Week 148

• Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:14 – 32:14
• Prophets (P): 1 Kings 2:1-12
• Apostolic (A): Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 14:1-5
• Additional (ADD): Judith 16:1-25

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Daniel 9:1-14 (T)
• Joshua 1:1-9 (T)
• 2 Kings 22:1-20; 2 Chronicles 34:1-33 (T)
• Exodus 32:7-9; Exodus 33:1-6; Exodus 34:8-9; Deuteronomy 9:6-13; Deuteronomy 10:15-16; 2 Kings 17:13-15; Psalms 75:4-5; Jeremiah 7:21-28; Jeremiah 17:19-27; Jeremiah 19:14-15; Acts 7:51-53 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Baruch 2:27-35 (T)
• Enoch 71:1-13 (T)
• Enoch 90:20-27 (T)
• Enoch 89:51-76 (T)
• Jubilees 2:1-3 (T)
• Jubilees 2:13-20 (T)
• Jubilees 15:30-32 (T)
• 4Q504 The Words of the Heavenly Lights, Fragment 6 (T)
• Deuteronomy 31:14 – 32:14 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.44-45 (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) 31:14 – 32:14

31:14 YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, your days approach that you must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Appointed Tent, that I may command him.” Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the Appointed Tent. 15 YHWH appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood [at]^(DSS) the Tent’s door. 16 YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, you will sleep with your fathers. This people will rise up and whore after the strange elohim of the land where they go to be among them, and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake [you],^(DSS) and I will hide my face from them, and they will be devoured, and many evils and troubles will come on them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Haven’t these evils come on us because [YHWH my Elohim]^(DSS)(LXX) is not among us?’ 18 I will surely hide my face [from him]^(DSS) in that day for all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other elohim. 19 “Now therefore write [the words of]^(DSS)(LXX) this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the sons of Israel. 20 For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat, then they will turn to other elohim, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant. 21 It will happen, when many evils and troubles have come on them, that this song will answer before them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed; for I know their ways and what they are doing today, before I have brought them into the land which I promised them.” 22 So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel. 23 He commanded Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous; for you will bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them. I will be with you.” 24 When Moses had finished writing the words of this Torah in a book, until they were finished, 25 Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of YHWH, saying, 26 “Take this book of the Torah, and put it by the side of the ark of YHWH your Elohim’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against you. 27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against [Elohim].^(LXX) How much more after my death? 28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, [and your elders and your judges],^(DSS)(LXX) and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call the heavens and the land to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days, because you will do that which is evil in the sight of YHWH, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.” 30 Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.

32:1 Give ear, you the heavens, and I will speak. Let the land hear the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb. 3 For I will proclaim YHWH’s name. Ascribe greatness to our Elohim! 4 [Elohim],^(LXX) his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. An Elohim of faithfulness who does no wrong, just and right is he. 5 They have dealt corruptly with him. They are not his sons, because of their defect. They are a perverse and crooked generation. 6 Is this the way you repay YHWH, foolish and unwise people? Isn’t he your father who has bought you? He has made you and established you. 7 Remember the days of old. Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you. 8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of men, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the [sons of Elohim].^(DSS)(LXX) 9 For the portion of YHWH is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He preserved him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. 12 YHWH alone led him. There was no foreign elohim with him. 13 He made him ride on the high places of the land. He ate the increase of the field. He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of the flinty rock; 14 butter from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. From the blood of the grape, you drank wine.

Prophets Portion (P)

1 Kings 2:1-12

2:1 Now the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am going the way of all the land. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man; 3 and guard the charge of YHWH your Elohim, to walk in his ways, to guard his statutes, his commandments, his judgments, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the Torah of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn yourself. 4 Then YHWH may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there will not fail you,’ he said, ‘a man on the throne of Israel.’ 5 “Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was around his waist and in his sandals that were on his feet. 6 Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 “Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by YHWH, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.” 10 David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city. 11 The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 Solomon sat on David his father’s throne; and his reign was firmly established.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 14:1-5

Revelation 5:1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and on the back, sealed shut with seven seals. 2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 3 No one in the heavens above, or on the land, or under the land, was able to open the book or to look in it. 4 Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and [loosens]^(mss) its seven seals.” 6 I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim, sent out into all the land. 7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. 9 They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for you were killed, and bought us for Elohim with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, 10 and made [them to be a kingdom]^(mss) and priests to our Elohim; and [they]^(mss) will reign on the land.” 11 I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!” 13 I heard every created thing which is in the heavens, on the land, under the land, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the elders fell down and did bow down.

Revelation 14:1 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound from the heavens like the sound of many waters and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. 3 They sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the land. 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, the first fruits to Elohim and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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

Judith 16:1-25

16:1 And Judith began to sing this song of thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang with loud voices this song of praise. 2 Judith said, “Begin a song to my Elohim with timbrels. Sing to my Lord with cymbals. Make melody to him with psalm and praise. Exalt him, and call upon his name. 3 For the Lord is the Elohim that crushes battles. For in his armies in the midst of the people, he delivered me out of the hand of those who persecuted me. 4 Asshur came out of the mountains from the north. He came with ten thousands of his army. Its multitude stopped the torrents. Their horsemen covered the hills. 5 He said that he would burn up my borders, kill my young men with the sword, throw my nursing children to the ground, give my infants up as prey, and make my virgins a plunder. 6 “The Almighty Lord brought them to nothing by the hand of a woman. 7 For their mighty one didn’t fall by young men, neither did sons of the Titans strike him. Tall giants didn’t attack him, but Judith the daughter of Merari made him weak with the beauty of her countenance. 8 “For she put off the apparel of her widowhood for the exaltation of those who were distressed in Israel. She anointed her face with ointment, bound her hair in a tiara, and took a linen garment to deceive him. 9 Her sandal ravished his eye. Her beauty took his soul prisoner. The sword passed through his neck. 10 “The Persians quaked at her daring. The Medes were daunted at her boldness. 11 “Then my lowly ones shouted aloud. My oppressed people were terrified and trembled for fear. They lifted up their voices and the enemy fled. 12 The children of slave-girls pierced them through, and wounded them as fugitives’ children. They perished by the army of my Lord. 13 “I will sing to my Elohim a new song: O Lord, you are great and glorious, marvelous in strength, invincible. 14 Let all your creation serve you; for you spoke, and they were made. You sent out your spirit, and it built them. There is no one who can resist your voice. 15 For the mountains will be moved from their foundations with the waters, and the rocks will melt as wax at your face: But you are yet merciful to those who fear you. 16 For all slaughter is little for a sweet savor, and all the fat is very little for a whole burnt offering to you; but he who fears the Lord is great continually. 17 “Woe to the nations who rise up against my race! The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment and put fire and worms in their flesh; and they will weep and feel their pain forever.” 18 Now when they came to Jerusalem, they worshiped Elohim. When the people were purified, they offered their whole burnt offerings, their freewill offerings, and their gifts. 19 Judith dedicated all Holofernes’ stuff, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken for herself out of his bedchamber, for a gift to the Lord. 20 And the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three new moons, and Judith remained with them. 21 After these days, everyone departed to his own inheritance. Judith went away to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was honorable in her time in all the land. 22 Many desired her, but no man knew her all the days of her life from the day that Manasseh her husband died and was gathered to his people. 23 She increased in greatness exceedingly; and she grew old in her husband’s house, to one hundred five years. She let her maid go free. Then she died in Bethulia. They buried her in the cave of her husband Manasseh. 24 The house of Israel mourned for her seven days. She distributed her goods before she died to all those who were nearest of kin to Manasseh her husband, and to those who were nearest of her own kindred. 25 There was no one who made the sons of Israel afraid any more in the days of Judith, nor for a long time after her death.

Related Scriptures

Daniel 9:1-14 (T)

9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Kasdim— 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah the prophet for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years. 3 I set my face to the Lord Elohim, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to YHWH my Elohim, and made confession, and said, “Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful Elohim, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and guard his commandments, 5 we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your judgments. 6 We haven’t listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 “Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as it is today; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you. 8 Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our Elohim belong mercies and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him. 10 We haven’t obeyed YHWH our Elohim’s voice, to walk in his Torot, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel have transgressed your Torah, turning aside, that they should not obey your voice. “Therefore the curse and the oath written in the Torah of Moses the servant of Elohim has been poured out on us, for we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the heavens, such has not been done as has been done to Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Torah of Moses, all this evil has come on us. Yet we have not entreated the favor of YHWH our Elohim, that we should turn from our iniquities and have discernment in your truth. 14 Therefore YHWH has watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for YHWH our Elohim is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.

Joshua 1:1-9 (T)

1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of YHWH, YHWH spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the sons of Israel. 3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, will be your border. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous; for you will cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the Torah which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This book of the Torah will not depart from your mouth, but you will meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for YHWH your Elohim is with you wherever you go.”

2 Kings 22:1-20; 2 Chronicles 34:1-33 (T)

2 Kings 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 He did that which was right in the eyes of YHWH, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left. 3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of YHWH, saying, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which is brought into the house of YHWH, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people. 5 Let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of YHWH; and let them give it to the workers who are in the house of YHWH, to repair the damage to the house, 6 to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house. 7 However, no accounting will be asked of them for the money delivered into their hand, for they deal faithfully.” 8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the Torah in the house of YHWH.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of YHWH.” 10 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king. 11 When the king had heard the words of the book of the Torah, he tore his clothes. 12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go inquire of YHWH for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of YHWH that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.” 14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the woman of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe, now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter; and they talked with her. 15 She said to them, “YHWH the Elohim of Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 “YHWH says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other elohim, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’ ” 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of YHWH, tell him, “YHWH the Elohim of Israel says, ‘Concerning the words which you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before YHWH when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,’ says YHWH. 20 ‘Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’ ” ‘ ” So they brought this message back to the king.

2 Chronicles 34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 He did that which was right in the eyes of YHWH, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the Elohim of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images. 4 They broke down the altars of the Baals in his face; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had slaughtered to them. 5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6 He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Shimon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins. 7 He broke down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, then returned to Jerusalem. 8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of YHWH his Elohim. 9 They came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into Elohim’s house, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from the hands of Manasseh, Ephraim, of all the remnant of Israel, of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of YHWH; and the workmen who labored in the house of YHWH gave it to mend and repair the house. 11 They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. 12 The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Qohathites, to give direction; and others of the Levites, who were all skillful with musical instruments. 13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Of the Levites, there were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers. 14 When they brought out the money that was brought into the house of YHWH, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the Torah of YHWH given by Moses. 15 Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the Torah in the house of YHWH.” So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16 Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, “All that was committed to your servants, they are doing. 17 They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of YHWH, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and into the hand of the workmen.” 18 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book.” Shaphan read from it to the king. 19 When the king had heard the words of the Torah, he tore his clothes. 20 The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 21 “Go inquire of YHWH for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of YHWH that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of YHWH, to do according to all that is written in this book.” 22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess, the woman of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe, now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter, and they spoke to her to that effect. 23 She said to them, “YHWH, the Elohim of Israel says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 “YHWH says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other elohim, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath is poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’ ” ‘ 26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of YHWH, you will tell him this, ‘YHWH, the Elohim of Israel says: “About the words which you have heard, 27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Elohim when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,” says YHWH. 28 “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes won’t see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.” ‘ ” They brought back this message to the king. 29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the house of YHWH with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small—and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of YHWH. 31 The king stood in his place and cut a covenant before YHWH, to walk after YHWH, and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of Elohim, the Elohim of their fathers. 33 Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the sons of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve YHWH their Elohim. All his days they didn’t depart from following YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.

Exodus 32:7-9; Exodus 33:1-6; Exodus 34:8-9; Deuteronomy 9:6-13; Deuteronomy 10:15-16; Deuteronomy 31:26-27; 2 Kings 17:13-15; Psalms 75:4-5; Jeremiah 7:21-28; Jeremiah 17:19-27; Jeremiah 19:14-15; Acts 7:51-53 (T)

Exodus 32:7 YHWH spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves! 8 They have turned away quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and have worshiped it, and have slaughtered to it, and said, ‘These are your elohim, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’ ” 9 YHWH said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people.

Exodus 33:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’ 2 I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 3 Go to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.” 4 When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry. 5 YHWH had said to Moses, “Tell the sons of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’ ” 6 The sons of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

Exodus 34:8 Moses hurried and bowed his head toward the land, and did bow down. 9 He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go among us, even though this is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

Deuteronomy 9:6 Know therefore that YHWH your Elohim doesn’t give you this good land to possess for your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. 7 Remember, and don’t forget, how you provoked YHWH your Elohim to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against YHWH. 8 Also in Horeb you provoked YHWH to wrath, and YHWH was angry with you to destroy you. 9 When I had gone up onto the mountain to receive the stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant which YHWH made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10 YHWH delivered to me the two stone tablets written with Elohim’s finger. On them were all the words which YHWH spoke with you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 It came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights that YHWH gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant. 12 YHWH said to me, “Arise, get down quickly from here; for your people whom you have brought out of Egypt have corrupted. They have quickly turned away from the way which I commanded them. They have made a molten image for themselves!” 13 Furthermore YHWH spoke to me, saying, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people.

Deuteronomy 10:15 Only YHWH had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.

2 Kings 17:13 Yet YHWH witnessed to Israel and to Judah, by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and guard my commandments and my statutes, according to all the Torah which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” 14 Notwithstanding, they would not listen, but stiffened their neck like the neck of their fathers who didn’t believe in YHWH their Elohim. 15 They rejected his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he witnessed to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom YHWH had commanded them that they should not do like them.

Psalms75:4 I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast!” I said to the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn. 5 Don’t lift up your horn on high. Don’t speak with a stiff neck.”

Jeremiah 7:21 YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel says: “Add your burnt offerings to your slaughters and eat meat. 22 For I didn’t speak to your fathers or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt offerings or slaughters; 23 but this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to my voice, and I will be your Elohim, and you will be my people. Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they didn’t listen to me or incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers. 27 “You will speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You will also call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 You will tell them, ‘This is the nation that has not listened to YHWH their Elohim’s voice, nor received instruction. Truth has perished, and is cut off from their mouth.’

Jeremiah 17:19 YHWH said this to me: “Go and stand in the gate of the sons of the people, through which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem. 20 Tell them, ‘Hear the word of YHWH, you kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: 21 YHWH says, “Be careful, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don’t do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction. 24 It will happen, if you diligently listen to me,” says YHWH, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein; 25 then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever. 26 They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, slaughters, grain offerings, and frankincense, and bringing slaughters of thanksgiving to the house of YHWH. 27 But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”

Jeremiah 19:14 Then Jeremiah came from Topheth, where YHWH had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the court of the house of YHWH, and said to all the people: 15 “YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel says, ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all its towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have made their neck stiff, that they may not hear my words.’ ”

Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52 Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53 You received the Torah as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t guard it!”

Related Additional Readings​

Baruch 2:27-35 (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 Eritrean/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.

2:27 Yet, O Lord our Elohim, you have dealt with us after all your kindness and according to all your great mercy, 28 as you spoke by your servant Moses in the day when you commanded him to write your Torah in the face of the sons of Israel, saying, 29 “If you won’t hear my voice, surely this very great multitude will be turned into a small number among the nations where I will scatter them. 30 For I know that they will not hear me, because they are a stiff-necked people; but in the land of their captivity they will take it to heart, 31 and will know that I am the Lord their Elohim. I will give them a heart and ears to hear. 32 Then they will praise me in the land of their captivity, and think about my name, 33 and will return from their stiff neck and from their wicked deeds; for they will remember the way of their fathers who sinned before the Lord. 34 I will bring them again into the land which I promised to their fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and they will rule over it. I will increase them, and they won’t be diminished. 35 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their Elohim, and they will be my people. I will no more remove my people Israel out of the land that I have given them.”

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

Enoch 71:1-13 (T)

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

Enoch 90:20-27 (T)

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

Enoch 89:51-76 (T)

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

Jubilees 2:1-3 (T)

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

Jubilees 2:13-20 (T)

2:13 And on the sixth day He created all the animals of the land, and all cattle, and everything that moves on the land. 14. And after all this He created man, a man and a woman created He them, and gave him dominion over all that is upon the land, and in the seas, and over everything that flies, and over beasts and over cattle, and over everything that moves on the land, and over the whole land, and over all this He gave him dominion. And these four kinds He created on the sixth day. 15. And there were altogether two and twenty kinds. 16. And He finished all His work on the sixth day–all that is in the heavens and on the land, and in the seas and in the abysses, and in the light and in the darkness, and in everything. 17. And He gave us a great sign, the Sabbath day, that we should work six days, but keep Sabbath on the seventh day from all work. 18. And all the angels of the face, and all the angels of sanctification, these two great classes–He hath hidden us to guard the Sabbath with Him in the heavens and on land. 19. And He said unto us: “Behold, I will separate unto Myself a people from among all the peoples, and these will guard the Sabbath day, and I will sanctify them unto Myself as My people, and will bless them; as I have sanctified the Sabbath day and do sanctify (it) unto Myself, even so will I bless them, and they will be My people and I will be their Elohim. 20. And I have chosen the seed of Jacob from amongst all that I have seen, and have written him down as My firstborn son, and have sanctified him unto Myself for ever and ever; and I will teach them the Sabbath day, that they may keep Sabbath thereon from all work.”

Jubilees 15:30-32 (T)

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

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

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

Deuteronomy 31:14 – 32:14 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 31 …Unto three of the just was it told that the time of their death was drawing nigh, and that they should not attain to the days of their fathers; and each of them had been appointed a prince in his days; Jakob our father, David the king, and Mosheh the prophet; for thus it is written: And the Lord said unto Mosheh, Behold, thy day approacheth when thou must die. Call Jehoshua, and stand both of you in the tabernacle of ordinance, that I may give him charge. And Mosheh and Jehoshua went, and stood in the tabernacle of ordinance. And the glorious Shekinah of the Lord revealed itself at the tabernacle in the pillar of the Cloud, and the pillar of the Cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle, and Mosheh and Jehoshua stood without. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Behold, thou wilt lie down in the dust with thy fathers, and thy soul shall be treasured in the treasury of eternal life with thy fathers: but this wicked people will rise up and go astray after the idols of the nations among whom they come, and will forsake My worship, and change My covenant which I have made with them. [JERUSALEM. They will forsake, and will profane the statutes I have confirmed with them.] Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I shall abhor them, and remove My Shekinah from them, and they will become a prey, and many evils and troubles shall befall them. And they will say at that time, with adjuration, Is it not because the Shekinah of my Elohim dwelleth not among me, that all these evils have befallen me? But I will indeed remove My Shekinah from them at that time, until they have dwindled away, to receive the punishment of their sins for all the evil they have wrought, because they turned themselves after the idols of the nations. And now, write you this hymn, and teach the sons of Israel; put it upon their lips, that this hymn may be before them, for a witness against the sons of Israel. For I will bring them into the land which I promised to their fathers, (a land) producing milk and honey, and they will eat and be satisfied: but (after that they have) waxen fat they will turn away to the idols of the Gentiles and worship them; so will they provoke Me to anger, and abolish My covenant. And when these many evils and troubles shall come upon them, then will this hymn bear witness to them for a testimony; for it is revealed before Me that it will not be forgotten on the lips of their children: for their evil disposition to which they are yielding today, even before I bring you into the promised land, is known to Me.

And Mosheh wrote this hymn, and taught the chil­dren of Israel. And He commanded Jehoshua bar Nun, saying: Be strong and of good courage; for thou art to bring the sons of Israel into the land I have pro­mised to them, and My Word shall be thy Helper. And when Mosheh had finished to write the words of this law upon parchment to complete them, [JERUSALEM. When Mosheh had completed to write the glo­rious words of this law until they were finished,] he com­manded the Levites who bare the ark of the Lord’s covenant, saying: Take the book of this law, and put it into a chest on the right side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be for a testament to you. For your rebellion is revealed before me, and the obduracy of your neck. Behold, while I am yet alive among you today ye are rebellious before the Lord; but how much more when I am dead! [JERUSALEM. How much more when I am dead!] Gather together to me all the sages of your tribes and your officers, and I will speak all these words in their hearing, and will call heaven and earth to bear witness against them. For I know that after my death corrupting you will corrupt your works, and go astray from the way I have commanded you, and that evil will befall you in the end, because you will do what is wrong before the Lord in provoking Him to anger. And Mosheh spake in the hearing of all the congregation of Israel the words of this hymn until they were ended.

Chapter 32 And when the last end of Mosheh the prophet was at hand, that he should be gathered from among the world, he said in his heart: I will not attest against this people with witnesses that taste of death in this world, behold, I attest against them with witnesses which do not taste of death in this world, and whose destination is to be renewed in the world to come. Isaiah the prophet, when he prophesied in the congregation of Israel, attributed hearing to the heavens, and attentiveness to the earth; because (in his case) earth was nearest and heaven more remote: but Mosheh the prophet, when he now prophesied in the congregation of Israel, attributed hearing to the earth, and attentiveness to the heavens; because (in his case) heaven was nearest and earth more remote; for so it is written, Attend, ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall smite the rebellious like heavy rain; but shall be enjoyed with pleasantness by those who receive instruction, as the dew: my words shall be like the downfalling rain of the wind that breathes upon the grass in the month of Marchesvan, and as the droppings of the latter rain which water the springing herbage of the earth in Nisan.

[JERUSALEM. When the end of Mosheh came that he should be removed from the world, he said: Behold, I testify in this world a thing which tasteth not of death; so will I attest against them the heavens and earth which taste not of death in this world, but whose end is to be consumed in the world that cometh. For so he explained, and said: Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and consider the earth beneath; for the heavens shall dissolve like smoke, and the earth fade away as a garment; but I have prepared to create new heavens and a new earth. Isaiah the prophet, when he prophesied in the congregation of Israel, because he was remote from the heavens and nearest the earth, attributed hearing to the heavens, and attention to the earth: for so be explaineth, and saith: Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the Word of the Lord hath spoken. Mosheh the prophet, &c. (as above.) The doctrine of my law shall be sweet to the sons of Israel as the rain, the word Of my mouth will be received by them with pleasantness as the dew, as the wind which breathes upon the herb, and as the drops of the latter rain that descend and water the herbage of the ground in Nisan.]

Woe to the wicked who make memorial of the Holy Name with blasphemies. Wherefore Mosheh, who was the Doctor of Israel, would not permit himself to pronounce the Holy Name until he had dedicated his mouth at the beginning of his hymn with eighty and five letters, making twenty and one words, and afterwards be spake: In the Name of the Lord I invoke you, O house of Israel, to ascribe glory and greatness before our God. [JERUSALEM. Mosheh the prophet said: Woe to the wicked who make memorial of the Holy Name with blasphemies. For it is not possible even to one of the highest angels to utter that Name rightly until that they have said, Holy, Holy, Holy thrice. And from them did Mosheh learn not to utter that Name openly until he should have dedicated his mouth with twenty‑one words which consist of eighty-five letters; and so explained he and said: Hear, ye heavens, and I will speak; for it is the Name of the Lord. Mosheh the prophet said: O people of Israel, I invoke you, in the Name of the Lord, to give glory, praise, and highest exaltation unto God.]

Mosheh the prophet said: When I ascended the mountain of Sinai, I beheld the Lord of all the worlds, the Lord, dividing the day into four portions; three hours employed in the law, three with judgment, three in making marriage bonds between man and woman, and appointing to elevate or to abase, arid three hours in the care of every created thing: for so it is written: The Mighty One whose works are perfect, for all His ways are judgment, a faithful Elohim before whom no iniquity comes forth, pure and upright is He. [JERUSALEM. (The same words to) three hours, uniting the marriage yoke of the husband to the wife . . . . a faithful Elohim and true; falsehood is not before Him; He is just and upright in judgment.]

The beloved children have corrupted their good works, a blemish is found upon them; a perverse generation which have altered their works; so shall the order of this world’s judgment be altered upon them. [JERUSALEM. The children have corrupted their works, and not them only, but themselves also: they have so corrupted that the spot is upon them; a depraved and perverse generation which changeth its order of this world shall be changed upon it.]

Can you indeed so requite the Name of the Word of the Lord, O foolish people, and receive the law, yet not be made wise? Is He not your Father who bought you, who created you and established you? [JERUSALEM. Do you return this before the Lord, O people foolish and unwise? Is He not your Father who is in heaven, who bought you? He created and founded you.] Remember the days of old; consider the years of every generation; read the books of the law, and they will teach you, and the books of the prophets, and they will tell you. [JERUSALEM. Be mindful of the days, the days of old, consider the years of one generation and another; ask your fathers who are greater in the law than you, and they will teach you, the sages, and they will tell you.] When the Most High made allotment of the world unto the nations which proceeded from the sons of Noach, in the separation of the writings and languages of the children of men at the time of the division, He cast the lot among the seventy angels, the princes of the nations with whom is the revelation to oversee the city, even at that time He established the limits of the nations according to the sum of the number of the seventy souls of Israel who went down into Mizraim. [JERUSALEM. When the Most High divided the nations by lot, and distinguished the languages of the children of men, He appointed the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the tribes of the Beni Israel.]

And when the holy people fell to the lot of the Lord of all the world, Michael opened his lips and said: Let the good portion of the Name of the Lord’s Word be with Him. Gabriel opened his lips with thanksgivings, and said, Let the house of Jakob be the lot of His inheritance. [JERUSALEM. Because the Lord’s portion are His people, and the house of Jakob the lot of His inheritance.] He found them dwelling in the wilderness, in the solitude, the place of howling demons and thorns, the place of thirsting; He overspread them with His seven glorious clouds; He taught them His law; He kept them as the Shekinah keepeth the apple of His eye. [JERUSALEM. He found them wandering in a desert land, in the solitude of a howling wilderness; He threw over them clouds of glory; His Shekinah taught them the Ten Words, watched over them, and kept them as the apple of His eye.] As an eagle stirreth up and careth for his nest, and hovereth over his young, so did His Shekinah stir up the tents of Israel, and the shadow of His Shekinah overspread them; and as an eagle outstretcheth his wings over his young ones, beareth them and carrieth them upon his wings, so bare He them and carried them, and made them dwell upon the strong places of the land of Israel. [JERUSALEM. As an eagle stirreth up his nest, and carefully spreadeth out his wings, and taketh and beareth them with the strength of his wings.] The Word of the Lord made them to dwell in His land, nor suffered any among them to be the followers of strange worship. [JERUSALEM. The Lord alone caused them to dwell, and none were among them who served with strange worship.] He made them to dwell in the strong places of the land of Israel,

and gave them to eat of the goodly produce of His field, and nourished them with the honey of its fruits which grow even upon the rocks with the oil of its olive trees, and from branches (growing) out of the rocks. [JERUSALEM. He made them ride upon the high places of the earth, and gave them to eat of royal delicacies, and nourished them with honey out of the rock, and with oil from their olives (growing) out of the flinty stone of the rock.] He gave them rich butter of kine from the spoil of their kings, and the fat of the firstlings of the sheep from the prey of their sultans, with the choice rams and goats of the flocks of Mathnan. Mosheh the prophet said: If the people of Israel will observe the precepts of the law, it is foretold that their wheat granary shall be like the kidneys of oxen, and that from one bunch of grapes shall come forth a kor of red wine. [JERUSALEM. Tender oxen and choice flocks, goodly fatlings, rams bred in Batenaia, and goats, with the richest of the wheat. Mosheh the prophet said: If the sons of Israel will observe the precepts of the law . . . . from one bunch they shall drink a cup of wine.]

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.44-45 (T)

Josephus was born Joseph ben Mattathias in 37 AD in Jerusalem of a priestly and royal family. He excelled in his studies of Jewish law and studied with the Sadducees, Pharisees, and the Essenes, eventually aligning himself with the Pharisees. In 62 AD he went to Rome to free some imprisoned priests. After accomplishing this mission through the intercession of Nero’s wife, Poppaea, he returned to Jerusalem in 65 AD to find the country in revolt against Rome. Josephus shrewdly reinterpreted the Messianic prophecies. He predicted that Vespasian would become the ruler of the ‘entire world’. His prophecy became true in 68 AD when Nero committed suicide and Vespasian became Ceasar. As a result, Josephus was freed; he moved to Rome and became a Roman citizen, taking the Vespasian family name Flavius. Vespasian commissioned Josephus to write a history of the war, which he finished in 78 AD, the Jewish War. His second major work, the Antiquities of the Jews, was completed in 93 AD. The extant manuscripts of the book Antiquities of the Jews contain two references to Yeshua of Nazareth (18.3.3. and 20.9.1.) and one reference to the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist (18.5.2.).

4.8.44. This was the form of political government which was left us by Moses. Moreover, he had already delivered laws in writing in the fortieth year [after they came out of Egypt], concerning which we will discourse in another book. But now on the following days (for he called them to assemble continually) he delivered blessings to them, and curses upon those that should not live according to the laws, but should transgress the duties that were determined for them to observe. After this, he read to them a poetic song, which was composed in hexameter verse, and left it to them in the holy book: it contained a prediction of what was to come to pass afterward; agreeably whereto all things have happened all along, and do still happen to us; and wherein he has not at all deviated from the truth. Accordingly, he delivered these books to the priest, with the ark; into which he also put the ten commandments, written on two tables. He delivered to them the tabernacle also, and exhorted the people, that when they had conquered the land, and were settled in it, they should not forget the injuries of the Amalekites, but make war against them, and inflict punishment upon them for what mischief they did them when they were in the wilderness; and that when they had got possession of the land of the Canaanites, and when they had destroyed the whole multitude of its inhabitants, as they ought to do, they should erect an altar that should face the rising sun, not far from the city of Shechem, between the two mountains, that of Gerizzim, situate on the right hand, and that called Ebal, on the left; and that the army should be so divided, that six tribes should stand upon each of the two mountains, and with them the Levites and the priests. And that first, those that were upon Mount Gerizzim should pray for the best blessings upon those who were diligent about the worship of Elohim, and the observation of his laws, and who did not reject what Moses had said to them; while the other wished them all manner of happiness also; and when these last put up the like prayers, the former praised them. After this, curses were denounced upon those that should transgress those laws, they, answering one another alternately, by way of confirmation of what had been said. Moses also wrote their blessings and their curses, that they might learn them so thoroughly, that they might never be forgotten by length of time. And when he was ready to die, he wrote these blessings and curses upon the altar, on each side of it; where he says also the people stood, and then slaughtered and offered burnt offerings, though after that day they never offered upon it any other slaughter, for it was not lawful so to do. These are the constitutions of Moses; and the Hebrew nation still live according to them.

4.8.45. On the next day, Moses called the people together, with the women and children, to a congregation, so as the very slaves were present also, that they might engage themselves to the observation of these laws by oath; and that, duly considering the meaning of Elohim in them, they might not, either for favor of their kindred, or out of fear of any one, or indeed for any motive whatsoever, think any thing ought to be preferred to these laws, and so might transgress them. That in case any one of their own blood, or any city, should attry to confound or dissolve their constitution of government, they should take vengeance upon them, both all in general, and each person in particular; and when they had conquered them, should overturn their city to the very foundations, and, if possible, should not leave the least footsteps of such madness: but that if they were not able to take such vengeance, they should still demonstrate that what was done was contrary to their wills. So the multitude bound themselves by oath so to do.