• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 15:1-21
• Prophets (P): Zephaniah 3:8-20
• Apostolic (A): Romans 4:1-25
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 14:1-20

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Psalms 18:1-3 (T)
• Psalms 19:7-11 (T)
• Exodus 32:11-14; Deuteronomy 1:9; Deuteronomy 10:22; Deuteronomy 28:62; Romans 4:18; Hebrews 11:11-12 (T)
• Galatians 3:1-29 (T)
• Ya’aqov (James) 2:1-26 (T)
• Genesis 13:14-17 (T)
• Exodus 12:40-42 (T)
• Deuteronomy 9:4-5 (T)
• Jeremiah 34:12-19 (T)
• Deuteronomy 4:20-40; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Deuteronomy 10:10-15 (T)
• Romans 4:10-25 (T)
• Acts 7:1-7 (T)
• Genesis 48:21-22; Jubilees 34:1-9 (T)
• Revelation 14:1-5 (P)
• Zephaniah 3:9 LXX (P)
• Psalms 32:1-2 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• 1 Maccabees 2:51-52 (T)
• Jubilees 12:25-27 (H, ref. Zephaniah 3:9 LXX)
• Jubilees 5:32 – 6:5 (ADD)
• Genesis 15:1-21 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.10.3 (T)

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

Torah Portion (T)

15:1 After these words, the word of YHWH came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don't be afraid, Abram. [I will shield you. Your wage will be exceedingly much]”^(LXX) 2 Abram said, “[Lord],^(LXX) what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram said, “Behold, you have given no seed to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Behold, the word of [Elohim]^(LXX) came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come from your own bowels will be your heir.” 5 [And he]^(LXX) brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your seed will be.” 6 He believed [in Elohim],^(LXX) and it was imputed to him for righteousness. 7 He said to Abram, “I am [Elohim]^(LXX) who brought you out of Ur Kasdim, to give you this land to inherit it.” 8 He said, “[Lord],^(LXX) how will I know that I will inherit it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young dove.” 10 He brought him all these, and cut them in two in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn't cut the birds in two. 11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12 When the sun was going down, a trance fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your seed will live as sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth; 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” 17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day [Elohim]^(LXX)(mss) cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, [the Hivites],^(LXX) the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Prophets Portion (P)

3:8 “Therefore wait for me”, says YHWH, “until the day that I rise up [as a witness],^(LXX)(Syr) for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the reigns, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the land will be devoured with the fire of my zeal. 9 For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the name of YHWH, to serve him shoulder to shoulder. 10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering. 11 In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings, in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out from among you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be arrogant in my holy mountain. 12 But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the name of YHWH. 13 The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.” 14 Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 15 YHWH has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, YHWH, is among you. You will not be afraid of evil any more. 16 In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.” 17 YHWH, your Elohim, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. 18 I will remove those who grieve about the appointed times from you. They are a burden and a reproach to you. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you, and I will save those who are lame, and gather those who were driven away. I will give them praise and honor, whose shame has been in all the land. 20 At that time I will bring you in, and at that time I will gather you; for I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the land, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says YHWH.

Apostolic Portion (A)

4:1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward Elohim. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed in Elohim, and it was imputed to him for righteousness.” (cf. Genesis 15:6) 4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is imputed for righteousness. 6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom Elohim imputes righteousness apart from works, 7 “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, [and]^(LXX) whose sins are covered. 8 Happy is the man whom YHWH does not impute [sin].”^(LXX) (cf. Psalms 32:1-2) 9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, [so]^(mss) that righteousness might also be imputed to them. 12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. 13 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15 For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. 16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” (cf. Romans 4:17) This is in the face of him whom he believed: Elohim, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. 18 Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.” (cf. Genesis 15:5) 19 Without being weakened in faith, [he considered]^(mss) his own body, which was as good as dead, he being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet, looking to the promise of Elohim, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to Elohim, 21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. 22 Therefore it also was “imputed to him for righteousness.” (cf. Genesis 15:6) 23 Now it was not written that it was imputed to him for his sake alone, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be imputed, who believe in him who raised Yeshua, our Lord, from the dead, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Additional Portion (ADD)

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

14:1 After these things, in the fourth year of this week, on the new moon of the third new moon, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a dream, saying: “Fear not, Abram; I am thy defender, and thy reward will be exceeding great.” 2. And he said: “Lord, Lord, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go hence childless, and the son of Mâsêq, the son of my handmaid, is the Dammasek Eliezer: he will be my heir, and to me thou hast given no seed.” 3. And He said unto him: “This man will not be thy heir, but one that will come out of thine own bowels; he will be thine heir.” 4. And He brought him forth abroad, and said unto him: “Look toward the heavens and number the stars, if thou art able to number them.” 5. And he looked toward the heavens, and beheld the stars. And He said unto him: “So will thy seed be.” 6. And he believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness. 7. And He said unto him: “I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee the land of the Canaanites to possess it for ever; and I will be Elohim unto thee and to thy seed after thee.” 8. And he said: “Lord, Lord, whereby will I know that I will inherit it?” 9. And he said unto him: “Take Me an heifer of three years, and a goat of three years, and a sheep of three years, and a turtle-dove, and a dove.” 10. And he took all these in the middle of the new moon; and he dwelt at the oak of Mamre, which is near Hebron. 11. And he built there an altar, and slaughtered all these; and he poured their blood upon the altar, and divided them in the midst, and laid them over against each other; but the birds divided he not. 12. And birds came down upon the pieces, and Abram drove them away, and did not suffer the birds to touch them. 13. And it came to pass, when the sun had set, that an ecstasy fell upon Abram, and lo! an horror of great darkness fell upon him, and it was said unto Abram: “Know of a surety that thy seed will be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and they will bring them into bondage, and afflict them four hundred years. 14. And the nation also to whom they will be in bondage will I judge, and after that they will come forth thence with much substance. 15. And thou wilt go to thy fathers in peace, and be buried in a good old age. 16. But in the fourth generation they will return hither; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” 17. And he awoke from his sleep, and he arose, and the sun had set; and there was a flame, and behold! a furnace was smoking, and a flame of fire passed between the pieces. 18. And on that day the Lord cut a covenant with Abram, saying: “To thy seed will I give this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates, the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Perizzites, and the Rephaim, the Phakorites, and the Hivites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” 19. And the day passed, and Abram offered the pieces, and the birds, and their fruit-offerings, and their drink-offerings, and the fire devoured them. 20. And on that day we cut a covenant with Abram, according as we had covenanted with Noaḥ in this new moon; and Abram renewed the festival and ordinance for himself for ever.

Related Scriptures

18:1 I love you, YHWH, my strength. 2 YHWH is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my Elohim, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. 3 I call on YHWH, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies.

19:7 the law of YHWH is perfect, restoring the soul. the covenant of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of YHWH are right, rejoicing the heart. the commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring forever. The ordinances of YHWH are true, and righteous altogether. 10 They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover your servant is warned by them. In keeping them there is great reward.

Exodus 32:11 Moses begged YHWH his Elohim, and said, “YHWH, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the land?’ Turn from your fierce wrath, and turn away from this evil against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your seed, and they will inherit it forever.’ ” 14 So YHWH turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people.

Deuteronomy 1:9 I spoke to you at that time, saying, “I am not able to bear you myself alone. 10 YHWH your Elohim has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens for multitude. 11 May YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you!

Deuteronomy 10:22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now YHWH your Elohim has made you as the stars of the heavens for multitude.

Deuteronomy 28:62 You will be left few in number, even though you were as the stars of the heavens for multitude, because you didn’t listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice.

Romans 4:18 Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.” (cf. Genesis 15:5)

Hebrews 11:11 In faith also Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore as many as the stars of the heavens in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

3:1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Yeshua the Messiah was openly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6 Even so, Abraham “believed Elohim, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” (cf. Genesis 15:6) 7 Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that Elohim would justify the Nations by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” (cf. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18) 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the scroll of the Torah, to do them.” (cf. Deuteronomy 27:26) 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before Elohim is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” (cf. Habakkuk 2:4) 12 The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” (cf. Leviticus 18:5) 13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” (cf. Deuteronomy 21:23) 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Nations through Messiah Yeshua, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds”, as of many, but as of one, “To your seed”, (cf. Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 24:7) which is Messiah. 17 Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by Elohim in Messiah,^(mss) the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but Elohim has granted it to Abraham by promise. 19 Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not between one, but Elohim is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of Elohim? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Yeshua the Messiah might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all children of Elohim, through faith in Messiah Yeshua. 27 For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. 29 If you are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise.

2:1 My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Yeshua the Messiah with partiality. 2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in, 3 and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool” 4 haven’t you shown discrimination among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t Elohim choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Reign which he promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? 8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You will love your neighbor as yourself,” (cf. Leviticus 19:18) you do well. 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” (cf. Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) also said, “Do not commit murder.” (cf. Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? 15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. 18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that Elohim is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder. 20 But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected. 23 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed Elohim, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” (cf. Genesis 15:6) and he was called the friend of Elohim. 24 You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the whore also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

13:14 YHWH said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your seed forever. 16 I will make your seed as the dust of the land, so that if a man can count the dust of the land, then your seed may also be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”

12:40 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years. 41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, to the day, all of the armies of YHWH went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed to YHWH for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of YHWH, to be much observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.

9:4 Don’t say in your heart, after YHWH your Elohim has thrust them out from before you, “For my righteousness YHWH has brought me in to possess this land;” because YHWH drives them out before you because of the wickedness of these nations. 5 Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations YHWH your Elohim does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

34:12 Therefore the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying, 13 “YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, says: ‘I cut a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying: 14 At the end of seven years, every man of you will release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years. You will let him go free from you. But your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear. 15 You had now turned, and had done that which is right in my eyes, in every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor. You had cut a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name; 16 but you turned and profaned my name, and every man caused his servant and every man his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their pleasure, to return. You brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids.’ ” 17 Therefore YHWH says: “You have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim to you a liberty,” says YHWH, “to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine. I will make you be tossed back and forth among all the reigns of the land. 18 I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts: 19 the princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land, who passed between the parts of the calf. 20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. Their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the heavens and for the animals of the land.

Deuteronomy 4:20 But YHWH has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as it is today. 21 Furthermore YHWH was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land which YHWH your Elohim gives you for an inheritance; 22 but I must die in this land. I must not go over the Jordan, but you will go over and possess that good land. 23 Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of YHWH your Elohim, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which YHWH your Elohim has forbidden you. 24 For YHWH your Elohim is a devouring fire, a zealous Elohim. 25 When you father sons and son’s sons, and you have been long in the land, and then corrupt yourselves, and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in YHWH your Elohim’s sight to provoke him to anger, 26 I call the heavens and 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 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 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 instruct you. On land he made you to see his great fire; and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire. 37 Because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought you out with his face, with his great power, out of Egypt; 38 to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is today. 39 Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that YHWH himself is Elohim in the heavens above and on the land beneath. There is no one else. 40 You will guard his statutes and his commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your sons after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you for all time.

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people to YHWH your Elohim. YHWH your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the land. 7 YHWH didn’t set his love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples; 8 but because YHWH loves you, and because he desires to guard the oath which he swore to your fathers, YHWH has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:10 I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and YHWH listened to me that time also. YHWH would not destroy you. 11 YHWH said to me, “Arise, take your journey before the people; and they will go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.” 12 Now, Israel, what does YHWH your Elohim require of you, but to fear YHWH your Elohim, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 to keep the commandments of YHWH and statutes, which I command you today for your good? 14 Behold, to YHWH your Elohim belongs the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and the land, with all that is therein. 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.

7:1 The high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The Elohim of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ 4 Then he came out of the land of the Kasdim and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, Elohim moved him into this land, where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when he still had no child. 6 Elohim spoke in this way: that his seed would live as sojourners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7 ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said Elohim, ‘and after that they will come out, and serve me in this place.’

Genesis 48:21-22; Jubilees 34:1-9 (T)

Genesis 48:21 Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but Elohim will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

Jubilees 34:1 And in the sixth year of this week of this forty-fourth jubilee [2148 A.M.] Jacob sent his sons to pasture their sheep, and his servants with them, to the pastures of Shechem. 2. And the seven kings of the Amorites assembled themselves together against them, to slay them, hiding themselves under the trees, and to take their cattle as a prey. 3. And Jacob and Levi and Judah and Joseph were in the house with Isaac their father; for his spirit was sorrowful, and they could not leave him: and Benjamin was the youngest, and for this reason remained with his father. 4. And there came the king[s] of Tâphû, and the king[s] of †’Arêsa,† and the king[s] of Sêragân, and the king[s] of Sêlô, and the king[s] of Gâ’as, and the king of Bêthôrôn, and the king of †Ma’anîsâkîr,† and all those who dwell in these mountains and who dwell in the woods in the land of Canaan. 5. And they announced this to Jacob saying: “Behold, the kings of the Amorites have surrounded thy sons, and plundered their herds.” 6. And he arose from his house he and his three sons and all the servants of his father, and his own servants, and he went against them with six thousand men, who carried swords. 7. And he slew them in the pastures of Shechem, and pursued those who fled, and he slew them with the edge of the sword, and he slew †’Arêsa † and Tâphû and Sarêgân and Sêlô and †’Amânîsakîr† and Gâ[gâ]’as, and he recovered his herds. 8. And he prevailed over them, and imposed tribute on them that they should pay him tribute, five fruit products of their land, and he built Rôbêl and Tamnâtârês 9. And he returned in peace, and made peace with them, and they became his servants, until the day that he and his sons went down into Egypt. And in the seventh year of this week [2149 A.M.] he sent Joseph to learn about the welfare of his brothers from his house to the land of Shechem, and he found them in the land of Dothan.

14:1 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, 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 by Yeshua from among men, the first fruits to Elohim and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

3:9 For then I will transfer* upon the peoples one tongue for her generation, for all to call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him under one yoke.

*Transfer = metastrepho (G3344) and means to transmute (to change in form, nature, or substance)

32:1 Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom YHWH doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Related Additional Readings

2:51 “Remember the deeds that our ancestors did in their times, and you will win great honor and an everlasting name. 52 Was not Abraham found faithful in trial, and it was credited to him as righteousness?

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

12:25 And the Lord Elohim said: “Open his mouth and his ears, that he may hear and speak with his mouth, with the language which hath been revealed”; for it had ceased from the mouths of all the children of men from the day of the overthrow of Babel. 26. And I opened his [Abram’s] mouth, and his ears and his lips, and I began to speak with him in Hebrew in the tongue of the creation. 27. And he took the books of his fathers, and these were written in Hebrew and he transcribed them, and he began from henceforth to study them, and I made known to him that which he could not understand, and he studied them during the six rainy new moons.

Jubilees 5:32 – 6:5 (ADD)

5:32 And on the twenty-seventh thereof he opened the ark, and sent forth from it beasts, and cattle, and birds, and every moving thing 6:1 And on the new moon of the third new moon he went forth from the ark, and built an altar on that mountain. 2. And he made atonement for the land, and took a kid and made atonement by its blood for all the guilt of the land; for everything that had been on it had been destroyed, save those that were in the ark with Noaḥ̣. 3. And he placed the fat thereof on the altar, and he took an ox, and a goat, and a sheep and kids, and salt, and a turtle-dove, and the young of a dove, and placed a burnt slaughter on the altar, and poured thereon an offering mingled with oil, and sprinkled wine and strewed frankincense over everything, and caused a goodly savour to arise, acceptable before the Lord. 4. And the Lord smelt the goodly savour, and He cut a covenant with him that there should not be any more a flood to destroy the land; that all the days of the land seedtime and harvest should never cease; cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not change their order, nor cease for ever. 5. “And you, increase ye and multiply upon the land, and become many upon it, and be a blessing upon it. The fear of you and the dread of you I will inspire in everything that is on land and in the sea.

Genesis 15:1-21 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 15 After these words, when the kings had gathered together, and had fallen before Abram; and four kings had been slain, and nine hosts brought back, Abram reasoned in his heart, and said, Woe to me, because I have received the reward of my appointments in this world, and have no portion in the world to come. Or peradventure the brethren and friends of those who have been slain will combine in legions and come against me; or that at that time there was found with me the reward of a little righteousness, so that they fell before me; but the second time reward may not be found with me, and by me the name of the Heavens may be profaned. Thereupon was the word (pithgama) of the Lord with Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not; for if these men should gather together in legions and come against thee, My Word (Memra) will be thy shield: and also if these fall before thee in this world, the reward of thy good works will be kept, and be prepared before Me in the world to come, great exceedingly.

And Abram said, Lord God, great blessings hast Thou given me, and great (are they which it is) before Thee to give me: nevertheless, what profit is to me, when I pass from the world without children, and Eliezer the manager (bar pharnasath, the son of sustenance) of my house, by whose hands signs were wrought for (or to) me in Darmasek, expects to be my heir? And Abram said, Behold, to me Thou hast not given a son; and, behold, the manager of my house will be my heir. And, behold, a word from before the Lord was to him, saying, He will not be thine heir; but a son whom thou wilt beget will be thy heir. And He brought him forth without, and said, Look up now to the heavens, and number the stars, if thou art able to number them: and he said, So will be thy sons. And he believed in the Lord, and had faith in the (Memra) Word of the Lord, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness (lizeku), because he parleyed not before him with words. And He said to him, I am the Lord who brought thee out of the fiery furnace of the Kasdai, to give thee this land to inherit. And he said, Lord God, by what may I know that I will be the heir of it? And He said, Bring Me oblations, and offer before Me an heifer of three years, and a goat of three years, a ram of three years, and a dove, and the young of a dove. And he brought all these before Him, and divided them in the midst, and set in order every division over against its fellow; but the fowl he divided not. And there came down idolatrous peoples which are like to unclean birds, to steal away the slaughters of Israel; but the righteousness of Abram was a shield over them. And when the sun was nearing to set, a deep sleep was thrown upon Abram: and, behold, four reigns arose to enslave his children: Terror, which is Bavel; Darkness, which is Madai; Greatness, which is Javan; Decline, which is Pheras, which is to fall, and to have no uplifting, and from whence it is to be that the sons of Israel will come up. And he said to Abram, Knowing, thou must know, that thy sons will dwell in a land not their own, because thou hast not believed, and they will subjugate and afflict them four hundred years; and also that the people whom they will serve I will judge with two hundred and fifty plagues, and afterwards they will go forth into liberty with great riches. And thou shalt be gathered to thy fathers, thy soul will rest in peace, and thou shalt be buried in a good old age. And in the fourth generation of thy sons they will return hither to inherit; because the guilt of the Amoraah is not yet complete. And when the sun had set there was darkness. And, behold, Abram saw Gehinnam ascending, smoke with flaming coals and burning flakes of fire, werewith the wicked are to be judged. And, behold, He passed between those divisions.

[JERUSALEM. 1. After these words, when all the kings of the lands, and the sultans of the provinces, had gathered together, and had made war against Abram the Just, and had fallen before him, and he had slain of them four kings, and had brought back nine hosts, did Abram the Just reason in his heart, and say, Woe, now, to me, because I have received the reward ordained in the present world, and have no portion in the world to come. Or peradventure the brethren and kindred of the slain who have fallen before me, who are in their cities and provinces, will combine in great legions, and come against me; or peradventure there were in my hand a few commandments in the former times, so that they fell before me when they had risen up against me; or it may be that righteousness was found in me at the former times, that they fell before me, but at the second time it may not be found, and the Heavenly Name will be profaned in me. Then was the word of prophecy from the Lord unto Abram the Righteous, saying, Fear not, Abram, though they should gather together and come against thee with many legions, My Word will be thy reward and thy shield in this world, and a protector over thee all the days of the world to come. And though I deliver up thy adversaries before thee in this world, the reward of thy good works is prepared for thee also before Me in the world to come.

2. And Abram said, Before Thee I supplicate mercy, O Lord God. Manifold blessings Thou hast given me, and many hast Thou before Thee still to give: nevertheless, what profit have I who go from the world childless, and Eliezer, the son of my house, by whose hands signs were wrought for me in Damasek, expecteth in himself to be my heir? 7. And He said to him, I am the Lord who brought thee out of the fiery furnace from Ur of the Kasdai. 9. And a turtle and young dove. 10-12. And He brought before him all these, and divided them into divisions, and set one part over against its fellow; but the fowl He divided not. And when the birds descended, they came not nigh the divisions: those birds are unclean fowl, and those unclean fowl are the reigns of the earth which are worshippers of idols, and which counsel evil counsels against the sons of Israel; but the integrity of the righteous Abram hindered them. And when the sun was going to set, a sleep profound and sweet fell upon Abram. And, behold, Abram saw four reigns which should arise to being his sons into subjection (and) Terror – the Greatness – of Darkness – Fell – upon him: Terror, that is Bavel; Darkness, that is Media; Greatness, that is Greece; Fell, that is Edom, (Rome,) that fourth reign which is to Fall, and never to rise again for ever and ever. 17. And, behold, the sun went to set, and there was darkness, and Abram beheld till the seats were arrayed and the thrones set forth. And lo, Gehinam, which was prepared for the wicked in the world to come, enveloped in burning flakes and flames of fire, into which the wicked had fallen when in their lives they rebelled against the law, while the just who had kept it had been delivered from affliction. And all were seen by Abram while He passed between those divisions.]

In that day the Lord ordained a covenant with Abram, that He would not judge therein his sons, but would deliver them from the reign, saying, To thy sons will I give this land, from Nilos of Mizraim unto the great river, the river Pherath, the Shalmia, and the Kenizah, and Kadmonaah, and the Hittaee, and the Pherizaee, and Gibaraee, and the Emoraee, and the Kinaanaee, and the Girgeshaee, and the Jebusaee. [JERUSALEM. And all the sons of the East.]

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Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.10.3 (T)

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

1.10.3. And Elohim commended his virtue, and said, Thou shalt not however lose the rewards thou hast deserved to receive by such thy glorious actions. He answered, And what advantage will it be to me to have such rewards, when I have none to enjoy them after me? – for he was hitherto childless. And Elohim promised that he should have a son, and that his posterity should be very numerous; insomuch that their number should be like the stars. When he heard that, he offered a slaughter to God, as he commanded him. The manner of the slaughter was this: – He took an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram in like manner of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a dove and as he was enjoined, he divided the three former, but the birds he did not divide. After which, before he built his altar, where the birds of prey flew about, as desirous of blood, a Divine voice came to him, declaring that their neighbors would be grievous to his posterity, when they should be in Egypt, for four hundred years; during which time they should be afflicted, but afterwards should overcome their enemies, should conquer the Canaanites in war, and possess themselves of their land, and of their cities.