• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 4:21 – 5:10
• Prophets (P): 2 Kings 15:1–7
• Apostolic (A): Luke 17:11-19; Luke 19:1-10
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 4:20-31

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Exodus 30:11-16; Numbers 1:1-4; Numbers 26:1-4 (T)
• Numbers 12:1-16 (T)
• Leviticus 13:29-46 (T)
• Leviticus 15:1-33 (T)
• Deuteronomy 24:8-9 (T)
• Luke 17:11-19 (T)
• Leviticus 5:1-13 (T)
• Leviticus 6:1-7 (T)
• Psalms 32:5; Proverbs 28:13 (T)
• Ya’aqov (James) 5:13-18 (T, A)
• 1 John 1:8-10 (T, A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• The Damascus Document 4Q272 Fragment 1 Column 1-2; 4Q266 Fragment 9 Column 2 (T)
• Laws for Purification 4Q284 (T)
• Portions of Sectarian Law 4Q265 Fragment 7 Column 2 (T)
• Numbers 4:21 – 5:10 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.8.2; 3.12.4-5 (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (P) means the verse relates to that week’s Prophets portion. (A) means the verse relates to that week’s Apostolic portion. (ADD) means the verse relates to that week’s Additional portion.

Torah Portion (T)

4:21 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 22 “Lift up the heads of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families; 23 you will register them from a son of thirty years and upward until a son of fifty years: all the ones coming to assemble the army, to serve the service in the Appointed Tent. 24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens: 25 they will carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Appointed Tent, its covering, the covering of [deer]^(MTT) that is on it, the screen for the door of the Appointed Tent, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever will be done with them. They will serve in there. 27 At the mouth of Aaron and his sons will be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden and in all their service; and you will appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Appointed Tent. Their watch duty will be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 29 As for the sons of Merari, you will register them by their families, by their fathers’ houses; 30 you will register them from a son of thirty years and upward even to a son of fifty years— all the ones coming to the army to serve the service of the Appointed Tent. 31 This is the watch duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Appointed Tent: the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 32 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service. You will register the instruments of the watch duty of their burden to them by name. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Appointed Tent, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.” 34 Moses and Aaron and the lifted up ones of the congregation registered the sons of the Qohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 35 from a son of thirty years and upward even to a son of fifty years—all the ones coming to the army for the service in the Appointed Tent. 36 Those who were registered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty. 37 These are those who were registered of the families of the Qohathites, all who served in the Appointed Tent, whom Moses and Aaron registered according to the mouth of YHWH by Moses. 38 Those who were registered of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 39 from a son of thirty years and upward even to a son of fifty years—all the ones coming to the army for the service in the Appointed Tent, 40 even those who were registered of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty. 41 These are those who were registered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Appointed Tent, whom Moses and Aaron registered according to the mouth of YHWH. 42 The registered ones of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 43 from a son of thirty years and upward even to a son of fifty years—all the ones coming to the army for the service in the Appointed Tent, 44 even those who were registered of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred. 45 These are those who were registered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron registered according to the mouth of YHWH by Moses. 46 All those who were registered of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and the lifted up of Israel registered, by their families and by their fathers’ houses, 47 from a son of thirty years and upward even to a son of fifty years, all the ones coming to serve the service of the service and service the load in the Appointed Tent, 48 even those who were registered of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty. 49 According to the mouth of YHWH they were registered by Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Thus they were registered by him, as YHWH commanded Moses.

5:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the sons of Israel that they put out of the camp every infected one, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is unclean by a corpse. 3 You will put both male and female outside of the camp so that they don’t defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4 The sons of Israel did so, and put them outside of the camp; as YHWH spoke to Moses, so the sons of Israel did. 5 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Speak to the sons of Israel: ‘When a man or woman does any sin that men trespass, so as to trespass against YHWH, and that soul is guilty, 7 then he will confess his sin which he has done; and he will turn back his guilt in full, add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty. 8 But if the man has no kinsman to whom to turn back the guilt to him, the guilt to be turned back belongs to YHWH will be the priest’s, in addition to the ram of the atonement, by which atonement will be made for him. 9 Every heave offering of all the holy of the sons of Israel, which they present to the priest, will be his. 10 A man, his holy will be his, whatever any man gives the priest, it will be [for the priest].’ ”^(LXX)

Prophets Portion (P)

15:1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3 He did that which was right in the eyes of YHWH, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4 However, the high places were not taken away. The people still slaughtered and burned incense in the high places. 5 YHWH struck the king, so that he was an infected one to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son, was over the household, judging the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7 Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in David’s city; and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Additional Portion (ADD)

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places  including the Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

4:20 Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil. Don’t be ashamed of your soul. 21 For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and grace. 22 Don’t show partiality against your soul. Don’t revere any man to your falling. 23 Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety. 24 For wisdom will be known by speech, and instruction by the word of the tongue. 25 Don’t speak against the truth and be shamed for your ignorance. 26 Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins. Don’t fight the river’s current. 27 Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread upon. Don’t be partial to one who is mighty. 28 Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord Elohim will fight for you. 29 Don’t be hasty with your tongue, or slack and negligent in your deeds. 30 Don’t be like a lion in your house, or suspicious of your servants. 31 Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when you should repay.

Related Scriptures

Exodus 30:11 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “When you lift up the head of the sons of Israel, according to those who are registered among them, then each man will give an atonement for his soul to YHWH when you register them, that there be no striking among them when you register them. 13 They will give this, everyone who passes over to those who are registered, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs); half a shekel for an offering to YHWH. 14 Everyone who passes over to those who are registered, from twenty years old and upward, will give the offering to YHWH. 15 The rich will not give more, and the helpless will not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of YHWH, to make atonement for your souls. 16 You will take the atonement money from the sons of Israel, and will appoint it for the service of the Appointed Tent; that it may be a memorial for the sons of Israel before YHWH, to make atonement for your souls.”

Numbers 1:1 YHWH spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Appointed Tent, on the first day of the second new moon, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Lift up the head of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, every male, [according to their skull],^(MTT) 3 from a son of twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to the army in Israel. You and Aaron will register them by their divisions. 4 With you there will be a man of every tribe, each one head of his fathers’ house.

Numbers 26:1 After the striking, YHWH spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 “Lift up the head of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all who are able to go out to the army in Israel.” 3 Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 4 “from the son of twenty years old and upward, as YHWH commanded Moses and the sons of Israel.” These are those who came out of the land of Egypt.

12:1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has YHWH indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And YHWH heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very afflicted, more than all the men who were on the surface of the land. 4 YHWH spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Appointed Tent!” The three of them came out. 5 YHWH came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. 6 [And YHWH]^(LXX) said [to them],^(LXX) “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, YHWH, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, [openly],^(LXX) and not in riddles; and he will see YHWH’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” 9 the anger of YHWH burned against them; and he departed. 10 The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was infected, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was infected. 11 Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. 12 Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” 13 Moses cried to YHWH, saying, “Heal her, Elohim, I beg you!” 14 YHWH said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she will be brought in again.” 15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again. 16 Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

13:29 When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard, 30 then the priest will see the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest will pronounce him unclean. It is an eruption. It is infection of the head or of the beard. 31 If the priest sees the plague of eruption, and behold, its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest will isolate the person infected with eruption seven days. 32 On the seventh day the priest will see the plague; and behold, if the eruption hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the eruption isn’t deeper than the skin, 33 then he will be shaved, but he will not shave the eruption. Then the priest will isolate the one who has the eruption seven more days. 34 On the seventh day, the priest will see the eruption; and behold, if the eruption hasn’t spread in the skin, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, then the priest will pronounce him clean. He will wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the eruption spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest will see him; and behold, if the eruption has spread in the skin, the priest will not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the eruption is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the eruption is healed. He is clean. The priest will pronounce him clean. 38 When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots, 39 then the priest will see them. Behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash. It has broken out in the skin. He is clean. 40 If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean. 41 If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald. He is clean. 42 But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is an infection breaking out in his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest will see him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of infection in the skin of the body, 44 he is an infected man. He is unclean. The priest will surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head. 45 The infected one in whom the plague is will wear torn clothes, and the hair of his head will be loosed. He will cover his upper lip, and will cry, “Unclean! Unclean!” 46 All the days in which the plague is in him he will be unclean. He is unclean. He will dwell alone. His dwelling will be outside of the camp.

15:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is unclean. 3 This will be his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body has stopped from his discharge, it is his uncleanness. [All the days of the discharge of his body, even if his body obstructs his discharge, it is his uncleanness.]^{(DSS)(LXX)(SP)} 4 Every bed on which he who has the discharge lies will be unclean; and everything he sits on will be unclean. 5 Whoever touches his bed will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 6 He who sits on anything on which the man who has the discharge sat will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 7 He who touches the body of him who has the discharge will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 8 If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 9 Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on will be unclean [until the evening].^(LXX) 10 Whoever touches anything that was under him will be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 11 Whomever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 12 The vessel of clay, which he who has the discharge touches, will be broken; and every vessel of wood will be rinsed in water. 13 When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he will count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he will bathe his flesh in living water, and will be clean. 14 On the eighth day he will take two turtledoves, or two sons of a dove, and come before YHWH to the door of the Appointed Tent, and give them to the priest. 15 The priest will offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. The priest will make atonement for him before YHWH for his discharge. 16 If any man has an emission of semen, then he will bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17 Every garment and every skin which the semen is on will be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18 If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they will both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening. 19 If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she will be in her removal seven days. Whoever touches her will be unclean until the evening. 20 Everything that she lies on in her removal will be unclean. Everything also that she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23 If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he will be unclean until the evening. 24 If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he will be unclean seven days; and every bed he lies on will be unclean. 25 If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her seperation, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her seperation, all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness will be as in the days of her seperation. She is unclean. 26 Every bed she lies on all the days of her discharge will be to her as the bed of her seperation. Everything she sits on will be unclean, as the uncleanness of her seperation. 27 Whoever touches these things will be unclean, and will wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 28 But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she will count to herself seven days, and after that she will be clean. 29 On the eighth day she will take two turtledoves, or two sons of a dove, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Appointed Tent. 30 The priest will offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest will make atonement for her before YHWH for the uncleanness of her discharge. 31 Thus you will separate the sons of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.’ ” 32 This is the Torah of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean by it; 33 and of her who is sick [hemorrhaging]^(LXX) in her removal, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.

24:8 Be careful in the plague of infection, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, teach you. As I commanded them, so you will observe to do. 9 Remember what YHWH your Elohim did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.

17:11 As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were infected met him, who stood at a distance. 13 They lifted up their voices, saying, “Yeshua, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying Elohim with a loud voice. 16 He fell on his face at Yeshua’s feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. 17 Yeshua answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there none found who returned to give glory to Elohim, except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”

5:1 If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice which demands swearing that he is a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn’t report it, then he will bear his iniquity. 2 Or if anyone touches any thing unclean, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it be out of sight from him, and he is unclean, then he will be guilty. 3 Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it be out of sight from him, and he knows, then he will be guilty. 4 Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it be out of sight from him, and he knows, then he will be guilty of one of these. 5 It will be, when he is guilty of one of these, he will confess that in which he has sinned; 6 and he will bring his trespass offering to YHWH for his sin which he has sinned: a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin [and it will be forgiven him].^(DSS)(LXX) 7 If his hand is not able to touch a lamb, then he will bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two sons of a dove, to YHWH; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8 He will bring them to the priest, who will first bring the one which is for the sin offering. He will wring off its head from its neck, but will not sever it completely. 9 He will sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood will be drained out at the base of the altar, for it is a sin offering. 10 He will prepare the second for a burnt offering, according to the judgment; and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he will be forgiven. 11 If his hand is not able to overtake two turtledoves or two sons of a dove, then he will bring as his offering for that in which he has sinned, one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He will put no oil on it, and he will not put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 He will bring it to the priest, and the priest will take his handful of it as the memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of YHWH made by fire. It is a sin offering. 13 The priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be forgiven; and the rest will be the priest’s, as the grain offering.

6:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “If anyone sins and commits a transgression against YHWH and he lies to his fellow about a deposit or security deposit of the hand or with robbery or oppresses his fellow, 3 or has found that which was lost, and lied about it, and swearing to a lie—in any of these things that a man sins in his actions— 4 then it will be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he will return the robbed thing which he robbed, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposited thing which he set over him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or any thing about which he has sworn falsely he will restore its head and will add a fifth part more to it. He will return it to him to whom it belongs in the day of his being found guilty. 6 He will bring his trespass offering to YHWH: a ram, a perfect one from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest. 7 The priest will make atonement for him before YHWH, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty.”

Psalms 32:5 My sin I made known to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to YHWH, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

5:13 Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. 14 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess (G1843) your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the land for three years and six new moons. 18 He prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the land produced its fruit.

1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess (G3670) our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Related Additional Readings​

The Damascus Document, also called the Damascus Covenant or the Book of the Covenant of Damascus, Cairo Damascus document (CD) or Damascus Rule, is an ancient Jewish document that some scholars suggest serves as a “bridge” document, connecting Judaism’s post-exilic ‘Enochian’-Essene majority to the asserted leadership of its radical minority Qumran-Essene community that was established in isolation near the shores of the Dead Sea. It forms part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, found after 1947 near Qumran, but two fragments had already been discovered in 1897 in the Cairo Geniza.

4Q272 Frag. 1 Col. 1 …The regulation pertaining to the man with a bodily discharge. Every man who […] will go up […] thoughts of depravity or who […] its contact […] 4Q272 Frag. 1 Col. 2 will wash his clothes […] who ever touches him […] 4Q266 Frag. 9 Col. 2 [The regulation pertaining to the woman with a bodily discharge… Whoever has intercourse with a menstruating woman contracts the defilement caused by menstruation; and if she sees a discharge again but not [when her period is due, she is unclean] seven days. She will not eat of the consecrated food or enter the sanctuary until the sun sets on the eighth day.

This small fragment is related to the Ritual Purity Laws Concerning Liquids (text 46) and Laws for Purification (text 52). A Purification Ritual (text 107) appears to be a “handbook” containing readings for the ritual accompanying the cleansing. The author here interprets Leviticus 15:19-24.

Frag. 1 [… and he shall] rinse [in water…] […N]o one may lie [with an unclean woman…And any furniture] which she will sit [upon will be unclean … And] if he has not touched it, [he will be clean…on the th]ird [day], those who touch [any]one, contact with the bed […]in the place […]

Frag. 1 Col. 1 […all the days of] the Sabbaths (?), and all the weeks (?) [of the year… the year and] its twelve new moons [ … the appointed] times of the year and days of [… This is] the Rule of Impurities for Israel […] water of cleansing that [a ma]n might sprink[le …] […If a man has] sexual relations with a woman,] [they will bathe with water and will be unclean until evening… who shall] be unclean to him […] […] who […] Frag. 2 Col. 1 […] un[cle]an he will not eat [from the holy food…] everything which touched h[im (?) …] in the days of [his impurity…and when] his [full] week has been completed, [he will wash his clothes and bathe in wate]r [and he will be clean…] bathe [his] fle[sh in water and will be clean…] Col. 2 They will leave […] in the menstrual impurity of [holy ones and not…] from food the seven (days of her uncleanness… after the setting of the sun on the seventh day … and he will say in response,] “Blessed are You O Elohim of Israel […] forsaking [his] peace for […] Frag. 3 [… al]l the periods of her times [… ] […] when the sun sets on the [seventh] day […] […] menstrual impurity. And he will say in response, “Blessed are yo[u, O Elohim of Israel …] [… and Yo]u inscribed a purification of truth for Your people, for […][… to cleanse them from all their uncle[aness] to [sanctify them..] Frag. 4 to the sons of Your covenant […] in Your t[rue] lot for […] and pure before You in […] concerning the person who dies in the [tent, everyone who is in the tent will be unclean … ] And at that time of the mark […] will be […]

Portions of Sectarian Law is a medley composed from other legal texts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The work may be an ekloge, the technical term used to refer to a writing that gathers extracts from various works. Often such selections were made by ancient scholars for private study. Portions of Sectarian Law bears a particularly close relationship to the Damascus Document (text 1) and the Charter of a Jewish Sectarian Association (text 5). The present author has sometimes changed the penalty clauses of the laws his work has in common with those others, however, indicating a certain process of development among those who consulted these writings.

In the first week […] because he was not brought to the Garden of Eden and this very [man…] It was her witness that she was not brought with him […] …] the Garden of Eden is holy, and every growing thing in its midst is holy. Therefore, if she conceives and bears a male child, she will be ceremonially unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation she will be unclean. And she will remain for thirty-three days in the blood] of her purification. And if she bears a female child, then she will be unclean [for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and for sixty-six days] “[she will remain in the blood of her purification. No holy [will she touch, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are completed.]

Numbers 4:21 – 5:10 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Composed in Talmudic Israel (c.150 – c.250 AD). Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum (translation) of the Torah (Pentateuch) from the land of Israel (as opposed to the eastern Babylonian Targum Onkelos). Its correct title was originally Targum Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Targum), which is how it was known in medieval times. But because of a printer’s mistake it was later labeled Targum Jonathan, in reference to Jonathan ben Uzziel. Some editions of the Pentateuch continue to call it Targum Jonathan to this day. Most scholars refer to the text as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. This targum is more than a mere translation. It includes much Aggadic material collected from various sources as late as the Midrash Rabbah as well as earlier material from the Talmud. It is effectively a combination of a commentary and a translation. In the portions where it is pure translation, it often agrees with the Targum Onkelos. The date of its composition is disputed. It cannot have been completed before the Arabic conquest as it refers to Mohammad’s wife Fatimah, but might have been initially composed in the 4th Century AD. However, some scholars date it in the 14th Century.

Chapter 4 …And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Take the account of the Beni Gershon also, from thirty years to fifty years, of all who come by bands to do the work of the tabernacle of ordinance. And this is the service of the family of Gershon, to serve and to carry. They will carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of ordinance, its covering, and the hyacinth covering which is upon it above; and the hanging of the gate of the tabernacle of ordinance; and the curtains of the court, and the hanging for the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle round about, and their cords and all the vessels of their service, and all that is delivered to them to serve with. Upon the word of Aharon and his sons will be all the service of the Beni Gershon, for all their burdens and service, and of their whole work shalt thou ordain the charge upon them. This is the ministry of the family of the Beni Gershon, in the tabernacle of ordinance; and the care of them will be in the hand of Ithamar bar Aharon the priest.

The sons of Merari shalt thou number, from thirty years to fifty years, everyone who cometh with the band to minister in the work of the tabernacle of ordinance. And this will be the charge of the burdens of all their service in the tabernacle of ordinance, the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, and bases; the pillars of the court also round about, their pins and their cords, with all the instruments of their whole service, and all those of the charge of their burdens, thou shalt number by their names. This is the work of the family of Merari, according to all their service in the tabernacle of ordinance, under the hand of Ithamar bar Aharon the priest.

And Mosheh arid Aharon numbered the sons of Kehath by their families, and by the house of their fathers, from thirty years to fifty years; every one who came with the band to serve in the tabernacle of ordinance; and the sums of them were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. These are the numbers of the family of Kehath, of all who ministered in the tabernacle of ordinance; whom Mosheh and Aharon numbered upon the mouth of the Word of the Lord by Mosheh.

The numbers of the Beni Gershon, after the families of their father’s house from thirty years to fifty years, every one who who came with the band to serve in the tabernacle of ordinance; the sums of them were two thousand six hundred and thirty. These are the numbers of the Beni Gershon, of all who ministered in the tabernacle of ordinance, whom Mosheh arid Aharon numbered upon the mouth of the Word of the Lord by Mosheh.

And the numbers of the Beni Merari, by the families of their father’s house, from thirty to fifty years, every one who came with the band to the service of the tabernacle of ordinance, were three thousand two hundred. These are the numbers of the Beni Merari, whom Mosheh and Aharon numbered upon the mouth of the Word of the Lord by Mosheh.

The whole sum of the Levites whom Mosheh arid Aharon and the princes of Israel numbered, from thirty to fifty years, all coming by bands to fulfil the charge and service of the porterage of the tabernacle of ordinance, was eight thousand five hundred arid eighty. By the mouth of the Word of the Lord were they numbered by Mosheh, every man according to his service and burden; and the numbering of them was as the Lord commanded Mosheh.

Chapter 5 And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Command the sons of Israel to send away from the camp every one who is leprous, or who hath an issue, or is unclean by having defiled himself (by touching) the dead. From a male to a female thou shalt send them away, and separate them without the camp, that they may not defile their tents; for the Shekinah of My Holiness dwelleth among you. And the sons of Israel did so, and sent them away from the camp; as the Lord had commanded Mosheh, so did the sons of Israel.

And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Say to the sons of Israel: A man or a woman who committeth any human sin, in acting perversely before the Lord, and hath become guilty; they will make confession of their sins which they have committed. If he hath extorted money from his neighbour, he will restore (the amount of) his sin in the principal thereof, and add to it a fifth of its value, and give (both) principal and fifth to him against whom be hath sinned. And if the man (hath died and) hath no kinsman to whom the debt may be rendered, the debt to be restored (will he render) before the Lord; he will give it to the priest, besides the ram for his atonement, by which atonement is to be made for him. And every separation of all consecrated things of the sons of Israel which they bring to the priest will be his. The consecrated tithe, also, of any man will be his, that his substance may not fail; whatever a man giveth unto the priest will be his…

Josephus was born Joseph ben Mattathias in 37 AD in Jerusalem of a priestly and royal family. He excelled in his studies of Jewish law and studied with the Sadducees, Pharisees, and the Essenes, eventually aligning himself with the Pharisees. In 62 AD he went to Rome to free some imprisoned priests. After accomplishing this mission through the intercession of Nero’s wife, Poppaea, he returned to Jerusalem in 65 AD to find the country in revolt against Rome. Josephus shrewdly reinterpreted the Messianic prophecies. He predicted that Vespasian would become the ruler of the ‘entire world’. His prophecy became true in 68 AD when Nero committed suicide and Vespasian became Ceasar. As a result, Josephus was freed; he moved to Rome and became a Roman citizen, taking the Vespasian family name Flavius. Vespasian commissioned Josephus to write a history of the war, which he finished in 78 AD, the Jewish War. His second major work, the Antiquities of the Jews, was completed in 93 AD. The extant manuscripts of the book Antiquities of the Jews contain two references to Yeshua of Nazareth (18.3.3. and 20.9.1.) and one reference to the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist (18.5.2.).

3.8.2. Now Moses commanded them to make use of all the utensils which were more than were necessary to the structure of the tabernacle, for covering the tabernacle itself, the candlestick, and altar of incense, and the other vessels, that they might not be at all hurt when they journeyed, either by the rain, or by the rising of the dust. And when he had gathered the multitude together again, he ordained that they should offer half a shekel for every man, as an oblation to Elohim; which shekel is a piece among the Hebrews, and is equal to four Athenian drachmae. Whereupon they readily obeyed what Moses had commanded; and the number of the offerers was six hundred and five thousand five hundred and fifty. Now this money that was brought by the men that were free, was given by such as were about twenty years old, but under fifty; and what was collected was spent in the uses of the tabernacle.

3.12.4. Now when this settlement of laws seemed to be well over, Moses thought fit at length to take a review of the host, as thinking it proper to settle the affairs of war. So he charged the heads of the tribes, excepting the tribe of Levi, to take an exact account of the number of those that were able to go to war; for as to the Levites, they were holy, and free from all such burdens. Now when the people had been numbered, there were found six hundred thousand that were able to go to war, from twenty to fifty years of age, besides three thousand six hundred and fifty. Instead of Levi, Moses took Manasseh, the son of Joseph, among the heads of tribes; and Ephraim instead of Joseph. It was indeed the desire of Jacob himself to Joseph, that he would give him his sons to be his own by adoption, as I have before related.

3.12.5. When they set up the tabernacle, they received it into the midst of their camp, three of the tribes pitching their tents on each side of it; and roads were cut through the midst of these tents. It was like a well-appointed market; and every thing was there ready for sale in due order; and all sorts of artificers were in the shops; and it resembled nothing so much as a city that sometimes was movable, and sometimes fixed. The priests had the first places about the tabernacle; then the Levites, who, because their whole multitude was reckoned from thirty days old, were twenty-three thousand eight hundred and eighty males; and during the time that the cloud stood over the tabernacle, they thought proper to stay in the same place, as supposing that Elohim there inhabited among them; but when that removed, they journeyed also.