We now begin the final book of the Pentateuch, the Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth Book of Moses from the Old testament, using allegory, symbols, metaphor and the translation of names to try to obtain a deeper understanding.

On the first day of the eleventh month, of the fortieth year, Moses spoke to the people and reviewed all the events from the exodus out of Egypt to the Israelites' current position as they made ready to cross over into the Promised Land. He reminded them of all the difficulties of their 40 year sojourn. The text indicates that there is an eleven day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, by way of Mount Seir.

The repeated use of the number eleven is a key element in this first chapter of Deuteronomy. It represents the first level of Mastership. It is the number of self-conquest and attainment. This spiritual journey from Horeb, which translates from the Aramaic as mountain of God, by way of Seir, which means rough, to Dakesh-barnea, Which means place of holiness, represents our journey from our heavenly, pre-fall state, through the valley of materialism, and back to the realms of the Spiritually enlightened immortals.

He pointed out that the land around the mountain of Seir would not be given to the Israelites because the Lord had given it to the descendants of Esau. And when they went through Moab he told them that the land of Moab would not be given to them because it has already been given to the children of Lot. He also mentioned that both of these lands had previously been inhabited by giants called Anakims or Emims and Zamzummims.

Esau means rough and has to do with the physical level of consciousness. Lot means darkened, and hidden. It represents the unelightened consciousness which is still in darkness. These levels of consciousness must be left behind, or passed through, if we are to achieve our spiritual goals.

As he retold the story of their journey, he was careful to point out the rewards and punishments that followed their progress and retrogression.

We are being told to put aside a part of our consciousness, our time, our attention, to reevaluate our actions and experiences.

Moses continued to retell the story of their wanderings in the wilderness, reemphasizing the lessons learned. "And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the book Zered, was thirty and eight years, until all the generations of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the Lord sware unto them."

Thirty-eight is a repetition of the same symbolic meaning as 11. For 3+8=11. It is the number of mastership of the self and is the real meaning of the journey from Kadesh-bernea which means place of holiness, to Zered which means exuberant growth. This is telling us that the path of mastership is based on a holy foundation and results in an abundant increase in consciousness only after we have eliminated the "men of war" or the thoughts and feelings which are antagonistic to love.

Moses continued relating the story. He talked about the successful battle for the cities of the Kingdom of Og in Bashan. He went on to say that Og was the last that remains of the giants. This land, once conquered was given to the tribe of Mannasseh.

These giants that are repeatedly mentioned, represent evil. This is the evil of our lower nature. The transfer of the land to Manasseh, which translates as causing forgetfulness, indicates that the evil has been transmuted or forgotten.

Moses then remembered how the Lord told him that he would not enter the Promised Land. That he could view it from the Mountain of Pasgah, but he would not set foot in it himself. He selected Joshua as his successor. He was instructed to encourage him and strengthen him. And he was told that Joshua shall cause them to inherit the Promised Land.

Moses, which means drawing out from the water, represents the Law especially the moral Law. To draw out from the water indicates that it involves themental preparation for spiritual attainment. It will not enter the Promised Land, but turns that responsibility over to Joshua. Joshua means God is salvation. He represents the awakened Soul which now takes over control of Body, Mind and Soul, as we continue our spiritual journey.

It is the Spiritual consciousness, represented by Joshua, which, with encouragement and strength, will enable us to enter the Promised Land.
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We continue with the Book of Deuteronomy from the old Testament, using allegory, symbols, metaphor and the translation of names to try to obtain a deeper understanding.

Moses continued to recall to the Israelites the events of their journey through the wilderness. He reminded them that the Lord had spoken to them from a burning mountain at Horeb. He assured them that though they might be scattered among the nations, due to their disobedience, if they were to seek the Lord, they would find Him. If they would seek Him with all their heart and with all their soul and were obedient to His voice, He would not forsake them.

Clearly the Israelites are a special people. For the Lord spoke to them from the burning mountain. Like the burning bush from which the Lord splke to Moses, the mountain represents a high state of spiritual consciousness. It is within us. So are the Israelites. People symbolize ideas in the Bible. The Israelites represent the ideas which are spiritually elevated. Even if they are side tracked, the Lord will hear them if they seek Him wholly, which is to say the thoughts are spiritually elevated.

He then repeated the ten commandments which had been given to him atop the mountain. He reminded them of the importance of following the Lord's laws and commandments.

If we are to succeed in our spiritual journey, we must remember to stay grounded each step of the way. It is important that we review the basics, the Lord's laws and commandments, and not get caught up in the higher levels of our new consciousness without the firm foundation from all the levels that have gone before.

Moses continued to emphasize the statutes of the Lord. It is hear that the line is found, "Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is on Lord; And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Our commitment must be unified between the body, mind and soul, or heart. This is the meaning of Christ's admonition to "Let thine eye be single." When a part of us is questioning our spiritual quest, or seeking after lustful or materialistic goals, inconsistent with our spiritual goals, we will make little progress. To succeed we must clear out the negative or materialistic thoughts and emotions so that we have no hindrance to our spiritual progress.

Moses told the people that they should no intermarry or allow their children to intermarry with the Hittitews, the Gergashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites - seven nations that were "greater and mightier than thou.' He told them that they are to drive out and destroy these peoples.

If they intermarry, which is to become diluted or changed by material thoughts, represented by the seven nations, they will no longer be able to hear Him.

These seven peoples or thoughts and emotions must be driven out and destroyed. Let's see what the story is telling us. The name Hittites whem translated from the Aramaic (the original Hebrew of Deuteronomy) means broken or terror. So the first one of the emotions we are to "drive out and destroy" is fear.

The name Girgashite means dense. Here it means a denseness of thought - thought that is bound in materialism

The name Amorites means mountaineer. But as a son of Canaan, it indicates the generative function and has to do with lust.

The name Canaanites is translated as one who exists for material things.

The Perizzites means rustic or countryman. Here it indicates the lower levels of consciousness, strongly entrenched in the senses.

Hivites which means beastiality or wickedness, are also listed among the "peoples" or thoughts which we must destroy.

And finally, the Jebusites, which translates as trodden down or polluted are also to be driven out and destroyed. When you understand what all of these "people" really represent, it is not so difficult to understand why we are told to destroy them. They are not part of the spiritually enlightened person we are trying to become.

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We continue with the Book of Deuteronomy from the old Testament, using allegory, symbols, metaphor and the translation of names to try to obtain a deeper understanding.

Moses continued to repeat the history and teachings which led the Israelites to the point of crossing over into the Promised Land. Some of the many things he mentioned are the Lord's promises that they will be fruitful and multiply; their farming will be successful; that neither they nor their cattle will be barren and that He will take away all their sickness.

The rewards of spiritual consciousness are many. Certainly these spiritual ideas are fruitful and multiply. We see examples of this frequently. Think of Mother Theresa. Her spiritual consciousness spread love and hope to thousands.

Moses went on to remind them of how they overcame the Anakims. And also of how they had been rebellious and stiffnecked. He retells the story of how they had built the golden calf while he was upon the mountain at Horab, where he received the Ten Commandments. It was only because of his pleadings that the Lord did not destroy them.

The Anakims were one of the ancient peoples which they overcame. They represent our animal tendencies, lust, avarice and greed. And yet, we wrestled with these temptations of the material. It is only because of our higher levels of consciousness that we are able to overcome them.

He retold of how, after the first Stone Tablets were broken because of their rebellion, the Lord wrote the Commandments again on a second pair of Tablets. These Tablets were then placed in an Ark which Moses built as instructed by the Lord. It was then that the tribe of Levi was made the priests, to bear the Ark and to minister to the Lord.

For all of this the Lord requires something in return. It is to fear the Lord, to walk in His ways, to love Him, to serve Him with all of one's heart and soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord - "which I command thee this day for thy good."

The Ark represents our Soul or inner spiritual consciousness. It is there that the tem commandments must reside. And we must search for the Ark until we find it. The way to find it is indicated here: Fear the Lord, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him and Keep His laws.

"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked."

This quote indicates that the rule of circumcision is not referring to the physical. It has to do with the heart.

Moses admonishes the people to "love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his commandments, always, ...to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing , if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, ..And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside..."

This again is showing us the way to spiritual illumination and all the blessings that accompany it. It also reminds us that if we turn aside and go some other way, we shall not inherit the Kingdom.

All places of worship of the nations which the people are to overcome, are to be destroyed. All worship of the true God is to be held in the place that the Lord shall choose (Unless it is too far away.)

The nations "overcome" are the lower levels of consciousness which we have left behind. We are to truly leave them behind, (destroy them) so that we do not backslide.

Places in the Bible refer to levels of consciousness. So the place of worship "that the Lord shall choose," is the level of consciousness which can communicate with the spiritual. It is the highest level to which we have attained. Ideally, it is the illuminated consciousness, soul consciousness, but until we reach it (when it is still too far away), we must worship wherever we are.

Moses says that they may kill and eat flesh, whatever they want, so long as they do not eat the blood. "Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: "Only be sure that thou eat not blood" for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh."

Flesh refers to the material. Blood represents the spiritual. We are dual creatures, both material and spiritual. We are to experience both. But, the spiritual should be kept elevated from the material. The material must be elevated to the spiritual. The spiritual should not be brought down to the material.

Moses tells the Israelites that if anyone; a prophet, a beloved relative or otherwise, attempts to lead them from worshiping the True God, to another god, that person should be put to death by stoning. If it be a whole city of people, that city should be destroyed utterly, and all its cattle and spoil with it. "And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand..."

This is reminiscent of the New Testament admonition to cut off your hand if it offends you. Though it is a harsh saying, the importance cannot be overstated. If we apply this to negative thoughts and ideas, (which is what the people represent), we can understand the importance of eliminating them. Stones symbolize Truth. And so it is Truth that enables us to destroy the negative thinking which is so detrimental to our Spiritual Journey.
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Moses tells the people that they are not to cut themselves not make baldness between their eyes for the dead. He then lists the animals that may be eaten. They include those with cloven hoofs , with a few exceptions, like the camel and the swine; sea creatures which have scales and fins; and fowl, with many exceptions, like owls, eagles, ravens, hawks, swans and pelicans.

The body is the temple of the indwelling soul. It is holy and should not be defiled. This admonition is even more important for the inner aspects of the temple; that which pertains to the thoughts and emotions. These should not be allowed to disfigure the sacred temple.

The information regarding diet indicates the importance of how we care for this holy temple.

A tithe of all the increase of the fields is to be laid out for the Levites, the stranger, the fatherless and the widows.

The restating of the Law of Tithing (the giving of 10%) is emphasizing its importance. The 10th part symbolizes the Spirit in manifestation. The One is the one Source of all. The zero is the circle which completes itself by returning to its starting point. And so, ten, symbolizes God manifest in his creation and yet, all is One.

At the end of every seventh year, every creditor that has lent money to a neighbor, shall forgive the debt. It also applies to a Hebrew salve. After seven years, he or she must be released.

The master of the slave is required to free him after seven years and to give him goods, cattle and wine. This seven years represents the completion of a spiritual cycle. In this case it has to do with the enslavement of the mind to the passions of the body. In the ancient schools of initiation, the first period of probation lasted seven years. So it is that once this has been achieved we are free from the control of the baser physical.

The people are told again to observe the Passover. In addition, they are told to keep the feast of weeks, seven weeks after they start to sickle the corn.

Then they are told to set up judges. These judges are admonished not to be respecters of persons or to accept gifts which could affect their decisions.

The feast of weeks denotes a seven week period having to do with the harvest. It is the promise of reaping the spiritual benefits from the effort made from the completion of a spiritual cycle.

In all our judgments, we must learn to be just and not be influenced by selfishness or pressure from others. As Jesus said "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.' (John 7:24)
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Chapter 17 discusses the concept of justice and how it is to be meted out. There are to be two or three witnesses before an accused can be put to death. If there is any doubt about the judgment to be made, the judge must go to the Priests of the Temple and they will make the final decision.

We frequently make judgements. And, for the most part, they take little time or thought. But, there are those judgments which are difficult and we are being told that we should leave those decisions up to our spiritual nature rather that our intellect.

will not "multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses..." "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself...(nor) silver and gold." It then goes on to discuss the choice of a king to rule the nation once it is in the Promised Land. The king will be chosen by the Lord.

The king here represents the acolyte on The Path. Even though progress is made, such a person is still subject to the laws of the land. He must guard against using his newly developing capabilities for material success, while ignoring the spiritual.

And this king shall be able to read and write in "a book which is before the priests the Levites..." "And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God.

This may well be referring to the Akashic Records. It indicates the knowledge and wisdom which will be developed and revealed to the student as progress is made.

The Levites, or priest fo not partake of the inheritance of the other tribes. They are to get their sustenance from the offerings given to the Lord.

The Levites or priests represent our developing spiritual side. And, of course it does not partake of the material.

"There shall not be found among you...any one that...useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard or a necromancer." It goes on to say that the nations which are being driven out of the Promised Land to make way for the Israelites, listened to those who did such things.

Perhaps this passage is coming from past experiences. It may be a memory from Atlantis, where catastrophe befell those who used these forces "not wisely but to well."

Lastly, it reports that the Lord will raise up a new Prophet from their midst to replace Moses. When asked how they shall know a true from a false prophet, the answer is that if the events prophesied come to pass, then the prophet is speaking in the name of the Lord. If not, then the prophet is false.

No mater what else happens, we can be assured that the guide or teacher we need will be found.

The Israelites are told that they should set up cities of refuge for people to escape from vengeance and anger. This refuge is not intended for those guilty of crimes, but rather of accidents or who are otherwise innocent of intentionally causing harm. In addition, a false witness is to be given the same punishment to which the accused would be subjected.

The message is that we should put aside our negative emotions until such time that we can replace them with positive emotions. This process is called transmutation.

This chapter begins with the words, "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..." And again, "Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them.

This is the battle we must wage with our lower, destructive forces. It is a battle waged within us and must be fought eventually by all those on the Path. Of course, though it is difficult, we have nothing to fear, for God and our guardian Angels will be there to help us.

It continues that if a man has unfinished business he should return to his house and not go to war.

The Bible reminds us that we must be prepared for this battle. No one should try to get into the sheepfold by a different door. "For he is a thief and a robber."

Those who were to go to battle are told that when they come to a city they should "proclaim peace unto it." If the city answers in peace, then these people will serve them. If however, they refuse and insist upon war, then they are to besiege it, kill all the males and take the women, children, and cattle for themselves.

Of course, not all the ideas, passions and emotions, represented by the inhabitants (ideas) and the cattle ) passions and emotions), we find in the unconscious or inner part of ourselves, are negative or harmful. Those that answer in peace, we will find no fault with and they will be able and willing to serve the developing spiritual consciousness.

But, there are other cities, namely those of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites and Hivites and the Jebusites, which are to be completely destroyed.

Let's take a closer look at just what we are being told to utterly destroy. Hitties, in Aramaic means terror and dread. Amorites means mountaineers, but it symbolizes the generative function ahd here indicates the lower lusts and passions. The Canaanites translates as one who exits for material things. Perizzites means demolished, assaulted and defeated. Hivites means beastiality and wickedness. And finally, Jebusites translates as conquered, contemptuous and profaned.

Does it not make sense, that if we recognize that these are attributes with in us, we would want to destroy or be rid of all of them totally? Over and over again, when the Old Testament God tells the Israelites to kill people and destroy cities, we find that the translated meaning of their mames makes sense of these directions. But, only if we assume that it's meaning is internal to each of us.

There are many laws set forth on a variety of subjects in this chapter. Mostly, the emphasis is on the punishment of those who break the laws. For example, rebellious children are to be stoned.

These laws and punishments for those who break them, may indicate the necessity for us to find and punish or kill those aspects of our character which are not consistent with Divine Law. They show us that we must be diligent to evaluate our actions, thoughts and feelings; always working to improve them.

The Israelites are told that they should return any of their brother's belongings to him. They are not to mix seeds in planting, mix animals in plowing or mix garments of different fabrics in their dress.

If a man has intercourse with an unmarried woman, not his wife, he is to marry her for life.

The first admonition seems to reflect the same sentiment as the later ‘Do unto others" and tells us that we must be respectful of others. The mixing of different things reminds us of the admonition to "let thine eye be single." We must not mix our goals, but rather be single minded and consistent, if we are to succeed in our spiritual quest.

The second relates to responsibility. To take a woman for a wife means that he would have to be responsible for her and care for her. If we think of her as our feminine side, our heart, than we are being told that the mind is responsible for caring for the heart - for all our life.
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Chapter 23 lists those who are not to enter into the congregation of the Lord. They include eunuchs, bastards, Ammonites or Moabites.

Remember that people in the Bible often symbolize ideas. The eunuchs represent Ideas that are sterile or incapable of growth and development. The bastards represent ideas which are fathered by passing thoughts rather than thoughts nurtured by the mind and wedded heart or intuition.

The Ammonites are descendants of Menammi, a son of Lot. If you recall, Lot means dark-colored or hidden. He represents the darker side of our consciousness. The son of such consciousness, or the result of such consciousness, are thoughts that come from the darkness, in this case, carnality and lust.

Taken together, we can see why these thoughts should not be brought into the presence of God.

Chapter 24 begins with the right to remarry after a divorce and goes on to indicate that one should leave part of his harvest; be it grapes, olives or wheat, for the fatherless, strangers and widows. The next chapter discusses limits on punishments, fair weights for measurement, and admonishes them to forget Amalek.

Charity is a virtue. We should not cling to every penny, but be generous with those less fortunate. We should not be over zealous in punishing ourselves. And certainly, we should use fairness in our transactions. Amalek means warlike and valley dweller. Here he symbolizes lust and base desire - a good thing to try to forget.

The people are reminded of their sojourn in Egypt and their deliverance by God. They are told to make a tithe of the first fruits of their harvest, when they are come to the Promised Land. It goes on to say that they are to keep all the commandments of God and He will make them high above all nations in praise, in name and in honor. That they are to be a holy people.

Coming into the Promised Land means coming into Illumination, Cosmic Consciousness or the Kingdom of God. At the level of consciousness we will of course, be thankful and tithe of the first fruit of our labor. In order to maintain this level of consciousness, we must follow Divine Law and be ever watchful. All those who attain such consciousness, will be praised, recognized and honored. (Though often not by their fellow human beings.) They certainly are a "holy people".

The Israelites are instructed to set up an altar made of whole stones, covered with plaster and inscribed with the laws given. They are to make burnt offerings and peace offerings at this altar.

It then goes on to list several activities for which a person is to be cursed. They cover mostly personal behavior that we would think uncivilized at worst, or lacking in good manners at best. Each is followed by the admonition "And the people shall say, Amen.

An altar symbolizes the place in our consciousness where we turn from the ego to the higher spiritual consciousness.

These curses simply remind us that when we don't do the best we know how, our conscience will accuse us. As we become more spiritually enlightened, our conscience becomes stronger. If we are to have peace of mind, we must heed its voice.

This chapter enumerates many blessings that will come to those who "hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God". It then reverses all the blessings to curses for those who do not. And the curses fo on for 53 verses.

On the literal level, this chapter gives us excellent motivation to follow the laws of God. And, on a metaphysical level, the message is the same. Our only ultimate joy comes from obedience to Divine Law.

The people are reminded of the covenant with God: that if they follow His laws, He will make of them a great people. This is to pertain to those who are assembled "with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day.

In other words, this covenant is for all who follow Divine Law. It is a clear promise, that if we adhere to the Law, we will reap the rewards for our efforts.

The promise of God's blessing and protection is restated here. It then goes on to explain that this message is not far off in heaven or out beyond the sea. ‘But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil

This message is very clear. It echoes the message of the tree of life and death, of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. This message is truly WITHIN US. The choice is ours to make.
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The Lord told Moses, "Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua and present yourselves in the tabernacle...." In the tabernacle, the Lord appeared to Joshua in a pillar of cloud.

Moses' mission was at an end. The Lord chose Joshua to replace him. Joshua, which means God is Savior, or Jehova is salvation is identical with the name Jesus (Greek). They both come from Hehovah with means I am that I am.

Moses had come to the end of his journey. He told the people that Joshua would lead them into the Promised Land. He then wrote down the law and told them to read it every seven years when they all assemble for the feast of tabernacles.

It is understandable that this I AM consciousness is what is required to lead the ‘people' or thinking, into the Promised Land or enlightenment.

The Law has to do with guidance for the Mind, our masculine side. The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of thanksgiving or commemoration of the peoples' entrance into the Promised Land. Metaphysically, it represents the "passing over" from one level of consciousness to a higher one.

The Lord told Moses that after he was gone, the people would follow other Gods and many evils would befall them. And He told Moses to write a song that the people may sing to remind them of Him. Moses complied, wrote the song and taught it to the people.

No matter how high the level of spiritual consciousness, we are always subject to the temptation of the flesh, as long as we are still incarnate in the world of duality.

Moses' song represents the outpouring of the Heart from its contact with the heavenly spheres. Music is of the Feminine or Heart side. This then, is guidance for the Heart.

This is the song:

"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak;
And hear O earth, the words of my mouth.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain,
My speech shall distil as the dew,
As the small rain upon the tender herb,
And as the showers upon the grass."

The feeling here is one of joy. Moses is preparing to make the transition from Earth back to heaven. His song speaks in terms of the sweetness of the material world from which he will soon depart. This is not a song of death, but of Eternal Life.

"Because I will publish the name of the Lord:
Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the rock, his work is perfect:
For all his ways are judgment:
A God of truth and without iniquity,
Just and right is he."

This could not honestly be said of the God of the literal interpretation of the first five books of the Bible, but if we understand the allegory, symbol and metaphor it uses, we can agree whole heartedly.

"Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of many generations:
Ask thy father and he will shew thee;
Thy elders, and they will tell thee.
When the Most high divided to the nations their inheritance,
When he separated the sons of Adam,
He set bounds of the people
according to the number of the children of Israel."

The "days of old" he recalls is from ancient times, long before the Israelites became a people. It may even go back to the time of Atlantis and before. Our consciousness was there, at the beginning. The history of these people is the history of our consciousness.

"For the Lord's portion is his people;
Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
He found him in a desert land,
And in the waste howling wilderness;
He led him about, he instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of his eye."

In the beginning, our consciousness was in a wilderness. We were lost in a level of unconsciousness, totally unaware of our divine inheritance.

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest,
Fluttereth over her young,
Spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them,
Beareth them on her wings:
So the lord alone did lead him,
And there was no strange god with him."
He made him ride on the high places of the earth,
That he might eat the increase of the fields;
And he made him to suck honey out of the rock,
And oil out of the flinty rock.
And thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape."

As our consciousness began to grow, we began to become aware of our spiritual side. The rocks here symbolize spiritual Truths. The blood of the grape is a symbol for the spirit. All during this learning time, God and his hierarchies watched over us and cared for us.

"But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked:

Then he forsook God which made him,
And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

"With abominations provoked they him to anger.
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God;
To gods whom they knew not,
To new gods that came newly up,
Whom your fathers feared not.
Of the Rock that begat thee thou are unmindful,
And has forgotten God that formed thee."

In our ignorance and lack of experience, we gradually became enamored by the materialism of our surroundings. We turned away from the spiritual path and forgot God.

"An he said, I will hide y face from them,
I will see what their end shall be:
For they are a very forward generation,
Children in whom is no faith."

"For a fire is kindled in mine anger,
And shall burn unto the lowest hell,
And shall consume the earth with her increase,
And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat
And with bitter destruction:
I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them,
With the poison of serpents of the dust."

Clearly, this is not going to lead us to a happy and worthy end.

"O that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would consider their latter end!"

This is a sentiment we can all share - Would that we were wise, that we understood.

"For their vine is the vine of Sodom,
And of the fields of Gomorrah:"

The reference to Sodom and Gomorrah has to do with an imbalance between the masculine and the feminine. When they are out of balance, the passionate nature may destroy us. The passions of the heart (and body) must always be balanced by the intellect.

"See now that I, even I, am he,
And there is no god with me:
I kill, and I make alive;
I wound, and I heal:
Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
For I lift up my hand to heaven,
And say, I live for ever."

Clearly, Moses is fully conscious of who his is. He is illumined. When we have followed the path and done the Great Work, we also shall say, "I live for ever."

Next, the Lord told Moses to go up to the mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, and to die there. He told him that though he could not cross over into the Promised Land, he could see it from the mountain top before he died.

Mountains are elevated places of consciousness. Abarim is a range of mountains in Moab (flesh of carnal consciousness). But it rises out of this plane and lifts above it.
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Moses' last recorded act was to give a blessing to each of the tribes of Israel. They were as follows:

Reuben: "Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few."

Reuben represents the Faith that comes from understanding and it shuld never die. His men symbolize ideas. So we are encouraged to have many thoughts of Faith.

Judah: "Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah and bring him unto his people...and be thou an help to him from his enemies."

Judah means praise Jehovah. Praise is closely related to prayer. It is an expression of spiritual consciousness. It will be "heard" by the Lord and will be sufficient to enable us to be helped.

Levi: "Let thy Thummin and thy Urim be with thy holy one...Bless Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; smite...Them that rise against him..."

Levi means joining and loving in Aramaic. Thummin means perfect. Urim means understanding and enlightenments. They represent balance. Being joined with the "holy one" (spirit) gives us prosperity and protection.

Benjamin: "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long...."

Benjamin translates as son of prosperity and son of happiness. It also has to do with faith. But, where Reuben means faith from understanding, Benjamin means faith in action. Happiness and prosperity are here endorsed as worthy objectives.

Joseph: "Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath. ...And for the precious things of the earth and fullness thereof...let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph...and they are the ten thousand of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."

Joseph means Jehovah shall increase. This aspect of consciousness reflects the balance intellect. As it ruled over Egypt, (the lower passons) it indicates the right use of both the emotions and materiality. Ephraim and Manasseh are the two sons of Joseph. In the Bible's language of symbol and metaphor this means the consciousness which comes from Joseph ( the balanced intellect). Ephraim represents will and Manasseh represents understanding.

Zebulun and Issachar: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going our; and Issachar, in thy tents. They shall call the peoples unto the mountain; There shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness. For they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.

Zebulun means habitation and Issachar means he will bring reward. Together they represent the physical body inhabited by the soul and the willingness to work. It is this incarnation and our willingness to work which will bring us "unto the mountain" (a higher level of consciousness). And we will find abundance on sea and land.

Gad: "Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head. ...He executed the justice of the Lord."

Gad means fortunate. The reference here to horsemen indicates it has to do with power - especially power from the lower body. It is the physical and emotional power which is under the control of the intellect in the enlightened person.

Dan: "Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan."

Dan means rule of righteous judgment. The symbol of the lion indicates strength. Bashan means fertile and fruitful. The use of righteous judgment brings us strength and bounty.

Naphtali: O Maphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south."

Naphtali means wrestling of Jehovah. It has to do with our struggle toward spiritual enlightenment. The West has to do with emotions and the South with Will. Surely these are a large part of the struggle.

Asher: "Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil."

Asher means blessedness, happiness and prosperity. This reminds us of Proverbs where it says happiness comes from wisdom and understanding. Understanding is represented by the foot. Here he puts his understanding in the oil of spirit (love).

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to the mountain of Nebo. Moses died there when he was 120 years old. And the children of Israel wept for 30 days.

Moab means flowing from the father and Nebo means prophet. We are being told that Moses represented the consciousness that comes from God and interprets His Will or is inspired. When he left this plane, he was at a highly developed level of consciousness represented by the mountain.

Joshua, who succeeded Moses, was full of the spirit of wisdom and the children of Israel listened to him.

Joshua means Jah is savior. Joshua is another way of saying that God is our salvation. Joshua is also the Hebrew translation of the Greek Name Jesus.

And so we come to the end of Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch or the five books of Moses. Next, we will take a look at the New testament from a metaphysical point of view.
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