A reader asks, “If the instruction is for Tsiyon to flee from the land of the north, where Tsiyon had been spread (the diaspora), and we can’t return to the Levant, where should we go?”

Zakaryahu (Zechariah) 2:6-13

Alas, alas, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, says YAHUAH: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says YAHUAH. 7 Deliver yourself, O Tsiyon, that dwell with the daughter of Babel. 8 For thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OT; After the glory has he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake את eth-my hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that YAHUAH TSEVA’OT has sent me.

We begin with this passage from Zakaryahu saying to us, flee from the land of the north, and go somewhere else.  Before we answer the “flee to where?” question, let us first discuss this land of the north, for the passage is instructive.  One thing we discover in scripture over and over again is repetition (or, as we used to say in music, re-exposition).  The verse tells us to come forth and flee (statement and iteration), from the land of the north.  There are many lands of the north, so does this mean that all those who live above the equator should flee to south of the equator?  I don’t think so, because this passage goes onto speak of which land it is that is of the north, namely, the daughter of Babel.  1) Come forth and 2) flee, from a) the land of the north, b) the daughter of Babel. 

This, of course, begs the question, “Who is the daughter of Babel?”  Babel (בָּבֶל) (beit; beit; lamed) has more than one meaning. The word beit in Hebrew means house. Because there are two beits (Bs) in this name, the name Babel implies two houses – two beits; one of which is the house of Ba’al and the other of which is the house of EL.  In our case, the implication in the name is that the house of EL is captive or exiled (galuth, in the Hebrew) within or under the house of Ba’al. 

Doesn’t this describe our current political situation, where the tribes in diaspora are seeking the righteousness of YAH, only to be handed the unrighteousness of those who claim evil is good, that dark is light, that night is day, who now hold all of the reins of power in our nation? 

Let us take on the issue then of determining who Babylon is. This name has its own intrinsic meaning.  As previously stated, the letter beit is the letter which means 'the house' (and is the word for house, such as Beyt Lechem (Bethlehem); the house of bread).  However, the placement of a beit (b) before a word as a prefix in the Hebrew has also the meaning of in, such as B’reshiyth which means ‘in the beginning’.

Take a look at the name Zerubbabel for instance.  This name can be broken down a couple of ways.  We can easily see that the name contains the place name of Babel.  So, the name is Zerub of Babel.  That is one understanding; however, consider if the first beit (b) instead means in.  Now the meaning is Zeru in Babel (which would be spelled Zeru’b’babel). I think you can see what I mean about how the beit can be used as the prefix meaning in, while also meaning house.     

Consider now the name Babel.  Suppose we use the same understanding, using the beit (b) as the prefix meaning in, i.e., b’Bel, meaning in Bel? This becomes more understandable when we realize that Bel is another name for Ba’al (which translates literally as Lord, Master, or Husband).  Therefore, the word b’Bel (b’Ba’al) means in Ba’al.  However, there is more in this implication because the letter beit (b) also means house.  B’bel may then also mean the house in Ba’al, or the house in the land of Ba’al.  This gives us an understanding of the condition of the captivity in Babel during the time of Daniye’l.  The word itself means that the house of Yahudah was a house captive in Ba’al.

However, it is also possible that this may mean the opposite.  That is to say that the house of Ba’al is lodged within the larger house of EL.  B (bl) L.  Or, ironically, the house of Ba’al is lodged within the house of Yisra’el, and the house of Yisra’el is lodged within the house of Ba’al.  Ultimately, the meaning of the word BBL (Babel) is primarily confusion because it represents the exile of the house of Yisra’el within the house of Ba’al.

This may explain how two judgments fall on America.  One judgment is the judgment that comes upon the nation as we assume the garments of Yisra’el, declaring that “the bricks have fallen, we shall rebuild with hewn stones” which is discussed in Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 9 and 10. The second judgment comes on Babel – the house of Ba’al within the house of Yisra’el, or the house of Yisra’el in captivity in the house of Ba’al.

Babel (BBL) implies the house of the shepherd (beit lamed) within a house (beit), or the house of Ba’al over the house of the shepherd. Given the claim of America to the prophecy set forth in Yesha’yahu 9:11 (the bricks have fallen . . .), and the discussion of its leader being the Assyrian (the heritage of Nebuchadnezzar), the judgment of the house of Yisra’el continues.  We can conclude that the house of Babel can be found ruling over the house of Yisra’el in America.

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 13:1-5

The burden of Babel, which Yesha`yahu the son of Amots did see. 2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for my anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: YAHUAH TSEVA’OT musters the host of the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even YAHUAH, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

Those who rejoice in the highness of YAH will be coming up against Babel – because Babel is a place that does not rejoice in the highness of YAH.  So YAH raises up his sanctified ones, his mighty ones, a multitude in the mountains, a great people, -- kingdoms of nations gathered together.  They come to destroy the whole land!

We will therefore conclude (and there is further instruction on this in these blogs) that Babel is the United States of America.   

Let us now answer the question where a person is to flee from Babylon, should she desire to come out of her.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 48:16-22

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now ADONAI YAHUAH, and his RUACH, has sent me. 17 Thus says YAHUAH, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Yisra’el; I am YAHUAH ELOHAYKA which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go. 18 O that you had hearkened to my commandments! Then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea: 19 Your seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of your bowels like She’ol thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

20 Go ye forth of Babel, flee ye from the Kasdiym, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, YAHUAH has redeemed his servant Ya`aqov. 21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. 22 There is no peace, says YAHUAH, unto the wicked.

This passage is worthy of discussion:

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning. So first, listen up!  This wasn’t whispered or spoken in secret!

I am YAHUAH ELOHAYKA which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go. If you are asking the question, which way should I go?  And if you are asking the question, will it be profitable for me to leave?  The answer is I am YAHUAH ELOHAYKA which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go.

Go ye forth of Babel, flee ye from the Kasdiym.  I guess you will have to answer for yourself the question as to what is Babel, and what constitutes the land of the Kasdiym, but it strikes me that anything under the jurisdiction of the United States is Babel and the land of the Kasdiym.

Flee to where? Well, as far as the ends of the earth. Now, the passage does not say flee to the ends of the earth, but says even to the ends of the earth.  Which is to say, that if you are required to flee to the very ends of the earth, YAHUAH has redeemed his servant Ya`aqov. 21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. In other words, expect miraculous provision.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 13:9-22

Behold, the day of YAHUAH comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophiyr. 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of YAHUAH TSEVA’OT, and in the day of his fierce anger. 14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man takes up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee everyone into his own land. Everyone that is found shall be thrust through; and everyone that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. 16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their women ravished. 17 Behold, I will stir up את eth-the Madai against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. 18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

19 And Babel, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Kasdiym's excellency, shall be as when ELOHIYM overthrew את eth-Cedom and את eth-Amorah. 20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Araviy pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. 22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 51:9-16

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of YA-HUAH; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Are you not it that has cut Rachav, and wounded the dragon? 10 Are you not it which has dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that has made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 Therefore the redeemed of YAHUAH shall return, and come with singing unto Tsiyon; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 12 I, even I, am he that comforts you: who are you, that you should be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of Adam which shall be made as grass; 13 And forget YAHUAH your Maker, that has stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hastens that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. 15 But I am YAHUAH ELOHAYKA, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: YAHUAH TSEVA’OT is his name. 16 And I have put my words in your mouth, and I have covered you in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Tsiyon, You are my people.

I am not sure whether this is advice as to where to go or a foregone conclusion as to what will happen, but it appears that every person should turn to his own people, and flee to his own land, wherever that may be.  I presume that we Americans, all who have an immigrant past, must look to the land of our fathers, turn to those who remain in the places which our forefathers left, and flee everyone into his own land.

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 50:9-20

For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babel an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. 10 And Kasdiymah shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, says YAHUAH. 11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of my heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; 12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bore you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the wrath of YAHUAH it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: everyone that goes by Babel shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. 14 Put yourselves in array against Babel round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she has sinned against YAHUAH. 15 Shout against her round about: she has given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of YAHUAH: take vengeance upon her; as she has done, do unto her. 16 Cut off the sower from Babel, and him that handles the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land.

17 Yisra’el is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria has devoured him; and last this Nevukadne’tstsar king of Babel has broken his bones. 18 Therefore thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OT, the ELOHIYM of Yisra’el; Behold, I will punish the king of Babel and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. 19 And I will bring את eth-Yisra’el again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Karmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon Mount Ephrayim and Gil`ad. 20 In those days, and in that time, says YAHUAH, את eth-the iniquity of Yisra’el shall be sought for, and את eth-there shall be none; and the sins of Yahudah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

This passage, like it or not, speaks of the return of the whole of the house of Yisra’el to his habitation in the adamah qodesh (Holy Land). 

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 51:1-6

THUS says YAHUAH; Behold, I will raise up against Babel, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; 2 And will send unto Babel fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty את eth-her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. 3 Against him that bends let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifts himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host. 4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Kasdiym, and they that are thrust through in her streets. 5 For Yisra’el has not been forsaken, nor Yahudah of his ELOHIYM, of YAHUAH TSEVA’OT; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Yisra’el. 6 Flee out of the midst of Babel, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of YAHUAH’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.

Now that we understand that initially, each person in the house of Yisra’el living captive in the land of Babel is called to turn to his own people, and flee everyone into his own land, let’s take a look at that passage in Zakaryahu again to see how we will fare under these circumstances.

Zakaryahu (Zechariah) 2:6-13

Alas, alas, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, says YAHUAH: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says YAHUAH. 7 Deliver yourself, O Tsiyon, that dwell with the daughter of Babel. 8 For thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OT; After the glory has he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake את eth-my hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that YAHUAH TSEVA’OT has sent me.

Know then, that as you flee to your nation, that he that touches you touches the apple of his [YAH’S] eye, and that these nations shall be a spoil to their servants. Walk then, in the path (eth derek) of the chosen (Yisra’el), speak the truth (eth emet), and hold to the life (eth chayim), that MASHIACH might know you in this hour.