Week 150

• Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:1-29
• Prophets (P): Joshua 1:1-18
• Apostolic (A): John 17:1-26
• Additional (ADD): Tobit 14:1-15

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Psalms 29:8 (T)
• Zechariah 14:1-5 (T)
• Genesis 49:1-33 (T)
• Psalms 4:1-8 (T)
• Exodus 3:1-5 (T)
• Jeremiah 23:1-8; Jeremiah 33:14-18 (T)
• Number 23:8-12 (T)
• 2 Samuel 7:21-24; 2 Chronicles 17:19-22 (T)
• Micah 1:1-4 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Testament of Qahat 4Q542 (T)
• Deuteronomy 33:1-29 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.48 (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) 33:1-29

33:1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of Elohim blessed the sons of Israel before his death. 2 He said, “YHWH came from Sinai, and rose from Seir [upon us].^(LXX) He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of [Kadesh; on his right hand were his angels with him].^(LXX) 3 Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words. 4 Moses commanded us a Torah, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob. 5 He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. 6 “Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.” 7 This is for Judah. He said, “Listen, YHWH, [to]^(DSS) the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You will be [for him]^(DSS) a help against his adversaries.” 8 About Levi he said, “[Give to Levi his]^(LXX) Tummim and [his]^(LXX) Urim to the [the sacred man],^(LXX) whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah. 9 He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own sons; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant. 10 They will teach Jacob your judgments, and Israel your Torah. They will put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar. 11 YHWH, bless his skills. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again.” 12 About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of YHWH will dwell in safety by him. He covers him all day long. He dwells between his shoulders.” 13 About Joseph he said, “His land is blessed by YHWH, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath, 14 for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things that the moon can yield, 15 for the best things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16 for the precious things of the land and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers. 17 [A firstborn]^(LXX) bull, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples to the ends of the land. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.” 18 About Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents. 19 They will call the peoples to the mountain. There they will offer slaughters of righteousness, for they will draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand.” 20 About Gad he said, “He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm and the crown of the head. 21 He saw the beginning for himself, given that there the parcel of the inscriber is boarded up, and he arrived with the heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of YHWH, His judgments with Israel.” 22 About Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps out of Bashan.” 23 About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of the blessing of YHWH, Possess the west and the south.” 24 About Asher he said, “Asher is blessed with sons. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your bars will be iron and bronze. As your days, so your strength will be. 26 “There is no one like Elohim, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, in his pride on the heavens. 27 The eternal Elohim is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’ 28 Israel dwells in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew. 29 You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by YHWH, the shield of your help, the sword of your pride! Your enemies will submit themselves to you. You will tread on their high places.”

Prophets Portion (P)

Joshua 1:1-18

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

Apostolic Portion (A)

John 17:1-26

17:1 Yeshua said these things, then lifting up his eyes to the heavens, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; 2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true Elohim, and him whom you sent, Yeshua the Messiah. 4 I glorified you on the land. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. 6 “I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, 8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them; and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, guard them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world,^(mss) I kept them in your name whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled (cf. Psalm 41:9). 13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would guard them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in your^(mss) truth. Your word is truth. (cf. Psalms 119:142) 18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one^(mss) in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one, 23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Additional Portion (ADD)

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

Tobit 14:1-15

14:1 Then Tobit finished giving thanks. 2 He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight. After eight years, he received it again. He gave alms and he feared the Lord Elohim more and more, and gave thanks to him. 3 Now he grew very old; and he called his son with the six sons of his son, and said to him, “My child, take your sons. Behold, I have grown old, and am ready to depart out of this life. 4 Go into Media, my child, for I surely believe all the things which Jonah the prophet spoke of Nineveh, that it will be overthrown, but in Media there will rather be peace for a season. Our kindred will be scattered in the land from the good land. Jerusalem will be desolate, and the house of Elohim in it will be burned up, and will be desolate for a time. 5 Elohim will again have mercy on them, and bring them back into the land, and they will build the house, but not like to the former house, until the times of that age are fulfilled. Afterward they will return from the places of their captivity, and build up Jerusalem with honor. The house of Elohim will be built in it forever with a glorious building, even as the prophets spoke concerning it. 6 And all the nations will turn to fear the Lord Elohim truly, and will bury their idols. 7 All the nations will bless the Lord, and his people will give thanks to Elohim, and the Lord will exalt his people; and all those who love the Lord Elohim in truth and righteousness will rejoice, showing mercy to our kindred. 8 And now, my child, depart from Nineveh, because those things which the prophet Jonah spoke will surely come to pass. 9 But you must guard the law and the ordinances, and show yourself merciful and righteous, that it may be well with you. 10 Bury me decently, and your mother with me. Don’t stay at Nineveh. See, my child, what Aman did to Achiacharus who nourished him, how out of light he brought him into darkness, and all the recompense that he made him. Achiacharus was saved, but the other had his recompense, and he went down into darkness. Manasses gave alms, and escaped the snare of death which he set for him; but Aman fell into the snare, and perished. 11 And now, my children, consider what alms does, and how righteousness delivers.” While he was saying these things, he gave up the ghost in the bed; but he was one hundred fifty eight years old. Tobias buried him magnificently. 12 When Anna died, he buried her with his father. But Tobias departed with his wife and his sons to Ecbatana to Raguel his father-in-law, 13 and he grew old in honor, and he buried his father-in-law and mother-in-law magnificently, and he inherited their possessions, and his father Tobit’s. 14 He died at Ecbatana of Media, being one hundred twenty seven years old. 15 Before he died, he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which Nebuchadnezzar and Ahasuerus took captive. Before his death, he rejoiced over Nineveh.

Related Scriptures

Psalms 29:8 (T)

29:8 the voice of YHWH shakes the wilderness. YHWH shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

Zechariah 14:1-5 (T)

14:1 Behold, a day of YHWH comes, when your plunder will be divided within you. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3 Then YHWH will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 You will flee by the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel. Yes, you will flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. YHWH my Elohim will come, and all the holy ones with [him].^(DSS)(LXX)

Genesis 49:1-33 (T)

49:1 Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come. 2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father. 3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power. 4 Boiling over like water, you will not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch. 5 “Shimon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence. 6 My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their will they hamstrung cattle. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. The obedience of the peoples will be to him. 11 Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk. 13 “Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon. 14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags. 15 He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor. 16 “Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan will be a serpent on the trail, an adder in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls backward. 18 I have waited for your salvation, YHWH. 19 “A troop will press on Gad, but he will press on their heel. 20 “Asher’s food will be rich. He will produce royal dainties. 21 “Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns. 22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a spring. His branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecuted him: 24 But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel, 25 even by the Elohim of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of your ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers. 27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.” 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them, and blessed them. He blessed everyone according to his own blessing. 29 He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah: 32 the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.” 33 When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered to his people.

Psalms 4:1-8 (T)

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. 4:1 A Psalm by David. 1 Answer me when I call, Elohim of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 2 You sons of men, how long will my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood? Selah. 3 But know that YHWH has set apart for himself him who is pious; YHWH will hear when I call to him. 4 Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the slaughters of righteousness. Put your trust in YHWH. 6 Many say, “Who will show us any good?” YHWH, let the light of your face shine on us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased. 8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you alone, YHWH, make me live in safety.

Exodus 3:1-5 (T)

3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to Elohim’s mountain, to Horeb. 2 the angel of YHWH appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When YHWH saw that he came over to see, Elohim called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” 5 He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”

Jeremiah 23:1-8; Jeremiah 33:14-18 (T)

Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says YHWH. 2 Therefore YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings,” says YHWH. 3 “I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they will be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, neither will any be lacking,” says YHWH. 5 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: YHWH our righteousness. 7 “Therefore, behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that they will no more say, ‘As YHWH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’ 8 but, ‘As YHWH lives, who brought up and who led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will dwell in their own land.”

Jeremiah 33:14 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah. 15 “In those days and at that time, I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David. He will execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. This is the name by which she will be called: YHWH our righteousness.” 17 For YHWH says: “David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel. 18 The Levitical priests won’t lack a man before me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to do slaughter continually.”

Number 23:8-12 (T)

23:8 How will I curse?  [YHWH]^(DSS) has not cursed. How will I defy? [Elohim]^(DSS) has not defied. 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and will not be listed among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, or count the fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! Let my last end be like his!” 11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed altogether.” 12 He answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak that which [Elohim]^(DSS) puts in my mouth?”

2 Samuel 7:21-24; 2 Chronicles 17:19-22 (T)

23, like your people Israel, make a name for [yourself],^(LXX) and [to do]^(DSS) great and awesome deeds by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, [a nation]^(LXX) and its elohim? 24 And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, YHWH, became their Elohim. 19 For your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make known to your servant all great things. 21 … [a nation]^(LXX) and its elohim

Micah 1:1-4 (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 land, 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 land. 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.

Related Additional Readings​

The Testament of Qahat is an Aramaic work of which two columns, one complete and one damaged, have survived. It is a typical example of moralizing death-bed literature, similar to the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, but characterized, like the Testaments of Levi and Amram, by its priestly perspective. The script has been palaeographically dated to the end of the second century B.C., but the carbon 14 test, performed in 1990, places it considerably earlier, possibly to 388–353 B.C., or more probably to 303–235 B.C. It is not a sectarian composition. Only the undamaged part of the text is translated here. Two further small fragments have survived without providing anything continuous and meaningful.

Col 1. … I and the Elohim of Elohim for all eternity. And He will shine light on you and will let you know His great Name. And you will know Him, that He is the Elohim of eternity, and the Lord of all the deeds, and the Ruler of all, dealing with them according to His good pleasure. And He will make for you rejoicing and for your sons joy for the generations of truth, for ever. Now, my sons, be careful with the heritage that is handed over to you, which your fathers have given you. Do not give your heritage to strangers, and your inheritance to knaves so that you become humiliated and foolish in their eyes and they despise you, for, although sojourners among you, they will be your chiefs. So hold to the word of Jacob, your father, and seize the laws of Abraham and the righteousness of Levi and mine. And be holy and pure of all fornication in the community. And hold the truth and walk straight, and not with a double heart, but with a pure heart and a true and good spirit. And you will give me a good name among you, and a rejoicing to Levi, and joy to Jacob, delight to Isaac, and glory to Abraham, because you will keep and walk (in) the herit[age] which your fathers will have left you: truth and righteousness and uprightness and perfection and pur[ity and ho]liness and the priesthood according to all that you have been commanded (?), and according to all that Col. 2 I will have taught you in truth from now until all [the age] … every word of truth will come upon yo[u …] eternal blessing will reside on you and will be[come for you] … stay for all the eternal generations and will no more … from your correction and you will establish yourselves to pronounce judgement ov[er … ] and to see the faults of all the sinners of the ages … [to be cast] into the fire and the oceans and into all the cavities for … in the generations of truth. And all the sons of wickedne[ss … ] And now Amram, my son, [I] instruct you … and your sons to their sons. I instruct [you … ] and they have given to Levi my father, and Levi my father g[ave (it/them)] to me … all my books in witness that through them you should beware … [and that there should be] for you through them much merit when you walk in conformity with them. [vacat]

*The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English 7th Edition by Geza Vermes.

Deuteronomy 33:1-29 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 33

And this is the order of the Benedictions wherewith Mosheh the Prophet blessed the sons of Israel before he died. And he said:

The Lord was revealed at Sinai to give the law unto His people of Beth Israel, and the splendour of the glory of His Shekinah arose from Gebal to give itself to the sons of Esau: but they received it not. It shined forth in majesty and glory from mount Pharan, to give itself to the sons of Ishmael; but they received it not. It returned and revealed itself in holiness unto His people of Beth Israel, and with Him ten thousand times ten thousand holy angels. He wrote with His own right hand, and gave them His law and His commandments, out of the flaming fire. [JERUSALEM. This is the Benediction wherewith Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the sons of Israel before be should be gathered, and he said: The Lord was revealed from Sinai to give the law unto His people of Beth Israel. He arose in His glory upon the mountain of Seir to give the law to the sons of Esau; but after they found that it was written therein, Thou shalt do no murder, they would not receive it. He revealed Himself in His glory oil the mountain of Gebala, to give the law to the sons of Ishmael; but when they found that it was written therein, Ye will not be thieves, they would not receive it. Again did He reveal Himself upon Mount Sinai, and with Him ten thousands of holy angels; and the sons of Israel said, All that the Word of the Lord hath spoken will we perform and obey. And He stretched forth His hand from the midst of the flaming fire, and gave the Law to His people.]

And whatever hath befallen to the nations (hath been done) because He loved His people of Beth Israel, and all of them He hath called to be saints, to stand in the place of His sanctuary. And when they observed the precepts of the law, they were conducted at the foot of Thy glorious Cloud, they rested and encamped according to the dictate of the Word. The sons of Israel said, Mosheh commanded us the law, and gave it for an heritage to the tribes of Jakob. And he was king in Israel: when the chiefs of the people were gathered together, the tribes of Israel were obedient to him. [JERUSALEM. Is it not all manifest and known before Him, that neither the sons of Esau nor of Ishmael would receive the law? Nevertheless, because He loved His people of Beth Israel as myriads of the holy angels, though He brought upon them many corrections, they rested not, nor desisted from the doctrine of the law; and, behold, they were conducted and brought on at the foot of His Cloud, and went forward and encamped according to His Word. The sons of Israel said, Mosheh commanded us the law: he gave it for an inheritance and possession to the congregation of the house of Jakob. And a king will arise from the house of Jakob, when the heads of the people are gathered together: unto Him will the tribes of Israel be obedient.]

Let Reuben live in this world, nor die the second death which the wicked die in the world to come; and let his youths be numbered with the young men of his brethren of Beth Israel. [JERUSALEM. Let Reuben live in this world, nor die the second death which the wicked the in the world to come; and let his youths be with the men in number.]

And this is the benediction of the tribe of Jehudah, conjoined with the portion and benediction of his brother Shemeon; and thus he spake: Receive, O Lord, the prayer of Jehudah when he goeth forth unto war, and bring Thou him back from war unto his people in peace. Let his hand take vengeance on his enemies, and be Thou his help and support against his foes. [JERUSALEM. And this is the benediction with which Mosheh the prophet blessed the tribe of Jehudah, and he said: May the Word of the Lord hearken to the prayer of Jehudah, and bring him back to his people from battle. May his hand avenge him upon his enemies, and be Thou a help and a support against his foes.]

And Mosheh the prophet blessed the tribe of Levi and said, With Perfections and Lights hast Thou robed Aharon, the man whom Thou didst find devout before Thee, whom Thou didst try in the trial, and he was sincere, and didst prove at the Contention Waters in Rekem, and he was found faithful. The tribe of Levi go forth to the service of the tabernacle, and separate themselves from their dwellings, saying of their fathers and mothers, I have not regarded them and of their brethren, Since we were of thirty years we have not known them or their children, for that they abide twenty years in their charge according to Thy Word, and guard the service of the holy covenant. Apt are they in teaching the orders of Thy judgments to them of Beth Jakob, and Thy law to them of Beth Israel. Their brethren the priests put incense on the censers to restrain the plague in the day of Thy wrath, and offer up the burnt slaughter with acceptance at Thy altar. Bless Lord, the slaughter of the house of Levi, who give the tenth of the tenth; and the oblation of the hand of Elijah the priest, which he will offer on Mount Karmela, receive Thou with acceptance: break the lons of Achab his enemy, and the neck of the false prophets who rise up against him, that the ene. mies of Johanan the high priest may not have a foot to stand. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh the prophet blessed the tribe of Levi, and said: With the Uraia and Tummaia hast thou clothed Aharon the saint, whom Thou didst try, and he was steadfast in the trial, and whom Thou didst prove at the Waters of Contention in Rekem, and he was found faithful. For of the tribe of Levi it may be said, He respected not the face of his own father and mother in the judgment of Tamar, and knew not his brother in the matter of the (golden) calf, nor towards his own children was he moved with mercy, in the work of Zimri; for they have kept the word of Thy mouth, and have been ready (to fulfil) the decree of Thy law. Apt are they to teach the orders of Thy judgments to them of Beth Jakob, and the decree of Thy law to the congregation of the tribes of Israel. They put the goodly aromatic incense (on the censer) to restrain Thy anger, and offer the perfect slaughter with acceptance at Thy altar. Bless, Lord, the substance of the tribe of Levi, and receive with favour the oblation of his hand; break Thou the hips of his enemies, that his adversaries may fall, and rise nomore.]

Mosheh the prophet blessed the tribe of Benjamin, and said: The beloved of the Lord will abide in safety with Him, He will protect him all the days, and His Shekinah will dwell within his borders. [JERUSALEM. Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Benjamin, and said: The beloved of the Lord will abide with confidence by Him, He will protect him all the days, and within his borders will dwell the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord.]

And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Joseph, and said: The land of Joseph will be blessed from before the Lord. From the bounty of the heavens will it have goodly fruit, from the dew and the rain that come down from above, and from the bounty of the founts of the deep which rise up and flow and with good fruitage to water the herbage from beneath, age and produce that the land maketh perfect by the aid (bringing out) of the sun, and with the bounty of the firstfruits of the trees which the ground yieldeth in the beginning of new moon after new moon, and with the good through the birthright ordained ness of the mountain tops, him at the beginning by the benediction of the fathers who resemble the mountains, and with the goodness of the hills whose produce faileth not, which was given him in heritage by the benedictions of the mothers of old, Who resemble the hills; and with the goodness of the excellent fruits of the land and its fulness and the favour towards him of Eloah who revealed Himself to Mosheh at the bush in the glory of His Shekinah: let all these blessings be combined, and be made a diadem of grandeur for the head of Joseph, and for the brow of the man who was chief and ruler in the land of Mizraim, and was the glory and honour of his brethren. The birthright had belonged to Reuben, but was taken from him and given to Joseph at the beginning; from thence comes the splendour of his glory and praise. For as it may not be that a man should work the ground with the firstling of his herd, so are not the children of Joseph to be reduced to servitude among the reigns; and as the reema pusheth with his horns the beasts of the wilderness, so will the sons of Joseph predominate together among the peoples in all the ends of the land. Myriads will be slain in Gulgela by Hoshea bar Nun who hath arisen from the house of Ephraim, and thousands of the Midyance by Gideon bar Yoash who will be of the tribe of Menasheh. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Joseph, and said: Blessed be the laud of Joseph, before the Lord, with the blessing of the dew and the rain that come down from the heavens above, with the blessings of the fountains of the deep which well up from the land beneath. Bounteous produce will it yield from the good provision of the sun; and will ripen its first fruits at the beginning of new moon and new moon. It aboundeth in fruitfulness for the righteousness sake of Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, the holy fathers who are like the mountains, and for the merit of Sarah, Revekah, Rahel, and Leah, the four mothers who are like the hills. It bringeth forth richly from the excellence of the land and its fulness, and by the good will of Him who caused the glory of His Shekinah to dwell in the bush. Let all these blessings come and be a crown upon the head of Joseph, and upon the brow of the man who ruled in the land of Mizraim, and was the brightness of his brothers glory. The birthright, king­dom, and honour are Joseph’s: for as it may not be that one should work with the firstling among cattle, nor bring the horns of the reema into servitude; but as the ox and the reema push with their horns, so this people, the sons of the tribe of Joseph, going out to battle against their enemies, will slaughter kings and princes. Myriads of the Amoraah will be slain by Jehoshua bar Nun, who is of the tribe of the Beni Ephraim; thou­ sands of the Midyanee will be slain by Gideon bar Yoash, who is of the tribe of the Beni Menasheh.]

And Mosheh the prophet blessed the tribe of Zebulon, and said: Rejoice, O house of Zebulon, in your going forth for your commerce, and you, O house of Issakar, in the tabernacles of your schools. Many peoples will pray at the mountain of the sanctuary, thither will they bring their oblations of truth: for they dwell by the side of the great sea, they are nourished with (its) dainties; and they take the shell‑fish and dye with its blood in purple the threads of their vestments; and from the sands make mirrors and vessels of glass; for the treasures of their coasts are discovered to them. [JERUSALEM. Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Zebulon, and said: Rejoice, O ye of the house of Zebulon, when you go out upon your commerce; and ye of the house of Issakar, rejoice, when you come in unto your houses of learning. Behold, this people of the house of Zebulon will come up together to the mountain of the sanctuary to offer true oblations; for they eat the revenue of the seas, and the treasures hidden in the sands are disclosed unto them.]

Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Gad, and said: Blessed be He who hath made wide the border of Gad. He reposeth as a lion in his habitation; but when he goeth out to battle against his adversaries, he slayeth kings and rulers, and his slaughtered ones are known from all the slain, for he striketh off the arm with the crown (of the head). And he saw that the land was good, and took his portion among the first; for there was a place strown with precious stones and pearls; for there is the place where Mosheh the prophet is hidden, who, as he went in and out at the head of the people in this world, will go in and out in the world that cometh; because he wrought righteousness before the Lord, and taught the orders of the judgments to the house of Israel his people. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Gad, and said: Blessed is he who hath made wide the border of Gad. He reposeth and inhabiteth as a lion and a lioness; nor will there be any reign or people who can stand before him; and when he goeth forth in war against his enemies his slaughtered are known among the slain by the head being cut away unto the arm. And he saw at the beginning that a place had been prepared there for a sepulchre, a place strown with precious stones and pearls, where Mosheh the prophet, the scribe of Israel, was to be hidden, (who,) as he went in and out at the head of the people in this world, so will he go in and oat in the world to come; because he wrought righteousness before the Lord, and taught the orders of the judgments to the sons of Israel.]

And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Dan, and said: The tribe of Dan is like a lion’s whelp, his land is watered by the streams that flow from Mathnan, and his border cometh unto Batania. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Dan, and said: The tribe of Dan is like a lion’s whelp, and his land is watered from Batanea.]

And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Naphtali, and said: Naphtali is satisfied with favour, and hath delight in the fishes of the sea which falleth within his portion; and he will be replete with blessings in the fruits of the vale of Genesareth which hath been given him from the Lord; he will inherit the water of Sopheni, and the sea of Tebaria. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Naphtali, and said: Naphtali will be satisfied with favour, and be filled with blessings from the Lord; he will have possession to the west of the sea of Genesareth, and to the south.]

And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Asher, and said: Blessed is Asher of the sons of Jakob. He will be acceptable to his brethren, and will supply them with provender in the years of release: his border will produce many olives yielding oil, enough for him to bathe in it even his feet. The tribe of Asher be sound as iron, and their feet‑strong as brass in walking on the stony rocks; and as the days of their youth so will they be strong in their age. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh the prophet of the Lord blessed the tribe of Asher, and said: Asher will be blessed of the children; he will be acceptable to his brethren, in the release of the land, for his ground will produce oil like water. Behold, this people of Beth Asher are sound as iron and strong as brass; as the days of their youth so will be the days of their age.]

There is no Elohim like the Elohim of Israel, whose Shekinah and Chariot dwell in the heavens. He will be your helper. He sitteth on His glorious throne in His majesty, in the expanse of the heavens above. The habitation of Eloha is from eternity; by the arm of His power beneath the world is upborne. He will scatter your adversaries before you, and will say by His Word, Destroy them. And Israel will dwell safely as of old according to the benediction with which Jakob their father did bless them, for whose righteousness sake He will cause them to inherit the good land that yieldeth corn and wine; the heavens also above them will drop with the dews of blessing, and the rains of lovingkindness. Happy are you, 0 Israel: who of all the nations are like you, a people saved in the Name of the Word of the Lord? He is the shield of your help, and His sword, the strength of your excellency. And your enemies will be found liars against you from terror, and you will tread upon the necks of their kings. [JERUSALEM. There is none like the Elohim of Israel, whose glorious Shekinah dwelleth in the heavens, and His magnificence in the high expanse. In His abode hath His Shekinah dwelt before they were, and under His power He bringeth the world; and He driveth out your enemies before you, and saith in His word, Let them be destroyed. But Israel will dwell safely by themselves according to the benediction with which Jakob did bless them, in the land yielding wine and oil, The heavens also above you are bidden to send down upon you the dew and the rain. O Israel, happy are you! Who is as you, a people saved before the Lord, the shield of your help, the guardian of your armies, and the trusty sword of your pre‑eminence? Your enemies are to be scattered before you; but you, O Beth Israel, while you give diligence in the law, and guard the commandments, will tread upon the necks of their kings.]

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.48 (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.).

4.8.48. When Moses had spoken thus at the end of his life, and had foretold what would befall to every one of their tribes afterward, with the addition of a blessing to them, the multitude fell into tears, insomuch that even the women, by beating their breasts, made manifest the deep concern they had when he was about to die. The children also lamented still more, as not able to contain their grief; and thereby declared, that even at their age they were sensible of his virtue and mighty deeds; and truly there seemed to be a strife betwixt the young and the old who should most grieve for him. The old grieved because they knew what a careful protector they were to be deprived of, and so lamented their future state; but the young grieved, not only for that, but also because it so happened that they were to be left by him before they had well tasted of his virtue. Now one may make a guess at the excess of this sorrow and lamentation of the multitude, from what happened to the legislator himself; for although he was always persuaded that he ought not to be cast down at the approach of death, since the undergoing it was agreeable to the will of Elohim and the law of nature, yet what the people did so overbore him, that he wept himself. Now as he went thence to the place where he was to vanish out of their sight, they all followed after him weeping; but Moses beckoned with his hand to those that were remote from him, and bade them stay behind in quiet, while he exhorted those that were near to him that they would not render his departure so lamentable. Whereupon they thought they ought to grant him that favor, to let him depart according as he himself desired; so they restrained themselves, though weeping still towards one another. All those who accompanied him were the senate, and Eleazar the high priest, and Joshua their commander. Now as soon as they were come to the mountain called Abarim, (which is a very high mountain, situate over against Jericho, and one that affords, to such as are upon it, a prospect of the greatest part of the excellent land of Canaan,) he dismissed the senate; and as he was going to embrace Eleazar and Joshua, and was still discoursing with them, a cloud stood over him on the sudden, and he disappeared in a certain valley, although he wrote in the holy books that he died, which was done out of fear, lest they should venture to say that, because of his extraordinary virtue, he went to Elohim.