Week 149

• Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32:15-52
• Prophets (P): Habakkuk 3:8-19
• Apostolic (A): Revelation 15:1-8
• Additional (ADD): 2 Maccabees 7:1-42

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Isaiah 1:1-3 (T)
• Jeremiah 2:4-12 (T)
• Micah 1:1-5 (T)
• Matthew 16:15-19; Matthew 18:15-20 (T)
• 2 Samuel 22:31; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 8:3-4; Job 36:22-26; Zephaniah 3:1-5; Romans 9:14 (T)
• Nehemiah 9:32-35 (T)
• Exodus 32:1-7 (T)
• Genesis 10:25; Genesis 11:1-9; Micah 2:1-5; Acts 17:23-32 (T)
• Exodus 19:1-6 (T)
• Isaiah 31:1-9 (T)
• Deuteronomy 4:26-36 (T)
• 1 Samuel 2:6-10 (T)
• Isaiah 45:5-25 (T)
• Genesis 1:3-5 (T)
• Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 82:1-8; Psalms 89:5-8; John 10:31-38; Job 38:6-7; Matthew 5:9; Romans 8:13-17 (T)
• Hebrews 10:30 (T)
• Hebrews 1:1-9 (T)
• Romans 15:10 (T)
• Numbers 27:12-14 (T)
• Numbers 20:7-13, Numbers 20:22-29; Numbers 33:37-39 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Para-Danielic Writings 4Q243 Frag. 3 Combined with 4Q244 (T)
• CD The Damascus Document, 5:17, 8:9-10 (T)
• 4Q418 The Secret of the Way Things Are, Fragment 127 (T)
• Deuteronomy 32:15-52 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.45 (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) 32:15-52

32:15 [But Jacob ate his fill.]^(LXX) 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 [Elohim]^(LXX) of his salvation. 16 They moved him to zeal with strange elohim. They provoked him to anger with abominations. 17 They slaughtered to demons, 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 [Elohim]^(LXX) 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 faith. 21 They have moved me to zeal with that which is not Elohim. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to zeal with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. (cf. Romans 10:19) 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. 23 “I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them. 24 They will be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat and bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of animals on them, with the venom of vipers that glide in the dust. 25 Outside, the sword will bereave, and in the rooms, terror on both young man and virgin, the nursing infant with the gray-haired man. 26 I said that I would scatter them afar. I would make their memory to cease from among men; 27 were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge wrongly, lest they should say, ‘Our hand is exalted; YHWH has not done all this.’ ” 28 For they are a nation void of counsel. There is no understanding in them. 29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! 30 How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their [Elohim]^(LXX) had sold them, and YHWH had delivered them up? 31 For their [elohim]^(LXX) is not as our [Elohim],^(LXX) even our enemies themselves concede. 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poison grapes. Their clusters are bitter. 33 Their wine is the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of vipers. 34 “Isn’t this laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures? 35 [In the day of vengeance]^(LXX) I will recompense (cf. Hebrews 10:30), at the time when their foot slides, for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.” 36 For YHWH will vindicate his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large. 37 [YHWH]^(DSS)(LXX) will say, “Where are their elohim, the rock^(LXX) in which they took refuge, 38 which ate the fat of their slaughters, and drank the wine of their libation offering? Let them rise up and help you! Let them be your protection. 39 “See now that I myself am he. There is no elohim with me. I kill and I make alive. I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to the heavens and declare, as I live forever, 41 if I sharpen my glittering sword, my hand grasps it in judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me. 42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword will devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives, [and]^(DSS) from the head of the leaders of the enemy.” 43 [Rejoice, you heavens, with him, and let all the angels of Elohim worship him; (cf. Hebrews 1:6) rejoice you Nations, with his people, (cf. Romans 15:10) and let all the sons of Elohim strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and YHWH will cleanse out the land for his people.]^(DSS)(LXX) 44 Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and [Joshua]^(LXX)(SP) the son of Nun. 45 Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel. 46 He said to them, “Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you today, which you will command your sons to guard to do, all the words of this Torah. 47 For it is no vain thing for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you will prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it.” 48 YHWH spoke to Moses that same day, saying, 49 “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is across from Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel for a possession. 50 Die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people; 51 because you trespassed against me among the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn’t uphold my holiness among the sons of Israel. 52 For you will see the land from a distance; but you will not go there into the land which I give the sons of Israel.”

Prophets Portion (P)

Habakkuk 3:8-19

3:8 Was YHWH displeased with the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers, or your wrath against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation? 9 You uncovered your bow. You called for your sworn arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers. 10 The mountains saw you, and were afraid. The storm of waters passed by. The deep roared and lifted up its hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the light of your arrows as they went, at the shining of your glittering spear. 12 You marched through the land in wrath. You threshed the nations in anger. 13 You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the land of wickedness. You stripped them head to foot. Selah. 14 You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears. They came as a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret. 15 You trampled the sea with your horses, churning mighty waters. 16 I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us. 17 For even though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food, the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in YHWH. I will be joyful in the Elohim of my salvation! 19 YHWH, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Revelation 15:1-8

15:1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the heavens: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them Elohim’s wrath is finished. 2 I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of Elohim. 3 They sang the song of Moses, the servant of Elohim, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord Elohim, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the [nations].^(mss) 4 Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the witness in the heavens was opened. 6 The seven angels [came out of the temple]^(mss) who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their chests. 7 One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of Elohim, who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of Elohim and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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.

2 Maccabees recaps some of the story (until the events of 161 B.C.) and adds in details about God’s intervention into the events reports. 2 Maccabees, the first work to pose an opposition between Judaism and Hellenism, sees Hellenism as a new kind of threat in Jewish history. Previously, foreign cultures were perceived as dangerous because of the trial posed by their elohim. But for 2 Maccabees, Hellenism involves a system of values distinct from idolatry, the values associated with the gymnasium. 2 Maccabees condemns Jews who adopt these values even as they remain loyal to the Elohim of Israel.

2 Maccabees 7:1-42

7:1 It came to pass that seven brothers and 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 One of them made himself the spokesman and said, “What would you ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.” 3 The king fell into a rage, and commanded that pans and caldrons be heated. 4 When these were immediately heated, he gave orders to cut out the tongue of him who had been their spokesman, and to scalp him, and to cut off his extremities, with the rest of his brothers and his mother looking on. 5 And when he was utterly useless, the king gave orders to bring him to the fire, being yet alive, and to fry him in the pan. And as the smoke from the pan spread far, they and their mother also exhorted one another to die nobly, saying this: 6 “The Lord Elohim sees, and in truth is entreated for us, as Moses declared in his song (cf. Deuteronomy 31:21; Deuteronomy 32:36), which witnesses against the people to their faces, saying, ‘And he will have compassion on his servants.’ ” 7 And when the first had died like this, 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 ancestors and said to them, “No.” Therefore he also underwent the next torture in succession, as the first had done. 9 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 us who have died for his laws up to an everlasting renewal of life.” 10 After him, the third was made a victim of their mocking. When he was required, he quickly put out his tongue, and stretched out his hands courageously, 11 and nobly said, “I got these from the heavens. For his laws’ sake I treat these with contempt. From him, I hope to receive these back again.” 12 As a result, the king himself and those who were with him were astonished at the young man’s soul, for he regarded the pains as nothing. 13 When he too was dead, they shamefully handled and tortured the fourth in the same way. 14 Being near to death he said this: “It is good to die at the hands of men and look for the hope which is given by Elohim, that we will be raised up again by him. For as for you, you will have no resurrection to life.” 15 Next after him, they brought the fifth and shamefully handled him. 16 But he looked toward him and said, “Because you have authority among men, though you are corruptible, you do what you please. But don’t think that our race has been forsaken by Elohim. 17 But hold on to your ways, and see how his sovereign majesty will torture you and your descendants!” 18 After him they brought the sixth. When he was about to die, he said, “Don’t be vainly deceived, for we suffer these things for our own doings, as sinning against our own Elohim. Astounding things have come to pass; 19 but don’t think you that you will be unpunished, having tried to fight against Elohim!” 20 But above all, the mother was marvelous and worthy of honorable memory; for when she watched seven sons perishing within the space of one day, she bore the sight with a good courage because of her hope in the Lord. 21 She exhorted each one of them in the language of their fathers, filled with a noble spirit and stirring up her woman’s thoughts with manly courage, saying to them, 22 “I don’t know how you came into my womb. It wasn’t I who gave you your breath and your life. It wasn’t I who brought into order the first elements of each one of you. 23 Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the first origin of man and devised the first origin of all things, in mercy gives back to you again both your breath 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 honor if he would turn from the ways of his ancestors, and that he would take him for his friend and entrust him with public affairs. 25 But when the young man would in no way listen, the king called to him his mother, and urged her to advise the youth to save himself. 26 When he had urged her with many words, she undertook to persuade her son. 27 But bending toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, she spoke this in the language of her fathers: “My son, have pity upon me who carried you nine new moons in my womb, and nursed you three years, and nourished and brought you up to this age, and sustained you. 28 I beg 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 way comes into being. 29 Don’t be afraid of this butcher, but, proving yourself worthy of your brothers, accept your death, that in Elohim’s mercy I may receive you again with your brothers.” 30 But before she had finished speaking, the young man said, “What are you all waiting for? I don’t obey 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, who have devised all kinds of evil against the Hebrews, will in no way escape Elohim’s hands. 32 For we are suffering because of our own sins. 33 If for rebuke and chastening, our living Lord has been angered a little while, yet he will again be reconciled with his own servants. 34 But you, O unholy man and of all most vile, don’t be vainly lifted up in your wild pride with uncertain hopes, raising your hand against the heavenly children. 35 For you have not yet escaped the judgment of the Almighty Elohim who sees all things. 36 For these our brothers, having endured a short pain of ever-flowing life, have now fallen under Elohim’s covenant. But you, through Elohim’s judgment, will receive in just measure the penalties of your arrogance. 37 But I, as my brothers, give up both body and soul for the laws of our fathers, calling upon Elohim that he may speedily become propitious to the nation, and that you, amidst trials and plagues, may confess that he alone is Elohim, 38 and that in me and my brothers you may bring to an end 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, putting his whole trust in the Lord. 41 Last of all, after her sons, the mother died. 42 Let it then suffice to have said thus much concerning the sacrificial feasts and the extreme tortures.

Related Scriptures

Isaiah 1:1-3 (T)

1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, the heavens, and listen, earth; for YHWH has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up sons and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.”

Jeremiah 2:4-12 (T)

2:4 Hear the word of YHWH, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel! 5 YHWH says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless? 6 They didn’t say, ‘Where is YHWH who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’ 7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. 8 The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is YHWH?’ and those who handle the Torah didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Ba’al and followed things that do not profit. 9 “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says YHWH, “and I will contend with your sons’s sons. 10 For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing. 11 Has a nation changed its elohim, which really are no elohim? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit. 12 “Be astonished, you the heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says YHWH.

Micah 1:1-5 (T)

1:1 the word of YHWH that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 2 Hear, you peoples, all of you! Listen, O earth, and all that is therein. Let the Lord YHWH be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 3 For behold, YHWH comes out of his place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. 4 The mountains melt under him, and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place. 5 “All this is for the disobedience of Jacob, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the disobedience of Jacob? Isn’t it Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Aren’t they Jerusalem?

Matthew 16:15-19; Matthew 18:15-20 (T)

Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Elohim.” 17 Yeshua answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in the heavens. 18 I also tell you that you are Kepha, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Sheol will not prevail against it. 19 I will give to you the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in the heavens; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in the heavens.”

Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. 16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. 18 Amen, amen, I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in the heavens, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in the heavens. 19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in the heavens. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”

2 Samuel 22:31; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 8:3-4; Job 36:22-26; Zephaniah 3:1-5; Romans 9:14 (T)

2 Samuel 22:31 As for Elohim, his way is perfect. the word of YHWH is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

2 Chronicles 19:7 Now therefore let the fear of YHWH be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with YHWH our Elohim, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”

Job 8:3 Does Elohim pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? 4 If your sons have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

Job 36:22 Behold, Elohim is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? 23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’

Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city! 2 She didn’t obey the voice. She didn’t receive correction. She didn’t trust in YHWH. She didn’t draw near to her Elohim. 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day. 4 Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the Torah. 5 YHWH, within her, is righteous. He will do no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He doesn’t fail, but the unjust know no shame.

Romans 9:14 What will we say then? Is there unrighteousness with Elohim? May it never be!

Nehemiah 9:32-35 (T)

9:32 Now therefore, our Elohim, the great, the mighty, and the awesome Elohim, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day. 33 However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly. 34 Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not done your Torah, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you witnessed against them. 35 For they have not served you in their reign, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them. They didn’t turn from their wicked works.

Exodus 32:1-7 (T)

32:1 When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us elohim, which will go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your elohim, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow will be a feast to YHWH.” 6 They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 7 YHWH spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!

Genesis 10:25; Genesis 11:1-9; Micah 2:1-5; Acts 17:23-32 (T)

Genesis 10:25 To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the land was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.

Genesis 11:1 The whole land was of one language and of one speech. 2 As they traveled east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the heavens, and let’s make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole land.” 5 YHWH came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of men built. 6 YHWH said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. 7 Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So YHWH scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the land. They stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there YHWH confused the language of all the land. From there, YHWH scattered them abroad on the surface of all the land.

Micah 2:1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, then take them away. They oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. 3 Therefore YHWH says: “Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily, for it is an evil time. 4 In that day they will take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, saying, ‘We are utterly ruined! My people’s possession is divided up. Indeed he takes it from me and assigns our fields to traitors!’ ” 5 Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the assembly of YHWH.

Acts 17:23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you. 24 The Elohim who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of the heavens and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. 25 He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things. 26 He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his seed.’ 29 Being then the seed of Elohim, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. 30 The times of ignorance therefore Elohim overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.”

Exodus 19:1-6 (T)

19:1 In the third new moon after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain. 3 Moses went up to Elohim, and YHWH called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you will tell the house of Jacob, and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and guard my covenant, then you will be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the land is mine; 6 and you will be to me a reign of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you will speak to the sons of Israel.”

Isaiah 31:1-9 (T)

31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek YHWH! 2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity. 3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not Elohim; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When YHWH stretches out his hand, both he who helps will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they all will be consumed together. 4 For YHWH says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so YHWH of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights. 5 As birds hovering, so YHWH of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.” 6 Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, sons of Israel. 7 For in that day everyone will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you. 8 “The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, will devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor. 9 His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his princes will be afraid of the banner,” says YHWH, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

Deuteronomy 4:26-36 (T)

26 I call the heavens and the land to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from off the land which you go over the Jordan to possess it. You will not prolong your days on it, but will utterly be destroyed. 27 YHWH will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where YHWH will lead you away. 28 There you will serve [other]^(LXX) elohim, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But from there you will seek YHWH your Elohim, and you will find him when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in oppression, and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you will return to YHWH your Elohim and listen to his voice. 31 For YHWH your Elohim is a merciful Elohim. He will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them. 32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that Elohim created man on the land, and from the one end of the heavens to the other, whether there has been anything as great as this thing is, or has been heard like it? 33 Did a people ever hear the voice of [the living]^(LXX) Elohim speaking out of the middle of the fire, as you have heard, and live? 34 Or has Elohim tried to go and take a nation for himself from among another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that YHWH your Elohim did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 It was shown to you so that you might know that YHWH is Elohim. There is no one else besides him. 36 Out of the heavens he made you to hear his voice, that he might [correct]^(LXX)(MTT) you. On the land he made you to see his great fire; and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire.

1 Samuel 2:6-10 (T)

2:6 “YHWH kills and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol and brings up. 7 YHWH dispossesses and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up. 8 He raises up the helpless out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are YHWH’s. He has set the world on them. 9 He will guard the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength. 10 Those who strive with YHWH will be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the heavens.

Isaiah 45:5-25 (T)

45:5 I am YHWH, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no Elohim. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me, 6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no one besides me. I am YHWH, and there is no one else. 7 I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create calamity. I am YHWH, who does all these things. 8 Rain, you the heavens, from above, and let the heavens pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, YHWH, have created it. 9 Woe to him who strives with his Maker— a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Will the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands?’ 10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What have you become the father of?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you given birth to?’ ” 11 YHWH, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker says: “You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands! 12 I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens. I have commanded all their army. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will build my city, and he will let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward,” says YHWH of Armies. 14 YHWH says: “The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you, and they will be yours. They will go after you. They will come over in chains. They will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely Elohim is in you; and there is no one else. There is no other god. 15 Most certainly you are an Elohim who has hidden yourself, Elohim of Israel, the Savior.’ ” 16 They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together. 17 Israel will be saved by YHWH with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting. 18 For YHWH who created the heavens, the Elohim who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited says: “I am YHWH. There is no other. 19 I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, YHWH, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right. 20 “Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to an elohim that can’t save. 21 Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, YHWH? There is no other Elohim besides me, a just Elohim and a Savior. There is no one besides me. 22 “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am Elohim, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee will bow, every tongue will take an oath. 24 They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in YHWH.’ ” Even to him will men come. All those who raged against him will be disappointed. 25 All the seed of Israel will be justified in YHWH, and will rejoice!

Genesis 1:3-5; Jubilees 2:1-3 (T)

Genesis 1:3 Elohim said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 Elohim saw the light, and saw that it was good. Elohim divided the light from the darkness. 5 Elohim called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night.” There was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Jubilees 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.

Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 82:1-8; Psalms 89:5-8; John 10:31-38; Job 38:6-7; Matthew 5:9; Romans 8:13-17 (T)

Genesis 1:26 Elohim said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 Elohim created man in his own image. In Elohim’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

A Psalm by Asaph. Psalms 82:1 Elohim presides in the assembly of elohim. He judges among elohim. 2 “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah. 3 “Judge for the helpless and the fatherless. Do righteousness to the afflicted and dispossessed. 4 Rescue the helpless and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” 5 They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the land are shaken. 6 I said, “You are elohim, all of you are sons of the Most High. 7 Nevertheless you will die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.” 8 Arise, Elohim, judge the land, for you inherit all of the nations.

Psalms 89:5 The heavens will praise your wonders, YHWH, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the heavens can be compared to YHWH? Who among the sons of Elohim is like YHWH, 7 a very awesome Elohim in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? 8 YHWH, Elohim of Armies, who is strong*, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.

John 10:31 Therefore the Judeans took up stones again to stone him. 32 Yeshua answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?” 33 The Judeans answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself Elohim.” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are elohim?’ (cf. Psalms 82:6) 35 If he called them elohim, to whom the word of Elohim came, and the Scripture can’t be broken, 36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of Elohim?’ 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

Job 38:6 What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy?

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of Elohim.

Romans 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are sons of Elohim; 17 and if sons, then heirs—heirs of Elohim and joint heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

Hebrews 10:30 (T)

10:30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay,” says the Lord (cf. Deuteronomy 32:35). Again, “The Lord will judge his people.” (cf. Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalms 135:14)

Hebrews 1:1-9 (T)

1:1 Elohim, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. 3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” (cf. Psalms 2:7) and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?” (cf. 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13) 6 When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of Elohim worship him.” (cf. Deuteronomy 32:43) 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.” (cf. Psalms 104:4) 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Reign. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore Elohim, your Elohim, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.” (cf. Psalms 45:6-7)

Romans 15:10 (T)

15:10 Again he says, “Rejoice, you Nations, with his people.” (cf. Deuteronomy 32:43)

Numbers 27:12-14 (T)

27:12 YHWH said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you also will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; 14 because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

Numbers 20:7-13, Numbers 20:22-29; Numbers 33:37-39 (T)

Numbers 20:7 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the branch, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it pour out its water. You will bring water to them out of the rock; so you will give the congregation and their livestock drink.” 9 Moses took the branch from before YHWH, as he commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Will we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his branch twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank. 12 YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore do not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the sons of Israel strove with YHWH, and he was sanctified in them. [And Moses said, “Lord YHWH, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand. For what elohim is there in the heavens or in the land that can do works like yours, and mighty acts like yours? Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that fine mountain, and Lebanon.” But YHWH said to me, “Enough! Speak no more to me of this word. Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes; for do not go over this Jordan.]^(DSS)…22 They traveled from Kadesh, and the sons of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 YHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he will not enter into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and [you will strip](DSS) Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron will be gathered, and will die there.” 27 Moses did as YHWH commanded. They went up onto Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Numbers 33:37 They traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. 38 Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of YHWH and died there, in the fortieth year after the sons of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth new moon, on the first day of the new moon. 39 Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor.

Related Additional Readings​

Para-Danielic Writings 4Q243 Frag. 3 Combined with 4Q244 (T)

… The sons of Israel chose themselves rather than [Elohim and they sacri]ficed their sons to the demons of idolatry. Elohim was enraged against them to Nebu[chadnezzar, king of Ba]bel and to devastate their land…

4Q418 The Secret of the Way Things Are, Fragment 127 (T)

Fragment 127 […] your source and and your spirit will grow your need you will not find; faint unto death, deprived of all goodness […] […] all the day, and your spirit will to enter her yearn gates and you will bury and cover […] […] your body and you will become food between the teeth of wild animals and you will be consumed by pestilence (cf. Deut. 32:24) before […] [… those who seek what they] desire, you have op pressed them in their life, and also you […] […] to you, for Elohim has done whatever He wanted in kindness, and apportioned them in the truth […] […] He weighed their character in the scales of righteousness and in the truth […]

CD The Damascus Document, 5:17, 8:9-10 (T)

5:17 For in times past, Elohim punished their deeds and His wrath burned against their misdeeds, for “they are a people without insight” (Isa. 27:11); they are a people wandering in counsel, for there is no insight in them” (Deut. 32:28). For in times past Moses and Aaron stood in the power of the Prince of Lights and Belial raised up Yannes and his brother in his cunning when seeking to do evil to Israel the first time. In the time of destruction of the land the Boundary-Shifters appeared and led Israel astray and the land was devastated, for they had spoken rebellion against the commandments of Elohim through Moses and also through the anointed of the spirit; and they prophesied falsehood to turn Israel from following Elohim. But Elohim called to mind the covenant of the forefathers; and He raised up from Aaron insightful men and from Israel wise men and He taught them and they dug the well of knowledge: “the well the princes dug, the nobility of the people dug it with a rod” (Num. 21:18).

8:9-10 And such is the judgment on all members of the covenant who do not hold firm to these laws: they are condemned to destruction by Belial. That is the day on which Elohim will judge (4Q268 adds: as He has said), “The princes of Judah were those (B: like Boundary-Shifters) on whom I will pour out wrath (B: like water)” (Hos. 5:10). Truly they were too sick to be healed; every kind of galling wound adhered to them (B adds: Truly they had entered the covenant repenting) because they did not turn away from traitor our practices; they relished the customs of fornication and filthy lucre. Each of them vengefully bore a grudge against his brother, each hating his fellow; each of them kept away from nearest kin but grew close to indecency; they vaunted themselves in riches and in ill-gotten gains; each of them did just what he pleased; each chose to follow his own willful heart. They did not separate from the people (B adds: and their sin), but arrogantly threw off all restraint, living by wicked customs, of which Elohim had said, “Their wine is venom of snakes, the cruel poison of vipers” (Deut. 32:33).

Deuteronomy 32:15-52 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

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

Chapter 32 …But the house of Israel grew rich and wicked; they prospered much and possessed wealth, and forsook the worship of Eloah who created them, and provoked Him to anger who redeemed them. They moved Him to zeal with strange worship, by their abominations they made Him angry. They slaughtered to idols, resembling devils, in whom there is no profit, to idols which they had not known, new elohim lately made, with which your fathers had nothing to do; But the adorable Strong One who created you have you forgotten; of the word of Eloha who strengthened you so often have you been forgetful. And when it was manifest before the Lord, He was wroth, provoked thereto by His beloved children who were called upon His Name son and daughters. [JERUSALEM. But the house of Jeshuron ate and kicked; they became rich, and rebelled; they prospered, got wealth, and forsook the Word of Elohim who had created them, and refused to worship the Almighty who had redeemed them. They provoked Him to anger with their idols, by their abominations they made Him wroth They slaughtered to demons in whom is no stability, idols which they had not known, lately formed, which your fathers remembered not. The Almighty who created you ye have forgotten, and have forsaken the Word of Elohim who gave you to be, and made you so many refuges. And it was manifest before the Lord, and He was angry, because the beloved children had provoked Him, even they who were beloved by Him as sons and daughters.] And He said, I will take away from them the favour of My countenance; it will be seen what will be the end; for they are a perverse generation, children who have not faith. They have made Me zealous by that which is not Elohim, they have angered Me by their vanities: I also will provoke them to zeal by a people which hath not been a people, by the foolish Babylonian people will I provoke them. [JERUSALEM. And He said, I will surely turn away the favour of My countenance from them; I will see what will be in their latter end; for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faith. They have moved Me to zeal by their idols in which there is nothing whatever, they have provoked Me by their abominations; but I also will move them to zeal by a people which is not a people, by a foolish nation will I anger them.] For an east wind strong as fire will go out before Me, and blaze in the might of My anger, and burn to the lowest hell; it will consume the land with its produce, and set the foundations of the mountains in flame. [JERUSALEM. For a fire will come forth in the hour of My wrath, and burn to the lowest hell, devouring the earth and its fulness, and setting in flame the foundations of the hills.] And when they dwell in Babel they will serve their idols; for I have spoken in My Word to array calamities against them, the plague-arrows of My vengeance to destroy them, I will make them go into captivity in Media and Elam, in the captivity of Babel, the house of Agag who are like demons gaping with famine, and to corpses devoured by birds, and to stricken evil spirits of the noon, to Lillin and to spirits big with evil. And the Javanaee (Greeks) who bite with their teeth like wild beasts will I send against them, and will shake them by the hand of the Syrians venomous as basilisks, the serpents of the dust. [JERUSALEM. I have spoken in My Word to bring evil upon them, the arrows of My vengeance will I send among them: gaping with famine, devoured by unclean fowl, filled with evil spirits, even the teeth of the four reigns, which are like wild beasts, will I send among them, with the poison of serpents, the reptiles of the earth. (cf. Daniel 7:1-28)] A people who will come from beyond the land of Israel will consume them with the plague of the sword, and those who are left in the land of Israel will I throw into the terror of death, in the chambers here and there where they sleep; their young men will perish, their maidens, their suck­lings, with their men and their elders. [JERUSALEM. In the street the sword will devour them; in the chambers where they sleep, the terrors of death; their young men and maidens, their infants and aged men.] I have spoken in My Word to withhold from them My Holy Spirit; I will make them weak; as a man who reaps his field leaveth but one upon the ground, so will I abolish their memory from the book of the genealogy of mankind; [JERUSALEM. I have spoken in My Word to bring wrath upon them, and to cause their memorial to fail from among men;] but for the wrath of the enemy, and that their oppressors would glorify themselves against Me, and say, Our hand hath taken vengeance upon our adversaries, and all this hath not been decreed by the Lord; for they are a people lost to good counsel and void of understanding. O that they were intelligent in the law, and that they understood what they will become in their latter end! How will one foe pursue a thousand of them, and two put ten thousand of them to flight, unless He who is their strength deliver them, and the Lord avenge them! [JERUSALEM. But that the wrath of the enemy would wax strong, that they could not prevail against their foes; and that they may not say, Our hand hath avenged us on our adversaries, and it hath not been done by the Lord; for this people perish by evil counsels, and they are void of understanding. If Israel were but wise, learning the law they would understand what will be in their latter end. When Israel was diligent in the law, and observed the commandments, one of them chased a thousand, and two of them put ten thousand to flight; but because they have sinned and vexed the Almighty to anger, He hath left them to the hand of their enemies.]

For the idols of the Nations are not as He who is the Strength of Israel; for the Strength of Israel, when they have sinned, bringeth punishment upon them; but when they stretch forth their hands in prayer, He answereth and delivereth them. But, the idols of the peoples of strange worships are of no use: but because we have provoked Him, and have not returned to His service, our adversaries are our witnesses and our judges. [JERUSALEM. For the confidence of the nations is not as our confidence; but because we have sinned and provoked Him to anger, our adversaries are made our judges.] For the works of this people are like the works of the people of Sedom, and their evil counsels like those of the people of Amorah; their wicked thoughts are as serpents heads; bitter therefore to them is their punishment which maketh desolate. Behold as the bitterness of serpents when they come forth from their wines, (?) so will be the bitter cup of the curse which they are to drink in the day of their punishment, and cruel as the head of venomous snakes. [JERUSALEM. For the works of this people are like those of the people of Sedom, and their thoughts like those of the people of Amorah: their evil works make them desolate, and become bitter to them. For the poison of this people is like that Of serpents what time they drink wine, and their malice like the head of venomous snakes and cruel reptiles.] Are not their secret works all known before Me? Sealed and laid up Are they in My treasury! Vengeance lies before Me, and I will recompense them at the time when their foot will move to the captivity; for the day of their destruction is coming near, and the evil which is prepared for them maketh haste. [JERUSALEM. Is not this the cup of punishment, mixed and ordained for the wicked, sealed in My treasuries for the day of the great judgment? Vengeance is mine: I am He who repayeth; in the time when the foot of the righteous is moved; for the day of destruction for the wicked is nigh the fire of Gehinam. is prepared for them, and their punishment girdeth itself to come upon them.]

For the Word of the Lord adjudgeth in His mercy the judgement of His people Israel, and for the evil He hath appointed upon His servants there will be repentance before Him; for He knoweth that in the time when they have sinned the plague of their enemies will be heavy upon them, and help have passed away from their hands, and the faithful will have failed with their good works and be scattered and forsaken. And the enemy will say, Where is the fear of Israel, their Strength in whom they confided, who ate the fat of their slaughters, and drank the wine of their libations? Let Him now rise up and help you, let Him shield you by His Word. [JERUSALEM. For the Lord Himself will adjudge the judgment of the people of the sons of Israel, and comfort His righteous servants; for it is manifest before Him that the hand of the righteous will waver, and that they will be forsaken and cast down, with none to help or support them. For the Nations will say, Behold, the Elohim of Israel is strong in whom they put their trust; they brought before Him the fat of their slaughters, and the wine of their libations; let Him who (once) was over them as a shield rise up now and deliver them.]

When the Word of the Lord will reveal Himself to redeem His people, He will say to all the nations: Behold now, that I am He who Am, and Was, and Will Be, and there is no other Elohim beside Me: I, in My Word, kill and make alive; I smite the people of the Beth Israel, and I will heal them at the end of the days; and there will be none who can deliver them from My hand, Gog and his armies whom I have permitted to make war against them. [JERUSALEM. See now that I in My Word am He, and there is no other Elohim beside Me. I kill the living in this world, and make alive the dead in the world that cometh; I am He who smiteth, and I am He who healeth; and there is none who can deliver from My hand.] I have lifted My hand with an oath to the heavens, and have said, As I exist, I will not abolish My oath for ever. If I whet my sword, as lightning it will prevail in the judgment of My hand. I will return retribution on them who afflict My people, and repay to their enemies the hire of their wickedness. I will make My arrows drunk with the blood of their slain, and the captivity of their hosts will be the punishment of My people’s foes. [JERUSALEM. For I have uplifted My hand with an oath to the heavens, and said, I live, and My Word subsisteth for ever: If I whet My sword as lightning, My right hand will prevail in judgment. I will render punishment upon the adversaries of My people, I will repay them for their evil deeds. I will make My arrows drunk with their blood, and My sword will consume their flesh; with the blood of the destroyers of My people, their captives, and the chieftains of their hosts.]

Rejoice, ye nations, (and) ye people of Beth Israel; for the blood of His servants which was shed, He hath avenged. He hath kept (in mind) and returned just vengeance upon His adversaries, and by His Word will He make Atonement for His land, and for His people. [JERUSALEM. Let the nations give praise before Him, let the people of Beth Israel glorify Him; for He bath made inquisition for the trouble of His righteous servants, and brought vengeance upon His enemies; for the sins of His people He smote the land; but He will make Atonement for the land, and for His people.]

And Mosheh came from the tabernacle of the house of instruction, and spake all the words of this hymn, in the hearing of the people, he and Jehoshua bar Nun. And Mosheh made an end of speaking all these words with all Israel, and said to them: Apply your heart to all the words with which I bear witness to you this day, that you may dictate them to your children, so that they may observe and do all the words of this law. For there is no vain word in the law, unless to them who transgress it; for it is your life, and by this word you will prolong days upon the land that you pass over Jordan to inherit. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh came and spake all the praise of the words of this hymn in the hearing of the people, be and Hoshea bar Nun. And Mosheh ended speaking all these words with all Israel, and said to them: Set your heart unto all the words with which I bear witness to you this day, and which you will teach your children, that they may observe and do all the glorious words of this law. For it is not a vain word to you, because it is your life, and by this word you will multiply days upon the land that you pass over Jordan to inherit.]

And the Lord spake with Mosheh on the seventh of the new moon Adar, on the same day, saying, It was when the Word of the Lord had said to him, Go up to this mount Ibraee, the mountain of Nebo, and he thought in his heart, and said, Perhaps this up-going will be like that to Mount Sinai; and he said, I will go and sanctify the people; but the Word of the Lord said to him, Not so at all, but, Go thou up and view the land of Kenaan, which I have given to the sons of Israel for an inheritance. And thou shalt sleep in the mountain to which thou goest up, and be gathered to thy people, even thou, as Aharon thy brother hath slept in the mountain of Omanos, and hath been gathered unto his people. Mosheh at once opened his mouth in prayer, and said, Lord of all the world, I entreat that I may not be as a man who had one only son, who being in captivity, he went and redeemed him with great price; he taught him wisdom and art, espoused him to a woman, planted for him a royal bower, builded him a marriage house, prepared for him the bed, invited his companions, baked his bread, slew his victims, and mixed his wine; yet, when the time came for his son to make glad with his wife, and the guests were about to consecrate the feast; then was that man required to go to the house of judgment, before the king and be Punished with the judgment of death; neither would the delay to execute his sentence that he might see the happiness of his son. So have I laboured for this people; I have led them by Thy Word out of Mizraim, and builded for this people; I have taught them Thy law builded for them the tabernacle to Thy Name; but now that the time hath come to pass the Jordan, I am punished with death! Let it please Thee to withhold from me this sentence until I have passed the Jordan, to see the good of Israel before I die. The Lord of the world answered him, and said: Because thou didst prevaricate with My Word In the midst of the sons of Israel, at the Waters of Contention at Rekem in the desert of Zin, and didst not sanctify Me among them; therefore thou mayest look over against it, but shalt not enter into the land that I give unto the sons of Israel. [JERUSALEM. Because you were rebellious towards the Name of My Word, among the Beni Israel, at the Waters of Contention in Rekem in the desert of Zin; forasmuch as you did not sanctify Me in the midst of them, therefore thou mayest look over against it, but shalt not enter into the land which I give to the sons of Israel.]

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.