• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:22 – 7:89
• Prophets (P): Jeremiah 31:21-34
• Apostolic (A): Hebrews 8:6-13; Hebrews 10:11-18
• Additional (ADD): 2 Maccabees 2:1-23

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 30:16 (T)
• Ruth 2:4 (T)
• Psalms 128:1-6 (T)
• Psalms 67:1-7 (T)
• Exodus 40:1-38 (T)
• 1 Chronicles 15:14-15 (T)
• 1 Chronicles 6:44-49 (T)
• Exodus 25:9-22 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• The Discourse on the Exodus and Conquest 4Q374 Fragment 2, Column 2 (T)
• The Priestly Blessing for the Last Days 1Q28b, 1QSb (T)
• Numbers 6:22 – 7:89 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.8.10; 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)

6:22 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you will bless the sons of Israel.’ You will tell them, 24 ‘YHWH bless you, and guard you. 25 YHWH make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. 26 YHWH lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.’ 27 “So they will put my name on the sons of Israel; and I will bless them.”

7:1 On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them; 2 the lifted up of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, brought near. These were the lifted up of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were registered; 3 and they brought their offering before YHWH, six covered wagons and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the lifted up, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Appointed Tent; and you will give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.” 6 Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. 8 He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to the mouth of their service, by the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Qohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them; they carried it on their shoulders. 10 The lifted up ones gave offerings for the dedication of the altar in the day that it was anointed. The lifted up ones gave their offerings before the altar. 11 YHWH said to Moses, “They will offer their offering, each lifted up on his day, for the dedication of the altar.” 12 He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, 13 and his offering was: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, lifted up of Issachar, gave his offering. 19 He offered for his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 21 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar. 24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, lifted up of the sons of Zebulun, 25 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 27 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon. 30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, lifted up of the sons of Reuben, 31 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 33 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur. 36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, lifted up of the sons of Shimon, 37 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 38 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 39 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 42 On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of [Reuel],^(LXX) lifted up of the sons of Gad, 43 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 45 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of [Reuel].^(LXX) 48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, lifted up of the sons of Ephraim, 49 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 51 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud. 54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, lifted up of the sons of Manasseh, 55 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 56 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 57 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, lifted up of the sons of Benjamin, 61 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 62 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 63 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni. 66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, lifted up of the sons of Dan, 67 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 69 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, lifted up of the sons of Asher, 73 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 74 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 75 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran. 78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, lifted up of the sons of Naphtali, 79 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 80 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 81 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and for the slaughter of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan. 84 This was the dedication offering of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the lifted up ones of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles; 85 each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; 86 the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels; 87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their grain offerings, [and their libation offerings,]^(LXX) and twelve male goats for a sin offering; 88 and all the cattle for the slaughter of peace offerings: twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering of the altar, after it was anointed. 89 When Moses went into the Appointed Tent to speak with YHWH, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the lid that was on the ark of the Witness, from between the two keruvim; and he spoke to him.

Prophets Portion (P)

31:21 “Set up road signs. Make guideposts. Set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went. Turn again, virgin of Israel. Turn again to these your cities. 22 How long will you go here and there, you backsliding daughter? For YHWH has created a new thing in the land: a woman will encompass a man.” 23 YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, says: “Yet again they will use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I reverse their captivity: ‘YHWH bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness.’ 24 Judah and all its cities will dwell therein together, the farmers, and those who go about with flocks. 25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” 26 On this I awakened, and saw; and my sleep was sweet to me. 27 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of animal. 28 It will happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” says YHWH. 29 “In those days they will say no more, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the sons’ teeth are set on edge.’ 30 But everyone will die for his own iniquity. Every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge. 31 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant of mine they broke, [and I disregarded]^(LXX) them,” says YHWH. (cf. Hebrews 8:9) 33 “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says YHWH: “I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 34 They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says YHWH, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (cf. Hebrews 8:8-12)

Apostolic Portion (A)

Hebrews 8:6 But now he has obtained a different service, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises. 7 For if that first had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days are coming”, says YHWH, “that I will make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says YHWH. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says YHWH: “I will put my Torah into their mind; I will also write them on their heart. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 11 They will not teach every man his fellow citizen and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins no more.” (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34) 13 In that he says, “A new”, he has made the first old. But that which is aging and growing old is near extinction.

Hebrews 10:11 Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same slaughters, which can never take away sins, 12 but [this one],^(mss) when he had offered one slaughter for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of Elohim, 13 from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says YHWH, “I will put my Torah on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” (cf. Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10) then he says, 17 “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” (cf. Jeremiah 31:34) 18 Now where forgiveness of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Additional Portion (ADD)

1 and 2 Maccabees are set during the reign of the Seleucid Greek empire (the part of the Greek empire that found its roots in Syria). It tells the story of how the Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attested to suppress Temple worship and to destroy the practice of Jewish law. This caused the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and his sons. As a part of the revolt, the Temple was freed from the control of the Greek empire and rededicated (an act that is still commemorated yearly in the festival of Hanukkah). The Maccabees then ruled over Israel, first as High Priests and then as High Priests and Princes of Israel. 2 Maccabees recaps some of the story (until the events of 161 B.C.) and adds in details about Elohim’s intervention into the events reports.

2:1 It is also found in the records that Jeremiah the prophet commanded those who were carried away to take some of the fire, as has been mentioned, 2 and how that the prophet charged those who were carried away, having given them the law, that they should not forget the statutes of the Lord or be led astray in their minds when they saw images of gold and silver, and their adornment. 3 With other such words exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts. 4 It was in the writing that the prophet, being warned by Elohim, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should follow with him, when he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and saw Elohim’s inheritance. 5 Jeremiah came and found a cave, he brought the tabernacle, the ark, and the altar of incense into it; then he sealed the entrance. 6 Some of those who followed with him came there that they might mark the way, and could not find it. 7 But when Jeremiah learned about that, he rebuked them, saying, “The place will be unknown until Elohim gathers the people together again and shows mercy. 8 Then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord will be seen with the cloud, as it was also shown to Moses, also as Solomon implored that the place might be consecrated greatly, 9 and it was also declared that he, having wisdom, offered a slaughter of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple. 10 As Moses prayed to the Lord and fire came down out of the heavens and consumed the slaughter, even so Solomon also prayed, and the fire came down and consumed the burnt offerings. 11 Moses said, ‘Because the sin offering had not been eaten, it was consumed in like manner.’ 12 Likewise Solomon kept the eight days.” 13 The same things were reported both in the public archives and in Nehemiah’s records, and also how he, founding a library, gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the writings of David, and letters of kings about sacred gifts. 14 In like manner Judas also gathered together for us all those books that had been scattered by reason of the war, and they are still with us. 15 If therefore you have need of them, send some people to bring them to you. 16 Seeing then that we are about to celebrate the purification, we write to you. You will therefore do well if you celebrate the days. 17 Now Elohim, who saved all his people, and restored the heritage to all, with the reign, the priesthood, and the consecration, 18 even as he promised through the law— in Elohim have we hope, that he will soon have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of everywhere under the heavens into his holy place; for he delivered us out of great evils, and purified the place. 19 Now the things concerning Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers, the purification of the greatest temple, the dedication of the altar, 20 and further the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and Eupator his son, 21 and the manifestations that came from the heavens to those who fought with one another in brave deeds for the religion of the Jews; so that, being but a few, they seized the whole country, chased the barbarous multitudes, 22 recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, freed the city, and restored the laws which were about to be overthrown, seeing the Lord became gracious to them with all kindness. 23 These things which have been declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will attry to abridge in one book.

Related Scriptures

30:16 For I command you today to love YHWH your Elohim, to walk in his ways, and to guard his commandments, his statutes, and his judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that YHWH your Elohim may bless you in the land where you go in to possess it.

2:4 Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May YHWH be with you.” They answered him, “May YHWH bless you.”

128:1 Happy is everyone who fears YHWH, who walks in his ways. 2 For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you. 3 your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your sons like olive shoots around your table. 4 Behold, this is how the man who fears YHWH is blessed. 5 May YHWH bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your sons’ sons. Peace be upon Israel.

For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.

67:1 May Elohim be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. 2 That your way may be known on land, and your salvation among all nations, 3 let the peoples praise you, Elohim. Let all the peoples praise you. 4 Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on land. Selah. 5 Let the peoples praise you, Elohim. Let all the peoples praise you. 6 The land has yielded its increase. Elohim, even our own Elohim, will bless us. 7 Elohim will bless us. All the ends of the land will fear him.

40:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “On the first day of the first new moon you will raise up the tabernacle of the Appointed Tent. 3 You will put the ark of the witness in it, and you will screen the ark with the veil. 4 You will bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You will bring in the lampstand, and light its lamps. 5 You will set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the witness, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle. 6 “You will set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Appointed Tent. 7 You will set the basin between the Appointed Tent and the altar, and will put water therein. 8 You will set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court. 9 “You will take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and will make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy. 10 You will anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most holy. 11 You will anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it. 12 “You will bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Appointed Tent, and will wash them with water. 13 You will put on Aaron the holy garments; and you will anoint him, and sanctify him, and he will be adorned for me. 14 You will bring his sons, and put tunics on them. 15 You will anoint them, as you anointed their father, and they will be adorned for me. Their anointing will be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” 16 Moses did so. According to all that YHWH commanded [them]^(DSS). 17 In the first new moon in the second year [after the departure from Egypt],^(DSS) on the first day of the new moon, the tabernacle was raised up. 18 [He]^(DSS) raised up its sockets, and set up [its hooks and]^(DSS) its boards, and its bars [were put in]^(DSS), and raised up its pillars. 19 The covering over the tent [was put in]^(DSS), and [he]^(DSS) put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as YHWH commanded Moses. 20 He took the covenant [and it was put]^(DSS) into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and the lid [was put]^(DSS) on the ark. 21 He brought the ark, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the witness, as YHWH commanded Moses. 22 The table [was put into]^(DSS) the Appointed Tent, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil. 23 He set the bread in order on it before YHWH, as YHWH commanded Moses. 24 He put the lampstand in the Appointed Tent, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 25 He lit the lamps before YHWH, as YHWH commanded Moses. 26 He put the golden altar in the Appointed Tent before the veil; 27 and he burned incense of sweet spices on it [before him]^(DSS), as YHWH commanded Moses. 28 He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Appointed Tent, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as YHWH commanded Moses. 30 He set the basin between the Appointed Tent and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash. 31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there. 32 When they went into the Appointed Tent, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as YHWH commanded Moses. 33 He raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the Appointed Tent, and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses wasn’t able to enter into the Appointed Tent, because the cloud stayed on it, and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle. 36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys; 37 but if the cloud wasn’t taken up, then they didn’t travel until the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of YHWH was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

15:14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of YHWH, the Elohim of Israel. 15 The children of the Levites bore Elohim’s ark on their shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded according to the word of YHWH.

6:44 On the left hand their brothers the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 48 Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of Elohim’s house. 49 But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the holy of holies, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of Elohim had commanded.

25:9 According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you will make it. 10 “They will make an ark of shittim wood. Its length will be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 You will overlay it with pure gold. You will overlay it inside and outside, and you will make a gold molding around it. 12 You will cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings will be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You will make poles of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 You will put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 15 The poles will be in the rings of the ark. They will not be taken from it. 16 You will put the witness which I will give you into the ark. 17 You will make a lid of pure gold. Two and a half cubits will be its length, and a cubit and a half its width. 18 You will make two keruvim of hammered gold. You will make them at the two ends of the lid. 19 Make one keruv at the one end, and one keruv at the other end. You will make the keruvim on its two ends of one piece with the lid. 20 The keruvim will spread out their wings upward, covering the lid with their wings, and their faces [each to his brother].^(MTT) The faces of the keruvim will be toward the lid. 21 You will put the lid on top of the ark, and in the ark you will put the witness that I will give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the lid, from between the two keruvim which are on the ark of the witness, all that I command you for the sons of Israel.

Related Additional Readings​

The surviving portions of this writing describe the Exodus from Egypt and the conquest of the promised land. Because the work is so fragmentary, we cannot discover how its ideas developed, but a few points are clear. The fear and helplessness of Israel’s enemies as Elohim’s people battled for Canaan is a dominant theme. In contrast, the author emphasizes Elohim’s compassion and support for Israel, even when the people became discouraged. Note the allusion to Exodus 7:1 as the writer calls Moses “an elohim over the mighty.” Line 8 is striking because it juxtaposes healing with a quotation from the so-called priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24-26. An amulet with precisely these verses inscribed upon it and dating to the late sixth century B.C.E.—centuries older than our scroll—has recently surfaced in excavations in Ketef Hinnom in Jerusalem. The fact that the verses were inscribed upon an amulet suggests their early use for magical purposes, and the present Dead Sea Scroll tends to confirm that possibility with its explicit reference “for healing.” The connection of the priestly blessing with healing as a magical incantation was clearly a long standing and durable tradition, and in passing our writer refers to the popular conception of the blessing’s divine power.

Fragment 2, Column 2 together and […] So the nations were lifted up in anger […] through their actions and the polluted deeds of […] so that th[ey] have neither remnant nor survivor. As for their seed, […] He planted His chosen in a land desirable above all others, in […] He made him as an elohim over the mighty, as a compa[ss] for Pharaoh; His serv[ant Moses…] So they melted and their hearts trembled, and th[ei]r insides turned to liquid. Yet He had compassion upon al[l His chosen ones…] “When He caused His face to shine upon them” (Num. 6:25) for healing, they were made strong once again, and at the time of […] All who had not known You melted and trem[bl]ed. They staggered at the sou[nd of…]

The Rule of the Congregation and the Rule of the Blessing (1QSb) were at first overlooked by researchers and considered a continuation of the much longer Community Rule. After careful study, it was revealed that the two texts acted as appendices to the first Community Rule scroll, and described an eschatological community (identified as the Yahad in the Community Rule) existing in Israel during the “end of times.” Since their discovery, the two passages have been called many names, including The Messianic Rule, The Charter for Israel in the Last Days, The Rule of the Benedictions, and A Priestly Blessing for the Last Days. The book’s Hebrew names are Serekh ha-‘Edah, and Serekh ha-Berakhot. They have also been referred to by 5 sigla: 1QSa and 1QSb are the most common, but 1Q28a, 1Q28b, and 4Q249a-i may also be used to reference passages.

Column 2 […] May the Lord grace you with the [holy] sp[irit … with all] His [rewa]rds may He delight you; May He grace you [with…] May He grace you with the holy spirit and loving[-kindness…] and with an eternal covenant may He grace you, causing [you] greatly to rejoice […] May He grace you with righteous judgment, [… that you not] stumb[le …] May He look graciously upon all your works [… May He grace you] [with] eternal truth [… May He look graciously] upon all your descen[dants…]

Column 3 “May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you” (Num. 6:26); [may He delight in] the savor [of your slaughters]. May He choose all who abide in [your] pries[thood]. May He be specially present at all your holy times and fest[ivals …] all your seed. May He lift up His countenance toward your entire congregation! May He place [a crown] upon your head […] with [perpetual] glo[ry. May He] sanctify your descendants with glory without end! May He lif [ t up His countenance toward …] […] May He grant you eter[na]l [pea]ce and a reign of […] […] from the flesh, and with the h[oly] angels […] May He wage war [at the head] of your thousands [to exterminate] a perver[se] generation […] [… to bring to their kn]ees ma[n]y pe[opl]es on your behalf, and not […] all the wealth of the land to turn you away from the [eternal] fount [… S]eek him for Elohim has laid all the foundations of […] He has established peace for you forever and ever.

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.).

3.8.10. The tabernacle being now consecrated, and a regular order being settled for the priests, the multitude judged that Elohim now dwelt among them, and betook themselves to slaughters and praises to Elohim as being now delivered from all expectation of evils and as entertaining a hopeful prospect of better times hereafter. They offered also gifts to Elohim some as common to the whole nation, and others as peculiar to themselves, and these tribe by tribe; for the heads of the tribes combined together, two by two, and brought a wagon and a yoke of oxen. These amounted to six, and they carried the tabernacle when they journeyed. Besides which, each head of a tribe brought a bowl, and a charger, and a spoon, of ten darics, full of incense. Now the charger and the bowl were of silver, and together they weighed two hundred shekels, but the bowl cost no more than seventy shekels; and these were full of fine flour mingled with oil, such as they used on the altar about the slaughters. They brought also a young bullock, and a ram, with a lamb of a year old, for a whole burnt-offering, as also a goat for the forgiveness of sins. Every one of the heads of the tribes brought also other slaughters, called peace-offerings, for every day two bulls, and five rams, with lambs of a year old, and kids of the goats. These heads of tribes were twelve days in slaughtering, one slaughtering every day. Now Moses went no longer up to Mount Sinai, but went into the tabernacle, and learned of Elohim what they were to do, and what laws should be made; which laws were preferable to what have been devised by human understanding, and proved to be firmly observed for all time to come, as being believed to be the gift of Elohim, insomuch that the Hebrews did not transgress any of those laws, either as tested in times of peace by luxury, or in times of war by distress of affairs. But I say no more here concerning them, because I have resolved to compose another work concerning our laws.

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.