• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 9:22 – 10:36
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 27:7-13
• Apostolic (A): 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 8:1-6
• Additional (ADD): 2 Esdras 6:1-28

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Exodus 40:33-38 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 (T)
• Leviticus 23:1-4 (T)
• Numbers 31:1-8 (T)
• Ezra 3:1-13 (T)
• Judges 1:16; 1 Samuel 15:5-7; Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus, 6.7.3 (T)
• Psalms 68:1-35 (T)
• Judges 4:1 – 5:31 (T)
• Romans 11:25-27 (P)
• Revelation 8:7 – 9:21 (A)
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• The War Scroll 1QM, Column 10 (T)
• Apocryphal Psalms 11QapPs^a / 11Q11 (A)
• The Words of the Heavenly Lights, Hymns for the Sabbath Day 4Q504-6 (A)
• Jubilees 2:1-3 (A)
• Enoch 71:1-13 (A)
• Numbers 9:22 – 10:36 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.12.6 (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)

9:22 Whether it was two days, or a new moon, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the sons of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At the mouth of YHWH they encamped, and at the mouth of YHWH they traveled. They guarded the command of YHWH, at the mouth of YHWH by Moses.

10:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two trumpets of silver. You will make them of beaten work. You will use them for the convocation of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps. 3 When they blow them, all the congregation will gather themselves to you at the door of the Appointed Tent. 4 If they blow just one, then the lifted up ones, the heads of the thousands of Israel, will gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow a shout, the camps that lie on the east side will go forward. 6 When you blow a shout the second time, the camps that lie on the south side will go forward. They will blow a shout for their journeys. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you will blow, but do not shout. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, will blow the trumpets. This will be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you will shout with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before YHWH your Elohim, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed times, and in the beginnings of your new moons, you will blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the slaughters of your peace offerings; and they will be to you for a remembrance before your Elohim. I am YHWH your Elohim.” 11 In the second year, in the second new moon, on the twentieth day of the new moon, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the covenant. 12 The sons of Israel went forward on their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud stayed in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They first went forward according to the mouth of YHWH by Moses. 14 First, the banner of the camp of the sons of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over his army. 15 Nethanel the son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Issachar. 16 Eliab the son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Zebulun. 17 The tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, went forward. 18 The banner of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over his army. 19 Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Shimon. 20 Eliasaph the son of [Reuel]^(LXX) was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Gad. 21 The Qohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary. The others set up the tabernacle before they arrived. 22 The banner of the camp of the sons of Ephraim set forward according to their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over his army. 23 Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Manasseh. 24 Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin. 25 The banner of the camp of the sons of Dan, which was the rear guard of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army. 26 Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Asher. 27 Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali. 28 Thus were the travels of the sons of Israel according to their armies; and they went forward. 29 Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ brother-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which YHWH said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for YHWH has spoken good upon Israel.” 30 He said to him, “I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives.” 31 Moses said, “Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 It will be, if you go with us—yes, it will be—that whatever good YHWH does to us, we will do the same to you.” 33 They set forward from the Mount of YHWH three days’ journey. The ark of the covenant of YHWH went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them. 34 The cloud of YHWH was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp. 35 When the ark went forward, Moses said, “Rise up, YHWH, and let your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you!” 36 When it rested, he said, “Return, YHWH, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.”

Prophets Portion (P)

27:7 Has he struck them as he struck those who struck them? Or are they killed like those who killed them were killed? 8 In measure, when you send them away, you contend with them. He has removed them with his rough blast in the day of the east wind. 9 Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: (cf. Romans 11:27) that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in pieces, so that the Asherah poles and the incense altars will rise no more. 10 For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness. The calf will feed there, and there he will lie down, and consume its branches. 11 When its boughs are withered, they will be broken off. The women will come and set them on fire, for they are a people of no understanding. Therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them, and he who formed them will show them no favor. 12 It will happen in that day that YHWH will thresh from the flowing stream of the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, sons of Israel. 13 It will happen in that day that a great shofar will be blown; and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and those who were outcasts in the land of Egypt, will come; and they will worship YHWH in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

Apostolic Portion (A)

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so Elohim will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. 15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from the heavens with a [word of command],^(G2752) with the voice of the chief angel and in the trumpet of Elohim. The dead in Messiah will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Revelation 8:1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in the heavens for about half an hour. 2 I saw the seven angels who stand before Elohim, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the holy ones on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the holy ones, went up before Elohim out of the angel’s hand. 5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the land. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed. 6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Additional Portion (ADD)

2 Esdras, consisting of chapters 3-14, (also called 4 Esdras, Latin Esdras, or Latin Ezra) is the name of a book in many English versions of the Bible. Its authorship is ascribed to Ezra, a scribe and priest of the 5th century B.C., although modern scholarship places its composition between 70 and 218 A.D.. It is reckoned among the apocrypha by Roman Catholics, Protestants, and most Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Ethiopian Church considers 4 Ezra to be canonical, written during the Babylonian captivity, and calls it “Izra Sutuel” (ዕዝራ ሱቱኤል). It was also often cited by the Fathers of the Church. In the Eastern Armenian tradition it is called 3 Ezra.

6:1 And he said to me, In the beginning, when the land was made, before the portals of the world were fixed, or ever the gatherings of the winds blew, 2 before the voices of the thunder sounded and before the flashes of the lightning shone, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid, 3 before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the powers of the earthquake were established, before the innumerable army of angels were gathered together, 4 or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the footstool of Zion was established, 5 and before the present years were sought out, and or ever the imaginations of those who now sin were estranged, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure: 6 then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: as by me also they will be ended, and by none other. 7 Then answered I and said, what will be the parting asunder of the times? or when will be the end of the first, and the beginning of it that follows? 8 And he said to me, From Abram to Abraham, inasmuch as Jacob and Esau were born of him, for Jacob’s hand held the heel of Esau from the beginning. 9 For Esau is the end of this world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that follows. 10 The beginning of a man is his hand, and the end of a man is his heel; between the heel and the hand seek you nothing else, Esdras. 11 I answered then and said, O Lord that bear rule, If I have found favor in your sight, 12 I beseech you, show your servant the end of your tokens, whereof you showed me part the last night. 13 So he answered and said to me, Stand up upon your feet, and you will hear a mighty sounding voice; 14 and if the place you stand on is greatly moved, 15 when it speaks be you not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundations of the land will understand, 16 that the speech is of them: they will tremble and be moved: for they know that their end must be changed. 17 And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet, and listened, and, behold, there was a voice that spoke, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters. 18 And it said, Behold, the days come, and it will be that when I draw near to visit those who dwell upon the land, 19 and when I will make inquisition of those who have done hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Zion will be fulfilled, 20 and when the seal will be set upon the world that is to pass away, then I will show these tokens: the books will be opened before the firmament, and all will see together: 21 and the children of a year old will speak with their voices, the women with child will bring forth untimely children at three or four new moons, and they will live, and dance. 22 And suddenly will the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses will suddenly be found empty: 23 and the trumpet will give a sound, which when every man hears, they will be suddenly afraid. 24 At that time will friends make war one against another like enemies, and the land will stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the springs of the springs will stand still, so that for three hours they will not run. 25 And it will be that whoever remains after all these things that I have told you of, he will be saved, and will see my salvation, and the end of my world. 26 And they will see the men that have been taken up, who have not tasted death from their birth: and the heart of the inhabitants will be changed, and turned into another meaning. 27 For evil will be blotted out, and deceit will be quenched; 28 and faith will flourish, and corruption will be overcome, and the truth, which has been so long without fruit, will be declared.

Related Scriptures

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.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 (T)

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.

Leviticus 23:1-4 (T)

23:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘The appointed times of YHWH, which you will proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my appointed times. 3 Six days will work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; you will do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings. 4 These are the appointed times of YHWH, holy convocations, which you will proclaim in their appointed times.

Exodus 19:9-23 (T)

19:9 YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to YHWH. 10 YHWH said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, 11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day YHWH will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. 12 You will set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain will be surely put to death. 13 No hand will touch him, but he will surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he will not live.’ When the [yovel] sounds long, they will come up to the mountain.” 14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.” 16 On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud shophar; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet Elohim; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai smoked, because [Elohim]^(LXX) descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 When the voice of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and [the Elohim]^(MTT) answered him by a voice. 20 YHWH came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. YHWH called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 [Elohim]^(LXX) said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to [Elohim]^(LXX) to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 Let the priests also, who come near to [Elohim],^(LXX) sanctify themselves, lest YHWH break out on them.” 23 Moses said to [Elohim],^(LXX) “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’ ”

31:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Avenge the sons of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you will be gathered to your people.” 3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, that they may go against Midian, to execute YHWH’s vengeance on Midian. 4 You will send one thousand out of every tribe, throughout all the tribes of Israel, to the war.” 5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. 6 Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the shout in his hand. 7 They fought against Midian, as YHWH commanded Moses. They killed every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

3:1 When the seventh new moon had come, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Yeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his relatives, and built the altar of the Elohim of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Torah of Moses the man of Elohim. 3 In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to YHWH, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 They kept the festival of booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the judgment, as the duty of every day required; 5 and afterward the continual burnt offering, the offerings of the new moons, of all the appointed times of YHWH that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to YHWH. 6 From the first day of the seventh new moon, they began to offer burnt offerings to YHWH; but the foundation of the temple of YHWH was not yet laid. 7 They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia. 8 Now in the second year of their coming to Elohim’s house at Jerusalem, in the second new moon, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Yeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of YHWH’s house. 9 Then Yeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together to have the oversight of the workmen in Elohim’s house: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites. 10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of YHWH, they set the priests in their vestments with trumpets, with the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise YHWH, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to YHWH, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted in a great shout, when they praised YHWH, because the foundation of YHWH’s house had been laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, many also in a shout in joy, 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people were shouting a great shout and the noise was heard far away.

Judges 1:16 The children of the Kenite, Moses’ brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people.

1 Samuel 15:5 Shaul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley. 6 Shaul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus, 6.7.3 But when Shaul had conquered all these Amalekites that reached from Pelusium of Egypt to the Sea of Reeds, he laid waste all the rest of the enemy’s country: but for the nation of the Shechemites, he did not touch them, although they dwelt in the very middle of the country of Midian; for before the battle, Shaul had sent to them, and charged them to depart thence, lest they should be partakers of the miseries of the Amalekites; for he had a just occasion for saving them, since they were of the kindred of Raguel, Moses’s father-in-law.

4:1 The sons of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH, when Ehud was dead. 2 YHWH sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Nations. 3 The sons of Israel cried to YHWH, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he mightily oppressed the sons of Israel for twenty years. 4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the woman of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time. 5 She lived under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh Naphtali, and said to him, “Hasn’t YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, commanded, ‘Go and lead the way to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun? 7 I will draw to you, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into your hand.’ ” 8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 She said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for YHWH will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from the sons of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh. 12 They told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13 Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Nations, to the river Kishon. 14 Deborah said to Barak, “Go; for this is the day in which YHWH has delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasn’t YHWH gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 YHWH confused Sisera, all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth of the Nations; and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword. There was not a man left. 17 However Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the woman of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; don’t be afraid.” He came in to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19 He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.” She opened a container of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him. 20 He said to her, “Stand in the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you will say, ‘No.’ ” 21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground, for he was in a deep sleep; so he fainted and died. 22 Behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek.” He came to her; and behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent peg was in his temples. 23 So Elohim subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel on that day. 24 The hand of the sons of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

5:1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, 2 “Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, YHWH! 3 “Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, even I, will sing to YHWH. I will sing praise to YHWH, the Elohim of Israel. 4 “YHWH, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the land trembled, the heavens also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water. 5 The mountains quaked at YHWH’s face, even Sinai at the face of YHWH, the Elohim of Israel. 6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways. 7 The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel. 8 They chose new elohim. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless YHWH! 10 “Speak, you who ride on white asses, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way. 11 Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse YHWH’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then the people of YHWH went down to the gates. 12 ‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’ 13 “Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down. YHWH came down for me against the mighty. 14 Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun. 15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart. 16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart. 17 Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks. 18 Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field. 19 “The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver. 20 From the heavens the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera. 21 The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength. 22 Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones. 23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of YHWH. ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they didn’t come to help YHWH, to help YHWH against the mighty.’ 24 “Jael will be blessed above women, the woman of Heber the Kenite; blessed will she be above women in the tent. 25 He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish. 26 She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples. 27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 28 “Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera’s mother looked through the lattice. ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?’ 29 Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself, 30 ‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments, a plunder of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’ 31 “So let all your enemies perish, YHWH, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest forty years.

68:1 Let Elohim arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the face of Elohim. 3 But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before Elohim. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 4 Sing to Elohim! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him! 5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is Elohim in his holy habitation. 6 Elohim sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 7 Elohim, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness… Selah. 8 The land trembled. The heavens also poured down rain at the face of the Elohim of Sinai— at the face of Elohim, the Elohim of Israel. 9 You, Elohim, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary. 10 Your congregation lived therein. You, Elohim, prepared your goodness for the afflicted. 11 The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company. 12 “Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder, 13 while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold. 14 When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon. 15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged. 16 Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where Elohim chooses to reign? Yes, YHWH will dwell there forever. 17 The chariots of Elohim are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. 18 You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah Elohim might dwell there. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the Elohim who is our salvation. Selah. 20 Elohim is to us an Elohim of deliverance. To YHWH, the Lord, belongs escape from death. 21 But Elohim will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness. 22 The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea, 23 that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.” 24 They have seen your processions, Elohim, even the processions of my Elohim, my King, into the sanctuary. 25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines, 26 “Bless Elohim in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!” 27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28 Your Elohim has commanded your strength. Strengthen, Elohim, that which you have done for us. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to you. 30 Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. 31 Princes will come out of Egypt. Ethiopia will hurry to stretch out her hands to Elohim. 32 Sing to Elohim, you reigns of the land! Sing praises to the Lord— Selah— 33 to him who rides on the heavens of the heavens of east; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe strength to Elohim! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the heavens. 35 You are awesome, Elohim, in your sanctuaries. The Elohim of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to Elohim!

11:25 For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Nations has come in, 26 and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27 This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.” (cf. Isaiah 27:9)

8:7 The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the land. One third of the land was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, 9 and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. 10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the heavens, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. 12 The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars, so that one third of them would be darkened; and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. 13 I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid the heavens, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the land, because of the other blasts of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!” 9:1 The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the heavens which had fallen to the land. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts on the land, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the land have power. 4 They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the land, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have Elohim’s seal on their foreheads. 5 They were given power, not to kill them, but to torment them for five new moons. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a person. 6 In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots and horses rushing to war. 10 They have tails like those of scorpions, with stingers. In their tails they have power to harm men for five new moons. 11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is “Abaddon”, but in Greek, he has the name “Apollyon”. 12 The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this. 13 The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before Elohim, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!” 15 The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and new moon and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was ten thousands of ten thousands. I heard the number of them. 17 Thus I saw the horses in the vision and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. 18 By these three plagues, one third of mankind was killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails are like nachashim, and have heads; and with them they harm. 20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which can’t see, hear, or walk. 21 They didn’t repent of their murders, their drug sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

Related Additional Readings​

The War Scroll (1QM), popularly known as “The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness,” is one of the seven original Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in Qumran in 1947. It contains 19 columns (originally there were at least twenty), of which the first 14–19 lines (out of at least 21–22) are preserved. The work is written in Hebrew in a square Herodian script and is dated to the late first century B.C. or early first century B.C. Seven additional fragments (4Q491-497) with similar contents have also been found, but the relationship between these texts to 1QM is not entirely clear; they may represent an earlier version of the War Scroll, or source materials on which the War Scroll was based.

[…] Column 10 of our camps, and to keep ourselves from any shameful nakedness, and he (Moses) told us that You are in our midst, a great and awesome Elohim, plundering all of our enemies befo[re u]s. He taught us from of old through all our generations, saying, “When you approach the battle, the priest will stand and speak unto the people, ‘saying, ‘Hear O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be afraid nor fainthearted. Do not trem[ble, no]r be terrified because of them, for your Elohim goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, and to save you” (Deut. 20:2-4). Our [of]ficers will speak to all those prepared for battle, those willing of heart, to strengthen them by the might of Elohim, to turn back all who have who have lost heart, and to strengthen all the valiant warriors together. They will recount that which You s[poke] by the hand of Moses, saying: “And when there is a war ‘in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then yo[u] will sound an alarm with the trumpets that you might be remembered before your Elohim and be saved from your enemies” (Num. 10:9).

III … Who [has] pe[rformed these signs] and marv[els on] the land? The Lord is the one [who] performed th[ese through] His [might]. 5 He adjures all [His] a[ngels] and all the see15 who stand before [Him, and makes all the hea]vens testify and the whole land [against those] who sinned against [all men], and acted [wickedly] against every hu[man. And] they know [the mysteries of] His m[arvels] which they do not … [and they fear] the Lord … to kill … … the Lord … the Lord … and they will fear that great blow. IV … The Lord will strike you with a [grea]t b[low] for your destruction … 5 and in His anger He will send against you a mighty angel [to execute] all His decisions, who will be [without] mercy on you … against all these, who [will take] you [down] to the great abyss, [and to] the nethermost [hell.] … dark [in the gr]eat abyss … no more on the land. … for ever, and … by the curse of Abaddon (the bottom of hell) … the furious anger of the L[ord] … V … [Ra]phael healed them. Amen, amen. Selah. Of David … [an incan]tation in the name of the Lor15y time on heav[en], for He will come to you in the ni[ght, and] you will say to Him: Who are you, [one born of] man And of the seed of the ho[ly on]es? Your face is a face of in[anity] And your horns are horns of dream. You are darkness and not light, Injustice and not righteousness. The Prince of the host, the Lord, [will send] you [down to the lowest he]ll, [and will close the ga]tes of bronze 10 through [which n]o light [passes] and [the] sun wh[ich rises on the] righteous [will] not [enlighten you] … And you will say … VI … To David. O[n words of incanta]tion. [Cry out al]l the time in the name of the Lor15 5 towards heave[n when] Beli[al] comes to you. [And sa]y to him: Who are you? [Be afraid of] man and of the seed of the ho[ly ones]. Your face is a face of [nothin]g and your horns are horns of dr[eam]. [You ar]e 15arkness and not light; [injustic]e and not righteousness. [The prin]ce of the h[os]t [is against you]; the Lord [will cast] you [to] the nethermost [hell], 10 [closed by] bronze ga[tes] through [which n]o light [will pass]; nor [will shine there the light of the] sun which [will rise] over the righteous to il[lumine his face. And] you will say: Is [there not an angel with the ri]ghteous when [judgement] comes [for] S[atan for] he caused him evil? [And the spirit of t]ruth [will save him] from dar[kness because right]eousness is for him. … for ever [all the] son of Bel[ial. Amen, amen.] Selah.

Give thanks … [Bless] His holy Name always … all the angels of the holy firmament … [above] the heavens, the land and all its deep places, the great [Abyss] and Abaddon and the waters and all that is [in them.] [Let] all His creatures [bless Him] always for everlasting [ages. Amen! Amen!] … bless His holy Name. Sing to Elohim …

Jubilees 2:1-3 (A)

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.

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.

Enoch 71:1-13 (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.

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.

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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.).

3.12.6. Moreover, Moses was the inventor of the form of their trumpet, which was made of silver. Its description is this:—In length it was little less than a cubit. It was composed of a narrow tube, somewhat thicker than a flute, but with so much breadth as was sufficient for admission of the breath of a man’s mouth: it ended in the form of a bell, like common trumpets. Its sound was called in the Hebrew tongue Asosra. Two of these being made, one of them was sounded when they required the multitude to come together to congregations. When the first of them gave a signal, the heads of the tribes were to assemble, and consult about the affairs to them properly belonging; but when they gave the signal by both of them, they called the multitude together. Whenever the tabernacle was removed, it was done in this solemn order:—At the first alarm of the trumpet, those whose tents were on the east quarter prepared to remove; when the second signal was given, those that were on the south quarter did the like; in the next place, the tabernacle was taken to pieces, and was carried in the midst of six tribes that went before, and of six that followed, all the Levites assisting about the tabernacle; when the third signal was given, that part which had their tents towards the west put themselves in motion; and at the fourth signal those on the north did so likewise. They also made use of these trumpets in their sacred ministrations, when they were bringing their slaughters to the altar as well on the Sabbaths as on the rest of the [festival] days; and now it was that Moses offered that slaughter which was called the Pesach in the Wilderness, as the first he had offered after the departure out of Egypt.