Week 151

• Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 34:1-12; Genesis 1:1
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 2:1-4
• Apostolic (A): Jude 1:1-25
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 2:1-18; Sirach 16:1-13

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 3:23-28 (T)
• Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:13 (T)
• Exodus 32:7-14 (T)
• Numbers 20:7-13; Numbers 27:12-23; Deuteronomy 3:23-29; Deuteronomy 4:20-24 (T)
• Numbers 12:1-8 (T)
• Deuteronomy 18:10-19 (T)
• Luke 7:11-23; John 5:36-47; John 12:44-50 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Deuteronomy 34:1-12 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.48-49 (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) 34:1-12; Genesis 1:1

34:1 Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. YHWH showed him all the land of Gilead to Dan, 2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the Western Sea, 3 and the south, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar. 4 YHWH said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you will not go over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of YHWH died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of YHWH. 6 [They]^(DSS)(LXX) buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, but no man knows where his tomb is to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his strength gone. 8 The sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended. 9 Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The sons of Israel listened to him, and did as YHWH commanded Moses. 10 Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom YHWH knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and the wonders which YHWH sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 and in all the strong hand, and in all the great fear, which Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

 Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the land.

Prophets Portion (P)

Isaiah 2:1-4

2:1 [The word coming from YHWH to Isaiah]^(LXX) the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It will happen in the latter days, that the mountain of the house of [Elohim]^(LXX) [will be]^(DSS)(mss) established on the top of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all nations will flow to it. 3 Many peoples will go and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, [and]^(DSS)(LXX) to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Torah will go out of Zion, and the word of YHWH from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. [And]^(DSS)(LXX) Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Jude 1:1-25

1 Judah, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Jacob, to those who are called, [loved]^(mss) by God the Father, and kept for Yeshua the Messiah: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about [our]^(mss) common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. 4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only [Master and Lord],^(mss) Yeshua the Messiah. 5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. 6 Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. 9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason. 11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Qorach’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. 14 About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the emissaries of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.” (cf. 2 Peter 3:3) 19 These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to eternal life. 22 On some have compassion, making a distinction, 23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to keep [you]^(mss) from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, [through Yeshua Messiah our Lord],^(mss) be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Additional Portion (ADD)

Sirach 2:1-18; Sirach 16:1-13

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places  including the Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

Sirach 2:1-18 My son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for trial. 2 Set your heart aright, constantly endure, and don’t make haste in time of calamity. 3 Cling to him, and don’t depart, that you may be increased at your latter end. 4 Accept whatever is brought upon you, and be patient when you suffer humiliation. 5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. 6 Put your trust in him, and he will help you. Make your ways straight, and set your hope on him. 7 All you who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy. Don’t turn aside, lest you fall. 8 All you who fear the Lord, put your trust in him, and your reward will not fail. 9 All you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, and for eternal gladness and mercy. 10 Look at the generations of old, and see: Who ever put his trust in the Lord, and was ashamed? Or who remained in his fear, and was forsaken? Or who called upon him, and he despised him? 11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. He forgives sins and saves in time of affliction. 12 Woe to fearful hearts, to faint hands, and to the sinner who goes two ways! 13 Woe to the faint heart! For it doesn’t believe. Therefore it won’t be defended. 14 Woe to you who have lost your patience! And what will you all do when the Lord visits you? 15 Those who fear the Lord will not disobey his words. Those who love him will keep his ways. 16 Those who fear the Lord will seek his good pleasure. Those who love him will be filled with the law. 17 Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and will humble their souls in his sight. 18 We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men; for as his majesty is, so also is his mercy.

Sirach 16:1-13 Don’t desire a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in impious sons. 2 If they multiply, don’t delight in them unless the fear of the Lord is in them. 3 Don’t trust in their life. Don’t rely on their condition: for one is better than a thousand, and to die childless than to have impious children. 4 For from one who has understanding, a city will be populated, but a race of wicked men will be made desolate. 5 I have seen many such things with my eyes. My ear has heard mightier things than these. 6 In the congregation of sinners, a fire will be kindled. In a disobedient nation, wrath is kindled. 7 He was not pacified toward the giants of old time, who revolted in their strength. 8 He didn’t spare Lot’s neighbors, whom he abhorred for their pride. 9 He didn’t pity the people of perdition who were taken away in their sins, 10 or in like manner, the six hundred thousand footmen who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. 11 Even if there is one stiff-necked person, it is a marvel if he will be unpunished, for mercy and wrath are both with him who is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath. 12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also. He judges a man according to his works. 13 The sinner will not escape with plunder. The perseverance of the pious will not be frustrated.

Related Scriptures

Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:13 (T)

Genesis 12:7 YHWH appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your seed.” note He built an altar there to YHWH, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 13:15 for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your seed forever.

Genesis 15:18 In that day YHWH 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:

Genesis 26:4 I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and will give all these lands to your seed. In your seed all the nations of the land will be blessed,

Genesis 28:13 Behold, YHWH stood above it, and said, “I am YHWH, the Elohim of Abraham your father, and the Elohim of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your seed

Exodus 32:7-14 (T)

32:7 YHWH spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves! 8 They have turned away quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and have worshiped it, and have slaughtered to it, and said, ‘These are your elohim, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’ ” 9 YHWH said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.” 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.

Numbers 20:7-13; Numbers 27:12-23; Deuteronomy 3:23-29; Deuteronomy 4:20-24 (T)

Numbers 20:7 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the branch, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it pour out its water. You will bring water to them out of the rock; so you will give the congregation and their livestock drink.” 9 Moses took the branch from before YHWH, as he commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Will we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his branch twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank. 12 YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore you will not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the sons of Israel strove with YHWH, and he was sanctified in them. [And Moses said, “Lord YHWH, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand. For what elohim is there in the heavens or in the land that can do works like yours, and mighty acts like yours? Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that fine mountain, and Lebanon.” But YHWH said to me, “Enough! Speak no more to me of this word. Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes; for you will not go over this Jordan.]^(DSS)

Numbers 27:12 YHWH said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you also will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; 14 because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. 15 Moses spoke to YHWH, saying, 16 “Let YHWH, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of YHWH may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.” 18 YHWH said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight. 20 You will give from your splendor upon him, that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey. 21 He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before YHWH. At his word they will go out, and at his word they will come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation [with him].”^(DSS) 22 Moses did as YHWH commanded him. He took Joshua [son of Nun],^(DSS) and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as YHWH spoke by Moses. [And Moses said to him, “Your eyes have seen all that YHWH your Elohim has done to these two kings. So will YHWH do to all the reigns where you go over. You will not fear them; for YHWH your Elohim himself fights for you.”]^(DSS)

Deuteronomy 3:23 I begged YHWH at that time, saying, 24 “Lord YHWH, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand. For what elohim is there in the heavens or in land that can do works like yours, and mighty acts like yours? 25 Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that fine mountain, and Lebanon.” 26 But YHWH was angry with me because of you, and didn’t listen to me. YHWH said to me, “That is enough! Speak no more to me of this word. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes; for you will not go over this Jordan. 28 But commission Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he will go over before this people, and he will cause them to inherit the land which you will see.” 29 So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.

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.

Numbers 12:1-8 (T)

12:1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had taken; for he had taken a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has YHWH indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And YHWH heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the men who were on the face of the land. 4 YHWH spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Appointed Tent!” The three of them came out. 5 YHWH came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. 6 [YHWH said to them]^(LXX), “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, YHWH, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, [openly]^(LXX), and not in riddles; and he will see YHWH’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”

Deuteronomy 18:10-19 (T)

18:10 There will not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11 or a charmer, or someone who consults with a necromancer, or a wizard, or a seeker to the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to YHWH. Because of these abominations, YHWH your Elohim drives them out from before you. 13 You will be blameless with YHWH your Elohim. 14 For these nations that you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, YHWH your Elohim has not allowed you so to do. 15 YHWH your Elohim will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You will listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you desired of YHWH your Elohim in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again YHWH my Elohim’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.” 17 YHWH said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I will command him. 19 It will happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he will speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Luke 7:11-23; John 5:36-47; John 12:44-50 (T)

Luke 7:11 Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born* son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14 He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15 He who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother. 16 Fear took hold of all, and they glorified Elohim, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “Elohim has visited his people!” 17 This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region. 18 The disciples of John told him about all these things. 19 John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Yeshua, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 20 When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Immerser has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22 Yeshua answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

John 5:36 But the witness which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father himself, who sent me, has witnessed about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent. 39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. 40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life. 41 I don’t receive glory from men. 42 But I know you, that you don’t have Elohim’s love in yourselves. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only Elohim? 45 “Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

John 12:44 Yeshua cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 He who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. 47 If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. 49 For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”

Related Additional Readings​

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 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 34

And Mosheh went up from the plains of Moab to the mountain of Nebo, to the summit of the height which is over against Jericho; and the Word of the Lord showed him all the strong ones of the land, and the mighty acts which would be done by Jeptha of Gilead, and the victories of Shimeon bar Manoah of tribe of Dan; and the thousand princes of Beth Naphtali who would gather with Barak, and the kings who would be slain by Jehoshua bar Nun of the tribe of Ephraim, and the deeds of strength to be wrought by Gideon bar Yoash of the tribe of Menasheh, and all the kings of Israel, and of the reign of Beth Jehudah, who would have dominion in the land until the latter sanctuary should be destroyed. And the king of the south who will combine with the king of the north to destroy the inhabitants of the land and the Ammonites and Moabites, the dwellers in the plain, who will oppress Israel, and the captives of Elijah’s disciples who will be dispersed from the plain of Jericho, and the captives of Elisha’s disciples who will be dispersed from the city of palm trees by the hand of their brethren of Beth Israel, two hundred thousand men; and the affliction of generation after generation, and the punishment of Armalgos the wicked, and the battle of Gog, when in the time of that great tribulation Michael will rise up to deliver by his arm. [JERUSALEM. And Mosheh went up from the plain of Moab to the mountain of Nebo, to the summit. of the height which is over against Jericho; and the Lord showed him the whole land of Gilead unto Dan of Kesavan, and the whole land of Naphtali and Ephraim and Manasheh, and all the land of Jehudah to. the outer sea, and the south, and the plain of the vale of Jericho, the city which cultivateth palms, which is Zeir.]

And the Lord said to him, This is the end of the word concerning the land, and this is the land which I covenanted unto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it unto your children. I grant thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not pass over to it.

Mosheh, the Rabban of Israel, was born on the seventh day of the new moon Adar, and on the seventh day of Adar he was gathered from the world. A voice fell from the heavens, and thus spake: Come, all ye who have entered into the world, and behold the grief of Mosheh, the Rabban of Israel, who hath laboured, but not to please himself, and who is ennobled with four goodly crowns: the crown of the Law is his, because he brought it from the heavens above, when there was revealed to him the Glory of the Lord’s Shekinah, with two thousand myriads of angels, and forty and two thousand chariots of fire. The crown of the Priesthood bath been his in the seven days of the peace offerings. The crown of the reign they gave him in possession from the heavens: he drew not the sword, nor prepared the war horse, nor gathered he the host. The crown of a good name he possesseth by good works and by his humility. Therefore is Mosheh, the servant of the Lord, gathered in the land of Moab, by the kiss of the Word of the Lord.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord of the world, who hath taught us His righteous way. He hath taught us to clothe naked, as He clothed Adam and Hava; He hath taught us to unite the bridegroom and the bride in marriage, as He united Hava to Adam. He bath taught us to visit the sick, as He revealed Himself to Abraham when he was ill, from being circumcised; He hath taught us to console the mourners, as He revealed Himself again to Jakob when returning from Padan, in the place where his mother had died. He hath taught us to feed the poor, as He sent Israel bread from the heavens; He hath taught us to bury the dead by (what He did for) Mosheh; for He revealed Himself in His Word, and with Him the companies of ministering angels. Michael and Gabriel spread forth the golden bed, fastened with chrysolites, gems, and beryls, adorned with hangings of purple silk, and satin, and white linens. Metatron, Jophiel, and Uriel, and Jephephya, the wise sages, laid him upon it, and by His Word He conducted him four miles, and buried him in the valley opposite Beth Peor; that Israel, as oft as they look up to Peor, may have the memory of their sin; and at sight of the burying place of Mosheh may be humbled: but no man knoweth his sepulchre unto this day.

[JERUSALEM. Spake Mosheh the prophet: The Word of the Lord said unto me, This is the land which I have sworn unto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob, saying, Unto the children of thy children will I give it. Behold it with thine eyes, but thou, shalt not pass over unto it. And Mosheh, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of the Moabaee, according to the mouth of the decree of the Word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of the Moabaee, opposite to the idol Peor; nor knoweth any one his sepulchre unto this day.] Mosheh was a son of a hundred and twenty years when be died; the orbs of his eyes were not darkened, nor had his teeth passed away. [JERUSALEM. Mosheh was the son of a hundred and twenty years in the time that he died; his eyes were not darkened, nor had the brightness of his face faded away.]

And the sons of Israel wept for Mosheh in the plains of Moab thirty days; and the days of weeping in the mourning for Mosheh were completed on the eighth of the new moon of Nisan. And on the ninth of Nisan the people of Beth Israel prepared their vessels and set their cattle in order, and passed over the Jordan on the tenth of Nisan. And the manna ceased for them on the sixteenth of Nisan. They found manna to eat thirty-seven days after the death of Mosheh, for the sake of his righteousness. [JERUSALEM. And the sons of Israel wept for Mosheh in the plains of Moab thirty days; and so were fulfilled the days of weeping in mourning for Mosheh.]

But Jehoshua bar Nun was filled with the Spirit of wisdom; for Mosheh had laid his hands upon him; and the sons of Israel received instruction from him, and did as the Lord had commanded (by) Mosheh.

But no prophet hath again risen in Israel like unto Mosheh, because the Word of the Lord had known him to speak with him word for word, in all the signs, and wonders, and manifestations which the Word of the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Mizraim upon Pharoh, and all his servants, and all the people of his land; and in all the strength of the Mighty Hand by which he bare the rod whose weight was forty savin and that divided the sea, and smote the rock; and in all the solemn things which Mosheh did when he received the two tables of sapphire stone, whose weight was forty savin, and carried both of them in his bands in the sight of all Israel. [JERUSALEM. And Jehoshua bar Nun was filled with the Spirit of Wisdom: for Mosheh had laid his hands upon him; and the sons of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Word of the Lord had commanded Mosheh. But no prophet hath arisen yet in Israel as Mosheh, whom the Word of the Lord knew, (speaking with him word for word,) in all the miracles, and wonders, and distinguishing signs which the Word of the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Mizraim, on Pharoh, and all his servants, and all his land; and in all the Mighty Hand, and all the great manifestations which Mosheh did in the sight of all Israel.

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.48-49 (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.

4.8.49. Now Moses lived in all one hundred and twenty years; a third part of which time, abating one new moon, he was the people’s ruler; and he died on the last new moon of the year, which is called by the Macedonians Dystrus, but by us Adar, on the first day of the new moon. He was one that exceeded all men that ever were in understanding, and made the best use of what that understanding suggested to him. He had a very graceful way of speaking and addressing himself to the multitude; and as to his other qualifications, he had such a full command of his passions, as if he hardly had any such in his soul, and only knew them by their names, as rather perceiving them in other men than in himself. He was also such a general of an army as is seldom seen, as well as such a prophet as was never known, and this to such a degree, that whatsoever he pronounced, you would think you heard the voice of Elohim himself. So the people mourned for him thirty days: nor did ever any grief so deeply affect the Hebrews as did this upon the death of Moses: nor were those that had experienced his conduct the only persons that desired him, but those also that perused the laws he left behind him had a strong desire after him, and by them gathered the extraordinary virtue he was master of. And this will suffice for the declaration of the manner of the death of Moses.