• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 8:1 – 9:21
• Prophets (P): Zechariah 4:1-14
• Apostolic (A): Revelation 1:9-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22
• Additional (ADD): Wisdom of Solomon 7:1-30

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Exodus 25:31-37; Exodus 27:20-21; Exodus 30:7-8; Exodus 37:17-24; Leviticus 24:1-4 (T)
• 2 Kings 8:18-19; Job 18:5-6; Job 21:17; Job 29:1-6; Psalms 18:28; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 132:8-17; Proverbs 6:20-23; Proverbs 31:10,18; Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 6:22-23; Luke 12:32-40; John 5:31-38 (T)
• Ezra 6:15-22 (T)
• Numbers 3:1-13, 3:44-45 (T)
• 2 Chronicles 29:11-19 (T)
• Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16;  Numbers 18:6-19; Deuteronomy 15:19-23; Nehemiah 10:34-39; Ezekiel 44:28-31; Luke 2:21-24 (T)
• Exodus 12:1-12; Ezekiel 45:18-24; Leviticus 23:5; Deuteronomy 16:1-2; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (T)
• John 19:30-36; Psalms 34:19-20; Exodus 12:43-46 (T)
• 2 Chronicles 30:1-27 (T)
• Exodus 12:29-51 (T)
• Exodus 40:33-38 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-3 (T)
• Revelation 1:1-8 (H, A)
• Revelation 5:1-14 (H, A)
• Revelation 8:1-6  (H, A)
• Revelation 11:1-15 (H, A)
• Deuteronomy 32:7-9 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• 4Q504 The Words of the Heavenly Lights, Fragment 6 (T)
• Jubilees 49:1-8 (T)
• Jubilees 2:1-3 (H, A)
• Jubilees 15:30-32 (H, A)
• Para-Danielic Writings 4Q243 Frag. 3 Combined with 4Q244 (A)
• Enoch 71:1-13; Enoch 90:20-27; Enoch 89:51-76 (A)
• Numbers 8:1 – 9:21 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (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)

8:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the lampstand.’ ” 3 Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lampstand, as YHWH commanded Moses. 4 This was the workmanship of the lampstand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work. He made the lampstand according to the pattern which YHWH had shown Moses. 5 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and cleanse them. 7 You will do this to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves. 8 Then let them take a young bull and its grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you will take for a sin offering. 9 You will present the Levites before the Appointed Tent. You will assemble the whole congregation of the sons of Israel. 10 You will present the Levites before YHWH. The sons of Israel will lay their hands on the Levites, 11 and Aaron will offer the Levites before YHWH for a wave offering on the behalf of the sons of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of YHWH. 12 “The Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you will offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to YHWH, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 You will set the Levites before Aaron and before his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to YHWH. 14 Thus you will separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and the Levites will be mine. 15 “After that, the Levites will go in to do the service of the Appointed Tent. You will cleanse them, and offer them as a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to me from among the sons of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the sons of Israel, I have taken them to me. 17 For all the firstborn among the sons of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself. 18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel. 19 I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to do the service of the sons of Israel in the Appointed Tent, and to make atonement for the sons of Israel, so that there will be no striking among the sons of Israel when the sons of Israel come near to the sanctuary.” 20 Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel did so to the Levites. According to all that YHWH commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the sons of Israel did to them. 21 The Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them for a wave offering before YHWH and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 After that, the Levites went in to do their service in the Appointed Tent before Aaron and before his sons: as YHWH had commanded Moses upon the Levites, so they did to them. 23 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “This is what is assigned to the Levites: from a son of twenty-five years and upward they will go in to wait on the service in the work of the Appointed Tent; 25 and from a son of fifty years they will retire from doing the work, and will serve no more, 26 but will assist their brothers in the Appointed Tent, to guard the charge, and will guard no service. This is how you will have the Levites do their charges.”

9:1 YHWH spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first new moon of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Let the sons of Israel do the Pesach in its appointed time. 3 On the fourteenth day of this new moon, at evening, you will do it in its appointed time. You will do it according to all its statutes and according to all its judgments.” 4 Moses told the sons of Israel that they should do the Pesach. 5 They did the Pesach in the first new moon, on the fourteenth day of the new moon at evening, in the wilderness of Sinai. According to all that YHWH commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did. 6 There were certain men who were unclean because of the soul of a man, so that they could not do the Pesach on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. 7 Those men said to him, “We are unclean because of the soul of a man. Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of YHWH in its appointed time among the sons of Israel?” 8 Moses answered them, “Wait, that I may hear what YHWH will command concerning you.” 9 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘If any man of you or of your generations is unclean by reason of a soul, or is on a journey far away, he will still do the Pesach to YHWH. 11 In the second new moon, on the fourteenth day at evening they will do it; they will eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They will leave none of it until the morning, nor break a bone of it. According to all the statute of the Pesach they will do it. 13 But the man who is clean, and is not on a journey, and fails to do the Pesach, that soul will be cut off from his people. Because he didn’t offer the offering of YHWH in its appointed time, that man will bear his sin. 14 If a foreigner lives among you and desires to do the Pesach to YHWH, then he will do so according to the statute of the Pesach, and according to its statute. You will have one statute, both for the foreigner and for him who is born in the land.’ ” 15 On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Witness. At evening it was over the tabernacle, as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. 16 So it was continually. The cloud covered it [by day],^(LXX) and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the sons of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the sons of Israel encamped. 18 At the commandment of YHWH, the sons of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of YHWH they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the sons of Israel guarded [Elohim’s]^(LXX) command, and didn’t travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of YHWH they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of YHWH they traveled. 21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled; or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled.

Prophets Portion (P)

4:1 The angel who talked with me came again and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3 and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.” 4 I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of YHWH to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says YHWH of Armies. 7 Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’ ” 8 Moreover the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands will also finish it; and you will know that YHWH of Armies has sent me to you. 10 Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven will rejoice, and will see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of YHWH, which run back and forth through the whole land.” 11 Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?” 12 I asked him the second time, “What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts that pour the golden oil out of themselves?” 13 He answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole land.”

Apostolic Portion (A)

1 Corinthians 10:1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Messiah. 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Messiah. 5 However with most of them, Elohim was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not covet after evil things as they also coveted. 7 Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” (cf. Exodus 32:6) 8 Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9 Let’s not test [YHWH],^(mss) as some of them tested, and perished by the nachashim. 10 Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall. 13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. Elohim is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Messiah? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Messiah? 17 Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. 18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the slaughters participate in the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That a thing slaughtered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 But I say that the things which the Nations slaughter, they slaughter to demons and not to God, (cf. Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17) and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 21 You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to zeal? Are we stronger than he?

Additional Portion (ADD)

The Wisdom of Solomon or Book of Wisdom is a Jewish work, written in Greek, and most likely composed in Alexandria, Egypt. Generally dated to the mid first century B.C. It is uncertain whether the book has a single author or comes from a school of writers, but recent scholarship has favored regarding it as a unified work. Fragments of the Wisdom of Solomon were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the first discovered and excavated cave at Qumran in 1949.

7:1 I myself am also mortal, like everyone else, and am a descendant of one formed first and born of the land. 2 I molded into flesh in the time of ten new moons in my mother’s womb, being compacted in blood from the seed of man and pleasure that came with sleep. 3 I also, when I was born, drew in the common air, and fell upon the kindred land, uttering, like all, for my first voice, the same cry. 4 I was nursed with care in swaddling clothes. 5 For no king had any other first beginning; 6 but all men have one entrance into life, and a common departure. 7 For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given to me. I asked, and a spirit of wisdom came to me. 8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones. I considered riches nothing in comparison to her. 9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold in her face is a little sand, and silver will be considered as clay before her. 10 I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her bright shining is never laid to sleep. 11 All good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches are in her hands. 12 And I rejoiced over them all because wisdom leads them; although I didn’t know that she was their mother. 13 As I learned without guile, I impart without grudging. I don’t hide her riches. 14 For she is a treasure for men that doesn’t fail, and those who use it obtain friendship with Elohim, commended by the gifts which they present through discipline. 15 But may Elohim grant that I may speak his judgment, and to conceive thoughts worthy of what has been given me; because he is one who guides even wisdom and who corrects the wise. 16 For both we and our words are in his hand, with all understanding and skill in various crafts. 17 For he himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, to know the structure of the universe and the operation of the elements; 18 the beginning, end, and middle of times; the alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons; 19 the circuits of years and the positions of stars; 20 the natures of living creatures and the raging of wild beasts; the violence of spirits and the thoughts of men; the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots. 21 All things that are either secret or manifest I learned, 22 for wisdom, that is the architect of all things, taught me. For there is in her a spirit that is quick to understand, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, freely moving, clear in utterance, unpolluted, distinct, unharmed, loving what is good, keen, unhindered, 23 beneficent, loving toward man, steadfast, sure, free from care, all-powerful, all-surveying, and penetrating through all spirits that are quick to understand, pure, most subtle: 24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion. Yes, she pervades and penetrates all things by reason of her purity. 25 For she is a breath of the power of Elohim, and a clear effluence of the glory of the Almighty. Therefore nothing defiled can find entrance into her. 26 For she is a reflection of everlasting light, an unspotted mirror of the working of Elohim, and an image of his goodness. 27 She, being one, has power to do all things. Remaining in herself, she renews all things. From generation to generation passing into holy souls, she makes friends of Elohim and prophets. 28 For Elohim loves nothing as much as one who dwells with wisdom. 29 For she is fairer than the sun, and above all the constellations of the stars. She is better than light. 30 For daylight yields to night, but evil does not prevail against wisdom.

Related Scriptures

Exodus 25:31 “You will make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand will be made of hammered work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers will be of one piece with it. 32 There will be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of its one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lampstand; 34 and in the lampstand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 35 and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 36 Their buds and their branches will be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold. 37 You will make its lamps seven, and they will light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it. 38 Its snuffers and its snuff dishes will be of pure gold. 39 It will be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories. 40 See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.

Exodus 27:20 “You will command the sons of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. 21 In the Appointed Tent, outside the veil which is before the witness, Aaron and his sons will arrange it from evening to morning before YHWH: it will be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the sons of Israel.

Exodus 30:7 Aaron will burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he will burn it. 8 When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he will burn it, a perpetual incense before YHWH throughout your generations.

Exodus 37:17 He made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18 There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of its one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side: 19 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower; so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 20 In the lampstand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 21 and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it. 22 Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold. 23 He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold. 24 He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels.

Leviticus 24:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the sons of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to continually ascend. 3 Outside of the veil of the Witness, in the Appointed Tent, Aaron [and his sons]^(LXX)(SP) will keep it in order from evening to morning before YHWH continually. It will be a statute forever throughout your generations. 4 He will arrange the lamps on the clean lampstand before YHWH continually.

2 Kings 8:18-19; Job 18:5-6; Job 21:17; Job 29:1-6; Psalms 18:28; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 132:8-17; Proverbs 6:20-23; Proverbs 31:10,18; Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 6:22-23; Luke 12:32-40; John 5:31-38 (T)

2 Kings 8:18 (Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah) walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab’s house, for he married Ahab’s daughter. He did that which was evil in YHWH’s sight. 19 However, YHWH would not destroy Judah, for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give to him a lamp for his sons always.

Job 18:5 “Yes, the light of the wicked will be put out. The spark of his fire won’t shine. 6 The light will be dark in his tent. His lamp above him will be put out.”

Job 21:17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that Elohim distributes sorrows in his anger?

Job 29:1-6 Job again took up his parable, and said, 2 “Oh that I were as in the new moons of old, as in the days when Elohim watched over me; 3 when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, 4 as I was in my prime, when the friendship of Elohim was in my tent, 5 when the Almighty was yet with me, and my young men were around me, 6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me…”

Psalms 18:28 For you will light my lamp, YHWH. My Elohim will light up my darkness.

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

Psalms 132:8 Arise, YHWH, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy! 10 For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your Messiah. 11 YHWH has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne. 12 If your sons will guard my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their sons also will sit on your throne forever more.” 13 For YHWH has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. 14 “This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy. 17 I will make the horn of David to bud there. I have ordained a lamp for my Messiah.

Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching. 21 Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the Torah is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a woman of strength? For her value is far above rubies…18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 6:22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Luke 12:32 “Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 35 “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. 36 Be like men watching for their lord when he returns from the wedding feast, that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them. 38 They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch and finds them so. 39 But know this, that if the owner of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”

John 5:31 “If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. 32 It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has witnessed to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father himself, who sent me, has witnessed about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.

6:15 This house was finished on the third day of the new moon Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 The sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity, did the dedication of this house of Elohim with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of Elohim one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of Elohim which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 The sons of the captivity did the Pesach on the fourteenth day of the first new moon. 20 Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Pesach for all the sons of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21 The sons of Israel who had returned out of the captivity, and all who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land to seek YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, ate, 22 and did the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because YHWH had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of Elohim, the Elohim of Israel’s house.

3:1 These are the birthings of Aaron and Moses in the day that YHWH spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, who filled his hand to be adorned. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before YHWH when they offered strange fire to the face of YHWH in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar were adorned in the face of Aaron their father. 5 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They will guard his charges, and the charges of the whole congregation to the face of the Appointed Tent, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 They will guard all the furnishings of the Appointed Tent, and the charges of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 You will give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the sons of Israel. 10 You will register Aaron and his sons, and they will guard their priesthood, but the stranger who comes near will be put to death.” 11 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the sons of Israel; and the Levites will be mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They will be mine. I am YHWH.”

3:44 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites will be mine. I am YHWH.”

29:11 My sons, don’t be negligent now; for YHWH has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers and burn incense.” 12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Qohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemayah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of the king by the word of YHWHs, to cleanse YHWH’s house. 16 The priests went into the inner part of YHWH’s house to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of YHWH into the court of YHWH’s house. The Levites took it from there to carry it out to the brook Kidron. 17 Now they began on the first day of the first new moon to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the new moon they came to YHWH’s porch. They sanctified YHWH’s house in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first new moon they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace and said, “We have cleansed all YHWH’s house, including the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, and the table of bread of the presence with all its vessels. 19 Moreover, we have prepared and sanctified all the vessels which king Ahaz threw away in his reign when he was unfaithful. Behold, they are before the altar of YHWH.”

Exodus 13:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Set apart to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine…11 “It will be, when YHWH brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you, 12 that you will cross over to YHWH all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males will be YHWH’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you will redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you will break its neck; and you will redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. 14 It will be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you will tell him, ‘By strength of hand YHWH brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, YHWH killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I slaughter to YHWH all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It will be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand YHWH brought us out of Egypt.”

Numbers 18:6 Behold, I myself have taken your brothers the Levites from among the sons of Israel. They are a gift to you, dedicated to YHWH, to do the service of the Appointed Tent. 7 You and your sons with you will guard your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You will serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near will be put to death.” 8 YHWH spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 9 This will be yours of the holy of holies from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every grain offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they will render to me, will be most holy for you and for your sons. 10 You will eat of it like the holy of holies. Every male will eat of it. It will be holy to you. 11 “This is yours, too: the wave offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 12 “I have given to you all the best of the oil, all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to YHWH. 13 The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to YHWH, will be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 14 “Everything devoted in Israel will be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they bring to YHWH, both of man and animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, you will surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you will redeem the firstborn of unclean animals. 16 You will redeem those who are to be redeemed of them from a son of a new moon, according to your estimation, for five shekels of money, according to the shekel* of the sanctuary, which weighs twenty gerahs. 17 “But do not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You will sprinkle their blood on the altar, and will burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to YHWH. 18 Their meat will be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it will be yours. 19 All the wave offerings of the holy which the sons of Israel raise to YHWH, I have given you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH to you and to your seed with you.”

Deuteronomy 15:19 You will dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to YHWH your Elohim. You will do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You will eat it before YHWH your Elohim year by year in the place which YHWH will choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any blemish—is lame or blind, or has any blemish whatever, do not slaughter it to YHWH your Elohim. 22 You will eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean will eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only do not eat its blood. You will pour it out on the ground like water.

Nehemiah 10:34 We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our Elohim, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed year by year, to burn on YHWH our Elohim’s altar, as it is written in the Torah; 35 and to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to YHWH’s house; 36 also the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the Torah, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our Elohim, to the priests who minister in the house of our Elohim; 37 and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, our wave offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, and the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our Elohim; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all our farming villages. 38 The priest, the descendent of Aaron, will be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. The Levites will bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our Elohim, to the rooms, into the treasure house. 39 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi will bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our Elohim.

Ezekiel 44:28 They will have an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you will give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every devoted thing in Israel will be theirs. 30 The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, will be for the priest. You will also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. 31 The priests will not eat of anything that dies of itself or is torn, whether it is bird or animal.

Luke 2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the days of their purification according to the Torah of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 as it is written in the Torah of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”, 24 and to offer a slaughter according to that which is said in the Torah of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two sons of a dove.

Exodus 12:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This new moon will be to you the beginning of new moons. It will be the first new moon of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this new moon, they will take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household; 4 and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house will take one according to the number of the souls. You will make your count for the lamb according to what everyone can eat. 5 Your lamb will be without defect, a male, a son of a year. You will take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 It will be a charge for you until the fourteenth day of the same new moon; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will kill it at evening. 7 They will take some of the blood, and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they will eat it. 8 They will eat the meat in that night, roasted with fire, with unleavened bread. They will eat it with bitter herbs. 9 Don’t eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. 10 You will let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you will burn with fire. 11 This is how you will eat it: with your belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you will eat it in haste: it is the Pesach of YHWH. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. I will execute judgments against all the Elohim of Egypt. I am YHWH.

Ezekiel 45:18 The Lord YHWH says: “In the first new moon, on the first day of the new moon, you will take a young bull without defect, and you will cleanse the sanctuary. 19 The priest will take of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the door posts of the house, and on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the posts of the gate of the inner court. 20 So you will do on the seventh day of the new moon for everyone who errs, and for him who is simple. So you will make atonement for the house. 21 In the first new moon, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, you will have the Pesach, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread will be eaten. 22 On that day the prince will prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering. 23 The seven days of the feast he will prepare a burnt offering to YHWH, seven bulls and seven rams without defect daily the seven days; and a male goat daily for a sin offering. 24 He will prepare a grain offering, an ephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil to an ephah.

Leviticus 23:5 In the first new moon, on the fourteenth day of the new moon in the evening, is the Pesach of YHWH.

Deuteronomy 16:1 Observe the new moon of Aviv, and guard the Pesach to YHWH your Elohim; for in the new moon of Aviv YHWH your Elohim brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 You will slaughter the Pesach to YHWH your Elohim, of the flock and the herd, in the place which YHWH will choose to cause his name to dwell there.

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is whoring among you, and such whoring as is not even named among the Nations, that one has his father’s wife. 2 You are arrogant, and didn’t mourn instead, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you. 3 For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing. 4 In the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, when you are gathered together with my spirit with the power of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 5 you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Yeshua. 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Pesach, has been slaughtered in our place. 8 Therefore let’s guard the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

John 19:30 When Yeshua therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Therefore the Judeans, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for that Sabbath was a special one, asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him; 33 but when they came to Yeshua and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs. (cf. Numbers 9:12; Psalms 34:19) 34 However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 He who has seen has witnessed, and his witness is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. 36 For these things happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.”

Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but YHWH delivers him out of them all. 20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

Exodus 12:43 YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Pesach. No foreigner will eat of it, 44 but every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then will he eat of it. 45 A foreigner and a hired-servant will not eat of it. 46 It must be eaten in one house. You will not carry any of the meat outside of the house. Do not break any of its bones.

30:1 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to YHWH’s house at Jerusalem, to do the Pesach to YHWH, the Elohim of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to do the Pesach in the second new moon. 3 For they could not do it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Be’ersheba even to Dan, that they should come to do the Pesach to YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not done it in great numbers in the way it is written. 6 So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, according to the commandment of the king, saying, “You sons of Israel, turn again to YHWH, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Don’t be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8 Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to YHWH, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve YHWH your Elohim, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you turn again to YHWH, your brothers and your sons will find compassion with those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because YHWH your Elohim is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.” 10 So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also the hand of Elohim came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of YHWH. 13 Many people assembled at Jerusalem to do the feast of unleavened bread in the second new moon, a very great assembly. 14 They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then they killed the Pesach on the fourteenth day of the second new moon. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into YHWH’s house. 16 They stood in their place after their order, according to the Torah of Moses the man of Elohim. The priests sprinkled the blood which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites were in charge of killing the Pesachs for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to YHWH. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Pesach other than the way it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good YHWH pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek Elohim, YHWH, the Elohim of his fathers, even if they aren’t clean according to the purification of the sanctuary.” 20 YHWH listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 21 The sons of Israel who were present at Jerusalem did the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. The Levites and the priests praised YHWH day by day, singing with loud instruments to YHWH. 22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of YHWH. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering slaughters of peace offerings and making confession to YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers. 23 The whole assembly took counsel to do another seven days, and they did another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25 All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the foreigners who came out of the land of Israel and who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to the heavens.

12:29 At midnight, YHWH struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve YHWH, as you have said! 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!” 33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men.” 34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 The sons of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing. 36 YHWH gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They plundered the Egyptians. 37 The sons of Israel traveled from Rameses to Sukkot, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, in addition to little ones. 38 A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock. 39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt; for it wasn’t leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn’t wait, and they had not prepared any food for themselves. 40 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years. 41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, to the day, all of the armies of YHWH went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed to YHWH for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of YHWH, to be much observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations. 43 YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Pesach. No son of a foreigner will eat of it, 44 but every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then will he eat of it. 45 A sojourner and a hired-servant will not eat of it. 46 It must be eaten in one house. You will not carry any of the meat outside of the house. Do not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel will do it. 48 When a stranger sojourns with you, and would like to do the Pesach to YHWH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and do it. He will be as one who is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person will eat of it. 49 One Torah will be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who sojourns among you.” 50 All the sons of Israel did so. As YHWH commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 That same day, YHWH brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

40:33 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.

Related Additional Readings​

4Q504 The Words of the Heavenly Lights, Fragment 6 (T)

Fragment 6 [… Re]member, please, that all of us are Your people. You have borne us miracu[lous]ly [on] eagles’ [wings] and brought us to Yourself” (Exod. 19:4). “As an eagle stirs up its nest, [and] hovers [over its young;] as it spreads its wings, takes them up and bears them aloft on its [pinions” (Deut. 32:11).] [so we] dwell apart and are not reckoned among the nations. […] [O Lord,] it is You who is in our midst in a pillar of fire, who [appears to us] as a cloud; Your [hol]iness goes before us, Your glory [dwells] among [us].

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

49:1 Remember the commandment which YHWH commanded you concerning the Pesach, that you should celebrate it in its season on the fourteenth of the first new moon, that you should kill it before it is evening, and that they should eat it by night on the evening of the fifteenth from the time of the setting of the sun. 2 For on this night -the beginning of the festival and the beginning of the joy- you were eating the Pesach in Egypt, when all the powers of Mastema had been let loose to slay all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh to the first-born of the captive maid-servant in the mill, and to the cattle. 3 And this is the sign which YHWH gave them: Into every house on the lintels of which they saw the blood of a lamb of the first year, into that house they should not enter to slay, but should pass by it, that all those should be saved that were in the house because the sign of the blood was on its lintels. 4 And the powers of YHWH did everything according as YHWH commanded them, and they passed by all the sons of Israel, and the plague came not upon them to destroy from amongst them any soul either of cattle, or man, or dog. 5 And the plague was very grievous in Egypt, and there was no house in Egypt where there was not one dead, and weeping and lamentation. 6 And all Israel was eating the flesh of the paschal lamb, and drinking the wine, and was lauding, and blessing, and giving thanks to YHWH Almighty of their fathers, and was ready to go forth from under the yoke of Egypt, and from the evil bondage. 7 And remember you this day all the days of your life, and observe it from year to year all the days of your life, once a year, on its day, according to all the Torah thereof, and do not adjourn it from day to day, or from new moon to new moon. 8 For it is an eternal ordinance, and engraved on the heavenly tablets regarding all the sons of Israel that they should observe it every year on its day once a year, throughout all their generations; and there is no limit of days, for this is ordained forever.

Jubilees 2:1-3 (H, A)

2:1 And the angel of the face (presence) spake to Moses according to the word of the Lord, saying: Write the complete history of the creation, how in six days the Lord Elohim finished all His works and all that He created, and kept Sabbath on the seventh day and hallowed it for all ages, and appointed it as a sign for all His works. 2 For on the first day He created the heavens which are above and the land and the waters and all the spirits which serve before Him–the angels of the face, and the angels of sanctification, and the angels [of the spirit of fire and the angels] of the spirit of the winds, and the angels of the spirit of the clouds, and of darkness, and of snow and of hail and of hoar frost, and the angels of the voices and of the thunder and of the lightning, and the angels of the spirits of cold and of heat, and of winter and of spring and of autumn and of summer, and of all the spirits of His creatures which are in the heavens and on the land, (He created) the abysses and the darkness, eventide (and night), and the light, dawn and day, which He hath prepared in the knowledge of His heart. 3 And thereupon we saw His works, and praised Him, and lauded before Him on account of all His works; for seven great works did He create on the first day.

Jubilees 15:30-32 (H, A)

15:30 For Ishmael and his sons and his brothers and Esau, the Lord did not cause to approach Him, and he chose them not because they are the children of Abraham, because He knew them, but He chose Israel to be His people. 31 And He sanctified it, and gathered it from amongst all the children of men; for there are many nations and many peoples, and all are His, and over all hath He placed spirits in authority to lead them astray from Him. 32 But over Israel He did not appoint any angel or spirit, for He alone is their ruler, and He will preserve them and require them at the hand of His angels and His spirits, and at the hand of all His powers in order that He may preserve them and bless them, and that they may be His and He may be theirs from henceforth for ever.

Para-Danielic Writings 4Q243 Frag. 3 Combined with 4Q244 (A)

… The sons of Israel chose themselves rather than [Elohim and they sacri]ficed their sons to the demons of idolatry. Elohim was enraged against them to Nebu[chadnezzar, king of Ba]bel and to devastate their land…

Enoch 71:1-13; Enoch 90:20-27; Enoch 89:51-76 (A)

The Book of Enoch (also known as 1 Enoch) was written during the second century B.C. The older sections (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) of the text are estimated to date from about 300–200 B.C., and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably to 100 B.C. Various Aramaic fragments found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as Koine Greek and Latin fragments, were proof that The Book of Enoch was known by early Jews and Christians.

Enoch 71:1-13 (T)

71:1 And it came to pass after this that my spirit was translated And it ascended into the heavens: And I saw the holy sons of Elohim. They were stepping on flames of fire: Their garments were white [and their raiment], And their faces shone like snow. 2. And I saw two streams of fire, And the light of that fire shone like hyacinth, And I fell on my face before the Lord of Spirits. 3. And the angel Michael [one of the archangels] seized me by my right hand, And lifted me up and led me forth into all the secrets, And he showed me all the secrets of righteousness. 4. And he showed me all the secrets of the ends of the heavens, And all the chambers of all the stars, and all the luminaries, Whence they proceed before the face of the holy ones. 5. And he translated my spirit into the heavens of the heavens, And I saw there as it were a structure built of crystals, And between those crystals tongues of living fire. 6. And my spirit saw the girdle which girt that house of fire, And on its four sides were streams full of living fire, And they girt that house. 7. And round about were Seraphin, Kherubic, and Ophannin: And these are they who sleep not And guard the throne of His glory. 8. And I saw angels who could not be counted, A thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, Encircling that house. And Michael, and Raphael, and Gabriel, and Phanuel, And the holy angels who are above the heavens, Go in and out of that house. 9. And they came forth from that house, And Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, And many holy angels without number. 10. And with them the Head of Days, His head white and pure as wool, And His raiment indescribable. 11. And I fell on my face, And my whole body became relaxed, And my spirit was transfigured; And I cried with a loud voice, . . .with the spirit of power, And blessed and glorified and extolled. 12. And these blessings which went forth out of my mouth were well pleasing before that Head of Days. 13. And that Head of Days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, thousands and ten thousands of angels without number.

Enoch 90:20-27 (T)

90:20 And I saw till a throne was erected in the pleasant land, and the Lord of the sheep sat Himself thereon, and the other took the sealed books and opened those books before the Lord of the sheep. 21. And the Lord called those men the seven first white ones, and commanded that they should bring before Him, beginning with the first star which led the way, all the stars whose privy members were like those of horses, and they brought them all before Him. 22. And He said to that man who wrote before Him, being one of those seven white ones, and said unto him: “Take those seventy shepherds to whom I delivered the sheep, and who taking them on their own authority slew more than I commanded them.” 23. And behold they were all bound, I saw, and they all stood before Him. 24. And the judgement was held first over the stars, and they were judged and found guilty, and went to the place of condemnation, and they were cast into an abyss, full of fire and flaming, and full of pillars of fire. 25. And those seventy shepherds were judged and found guilty, and they were cast into that fiery abyss. 26. And I saw at that time how a like abyss was opened in the midst of the land, full of fire, and they brought those blinded sheep, and they were all judged and found guilty and cast into this fiery abyss, and they burned; now this abyss was to the right of that house. 27. And I saw those sheep burning and their bones burning.

Enoch 89:51-76 (T)

89:51 And again I saw those sheep that they again erred and went many ways, and forsook that their house, and the Lord of the sheep called some from amongst the sheep and sent them to the sheep, but the sheep began to slay them. 52. And one of them was saved and was not slain, and it sped away and cried aloud over the sheep; and they sought to slay it, but the Lord of the sheep saved it from the sheep, and brought it up to me, and caused it to dwell there. 53. And many other sheep He sent to those sheep to testify unto them and lament over them. 54. And after that I saw that when they forsook the house of the Lord and His tower they fell away entirely, and their eyes were blinded; and I saw the Lord of the sheep how He wrought much slaughter amongst them in their herds until those sheep invited that slaughter and betrayed His place. 55. And He gave them over into the hands of the lions and tigers, and wolves and hyenas, and into the hand of the foxes, and to all the wild beasts, and those wild beasts began to tear in pieces those sheep. 56. And I saw that He forsook that their house and their tower and gave them all into the hand of the lions, to tear and devour them, into the hand of all the wild beasts. 57. And I began to cry aloud with all my power, and to appeal to the Lord of the sheep, and to represent to Him in regard to the sheep that they were devoured by all the wild beasts. 58. But He remained unmoved, though He saw it, and rejoiced that they were devoured and swallowed and robbed, and left them to be devoured in the hand of all the beasts. 59. And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: “Let each individual of you pasture the sheep henceforward, and everything that I will command you that do ye. 60. And I will deliver them over unto you duly numbered, and tell you which of them are to be destroyed–and them destroy ye.” And He gave over unto them those sheep. 61. And He called another and spake unto him: “Observe and mark everything that the shepherds will do to those sheep; for they will destroy more of them than I have commanded them. 62. And every excess and the destruction which will be wrought through the shepherds, record (namely) how many they destroy according to my command, and how many according to their own caprice: record against every individual shepherd all the destruction he effects. 63. And read out before me by number how many they destroy, and how many they deliver over for destruction, that I may have this as a witness against them, and know every deed of the shepherds, that I may comprehend and see what they do, whether or not they abide by my command which I have commanded them. 64. But they will not know it, and thou shalt not declare it to them, nor admonish them, but only record against each individual all the destruction which the shepherds effect each in his time and lay it all before me.” 65. And I saw till those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to slay and to destroy more than they were bidden, and they delivered those sheep into the hand of the lions. 66. And the lions and tigers eat and devoured the greater part of those sheep, and the wild boars eat along with them; and they burnt that tower and demolished that house. 67. And I became exceedingly sorrowful over that tower because that house of the sheep was demolished, and afterwards I was unable to see if those sheep entered that house. 68. And the shepherds and their associates delivered over those sheep to all the wild beasts, to devour them, and each one of them received in his time a definite number: it was written by the other in a book how many each one of them destroyed of them. 69. And each one slew and destroyed many more than was prescribed; and I began to weep and lament on account of those sheep. 70. And thus in the vision I saw that one who wrote, how he wrote down every one that was destroyed by those shepherds, day by day, and carried up and laid down and showed actually the whole book to the Lord of the sheep–(even) everything that they had done, and all that each one of them had made away with, and all that they had given over to destruction. 71. And the book was read before the Lord of the sheep, and He took the book from his hand and read it and sealed it and laid it down. 72. And forthwith I saw how the shepherds pastured for twelve hours, and behold three of those sheep turned back and came and entered and began to build up all that had fallen down of that house; but the wild boars tried to hinder them, but they were not able. 73. And they began again to build as before, and they reared up that tower, and it was named the high tower; and they began again to place a table before the tower, but all the bread on it was polluted and not pure. 74. And as touching all this the eyes of those sheep were blinded so that they saw not, and (the eyes of) their shepherds likewise; and they delivered them in large numbers to their shepherds for destruction, and they trampled the sheep with their feet and devoured them. 75. And the Lord of the sheep remained unmoved till all the sheep were dispersed over the field and mingled with them (i.e. the beasts), and they (i.e. the shepherds) did not save them out of the hand of the beasts. 76. And this one who wrote the book carried it up, and showed it and read it before the Lord of the sheep, and implored Him on their account, and besought Him on their account as he showed Him all the doings of the shepherds, and gave witness before Him against all the shepherds. And he took the actual book and laid it down beside Him and departed.

Numbers 8:1 – 9:21 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 8 And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Speak with Aharon, and say to him: At the time when thou dost kindle the lamps upon the candelabrum, (all) the seven lamps will be alight; three on the western side, and three on the eastern side, and the seventh in the midst. And Aharon did so; at the face of the candelabrum he lit the lamps thereof, as the Lord commanded Mosheh. And this was the work delabrum, which was of beaten gold, from its foundations unto its lilies, the work of the artificer, with the hammer was it wrought: according to the vision which the Lord had showed Mosheh, so did Bezalel make the candelabrum.

And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Bring, the Levites out from among the sons of Israel, and purify them. And this shalt thou do to purify them. Sprinkle upon them the water for uncleanness through sin (chattatha), and let the razor pass over all their flesh, and let them wash their raiment, and wash themselves in forty savan of water. And they will take a young bullock, and his mincha of flour sprinkled with olive oil; and take thou a second young bullock for a sin offering. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of ordinance, and gather together also all the congregation of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord, and the sons of Israel will lay their hands upon the Levites. And Aharon will present the Levites, (as) an elevation before the Lord from the sons of Israel, and they will be for the work of the service of the Lord. And the Levites will lay their hands upon the head of the bullocks, and make one a sin offering and one a burnt offering before the Lord, to atone for the Levites. And thou shalt place the Levites before Aharon and his sons, and present them (as) an elevation before the Lord; and thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, that the Levites may be ministers before Me. And afterward the Levites may enter to fulfil the service of the tabernacle of ordinance, when thou shalt have purified them and presented them (as) an elevation; for separated they are separate before Me from among the sons of Israel, instead of every one who openeth the womb; the first‑born of all who are of the sons of Israel have I taken (to be) before Me. For every first‑born of the sons of Israel is Mine, whether of man or of beast: in the day that I slew all the first‑born in the land of Mizraim, I sanctified them before Me; and I have taken the Levites instead of all the first‑born of the sons of Israel, and have given the Levites (as) gifts unto Aharon and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to minister the service of the sons of Israel in the tabernacle of ordinance, and to atone for the sons of Israel, lest there be mortality among the sons of Israel at the time when they approach the sanctuary.

And Mosheh and Aharon and all the congregation of the Beni Israel did unto the Levites according to all that the Lord had commanded Mosheh concerning the Levites, so did the sons of Israel to them. And the Levites were purified, and they washed their raiment; and Aharon presented them as an elevation before the Lord. And Aharon made atonement for them to purify them. And afterward the Levites went in to fulfil their ministry in the tabernacle of ordinance, before Aharon and his sons: as the Lord had commanded Mosheh concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.

And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: This is the instruction for the Levites who are not disqualified (profaned) by their blemishes: from one of twenty‑five years and upward, he will come, according to his company, to the service of the tabernacle of ordinance and from fifty years of age he will return from the band of the service, and serve no more. Yet he may minister with his brethren at the tabernacle of ordinance in keeping the watch; but he will not do any of the service. So will the Levites act in their charge.

Chapter 9 And the Lord spake with Mosheh in the wilderness of Sinai, in the second year from the time of their going forth from the land of Mizraim, in the first new moon, saying: Let the sons of Israel perform the slaughter of the Pascha between the suns at its time. On the fourteenth day of this mouth, between the suns, they will perform it in its time; according to all its rites and all its statutes will they do it. And Mosheh spake with the sons of Israel to perform the slaughter of the Pascha. They performed the Pascha, therefore, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, between the suns in the wilderness of Sinai; after all that the Lord had commanded Mosheh, so did the sons of Israel.

But certain men, who were unclean, having been defiled by the body of a man who had died near them suddenly; as the commandment (of the Pascha) came upon them, could not perform it on that day, which was the seventh of their uncleanness. And they came before Mosheh and Aharon on that day; and these men said to him, We are unclean, on account of a man who died with us: therefore we are hindered from killing the Pascha, and shedding the blood of the Lord’s oblation upon the altar at its time, that we may eat its flesh, being clean, among the sons of Israel.

This is one of four matters of judgment brought before Mosheh the prophet, which he decided according to the Word of the Holy One: in some of which Mosheh was deliberate, because they were judgments about life; but in the others Mosheh was prompt, they being (only) judgments concerning money: but in those (the former) Mosheh said, I have not heard; that he might teach the princes of the Sanhedrin who should arise after him to be deliberate in judgements regarding life, but prompt in judgments about money; and not to be ashamed to ask counsel in things too hard for them, inasmuch as Mosheh himself, the Rabbi of Israel, had need to say, I have not yet heard. Therefore, said Mosheh to them, Wait until I have heard what will be commanded from before the Lord concerning your case. [JERUSALEM. This is one of four matters of judgment brought before Mosheh, in two of which Mosheh was prompt, and in two was he slower. Concerning the unclean who could not perform the Pascha in its time, and concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, was Mosheh prompt, because the [latter] judgment was about money; but concerning the blasphemer who had reviled the sacred Name, and the gatherer of wood, who wickedly profaned the Sabbath, Mosheh was deliberate, they being decisions involving life; and in them he said, I have not heard; that he might teach the judges who were to come after Mosheh to be prompt in cases of mammon, but deliberate in those of life; and not to be ashamed to say, I have not heard, because Mosheh our Rabbi himself said, I have not heard. Therefore, spake he, Arise, and listen to what the Word of the Lord will prescribe to you.]

And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Speak with the sons of Israel, saying: A man, whether young or old, when unclean by defilement from the dead, or an issue, or the leprosy, or who is hindered in the way of the world by the accidents of the night, or who will be at a distance from the threshold of his house: if such things happen to you, or to your generations, then may he defer to perform the Pascha before the Lord. But in the second new moon, which is the new moon of Ijar, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, between the suns they will perform it; with unleavened bread and with bitters they will eat it. They will not leave of it till the morning, and a bone in it will not be broken; according to every instruction in the decree of the Pascha in Nisan, they will perform it. In the Pascha of Nisan (such persons) may eat unleavened bread, but not perform the oblation of the Pascha on account of their defilement; but in the Pascha of Ijar being purified they will offer it. But the man who, being clean and undefiled by the way of the world, and not at a distance from the threshold of his home, neglecteth to perform the oblation of the Pascha of Nisan, that man will be cut off from his people, because he hath not offered the Lord’s oblation in its season; that man will bear his sin. And if the stranger who is sojourning with you will perform the Pascha before the Lord, he will do it after the proper manner of the Paschal decree, according to its form so will he do it. You will have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native of the land.

And on the day on which the tabernacle was reared the Cloud of Glory covered the Tabernacle; it overspread the Tabernacle of Testimony by day, and at evening, it was over the Tabernacle like a vision of Fire until the morning. So was it continually, a Cloud of Glory covering it by day, and a vision of Fire by night. And what time the Cloud of Glory was uplifted from the Tabernacle, then the sons of Israel went forward; and at the place where the Cloud rested, there did the sons of Israel rest. By the mouth of the Word of the Lord the sons of Israel went forward, and by the Word of the Lord they rested. All the days that the Cloud of Glory abode upon the Tabernacle, (so long) did they abide. And if the Cloud tarried over the Tabernacle many days the sons of Israel observed the watch of the Word of the Lord, and did not proceed. If for the time of a number of days, suppose the seven days of the week, the Cloud of Glory was upon the Tabernacle, by the mouth of the Word of the Lord they rested, and by the mouth of the Word of the Lord they went forward. Or, if the Cloud of Glory (rested only) from evening until morning, and was uplifted in the morning, then went they onward; whether by day or by night, when the Cloud was lifted up they went forward; whether it was two days, or a new moon, or a year complete, while the Cloud of Glory made stay over the Tabernacle, abiding on it, the sons of Israel abode, and journeyed not, and at the time of its uplifting they went forward. By the mouth of the Word of the Lord they encamped, and by it they journeyed; they kept the observance of the Word of the Lord, by the mouth of the Word of the Lord through Mosheh.