• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 21:1-34
• Prophets (P): 1 Samuel 2:21-28
• Apostolic (A): Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:22-31
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 16:10-31; Jubilees 17:1-14

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Genesis 18:1-16 (T)
• Proverbs 30:21-23, LXX (T)
• Romans 9:1-9 (T)
• Hebrews 11:17-19 (T)
• Genesis 20:1-18 (T)
• Exodus 38:8 (P)
• Exodus 19:6 (ADD)
• 1 Peter 2:9-10 (ADD)
• Isaiah 61:3 (ADD)
• Leviticus 23:33-44 (ADD)
• Nehemiah 8:14-18 (ADD)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• 2 Maccabees 7:20-29 (T)
• Enoch 10:15-17 (ADD)
• Enoch 93:1-10, 91:7-19 (ADD)
• Enoch 105:1-2 (ADD)
• Genesis 21:1-34 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.12.2-4 (T)

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

Torah Portion (T)

Bereshiyt (Genesis) 21:1-34

21:1 [Elohim]^(LXX) visited Sarah as he had said, and did to Sarah as he had spoken. 2 Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the appointed time of which Elohim had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Yitschaq. 4 Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as Elohim had commanded him. 5 Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “Elohim has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.” 7 She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse sons? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” 8 The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, [playing with Isaac her son].^(LXX) 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.” 11 The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son. 12 Elohim said to Abraham, “Don't let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For your seed will be named through Isaac. 13 I will also make a [great]^(LXX) nation of the son of the servant, because he is your seed.” 14 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Be'ersheba. 15 The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs. 16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don't let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and [the child cried aloud and wept].^(LXX) 17 Elohim heard the voice of the boy. The angel of Elohim called to Hagar out of the heavens, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don't be afraid. For Elohim has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.” 19 Elohim opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink. 20 Elohim was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and as he grew up, he became an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got a wife for him out of the land of Egypt. 22 At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “Elohim is with you in all that you do. 23 Now, therefore, swear to me here by Elohim that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a sojourner.” 24 Abraham said, “I will swear.” 25 Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. 26 Abimelech said, “I don't know who has done this thing. You didn't tell me, and I didn't hear of it until today.” 27 Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two cut a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?” 30 [Abraham]^(LXX) said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.” 31 Therefore he called that place Be'ersheba, because they both swore an oath there. 32 So they cut a covenant at Be'ersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. 33 And [Abraham]^(LXX) planted a tamarisk tree in Be'ersheba, and there he called on the name of YHWH, the Everlasting Elohim. 34 Abraham lived as a sojourner in the land of the Philistines many days.

Prophets Portion (P)

1 Samuel 2:21-28

2:21 YHWH visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew before YHWH. 22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who served at the door of the Appointed Tent. 23 He said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24 No, my sons; for it is not a good report that I hear! You make the people of YHWH disobey. 25 If one man sins against another, Elohim will judge him; but if a man sins against YHWH, who will intercede for him?” Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because YHWH intended to kill them. 26 The boy Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with YHWH and also with men. 27 A man of Elohim came to Eli and said to him, “YHWH says, ‘Did I reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house? 28 Didn’t I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? Didn’t I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the sons of Israel made by fire?

Apostolic Portion (A)

Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:22-31

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Yeshua the Messiah was like this: After his mother, Miriam, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Miriam as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Yeshua, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “El with us.” (cf. Isaiah 7:14) 24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Yeshua.

Galatians 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. 23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, [and she is our mother].^(mss) 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.” (cf. Isaiah 54:1) 28 Now [you],^(LXX) brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” (cf. Genesis 21:10) 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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

Jubilees 16:10-31; Jubilees 17:1-14

16:10 And in this new moon Abraham moved from Hebron, and departed and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur in the mountains of Gerar. 11. And in the middle of the fifth new moon he moved from thence, and dwelt at the Well of the Oath. 12. And in the middle of the sixth new moon the Lord visited Sarah and did unto her as He had spoken, and she conceived. 13. And she bare a son in the third new moon, [1980 A.M.] and in the middle of the new moon, at the time of which the Lord had spoken to Abraham, on the festival of the first fruits of the harvest, Isaac was born. 14. And Abraham circumcised his son on the eighth day: he was the first that was circumcised according to the covenant which is ordained for ever. 15. And in the sixth year of the [third] week we came to Abraham, to the Well of the Oath, and we appeared unto him [as we had told Sarah that we should return to her, and she would have conceived a son. 16. And we returned in the seventh new moon, and found Sarah with child before us] and we blessed him, and we announced to him all the things which had been decreed concerning him, that he should not die till he should beget six sons more (cf. Genesis 25:1-6), and should see (them) before he died; but (that) in Isaac should his name and seed be called: 17. And (that) all the seed of his sons should be Nations, and be reckoned with the Nations; but from the sons of Isaac one should become a holy seed, and should not be reckoned among the Nations. 18. For he should become the portion of the Most High, and all his seed had fallen into the possession of Elohim, that it should be unto the Lord a people for (His) possession above all nations and that it should become a reign and priests and a holy nation. 19. And we went our way, and we announced to Sarah all that we had told him, and they both rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 20. And he built there an altar to the Lord who had delivered him, and who was making him rejoice in the land of his sojourning, and he celebrated a festival of joy in this new moon seven days, near the altar which he had built at the Well of the Oath. 21. And he built booths for himself and for his servants on this festival, and he was the first to celebrate the feast of tabernacles on the land. 22. And during these seven days he brought each day to the altar a burnt offering to the Lord, two oxen, two rams, seven sheep, one he-goat, for a sin-offering, that he might atone thereby for himself and for his seed. 23. And, as a thank offering, seven rams, seven kids, seven sheep, and seven he-goats, and their fruit-offerings and their drink-offerings; and he burnt all the fat thereof on the altar, a chosen offering unto the Lord for a sweet smelling savour. 24. And morning and evening he burnt fragrant substances, frankincense and galbanum, and stacte, and nard, and myrrh, and spice, and costum; all these seven he offered, crushed, mixed together in equal parts (and) pure. 25. And he celebrated this feast during seven days, rejoicing with all his heart and with all his soul, he and all those who were in his house; and there was no stranger with him, nor any that was uncircumcised. 26. And he blessed his Creator who had created him in his generation, for He had created him according to His good pleasure; for He knew and perceived that from him would arise the plant of righteousness for the eternal generations, and from him a holy seed, so that it should become like Him who had made all things. 27. And he blessed and rejoiced, and he called the name of this festival the festival of the Lord, a joy acceptable to the Most High Elohim. 28. And we blessed him for ever, and all his seed after him throughout all the generations of the land, because he celebrated this festival in its season, according to the witness of the heavenly tables. 29. For this reason it is ordained on the heavenly tables concerning Israel, that they will celebrate the feast of tabernacles seven days with joy, in the seventh new moon, acceptable before the Lord–a statute for ever throughout their generations every year. 30. And to this there is no limit of days; for it is ordained for ever regarding Israel that they should celebrate it and dwell in booths, and set wreaths upon their heads, and take leafy boughs, and willows from the brook. 31. And Abraham took branches of palm trees, and the fruit of goodly trees, and every day going round the altar with the branches seven times [a day] in the morning, he praised and gave thanks to his Elohim for all things in joy.

17:1 And in the first year of the [fourth] week Isaac was weaned in this jubilee, and Abraham made a great banquet in the third new moon, [1982 A.M.] on the day his son Isaac was weaned. 2. And Ishmael, the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, was before the face of Abraham, his father, in his place, and Abraham rejoiced and blessed Elohim because he had seen his sons and had not died childless. 3. And he remembered the words which He had spoken to him on the day on which Lot had parted from him, and he rejoiced because the Lord had given him seed upon the land to inherit the land, and he blessed with all his mouth the Creator of all things. 4. And Sarah saw Ishmael playing and dancing and Abraham rejoicing with great joy, and she became zealous of Ishmael and said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman will not be heir with my son, Isaac.” 5. And the thing was grievous in Abraham’s sight, because of his maidservant and because of his son, that he should drive them from him. 6. And Elohim said to Abraham “Let it not be grievous in thy sight, because of the child and because of the bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken to her words and do (them); for in Isaac will thy name and seed be called. 7. But as for the son of this bondwoman I will make him a great nation, because he is of thy seed.” 8. And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water, and placed them on the shoulders of Hagar and the child, and sent her away. 9. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Be’ersheba, and the water in the bottle was spent, and the child thirsted, and was not able to go on, and fell down. 10. And his mother took him and cast him under an olive tree, and went and sat her down over against him, at the distance of a bow-shot; for she said, “Let me not see the death of my child,” and as she sat she wept. 11. And an angel of Elohim, one of the holy ones, said unto her, “Why weepest thou, Hagar? Arise, take the child, and hold him in thine hand; for Elohim hath heard thy voice, and hath seen the child.” 12. And she opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled her bottle with water, and she gave her child to drink, and she arose and went towards the wilderness of Paran. 13. And the child grew and became an archer, and Elohim was with him; and his mother took him a woman from among the daughters of Egypt. 14. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Nebaioth; for she said, “The Lord was nigh to me when I called upon him.”

Related Scriptures

Genesis 18:1-16 (T)

18:1 [Elohim]^(LXX) appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the land, 3 and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant. 4 Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.” 6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. 8 He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate. 9 They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 YHWH said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’ 14 Is an word too wonderful for [Elohim]?^(LXX) At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” 16 The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.

Proverbs 30:21-23 (T)

30:21 For three things the land trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up: 22 For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food, 23 for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.

Proverbs 30:21-23 (LXX) Septuagint text as translated in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot by Charles VanderPool

30:21 By three thing the land is shaken, and the fourth it is not able to bear: 22 if a domestic servant should reign, and a fool should be filled with food; 23 and a female domestic servant, if she is cast out by her own lady; and a hateful woman if she should attain a good man.

Romans 9:1-9 (T)

9:1 I tell the truth in Messiah. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Messiah for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh 4 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Messiah as concerning the flesh, who is over all, Elohim, blessed forever. Amen. 6 But it is not as though the word of Elohim has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel. 7 Neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children. But, “your seed will be accounted as from Isaac.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of Elohim, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs. 9 For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”

Hebrews 11:17-19 (T)

11:17 In faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son, 18 to whom it was said, “Your seed will be accounted as from Isaac,” 19 concluding that Elohim is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

Genesis 20:1-18 (T)

20:1 Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He sojourned in Gerar. 2 Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But Elohim came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? 5 Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.” 6 The Elohim said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. 7 Now therefore, return the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t return her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.” 8 Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. [All]^(LXX) the men were very scared. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my reign a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!” 10 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of Elohim is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 When Elohim caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you will show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ‘ ” 14 Abimelech took [a thousand double-drachmas,]^(LXX) sheep, and cattle, male servants and maids, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah, his wife, to him. 15 Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are reproved. (These will be to you for the value of your person, and to all the women with you; and you speak the truth in all things.)”^(LXX) 17 Abraham prayed to the Elohim. So Elohim healed Abimelech, his wife, and his maids, and they bore. 18 For [Elohim]^(LXX) had closed up tight all the bowels of the house of Abimelech, upon the word of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Exodus 38:8 He made the basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, out of the mirrors of the [women] assembling who assembled at the door of the Appointed Tent.

Exodus 38:8 as translated from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan And he made the brasen laver, and its foundation of brass, from the brasen mirrors of the pious women, who, at the season, came to pray at the door of the tabernacle of appointment, standing with their oblations, giving thanks and confession, and returning to their husbands, the mothers of righteous children, who had been purified from the uncleanness of their blood. [JERUSALEM. And he made the laver of brass, and the base thereof of brass, with, the mirrors of the pious women who were devout at the gate of the tabernacle of appointment.]

Exodus 38:8 (38:26) as translated from the Greek Old Testament (LXX or Septuagint) He made the brazen laver, and the brazen base of it of the mirrors of the women that fasted, who fasted by the doors of the tabernacle of witness, in the day in which he set it up.

Exodus 19:6 (ADD)

19:6 and you will be to me a reign of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you will speak to the sons of Israel.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ADD)

2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Elohim’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are Elohim’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Isaiah 61:1-3 (ADD)

61:1 the spirit of the Lord YHWH is on me, because YHWH has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound, 2 to proclaim the year of the favor of YHWH and the day of vengeance of our Elohim, to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of YHWH, that he may be decorated.

Leviticus 23:33-44 (ADD)

23:33 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh new moon is the feast of booths for seven days to YHWH. 35 On the first day will be a holy convocation. You will do no work of service. 36 Seven days you will offer an offering made by fire to YHWH. On the eighth day will be a holy convocation to you. You will offer an offering made by fire to YHWH. It is a closing assembly; you will do no work of service. 37 These are the appointed feasts of YHWH which you will proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to YHWH, a burnt offering, a grain offering, a slaughter, and libation offerings, each on its own day— 38 in addition to the Sabbaths of YHWH, and in addition to your gifts, and in addition to all your vows, and in addition to all your freewill offerings, which you give to YHWH. 39 So on the fifteenth day of the seventh new moon, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you will guard the feast of YHWH seven days. On the first day will be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day will be a solemn rest. 40 You will take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you will rejoice before YHWH your Elohim seven days. 41 You will hold a feast to YHWH seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You will keep it in the seventh new moon. 42 You will dwell in temporary shelters for seven days. All who are native in Israel will dwell in temporary shelters, 43 that your generations may know that I made the sons of Israel to dwell in temporary shelters when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am YHWH your Elohim.’ ” 44 So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed feasts of YHWH.

Nehemiah 8:14-18 (ADD)

8:14 They found written in the law how YHWH had commanded by Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh new moon; 15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of Elohim’s house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim’s gate. 17 All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made temporary shelters, and lived in the temporary shelters; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day the sons of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of Elohim. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a closing assembly, according to the judgment.

Related Additional Readings

2 Maccabees 7:20-29 (T)

1 and 2 Maccabees are set during the reign of the Seleucid Greek empire (the part of the Greek empire that found its roots in Syria). It tells the story of how the Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attested to suppress Temple worship and to destroy the practice of Jewish law. This caused the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and his sons. As a part of the revolt, the Temple was freed from the control of the Greek empire and rededicated (an act that is still commemorated yearly in the festival of Hanukkah). The Maccabees then ruled over Israel, first as High Priests and then as High Priests and Princes of Israel.

2 Maccabees recaps some of the story (until the events of 161 B.C.) and adds in details about God’s intervention into the events reports. 2 Maccabees, the first work to pose an opposition between Judaism and Hellenism, sees Hellenism as a new kind of threat in Jewish history. Previously, foreign cultures were perceived as dangerous because of the trial posed by their elohim. But for 2 Maccabees, Hellenism involves a system of values distinct from idolatry, the values associated with the gymnasium. 2 Maccabees condemns Jews who adopt these values even as they remain loyal to the Elohim of Israel.

7:20 But above all, the mother was marvelous and worthy of honorable memory; for when she watched seven sons perishing within the space of one day, she bore the sight with a good courage because of her hope in the Lord. 21 She exhorted each one of them in the language of their fathers, filled with a noble spirit and stirring up her woman’s thoughts with manly courage, saying to them, 22 “I don’t know how you came into my womb. It wasn’t I who gave you your breath and your life. It wasn’t I who brought into order the first elements of each one of you. 23 Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the first origin of man and devised the first origin of all things, in mercy gives back to you again both your breath and your life, as you now treat yourselves with contempt for his laws’ sake.” 24 But Antiochus, thinking himself to be despised, and suspecting the reproachful voice, while the youngest was yet alive didn’t only make his appeal to him by words, but also at the same time promised with oaths that he would enrich him and raise him to high honor if he would turn from the ways of his ancestors, and that he would take him for his friend and entrust him with public affairs. 25 But when the young man would in no way listen, the king called to him his mother, and urged her to advise the youth to save himself. 26 When he had urged her with many words, she undertook to persuade her son. 27 But bending toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, she spoke this in the language of her fathers: “My son, have pity upon me who carried you nine new moons in my womb, and nursed you three years, and nourished and brought you up to this age, and sustained you. 28 I beg you, my child, to lift your eyes to the heavens and the land, and to see all things that are in it, and thus to recognize that Elohim made them not of things that were, and that the race of men in this way comes into being. 29 Don’t be afraid of this butcher, but, proving yourself worthy of your brothers, accept your death, that in Elohim’s mercy I may receive you again with your brothers.”

Enoch 10:15-17; Enoch 93:1-10, 91:7-19; Enoch 105:1-2 (ADD)

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

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

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

Enoch 10:15-17 (ADD)

10:15 And destroy all the spirits of the reprobate and the children of the Watchers, because they have wronged mankind. Destroy all wrong from the face of the land and let every evil work come to an end: and let the plant of righteousness and truth appear: ⌈and it will prove a blessing; the works of righteousness and truth⌉ will be planted in truth and joy for evermore. 17 And then will all the righteous escape, And will live till they beget thousands of children, And all the days of their youth and their old age Will they complete in peace.

Enoch 93:1-10; Enoch 91:7-19 (ADD)

93:1 And after that Enoch both †gave† and began to recount from the books. And Enoch said: 2. ‘Concerning the children of righteousness and concerning the elect of the world, And concerning the plant of uprightness, I will speak these things, Yea, I Enoch will declare (them) unto you, my sons: According to that which appeared to me in the heavenly vision, And which I have known through the word of the holy angels, And have learnt from the heavenly tablets.’ 3. And Enoch began to recount from the books and said: ‘I was born the seventh in the first week, While judgement and righteousness still endured. 4. And after me there will arise in the second week great wickedness, And deceit will have sprung up; And in it there will be the first end. And in it a man will be saved; And after it is ended unrighteousness will grow up, And a law will be made for the sinners. 5. And after that in the third week at its close A man will be elected as the plant of righteous judgement, And his posterity will become the plant of righteousness for evermore. 6. And after that in the fourth week, at its close, Visions of the holy and righteous will be seen, And a law for all generations and an enclosure will be made for them. 7. And after that in the fifth week, at its close, The house of glory and dominion will be built for ever. 8. And after that in the sixth week all who live in it will be blinded, And the hearts of all of them will godlessly forsake wisdom. And in it a man will ascend; And at its close the house of dominion will be burnt with fire, And the whole race of the chosen root will be dispersed. 9. And after that in the seventh week will an apostate generation arise, And many will be its deeds, And all its deeds will be apostate. 10. And at its close will be elected The elect righteous of the eternal plant of righteousness, To receive sevenfold instruction concerning all His creation. [11. For who is there of all the children of men that is able to hear the voice of the Holy One without being troubled? And who can think His thoughts? and who is there that can behold all the works of the heavens? 12. And how should there be one who could behold the heavens, and who is there that could understand the things of the heavens and see a soul or a spirit and could tell thereof, or ascend and see all their ends and think them or do like them? 13. And who is there of all men that could know what is the breadth and the length of the land, and to whom has been shown the measure of all of them? 14. Or is there any one who could discern the length of the heavens and how great is its height, and upon what it is founded, and how great is the number of the stars, and where all the luminaries rest?]

91:7 And when sin and unrighteousness and blasphemy and violence in all kinds of deeds increase, And apostasy and transgression and uncleanness increase, a great chastisement will come from the heavens upon all these, And the holy Lord will come forth with wrath and chastisement To execute judgement on land. 8. In those days violence will be cut off from its roots, And the roots of unrighteousness together with deceit, And they will be destroyed from under the heavens. 9. And all the idols of the heathen will be abandoned, And the temples burned with fire, And they will remove them from the whole land, And they (i.e. the heathen) will be cast into the judgement of fire, And will perish in wrath and in grievous judgement for ever. 10. And the righteous will arise from their sleep, And wisdom will arise and be given unto them. [11. And after that the roots of unrighteousness will be cut off, and the sinners will be destroyed by the sword . . . will be cut off from the blasphemers in every place, and those who plan violence and those who commit blasphemy will perish by the sword.] 18. And now I tell you, my sons, and show you The paths of righteousness and the paths of violence. Yea, I will show them to you again That ye may know what will come to pass. 19. And now, hearken unto me, my sons, And walk in the paths of righteousness, And walk not in the paths of violence; For all who walk in the paths of unrighteousness will perish for ever.’

Enoch 105:1-2 (ADD)

105:1 In those days the Lord bade (them) to summon and testify to the children of land concerning their wisdom: Show (it) unto them; for ye are their guides, and a recompense over the whole land. 2. For I and My son will be united with them for ever in the paths of uprightness in their lives; and ye will have peace: rejoice, ye children of uprightness. Amen.

Genesis 21:1-34 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 21 And the Lord remembered Sarah according to that which He had said to her; and the Lord wrought a miracle for Sarah like to that for which Abraham had spoken in prayer for Abimelek. [JERUSALEM. And the Lord wrought miracles for Sarah, as He had spoken.] And she conceived, and Sarah bare to Abraham a son, who was like to himself in his age, at the time of which the Lord had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son whom Sarah had borne him Izhak. And Abraham circumcised Izhak his son, when the son of eight days, as the Lord had commanded him. And Abraham was the son of an hundred years when Izhak his son was born to him. And Sarah said, The Lord hath done wondrously for me; all who hear will wonder at me. And she said, How faithful was the messenger who announced to Abraham, and said, Sarah will nurse children, for she will bring forth a son in her old age! [JERUSALEM. And she said, What was the announcement which announced to my lord Abraham at the beginning, and said, It will be that she will give suck, because she will bring forth a son in her old age?] And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day when Izhak was weaned. And Sarah observed the son of Hagar the Mizreitha, whom she bare to Abraham, mocking with a strange worship, and bowing to the Lord. [JERUSALEM. And Sarah observed the son of Hagar the Mizreitha, whom she bare to Abraham, doing evil works which are not fitting to be done, mocking in a strange worship.] And she said to Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son: for it is not possible for the son of this handmaid to inherit with my son; and he to make war with Izhak. And the thing was very evil in Abraham’s eyes, on account of Ishmael his son, who would practise a strange worship. And the Lord said to Abraham, Let it not be evil in thine eyes on account of the youth who goeth forth from thy nurturing, and of thy handmaid whom thou sendest away. Hearken unto all that Sarah saith to thee, because she is a prophetess; for in Izhak will sons be called unto thee; and this son of the handmaid will not be genealogized after thee. But the son of the handmaid have I set for a predatory people (le-am leistim), because he is thy son. And Abraham rose up in the morning, and took bread and a cruse of water, and gave to Hagar to bear upon her shoulder, and bound it to her hips, to signify that she was a servant, and the child, and dismissed her with a letter of divorce (be-gitta). And she went, and wandered from the way into the desert which was hard by Beersheba. And it was when they came to the entrance of the desert, they remembered to wander after strange worship; and Ishmael was seized with a burning thirst, and drank of the water till all the water was consumed from the cruse. And he was dried up, and withered in his flesh; and she carried him, and was exhausted, and she cried unto the Fear of his father, and He answered her not; and she laid the youth down at once under one of the trees. [JERUSALEM. And the water was consumed from the cruse, and she took up the youth.] And she went and sat on one side, and cast away the idol (or the strange worship), and removed from her son, as the distance of an arrow from the bow; for she said, I am not able to see the death of the child. And she sat over against her son, and lifted up her voice and wept. And the voice of the youth was heard before the Lord for the righteousness’ sake of Abraham; and the Angel of the Lord called to Hagar from the heavens, and said, What to thee, Hagar? Faint not, for the voice of the youth is heard before the Lord; neither will judgment be according to the evil which he will do, but according to the righteousness of Abraham is mercy upon him in the place where he is. Arise, support the child, and strengthen thine hand in him: for I have set him for a great people. And the Lord opened her eyes, and showed her a well of water, and she went and filled the cruse with water, and gave the youth to drink. And the Word of the Lord was the helper of the youth, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became a skilful master of the bow. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan, and took for a woman Adisha, but put her away. And his mother took for him Phatima to wife, from the land of Mizraim.

And it was at that time that Abimelek and Phikol, chief of his host, spake to Abraham, saying, The Word of the Lord is in thine aid in all whatsoever thou doest. And now, swear to me here, by the Word of the Lord, that thou wilt not be false with me, nor with my son, nor with the son of my son: according to the kindness which I have done with thee, thou shalt do with me, and with the land in which thou dwellest. And Abraham said to him, I swear. And Abraham remonstrated with Abimelek concerning the well of water of which the servants of Abimelek had deprived him. And Abimelek said, I knew not who did this thing; neither hast thou shown it to me; nor have I heard it from others, till to-day from thyself. And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave to Abimelek; and they both cut a covenant. And Abraham set seven lambs apart and separated them from the oxen. And Abimelek said to Abraham, What are these seven lambs which thou hast set apart? And he said, That thou mayest take the seven lambs from my hand, to be a witness for me that I have digged this well. Therefore he called that well the Well of the Seven Lambs; because there they two did swear. And they struck a covenant at the Well of the Seven Lambs. And Abimelek and Phikol the Chief of his host arose and returned to the land of the Philistaee. And he planted a garden, (lit., “a paradise,”) at the Well of the Seven Lambs, and prepared in the midst of it food and drink for them who passed by and who returned; and he preached to them there, Confess ye, and believe in the Name of the Word of the Lord, the everlasting God.

[JERUSALEM. And Abraham planted a paradise in Beer Sheba, and prepared in the midst of it food and drink for those who arrived at the border; and they ate and drank, and sought to give him the price of what they had eaten and drunk, but he willed not to receive it from them; but our father Abraham discoursed to them of that which he had said, that the world was by His word. Pray before your Father who is in the heavens, from whose bounty ye have eaten and drunk. And they stirred not from their place until the time when he had made them proselytes, and had taught them the way everlasting. And Abraham praised and prayed there in the name of the word of the Lord, the Elohim of Eternity.]

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.12.2-4 (T)