Week 2

• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 2:1-25
• Prophets (P): Ezekiel 28:11-26
• Apostolic (A): 1 Corinthians 15:1-58
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 2:17 – 3:35

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Exodus 31:12-17 (T)
• Leviticus 19:1-4 (T)
• Jeremiah 17:21-27 (T)
• Ezekiel 20:10-25 (T)
• Exodus 35:1-3 (T)
• Numbers 15:27-36 (T)
• Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (T)
• Exodus 23:12 (T)
• Matthew 12:1-8 (T)
• John 5:15-20 (T)
• Hebrews 4:1-11 (T)
• Psalms 92:1-15 (T)
• Ezekiel 31:1-9 (T)
• Daniel 10:4 (T)
• Joel 2:1-3 (T)
• Romans 5:1-21 (T)
• Job 10:5-12; Job 34:7-15 (T)
• Luke 23:39-43 (T)
• Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 (T)
• Ecclesiastes 12:7 (T)
• Acts 17:22-29 (T)
• 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 (T)
• Revelation 2:1-7 (T)
• Malachi 2:13-17 (T)
• Matthew 19:1-8; Mark 10:1-9 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 6:14-17 (T, A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• 2 Esdras 3:1-10 (T)
• 2 Esdras 6:53-59 (T)
• 2 Esdras 7:1 – 8:1 (T)
• Sirach 14:11-19 (T)
• Genesis 2:4 – 3:24 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.1.2-3 (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (H) means the verse relates to that week’s Haftarah 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) 2:1-25

2:1 The heavens, the land, and all their vast array were finished. 2 On the [sixth]^{(LXX)(SP)(Syr)} day Elohim finished his [works]^(LXX)(Syr) which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his [works]^(LXX)(Syr) which he had done. 3 Elohim blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his [works]^(LXX)(Syr) of creation which [Elohim]^(LXX) had done. 4 These are the births of the heavens and of the land when they were created, in the day that [Elohim]^(LXX) made the land and the heavens. 5 No shrub of the field was yet in the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprung up; for [Elohim]^(LXX) had not caused it to rain on the land. There was not a man to till the ground, 6 but a [spring]^(LXX) went up from the land, and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 [Elohim]^(LXX) formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 [Elohim]^(LXX) planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground [Elohim]^(LXX) made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became the source of four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon: it flows through the whole land of [Havilah],^(mss) where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon. It is the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel. This is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 [Elohim]^(LXX) took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to work and guard it. 16 [Elohim]^(LXX) commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, die, you die.” 18 [Elohim]^(LXX) said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper [as his opposite].”^(MTT) 19 Out of the ground [Elohim]^(LXX) formed [every livestock, and]^(mss) every [wild]^(LXX) beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living soul became its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock, and to [all]^(LXX) the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found a helper [as his opposite].^(MTT) 21 [Elohim]^(LXX) caused a [trance]^(LXX) to fall upon the man and he slept, and he took one^{(אַחַת achat)} [unit]^(MTT) from his side, and closed up the flesh [under her].^(MTT) 22 [Elohim]^(LXX) made a woman from the side which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,' because she was taken out of man.” 24 Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will cling with his wife, and [the two]^(LXX)(mss) will be one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

Prophets Portion (H)

Ezekiel 28:11-26

28:11 Moreover the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and tell him, ‘[YHWH]^(LXX) says: “You were the seal of full measure, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of Elohim. Every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl. Gold work of tambourines and of pipes was in you. They were prepared in the day that you were created. 14 You were the anointed keruv who covers. Then I set you up on the holy mountain of Elohim. You have walked up and down in the middle of the stones of fire. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. 16 By the abundance of your commerce, your insides were filled with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore I have cast you as profane out of Elohim’s mountain. I have destroyed you, covering keruv, from the middle of the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. You have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I have cast you to the ground. I have laid you before kings, that they may see you. 18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your commerce, you have profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought out a fire from the middle of you. It has devoured you. I have turned you to ashes on the land in the sight of all those who see you. 19 All those who know you among the peoples will be astonished at you. You have become a terror, and you will exist no more.” ‘ ” 20 the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 21 “Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against it, 22 and say, ‘[YHWH]^(LXX) says: “Behold, I am against you, Sidon. I will be glorified among you. Then they will know that I am YHWH, when I have executed judgments in her, and am sanctified in her. 23 For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets. The wounded will fall within her, with the sword on her on every side. Then they will know that I am YHWH. 24 “ ‘ “There will no longer be a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor a hurting thorn of any that are around them that scorned them. Then they will know that I am [YHWH].”^(LXX) 25 “ ‘[YHWH]^(LXX) says: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am shown as holy among them in the sight of the nations, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will dwell in it securely. Yes, they will build houses, plant vineyards, and will dwell securely when I have executed judgments on all those around them who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am YHWH their Elohim.” ‘ ”

Apostolic Portion (A)

1 Corinthians 15:1-58

15:1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Kepha, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to Jacob, then to all the emissaries, 8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the emissaries, who is not worthy to be called an emissary, because I persecuted the assembly of Elohim. 10 But by the grace of Elohim I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of Elohim which was with me. 11 Whether then it is I or they, so we proclaim, and so you believed. 12 Now if Messiah is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Messiah been raised. 14 If Messiah has not been raised, then our proclaiming is in vain and your faith also is in vain. 15 Yes, we are also found false witnesses of Elohim, because we witnessed about Elohim that he raised up Messiah, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Messiah been raised. 17 If Messiah has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. 18 Then they also who are fallen asleep in Messiah have perished. 19 If we have only hoped in Messiah in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. 20 But now Messiah has been raised from the dead. He became^(mss) The first fruit of those who are asleep. 21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, then those who are Messiah’s at his coming. 24 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Reign to Elohim the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” (cf. Psalm 8:6) But when he says, “All things are put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. 28 When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that Elohim may be all in all. 29 Or else what will they do who are immersed for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they immersed for [them]?^(mss) 30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, [brothers],^(mss) by the boasting in you which I have in Messiah Yeshua our Lord, I die daily. 32 If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (cf. Isaiah 22:13) 33 Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” 34 Wake up righteously and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of Elohim. I say this to your shame. 35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. 38 But Elohim gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” (cf. Genesis 2:7) The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the land, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from the heavens. 48 As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are the heavenly. 49 As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit the reign of Elohim; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last shofar. For the shofar will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (cf. Isaiah 25:8) 55 “Death, where is your sting? Sheol, where is your victory?” (cf. Hosea 13:14) 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to Elohim, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

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 2:17 – 3:16

2:17 And He gave us a great sign, the Sabbath day, that we should work six days, but keep Sabbath on the seventh day from all work. 18. And all the angels of the face, and all the angels of sanctification, these two great classes–He hath hidden us to keep the Sabbath with Him 1 in the heavens and on earth. 19. And He said unto us: “Behold, I will separate unto Myself a people from among all the peoples, and these will keep the Sabbath day, and I will sanctify them unto Myself as My people, and will bless them; as I have sanctified the Sabbath day and do sanctify (it) unto Myself, even so will I bless them, and they will be My people and I will be their Elohim. 20 . And I have chosen the seed of Jacob from amongst all that I have seen, and have written him down as My firstborn son, and have sanctified him unto Myself for ever and ever; and I will teach them the Sabbath day, that they may keep Sabbath thereon from all work.” 21. And thus He created therein a sign in accordance with which they should keep Sabbath with us on the seventh day, to eat and to drink, and to bless Him who hath created all things as He hath blessed and sanctified unto Himself a peculiar people above all peoples, and that they should keep Sabbath together with us. 22. And He caused His commands to ascend as a sweet savour acceptable before Him all the days. . . . 23. There (were) two and twenty heads of mankind from Adam to Jacob, and two and twenty kinds of work were made 10 until the seventh day; this is blessed and holy; and the former also is blessed and holy; and this one serves with that one for sanctification and blessing. 24. And to this (Jacob and his seed) it was granted that they should always be the blessed and holy ones of the first witness and law, even as He had sanctified and blessed the Sabbath day on the seventh day. 25. He created the heavens and earth and everything that He created in six days, and Elohim made the seventh day holy, for all His works; therefore He commanded on its behalf that, whoever doth any work thereon will die, and that he who defileth it will surely die. 26. Wherefore do thou command the sons of Israel to observe this day that they may keep it holy and not do thereon any work, and not to defile it, as it is holier than all other days. 27. And whoever profaneth it will surely die, and whoever doeth thereon any work will surely die eternally, that the sons of Israel may observe this day throughout their generations, and not be rooted out of the land; for it is a holy day and a blessed day. 28. And every one who observeth it and keepeth Sabbath thereon from all his work, will be holy and blessed throughout all days like unto us. 29. Declare and say to the sons of Israel the law of this day both that they should keep Sabbath thereon, and that they should not forsake it in the error of their hearts; (and) that it is not lawful to do any work thereon which is unseemly, to do thereon their own pleasure, and that they should not prepare thereon anything to be eaten or drunk. †and (that it is not lawful) to draw water, or bring in or take out thereon through their gates any burden,† which they had not prepared for themselves on the sixth day in their dwellings. 30. And they will not bring in nor take out from house to house on that day; for that day is more holy and blessed than any jubilee day of the jubilees: on this we kept Sabbath in the heavens before it was made known to any flesh to keep Sabbath thereon on the earth. 31. And the Creator of all things blessed it, but He did not sanctify all peoples and nations to keep Sabbath thereon, but Israel alone: them alone He permitted to eat and drink and to keep Sabbath thereon on the earth. 32. And the Creator of all things blessed this day which He had created for a blessing and a sanctification and a glory above all days. 33. This law and witness was given to the sons of Israel as a law for ever unto their generations.

3:1 And on the six days of the second week we brought, according to the word of Elohim, unto Adam all the beasts, and all the cattle, and all the birds, and everything that moves on the land, and everything that moves in the water, according to their kinds, and according to their types: the beasts on the first day; the cattle on the second day; the birds on the third day; and all that which moves on the land on the fourth day; and that which moves in the water on the fifth day. 2. And Adam named them all by their respective names, and as he called them, so was their name. 3. And on these five days Adam saw all these, male and female, according to every kind that was on the land, but he was alone and found no helpmeet for him. 4. And the Lord said unto us: ‘It is not good that the man should be alone: let us make a helpmeet for him.’ 5. And the Lord our Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall upon him, and he slept, and He took for the woman one rib from amongst his ribs, and this rib was the origin of the woman from amongst his ribs, and He built up the flesh in its stead, and built the woman. 6. And He woke Adam out of his sleep and on awaking he rose on the sixth day, and He brought her to him, and he knew her, and said unto her: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she will be called [my] woman; because she was taken from her husband.’ 7. Therefore will man and woman be one and therefore will a man leave his father and his mother, and cleave unto his woman, and they will be one flesh. 8. In the first week was Adam created, and the rib – his woman: in the second week He showed her unto him: and for this reason the commandment was given to keep in their defilement, for a male seven days, and for a female twice seven days. 9. And after Adam had completed forty days in the land where he had been created, we brought him into the garden of Eden to till and keep it, but his woman they brought in on the eightieth day, and after this she entered into the garden of Eden. 10. And for this reason the commandment is written on the heavenly tablets in regard to her that gives birth: ‘if she bears a male, she will remain in her uncleanness seven days according to the first week of days, and thirty and three days will she remain in the blood of her purifying, and she will not touch any hallowed thing, nor enter into the sanctuary, until she accomplishes these days which (are enjoined) in the case of a male child. 11. But in the case of a female child she will remain in her uncleanness two weeks of days, according to the first two weeks, and sixty-six days in the blood of her purification, and they will be in all eighty days.’ 12. And when she had completed these eighty days we brought her into the garden of Eden, for it is holier than all the land besides and every tree that is planted in it is holy. 13. Therefore, there was ordained regarding her who bears a male or a female child the statute of those days that she should touch no hallowed thing, nor enter into the sanctuary until these days for the male or female child are accomplished. 14. This is the law and witness which was written down for Israel, in order that they should observe (it) all the days. 15. And in the first week of the first jubilee, [1-7 A.M.] Adam and his woman were in the garden of Eden for seven years tilling and keeping it, and we gave him work and we instructed him to do everything that is suitable for tillage. 16. And he tilled (the garden), and was naked and knew it not, and was not ashamed, and he protected the garden from the birds and beasts and cattle, and gathered its fruit, and ate, and put aside the residue for himself and for his woman [and put aside that which was being kept].

Related Scriptures

Exodus 31:12-17 (T)

31:12 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall guard my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am YHWH who sanctifies you. 14 You shall guard the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to YHWH. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the sons of Israel shall guard the Sabbath, to do the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days YHWH made the heavens and land, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’ ”

19:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘You will be holy; for I, YHWH your Elohim, am holy. 3 Each one of you will respect his mother and his father. You will guard my Sabbaths. I am YHWH your Elohim. 4 Don’t turn to idols, nor make molten elohim for yourselves. I am YHWH your Elohim.

17:21 YHWH says, “Be careful, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don’t do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction. 24 It will happen, if you diligently listen to me,” says YHWH, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein; 25 then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever. 26 They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, slaughters, grain offerings, and frankincense, and bringing slaughters of thanksgiving to the house of YHWH. 27 But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”

20:10 So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes and showed them my judgments, which if a man does, he will live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am YHWH who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my judgments, which if a man does, he will live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 15 Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 because they rejected my judgments, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their judgments or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am YHWH your Elohim. Walk in my statutes, guard my judgments, and do them. 20 Make my Sabbaths holy. They will be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am YHWH your Elohim.’ 21 But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t guard my judgments to do them, which if a man does, he will live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 23 Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24 because they had not executed my judgments, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 25 Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and judgments in which they couldn’t live.

35:1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which YHWH has commanded, that you should do them. 2 ‘Six days will work be done, but on the seventh day there will be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to YHWH: whoever does any work in it will be put to death. 3 You will kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.'”

15:27 If a person sins unwittingly, then he will offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. 28 The priest will make atonement for the soul who errs when he sins unwittingly before YHWH. He will make atonement for him; and he will be forgiven. 29 You will have one Torah for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is native among the sons of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them. 30 But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a foreigner, blasphemes YHWH. That soul will be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of YHWH, and has broken his commandment, that soul will be utterly cut off. His iniquity will be on him. 32 While the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 35 YHWH said to Moses, “The man will surely be put to death. All the congregation will stone him with stones outside of the camp.” 36 All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as YHWH commanded Moses.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. 9 You will labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. You will not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your maid, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days YHWH made the heavens and land, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

Deuteronomy 5:12 Guard the Sabbath day, to set it apart, as YHWH your Elohim commanded you. 13 You will labor six days, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim, in which you will not do any work— neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your maid, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your maid may rest as well as you. 15 You will remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and YHWH your Elohim brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore YHWH your Elohim commanded you to do the Sabbath day.

23:12 “Six days you will do your work, and on the seventh day you will rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant, and the sojourner may be refreshed.

Matthew 12:1-8 (T)

Matthew 12:1 At that time, Yeshua went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered into Elohim’s house and ate the bread of the presence, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not slaughter,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

John 5:15-20 (T)

5:15 The man went away, and told the Judeans that it was Yeshua who had made him well. 16 For this cause the Judeans persecuted Yeshua and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Yeshua answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Judeans sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called Elohim his own Father, making himself equal with Elohim. 19 Yeshua therefore answered them, “Amen, amen, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

4:1 Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard. 3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “Elohim rested on the seventh day from all his works;” 5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.” 6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience, 7 he again defines a certain day, “today”, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. 9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of Elohim. 10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim did from his. 11 Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

19:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘You will be holy; for I, YHWH your Elohim, am holy. 3 Each one of you will respect his mother and his father. You will guard my Sabbaths. I am YHWH your Elohim. 4 Don’t turn to idols, nor make molten elohim for yourselves. I am YHWH your Elohim.

17:21 YHWH says, “Be careful, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don’t do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction. 24 It will happen, if you diligently listen to me,” says YHWH, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein; 25 then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever. 26 They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, slaughters, grain offerings, and frankincense, and bringing slaughters of thanksgiving to the house of YHWH. 27 But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”

20:10 So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes and showed them my judgments, which if a man does, he will live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am YHWH who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my judgments, which if a man does, he will live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 15 Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 because they rejected my judgments, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their judgments or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am YHWH your Elohim. Walk in my statutes, guard my judgments, and do them. 20 Make my Sabbaths holy. They will be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am YHWH your Elohim.’ 21 But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t guard my judgments to do them, which if a man does, he will live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 23 Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24 because they had not executed my judgments, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 25 Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and judgments in which they couldn’t live.

35:1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which YHWH has commanded, that you should do them. 2 ‘Six days will work be done, but on the seventh day there will be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to YHWH: whoever does any work in it will be put to death. 3 You will kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.'”

15:27 If a person sins unwittingly, then he will offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. 28 The priest will make atonement for the soul who errs when he sins unwittingly before YHWH. He will make atonement for him; and he will be forgiven. 29 You will have one Torah for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is native among the sons of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them. 30 But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a foreigner, blasphemes YHWH. That soul will be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of YHWH, and has broken his commandment, that soul will be utterly cut off. His iniquity will be on him. 32 While the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 35 YHWH said to Moses, “The man will surely be put to death. All the congregation will stone him with stones outside of the camp.” 36 All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as YHWH commanded Moses.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. 9 You will labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. You will not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your maid, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days YHWH made the heavens and land, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

Deuteronomy 5:12 Guard the Sabbath day, to set it apart, as YHWH your Elohim commanded you. 13 You will labor six days, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim, in which you will not do any work— neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your maid, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your maid may rest as well as you. 15 You will remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and YHWH your Elohim brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore YHWH your Elohim commanded you to do the Sabbath day.

23:12 “Six days you will do your work, and on the seventh day you will rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant, and the sojourner may be refreshed.

Matthew 12:1-8 (T)

12:1 At that time, Yeshua went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered into house of Elohim and ate the bread of the presence, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not slaughter,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

John 5:15-20 (T)

5:15 The man went away, and told the Judeans that it was Yeshua who had made him well. 16 For this cause the Judeans persecuted Yeshua and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Yeshua answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Judeans sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called Elohim his own Father, making himself equal with Elohim. 19 Yeshua therefore answered them, “Amen, amen, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

4:1 Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard. 3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “Elohim rested on the seventh day from all his works;” 5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.” 6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience, 7 he again defines a certain day, “today”, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. 9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of Elohim. 10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim did from his. 11 Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

Ezekiel 31:1-9 (T)

31:1 In the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt and his multitude: ‘Whom are you like in your greatness? 3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, and with a forest-like shade, of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs. 4 The waters nourished it. The deep made it to grow. Its rivers ran all around its plantation. It sent out its channels to all the trees of the field. 5 Therefore its stature was exalted above all the trees of the field; and its boughs were multiplied. Its branches became long by reason of many waters, when it spread them out. 6 All the birds of the sky made their nests in its boughs. Under its branches, all the animals of the field gave birth to their young. All great nations lived under its shadow. 7 Thus it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; for its root was by many waters. 8 The cedars in the garden of Elohim could not hide it. The cypress trees were not like its branches. The pine trees were not like its branches; nor was any tree in the garden of Elohim like it in its beauty. 9 I made it beautiful by the multitude of its branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of Elohim, envied it.’

Daniel 10:1-6 (T)

10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the message was true, even a great warfare. He understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food. No meat or wine came into my mouth. I didn’t anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 In the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man clothed in linen, whose waist was adorned with pure gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches. His arms and his feet were like burnished bronze. The voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.

Joel 2:1-3 (T)

2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of YHWH comes, for it is close at hand: 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devours before them, and behind them, a flame burns. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them, a desolate wilderness. Yes, and no one has escaped them.

Romans 5:1-21 (T)

5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with Elohim through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of Elohim. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because Elohim’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Messiah died for the impious. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But Elohim commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from Elohim’s wrath through him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to Elohim through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in Elohim through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of Elohim and the gift by the grace of the one man, Yeshua the Messiah, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift followed many trespasses to justification. 17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Yeshua the Messiah. 18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly, 21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord.

Job 10:5-12; Job 34:7-15 (T)

Job 10:5 Are your days as the days of mortals, or your years as man’s years, 6 that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin? 7 Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand. 8 “ ‘Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether, yet you destroy me. 9 Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again? 10 Haven’t you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese? 11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. 12 You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.

Job 34:7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, 8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men? 9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with Elohim.’ 10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from Elohim, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12 Yes surely, Elohim will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. 13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world? 14 If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, 15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

Luke 23:39-43 (T)

23:39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear Elohim, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 He said to Yeshua, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 Yeshua said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 (T)

31:18 I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, Elohim tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals. 19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (T)

12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who gave it. 8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

Acts 17:22-29 (T)

17:22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you. 24 The Elohim who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of the heavens and the land, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. 25 He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things. 26 He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the land, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his seed.’ 29 Being then the seed of Elohim, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. 30 The times of ignorance therefore Elohim overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.”

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 (T)

12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Messiah who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; Elohim knows. 3 I know such a man, whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; Elohim knows, 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Revelation 2:1-7 (T)

2:1 “To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things: 2 “I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves emissaries, and they are not, and found them false. 3 You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have † not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my Elohim.

Malachi 2:13-17 (T)

2:13 “This again you do: you cover YHWH’s altar with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn’t regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand. 14 Yet you say, ‘Why?’ Because YHWH has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant. 15 Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 One who hates and divorces”, says YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, “covers his garment with violence!” says YHWH of Armies. “Therefore pay attention to your spirit, that you don’t be unfaithful. 17 You have wearied YHWH with your words. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in YHWH’s sight, and he delights in them;’ or ‘Where is the Elohim of justice?’

Matthew 19:1-8; Mark 10:1-9 (T)

Matthew 19:1 When Yeshua had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. 3 Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, (cf. Genesis 1:27) 5 and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’? (cf. Genesis 2:24) 6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore Elohim has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.” 7 They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?” 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. 9 I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”

Mark 10:1 He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them. 2 Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” 5 But Yeshua said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, Elohim made them male and female. (cf. Genesis 1:27) 7 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh, (cf. Genesis 2:24) so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore Elohim has joined together, let no man separate.”

Deuteronomy 24:2-4 (T)

24:1 When a man takes a woman and becomes her owner, then it will be, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found a nakedness of a word in her, then he will write her a certificate of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 When she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s. 3 If the latter man [who took her to be his woman]^(DSS) hates her, and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his woman; 4 her former owner (בַּעַל ba’al), who sent her away, may not take her again to be his woman after she is unclean; for that would be an abomination to YHWH. You will not cause the land to sin, which YHWH your Elohim gives you for an inheritance.

1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (T)

11:1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Messiah. 2 Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Messiah, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Messiah is Elohim. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her hair also be cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or be shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of Elohim, but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man; 9 for man wasn’t created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this cause the woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord. 12 For as wife came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from Elohim. 13 Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to Elohim unveiled? 14 Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom of the women not being covered, neither do Elohim’s assemblies.

1 Corinthians 6:14-17 (T, A)

6:14 Now Elohim raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.” (cf. Genesis 2:24) 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.

Related Additional Readings​

2 Esdras, consisting of chapters 3-14, (also called 4 Esdras, Latin Esdras, or Latin Ezra) is the name of a book in many English versions of the Bible. Its authorship is ascribed to Ezra, a scribe and priest of the 5th century B.C., although modern scholarship places its composition between 70 and 218 A.D.. It is reckoned among the apocrypha by Roman Catholics, Protestants, and most Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Ethiopian Church considers 4 Ezra to be canonical, written during the Babylonian captivity, and calls it “Izra Sutuel” (ዕዝራ ሱቱኤል). It was also often cited by the Fathers of the Church. In the Eastern Armenian tradition it is called 3 Ezra.

2 Esdras 3:1-10 (T)

3:1 In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city, I Salathiel, also called Esdras, was in Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart, 2 for I saw the desolation of Zion and the wealth of those who lived at Babylon. 3 My spirit was very agitated, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the Most High, and said, 4 “O sovereign Lord, didn’t you speak at the beginning when you formed the land—and that yourself alone—and commanded the dust 5 and it gave you Adam, a body without a soul? Yet it was the workmanship of your hands, and you breathed into him the breath of life, and he was made alive in your face. 6 You led him into the garden which your right hand planted before the land appeared. 7 You gave him your one commandment, which he transgressed, and immediately you appointed death for him and his descendants. From him were born nations, tribes, peoples, and kindred without number. 8 Every nation walked after their own will, did impious things in your sight, and despised your commandments, and you didn’t hinder them. 9 Nevertheless, again in process of time, you brought the flood on those who lived in the world and destroyed them. 10 It came to pass that the same thing happened to them. Just as death came to Adam, so was the flood to these. 11 Nevertheless, you left one of them, Noaḥ with his household, and all the righteous men who descended from him.

2 Esdras 6:53-59 (T)

6:53 “But on the sixth day, you commanded the land to produce before you cattle, animals, and creeping things. 54 Over these, you ordained Adam as ruler over all the works that you have made. Of him came all of us, the people whom you have chosen. 55 “All this have I spoken before you, O Lord, because you have said that for our sakes you made this world. 56 As for the other nations, which also come from Adam, you have said that they are nothing, and are like spittle. You have likened the abundance of them to a drop that falls from a bucket. 57 Now, O Lord, behold these nations, which are reputed as nothing, being rulers over us and devouring us. 58 But we your people, whom you have called your firstborn, your only children, and your fervent lover, are given into their hands. 59 Now if the world is made for our sakes, why don’t we possess our world for an inheritance? How long will this endure?”

2 Esdras 7:1 – 8:1 (T)

7:1 And when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent to me the angel which had been sent to me the nights before: 2 and he said to me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell you. 3 And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then he said to me, There is a sea set in a wide place, that it might be broad and vast. 4 But the entrance thereof will be set in a narrow place so as to be like a river; 5 whoso then should desire to go into the sea to look upon it, or to rule it, if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad? 6 Another thing also: There is a city built and set in a plain country, and full of all good things; 7 but the entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, having a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water: 8 and there is one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once. 9 If this city now be given to a man for an inheritance, if the heir pass not the danger before him, how will he receive his inheritance? 10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he to me, Even so also is Israel’s portion. 11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done. 12 Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, and sorrowful and toilsome: they are but few and evil, full of perils, and charged with great toils. 13 For the entrances of the greater world are wide and sure, and bring forth fruit of immortality. 14 If then those who live enter not these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them. 15 Now therefore why are you disturbed, seeing you are but a corruptible man? Why are you moved, since you are mortal? 16 Why haven’t you considered in your mind that which is to come, rather than that which is present?” 17 Then I answered and said, “O sovereign Lord, behold, you have ordained in your law that the righteous will inherit these things, but that the ungodly will perish. 18 The righteous therefore will suffer difficult things, and hope for easier things, but those who have done wickedly have suffered the difficult things, and yet will not see the easier things.” 19 He said to me, “You are not a judge above Elohim, neither do you have more understanding than the Most High. 20 Yes, let many perish who now live, rather than that the law of Elohim which is set before them be despised. 21 For Elohim strictly commanded those who came, even as they came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid punishment. 22 Nevertheless, they weren’t obedient to him, but spoke against him and imagined for themselves vain things. 23 They made cunning plans of wickedness, and said moreover of the Most High that he doesn’t exist, and they didn’t know his ways. 24 They despised his law and denied his covenants. They haven’t been faithful to his statutes, and haven’t performed his works. 25 Therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things. 26 For behold, the time will come, and it will be, when these signs of which I told you before will come to pass, that the bride will appear, even the city coming forth, and she will be seen who now is withdrawn from the earth. 27 Whoever is delivered from the foretold evils will see my wonders. 28 For my son Yeshua will be revealed with those who are with him, and those who remain will rejoice four hundred years. 29 After these years my son Messiah will die, along with all of those who have the breath of life. 30 Then the world will be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the first beginning, so that no human will remain. 31 After seven days the world that is not yet awake will be raised up, and what is corruptible will die. 32 The earth will restore those who are asleep in it, and the dust those who dwell in it in silence, and the secret places (or chamber, cf. 2 Esdras 4:35) will deliver those souls that were committed to them. 33 The Most High will be revealed on the judgment seat, [and the end will come,]^(syr) and compassion will pass away, and patience will be withdrawn. 34 Only judgment will remain. Truth will stand. Faith will grow strong. 35 Recompense will follow. The reward will be shown. Good deeds will awake, and wicked deeds won’t sleep. (The passage from verse 36 to verse 105, formerly missing, has been restored to the text) 36 The [pit]^(mss) of torment will appear, and near it will be the place of rest. The furnace of hell will be shown, and near it the paradise of delight. 37 Then the Most High will say to the nations that are raised from the dead, ‘Look and understand whom you have denied, whom you haven’t served, whose commandments you have despised. 38 Look on this side and on that. Here is delight and rest, and there fire and torments.’ Thus [he]^(mss) will speak to them in the day of judgment. 39 This is a day that has neither sun, nor moon, nor stars, 40 neither cloud, nor thunder, nor lightning, neither wind, nor water, nor air, neither darkness, nor evening, nor morning, 41 neither summer, nor spring, nor heat, nor winter, neither frost, nor cold, nor hail, nor rain, nor dew, 42 neither noon, nor night, nor dawn, neither shining, nor brightness, nor light, except only the splendor of the glory of the Most High, by which all will see the things that are set before them. 43 It will endure as though it were a week of years. 44 This is my judgment and its prescribed order; but I have only shown these things to you.” 45 And I answered, I said even then, O Lord, and I say now: blessed are those who are now alive and keep the statutes ordained of you. 46 But as touching them for whom my prayer was made, what will I say? for who is there of those who are alive that has not sinned, and who of the sons of men that has not transgressed your covenant? 47 And now I see, that the world to come will bring delight to few, but torments to many. 48 For an evil heart has grown up in us, which has led us astray from these statutes, and has brought us into corruption and into the ways of death, has showed us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life; and that, not a few only, but well near all that have been created. 49 And he answered me, and said, Listen to me, and I will instruct you; and I will admonish you yet again: 50 for this cause the Most High has not made one world, but two. 51 For whereas you have said that the just are not many, but few, and the impious abound, hear the answer thereto. 52 If you have exceedingly few choice stones, will you set for you near them according to their number things of lead and clay? 53 And I said, Lord, how will this be? 54 And he said to me, Not only this, but ask the land, and she will tell you; entreat her, and she will declare to you. 55 For you will say to her, You bring forth gold and silver and brass, and iron also and lead and clay: 56 but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, lead than iron, and clay than lead. 57 Judge you therefore which things are precious and to be desired, what is abundant or what is rare?” 58 I said, “O sovereign Lord, that which is plentiful is of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious.” 59 He answered me, “Weigh within yourself the things that you have thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices over him who has what is plentiful. 60 So also is the judgment which I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few that will be saved, because these are those who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them, my name is now honored. 61 I won’t grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for these are those who are now like mist, and have become like flame and smoke; they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished.” 62 I answered, “O earth, why have you produced, if the mind is made out of dust, like all other created things? 63 For it would have been better that the dust itself had been unborn, so that the mind might not have been made from it. 64 But now the mind grows with us, and because of this we are tormented, because we perish and we know it. 65 Let the race of men lament and the animals of the field be glad. Let all who are born lament, but let the four-footed animals and the livestock rejoice. 66 For it is far better with them than with us; for they don’t look forward to judgment, neither do they know of torments or of salvation promised to them after death. 67 For what does it profit us, that we will be preserved alive, but yet be afflicted with torment? 68 For all who are born are defiled with iniquities, and are full of sins and laden with transgressions. 69 If after death we were not to come into judgment, perhaps it would have been better for us.” 70 He answered me, “When the Most High made the world and Adam and all those who came from him, he first prepared the judgment and the things that pertain to the judgment. 71 Now understand from your own words, for you have said that the mind grows with us. 72 They therefore who dwell on the earth will be tormented for this reason, that having understanding they have committed iniquity, and receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law they dealt unfaithfully with that which they received. 73 What then will they have to say in the judgment, or how will they answer in the last times? 74 For how long a time has the Most High been patient with those who inhabit the world, and not for their sakes, but because of the times which he has foreordained!” 75 I answered, “If I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, show this also to your servant, whether after death, even now when every one of us gives up his soul, we will be kept in rest until those times come, in which you renew the creation, or whether we will be tormented immediately.” 76 He answered me, “I will show you this also; but don’t join yourself with those who are scorners, nor count yourself with those who are tormented. 77 For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High, but it won’t be shown you until the last times. 78 For concerning death the teaching is: When the decisive sentence has gone out from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, it adores the glory of the Most High first of all. 79 And if it is one of those who have been scorners and have not kept the way of the Most High, and that have despised his law, and who hate those who fear Elohim, 80 these spirits won’t enter into habitations, but will wander and be in torments immediately, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. 81 The first way, because they have despised the law of the Most High. 82 The second way, because they can’t now make a good repentance that they may live. 83 The third way, they will see the reward laid up for those who have believed the covenants of the Most High. 84 The fourth way, they will consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days. 85 The fifth way, they will see the dwelling places of the others guarded by angels, with great quietness. 86 The sixth way, they will see how immediately some of them will pass into torment. 87 The seventh way, which is more grievous than all the aforesaid ways, because they will pine away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and will be withered up by fears, seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they have sinned while living, and before whom they will be judged in the last times. 88 “Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they will be separated from their mortal body. 89 In the time that they lived in it, they painfully served the Most High, and were in jeopardy every hour, that they might keep the law of the lawgiver perfectly. 90 Therefore this is the teaching concerning them: 91 First of all they will see with great joy the glory of him who takes them up, for they will have rest in seven orders. 92 The first order, because they have labored with great effort to overcome the evil thought which was fashioned together with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death. 93 The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaits them. 94 The third order, they see the testimony which he who fashioned them gives concerning them, that while they lived they kept the law which was given them in trust. 95 The fourth order, they understand the rest which, being gathered in their chambers, they now enjoy with great quietness, guarded by angels, and the glory that awaits them in the last days. 96 The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped from that which is corruptible, and that they will inherit that which is to come, while they see in addition the difficulty and the pain from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty which they will receive with joy and immortality. 97 The sixth order, when it is shown to them how their face will shine like the sun, and how they will be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on. 98 The seventh order, which is greater than all the previously mentioned orders, because they will rejoice with confidence, and because they will be bold without confusion, and will be glad without fear, for they hurry to see the face of him whom in their lifetime they served, and from whom they will receive their reward in glory. 99 This is the order of the souls of the just, as from henceforth is announced to them. Previously mentioned are the ways of torture which those who would not give heed will suffer from after this.” 100 I answered, “Will time therefore be given to the souls after they are separated from the bodies, that they may see what you have described to me?” 101 He said, “Their freedom will be for seven days, that for seven days they may see the things you have been told, and afterwards they will be gathered together in their habitations.” 102 I answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, show further to me your servant whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them, 103 whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or kindred for kindred, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for those who are most dear.” 104 He answered me, “Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also. The day of judgment is a day of decision, and displays to all the seal of truth. Even as now a father doesn’t send his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a friend him that is most dear, that in his place he may understand, or sleep, or eat, or be healed, 105 so no one will ever pray for another in that day, neither will one lay a burden on another, for then everyone will each bear his own righteousness or unrighteousness.” 106 I answered, “How do we now find that first Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, and Moses for the ancestors who sinned in the wilderness, 107 and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of Achan (cf. Joshua 7:1), 108 and Samuel [in the days of Saul,]^(mss) and David for the plague, and Solomon for those who would worship in the sanctuary, 109 and Elijah for those that received rain, and for the dead, that he might live, 110 and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib, and many others prayed for many? 111 If therefore now, when corruption has grown and unrighteousness increased, the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, why will it not be so then also?” 112 He answered me, “This present world is not the end. The full glory doesn’t remain in it. Therefore those who were able prayed for the weak. 113 But the day of judgment will be the end of this age, and the beginning of the immortality to come, in which corruption has passed away, 114 intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, but righteousness has grown, and truth has sprung up. 115 Then no one will be able to have mercy on him who is condemned in judgment, nor to harm someone who is victorious.” 116 I answered then, “This is my first and last saying, that it would have been better if the earth had not produced Adam, or else, when it had produced him, to have restrained him from sinning. 117 For what profit is it for all who are in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment? 118 O Adam, what have you done? For though it was you who sinned, the evil hasn’t fallen on you alone, but on all of us who come from you. 119 For what profit is it to us, if an immortal time is promised to us, but we have done deeds that bring death? 120 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, but we have most miserably failed? 121 And that there are reserved habitations of health and safety, but we have lived wickedly? 122 And that the glory of the Most High will defend those who have led a pure life, but we have walked in the most wicked ways of all? 123 And that a paradise will be revealed, whose fruit endures without decay, in which is abundance and healing, but we won’t enter into it, 124 for we have lived in perverse ways? 125 And that the faces of those who have practiced self-control will shine more than the stars, but our faces will be blacker than darkness? 126 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we didn’t consider what we would have to suffer after death.” 127 Then he answered, “This is the significance of the battle which humans born on the earth will fight: 128 if they are overcome, they will suffer as you have said, but if they get the victory, they will receive the thing that I say. 129 For this is the way that Moses spoke to the people while he lived, saying, ‘Choose life, that you may live!’ 130 Nevertheless they didn’t believe him or the prophets after him, not even me, who have spoken to them. 131 Therefore there won’t be such heaviness in their destruction, as there will be joy over those who are assured of salvation.” 132 Then I answered, “I know, Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, in that he has mercy upon those who have not yet come into the world; 133 and compassionate, in that he has compassion upon those who turn to his law; 134 and patient, in that he is patient with those who have sinned, since they are his creatures; 135 and bountiful, in that he is ready to give rather than to take away; 136 and very merciful, in that he multiplies more and more mercies to those who are present, and who are past, and also to those who are to come— 137 for if he wasn’t merciful, the world wouldn’t continue with those who dwell in it— 138 and one who forgives, for if he didn’t forgive out of his goodness, that those who have committed iniquities might be relieved of them, not even one ten thousandth part of mankind would remain living; 139 and a judge, for if he didn’t pardon those who were created by his word, and blot out the multitude of sins, 140 there would perhaps be very few left of an innumerable multitude.” 8:1 He answered me, “The Most High has made this world for many, but the world to come for few.

Sirach 14:11-19 (T)

14:11 My son, according to what you have, treat yourself well, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord. 12 Remember that death will not wait, and that the covenant of Hades hasn’t been shown to you. 13 Do good to your friends before you die. According to your ability, reach out and give to them. 14 Don’t deprive yourself of a good day. Don’t let your share of a desired good pass you by. 15 Won’t you leave your labors to another, and your toils be divided by lot? 16 Give, take, and treat yourself well, because there is no seeking of luxury in Hades. 17 All flesh grows old like a garment, for the covenant from the beginning is, “You must die!” 18 Like the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheds, and some grow, so also are the generations of flesh and blood: one comes to an end and another is born. 19 Every work rots and falls away, and its builder will depart with it.

Genesis 2:1 – 3:24 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 2 And the creatures of the heavens and earth, and all the hosts of them, were completed. And the Lord had finished by the Seventh Day the work which He had wrought, and the ten formations which He had created between the suns; and He rested the Seventh Day from all His works which He had performed. And the Lord blessed the Seventh Day more than all the days of the week, and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His works which the Lord had created and had willed to make. These are the geneses of the heavens and the land when they were created in the day that the Lord Elohim made the land and the heavens. And all the trees of the field were not as yet in the land, and all the herbs of the field had not as yet germinated, because the Lord Elohim had not made it to rain upon the land, and man was not to cultivate the ground. But a cloud of glory descended from the throne of glory, and was filled with waters from the ocean, and afterward went up from the land, and gave rain to come down and water all the face of the ground. And the Lord Elohim created man in two formations; and took dust from the place of the house of the sanctuary, and from the four winds of the world, and mixed from all the waters of the world, and created him red, black, and white; and breathed into his nostils the inspiration of life, and there was in the body of Adam the inspiration of a speaking spirit, unto the illumination of the eyes and the hearing of the ears. [JERUSALEM. And Adam became a soul of life.] And a garden from the Eden of the just was planted by the Word of the Lord Elohim before the creation of the world, and He made there to dwell the man when He had created him. And the Lord Elohim made to grow from the ground every tree that was desirable to behold and good to eat, and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, whose height was a journey of five hundred years, and the tree of whose fruit they who ate would distinguish between good and evil. [JERUSALEM. And the tree of knowledge, of which any one who ate would distinguish between good and evil.] And a river went forth from Eden, to water the garden, and from thence was separated, and became four heads of rivers (or four chief rivers). The name of the first is Phishon; that is it which compasseth all the land of Hindiki, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is choice. There is the bedilcha, and the precious stones of byrils. And the name of the second river is Gichon; that is it which encompasseth all the land of Koosh. And the name of the third river is Diglath; that is it which goeth to the east of Athoor. And the fourth river is Pherath. And the Lord Elohim took the man from the mountain of worship, where he had been created, and made him dwell in the garden of Eden, to do service in the law, and to keep its commandments. [JERUSALEM. And the Lord Elohim took the man, and made him dwell in the garden of Eden; and set him to do service in the law, and to keep it.] And the Lord Elohim commanded Adam, saying, Of every tree of the garden eating thou mayest eat. But of the tree of whose fruit they who eat (become) wise to know between good and evil, thou shalt not eat: for in the day that thou eatest thou wilt be guilty of death. And the Lord Elohim said, It is not right that Adam should be sleeping alone: I will make unto him a woman who may be a helper before him. [JERUSALEM. I will make for him a yoke-fellow, going forth with him.] And the Lord Elohim created from the land every beast of the field, and every fowl of the heavens, and brought them to Adam, to see by what name he would call it. And whatever Adam called the living animal, that was its name. And Adam called the names of all cattle, and all fowl of the heavens, and all beasts of the field. But for Adam was not found as yet a helper before him. [JERUSALEM. And for Adam was not found a yoke-fellow going forth with him.] And the Lord Elohim threw a deep slumber upon Adam, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs, it was the thirteenth rib of the right side, and closed it up with flesh. And the Lord Elohim builded the rib which he had taken from Adam into a woman; and He brought her to Adam. And Adam said, This time, and not again, is woman created from man. Thus, because she is created from me, (she is) bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. This it is fit to call Woman, because from man she was taken. Therefore a man will leave, and be separate from the house of the bed of his father and of his mother, and will consociate with his woman, and both of them will be one flesh. And both of them were wise, Adam and his woman; but they were not faithful (or truthful) in their glory. [JERUSALEM. Therefore a man will leave the house of the bed of his father and his mother……And they knew not what is shame.]

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.1.2-3 (T)

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

1.1.2. Moreover, Moses, after the seventh day was over begins to talk philosophically; and concerning the formation of man, says thus: That Elohim took dust from the ground, and formed man, and inserted in him a spirit and a soul. This man was called Adam, which in the Hebrew tongue signifies one that is red, because he was formed out of red earth, compounded together; for of that kind is virgin and true earth. Elohim also presented the living creatures, when he had made them, according to their kinds, both male and female, to Adam, who gave them those names by which they are still called. But when he saw that Adam had no female companion, no society, for there was no such created, and that he wondered at the other animals which were male and female, he laid him asleep, and took away one of his ribs, and out of it formed the woman; whereupon Adam knew her when she was brought to him, and acknowledged that she was made out of himself. Now a woman is called in the Hebrew tongue Issa; but the name of this woman was Eve, which signifies the mother of all living.

1.1.3. Moses says further, that Elohim planted a paradise in the east, flourishing with all sorts of trees; and that among them was the tree of life, and another of knowledge, whereby was to be known what was good and evil; and that when he brought Adam and his woman into this garden, he commanded ;hem to take care of the plants. Now the garden was watered by one river, which ran round about the whole land, and was parted into four parts. And Phison, which denotes a multitude, running into India, makes its exit into the sea, and is by the Greeks called Ganges. Euphrates also, as well as Tigris, goes down into the Red Sea. Now the name Euphrates, or Phrath, denotes either a dispersion, or a flower: by Tiris, or Diglath, is signified what is swift, with narrowness; and Geon runs through Egypt, and denotes what arises from the east, which the Greeks call Nile.