Week 122

• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 32:1-42
• Prophets (P): Joshua 22:7-9
• Apostolic (A): 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 46:13 – 47:25

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Numbers 13:1-3 (T)
• Deuteronomy 1:19-39 (T)
• Deuteronomy 3:1-20 (T)
• Joshua 4:1-13 (T)
• Genesis 41:50-52; 48:1-22 (T)
• Deuteronomy 29:1-15; Joshua 12:1-6 (T)
• Joshua 1:1-18 (T)
• Joshua 13:1-33 (T)
• Exodus 23:13; Joshua 23:6-8; Psalms 16:3-4; Hosea 2:14-17; Zechariah 13:1-2 (T)
• Genesis 50:22-26 (T)
• Joshua 22:1-34 (P)
• 1 Corinthians 4:1-21 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Testament of Gad 1:1-36 (T)
• Numbers 32:1-42 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.7.2-3 (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)

Numbers 32:1-42

32:1 Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock. They saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead. Behold, the place was a place for livestock. 2 Then the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the lifted up ones of the congregation, saying, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, [Sibmah],^{(DSS)(LXX)(SP)} Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land which YHWH struck before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock; and your servants have livestock.” 5 They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Don’t bring us over the Jordan.” 6 Moses said to the sons of Gad, and to the sons of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here? 7 Why do you discourage the heart of the sons of Israel from going over into the land which YHWH has given them? 8 Your fathers did so when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the sons of Israel, that they should not go into the land which YHWH had given them. 10 the anger of YHWH burned in that day, and he swore, saying, 11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward [who know evil and good],^{(LXX)(cf. Numbers 14:23)} will see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me, 12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, because they have followed YHWH completely.’ 13 the anger of YHWH burned against Israel, and he made them wander back and forth in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation who had done evil in the sight of YHWH was consumed. 14 “Behold, you have risen up in your fathers’ place, an increase of sinful men, to increase the fierce anger of YHWH toward Israel. 15 For if you turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and you will destroy all these people.” 16 They came near to him, and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones; 17 but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our houses until the sons of Israel have all received their inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan eastward.” 20 Moses said to them: “If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before YHWH to the war, 21 and every one of your armed men will pass over the Jordan before YHWH until he has driven out his enemies from before him, 22 and the land is subdued before YHWH; then afterward you will return, and be clear of obligation to YHWH and to Israel. Then this land will be your possession before YHWH. 23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against YHWH; and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your flocks; and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.” 25 The sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, [and the half-tribe of Manasseh]^(DSS) spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, and our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead; 27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before YHWH to battle, as my lord says.” 28 So Moses commanded concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ households of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 29 Moses said to them, “If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who is armed to battle before YHWH, and the land is subdued before you, then you will give them the land of Gilead for a possession; 30 but if they will not pass over with you armed [for battle before YHWH, but carry over their little ones and their wives and their flocks before you to the land of Canaan],^(DSS) they will have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.” 31 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, saying, “As YHWH has said to your servants, so will we do. 32 We will pass over armed before YHWH into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance will remain with us beyond the Jordan.” 33 Moses gave to them, even to the sons of Gad, and to the sons of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the reign of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the reign of Og king of Bashan; the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land. 34 The sons of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran: fortified cities and folds for sheep. 37 The sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, and Baal Meon, their names being changed, and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities which they built. 39 The sons of Machir the son of Manasseh, [son of Joseph],^(DSS) went to Gilead, took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were therein. 40 Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh; and he lived therein. 41 Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its villages, and called them Havvoth Jair. 42 Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

Prophets Portion (P)

Joshua 22:7-9

22:7 Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but Joshua gave to the other half among their brothers beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them, 8 and spoke to them, saying, “Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the plunder of your enemies with your brothers.” 9 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the sons of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they owned, according to the commandment of YHWH by Moses.

Apostolic Portion (A)

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

10:1 So let a man think of us as servants of Messiah and stewards of the mysteries of Elohim. 2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self. 4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from Elohim.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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

Sirach 46:13 – 47:25

46:13 Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, Established a reign, and anointed princes over his people. 14 By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, And the Lord visited Jacob. 15 By his faithfulness he was proved to be a prophet, And by his words he was known to be faithful in vision. 16 Also when his enemies pressed him round about He called upon the Lord, the Mighty One, With the offering of the sucking lamb. 17 And the Lord thundered from the heavens, And with a mighty sound made his voice to be heard. 18 And he utterly destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, And all the princes of the Philistines. 19 Also before the time of his age-l long sleep He made protestations in the sight of the lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man’s goods, so much as a sandal: And no man did accuse him. 20 And after he fell asleep he prophesied, And showed the king his end, And lifted up his voice from the land in prophecy, To blot out the wickedness of the people.

47:1 And after him rose up Nathan To prophesy in the days of David. 2 As is the fat when it is separated from the peace offering, So was David separated from the sons of Israel. 3 He played with lions as with kids, And with bears as with lambs of the flock. 4 In his youth did he not kill a giant, And take away reproach from the people, When he lifted up his hand with a sling stone, And beat down the boasting of Goliath? 5 For he called upon the Most High Lord; And he gave him strength in his right hand, To kill a man mighty in war, To exalt the horn of his people. 6 So they glorified him for his ten thousands, And praised him for the blessings of the Lord, In that there was given him a diadem of glory. 7 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, And brought to nothing the Philistines his adversaries, Brake their horn in pieces to this day. 8 In every work of his he gave thanks to the Holy One Most High with words of glory; With his whole heart he sang praise, And loved him that made him. 9 Also he set singers before the altar, And to make sweet melody by their music. [… …] 10 He gave beauty to the feasts, And set in order the seasons to perfection, While they praised his holy name, And the sanctuary sounded from early morning. 11 The Lord took away his sins, And exalted his horn forever; And gave him a covenant of kings, And a throne of glory in Israel. 12 After him rose up a son, a man of understanding; And for his sake he lived at large. 13 Solomon reigned in days of peace; And to him Elohim gave rest round about, That he might set up a house for his name, And prepare a sanctuary forever. 14 How wise you were made in your youth, And filled as a river with understanding! 15 Your soul covered the land, And you filled it with parables of riddles. 16 Your name reached to the isles afar off; And for your peace you were beloved. 17 For your songs and proverbs and parables, And for your interpretations, the countries marveled at you. 18 By the name of the Lord Elohim, Which is called the Elohim of Israel, You did gather gold as tin, And did multiply silver as lead. 19 You did bow your hips to women, And in your body you were brought into subjection. 20 You did blemish your honor, And profane your seed, To bring wrath upon your children; And I was grieved for your folly: 21 So that the sovereignty was divided, And out of Ephraim ruled a disobedient reign. 22 But the Lord will never forsake his mercy; And he will not destroy any of his works, Nor blot out the posterity of his elect; And the seed of him that loved him he will not take away; And he gave a remnant to Jacob, And to David a root out of him. 23 And so rested Solomon with his fathers; And of his seed he left behind him Rehoboam, Even the foolishness of the people, and one that lacked understanding, Who made the people to revolt by his counsel. Also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Who made Israel to sin, And gave to Ephraim a way of sin. 24 And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, To remove them from their land. 25 For they sought out all manner of wickedness, Till vengeance should come upon them.

Related Scriptures

Numbers 13:1-3 (T)

13:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, you will send a man, every one a prince among them.” 3 Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of YHWH. All of them were men who were heads of the sons of Israel.

Numbers 14:20-23 (T)

14:20 YHWH said, “I forgave according to your word; 21 yet, as I live, and as all the land will be filled with the glory of YHWH— 22 because all those men who have seen my glory and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tested me these ten times, and they did not hear my voice; 23 surely they will not see the land which I swore to their fathers; [but their children which are with me here, as many as do not know good and evil, every inexperienced youth, to them I will give the land;]^(LXX) but none of them who despised me will see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him I will bring into the land into which he went. His seed will possess it.

Deuteronomy 1:19-39 (T)

1:19 We traveled from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw, by the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as YHWH our Elohim commanded us; and we came to Kadesh Barnea. 20 I said to you, “You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which YHWH our Elohim gives to us. 21 Behold, YHWH your Elohim has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as YHWH the Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed.” 22 You came near to me, everyone of you, and said, “Let’s send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we must go up, and the cities to which we will come.” 23 The thing pleased me well. I took twelve of your men, one man for every tribe. 24 They turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 25 They took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, “It is a good land which YHWH our Elohim gives to us.” 26 Yet you wouldn’t go up, but rebelled against the commandment of YHWH your Elohim. 27 You murmured in your tents, and said, “Because YHWH hated us, he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our heart melt, saying, ‘The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to the heavens. Moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there!’ ” 29 Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. 30 YHWH your Elohim, who goes before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you have seen how that YHWH your Elohim carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went, until you came to this place.” 32 Yet in this thing you didn’t believe YHWH your Elohim, 33 who went before you on the way, to seek out a place for you to pitch your tents in: in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day. 34 YHWH heard the voice of your words and was angry, and swore, saying, 35 “Surely not one of these men of this evil generation will see the good land which I swore to give to your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He will see it. I will give the land that he has trodden on to him and to his children, because he has wholly followed YHWH.” 37 Also YHWH was angry with me for your sakes, saying, “You also will not go in there. 38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, will go in there. Encourage him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it. 39 Moreover your little ones, whom you said would become plunder, your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, will go in there. I will give it to them, and they will possess it.

Deuteronomy 3:1-20 (T)

3:1 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan. Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 2 YHWH said to me, “Don’t fear him; for I have delivered him, with all his people and his land, into your hand. You will do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 3 So YHWH our Elohim also delivered into our hand Og, the king of Bashan, and all his people. We struck him until no one was left to him remaining. 4 We took all his cities at that time. There was not a city which we didn’t take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the reign of Og in Bashan. 5 All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, in addition to a great many villages without walls. 6 We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. 7 But all the livestock, and the plunder of the cities, we took for plunder for ourselves. 8 We took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon. 9 (The Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir.) 10 We took all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, to Salecah and Edrei, cities of the reign of Og in Bashan. 11 (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its width, after the cubit of a man.) 12 This land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities, I gave to the ones of Reuben and to the ones of Gad; 13 and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the reign of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh—all the region of Argob, even all Bashan. (The same is called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth Jair, to this day.) 15 I gave Gilead to Machir. 16 To the ones of Reuben and to the ones of Gad I gave from Gilead even to the valley of the Arnon, the middle of the valley, and its border, even to the river Jabbok, which is the border of the sons of Ammon; 17 the Arabah also, and the Jordan and its border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward. 18 I commanded you at that time, saying, “YHWH your Elohim has given you this land to possess it. All of you men of valor will pass over armed before your brothers, the sons of Israel. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your livestock, (I know that you have much livestock), will live in your cities which I have given you, 20 until YHWH gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also possess the land which YHWH your Elohim gives them beyond the Jordan. Then you will each return to his own possession, which I have given you.”

Joshua 4:1-13 (T)

4:1 When all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan, YHWH spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Take twelve men out of the people, a man out of every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you’ll camp tonight.’ ” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the sons of Israel, a man out of every tribe. 5 Joshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of YHWH your Elohim into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; 6 that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’ 7 then you will tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of YHWH. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones will be for a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.’ ” 8 The sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as YHWH spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. They carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there. 9 Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the witness stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything was finished that YHWH commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over. 11 When all the people had completely crossed over, the ark of YHWH crossed over with the priests in the face of the people. 12 The sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the sons of Israel, as Moses spoke to them. 13 About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war, passed over before YHWH to battle, to the plains of Jericho.

Genesis 41:50-52; 48:1-22 (T)

Genesis 41:50 To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For”, he said, “Elohim has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second, he called Ephraim: “For Elohim has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Genesis 48:1 After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “El Shaddai appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you an assembly of peoples, and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Shimon, will be mine. 6 Your seed, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).” 8 Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom Elohim has given me here.” He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, Elohim has let me see your seed also.” 12 Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the land. 13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him. 14 Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 He blessed Joseph, and said, “The Elohim before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the Elohim who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the land.” 17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it was evil in his eyes. He held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.” 19 His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his seed will become the fullness of the nations.” 20 He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in you, saying, ‘Elohim make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’ ” He set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but Elohim will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

Deuteronomy 29:1-15; Joshua 12:1-6 (T)

Deuteromony 29:1 These are the words of the covenant which YHWH commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. 2 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that YHWH did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; 3 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But YHWH has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, and ears to hear, to this day. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not grown old on you, and your sandals have not grown old on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am YHWH your Elohim. 7 When you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we struck them. 8 We took their land, and gave it for an inheritance to the ones of Reuben, and to the ones of Gad, and to the half-tribe of the ones of Manasseh. 9 Therefore guard the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. 10 All of you stand today in the face of YHWH your Elohim: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the foreigners who are in the middle of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 that you may enter into the covenant of YHWH your Elohim, and into his oath, which YHWH your Elohim makes with you today, 13 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your Elohim, as he spoke to you and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 Neither do I make this covenant and this oath with you only, 15 but with those who stand here with us today before YHWH our Elohim, and also with those who are not here with us today

Joshua 12:1 Now these are the kings of the land, whom the sons of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon; 3 and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth Jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah: 4 and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5 and ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses the servant of YHWH and the sons of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of YHWH gave it for a possession to the ones of Reuben, and the ones of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 1:1-18 (T)

1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of YHWH, YHWH spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the sons of Israel. 3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, will be your border. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous; for you will cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the Torah which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This book of the Torah will not depart from your mouth, but you will meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for YHWH your Elohim is with you wherever you go.” 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you to possess.’ ” 12 Joshua spoke to the ones of Reuben, and to the ones of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of YHWH commanded you, saying, ‘YHWH your Elohim gives you rest, and will give you this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock will live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you will pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and will help them 15 until YHWH has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which YHWH your Elohim gives them. Then you will return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of YHWH gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’ ” 16 They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may YHWH your Elohim be with you, as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him will himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Joshua 13:1-33 (T)

13:1 Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. YHWH said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed. 2 “This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites; 3 from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim, 4 on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites; 5 and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath; 6 all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, even all the Sidonians. I will drive them out from before the sons of Israel. Just allocate it to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. 7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.” 8 With him the ones of Reuben and the ones of Gad received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of YHWH gave them: 9 from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon; 10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the sons of Ammon; 11 and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah; 12 all the reign of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim; for Moses attacked these, and drove them out. 13 Nevertheless the sons of Israel didn’t drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath live within Israel to this day. 14 Only he gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The offerings of YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him. 15 Moses gave to the tribe of the sons of Reuben according to their families. 16 Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba; 17 Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar in the mount of the valley, 20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth, 21 all the cities of the plain, and all the reign of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. 22 The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain. 23 The border of the sons of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the sons of Reuben according to their families, the cities and its villages. 24 Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, to the sons of Gad, according to their families. 25 Their border was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the sons of Ammon, to Aroer that is near Rabbah; 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir; 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkot, and Zaphon, the rest of the reign of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan’s bank, to the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward. 28 This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad according to their families, the cities and its villages. 29 Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was for the half-tribe of the sons of Manasseh according to their families. 30 Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the reign of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities. 31 Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the reign of Og in Bashan, were for the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the sons of Machir according to their families. 32 These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward. 33 But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.

Exodus 23:13; Joshua 23:6-8; Psalms 16:3-4; Hosea 2:14-17; Zechariah 13:1-2 (T)

Exodus 23:13 “Be careful to do all things that I have said to you; and don’t invoke the name of other elohim or even let them be heard out of your mouth.”

Joshua 23:6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the Torah of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left; 7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their elohim, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them; 8 but hold fast to YHWH your Elohim, as you have done to this day.

Psalms 16:3 As for the saints who are in the land, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight. 4 Their sorrows will be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their libation offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips.

Hosea 2:14 “Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 15 I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she will respond there as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. 16 It will be in that day,” says YHWH, “that you will call me ‘my husband,’ and no longer call me ‘my master.’ 17 For I will take away the names of the Ba’alim out of her mouth, and they will no longer be mentioned by name.

Zechariah 13:1 “In that day there will be a fountain opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 2 It will come to pass in that day, says YHWH of Armies, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will be remembered no more. I will also cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land.

Genesis 50:22-26 (T)

50:22 Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years. 23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but Elohim will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Joseph took an oath from the sons of Israel, saying, “Elohim will surely visit you, and you will carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Joshua 22:1-34 (P)

22:1 Then Joshua called the ones of Reuben, the ones of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of YHWH commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you. 3 You have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have performed the duty of the commandment of YHWH your Elohim. 4 Now YHWH your Elohim has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them. Therefore now return and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of YHWH gave you beyond the Jordan. 5 Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the Torah which Moses the servant of YHWH commanded you, to love YHWH your Elohim, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” 6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents. 7 Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but Joshua gave to the other half among their brothers beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them, 8 and spoke to them, saying, “Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the plunder of your enemies with your brothers.” 9 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the sons of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they owned, according to the commandment of YHWH by Moses. 10 When they came to the region near the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a great altar to look at. 11 The sons of Israel heard this, “Behold, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar along the border of the land of Canaan, in the region around the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the sons of Israel.” 12 When the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war. 13 The sons of Israel sent to the sons of Reuben, and to the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest. 14 With him were ten lifted up ones, one lifted up one of a fathers’ house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were each head of their fathers’ houses among the thousands of Israel. 15 They came to the sons of Reuben, and to the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, 16 “The whole congregation of YHWH says, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the Elohim of Israel, to turn away today from following YHWH, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel today against YHWH? 17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague on the congregation of YHWH, 18 that you must turn away today from following YHWH? It will be, since you rebel today against YHWH, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. 19 However, if the land of your possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of YHWH, in which the tabernacle of YHWH dwells, and take possession among us; but don’t rebel against YHWH, nor rebel against us, in building an altar other than YHWH our Elohim’s altar. 20 Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man didn’t perish alone in his iniquity.’ ” 21 Then the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 “The Mighty One, Elohim, YHWH, the Mighty One, Elohim, YHWH, he knows; and Israel will know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against YHWH (don’t save us today), 23 that we have built us an altar to turn away from following YHWH; or if to offer burnt offering or grain offering, or if to offer slaughters of peace offerings, let YHWH himself require it. 24 “If we have not out of concern done this, and for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, “What have you to do with YHWH, the Elohim of Israel? 25 For YHWH has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad. You have no portion in YHWH.” ‘ So your children might make our children cease from fearing YHWH. 26 “Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for slaughter; 27 but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of YHWH before him with our burnt offerings, with our slaughters, and with our peace offerings;’ that your children may not tell our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in YHWH.’ 28 “Therefore we said, ‘It will be, when they tell us or our generations this in time to come, that we will say, “Behold the pattern of the altar of YHWH, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for slaughter; but it is a witness between us and you.” ‘ 29 “Far be it from us that we should rebel against YHWH, and turn away today from following YHWH, to build an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering, or for slaughter, besides YHWH our Elohim’s altar that is before his tabernacle!” 30 When Phinehas the priest, and the lifted up ones of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well. 31 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben, to the sons of Gad, and to the sons of Manasseh, “Today we know that YHWH is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against YHWH. Now you have delivered the sons of Israel out of the hand of YHWH.” 32 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the lifted up ones, returned from the sons of Reuben, and from the sons of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and brought them word again. 33 The thing pleased the sons of Israel; and the sons of Israel blessed Elohim, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad lived. 34 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad named the altar “A Witness Between Us that YHWH is Elohim.”

1 Corinthians 4:1-21 (A)

10:1 So let a man think of us as Messiah’s servants and stewards of Elohim’s mysteries. 2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self. 4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from Elohim. 6 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. 7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8 You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that Elohim has displayed us, the emissaries, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 10 We are fools for Messiah’s sake, but you are wise in Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor. 11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place. 12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now. 14 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Messiah, you don’t have many fathers. For in Messiah Yeshua, I became your father through the Good News. 16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me. 17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Messiah, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the reign of Elohim is not in word, but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Related Additional Readings​

Testament of Gad 1:1-36 (T)

Though many parts of the popular collections of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs contain interpolated Christian idea added by later copyists, these testaments were originally Jewish works composed during the same period as the Dead Sea Scrolls. They are preserved only in Greek, but most scholars now agree that the testaments were modeled after Aramaic or Hebrew originals. This fact is particularly clear in the case of the Testament of Levi. Although the Greek Testament of Levi was not found at Qumran, scholars did discover portions of the present work, an Aramaic composition that seems to have influenced it.

The Testament of Gad (a portion of which is shown below) begins with Gad’s hatred for Joseph. Chapter 2 begins with Gad talking about loving one another. He says ‘and now, my children, I exhort you, love ye each one his brother, and put away hatred from your hearts, love’. The moral of Gad is to not hate one another and love all your brethren.

1:1 The copy of the testament of Gad, what things he spake unto his sons, in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life, saying unto them: 2 Hearken, my children, I was the ninth son born to Jacob, and I was valiant in keeping the flocks. 3 Accordingly I guarded at night the flock; and whenever the lion came, or the wolf, or any wild beast against the fold, I pursued it, and overtaking it I seized its foot with my hand and hurled it about a stone’s throw, and so killed it. 4 Now Joseph my brother was feeding the flock with us for upwards of thirty days, and being young, he fell sick by reason of the heat. 5 And he returned to Hebron to our father, who made him lie down near him, because he loved him greatly. 6 And Joseph told our father that the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah were slaying the best of the flock and eating them against the judgement of Reuben and Judah. 7 For he saw that I had delivered a lamb out of the mouth of a bear, and put the bear to death; but had slain the lamb, being grieved concerning it that it could not live, and that we had eaten it. 8 And regarding this matter I was wroth with Joseph until the day that he was sold. 9 And the spirit of hatred was in me, and I wished not either to hear of Joseph with the ears, or see him with the eyes, because he rebuked us to our faces saying that we were eating of the flock without Judah. 10 For whatsoever things he told our father, he believed him. 11 I confess now my gin, my children, that oftentimes I wished to kill him, because I hated him from my heart. 12 Moreover, I hated him yet more for his dreams; and I wished to lick 1 him out of the land of the living, even as an ox licketh up the grass of the field. 13 And Judah sold him secretly to the Ishmaelites. 14 Thus the Elohim of our fathers delivered him from our hands, that we should not work great lawlessness in Israel. 15 And now, my children, hearken to the words of truth to work righteousness, and all the Torah of the Most High, and go not astray through the spirit of hatred, for it is evil in all the doings of men. 16 Whatsoever a man doeth the hater abominateth him: and though a man worketh the law of the Lord, he praiseth him not; though a man feareth the Lord, and taketh pleasure in that which is righteous, he loveth him not. 17 He dispraiseth the truth, he envieth him that prospereth, he welcometh evil-speaking, he loveth arrogance, for hatred blindeth his soul; as I also then looked on Joseph. 18 Beware, therefore, my children of hatred, for it worketh p. 255 lawlessness even against the Lord Himself. 19 For it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one’s–neighbour, and it sinneth against Elohim. 20 For if a brother stumble, it delighteth immediately to proclaim it to all men, and is urgent that he should be judged for it, and be punished and be put to death. 21 And if it be a servant it stirreth him up against his master, and with every affliction it deviseth against him, if possibly he can be put to death. 22 For hatred worketh with envy also against them that prosper: so long as it heareth of or seeth their success it always languisheth. 23 For as love would quicken even the dead, and would call back them that are condemned to die, so hatred would slay the living, and those that had sinned venially it would not suffer to live. 24 For the spirit of hatred worketh together with Satan, through hastiness of spirits, in all things to men’s death; but the spirit of love worketh together with the law of Elohim in long-suffering unto the salvation of men. 25 Hatred, therefore, is evil, for it constantly mateth with lying, speaking against the truth; and it maketh small things to be great, and causeth the light to be darkness, and calleth the sweet bitter, and teacheth slander, and kindleth wrath, and stirreth up war, and violence and all covetousness; it filleth the heart with evils and devilish poison. 26 These things, therefore, I say to you from experience, my children, that ye may drive forth hatred, which is of the devil, and cleave to the love of Elohim. 27 Righteousness casteth out hatred, humility destroyeth envy. 28 For he that is just and humble is ashamed to do what is unjust, being reproved not of another, but of his own heart, because the Lord looketh on his inclination. 29 He speaketh not against a holy man, because the fear of Elohim overcometh hatred. 30 For fearing lest he should offend the Lord, he will not do wrong to any man, even in thought. 31 These things I learnt at last, after I had repented concerning Joseph. 32 For true repentance after a pious sort destroyeth ignorance, and driveth away the darkness, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth knowledge to the soul, and leadeth the mind to salvation. 33 And those things which it hath not learnt from man, it knoweth through repentance. 34 For Elohim brought upon me a disease of the liver; and had not the prayers of Jacob my father succoured me, it had hardly failed but my spirit had departed. 35 For by what things a man transgresseth by the same also is he punished . 36 Since, therefore, my liver was set mercilessly against Joseph, in my liver too I suffered mercilessly, and was judged for eleven new moons, for so long a time as I had been angry against Joseph.

Numbers 32:1-42 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

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

Chapter 32

Now the sons of Reuben and of Gad possessed much cattle, exceeding much: and they surveyed the land of Mikvar and of Gilead, and, behold, it was a region suitable for cattle folds. [JERUSALEM. And they saw the land of Mikvar and of Gilead, and, behold, it was a place of wealth.] And the sons of Gad and Reuben came and spoke to Mosheh, Elazar, and the princes of the congregation, saying: Makelta, Madbeshta, Mikvar, Beth Nimre, Beth Hoshbane, Maalath Meda, Shiran, Beth Kebureth, de Moshe, and Behon, [JERUSALEM. Makalta, Madbeshta, Mikvar, Beth Nimrin, Heshbon, Elhala, Shebam, Nebo, and Behan,] the land which the Lord hath subdued, and whose inhabitants he hath smitten before the congregation of Israel, is a land suitable for cattle, and thy servants have cattle. [JERUSALEM. Wealth.] They said therefore, If we have found grace before thee, let this land be given to thy servants for a possession, and let us not pass over Jordan.

But Mosheh said to the sons of Gad and Reuben, Shall your brethren go to the war, and you sit down here? And why should you enfeeble [JERUSALEM. And why do you break] the will of the sons of Israel from going over to the land which the Lord hath given to them? So did your fathers when I sent them from Rekem Giah to survey the land: they went up to the brook of Ethkela, and saw the land, [JERUSALEM. They went unto Segola, and saw the land,] but enfeebled the will of Israel’s heart, that they would not enter into the land which the Lord had given to them. And the anger of the Lord was that day moved, and He sware, saying If these men who came out of Mizraim from twenty years old and up ard will see the land which I covenanted to Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, because they have not fully (walked) according to My fear; except Kaleb bar Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Jehoshua bar Nun, for they have fully (walked) after the fear of the Lord. And the anger of the Lord was moved against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all that generation which did evil before the Lord have been consumed. And, behold, you are risen up after your fathers, disciples of wicked men, to increase yet the anger of the Lord against Israel. [JERUSALEM. You have multiplied the men of sin yet to increase the strength of His displeasure.] For if you go back from fearing Him, He will still make them abide in the wilderness, and so will you destroy all this people.

And they drew near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds for our flocks, and towns for our families; but we will go armed among the sons of Israel until we have brought them into their place: but our families will dwell in towns defended against the inhabitants of the land. [JERUSALEM. In cities fortified against the (former) masters of the land.] We will not return to our homes until the sons of Israel possess every one his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them over the Jordan and beyond; for our inheritance cometh to us beyond Jordan eastward.

And Mosheh said to them, If you will perform this thing; if you will go forth armed before the people of the Lord to the war, if some of you armed will pass over Jordan before the Lord’s people to go on with the war until He hath driven out the enemy before Him, and the land be subdued before the people of the Lord, then afterwards you will return, and be acquitted before the Lord and by Israel; and this land will be yours for an inheritance before the Lord. But if you will not perform this, behold, ye will have sinned before the Lord your Elohim, and know that your sin will meet you. Build (then) cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do that which hath proceeded from your mouth. [JERUSALEM. Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do that which hath come out of your mouth.]

And the sons of Gad and Reuben spake to Mosheh with one consent, saying, Thy servants will do whatever my lord hath commanded: our children, wives, flocks, and all our cattle will be here in the cities of Gilead; but thy servants will go over, every one armed for the host, before the people of the Lord to the war, as my lord hath said.

And Mosheh commanded concerning them Elazar the priest, and Jehoshua bar Nun, and the heads of the tribes of the Beni Israel, and said to them: If the sons of Gad and of Reuben go over the Jordan with you, every one armed for the war, before the people of the Lord, and the land be subdued before you, then will you give to them the land of Gilead for a possession. But if they will not pass over armed with you, then they will receive an inheritance among you in the land of Kenaan. But the sons of Gad and Reuben answered and said: Whatsoever the Lord hath spoken to thy servants so will we do. We will go over armed before the Lord’s people into the land of Kenaan, that our inheritance may be on this side the Jordan.

And Mosheh gave to them, the sons of Gad and of Reuben, and to the half tribe of Menasheh bar Joseph, the reign. of Sihon king of the Amoraee, and the reign of Og king of Mathnan, the land with its cities by the limits of the cities of the land round about. And the sons of Gad built (rebuilt) Madbashta and Maklalta and Lechaiath, [JERUSALEM. And the sons of Gad built Debeshta, and Maklalta, and Lechaiath,] and Maklelath, Shophena, and Mikvar Geramatha, [JERUSALEM. And Maklalta of Shophan, and Makvar, and Jegbeha,] and the strong city of Beth Nimrin, and Beth Haran, fenced cities (with) folds for sheep. And the sons of Reuben built (rebuilt) Beth Heshbon and Mahalath Mera, and the city of the two streets paved with marble which is Beresha, and the place of the sepulchre of Mosheh, and (rebuilt) the city of Balak, destroying out of it the idol of Peor, in the house of his high places, and the city whose walls surrounded it, inscribed with the names of his heroes, and Shiran. And after they had built them they called their names after the names of the men who had built them.

And the sons of Makir bar Menasheh went to Gilead and subdued it, and drave out the Amoraee who were therein. And Mosheh gave Gilead to Makir bar Menasheh, and he dwelt in it. And Jair bar Menasheh went and subdued their villages, and called them the villages of Jair. And Nobach went and subdued Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobach, after his own name.

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.7.2-3 (T)

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.).

4.7.2. But Moses was now grown old, and appointed Joshua for his successor, both to receive directions from Elohim as a prophet, and for a commander of the army, if they should at any time stand in need of such a one; and this was done by the command of Elohim, that to him the care of the public should be committed. Now Joshua had been instructed in all those kinds of learning which concerned the laws and Elohim himself, and Moses had been his instructor.

4.7.3. At this time it was that the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, abounded in a multitude of cattle, as well as in all other kinds of prosperity; whence they had a meeting, and in a body came and besought Moses to give them, as their peculiar portion, that land of the Amorites which they had taken by right of war, because it was fruitful, and good for feeding of cattle; but Moses, supposing that they were afraid of fighting with the Canaanites, and invented this provision for their cattle as a handsome excuse for avoiding that war, he called them arrant cowards, and said they had only contrived a decent excuse for that cowardice; and that they had a mind to live in luxury and ease, while all the rest were laboring with great pains to obtain the land they were desirous to have; and that they were not willing to march along, and undergo the remaining hard service, whereby they were, under the Divine promise, to pass over Jordan, and overcome those our enemies which Elohim had shown them, and so obtain their land. But these tribes, when they saw that Moses was angry with them, and when they could not deny but he had a just cause to be displeased at their petition, made an apology for themselves; and said, that it was not on account of their fear of dangers, nor on account of their laziness, that they made this request to him, but that they might leave the prey they had gotten in places of safety, and thereby might be more expedite, and ready to undergo difficulties, and to fight battles. They added this also, that when they had built cities, wherein they might preserve their children, and wives, and possessions, if he would bestow them upon them, they would go along with the rest of the army. Hereupon Moses was pleased with what they said; so he called for Eleazar the high priest, and Joshua, and the chief of the tribes, and permitted these tribes to possess the land of the Amorites; but upon this condition, that they should join with their kinsmen in the war until all things were settled. Upon which condition they took possession of the country, and built them strong cities, and put into them their children and their wives, and whatsoever else they had that might be an impediment to the labors of their future marches.