind that is the Spirit of God in the four quarters of the heavenly encampment, North, South, East and West.
Revelation 22:17 – And the Spirit and the bride say, Come…
Amen! Come Lord Yeshua…
