Week 136

• Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 12:20 – 15:6
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 54:2-8
• Apostolic (A): Acts 13:1-12
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 34:1-17

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Genesis 9:1-7; Leviticus 7:22-27; Leviticus 17:10-14; Ezekiel 33:23-26 (T)
• Deuteronomy 32:15-22; Psalms 106:32-42; Revelation 9:20-21 (T); 1 Corinthians 10:1-33 (T)
• Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Proverbs 30:1-6; Revelation 22:16-21 (T)
• Matthew 7:15-23 (T)
• Matthew 24:1-31; Mark 13:1-22 (T)
• Acts 8:5-24 (T)
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (T)
• 2 Peter 2:1-22 (T)
• Revelation 13:1-18 (T)
• Revelation 19:1-21 (T)
• Deuteronomy 10:20 (T)
• Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (T)
• Jeremiah 14:13-18; Jeremiah 28:1-17 (T)
• Deuteronomy 17:1-13 (T)
• 2 Chronicles 15:1-19 (T)
• Leviticus 19:27-28; Leviticus 21:1-6; Jeremiah 16:5-7; Jeremiah 47:1-5;  (T)
• Genesis 7:1-3; 8:18-20 (T)
• Leviticus 11:1-47 (T)
• Leviticus 20:22-26 (T)
• Ezekiel 22:23-31 (T)
• Acts 10:1-28 (T)
• Romans 14:1-26 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 10:19-33 (T)
• Colossians 2:6-23 (T)
• 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (T)
• Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26 (T)
• Deuteronomy 7:1-6 (T)
• Deuteronomy 12:13-18 (T)
• Numbers 18:1-24; Deuteronomy 12:8-12; Deuteronomy 18:1-8; Joshua 13:32-33; Ezekiel 44:1-31 (T)
• Exodus 21:1-11 (T)
• Jeremiah 34:8-22 (T)
• Deuteronomy 28:12-15 (T)
• Isaiah 54:1-17 (P)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Jubilees 21:1-20; Jubilees 6:1-38; Jubilees 7:1-5; Jubilees 4:2-5; Jubilees 11:1-2; Jubilees 14:9-11 (T)
• Jubilees 8:1-5 (T)
• Baruch 4:1-8 (T)
• 1 Maccabees 1:29-64 (T)
• 2 Maccabees 6:18-31; 7:1-42 (T)
• Tobit 1:3-7 (T)
• Deuteronomy 12:20 – 15:6 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (P) means the verse relates to that week’s Prophets portion. (A) means the verse relates to that week’s Apostolic portion. (ADD) means the verse relates to that week’s Additional portion.

Torah Portion (T)

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 12:20 – 15:6

12:20 When YHWH your Elohim enlarges your border, as he has promised you, and you say, “I want to eat flesh,” because your soul desires to eat flesh, you may eat flesh, after all the desire of your soul. 21 If the place which YHWH your Elohim will choose to put his name is too far from you, then you will kill of your herd and of your flock, which [Elohim]^(LXX) has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates, after all the desire of your soul. 22 Even as the gazelle and as the deer is eaten, so you will eat of it. The unclean [in you]^(LXX) and the clean may eat of it alike. 23 Only be sure that you don’t eat the blood; for the blood is the life. You will not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You will not eat it. You will pour it out on the land like water. 25 You will not eat it, that it may go well with you and with your sons after you, when you do that which is right in YHWH [you Elohim’s]^(LXX) eyes. 26 Only your holy which you have, and your vows, you will take and go to the place which YHWH will choose [to have his name named upon it].^(LXX) 27 You will offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on YHWH your Elohim’s altar. The blood of your slaughters will be poured out on YHWH your Elohim’s altar, and you will eat the flesh. 28 Guard and hear [and do]^(LXX) all these words which I command you [today],^(mss)(SP) that it may go well with you and with your sons after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in YHWH your Elohim’s eyes. 29 When YHWH your Elohim cuts off the nations from before you where you go in to dispossess them, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 be careful that you are not ensnared to follow them after they are destroyed from before you, and that you not inquire after their elohim, saying, “How do these nations serve their elohim? I will do likewise.” 31 You will not do so to YHWH your Elohim; for every abomination to YHWH, which he hates, they have done to their elohim; for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their elohim. 32 Whatever thing I command you, that you will guard to do. You will not add to it, nor take away from it.

13:1 If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let’s go after other elohim,” which you have not known, “and let’s serve them,” 3 you will not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for YHWH your Elohim is testing you, to know whether you love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You will walk after YHWH your Elohim, [you will serve him, and listen to his voice, and cling to him, and fear him, and guard his commands.]^(DSS) 5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, will be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which YHWH your Elohim commanded you to walk in. So you will remove the evil from among you. 6 If your brother, [the son of your father or]^(DSS) the son of your mother, [or your son],^(DSS) or the woman of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let’s go and serve other elohim”—which you have not known, you, nor your fathers; 7 of the elohim of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the [ends]^(DSS) of the land even to the other end of the land— 8 you will not consent to him nor listen to him; neither will your eye pity him, neither will you spare [him],^(DSS) neither will you conceal him; 9 but you will surely kill him. Your hand will be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people. 10 You will stone him to death with stones, because he has sought to draw you away from YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 11 All Israel will hear, and fear, and will not do any more wickedness like this among you. 12 If you hear about one of your cities, which YHWH your Elohim gives you to dwell there, that 13 certain sons of Belial have gone out from among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of [your]^(LXX) city, saying, “Let’s go and serve other elohim,” which you have not known, 14 then you will inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you, 15 you will surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, with all that is therein and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. 16 You will gather all its plunder into the middle of its street, and will burn with fire the city, with all of its plunder, to YHWH your Elohim. It will be a heap forever. It will not be built again. 17 Nothing of the devoted thing will cling to your hand, that YHWH may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy, and have compassion on you and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers, 18 when you listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to keep all his commandments which I command you today, to do that which is right [and good]^(DSS) in YHWH your Elohim’s eyes.

14:1 You are the sons of YHWH your Elohim. You will not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to YHWH your Elohim, and YHWH [your Elohim]^(LXX) has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the land. 3 You will not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the chamois. 6 Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 7 Nevertheless these you will not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare, and the rabbit. Because they chew the cud but don’t part the hoof, they are unclean to you. 8 The pig, because it has a split hoof, [and is cloven-footed]^(LXX) but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You will not eat their flesh. You will not touch their carcasses. 9 These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat whatever has fins and scales. 10 You will not eat whatever doesn’t have fins and scales. It is unclean to you. 11 Of all clean birds you may eat. 12 But these are they of which you will not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, 13 the red kite, the falcon, the kite of any kind, 14 every raven of any kind, 15 the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the hawk of any kind, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the horned owl, 17 the pelican, the vulture, the cormorant, 18 the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. 19 All winged creeping things are unclean to you. [You will not eat of them].^(DSS) 20 Of all clean birds you may eat. 21 You will not eat of anything that dies of itself. You may give it to the foreigner living among you who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to YHWH your Elohim. You will not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. 22 You will surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes out of the field year by year. 23 You will eat before YHWH your Elohim, in the place which he chooses to cause his name to dwell, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear YHWH your Elohim always. 24 If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it because the place which YHWH your Elohim will choose to set his name there is too far from you, when YHWH your Elohim blesses you, 25 then you will turn it into money, bind up the money in your hand, and will go to the place which YHWH your Elohim will choose. 26 You will trade the money for whatever your soul desires: for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you. You will eat there before YHWH your Elohim, and you will rejoice, you and your household. 27 You will not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years you will bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and will store it within your gates. 29 The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates will come, and will eat and be satisfied; that YHWH your Elohim may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

15:1 At the end of every seven years, you will cancel debts. 2 This is the way it will be done: every creditor will release that which he has lent to his neighbor. [He will not require payment],^(DSS) because YHWH’s release has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand will release. 4 However there will be no needy with you, for YHWH will surely bless you in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you for an inheritance to possess, 5 if only you diligently listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to guard to do all this commandment which I command you today. 6 For YHWH your Elohim will bless you, as he promised you. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

Prophets Portion (P)

Isaiah 54:2-8

54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out on the right hand and on the left; and your seed will possess the nations and settle in desolate cities. 4 Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed. Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed. For you will forget the shame of your youth. You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more. 5 For your Maker is your husband; YHWH of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the Elohim of the whole land. 6 For YHWH has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a woman of youth, when she is cast off,” says your Elohim. 7 “For a small moment I have forsaken you, but I will gather you with great mercies. 8 In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says YHWH your Redeemer.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Acts 13:1-12

13:1 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Shimon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Shaul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed Elohim’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their attendant. 6 When they had gone through the [whole]^(mss) island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Yeshua, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of Elohim. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation, withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who is also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

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 4th Century 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 34:1-17

34:1 Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding; And dreams give wings to fools. 2 As one that catches at a shadow, and follows after the wind, So is he that sets his mind on dreams. 3 The vision of dreams is as this thing against that, The likeness of a face near a face. 4 Of an unclean thing what will be cleansed? And of that which is false what will be true? 5 Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: And the heart fancies, as a woman’s in travail. 6 If they be not sent from the Most High in your inspection, Give not your heart to them. 7 For dreams have led many astray: And they have failed by putting their hope in them. 8 Without lying will the law be accomplished; And wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth. 9 A well-instructed man knows many things; And he that has much experience will declare understanding. 10 He that has no experience knows few things: But he that has wandered will increase his skill. 11 In my wandering I have seen many things; And more than my words is my understanding. 12 Ofttimes was I in danger even to death; And I was preserved because of these things. 13 The spirit of those that fear the Lord will live; For their hope is upon him that saves them. 14 Whoso fears the Lord will not be afraid, and will not play the coward; For he is his hope. 15 Blessed is the soul of him that fears the Lord: To whom does he give heed? and who is his stay? 16 The eyes of the Lord are upon those who love him, A mighty protection and strong stay, A cover from the hot blast, and a cover from the noonday, A guard from stumbling, and a help from falling. 17 He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes: He gives healing, life, and blessing.

Related Scriptures

Genesis 9:1-7; Leviticus 7:22-27; Leviticus 17:10-14; Ezekiel 33:23-26 (T)

Genesis 9:1-6 Elohim blessed Noaḥ̣ and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the land. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every [wild]^(LXX) beast of the land, [and on all livestock of the land,]^(LXX) and on every bird of the heavens. All that move along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3 Every creeping thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given all to you. 4 But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat. 5 I will surely seek accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will seek it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will seek the soul of man. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for Elohim made man in his own image. 7 Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the land, and multiply in it [and have dominion over it]”^(LXX)(mss)

Leviticus 7:22 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You will eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat. 24 The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you will in no way eat of it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal which men bring as an offering made by fire to YHWH, even the soul who eats it will be cut off from his people. 26 You will not eat any blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whoever it is who eats any blood, that soul will be cut off from his people.’ ”

Leviticus 17:10 Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I have said to the sons of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.” 13 Whatever man there is of the sons of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten, he will pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, “You will not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it will be cut off.”

Ezekiel 33:23 the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, those who inhabit the waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, ‘Abraham was one, and he inherited the land; but we are many. The land is given us for inheritance.’ 25 Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. So should you possess the land? 26 You stand on your sword, you work abomination, and every one of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. So should you possess the land?” ‘

Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned Elohim who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation. 16 They moved him to zeal with strange elohim. They provoked him to anger with abominations. 17 They slaughtered to demons (lit. to the breasts), not Elohim, to elohim that they didn’t know, to new elohim that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread. 18 Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten Elohim who gave you birth. 19 YHWH saw and abhorred, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. 20 He said, “I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end will be; for they are a very perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness. 21 They have made me zealous with that which is not Elohim. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will make them be zealous with no people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in my anger, that burns to the lowest Sheol, devours the land with its increase, and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire…”

Psalms 106:32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes; 33 because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips. 34 They didn’t destroy the peoples, as YHWH commanded them, 35 but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works. 36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 Yes, they slaughtered their sons and their daughters to demons, (lit. to the breasts). 38 They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they slaughtered to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they were defiled with their works, and whored themselves in their deeds. 40 Therefore YHWH burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance. 41 He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.

Romans 9:20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which can’t see, hear, or walk. 21 They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their whoring, or their thefts.

1 Corinthians 10:1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Messiah. 5 However with most of them, Elohim was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not covet after evil things as they also coveted. 7 Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Let’s not commit whoring, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9 Let’s not test Messiah, as some of them tested, and perished by the nachashim. 10 Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall. 13 No trial has taken you except what is common to man. Elohim is faithful, who will not allow you to be tested above what you are able, but will with the trial also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Messiah? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Messiah? 17 Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. 18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the slaughters participate in the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That a thing slaughtered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 But I say that the things which the Nations slaughter, they slaughter to demons and not to Elohim, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 21 You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to zeal? Are we stronger than he? 23 “All are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All are lawful for me,” but not all build up. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good. 25 Whatever is sold in the market, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, 26 for “the land is the Lord’s, and its fullness.” (cf. Psalms 24:1) 27 But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the land is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.” 29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for? 31 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of Elohim. 32 Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of Elohim; 33 even as I also please all in all, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Proverbs 30:1-6; Revelation 22:16-21 (T)

Deuteronomy 4:1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the judgments which I teach you [this day],^(LXX) to do them, that you may live and go in and possess the land which YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, gives you. 2 You will not add to the word which I command you, neither will you take away from it, that you may guard the commandments of YHWH your Elohim which I command you.

Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: 2 “Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended up into the heavens, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the land? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know? 5 “Every word of Elohim is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

Revelation 22:16 I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the seed of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, Elohim will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Yeshua! 21 The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with all the holy ones. Amen.

Matthew 7:15-23 (T)

7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who does the will of my Father who is in the heavens. 22 Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ 23 Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

Matthew 24:1-31; Mark 13:1-22 (T)

Matthew 24:1 Yeshua went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Amen, amen, I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 Yeshua answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, [for this]^(mss) must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and reign against reign; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This Good News of the Reign will be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, (cf. Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, let the reader understand, 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter nor on a Sabbath, 21 for then there will be great affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 “If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures gather together. 29 “But immediately after the affliction of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the heavens, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; (cf. Isaiah 13:10; 34:4) 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the heavens with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a shofar, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Mark 13:1 As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Rabbi, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!” 2 Yeshua said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, Jacob, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?” 5 Yeshua, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray. 7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and reign against reign. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a witness to them. 10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. 11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation, (cf. Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not”, let the reader understand, “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 15 and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house. 16 Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! 18 Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter. 19 For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which Elohim created until now, and never will be. 20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. 21 Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

Acts 8:5-24 (T)

8:5 Philip went down to [the]^(mss) city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Messiah. 6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 There was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man, Shimon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of Elohim [which is called Great].”^(mss) 11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip proclaiming good news concerning the reign of Elohim and the name of Yeshua the Messiah, they were immersed, both men and women. 13 Shimon himself also believed. Being immersed, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and [great]^(mss) miracles occurring, he was amazed. 14 Now when the emissaries who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of Elohim, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been immersed in the name of [the Lord]^(mss) Yeshua. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Shimon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the emissaries’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of Elohim with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before Elohim. 22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask [the Lord]^(mss) if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” 24 Shimon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (T)

2:1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and our gathering together to him, we ask you 2 not to be quickly shaken in your mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Messiah has already come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called Elohim or that is worshiped, so that he sits as Elohim in the temple of Elohim, setting himself up as Elohim. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; 9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 Because of this, Elohim sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie, 12 that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Peter 2:1-22 (T)

2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive 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]. 4 For if Elohim didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartaros, and committed them to pits 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 dignitaries, 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 man’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 who live in error; 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] 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.”

Revelation 13:1-18 (T)

13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. 2 The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” 5 A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two new moons was given to him. 6 He opened his mouth for blasphemy against Elohim, to blaspheme his name, his dwelling, and those who dwell in the heavens. 7 It was given to him to make war with the holy ones and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the holy ones. 11 I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his face. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the heavens to the earth in the sight of people. 14 He [deceives people]^(NU-Text) who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. 15 It was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands or on their foreheads; 17 and that no one would be able to buy or to sell unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.

Revelation 19:1-21 (T)

19:1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in the heavens, saying, “Halleluyah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our Elohim; 2 for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” 3 A second said, “Halleluyah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.” 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and did bow down to Elohim who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen! Halleluyah!” 5 A voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our Elohim, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!” 6 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our Elohim, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the holy ones. 9 He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’ ” He said to me, “These are true words of Elohim.” 10 I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the witness of Yeshua. Worship Elohim, for the witness of Yeshua is the Spirit of Prophecy.” 11 I saw the heavens opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. 13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of Elohim.” 14 The armies which are in the heavens, clothed in white, pure, fine linen, followed him on white horses. 15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. (cf. Psalms 2:9) He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of Elohim, the Almighty. 16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” 17 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the heavens, “Come! Be gathered together to the [supper of the great Elohim],^(NU-Text) 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.” 19 I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army. 20 The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. So all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Deuteronomy 10:20 (T)

10:20 You will fear YHWH your Elohim. You will serve him. You will cling to him, and you will swear by his name.

Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (T)

18:15 YHWH your Elohim will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You will listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you desired of YHWH your Elohim in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again YHWH my Elohim’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.” 17 YHWH said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I will command him. 19 It will happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he will speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other elohim, that same prophet will die.” 21 You may say in your heart, “How will we know the word which YHWH has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in YHWH’s name, if the word doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the word which YHWH has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Jeremiah 14:13-18; Jeremiah 28:1-17 (T)

Jeremiah 14:13 Then I said, “Ah, Lord YHWH! Behold, the prophets tell them, ‘You will not see the sword, neither will you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.’ ” 14 Then YHWH said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I didn’t send them. I didn’t command them. I didn’t speak to them. They prophesy to you a lying vision, divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart. 15 Therefore YHWH says concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, but I didn’t send them, yet they say, ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land.’ Those prophets will be consumed by sword and famine. 16 The people to whom they prophesy will be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword. They will have no one to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters, for I will pour their wickedness on them. 17 “You will say this word to them: “ ‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound. 18 If I go out into the field, then behold, the slain with the sword! If I enter into the city, then behold, those who are sick with famine! For both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.’ ”

Jeremiah 28:1 That same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth new moon, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me in YHWH’s house, in the face of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2 “YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, says, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full years I will bring again into this place all the vessels of YHWH’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, who went to Babylon,’ says YHWH; ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ” 5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah in the face of the priests, and in the face of all the people who stood in YHWH’s house, 6 even the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May YHWH do so. May YHWH perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring again the vessels of YHWH’s house, and all those who are captives, from Babylon to this place. 7 Nevertheless listen now to this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people: 8 The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries, and against great reigns, of war, of evil, and of pestilence. 9 As for prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that YHWH has truly sent him.” 10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and broke it. 11 Hananiah spoke in the face of all the people, saying, “YHWH says: ‘Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from off the neck of all the nations within two full years.’ ” Then the prophet Jeremiah went his way. 12 Then the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the bar from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13 “Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘YHWH says, “You have broken the bars of wood, but you have made in their place bars of iron.” 14 For YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel says, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. I have also given him the animals of the field.” ‘ ” 15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! YHWH has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore YHWH says, ‘Behold, I will send you away from off the surface of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken rebellion against YHWH.’ ” 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh new moon.

Deuteronomy 17:1-13 (T)

17:1 You will not slaughter to YHWH your Elohim an ox or a sheep in which is a defect or anything evil; for that is an abomination to YHWH your Elohim. 2 If there is found among you, within any of your gates which YHWH your Elohim gives you, a man or woman who does that which is evil in YHWH your Elohim’s sight in transgressing his covenant, 3 and has gone and served other elohim and did bow down to them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the stars of the heavens, which I have not commanded, 4 and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you will inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Israel, 5 then you will bring out that man or that woman who has done this evil thing to your gates, even that same man or woman; and you will stone them to death with stones. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die will be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he will not be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses will be first on him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you will remove the evil from among you. 8 If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between plague and plague, being matters of controversy within your gates, then you will arise, and go up to the place which YHWH your Elohim chooses. 9 You will come to the priests who are Levites and to the judge who will be in those days. You will inquire, and they will give you the judgment. 10 You will do according to the decisions of the judgment which they will give you from that place which YHWH chooses. You will guard to do according to all that they will teach you. 11 According to the decisions of the Torah which they will teach you, and according to the judgment which they will tell you, you will do. You will not turn away from the sentence which they announce to you, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 The man who does presumptuously in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before YHWH your Elohim, or to the judge, even that man will die. You will put away the evil from Israel. 13 All the people will hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

2 Chronicles 15:1-19 (T)

15:1 The Spirit of Elohim came on Azariah the son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! YHWH is with you while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 Now for a long time Israel was without the true Elohim, without a teaching priest, and without Torah. 4 But when in their distress they turned to YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great troubles were on all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for Elohim troubled them with all adversity. 7 But you be strong! Don’t let your hands be slack, for your work will be rewarded.” 8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed the altar of YHWH that was before YHWH’s porch. 9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Shimon; for they came to him out of Israel in abundance when they saw that YHWH his Elohim was with him. 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third new moon, in the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. 11 They slaughtered to YHWH in that day, of the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep. 12 They entered into the covenant to seek YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 and that whoever would not seek YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 They swore to YHWH with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with cornets. 15 All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them. Then YHWH gave them rest all around. 16 Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burned it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 He brought the things that his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated, silver, gold, and vessels into Elohim’s house. 19 There was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

Leviticus 19:27-28; Leviticus 21:1-6; Jeremiah 16:5-7; Jeremiah 47:1-5;  (T)

Leviticus 19:27 Do not round the corner of your head or destroy the corner of your beard. 28 Do not give an incision for the soul in your flesh nor tattoo any writings in you. I am YHWH.

Leviticus 21:1 YHWH said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘He will not be unclean for a soul among his people 2 except for his near kin that are nearest to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother, 3 and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has no man; for her he may be unclean. 4 A master among his people will not be unclean, to profane himself. 5 They will not shave their heads or shave off the corner of their beards or make any incisions in their flesh. 6 They will be holy to their Elohim, and not profane the name of their Elohim, for they bring the offerings of YHWH made by fire, the bread of their Elohim. Therefore they will be holy.

Jeremiah 16:5 For YHWH says, “Don’t enter into the house of mourning. Don’t go to lament. Don’t bemoan them, for I have taken away my peace from this people,” says YHWH, “even loving kindness and tender mercies. 6 Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried. Men won’t lament for them, cut themselves, or make themselves bald for them. 7 Men won’t break bread for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead. Men won’t give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.

Jeremiah 47:1 the word of YHWH that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck Gaza. 2 YHWH says: “Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and will become an overflowing stream, and will overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and those who dwell therein. The men will cry, and all the inhabitants of the land will wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers don’t look back for their children because their hands are so feeble, 4 because of the day that comes to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; for YHWH will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor. 5 Baldness has come on Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nothing. You remnant of their valley, how long will you cut yourself?

Genesis 7:1 YHWH said to Noaḥ, “Come with all of your household into the ark, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. 2 You will take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. 3 Also of the birds of the heavens, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the land.

Genesis 8:18 Noaḥ went out, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives with him. 19 Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the land, after their families, went out of the ark. 20 Noaḥ built an altar to YHWH, and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Leviticus 11:1-47 (T)

11:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the land. 3 Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat. 4 Nevertheless these you will not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you. 5 The hyrax, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you. 6 The hare, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you. 7 The pig, because it has a split hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 You will not eat their flesh. You will not touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you. 9 You may eat of all these that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat. 10 All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas and rivers, all that move in the waters, and all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you, 11 and you will detest them. You will not eat of their flesh, and you will detest their carcasses. 12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters is an abomination to you. 13 You will detest these among the birds; they will not be eaten because they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat. 20 All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you. 21 Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the land. 22 Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper. 23 But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you. 24 By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass will be unclean until the evening. 25 Whoever carries any part of their carcass will wash his clothes [and wash himself in water]^(DSS), and be unclean until the evening. 26 Every animal which parts the hoof and is not cloven-footed or doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them will be unclean. 27 Whatever goes on its paws [or, belly]^(DSS), among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass will be unclean until the evening. 28 He who carries their carcass will wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you. 29 These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the land: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. 31 These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until the evening. 32 Anything they fall on when they are dead will be unclean; whether it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it is, with which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it will be unclean until the evening. Then it will be clean. 33 Every vessel of clay into which any of them falls and all that is in it will be unclean. You will break it. 34 All food which may be eaten which is soaked in water will be unclean. All drink that may be drunk in every such vessel will be unclean. 35 Everything whereupon part of their carcass falls will be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it will be broken in pieces. They are unclean, and will be unclean to you. 36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered will be clean, but that which touches their carcass will be unclean. 37 If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. 38 But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you. 39 If any animal of which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass will be unclean until the evening. 40 He who eats of its carcass will wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass will wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. 41 Every creeping thing that treads on the land is an abomination. It will not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the land, them you will not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 You will not make your souls abominable with any creeping thing that treads. You will not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled by them. 44 For I am YHWH your Elohim. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. You will not defile your souls with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the land. 45 For I am YHWH who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim. You will therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the Torah of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that treads on the land, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.’ ”

20:22 You will therefore guard all my statutes and all my judgments, and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. 23 You will not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 24 But I have said to you, “You will inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am YHWH your Elohim, who has separated you from the peoples. 25 “You will therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean. You will not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you. 26 You will be holy to me, for I, YHWH, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.”

22:23 the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, tell her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed nor rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made many widows within it. 26 Her priests have done violence to my Torah and have profaned my holy. They have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths. So I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain. 28 Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord YHWH says,’ when YHWH has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the afflicted and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully. 30 “I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out my indignation on them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have brought their own way on their heads,” says the Lord YHWH.

10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man, and one who feared Elohim with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to Elohim. 3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of Elohim coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before Elohim. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Shimon, who is also called Peter. 6 He is staying with a tanner named Shimon, whose house is by the seaside. 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the heavens opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the land, 12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the land, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the heavens. 13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What Elohim has cleansed, you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into the heavens. 17 Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Shimon’s house, stood before the gate, 18 and called and asked whether Shimon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. 20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears Elohim, and well spoken of by all the Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” 23 So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and did bow down to him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 28 He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but Elohim has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man common or unclean.

14:1 Now accept one who is weak in faith, not for disputes over opinions. 2 One man has faith to eat all, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for Elohim has accepted him. 4 Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for Elohim has power to make him stand. 5 One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives Elohim thanks. He who doesn’t eat, to the Lord he doesn’t eat, and gives Elohim thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Messiah died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah. 11 For it is written, As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to Elohim.’ ” 12 So then each one of us will give account of himself to Elohim. 13 Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Yeshua that nothing is common of itself (cf. Mark 7:18-19); except that to him who considers anything to be common, to him it is common. 15 Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Messiah died. 16 Then don’t let your good be slandered, 17 for the reign of Elohim is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Messiah in these things is acceptable to Elohim and approved by men. 19 So then, let’s follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up. 20 Don’t overthrow Elohim’s work for food’s sake. All indeed are clean, but evil to the man who creates a stumbling block by eating. 21 Good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor by which your brother stumbles[, is offended, or is made weak.]^(mss) 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before Elohim. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves. 23 But he who differs is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. 24 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the proclaiming of Yeshua the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, 25 but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal Elohim, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; 26 to the only wise Elohim, through Yeshua the Messiah, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

10:19 What am I saying then? That a thing slaughtered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 But I say that the things which the Nations slaughter, they slaughter to demons and not to Elohim, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 21 You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to zeal? Are we stronger than he? 23 “All are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All are lawful for me,” but not all build up. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good. 25 Whatever is sold in the market, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, 26 for “the land is the Lord’s, and its fullness.” (cf. Psalms 24:1) 27 But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the land is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.” 29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for? 31 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of Elohim. 32 Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of Elohim; 33 even as I also please all in all, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

2:6 As therefore you received Messiah Yeshua the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thankfulness. 8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Messiah. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah, 12 having been buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of Elohim, who raised him from the dead. 13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in the decrees which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 17 which are a shadow of the things to come, but the body of the Messiah. 18 Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with Elohim’s growth. 20 If you died with Messiah from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to decrees, 21 “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch,” 22 all of which perish with use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

4:1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, 3 forbidding marriage and commanding to get away from foods which Elohim created for partaking with thankfulness by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of Elohim is good, and nothing to be thrown away if it is received with thankfulness. 5 For it is sanctified through the word of Elohim and prayer.

Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26 (T)

Exodus 23:19 You will bring the first of the first fruits of your ground into the house of YHWH your Elohim. “Do not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Exodus 34:26 You will bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of YHWH your Elohim. Do not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

Deuteronomy 7:1-6 (T)

7:1 When YHWH your Elohim brings you into the land where you go to possess it, and casts out many nations before you—the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—seven nations greater and mightier than you; 2 and when YHWH your Elohim delivers them up before you, and you strike them, then you will utterly destroy them. You will make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them. 3 Do not make marriages with them. Do not give your daughter to his son, nor will you take his daughter for your son. 4 For that would turn away your sons from following me, that [he]^(DSS) may serve other elohim. So the anger of YHWH would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. 5 But you will deal with them like this: you will break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their engraved images with fire. 6 For you are a holy people to YHWH your Elohim. YHWH your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the land.

Deuteronomy 12:13-18 (T)

12:13 Be careful that you don’t offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which YHWH chooses in one of your tribes, there you will offer your burnt offerings, and there you will do all that I command you. 15 Yet you may kill and eat flesh within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to YHWH your Elohim’s blessing which he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer. 16 Only do not eat the blood. You will pour it out on the land like water. 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your freewill offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand; 18 but you will eat them before YHWH your Elohim in the place which YHWH your Elohim will choose: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your maid, and the Levite who is within your gates. You will rejoice before YHWH your Elohim in all that you put your hand to. 19 Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in [the]^(DSS) land.

Numbers 18:1-24; Deuteronomy 12:8-12; Deuteronomy 18:1-8; Joshua 13:32-33; Ezekiel 44:1-31 (T)

Numbers 18:1 YHWH said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your fathers’ house with you will bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you will bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 Bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you; but you and your sons with you will be before the Tent of the Witness. 3 They will guard your commands and the watch duty of the whole Tent; only they will not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they nor you. 4 They will be joined to you and guard your watch duty of the Appointed Tent, for all the service of the Tent. A stranger will not come near to you. 5 “You will perform the watch duty of the sanctuary and the watch duty of the altar, that there be no more wrath on the sons of Israel. 6 Behold, I myself have taken your brothers the Levites from among the sons of Israel. They are a gift to you, dedicated to YHWH, to do the service of the Appointed Tent. 7 You and your sons with you will keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You will serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger inside will be put to death.” 8 YHWH spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, all the holy of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 9 This will be yours of the holy of holies from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every grain offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they will render to me, will be holy of holies for you and for your sons. 10 You will eat of it like the holy of holies. Every male will eat of it. It will be holy to you. 11 “This is yours, too: the wave offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 12 “I have given to you all the best of the oil, all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to YHWH. 13 The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to YHWH, will be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 14 “Everything devoted in Israel will be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to YHWH, both of man and animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, you will surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you will redeem the firstborn of unclean animals. 16 You will redeem those who are to be redeemed of them from a new moon old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of money, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which weighs twenty gerahs. 17 “But do not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You will sprinkle their blood on the altar, and will burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to YHWH. 18 Their flesh will be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it will be yours. 19 All the wave offerings of the holy which the sons of Israel offer to YHWH, I have given you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH to you and to your seed with you.” 20 YHWH said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, neither will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. 21 “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the Appointed Tent. 22 Henceforth the sons of Israel will not come near the Appointed Tent, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites will do the service of the Appointed Tent, and they will bear their iniquity. It will be a statute forever throughout your generations. Among the sons of Israel, they will have no inheritance. 24 For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as a wave offering to YHWH, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the sons of Israel they will have no inheritance.’ ”

Deuteronomy 12:8 You will not do all the things that we do here today, every man whatever is right in his own eyes; 9 for you haven’t yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which YHWH your Elohim gives you. 10 But when you go over the Jordan and dwell in the land which YHWH your Elohim causes you to inherit, and he gives you rest from all your enemies around you, so that you dwell in safety, 11 then it will happen that to the place which YHWH your Elohim will choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you will bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your slaughters, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to YHWH. 12 You will rejoice before YHWH your Elohim—you, and your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your maids, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you.

Deuteronomy 18:1 The priests and the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—will have no portion nor inheritance with Israel. They will eat the offerings of YHWH made by fire and his portion. 2 They will have no inheritance among their brothers. YHWH is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them. 3 This will be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a slaughter, whether it be ox or sheep, that they will give to the priest: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts. 4 You will give him the first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep. 5 For YHWH your Elohim has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in YHWH’s name, him and his sons forever. 6 If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which YHWH will choose, 7 then he will minister in the name of YHWH his Elohim, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before YHWH. 8 They will have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of his family possessions.

Joshua 13:32 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.

Ezekiel 44:1 Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut. 2 YHWH said to me, “This gate will be shut. It will not be opened, no man will enter in by it; for YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, has entered in by it. Therefore it will be shut. 3 As for the prince, he will sit in it as prince to eat bread before YHWH. He will enter by the way of the porch of the gate, and will go out the same way.” 4 Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the house; and I looked, and behold, the glory of YHWH filled YHWH’s house; so I fell on my face. 5 YHWH said to me, “Son of man, mark well, and see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I tell you concerning all the judgments of YHWH’s house and all its Torot; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every exit of the sanctuary. 6 You will tell the rebellious, even the house of Israel, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “You house of Israel, let that be enough of all your abominations, 7 in that you have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood; and they have broken my covenant, to add to all your abominations. 8 You have not guarded my watch duty of my holy; but you have set guards of my watch duty in my sanctuary for yourselves.” 9 The Lord YHWH says, “No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, will enter into my sanctuary, of any foreigners who are among the sons of Israel. 10 “ ‘ “But the Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they will bear their iniquity. 11 Yet they will be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and ministering in the house. They will kill the burnt offering and the slaughter for the people, and they will stand before them to minister to them. 12 Because they ministered to them before their idols, and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I have lifted up my hand against them,” says the Lord YHWH, “and they will bear their iniquity. 13 They will not come near to me, to execute the office of priest to me, nor to come near to any of my holy, to the things that are most holy; but they will bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. 14 Yet I will make them performers of the duty of the house, for all its service and for all that will be done therein. 15 “ ‘ “But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of my sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from me, will come near to me to minister to me. They will stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord YHWH. 16 “They will enter into my sanctuary, and they will come near to my table, to minister to me, and they will guard my watch duty. 17 “ ‘ “It will be that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they will be clothed with linen garments. No wool will come on them while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. 18 They will have linen turbans on their heads, and will have linen trousers on their waists. They will not clothe themselves with anything that makes them sweat. 19 When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they will put off their garments in which they minister and lay them in the holy rooms. They will put on other garments, that they not sanctify the people with their garments. 20 “ ‘ “They will not shave their heads, or allow their locks to grow long. They will only cut off the hair of their heads. 21 None of the priests will drink wine when they enter into the inner court. 22 They will not take for their wives a widow, or her who is put away; but they will take virgins of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest. 23 They will teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 “ ‘ “In a controversy they will stand to judge. They will judge it according to my judgments. They will guard my Torot and my statutes in all my appointed times. They will make my Sabbaths holy. 25 “ ‘ “They will go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves. 26 After he is cleansed, they will reckon to him seven days. 27 In the day that he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he will offer his sin offering,” says the Lord YHWH. 28 “ ‘They will have an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you will give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every devoted thing in Israel will be theirs. 30 The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, will be for the priest. You will also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. 31 The priests will not eat of anything that dies of itself or is torn, whether it is bird or animal.

Exodus 21:1-11 (T)

21:1 “Now these are the judgments which you will set before them: 2 “If you acquire a Hebrew servant, he will serve six years, and in the seventh he will go out free without [paying] anything. 3 If he comes in by himself, he will go out by himself. If he is married, then his wife will go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a woman and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children will be her master’s, and he will go out by himself. 5 But if the servant will plainly say, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;’ 6 then his master will bring him to Elohim, and will bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master will bore his ear through with an awl, and he will serve him [to the age].(LXX) 7 “If a man sells his daughter to be a maid, she will not go out as the male servants do. 8 If she doesn’t please her master, who has married her to himself, then he will let her be redeemed. He will have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9 If he marries her to his son, he will deal with her as a daughter. 10 If he takes another, he will not diminish her [remains], her clothing, and her habitation. 11 If he doesn’t do these three things for her, she may go free without paying any money.

Jeremiah 34:8-22 (T)

34:8 The word came to Jeremiah from YHWH, after king Zedekiah had cut a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them, 9 that every man should let his male servant, and every man his maid, who is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free, that no one should make bondservants of them, of a Jew his brother. 10 All the princes and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant, that everyone should let his male servant and everyone his maid go free, that no one should make bondservants of them any more. They obeyed and let them go, 11 but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids whom they had let go free to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids. 12 Therefore the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying, 13 “YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, says: ‘I cut a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying: 14 At the end of seven years, every man of you will release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years. You will let him go free from you. But your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear. 15 You had now turned, and had done that which is right in my eyes, in every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor. You had cut a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name; 16 but you turned and profaned my name, and every man caused his servant and every man his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their pleasure, to return. You brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids.’ ” 17 Therefore YHWH says: “You have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim to you a liberty,” says YHWH, “to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine. I will make you be tossed back and forth among all the reigns of the land. 18 I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts: 19 the princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land, who passed between the parts of the calf. 20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. Their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the heavens and for the animals of the land. 21 “I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes into the hands of their enemies, into the hands of those who seek their life and into the hands of the king of Babylon’s army, who has gone away from you. 22 Behold, I will command,” says YHWH, “and cause them to return to this city. They will fight against it, take it, and burn it with fire. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

Deuteronomy 28:12-15 (T)

28:12 YHWH will open to you his good treasure in the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You will lend to many nations, and you will not borrow. 13 YHWH will make you the head, and not the tail. You will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of YHWH your Elohim which I command you today, to guard and to do, 14 and will not turn away from any of the words which I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other elohim to serve them. 15 But it will come to pass, if you will not listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to guard to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come on you and overtake you.

Isaiah 54:1-17 (P)

54:1 “Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth! Break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who didn’t travail with child! For more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married woman,” says YHWH. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out on the right hand and on the left; and your seed will possess the nations and settle in desolate cities. 4 Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed. Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed. For you will forget the shame of your youth. You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more. 5 For your Maker is your husband; YHWH of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the Elohim of the whole land. 6 For YHWH has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a woman of youth, when she is cast off,” says your Elohim. 7 “For a small moment I have forsaken you, but I will gather you with great mercies. 8 In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says YHWH your Redeemer. 9 “For this is like the waters of Noaḥ to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noaḥ will no more go over the land, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. 10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says YHWH who has mercy on you. 11 “You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. 13 All your sons will be taught by [Elohim],^(LXX) and your sons’ peace will be great. 14 You will be established in righteousness. You will be far from oppression, for you will not be afraid, and far from terror, for it will not come near you. 15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by me. Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you. 16 Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame, and forges a weapon for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of YHWH’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says YHWH.

Related Additional Readings​

Jubilees 21:1 And in the sixth year of the †seventh† week of this jubilee [2057 A.M. or 2050 A.M.] Abraham called Isaac his son, and commanded him, saying: “I am become old, and know not the day of my death, and am full of my days. 2. And behold, I am one hundred and seventy-five years old, and throughout all the days of my life I have remembered the Lord, and sought with all my heart to do His will, and to walk uprightly in all His ways. 3. My soul hath hated idols, (and I have despised those that served them, and I have given my heart and spirit) that I might observe to do the will of Him who created me. 4. For He is the living Elohim, and He is holy and faithful, and He is righteous beyond all, and there is with Him no accepting of (men’s) persons and no accepting of gifts (cf. Deuteronomy 10:7); for Elohim is righteous, and executeth judgment on all those who transgress His commandments and despise His covenant. 5. And do thou, my son, observe His commandments and His ordinances and His judgments, and walk not after the abominations and after the graven images and after the molten images. 6. And eat no blood at all of animals or cattle, or of any bird which flieth in the heavens. 7. And if thou dost slay a victim as an acceptable peace offering, slay ye it, and pour out its blood upon the altar, and all the fat of the offering offer on the altar with fine flour (and the grain offering) mingled with oil (cf. Leviticus 2:4), with its libation offering–offer them all together on the altar of burnt offering; it is a sweet savour before the Lord (cf. Leviticus 3:7-10). 8. And thou wilt offer the fat of the slaughter of thank offerings on the fire which is upon the altar, and the fat which is on the belly, and all the fat on the inwards and the two kidneys, and all the fat that is upon them, and upon the hips and liver thou shalt remove together with the kidneys (cf. Leviticus 3:9-10). 9. And offer all these for a sweet savour acceptable before the Lord, with its grain offering and with its libation offering, for a sweet savour, the bread (or food cf. Leviticus 3:11) of the offering unto the Lord, 10. And eat its flesh on that day and on the second day, and let not the sun on the second day go down upon it till it is eaten, and let nothing be left over for the third day; for it is not acceptable and let it no longer be eaten, and all who eat thereof will bring sin upon themselves; for thus I have found it written in the books of my forefathers, and in the words of Enoch, and in the words of Noaḥ. 11. And on all thy oblations thou shalt strew salt, and let not the salt of the covenant be lacking in all thy oblations before the Lord (cf. Leviticus 2:13). 12. And as regards the wood of the slaughters, beware lest thou bring (other) wood for the altar in addition to these: cypress, dêfrân, sagâd, pine, fir, cedar, savin, palm, olive, myrrh, laurel, and citron, juniper, and balsam. (cf. Enoch 3:1) 13. And of these kinds of wood lay upon the altar under the slaughter, such as have been tested as to their appearance, and do not lay (thereon) any split or dark wood, (but) hard and clean, without fault, a sound and new growth; and do not lay (thereon) old wood, for there is no longer fragrance in it as before. 14. Besides these kinds of wood there is none other that thou shalt place (on the altar), for the fragrance is dispersed, and the smell of its fragrance goeth not up to the heavens. 15. Observe this commandment and do it, my son, that thou mayst be upright in all thy deeds. 16. And at all times be clean in thy body, and wash thyself with water before thou approachest to offer on the altar, and wash thy hands and thy feet before thou drawest near to the altar; and when thou art done slaughtering, wash again thy hands and thy feet (cf. Exodus 30:19-21). 17. And let no blood appear upon you nor upon your clothes; be on thy guard, my son, against blood, be on thy guard exceedingly; cover it with dust (cf. Leviticus 17:13). 18. And do not eat any blood, for it is the soul; eat no blood whatever (cf. Leviticus 17:13-14, Deuteronomy 12:23-25). 19. And take no gifts for the blood of man, lest it be shed with impunity, without judgment; for it is the blood that is shed that causeth the land to sin, and the land cannot be cleansed from the blood of man save by the blood of him who shed it (cf. Numbers 35:33). 20. And take no present or gift for the blood of man: blood for blood, that thou mayest be accepted before the Lord, the Most High Elohim; for He is the defence of the good: and that thou mayest be preserved from all evil, and that He may save thee from every kind of death…

Jubilees 6:1 And on the new moon of the third new moon he went forth from the ark, and built an altar on that mountain. 2. And he made atonement for the land, and took a kid and made atonement by its blood for all the guilt of the land; for everything that had been on it had been destroyed, save those that were in the ark with Noaḥ. 3. And he placed the fat thereof on the altar, and he took an ox, and a goat, and a sheep and kids, and salt, and a turtle-dove, and the young of a dove, and placed a burnt slaughter on the altar, and poured thereon an offering mingled with oil, and sprinkled wine and strewed frankincense over everything, and caused a goodly savour to arise, acceptable before the Lord. 4. And the Lord smelt the goodly savour, and He cut a covenant with him that there should not be any more a flood to destroy the land; that all the days of the land seed-time and harvest should never cease; cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not change their order, nor cease for ever. 5. “And you, increase ye and multiply upon the land, and become many upon it, and be a blessing upon it. The fear of you and the dread of you I will inspire in everything that is on land and in the sea. 6. And behold I have given unto you all beasts, and all winged things, and everything that moveth on the land, and the fish in the waters, and all things for food; as the green herbs, I have given you all things to eat. 7. But flesh, with the life thereof, with the blood, ye will not eat; for the life of all flesh is in the blood, lest your blood of your lives be required. At the hand of every man, at the hand of every (beast), will I require the blood of man. 8. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood by man will his blood be shed; for in the image of Elohim made He man. 9. And you, increase ye, and multiply on the land.” 10. And Noaḥ and his sons swore that they would not eat any blood that was in any flesh, and he cut a covenant before the Lord Elohim for ever throughout all the generations of the land in this new moon. 11. On this account He spake to thee that thou shouldst cut a covenant with the sons of Israel in this new moon upon the mountain with an oath, and that thou shouldst sprinkle blood upon them because of all the words of the covenant, which the Lord made with them for ever. 12. And this witness is written concerning you that you should observe it continually, so that you should not eat on any day any blood of beasts or birds or cattle during all the days of the land, and the man who eateth the blood of beast or of cattle or of birds during all the days of the land, he and his seed will be rooted out of the land. 13. And do thou command the sons of Israel to eat no blood, so that their names and their seed may be before the Lord our Elohim continually. 14. And for this law there is no limit of days, for it is for ever. They will observe it throughout their generations, so that they may continue supplicating on your behalf with blood before the altar; every day and at the time of morning and evening they will seek forgiveness on your behalf perpetually before the Lord that they may keep it and not be rooted out. 15. And He gave to Noaḥ and his sons a sign that there should not again be a flood on the land. 16. He set His bow in the cloud for a sign of the eternal covenant that there should not again be a flood on the land to destroy it all the days of the land. 17. For this reason it is ordained and written on the heavenly tables, that they should celebrate the feast of weeks in this new moon once a year, to renew the covenant every year. 18. And this whole festival was celebrated in the heavens from the day of creation till the days of Noaḥ-twenty-six jubilees and five weeks of years [1309-1659 A.M.]: and Noaḥ and his sons observed it for seven jubilees and one week of years, till the day of Noaḥ’s death, and from the day of Noaḥ’s death his sons did away with (it) until the days of Abraham, and they ate blood. 19. But Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and his children observed it up to thy days, and in thy days the sons of Israel forgot it until ye celebrated it anew on this mountain. 20. And do thou command the sons of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations for a commandment unto them: one day in the year in this new moon they will celebrate the festival. 21. For it is the feast of weeks and the feast of first fruits: this feast is twofold and of a double nature: according to what is written and engraven concerning it celebrate it. 22. For I have written in the book of the first law, in that which I have written for thee, that thou shouldst celebrate it in its season, one day in the year, and I explained to thee its slaughters that the sons of Israel should remember and should celebrate it throughout their generations in this new moon, one day in every year. 23. And on the new moon of the first new moon, and on the new moon of the fourth new moon, and on the new moon of the seventh new moon, and on the new moon of the tenth new moon are the days of remembrance, and the days of the seasons in the four divisions of the year. These are written and ordained as a witness for ever. 24. And Noaḥ ordained them for himself as feasts for the generations for ever, so that they have become thereby a memorial unto him. 25. And on the new moon of the first new moon he was bidden to make for himself an ark, and on that (day) the land became dry and he opened (the ark) and saw the land. 26. And on the new moon of the fourth new moon the mouths of the depths of the abysses beneath were closed. And on the new moon of the seventh new moon all the mouths of the abysses of the land were opened, and the waters began to descend into them. 27. And on the new moon of the tenth new moon the tops of the mountains were seen, and Noaḥ was glad. 28. And on this account he ordained them for himself as feasts for a memorial for ever, and thus are they ordained. 29. And they placed them on the heavenly tables, each had thirteen weeks; from one to another (passed) their memorial, from the first to the second, and from the second to the third, and from the third to the fourth. 30. And all the days of the commandment will be two and fifty weeks of days, and (these will make) the entire year complete. 31. Thus it is engraven and ordained on the heavenly tables. And there is no neglecting (this commandment) for a single -year or from year to year. 32. And command thou the sons of Israel that they observe the years according to this reckoning-three hundred and sixty-four days, and (these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb its time from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in them according to their witness, and they will not leave out any day nor disturb any feasts. 33. But if they do neglect and do not observe them according to His commandment, then they will disturb all their seasons, and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their ordinances. 34. And all the sons of Israel will forget, and will not find the path of the years, and will forget the new moons, and seasons, and sabbaths, and they will go wrong as to all the order of the years. 35. For I know and from henceforth will I declare it unto thee, and it is not of my own devising; for the book (lieth) written before me, and on the heavenly tables the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of the Nations after their error and after their ignorance. 36. For there will be those who will assuredly make observations of the moon–now (it) disturbeth the seasons and cometh in from year to year ten days too soon. 37. For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb (the order), and make an abominable (day) the day of witness, and an unclean day a feast day, and they will confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the new moons and sabbaths and feasts and jubilees. 38. For this reason I command and testify to thee that thou mayest testify to them; for after thy death thy children will disturb (them), so that they will not make the year three hundred and sixty-four days only, and for this reason they will go wrong as to the new moons and seasons and sabbaths and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh.

Jubilees 7:1 And in the seventh week in the first year [1317 A.M.] thereof, in this jubilee, Noaḥ planted vines on the mountain on which the ark had rested, named Lubar, one of the Ararat Mountains, and they produced fruit in the fourth year, [1320 A.M.] and he guarded their fruit, and gathered it in this year in the seventh new moon. 2. And he made wine therefrom and put it into a vessel, and kept it until the fifth year, [1321 A.M.] until the first day, on the new moon of the first new moon. 3. And he celebrated with joy the day of this feast, and he made a burnt slaughter unto the Lord, one young ox and one ram, and seven sheep, each a year old, and a kid of the goats, that he might make atonement thereby for himself and his sons. 4. And he prepared the kid first, and placed some of its blood on the flesh that was on the altar which he had made, and all the fat he laid on the altar where he made the burnt slaughter, and the ox and the ram and the sheep, and he laid all their flesh upon the altar. 5. And he placed all their offerings mingled with oil upon it, and afterwards he sprinkled wine on the fire which he had previously made on the altar, and he placed incense on the altar and caused a sweet savour to ascend acceptable before the Lord his Elohim.

Jubilees 4:2 And in the first (year) of the third jubilee, Cain slew Abel because (Elohim) accepted the slaughter of Abel, and did not accept the offering of Cain. 3. And he slew him in the field: and his blood cried from the ground to the heavens, complaining because he had slain him. 4. And the Lord reproved Cain because of Abel, because he had slain him, and he made him a fugitive on the land because of the blood of his brother, and he cursed him upon the land. 5. And on this account it is written on the heavenly tables, “Cursed is he who smiteth his neighbour treacherously, and let all who have seen and heard say, So be it; and the man who hath seen and not declared (it), let him be accursed as the other.”

Jubilees 11:1 And in the thirty-fifth jubilee, in the third week, in the first year thereof, [1681 A.M.] Reu took to himself a woman, and her name was ‘Ôrâ, the daughter of ‘Ûr, the son of Kêsêd, and she bare him a son, and he called his name Sêrôḫ, in the seventh year of this week in this jubilee. [1687 A.M.] 2. And the sons of Noaḥ began to war on each other, to take captive and to slay each other, and to shed the blood of men on the land, and to eat blood, and to build strong cities, and walls, and towers, and individuals (began) to exalt themselves above the nation, and to found the beginnings of reigns, and to go to war people against people, and nation against nation, and city against city, and all (began) to do evil, and to acquire arms, and to teach their sons war, and they began to capture cities, and to sell male and female slaves.

Jubilees 14:9 And he said unto him: “Take Me an heifer of three years, and a goat of three years, and a sheep of three years, and a turtle-dove, and a dove.” 10. And he took all these in the middle of the new moon; and he dwelt at the oak of Mamre, which is near Hebron. 11. And he built there an altar, and slaughtered all these; and he poured their blood upon the altar, and divided them in the midst, and laid them over against each other; but the birds divided he not.

Jubilees 8:1-5 (T)

8:1 In the twenty-ninth jubilee, in the first week, in the beginning thereof Arpachshad took to himself a woman and her name was Râsû’ĕjâ, [the daughter of Sûsân,] the daughter of Elam, and she bare him a son in the third year in this week, and he called his name Kâinâm (also spelled Cainan or Cainan). 2. And the son grew, and his father taught him writing, and he went to seek for himself a place where he might seize for himself a city. 3. And he found a writing which former (generations) had carved on the rock, and he read what was thereon, and he transcribed it and sinned owing to it; for it contained the teaching of the Watchers in accordance with which they used to observe the omens of the sun and moon and stars in all the signs of the heavens. 4. And he wrote it down and said nothing regarding it; for he was afraid to speak to Noaḥ about it lest he should be angry with him on account of it. 5. And in the thirtieth jubilee, in the second week, in the first year thereof, he took to himself a woman, and her name was Mêlkâ, the daughter of Madai, the son of Japheth, and in the fourth year he begat a son, and called his name Shelah; for he said: “Truly I have been sent.”

Baruch 4:1-8 (T)

The Book of Baruch is named after Baruch ben Neriah, Jeremiah’s well-known scribe, who is mentioned at Baruch 1:1, and has been presumed to be the author of the whole work. Although not in the Hebrew Bible, it is found in the Septuagint, in the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, and the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches. In some Bibles, Baruch chapter 6 is listed as a separate book called The Letter of Jeremiah, reflecting its separation from Baruch in some copies of the Greek Septuagint. Some scholars propose that it was written during or shortly after the period of the Maccabees. Although the earliest known manuscripts of Baruch are in Greek, linguistic features of the first parts of Baruch (1:1 – 3:8) have been proposed as indicating a translation from a Semitic language.

4:1 This is the book of the commandments of Elohim, and the law that endures forever: all those who hold it fast are appointed to life; but such as leave it will die. 2 Turn you, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk toward her shining in the face of the light thereof. 3 Give not your glory to another, nor the things that are profitable to you to a strange nation. 4 O Israel, happy are we: for the things that are pleasing to Elohim are made known to us. 5 Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel. 6 You were sold to the nations, but not for destruction: because you moved Elohim to wrath, you were delivered to your adversaries. 7 For you provoked him that made you by slaughtering to demons, and not to Elohim. 8 You forgot the everlasting Elohim, that brought you up; you grieved also Jerusalem, that nursed you.

1 and 2 Maccabees are set during the reign of the Seleucid Greek empire (the part of the Greek empire that found its roots in Syria). It tells the story of how the Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attested to suppress Temple worship and to destroy the practice of Jewish law. This caused the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and his sons. As a part of the revolt, the Temple was freed from the control of the Greek empire and rededicated (an act that is still commemorated yearly in the festival of Hanukkah). The Maccabees then ruled over Israel, first as High Priests and then as High Priests and Princes of Israel. 1 Maccabees follows this story until the death of Shimon (the third son of Mattathias to rule over Israel) at the hands of the Egyptian Greeks (from about 175-134 B.C.). 2 Maccabees recaps some of the story (until the events of 161 B.C.) and adds in details about Elohim’s intervention into the events reports.

1:29 And after two full years the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude. 30 And he spoke words of peace to them in subtlety, and they gave him credence: and he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it very sore, and destroyed much people out of Israel. 31 And he took the spoils of the city, and set it on fire, and pulled down the houses thereof and the walls thereof on every side. 32 And they led captive the women and the children, and the cattle they took in possession. 33 And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, with strong towers, and it became to them a citadel. 34 And they put there a sinful nation, transgressors of the law, and they strengthened themselves therein. 35 And they stored up arms and food, and gathering together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and they became a sore snare: 36 and it became a place to lie in wait in against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel continually. 37 And they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled the sanctuary. 38 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them; and she became a habitation of strangers, and she became strange to those who were born in her, and her children forsook her. 39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, her honor into contempt. 40 According to her glory, so was her dishonor multiplied, and her high estate was turned into mourning. 41 And king Antiochus wrote to his whole reign, that all should be one people, 42 and that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed according to the word of the king; 43 and many of Israel consented to his worship, and slaughtered to the idols, and profaned the Sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land, 45 and should forbid whole burnt offerings and slaughter and libation offerings in the sanctuary; and should profane the Sabbaths and feasts, 46 and pollute the sanctuary and those who were holy; 47 that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should slaughter swine’s flesh and unclean beasts: 48 and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation; 49 so that they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. 50 And whoever will not do according to the word of the king, he will die. 51 According to all these words wrote he to his whole reign; and he appointed overseers over all the people, and he commanded the cities of Judah to slaughter, city by city. 52 And from the people were gathered together to them many, every one that had forsaken the law; and they did evil things in the land; 53 and they made Israel to hide themselves in every place of refuge which they had. 54 And on the fifteenth day of Kislev, in the hundred and forty and fifth year, they built an abomination of desolation upon the altar, and in the cities of Judah on every side they built idol altars. 55 And at the doors of the houses and in the streets they burned incense. 56 And they tore in pieces the books of the law which they found, and set them on fire. 57 And wherever was found with any a book of the covenant, and if any consented to the law, the king’s sentence delivered him to death. 58 Thus did they in their might to Israel,to those that were found new moon by new moon in the cities. 59 And on the five and twentieth day of the new moon they slaughtered upon the idol altar of Elohim. 60 And the women that had circumcised their children they put to death according to the commandment. 61 And they hanged their babes about their necks, and destroyed their houses, and those who had circumcised them. 62 And many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat unclean things. 63 And they chose to die, that they might not be defiled with the meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: and they died. 64 And there came exceedingly great wrath upon Israel.

2 Maccabees 6:18 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, a man already well stricken in years, and of a noble countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh. 19 But he, welcoming death with renown rather than life with pollution, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture, but first spat forth the flesh, 20 coming forward as men ought to come that are resolute to repel such things as not even for the natural love of life is it lawful to taste. 21 But those who had the charge of that forbidden sacrificial feast took the man aside, for the acquaintance which of old times they had with him, and privately implored him to bring flesh of his own providing, such as was befitting for him to use, and to make as if he did eat of the flesh from the slaughter, as had been commanded by the king; 22 that by so doing he might be delivered from death, and for his ancient friendship with them might be treated kindly. 23 But he, having formed a high resolve, and one that became his years, and the dignity of old age, and the gray hairs which he had reached with honor, and his excellent education from a child, or rather that became the holy laws of Elohim’s ordaining, declared his mind accordingly, bidding them quickly send him to Hades. 24 For it becomes not our years to dissemble, said he, that through this many of the young should suppose that Eleazar, the man of fourscore years and ten, had gone over to a foreign religion; 25 and so they, by reason of my dissimulation, and for the sake of this brief and momentary life, should be led astray because of me, and thus I get to myself a pollution and a stain of my old age. 26 For even if for the present time I will remove from me the punishment of men, yet will I not escape the hands of the Almighty, either living or dead. 27 Wherefore, by manfully parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, 28 and leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly a glorious death for the reverend and holy laws. And when he had said these words, he went immediately to the instrument of torture. 29 And when they changed the good will they bore toward him a little before into ill will, because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness, 30 and when he was at the point to die with the stripes, he groaned aloud and said, “To the Lord, who has the holy knowledge, it is manifest that, whereas I might have been delivered from death, I endure sore pains in my body by being scourged; but in soul I gladly suffer these things for my fear of him.” 31 So this man also died after this manner, leaving his death for an example of nobleness and a memorial of virtue, not only to the young but also to the great body of his nation.

2 Maccabees 7:1 And it came to pass that seven kindred also with their mother were at the king’s command taken and shamefully handled with scourges and cords, to compel them to taste of the abominable swine’s flesh. 2 But one of them made himself the spokesman and said, What would you ask and learn of us? for we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our fathers. 3 And the king fell into a rage, and commanded to heat pans and cauldrons: 4 and when these forthwith were heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that had been their spokesman, and to scalp him, and to cut off his extremities, the rest of his kindred and his mother looking on. 5 And when he was utterly maimed, the king commanded to bring him to the fire, being yet alive, and to fry him in the pan. And as the vapor of the pan spread far, they and their mother also exhorted one another to die nobly, saying thus: 6 The Lord Elohim sees, and in truth is entreated for us, as Moses declared in his song, which witnesses against the people to their faces, saying, And he will be entreated for his servants. 7 And when the first had died after this manner, they brought the second to the mocking; and they pulled off the skin of his head with the hair and asked him, “Will you eat, before your body is punished in every limb?” 8 But he answered in the language of his fathers and said to them, “No.” Therefore he also underwent the next torture in succession, as the first had done. 9 And when he was at the last gasp, he said, “You, miscreant, release us out of this present life, but the King of the world will raise up us, who have died for his laws, to an eternal renewal of life.” 10 And after him was the third made a mocking-stock. And when he was required, he quickly put out his tongue, and stretched forth his hands courageously, 11 and nobly said, From the heavens I possess these; and for his laws’ sake I treat these with contempt; and from him I hope to receive these back again: 12 insomuch that the king himself and those who were with him were astonished at the young man’s soul, for that he nothing regarded the pains. 13 And when he too was dead, they shamefully handled and tortured the fourth in like manner. 14 And being come near to death he said thus: It is good to die at the hands of men and look for the hopes which are given by Elohim, that we will be raised up again by him; for as for you, you will have no resurrection to life. 15 And next after him they brought the fifth, and shamefully handled him. 16 But he looked toward the king and said, Because you have authority among men, though you are yourself corruptible, you do what you will; yet think not that our race has been forsaken of Elohim; 17 but hold you on your way, and behold his sovereign majesty, how it will torture you and your seed. 18 And after him they brought the sixth. And when he was at the point to die he said, Be not vainly deceived, for we suffer these things for our own doings, as sinning against our own Elohim: marvelous things are come to pass; 19 but think not you that you will be unpunished, having assayed to fight against Elohim. 20 But above all was the mother marvelous and worthy of honorable memory; for when she looked on seven sons perishing within the space of one day, she bare the sight with a good courage for the hopes that she had set on the Lord. 21 And she exhorted each one of them in the language of their fathers, filled with a noble temper and stirring up her womanish thought with manly passion, saying to them, 22 I know not how you came into my womb, neither was it I that bestowed on you your spirit and your life, and it was not I that brought into order the first elements of each one of you. 23 Therefore the Creator of the world, who fashioned the generation of man and devised the generation of all things, in mercy gives back to you again both your spirit and your life, as you now treat yourselves with contempt for his laws’ sake. 24 But Antiochus, thinking himself to be despised, and suspecting the reproachful voice, while the youngest was yet alive didn’t only make his appeal to him by words, but also at the same time promised with oaths that he would enrich him and raise him to high estate, if he would turn from the customs of his fathers, and that he would take him for his Friend and entrust him with affairs. 25 But when the young man would in no wise give heed, the king called to him his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the lad to save himself. 26 And when he had exhorted her with many words, she undertook to persuade her son. 27 But bending toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, she spoke thus in the language of her fathers: My son, have pity upon me that carried you nine new moons in my womb, and gave you suck three years, and nourished and brought you up to this age, and sustained you. 28 I beseech you, my child, to lift your eyes to the heavens and the land, and to see all things that are in it, and thus to recognize that Elohim made them not of things that were, and that the race of men in this wise comes into being. 29 Don’t be afraid of this butcher, but, proving yourself worthy of your kindred, accept your death, that in the mercy of Elohim I may receive you again with your kindred. 30 But before she had yet ended speaking, the young man said, Whom wait you for? I obey not the commandment of the king, but I listen to the commandment of the law that was given to our fathers through Moses. 31 But you, that have devised all manner of evil against the Hebrews, will in no wise escape the hands of Elohim. 32 For we are suffering because of our own sins; 33 and if for rebuke and chastening our living Lord has been angered a little while, yet will he again be reconciled with his own servants. 34 But you, O unholy man and of all most vile, be not vainly lifted up in your wild pride with uncertain hopes, raising your hand against the heavenly children; 35 For not yet have you escaped the judgment of the Almighty Elohim that sees all things. 36 For these our kindred, having endured a short pain that brings everlasting life, have now died under Elohim’s covenant; But you, through the judgment of Elohim, will receive in just measure the penalties of your arrogance. 37 But I, as my kindred, give up both body and soul for the laws of our fathers, calling upon Elohim that he may speedily become gracious to the nation; and that you amidst trials and plagues may confess that he alone is Elohim; 38 and that in me and my kindred you may stay the wrath of the Almighty, which has been justly brought upon our whole race. 39 But the king, falling into a rage, handled him worse than all the rest, being exasperated at his mocking. 40 So he also died pure from pollution, putting his whole trust in the Lord. 41 And last of all after her sons the mother died. 42 Let it then suffice to have said thus much concerning the enforcement of sacrificial feasts and the king’s exceeding barbarities.

Tobit 1:3-7 (T)

Tobit, also called The Book of Tobias, found its way into the Roman Catholic canon via the Septuagint. Before the 1952 discovery of Aramaic and Hebrew fragments of Tobit among the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave at Qumran, scholars believed Tobit was not included in the Jewish canon because of late authorship, estimated to 100 A.D.. Qumran fragments of the text, which were copied between 100 B.C. to 25 A.D., evidence a much earlier origin than previously thought. These fragments evidence authorship no later than the 2nd century B.C. and, likely, contemporary with the date ascribed, by modern scholars, to the final compilation of the Book of Daniel, which did attain canonical status.

1:1 I, Tobit walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I did many alms deeds to my kindred and my nation, who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. 4 When I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was yet young, all the tribe of Naphtali my father fell away from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should slaughter there, and the temple of the habitation of the Most High was hallowed and built therein for all ages. 5 All the tribes which fell away together slaughtered to the heifer Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my father. 6 I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it has been ordained to all Israel by an everlasting decree, having the first fruits and the tenths of my increase, and that which was first shorn; and I gave them at the altar to the priests the sons of Aaron. 7 I gave a tenth part of all my increase to the sons of Levi, who ministered at Jerusalem. A second tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it each year at Jerusalem. 8 A third tenth I gave to them to whom it was appropriate, as Deborah my father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father.

Deuteronomy 12:20 – 15:6 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 12

…When the Lord your Elohim will have enlarged your border, as He hath said unto you; and thou sayest, I would eat flesh, because thy soul may desire to eat flesh, thou mayest eat flesh according to all thy desire. But if the place which the Lord your Elohim will have chosen that His Shekinah may dwell there be too far off, then may you eat of your herds and flocks which the Lord your Elohim shall give you, as I have com&endash;manded you, in your cities you may eat, according to all the desire of your soul: as the flesh of the antelope or hart so may you eat it; he who is unclean that he may not offer holy, and he who is clean that he may offer them, may eat of it alike. [JERUSALEM. He who is restrained from holy, and he who is clean for holy, may eat alike.] Only put a strong restraint upon your desires, that you eat no blood; for the blood is the subsistence of the life. You may not, with the flesh, eat blood, in which is the subsistence of life: you shall not eat it, you shall pour it out upon the ground like water: eat it not, that it may be well with you, and with your children after you, while you do that which is right before the Lord. Nevertheless, animals which are your consecrated tenths, and your votive offerings, you shall take and bring to the place which the Lord will choose; and thou shalt do (with them) according to the rite of thy burnt offerings, (and offer) the flesh and the blood upon the altar of the Lord thy God: the blood of the rest of thy holy oblations shall be poured out at the altar of the Lord thy God, but of the flesh it is lawful to eat.

Observe and obey all these words that I command you, that it may be well with you and with your children after you for ever, while you do that which is good and right before the Lord your God. When the Lord your Elohim shall have cut off the nations among whom you go, and have expelled them from before you, and you inherit and dwell in their land, beware that you stumble not after their idols when they shall have been destroyed before you, or lest you seek after their idols, saying, How did these peoples worship their elohim, that we may worship as they did? So shall you not do in serving the Lord your God; for whatever is abominable and hateful to Him have they done to their idols; for even their sons and daughters they have bound and burned with fire unto their idols. Whatsoever I command you, that shall you observe to do; ye shall not add to it nor diminish from it.

Chapter 13

When there may arise among you a false prophet or a dreamer of a profane dream, and he give you a sign or a miracle, and the sign or the miracle come to pass, (yet) because he spake with you, saying, Let us go after the elohim of the peoples whom thou hast not known, and worship them, you shall not hearken to the words of that lying prophet, or his who hath dreamed that dream; for the Lord your Elohim (thereby) trieth you, to know whether you will love the Lord your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the service of the Lord your God, and Him shall you fear, and keep His commandments, hearken to His word, pray before Him, and cleave unto His fear. And that prophet of lies, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be slain with the sword, because he had spoken perversity against the Lord your Elohim who brought you out from the land of the Mizraee, and redeemed you from the house of the affliction of slaves to make you to go astray from the path which the Lord your Elohim hath commanded you to walk in: so shall you bring down the doers of evil among you.

When thy brother, the son of thy mother, when even the son of thy father, or thy own son or thy daughter, or thy wife who reposeth with thee, or thy friend who is beloved as thy soul, shall give thee evil counsel, to make thee go astray, speaking out and saying, Let us go and worship the elohim of the Gentiles, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; or the idols of the seven nations who are near you round about, or of the rest of the nations who are far away from you, from one end of the earth to the other; you shall not consent to them, nor hearken to him, neither shall your eye spare him or have compassion, nor shall you hide him in secret; but killing you shall kill him; your hand shall be the first upon him to slay him, and afterwards the hand of all the people; and you shall stone him that he die; because he sought to draw them away from the fear of the Lord thy God, who brought you out free from the land of Mizraim, from the house of the affliction of slaves. And all Israel will hear and be afraid, and never more do according to that evil thing among you. [JERUSALEM. When thy brother, the son of thy mother, thy son, thy daughter, or the woman who reposeth with thee, shall turn thee away.]

When, in one of your cities which the Lord your Elohim will give you to dwell in, you hear it said that (certain) men of pride are drawing back from the doctrine of the Lord your God, or that even sages of your rabbins have gone forth and led away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and worship the elohim of the nations which you have not known: then search you out, and examine with witnesses, and make good inquiry; and, behold, if the thing be true and certain that this abomination hath been really done among you, you shall smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, to destroy it utterly and whatever is therein, even its cattle, with the edge of the sword. You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of the street, and burn the city with fire, together with the whole of the spoil, before the Lord your God; and it shall be a desolate heap for ever, never to be builded again: that the Lord may be turned from the fierceness of His anger, and may show His mercy upon you, and love you, and multiply you, as He hath sworn to your fathers. So be ye obedient to the Word of the Lord your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you this day, that you may do what is right before the Lord your God.

Chapter 14

As beloved children before the Lord your God, you shall not make lacerations in your flesh, nor make bare the crown of the hair over your foreheads on account of the soul of the dead. [JERUSALEM. You are beloved children before the Lord your God; you shall not make divers wounds for strange worship, nor cause baldness above your forehead to mourn for a person who is dead.] For you are to be a holy people before the Lord your God: the Lord your Elohim hath chosen you to be a people more beloved than all the peoples who are upon the face of the earth. You may not eat of any thing that for you is abominable.

These are the animals which you may eat: oxen, and lambs of the ewes, such as are not blemished (unclean), and kids of the goats unmixed with what are unclean. Harts and antelopes and fallow deer, rock goats and reems, wild oxen and pygargs;[3] and every animal that hath the divided hoof, and horns, and that cleaveth the cleft, bringing up the cud among animals, that you may eat. [JERUSALEM. Which bringeth up the cud among animals, that may you eat.] But of these you may not eat that bring up the cud, or of those who (only) have the hoof divided, the cast thing (embryo) which hath two heads or a double back, things which are not to be perpetuated in the same species (i.e. as a species); nor the camel, the hare, or the coney, because they chew the cud, but do not divide the hoof; they are unclean to you. [JERUSALEM. Because they bring up the cud, but have not the hoof divided.] The swine, because, though he hath the hoof divided, and there is none produced that like him divideth (the hoof), and yet cheweth not the cud, is unclean to you; of their flesh you shall not eat, nor touch their dead bodies. But this you may eat, of all that are in the waters, whatever hath fins to move, as by flying, and scales upon its skin; and though (some of which) may fall away, yet if there remain on under its jaw, another under its fin, and another under its tail, that you may eat.[4] But whatever hath neither fins nor scales you may not eat; it is unclean to you. Every bird which hath a vesicle or crop which may be picked away,[5] and which (bird) is longer than a finger, and not of the rapacious kind, you may eat. But these are they which you may not eat: the eagle, the ossifrage, the osprey, the daitha (lammer geyer?) white or black, which is a bird of prey, a kind of vulture.[6] [JERUSALEM. 12. And these are they of which you may not eat; the eagle, and the sea eagle (ossifrage), and the osprey. 13. And the rook, the heron also, and the vulture after his kind.] And every raven after his kind; and the owl, and nighthawk, and the cuckoo, and the falcon after his kind; the great owl, and the sea gull (catcher of fish from the sea), and the night owl, and the cormorant[7] white or black, and the pica, and the stork white or black after its kind, and the heathcock, and the bat, [JERUSALEM. And the white daitha, and the ibis according to his kind, and the heathcock, and the bat,] and all flies (bees) and wasps, and all worms of vegetables and pulse, which come away from (materials of) food and fly as birds, are unclean to you, they may not be eaten; but any clean beast you may eat. You shall not eat of anything that is unclean through the manner of its death;[8] you may give it to the uncircumcised stranger who is in your cities to eat it, or sell it to a son of the Gentiles; for you are a holy people before the Lord your God. It shall not be lawful for you to boil, much less to eat, flesh with milk when both are mixed together.

Be mindful to tythe your fruitage of whatsoever cometh forth, and which you gather in from the field year by year; not giving the fruit of one year for the fruit of another. [JERUSALEM. My people of the house of Israel, tything you shall tythe all the produce of your seed, of that which you sow upon the face of the field and gather in the produce of each year. Israel, My people, it is not lawful for you to tythe and eat the fruit of one year along with the fruit of (another) year.] And the second tythe you shall eat before the Lord your Elohim in the place which He will choose to make His Shekinah to dwell there; the tenths of your corn, your vines, and your oil, and likewise the firstlings of your oxen and sheep, that you may learn to fear the Lord your Elohim all the days. And if the way be too great for you to be able to carry the tenth, because the place which the Lord thy Elohim will choose for His Shekinah to dwell there is too distant from you, when the Lord thy Elohim shall have blessed thee, then thou mayest make exchange for it into silver, and bind the sum in thy band, and proceed to the place which the Lord thy Elohim shall choose, and give the silver for any thing that thy soul pleaseth, of oxen, sheep, wine new or old, or whatever thy soul desireth; and you shall eat there before the Lord your Elohim and rejoice, you and the men of your house. And the Levite who is in your cities forsake not, for he hath not a portion or a heritage with you. At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tenths of your produce for that year, and lay them up in your cities. And the Levite, because he hath no part or heritage with you, and the stranger, the orphan, and the widow who are in your cities, shall come and eat and be satisfied; that the Lord your Elohim may bless you in all the works of your hands that you do.

Chapter 15

At the end of seven years you shall make a Release. And this is the indication of the custom of the Release: Every man who is master of a loan, who lendeth to his neighbour, shall give remission. He shall not have power to coerce his neighbour in demanding his loan, nor of his brother, a son of Israel; because the beth din hath published the Release before the Lord. From a son of the Gentiles thou mayest exact, but the lawful right (dina) which is thine with thy brother thou shalt release with thine hand. If you will only be diligent in the precepts of the law, there will be no poor among you; for, blessing, the Lord will bless you in the land which the Lord your Elohim will give you for a possession to inherit; if, obeying, you will only obey the Word of the Lord your God, to observe and do all these commandments which I command you this day. For the Lord your Elohim blesseth you, as He saith to you (that) you shall take from many nations, but they will not take from you; and you will have power over many nations, but they shall not have power over you.