• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 22:2-40
• Prophets (P): Micah 7:16-20
• Apostolic (A): 2 Peter 2:1-22
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 13:1-26

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Genesis 12:1-7 (T)
• Genesis 15:12-16 (T)
• Genesis 19:27-38 (T)
• Judges 11:1-40 (T)
• Joshua 24:1-10 (T)
• Nehemiah 13:1-3 (T)
• Micah 6:1-5 (T)
• 1 Kings 13:1-10 (T)
• Joshua 5:13-15 (T)
• Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (T)
• Jude 1:1-25 (T)
• Revelation 2:12-17 (T)
• Genesis 31:17 – 32:1 (T)
• 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Jubilees 34:1-9 (T)
• Judith 5:1-24 (T)
• Numbers 22:2-40 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.6.1-4 (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)

22:2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was loathed from the face of the sons of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the sons of [Ammon],^(DSS) to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the land, and they are staying opposite me. 6 Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too numerous for me. Perhaps I will prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” 7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with divinations in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as YHWH will speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 Elohim came to Balaam, and said [to him],^(DSS)(LXX) “Who are these men with you?” 10 Balaam said to the Elohim, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me [saying],^(DSS)(LXX) 11 ‘Behold, the people [has come out]^(DSS) of Egypt and covers the face of the land [and they are dwelling next to me].^(DSS) Now, come pierce them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight against them, and will drive them out [of the land].’ ”^(DSS) 12 Elohim said to Balaam, “[Do not go with the men, and do not curse]^(DSS) the people, for they are blessed.” 13 Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your [lord];^(DSS) for [Elohim]^(LXX) refuses to permit me to go with you.” 14 The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said [to him],^(DSS) “Balaam refuses to come with us.” 15 Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor, [king of Moab],^(DSS) says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do [for you].^(DSS)(LXX) Please come therefore, and pierce this people for me.’ ” 18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of YHWH my Elohim, to do less or more [in my heart].^(DSS) 19 Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else YHWH will speak to me.” [And the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam].^(DSS) 20 Elohim came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you will do.” 21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 Elohim’s anger burned because he went; and the angel of [Elohim]^(LXX) placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the angel of [Elohim]^(LXX) standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path. 24 Then the angel of [Elohim]^(LXX) stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 The donkey saw the angel of [Elohim],^(LXX) and she squeezed herself to the wall, and squeezed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again. 26 The angel of [Elohim]^(LXX) went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 The donkey saw the angel of [Elohim],^(LXX) and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 [Elohim]^(LXX) opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.” 31 Then [Elohim]^(LXX) opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of [Elohim]^(LXX) standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell [before him].^(DSS) 32 The angel of [Elohim]^(LXX) said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary [against you],^(DSS) because [he has made your way evil]^(SP) before me. 33 The donkey saw me, and turned away [from]^(DSS) before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside [from before me],^(DSS) surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.” 34 Balaam said to the angel of [Elohim],^(LXX) “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.” 35 The angel of [Elohim]^(LXX) said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you will only speak the word that I will speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that Elohim puts in my mouth.” 39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him. 41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.

Prophets Portion (P)

7:16 The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf. 17 They will lick the dust like the nachash. Like crawling things of the land, they will come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to YHWH our Elohim, and will be afraid because of you. 18 Who is an Elohim like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his inheritance? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. 19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

Apostolic Portion (A)

2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in immoral  heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2 Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned. 3 In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction [is not asleep].^(mss) 4 For if Elohim didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartaros, and committed them to [pits]^(mss) of darkness to be reserved for judgment; 5 and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noaḥ with seven others, a proclaimer of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the impious, 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an impious way, 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the covetous life of the wicked, 8 for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds, 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the pious out of trial and to guard the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the coveting of defilement and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of glories, 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don’t bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed, 13 receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you; 14 having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin, enticing unsettled souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; 16 but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A speechless donkey spoke with a human’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved. 18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the coveting of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those living in delusion; 19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of [our]^(mss) Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 It would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog turns to his own vomit again,” (cf. Proverbs 26:11) and “the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire.”

Additional Portion (ADD)

13:1 He who touches pitch will be defiled. He who has fellowship with a proud man will become like him. 2 Don’t take up a burden above your strength. Have no fellowship with one who is mightier and richer than yourself. What fellowship would the earthen pot have with the kettle? The kettle will strike, and the pot will be dashed in pieces. 3 The rich man does a wrong and threatens. The poor is wronged and apologizes. 4 If you are profitable, he will make merchandise of you. If you are in lack, he will forsake you. 5 If you own something, he will live with you. He will drain you bare and will not be sorry. 6 Does he need you? Then he will deceive you, smile at you, and give you hope. He will speak kindly to you and say, “What do you need?” 7 He will shame you by his meats until he has made you bare twice or thrice, and in the end he will laugh you to scorn. Afterward he will see you, will forsake you, and shake his head at you. 8 Beware that you are not deceived and brought low in your mirth. 9 If a mighty man invites you, be reserved, and he will invite you more. 10 Don’t press him, lest you be thrust back. Don’t stand far off, lest you be forgotten. 11 Don’t try to speak with him as an equal, and don’t believe his many words; For he will test you with much talk, and will examine you in a smiling manner. 12 He who doesn’t keep secrets to himself is unmerciful. He won’t hesitate to harm and to bind. 13 Keep them to yourself and be careful, for you walk in danger of falling. 14 [… …] 15 Every living creature loves its own kind, and every man loves his neighbor. 16 All flesh associates with their own kind. A man will stick to people like himself. 17 What fellowship would the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner to the pious. 18 What peace is there between a hyena and a dog? What peace is there between a rich man and the poor? 19 Wild donkeys are the prey of lions in the wilderness; likewise poor men are feeding grounds for the rich. 20 Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; likewise a poor man is an abomination to the rich. 21 When a rich man is shaken, he is supported by his friends, but when one of low degree is down, he is pushed away even by his friends. 22 When a rich man falls, there are many helpers. He speaks things not to be spoken, and men justify him. A man of low degree falls, and men rebuke him. He utters wisdom, and is not listened to. 23 A rich man speaks, and all keep silence. They extol what he says to the clouds A poor man speaks, and they say, “Who is this?” If he stumbles, they will help to overthrow him. 24 Riches are good if they have no sin. Poverty is evil in the mouth of the impious. 25 The heart of a man changes his countenance, whether it is for good or for evil. 26 A cheerful countenance is a sign of a prosperous heart. Devising proverbs takes strenuous thinking.

Related Scriptures

12:1 Now YHWH said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who belittles you. All the families of the land will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as YHWH had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. They entered into the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land. 7 YHWH appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your seed.” He built an altar there to YHWH, who had appeared to him.

15:12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth; 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”

19:27 Abraham went up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before YHWH. 28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29 When Elohim destroyed the cities of the plain, Elohim remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. 30 Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man in the land to come in to us in the way of all the land. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.” 33 They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let’s make him drink wine again tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.” 35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she got up. 36 Thus both of Lot’s daughters were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.

11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor. He was the son of a prostitute. Gilead became the father of Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore him sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You will not inherit in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Outlaws joined up with Jephthah, and they went out with him. 4 After a while, the sons of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 When the sons of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob. 6 They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the sons of Ammon.” 7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon. You will be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the sons of Ammon, and YHWH delivers them before me, will I be your head?” 10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “YHWH will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.” 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before YHWH in Mizpah. 12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What do you have to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” 13 The king of the sons of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore restore that territory again peaceably.” 14 Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the sons of Ammon; 15 and he said to him, “Jephthah says: Israel didn’t take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the sons of Ammon; 16 but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh, 17 then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let me pass through your land;’ but the king of Edom didn’t listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Moab, but he refused; so Israel stayed in Kadesh. 18 Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land to my place.’ 20 But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them. So Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan. 23 So now YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them? 24 Won’t you possess that which Chemosh your elohim gives you to possess? So whoever YHWH our Elohim has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess. 25 Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them? 26 Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along the side of the Arnon for three hundred years! Why didn’t you recover them within that time? 27 Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. May YHWH the Judge be judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.” 28 However, the king of the sons of Ammon didn’t listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him. 29 Then the spirit of YHWH came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the sons of Ammon. 30 Jephthah vowed a vow to YHWH, and said, “If you will indeed deliver the sons of Ammon into my hand, 31 then it will be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it will be YHWH’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah passed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them; and YHWH delivered them into his hand. 33 He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel. 34 Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to YHWH, and I can’t go back.” 36 She said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to YHWH; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because YHWH has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the sons of Ammon.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me. Leave me alone two new moons, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.” 38 He said, “Go.” He sent her away for two new moons; and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains. 39 At the end of two new moons, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed. She was a virgin. It became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

24:1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before Elohim. 2 Joshua said to all the people, “YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, says, ‘Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor. They served other elohim. 3 I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. 4 I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. 6 I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 When they cried out to YHWH, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. You lived in the wilderness many days. 8 I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand. You possessed their land, and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to belittle on you, 10 but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand.

13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of Elohim forever, 2 because they didn’t meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to belittle them; however, our Elohim turned the disesteem into a blessing. 3 It came to pass, when they had heard the Torah, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

6:1 Listen now to what YHWH says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 Hear, you mountains, YHWH’s indictment, and you enduring foundations of the land; for YHWH has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3 My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me! 4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of YHWH.”

13:1 Behold, a man of Elohim came out of Judah by the word of YHWH to Bethel; and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. 2 He cried against the altar by the word of YHWH, and said, “Altar! Altar! YHWH says: ‘Behold, a son will be born to David’s house, Josiah by name. On you he will slaughter the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’ ” 3 He gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which YHWH has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.” 4 When the king heard the saying of the man of Elohim, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself. 5 The altar was also split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of Elohim had given by the word of YHWH. 6 The king answered the man of Elohim, “Now intercede for the favor of YHWH your Elohim, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again.” The man of Elohim interceded with YHWH, and the king’s hand was restored to him again, and became as it was before. 7 The king said to the man of Elohim, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8 The man of Elohim said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of YHWH, saying, ‘You will eat no bread, drink no water, and don’t return by the way that you came.’ ” 10 So he went another way, and didn’t return by the way that he came to Bethel.

5:13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?” 14 He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of YHWH’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the land, and did bow down, and asked him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 The prince of YHWH’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals, for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.

18:9 When you have come into the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you, you will not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. 10 There will not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11 or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to YHWH. Because of these abominations, YHWH your Elohim drives them out from before you. 13 You will be blameless with YHWH your Elohim. 14 For these nations that you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, YHWH your Elohim has not allowed you so to do.

1:1 Judah, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Jacob, to those who are called, sanctified by Elohim the Father, and kept for Yeshua the Messiah: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. 4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: impious men, turning the grace of our Elohim into indecency, and denying our only Master, Elohim, and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. 5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. 6 Angels who didn’t guard their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander glories. 9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason. 11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Qorach’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the root; 13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. 14 About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the impious of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an impious way, and of all the hard things which impious sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their coveting—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the emissaries of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own impious coveting.” 19 These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in Elohim’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to eternal life. 22 On some have compassion, making a distinction, 23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to guard them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the face of his glory in great joy, 25 to Elohim our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

2:12 “To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things: 13 “I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things slaughtered to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 So also you likewise have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it.

31:17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels, 18 and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan. 19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s. 20 Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead. 22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead. 24 Elohim came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.” 25 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead. 26 Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; 28 and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now have you done foolishly. 29 It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the Elohim of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’ 30 Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my elohim?” 31 Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’ 32 Anyone you find your elohim with will not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two maids; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them. 35 She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim. 36 Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two. 38 “These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. 42 Unless the Elohim of my father, the Elohim of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. Elohim has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.” 43 Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now come, let’s cut a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.” 45 Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Gal'ed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Gal'ed 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “YHWH watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, Elohim is witness between me and you.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you. 52 May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The Elohim of Abraham, and the Elohim of Nahor, the Elohim of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac. 54 Jacob offered a slaughter in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain. 55 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place. 32:1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of Elohim met him. 2 When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is Elohim’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

2 Timothy 3:1-9 (T)

3:1 But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also. 6 For some of these are people who creep into houses and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various coveting, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith are rejected. 9 But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.

Related Additional Readings​

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.

34:1 And in the sixth year of this week of this forty-fourth jubilee [2148 A.M.] Jacob sent his sons to pasture their sheep, and his servants with them to the pastures of Shechem. 2. And the seven kings of the Amorites assembled themselves together against them, to slay them, hiding themselves under the trees, and to take their cattle as a prey. 3. And Jacob and Levi and Judah and Joseph were in the house with Isaac their father; for his spirit was sorrowful, and they could not leave him: and Benjamin was the youngest, and for this reason remained with his father. 4. And there came the king[s] of Taphu and the king[s] of ‘Aresa, and the king[s] of Seragan, and the king[s] of Selo, and the king[s] of Ga’as, and the king of Bethoron, and the king of Ma’anisakir, and all those who dwell in these mountains (and) who dwell in the woods in the land of Canaan. 5. And they announced this to Jacob saying: ‘Behold, the kings of the Amorites have surrounded thy sons, and plundered their herds.’ 6. And he arose from his house, he and his three sons and all the servants of his father, and his own servants, and he went against them with six thousand men, who carried swords. 7. And he slew them in the pastures of Shechem, and pursued those who fled, and he slew them with the edge of the sword, and he slew ‘Aresa and Taphu and Saregan and Selo and ‘Amani- sakir and Ga[ga]’as, and he recovered his herds. 8. And he prevailed over them, and imposed tribute on them that they should pay him tribute, five fruit products of their land, and he built Robel and Tamnatares. 9. And he returned in peace, and made peace with them, and they became his servants, until the day that he and his sons went down into Egypt.

The Book of Judith relates the story of His deliverance of the Jewish people. This was accomplished “by the hand of a female”—a constant motif meant to recall the “hand” of Elohim in the Exodus narrative. The work may have been written around 100 B.C., but its historical range is extraordinary.

5:1 Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Asshur, was told that the sons of Israel had prepared for war, had shut up the passages of the hill country, had fortified all the tops of the high hills, and had laid impediments in the plains. 2 Then he was exceedingly angry, and he called all the princes of Moab, and the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the sea coast, 3 and he said to them, “Tell me now, you sons of Canaan, who are these people who dwell in the hill country? What are the cities that they inhabit? How large is their army? Where is their power and their strength? What king is set over them, to be the leader of their army? 4 Why have they turned their backs, that they should not come and meet me, more than all who dwell in the west?” 5 Then Achior, the leader of all the children of Ammon, said to him, “Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of your servant, and I will tell you the truth concerning these people who dwell in this hill country, near to the place where you dwell. No lie will come out of the mouth of your servant. 6 These people are descended from the Kasdim. 7 They sojourned before this in Mesopotamia, because they didn’t want to follow the elohim of their fathers, which were in the land of the Kasdim. 8 They departed from the way of their parents, and did bow down to the Elohim of the heavens, the Elohim whom they knew. Their parents cast them out from the face of their elohim, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many days. 9 Then their Elohim commanded them to depart from the place where they sojourned, and to go into the land of Canaan. They lived there, and prospered with gold and silver, and with exceedingly much cattle. 10 Then they went down into Egypt, for a famine covered all the land of Canaan. They sojourned there until they had grown up. They became a great multitude there, so that one could not count the population of their nation. 11 Then the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt subtly with them, and brought them low, making them labor in brick, and made them slaves. 12 They cried to their Elohim, and he struck all the land of Egypt with incurable plagues; so the Egyptians cast them out of their sight. 13 Elohim dried up the Red sea before them, 14 and brought them into the way of Sinai Kadesh-Barnea, and they cast out all that lived in the wilderness. 15 They lived in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by their strength everyone in Heshbon. Passing over Jordan, they possessed all the hill country. 16 They cast out before them the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, the Shechemite, and all the Girgashites, and they lived in that country many days. 17 And while they didn’t sin before their Elohim, they prospered, because Elohim who hates iniquity was with them. 18 But when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they were destroyed in many severe battles, and were led captives into a land that was not theirs. The temple of their Elohim was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by their adversaries. 19 And now they have returned to their Elohim, and have come up from the dispersion where they were dispersed, and have possessed Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill country; for it was desolate. 20 And now, my lord and master, if there is any error in this people, and they sin against their Elohim, we will consider what this thing is in which they stumble, and we will go up and overcome them. 21 But if there is no lawlessness in their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their Elohim be for them, and we will be a reproach before all the land.” 22 It came to pass, when Achior had finished speaking these words, all the people standing around the tent murmured. The great men of Holofernes, and all who lived by the sea side and in Moab, said that he should kill him. 23 For, they said, “We will not be afraid of the sons of Israel, because, behold, they are a people that has no power nor might to make the battle strong. 24 Therefore now we will go up, and they will be a prey to be devoured by all your army, Lord Holofernes.”

7:1 Misery is mine! Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard. There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig. 2 The pious man has perished out of the land, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net. 3 Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe. The powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together. 4 The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even your inspection, has come; now is the time of their confusion. 5 Don’t trust in a neighbor. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth! 6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. 7 But as for me, I will look to YHWH. I will wait for the Elohim of my salvation. My Elohim will hear me. 8 Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, YHWH will be a light to me. 9 I will bear the indignation of YHWH, because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my case and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light. I will see his righteousness. 10 Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is YHWH your Elohim?” My eyes will see her. Now she will be trodden down like the mire of the streets. 11 A day to build your walls! In that day, he will extend your boundary. 12 In that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain. 13 Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. 14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest. Let them feed in the middle of fertile pasture land, in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 “As in the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things.” 16 The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf. 17 They will lick the dust like a nachash. Like crawling things of the land, they will come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to YHWH our Elohim, and will be afraid because of you. 18 Who is an Elohim like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. 19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

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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 22 …And Balak bar Zippor saw what Israel had done to the Amoraee. And the Moabaee feared before the people greatly because they were many, and they were distressed in their life before the sons of Israel. And they said to the elders of the Midianee, for the people had been one and the reign one unto that day: Now will this congregation consume all that is about them, as the ox eateth up the grass of the field. And Balak bar Zippor, a Midianite, was the king of Moab at that time; without (a Midianite) being such at another time; for so was the tradition among them, to have kings from this people and from that, by turns. And he sent unto Laban the Aramite, who was Bileam, (so called because he it was) who sought (Biluva) to swallow up (Amma) the people of the house of Israel: the son of Beor, who was insane from the vastness of his knowledge; and would not spare Israel, the descendants of his sons and daughters: and the house of his habitation in Padan was at Pethor, a name signifying an interpreter of dreams. It was built in Aram upon the Phrat, in a land where the children of the people worshipped and adored him. (To him did Balak send) to call him, saying: Behold, a people hath come out of Mizraim, and, lo, they cover the face of the land, and are encamped over against me. But now, I entreat, come, curse this people for me, for they are stronger than I, if I may but be able to meet them, though smaller than they, and drive them from the land. For I know that he whom thou dost bless is blessed, and he whom thou dost curse is cursed. And the elders of Moab and of Midian went, with the price of divinations sealed up in their hands, and came to Bileam, and told him the words of Balak. And he said to them, Abide here tonight, and I will return you word as the Lord will speak with me. And the princes of Moab stayed with Bileam. And the Word from before the Lord came to Bileam, and He said, What men are these who are now lodging with thee? And Bileam said before the Lord, Balak bar Zippor, king of the Moabaee, hath sent messengers to me, saying: Behold, a people hath come out of Mizraim, and cover the face of the land: now therefore, come, curse them for me, so that I may be able to fight and drive them away. And the Lord said unto Bileam, Thou shalt not go with them, nor curse the people, for they are blessed of Me from the day of their fathers. And Bileam rose up early, and said to the princes of Moab, Go unto your country, for it is not pleasing before the Lord to permit me to journey with you. And the princes of Moab arose and came to Balak, and said, Bileam hath refused to come with us. But Balak added to send (other) princes more, and nobler than they; and they came to Bileam, and said to him: Thus saith Balak bar Zippor, Let not anything hinder thee from coming to me; for honouring I will honour thee greatly, and whatever thou biddest me I will do. Come therefore now, and curse this people for me. And Bileam answered the servants of Balak, and said, If Balak would give me out of his treasury a house full of silver and gold, I have no power to transgress the decree of the Word of the Lord my Elohim, to fabricate a word either small or great. But I entreat you to remain here this night also, that I may know what the Word of the Lord may yet speak with me. And the Word came from before the Lord unto Bileam in the night, and said to him, If these men come to call thee, arise, go with them; only, the word that I will speak with thee, that shalt thou do. And Bileam, arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. But the anger of the Lord was provoked, because he would go (that he might) curse them; and the angel of the Lord stood in the way to be an adversary to him. But he sat upon his donkey, and his two young men, Jannes and Jambres (cf. 2 Timothy 3:8), were with him. And the donkey discerned the angel of the Lord standing in the way with a drawn sword in his hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the road, to go into the field. And Bileam smote the donkey to make her return unto the way. And the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path that was in the midst between vineyards, in the place where Jacob and Laban raised the mound, the pillar on this side and the observatory on that side, which they raised, that neither should pass that limit to do evil (to the other). And the donkey discerned the angel of the Lord, and thrust herself against the hedge, and bruised Bileam’s foot by the hedge, and he smote her again; for the angel was invisible to him. And the angel of the Lord yet passed on, and stood in a distant place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or left. And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and fell under Bileam; and Bileam’s wrath was strong, so that he smote the donkey with his staff. Ten things were created after the world had been founded at the coming in of the Sabbath between the suns,-the manna, the well, the rod of Mosheh, the diamond, the rainbow, the cloud of glory, the mouth of the land, the writing of the tables of the covenant, the demons, and the speaking donkey. And in that hour the Word of the Lord opened her mouth, and fitted her to speak: and she said to Bileam. What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Bileam said to the donkey, Because thou hast been false to me; if there was now but a sword in in hand, I would kill thee. And the donkey said to Bileam, Woe to thee, Bileam, thou wanting-in-mind when me, an unclean beast, who am to die in this world, and not to enter the world to come, thou art not able to curse; how much less (canst thou harm) the children of Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, on account of whom the world hath been created, but whom thou art going to curse! So hast thou deceived these people, and hast said, This is not my donkey, she is a loan in, my hand, and my horses remain in the pasture. But am I not thine donkey upon whom thou hast ridden from thy youth unto this day? and have I been used to do thus with thee? And he said, No. And the Lord unveiled the eyes of Bileam, and he beheld the angel of the Lord standing in the way, his sword unsheathed in his hand; and he bowed, and worshipped on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him, why hast thou smitten thine donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to withstand thee; and the donkey, fearing, saw, and turned from the way. It is known before me that thou seekest to go to curse the people, a thing that is not pleasing to me. But the donkey discerned me, and turned away from me these three times: had she not turned from me, surely now I should have slain thee, and spared her alive. And Bileam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, because I knew not that thou wast standing against me in the way. But now, if it displease thee, I will go back. But the angel of the Lord said to Bileam, Go with these men; but the word that I will tell thee that thou shalt speak. And Bileam went with the princes of Balak. And Balak heard that Bileam was coming, and came out to meet him at a city of Moab on the border of Arnon, which is on the side of the frontier. And Balak said to Bileam, Did I not send to call thee? Why camest thou not to me? Didst thou not indeed say that I could not do thee honour? And Bileam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to thee; yet now am I able to say any thing to thee? But the word that the Lord will ordain for my mouth, that I must speak. And Bileam went with Balak, and they came to a city surrounded with walls, to the streets of the great city, the city of Sihon, which is Berosha. And Balak slew oxen and sheep, and sent to Bileam and the princes, and those who were with them. And at the time of the morning Balak took Bileam, and brought him up to the high place of the idol Peor; saw from thence the camp of Dan, which went at the rear of the people; and they were discovered under the Cloud of Glory.

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.).

4.6.1. Now Moses, when he had brought his army to Jordan; pitched his camp in the great plain over against Jericho. This city is a very happy situation, and very fit for producing palm-trees and balsam. And now the Israelites began to be very proud of themselves, and were very eager for fighting. Moses then, after he had offered for a few days slaughters of thanksgiving to Elohim, and feasted the people, sent a party of armed men to lay waste the country of the Midianites, and to take their cities. Now the occasion which he took for making war upon them was this that follows :–

4.6.2. When Balak, the king of the Moabites, who had from his ancestors a friendship and league with the Midianites, saw how great the Israelites were grown, he was much affrighted on account of his own and his reign’s danger; for he was not acquainted with this, that the Hebrews would not meddle with any other country, but were to be contented with the possession of the land of Canaan, Elohim having forbidden them to go any farther So he, with more haste than wisdom, resolved to make an attry upon them by words; but he did not judge it prudent to fight against them, after they had such prosperous successes, and even became out of ill successes more happy than before, but he thought to hinder them, if he could, from growing greater, and so he resolved to send ambassadors to the Midianites about them. Now these Midianites knowing there was one Balaam, who lived by Euphrates, and was the greatest of the prophets at that time, and one that was in friendship with them, sent some of their honorable princes along with the ambassadors of Balak, to entreat the prophet to come to them, that he might imprecate curses to the destruction of the Israelites. So Balaam received the ambassadors, and treated them very kindly; and when he had supped, he inquired what was Elohim’s will, and what this matter was for which the Midianites entreated him to come to them. But when Elohim opposed his going, he came to the ambassadors, and told them that he was himself very willing and desirous to comply with their request, but informed them that Elohim was opposite to his intentions, even that Elohim who had raised him to great reputation on account of the truth of his predictions; for that this army, which they entreated him to come and curse, was in the favor of Elohim; on which account he advised them to go home again, and not to persist in their enmity against the Israelites; and when he had given them that answer, he dismissed the ambassadors.

4.6.3. Now the Midianites, at the earnest request and fervent entreaties of Balak, sent other ambassadors to Balaam, who, desiring to gratify the men, inquired again of Elohim; but he was displeased at [second] trial and bid him by no means to contradict the ambassadors. Now Balaam did not imagine that Elohim gave this injunction in order to deceive him, so he went along with the ambassadors; but when the divine angel met him in the way, when he was in a narrow passage, and hedged in with a wall on both sides, the donkey on which Balaam rode understood that it was a divine spirit that met him, and thrust Balaam to one of the walls, without regard to the stripes which Balaam, when he was hurt by the wall, gave her; but when the donkey, upon the angel’s continuing to distress her, and upon the stripes which were given her, fell down, by the will of Elohim, she made use of the voice of a man, and complained of Balaam as acting unjustly to her; that whereas he had no fault find with her in her former service to him, he now inflicted stripes upon her, as not understanding that she was hindered from serving him in what he was now going about, by the providence of Elohim. And when he was disturbed by reason of the voice of the donkey, which was that of a man, the angel plainly appeared to him, and blamed him for the stripes he had given his donkey; and informed him that the brute creature was not in fault, but that he was himself come to obstruct his journey, as being contrary to the will of Elohim. Upon which Balaam was afraid, and was preparing to return back again: yet did Elohim excite him to go on his intended journey, but added this injunction, that he should declare nothing but what he himself should suggest to his mind.

4.6.4. When Elohim had given him this charge, he came to Balak; and when the king had entertained him in a magnificent manner, he desired him to go to one of the mountains to take a view of the state of the camp of the Hebrews. Balak himself also came to the mountain, and brought the prophet along with him, with a royal attendance. This mountain lay over their heads, and was distant sixty furlongs from the camp…