• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 19:1-38
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 3:8-11; Isaiah 13:19-20
• Apostolic (A): Luke 17:20-37
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 16:5-9

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 16:18-20 (T)
• Genesis 13:12-13 (T)
• Genesis 18:1-8 (T)
• Judges 19:1-30 (T)
• Psalms 37:1-29 (T)
• Numbers 16:20-35 (T)
• Deuteronomy 2:8-11; Deuteronomy 2:17-21 (T)
• Deuteronomy 23:3-6 (T)
• 1 Kings 11:1-3 (T)
• Ruth 1:16-17, 4:10-17 (T)
• Jeremiah 23:14 (T)
• Jeremiah 49:1-18 (T)
• Jeremiah 50:29-40 (T)
• Amos 4:11-13 (T)
• Zephaniah 2:8-11 (T)
• Ezra 9:1-10:5 (T)
• Nehemiah 13:1-3 (T)
• Matthew 10:5-15 (T)
• Matthew 11:20-24 (T)
• 2 Peter 2:4-9 (T)
• Jude 1:1-7 (T)
• Matthew 24:1-51 (T)
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (A)
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Wisdom of Solomon 19:13-17 (T)
• 1 Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 6:1-4 (T)
• Genesis Apocryphon 1Q20 Column 20 (T)
• Enoch 22:1-14 (T)
• Enoch 46:1 – 50:5 (A)
• Genesis 19:1-38 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.11.3-5 (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)

Bereshiyt (Genesis) 19:1-38

19:1 The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the land, 2 and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant's house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way [since you have come to your servant].”^(mss) They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” 3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5 They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to them through the door, and shut the door after himself. 7 He said, “Please, my brothers, don't act so wickedly. 8 See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don't do any word to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.” 9 They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will judge a judgment? Now we will do evil with you more than with them!” They pressed hard on the man Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men reached out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 11 They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before [Elohim]^(mss) that [he]^(LXX) has sent us to destroy it.” 14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for [Elohim]^(mss) will destroy the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. 15 When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, [and get out,]^(LXX) lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 16 But [they were troubled];^(LXX) and the men grabbed his hand, his wife's hand, and his two daughters' hands, [Elohim]^(mss) being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 17 It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don't look behind you, and don't stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” 18 Lot said to them, “Oh, not so, my lord. 19 See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can't escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. 20 See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there—isn't it a little one?—And my soul will live.” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this word also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there, for I can't do any word until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen on the land when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then [Elohim]^(mss) rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD^(mss) from the heavens. 25 He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground. 26 But Lot's wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Abraham went up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before [Elohim].^(mss) 28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29 When Elohim destroyed the cities of the plain, Elohim remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. 30 Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man in the land to come in to us in the way of all the land. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve our father's family line.” 33 They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let's make him drink wine again tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father's family line.” 35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she got up. 36 Thus both of Lot's daughters were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab[, saying from my father].^(LXX) He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi[, a son of my people].^(LXX) He is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.

Prophets Portion (P)

Isaiah 3:8-11; Isaiah 13:19-20

Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against YHWH, to provoke the eyes of his glory. 9 The look of their faces testify against them. They [announce]^(LXX) their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves. 10 Tell the righteous “Good!” For they will eat the fruit of their deeds. 11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.

Isaiah 13:19 Babylon, the glory of reigns, the beauty of the Kasdim’ pride, will be like when Elohim overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Luke 17:20-37

17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of Elohim would come, he answered them, “The Kingdom of Elohim does not come with observation; 21 neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for the Kingdom of Elohim is within you.” 22 He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them, 24 for as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part under the heavens, shines to another part under the heavens; so will the Son of Man be in his day.^(mss) 25 But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 As it was in the days of Noaḥ, even so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noaḥ entered into the [ark], and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the heavens and destroyed them all. 30 It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 In that day, he who will be on the housetop and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever seeks to keep his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left. 35 There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.” 36 [Some Greek manuscripts add verse 36: “Two will be in the field: the one taken, and the other left.”] 37 They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the vultures will also be gathered together.”

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.

Jubilees 16:5-9

16:5 And in this new moon the Lord executed his judgments on Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Zeboim, and all the region of the Jordan, and He burned them with fire and brimstone, and destroyed them until this day, even as I have declared unto thee all their works, that they are wicked and sinners exceedingly, and that they defile themselves and commit fornication in their flesh, and work uncleanness on the land. 6. And, in like manner, Elohim will execute judgment on the places where they have done according to the uncleanness of the Sodomites, like unto the judgment of Sodom. 7. But Lot we saved; for Elohim remembered Abraham, and sent him out from the midst of the overthrow. 8. And he and his daughters committed sin upon the land, such as had not been on the land since the days of Adam till his time; for the man lay with his daughters. 9. And, behold, it was commanded and engraven concerning all his seed, on the heavenly tables, to remove them and root them out, and to execute judgment upon them like the judgment of Sodom, and to leave no seed of the man on land on the day of condemnation.

Related Scriptures

Deuteronomy 16:18-20 (T)

16:18 You will make judges and officers in all your gates, which YHWH your Elohim gives you, according to your tribes; and they will judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 Do not pervert justice. Do not show partiality. Do not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 You will pursue complete righteousness so that you may live and inherit the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you.

Genesis 13:12-13 (T)

13:12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against YHWH.

Genesis 18:1-8 (T)

18:1 [Elohim]^(LXX) appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the land, 3 and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant. 4 Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.” 6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. 8 He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

19:1 In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite living on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took for himself a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah. 2 His concubine whored against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there for four new moons. 3 Her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. She brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4 His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, kept him there; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank, and stayed there. 5 On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you will go your way.” 6 So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together. Then the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.” 7 The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed there again. 8 He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;” and they both ate. 9 When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night. Behold, the day is ending. Stay here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.” 10 But the man wouldn’t stay that night, but he rose up and went near Jebus, also called Jerusalem,. With him were a couple of saddled donkeys. His concubine also was with him. 11 When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, “Please come and let’s enter into this city of the Jebusites, and stay in it.” 12 His master said to him, “We won’t enter into the city of a foreigner that is not of the sons of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.” 13 He said to his servant, “Come and let’s draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.” 14 So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah. He went in, and sat down in the street of the city; for there was no one who took them into his house to stay. 16 Behold, a bearded man came from his work out of the field at evening. Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he lived in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the bearded man said, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?” 18 He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem Judah. I am going to the house of YHWH; and there is no one who has taken me into his house. 19 Yet there is both straw and feed for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no lack of anything.” 20 The bearded man said, “Peace be to you! Just let me supply all your needs, but don’t sleep in the street.” 21 So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank. 22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain wicked fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the bearded man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we can have sex with him!” 23 The man, the owner of the house, went out to them, and said to them, “No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, don’t do this folly. 24 Behold, here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them what seems good to you; but to this man don’t do any such folly.” 25 But the men wouldn’t listen to him; so the man grabbed his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they had sex with her, and abused her all night until the morning. When the day began to dawn, they let her go. 26 Then the woman came in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, until it was light. 27 Her lord rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and behold, the woman his concubine had fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up, and let’s get going!” but no one answered. Then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and went to his place. 29 When he had come into his house, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. 30 It was so, that all who saw it said, “Such a deed has not been done or seen from the day that the sons of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day! Consider it, take counsel, and speak.”

Psalms 37:1-29 (T)

37:1 Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. 2 For they will soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in YHWH, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Also delight yourself in YHWH, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to YHWH. Trust also in him, and he will do this: 6 he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun. 7 Rest in YHWH, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for YHWH will inherit the land. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. 11 But the humble will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path. 15 Their sword will enter into their own heart. Their bows will be broken. 16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but YHWH upholds the righteous. 18 YHWH knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance will be forever. 19 They will not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they will be satisfied. 20 But the wicked will perish. The enemies of YHWH will be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke. 21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. 22 For such as are blessed by him will inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him will be cut off. 23 A man’s steps are established by YHWH. He delights in his way. 24 Though he stumble, he will not fall, for YHWH holds him up with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread. 26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. 28 For YHWH loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his holy ones. They are preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked will be cut off. 29 The righteous will inherit the land, and live in it forever.

Numbers 16:20-35 (T)

16:20 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” 22 They fell on their faces, and said, “Elohim, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, will one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” 23 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from around the tent of Qorach, Dathan, and Abiram!’ ” 25 Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!” 27 So they went away from the tent of Qorach, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. 28 Moses said, “Hereby you will know that YHWH has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they experience what all men experience, then YHWH hasn’t sent me. 30 But if YHWH makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have despised YHWH.” 31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart. 32 The land opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Qorach’s men, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The land closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the land swallow us up!” 35 Fire came out from YHWH, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.

Deuteronomy 2:8-11; Deuteronomy 2:17-21 (T)

Deuteronomy 2:8 So we passed by from our brothers, the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 YHWH said to me, “Don’t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you any of his land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot for a possession.” 10 The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim. 11 These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.

Deuteronomy 2:17 YHWH spoke to me, saying, 18 “You are to pass over Ar, the border of Moab, today. 19 When you come near the border of the sons of Ammon, don’t bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon for a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.” 20 (That also is considered a land of Rephaim. Rephaim lived there in the past, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21 a great people, many, and tall, as the Anakim; but YHWH destroyed them from before Israel, and they succeeded them, and lived in their place

Deuteronomy 23:3-6 (T)

23:3 An Ammonite or a Moabite will not enter into the assembly of YHWH; even to the tenth generation will no one belonging to them enter into the assembly of YHWH forever, 4 because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. 5 Nevertheless YHWH your Elohim wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but YHWH your Elohim turned the curse into a blessing to you, because YHWH your Elohim loved you. 6 You will not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.

1 Kings 11:1-3 (T)

11:1 Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; 2 of the nations concerning which YHWH said to the sons of Israel, “You will not go among them, neither will they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their elohim.” Solomon joined to these in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away.

Ruth 1:16-17; Ruth 4:10-17 (T)

Ruth 1:16 Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your Elohim my Elohim. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May YHWH do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”

Ruth 4:10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.” 11 All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May YHWH make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which both built the house of Israel; and treat you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which YHWH will give you by this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and YHWH enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son. 14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be YHWH, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel. 15 He will be to you a restorer of life and sustain you in your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Naomi took the child, laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to him. 17 The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”. They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Jeremiah 49:1-18 (T)

49:1 Of the sons of Ammon. YHWH says: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Malcam possess Gad, and his people dwell in its cities? 2 Therefore behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it will become a desolate heap, and her daughters will be burned with fire: then Israel will possess those who possessed him,” says YHWH. 3 “Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah! Clothe yourself in sackcloth. Lament, and run back and forth among the fences; for Malcam will go into captivity, his priests and his princes together. 4 Why do you boast in the valleys, your flowing valley, backsliding daughter? You trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come to me?’ 5 Behold, I will bring a terror on you,” says the Lord, YHWH of Armies, “from all who are around you. All of you will be driven completely out, and there will be no one to gather together the fugitives. 6 “But afterward I will reverse the captivity of the sons of Ammon,” says YHWH. 7 Of Edom, YHWH of Armies says: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? 8 Flee! Turn back! Dwell in the depths, inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau on him when I visit him. 9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? If thieves came by night, wouldn’t they steal until they had enough? 10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he will not be able to hide himself. His seed is destroyed, with his brothers and his neighbors; and he is no more. 11 Leave your fatherless sons. I will preserve them alive. Let your widows trust in me.” 12 For YHWH says: “Behold, they to whom it didn’t pertain to drink of the cup will certainly drink; and are you he who will altogether go unpunished? You won’t go unpunished, but you will surely drink. 13 For I have sworn by myself,” says YHWH, “that Bozrah will become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse. All its cities will be perpetual wastes.”

Zephaniah 2:8-11 (T)

2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the sons of Ammon, with which they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. 9 Therefore as I live, says YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the sons of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them. 10 This they will have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of YHWH of Armies. 11 YHWH will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the elohim of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.

Ezra 9:1 – 10:5 (T)

9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.” 3 When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the Elohim of Israel were assembled to me, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering. 5 At the evening offering I rose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to YHWH my Elohim; 6 and I said, “My Elohim, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my Elohim; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 Now for a little moment grace has been shown from YHWH our Elohim, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our Elohim may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage. 9 For we are bondservants; yet our Elohim has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our Elohim, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10 “Now, our Elohim, what will we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness. 12 Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your sons forever.’ 13 “After all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our Elohim, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant, 14 will we again break your commandments, and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.” 10:1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before Elohim’s house, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and sons; for the people wept very bitterly. 2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, “We have trespassed against our Elohim, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let’s cut a covenant with our Elohim to put away all the wives, and those who are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our Elohim. Let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.” 5 Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.

Nehemiah 13:1-3 (T)

13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of Elohim forever, 2 because they didn’t meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; however our Elohim turned the curse into a blessing. 3 It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

Matthew 10:5-15 (T)

10:5 Yeshua sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Nations, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim, saying, ‘The reign of the heavens is at hand!’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. 9 Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. 10 Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. 11 Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on. 12 As you enter into the household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Amen, amen, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Matthew 11:20-24 (T)

11:20 Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to the heavens, you will go down to Sheol. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”

2 Peter 2:4-9 (T)

2:4 For if Elohim didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartaros, and committed them to pits of darkness to be reserved for judgment; 5 and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noaḥ with seven others, a proclaimer of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the impious; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an impious way; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the covetous life of the wicked, 8 for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds, 9 the Lord knows how to deliver the pious out of trial and to guard the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment

Jude 1:1-7 (T)

1:1 Judah, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Jacob, to those who are called, sanctified by Elohim 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 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: impious men, turning the grace of our Elohim into indecency, and denying our only Master, Elohim, and Lord, 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 guard 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 whoring and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

Matthew 24:1-51 (T)

24:1 Yeshua went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Amen, amen, I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 Yeshua answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying I am the Messiah, and will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and reign against reign; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This Good News of the Reign will be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet (cf. Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11), standing in the holy place, let the reader understand, 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter nor on a Sabbath, 21 for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 “If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures gather together. 29 “But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the heavens, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; (cf. Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 34:4) 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the heavens with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a shofar, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32 “Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors. 34 Amen, amen, I tell you, this generation§ will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 “But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of the heavens, [nor the son,]^(nu-text) but my Father only. 37 As the days of Noaḥ were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noaḥ entered into the ship, 39 and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the owner of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come. 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47 Amen, amen, I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. 48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, 51 and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (A)

4:13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so Elohim will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. 15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from the heavens with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s shofar. The dead in Messiah will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 (A)

1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and our gathering together to him, we ask you 2 not to be quickly shaken in your mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Messiah has already come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be unless the rebellion or, falling away, or, defection comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called Elohim or that is worshiped, so that he sits as Elohim in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;  9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 Because of this, Elohim sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie, 12 that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to always give thanks to Elohim for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because Elohim chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter. 16 Now our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself, and Elohim our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

Related Additional Readings

Wisdom of Solomon 19:13-17 (T)

The Wisdom of Solomon or Book of Wisdom is a Jewish work, written in Greek, and most likely composed in Alexandria, Egypt. Generally dated to the mid first century B.C. It is uncertain whether the book has a single author or comes from a school of writers, but recent scholarship has favored regarding it as a unified work. Fragments of the Wisdom of Solomon were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the first discovered and excavated cave at Qumran in 1949.

19:13 Punishments came upon the sinners, not without the signs that were given beforehand by the force of the thunders; for they justly suffered through their own wickednesses, for the hatred which they practiced toward guests was grievous indeed. 14 For whereas the others didn’t receive the strangers when they came to them, the Egyptians made slaves of guests who were their benefactors. 15 And not only so, but Elohim will visit the men of Sodom another way, since they received as enemies those who were sojourners; 16 whereas these first welcomed with feastings, and then afflicted with dreadful toils, those who had already shared with them in the same rights. 17 And moreover they were stricken with loss of sight (even as were those others at the righteous man’s doors), when, being surrounded with yawning darkness, they each looked for the passage through his own door.

1 Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 6:1-4 (T)

6:1 And particularly such as have been eminent for their kindness and charity to their neighbours. By hospitality and godliness was Lot saved out of Sodom, when all the country round about was destroyed by fire and brimstone: 2 The Lord thereby making it manifest, that he will not forsake those that trust in him; but will bring the disobedient to punishment and correction. 3 For his wife who went out with him, being of a different mind, and not continuing in the same obedience, was for that reason set forth for an example, being turned into a pillar of salt unto this day. 4 That so all men may know, that those who are double minded, and distrustful of the power of Elohim, are prepared for condemnation, and to be a sign to all succeeding ages.

Genesis Apocryphon 1Q20 Column 20

The Genesis Apocryphon 1Q20 (1Q20), also called the Tales of the Patriarchs or the Apocalypse of Lamech and labeled 1QapGen, is one of the original seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1946 by Bedouin shepherds in Cave 1 near Qumran, a city in the northwest corner of the Dead Sea.

If present, ellipses in the text (…) represent missing fragments of the scroll. The [bold] portions of this text we’re taken from The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English 7th Edition by Geza Vermes.

Column 20 The men return to the Pharaoh and describe Sarah’s features: beautiful face, supple hair, lovely eyes, pleasant nose, radiant face. He continued on describing her shapely breasts, perfect hands, and everything down to her long and delicate fingers. the men compared her to and rated her far higher than virgins and birds [brides led into the marriage chamber], and all other women alike. Hearing this, and then seeing Sarah, the pharaoh wanted her and took her for his wife. Sarah saved me by telling the pharaoh that I was her brother and that night I and my nephew Lot cried together I prayed to Lord for justice. I wanted the Lord to raise up against the pharaoh and protect Sarah. Elohim listened and sent an evil spirit to the entire household that prevented the pharaoh from having sexual relations with Sarah for the two years that they were together. At the end of the two years, the plagues and afflictions were so great that magicians and healers were sent for. They were, of course, ineffective, and they all soon left. Hyrcanos went to me pleading for help against the plague because I had been seen in a dream. I agreed to help only when my wife Sarah is returned to me. The pharaoh heard this and confronted me, himself asking why I lied saying that Sarah was my sister. He agreed to give Sarah back and I exorcised the evil spirit from the house of the pharaoh. The pharaoh swore to me that he had not touched Sarah while they were together and gave her gifts of gold, silver, linen, and purple-dyed clothing. Sarah and I were then led out of Egypt. I, Sarah, Lot, and his wife took our flocks and the gold and silver I had received and traveled together [with my nephew Lot. Lot had great flocks also, and he took a wife for himself from among the daughters of Egypt].

Enoch 22:1-14 (T)

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

You will note some abbreviations, brackets, and symbols specially used in the translation of 1 Enoch:

• ⌈ ⌉. The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are found in the Greek Version preserved In Syncellus but not in the Ethiopic Version.
• ⌈⌈ ⌉⌉. The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are found in E the Ethiopic Version but not in the Greek Version preserved In Syncellus or the Greek Version discovered at Akhmîm.
• 〉. The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are restored.
• [ ] The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are interpolations.
• ( ). The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are supplied by the editor.
• The use of thick type denotes that the words so printed are emended.
• † † corruption in the text.
• . . . = some words which have been lost.

Note: 11 Aramaic-language fragments of the Book of Enoch were found in cave 4 of Qumran in 1948 verses 3-7 of the following chapter (22) were found at 4Q206

22:1 And thence I went to another place, and he showed me in the west ⌈another⌉ great and high mountain [and] of hard rock. “2 And there was in it †four† hollow places, deep and wide and very smooth. †How† smooth are the hollow places and deep and dark to look at.” 3. Then Raphael answered, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: ‘These hollow places have been created for this very purpose, that the spirits of the souls of the dead should assemble therein, yea that all the souls of the children of men should assemble here. And these places have been made to receive them till the day of their judgement and till their appointed period ⌈till the period appointed⌉, till the great judgement (comes) upon them.’ “5. I saw the spirits of the children of men who were dead, and their voice went forth to the heavens and made suit. 6. Then I asked Raphael the angel who was with me, and I said unto him: ‘This spirit–whose is it whose voice goeth forth and maketh suit?’” 7. And he answered me saying: ‘This is the spirit which went forth from Abel, whom his brother Cain slew, and he makes his suit against him till his seed is destroyed from the face of the land, and his seed is annihilated from amongst the seed of men.’ ” 8. Then I asked regarding it, and regarding all the hollow places: ‘Why as one separated from the other?’ 9. And he answered me and said unto me: ‘These three have been made that the spirits of the dead might be separated. And such a division has been made 〈for〉 the spirits of the righteous, in which there as the bright spring of water. 10. And such has” been made for sinners when they die and are buried in the land and judgement has not been executed on them in their lifetime. 11. Here their spirits will be set apart in this great pain till the great day of judgement and punishment and torment of those who †curse† for ever, and retribution for their spirits. There He will bind them for ever. 12. And such a division has been made for the spirits of those who make their suit, who make disclosures concerning their destruction, when they were slain in the days of the sinners. 13. Such has been made for the spirits of men who were not righteous but sinners, who were complete in transgression, and of the transgressors. They will be companions: but their spirits will not be slain in the day of judgement nor will they be raised from thence. 14. Then I blessed the Lord of glory and said: ‘Blessed be my Lord, the Lord of righteousness, who ruleth for ever.’”

Enoch 46:1 – 50:5 (A)

46:1 And there I saw One who had a head of days, And His head was white like wool, And with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of a man, And his face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels. 2. And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who he was, and whence he was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days? 3. And he answered and said unto me: This is the son of Man who hath righteousness, With whom dwelleth righteousness, And who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden, Because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen him, And whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for ever. 4. And this Son of Man whom thou hast seen Will †raise up† the kings and the mighty from their seats, [And the strong from their thrones] And will loosen the reins of the strong, And break the teeth of the sinners. 5. [And he will put down the kings from their thrones and reigns] Because they do not extol and praise Him, Nor humbly acknowledge whence the reign was bestowed upon them. 6. And he will put down the countenance of the strong, And will fill them with shame. And darkness will be their dwelling, And worms will be their bed, And they will have no hope of rising from their beds, Because they do not extol the name of the Lord of Spirits. 7. And these are they who †judge† the stars of the heavens, [And raise their hands against the Most High], †And tread upon the land and dwell upon it†. And all their deeds manifest unrighteousness, And their power rests upon their riches, And their faith is in the †elohim† which they have made with their hands, And they deny the name of the Lord of Spirits, 8. And they persecute the houses of His congregations, And the faithful who hang upon the name of the Lord of Spirits.

47:1. And in those days will have ascended the prayer of the righteous, And the blood of the righteous from the land before the Lord of Spirits. 2. In those days the holy ones who dwell above in the heavens Will unite with one voice And supplicate and pray … On behalf of the blood of the righteous which has been shed, And that the prayer of the righteous may not be in vain before the Lord of Spirits, That judgement may be done unto them, And that they may not have to suffer for ever. 3. In those days I saw the Head of Days when He seated himself upon the throne of His glory, And the books of the living were opened before Him: And all His host which is in the heavens above and His counselors stood before Him, 4 And the hearts of the holy were filled with joy; Because the number of the righteous had been offered, And the prayer of the righteous had been heard, And the blood of the righteous been required before the Lord of Spirits.

48:1. And in that place I saw the fountain of righteousness Which was inexhaustible: And around it were many fountains of wisdom; And all the thirsty drank of them, And were filled with wisdom, And their dwellings were with the righteous and holy and elect. 2. And at that hour that Son of Man was named In the face of the Lord of Spirits, And his name before the Head of Days. 3. Yea, before the sun and the signs were created, Before the stars of the heavens were made, His name was named before the Lord of Spirits. 4. He will be a staff to the righteous whereon to stay themselves and not fall, And he will be the light of the Nations, And the hope of those who are troubled of heart. 5. All who dwell on land will fall down and worship before him, And will praise and bless and celebrate with song the Lord of Spirits. 6. And for this reason hath he been chosen and hidden before Him, Before the creation of the world and for evermore. 7. And the wisdom of the Lord of Spirits hath revealed him to the holy and righteous; For he hath preserved the lot of the righteous, Because they have hated and despised this world of unrighteousness, And have hated all its works and ways in the name of the Lord of Spirits: For in his name they are saved, And according to his good pleasure hath it been in regard to their life. 8. In these days downcast in countenance will the kings of the land have become, And the strong who possess the land because of the works of their hands; For on the day of their anguish and affliction they will not (be able to) save themselves. 9. And I will give them over into the hands of Mine elect: As straw in the fire so will they burn before the face of the holy: As lead in the water will they sink before the face of the righteous, And no trace of them will any more be found. 10. And on the day of their affliction there will be rest on the land, And before them they will fall and not rise again: And there will be no one to take them with his hands and raise them: For they have denied the Lord of Spirits and His Anointed. The name of the Lord of Spirits be blessed.

49:1. For wisdom is poured out like water, And glory faileth not before him for evermore. 2. For he is mighty in all the secrets of righteousness, And unrighteousness will disappear as a shadow, And have no continuance; Because the Elect One standeth before the Lord of Spirits, And his glory is for ever and ever, And his might unto all generations. 3. And in him dwells the spirit of wisdom, And the spirit which gives insight, And the spirit of understanding and of might, And the spirit of those who have fallen asleep in righteousness. 4. And he will judge the secret things, And none will be able to utter a lying word before him; For he is the Elect One before the Lord of Spirits according to His good pleasure.

50:1. And in those days a change will take place for the holy and elect, And the light of days will abide upon them, And glory and honour will turn to the holy, 2. On the day of affliction on which evil will have been treasured up against the sinners. And the righteous will be victorious in the name of the Lord of Spirits: And He will cause the others to witness (this) That they may repent And forgo the works of their hands. 3. They will have no honour through the name of the Lord of Spirits, Yet through His name will they be saved, And the Lord of Spirits will have compassion on them, For His compassion is great. 4. And He is righteous also in His judgement, And in the face of His glory unrighteousness also will not maintain itself: At His judgement the unrepentant will perish before Him. 5. And from henceforth I will have no mercy on them, saith the Lord of Spirits.

Genesis 19:1-38 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 19 Two angels came to Sedom at the evening; and Lot sat in the gate of Sedom. And Lot saw, and rose up to meet them from the gate of the tabernacle. And he bowed his face to the ground, and said, I beg now, my lords, turn now hither, and enter the house of your servant, and lodge, and wash your feet; and you will arise and proceed on your way. And they said to him, No; for in the street we will lodge. [JERUSALEM. And Lot sat in the gate of Sedom, and he saw them, and ran and saluted them, and bowed with his face to the ground……2. And wash your feet, and wash you in the morning, and go to your tents in peace. And they said to him, No; for in the open place of the city we will lodge.] And he persuaded them earnestly, and they turned aside to be with him; and they entered his house, and he made a repast for the, and prepared unleavened cakes. And it seemed to him as if they did eat. [JERUSALEM. And it appeared as if they ate and drank.]

They had not yet lain down, when the wicked men of the city, the men of Sedom, came round upon the house, from the youth to the bearded man, all the people throughout. And they cried to Lot, and said to him, Where are the men who entered with thee to-night? Bring them out to us, and we will lie with them. And Lot went out to them to the gate, and shut the door after him. And he said, I pray, my brethren, do not thus wickedly. Behold, now, I have two daughters who have had no dealing with a man; I would now bring even them out to you to do to them as is meet before you, rather than you should do evil to these men, because they have entered in to lodge under the shadow of my roof. [JERUSALEM. 7. And Lot said to them, Wait here a little, till we have besought mercy before the Lord. 8. Who have not known dealing with man.]

And they said, Give up this. And they said, Did not this come alone to sojourn among us? and, behold, he is making himself a judge, and judging the whole of us. But now we will do worse to thee than to them. And they prevailed against the man, against Lot, greatly, and came near, to shatter the door. And the Men stretched forth their hands, and brought Lot unto them in the house, and shut the door. But the men who were at the gate of the house they struck with a suffusion of the eyes, from the young to the old, and they waried themselves to find the gate. [JERUSALEM. With blindness.] And the Men said to Lot, Hast thou yet in this city kinsman or brother? Thy sons-in-law, thy sons and thy daughters, take forth from the place; for the cry of it before the Lord is great, and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went forth, and spake with his sons-in-law who had taken his daughters, and said, Arise, come forth from this place; for the Lord destroyeth the city. But the word was as a wonder, (and he) as a man ranting, in the eyes of his sons-in-law. And at the time that the morning was about to uprise, the angels were urgent upon Lot, saying, Up, take thy wife and thy two daughters who are with you, lest you perish in the condemnation of the inhabitants of the city. But he delayed: and the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, for mercy from the Lord was upon them. And they brought them forth, and set them without the city. And it was that as they led them without, one of them returned into Sedom, to destroy it; and one remained with Lot, and said to him, Be merciful to your life; look not behind you, and stand not in all the plain; to the mountain escape, or you perish. And Lot said to him, I beseech of thee endure with me a little hour, until I have prayed for mercy from before the Lord. [JERUSALEM. 15. And it was at the time of the upcoming of the column of the morning……18. Be steadfast here a little with us until I have besought mercy before the Lord.] Behold, now, thy servant hath found mercy before Thee, and Thou hast multiplied the kindness Thou hast done me in saving my life, and I am not able to escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. Behold, now, I pray, this city, it is a near habitation, and convenient (for us) to escape thither; and it is small, and the guilt thereof light. I will flee thither, then. Is it not a little one? and my life will be preserved. And He said, Behold, I have accepted thee in this matter also, that I will not overthrow the city for which thou hast spoken, to destroy it, that thou mayest escape to it. Hasten and flee thither: for I cannot do any thing till thou have entered there. Therefore he called the name of the city Zoar.

The sun had passed the sea, and come forth upon the land, at the end of three hours, and Lot entered into Zoar.

And the Word of the Lord had caused showers of favour to descend upon Sedom and Amorah, to the intent that they might work repentance, but they did it not: so that they said, Wickedness is not manifest before the Lord. Behold, then, there are now sent down upon them sulphur and fire from before the Word of the Lord from Heaven. [JERUSALEM. 24. And the Word of the Lord Himself had made to descend upon the people of Sedom and Amorah showers of favour, that they might work repentance from their wicked works. But when they saw the showers of favour, they said, So, our wicked works are not manifest before Him. He turned (then), and caused to descend upon them bitumen and fire from before the Lord from the heavens.] And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and the herbage of the land.

And Lot’s wife looked after the angel, to know what would be in the end of her father’s house, for she was of the daughters of the Sedomaee; and because she sinned by salt (bemilcha) she was manifestly punished; behold, she was made a statue of salt. [JERUSALEM. And because the wife of Lot was of the children of the people of Sedom, she looked behind her, to see what would be the end of her father’s house: and, behold, she was made to stand a statue of salt, until the time of the resurrection will come, when the dead will arise.]

And Abraham arose in the morning (and went) to the place where he had ministered in prayer before the Lord. And he looked towards Sedom and Amorah, and all the land of the plain, and saw, and, behold, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.

And it was when the Lord destroyed the cities of the plain, that He remembered the righteousness of Abraham, and sent forth Lot from the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities wherein Lot had dwelt.

And Lot went up from Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; because he feared to reside in Zoar. And he dwelt in a cavern, he and his two daughters. And the elder said to the less, Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to come to us after the way of the whole land: [JERUSALEM. And there is not a man in the land who may come with us after the law of all the land:] come, let us make our father drink wine, and when he is drunken we will lie with him, and raise up sons from our father. And they made their father drink wine that night, and he was drunk. And the elder arose, and lay with her father, nor did he know when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it was the day following, and the elder said to the less, Behold, now, I lay my evening with the father; let us make him drink wine this night also, that he may be drunk; and go thou and lie with him, that we may raise up sons from our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also, and he was drunk, and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he knew not in her lying down nor in her rising up. And the two daughters of Lot became with child by their father. And the elder brought forth a son, and she called his name Moab, because from her father she had conceived. He is the father of the Moabaee unto this day. And the younger also brought forth a son, and she called his name Bar-Ammi, because he was the son of her father. He is the father of the Ammonite people unto this day.

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.11.3-5 (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.).

1.11.3. When Abraham heard this, he was grieved for the Sodomites; and he rose up, and besought Elohim for them, and entreated him that he would not destroy the righteous with the wicked. And when Elohim had replied that there was no good man among the Sodomites; for if there were but ten such man among them, he would not punish any of them for their sins, Abraham held his peace. And the angels came to the city of the Sodomites, and Lot entreated them to accept of a lodging with him; for he was a very generous and hospitable man, and one that had learned to imitate the goodness of Abraham. Now when the Sodomites saw the young men to be of beautiful countenances, and this to an extraordinary degree, and that they took up their lodgings with Lot, they resolved themselves to enjoy these beautiful boys by force and violence; and when Lot exhorted them to sobriety, and not to offer any thing immodest to the strangers, but to have regard to their lodging in his house; and promised that if their inclinations could not be governed, he would expose his daughters to their coveting, instead of these strangers; neither thus were they made ashamed.

1.11.4. But Elohim was much displeased at their impudent behavior, so that he both smote those men with blindness, and condemned the Sodomites to universal destruction. But Lot, upon God’s informing him of the future destruction of the Sodomites, went away, taking with him his wife and daughters, who were two, and still virgins; for those that were betrothed to them were above the thoughts of going, and deemed that Lot’s words were trifling. Elohim then cast a thunderbolt upon the city, and set it on fire, with its inhabitants; and laid waste the country with the like burning, as I formerly said when I wrote the Jewish War. But Lot’s wife continually turning back to view the city as she went from it, and being too nicely inquisitive what would become of it, although Elohim had forbidden her so to do, was changed into a pillar of salt; for I have seen it, and it remains at this day. Now he and his daughters fled to a certain small place, encompassed with the fire, and settled in it: it is to this day called Zoar, for that is the word which the Hebrews use for a small thing. There it was that he lived a miserable life, on account of his having no company, and his want of provisions.

1.11.5. But his daughters, thinking that all mankind were destroyed, approached to their father, though taking care not to be perceived. This they did, that human kind might not utterly fail: and they bare sons; the son of the elder was named Moab, Which denotes one derived from his father; the younger bare Ammon, which name denotes one derived from a kinsman. The former of whom was the father of the Moabites, which is even still a great nation; the latter was the father of the Ammonites; and both of them are inhabitants of Celesyria. And such was the departure of Lot from among the Sodomites.