Week 35

• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 35:1-29
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 43:1-7
• Apostolic (A): Revelation 21:1-27
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 31:3-25, Jubilees 31:26-32; Jubilees 32:1-15, Jubilees 32:16-34; Jubilees 33:1-23; Jubilees 34:1-9; Jubilees 35:1-27; Jubilees 36:1-24; Jubilees 37:1-25; Jubilees 38:1-24

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Genesis 28:19-22 (T)
• Psalms 105:8-15 (T)
• Genesis 35:16 LXX (T)
• Ruth 4:11 (T)
• 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 (T)
• Genesis 49:3-4 (T)
• Deuteronomy 22:30 (T)
• Leviticus 20:11 (T)
• Deuteronomy 27:20 (T)
• Romans 4:15 (T)
• Genesis 25:13-16; Genesis 26:34-35; Genesis 28:8-9 (T)
• 1 Chronicles 1:35-54 (T)
• Exodus 17:8-16 (T)
• Deuteronomy 25:17-19 (T)
• Isaiah 41:8 (T, H)
• Genesis 48:21-22 (ADD)
• Deuteronomy 14:23 (ADD)
• John 14:25-26 (ADD)
• Matthew 18:10-11; Acts 12:11-16; Hebrews 1:14 (ADD)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Testament of Benjamin 1:1-6 (T)
• Testament of Levi 4Q213B (ADD)
• The Words of Levi – 4Q213 Frag.1 Col. 2, Oxford Geniza Text Col. A + 1Q21, Col. B, & Col. D (T, ADD)
• Tobit 1:1-8 (ADD)
• 2 Esdras (4 Esdras) 14:36-48 (ADD)
• Sirach 30:1-13 (ADD)
• Genesis 34:1 – 35:7 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.21.3, 1.22.1, 2.1.1-2 (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)

Prophets Portion (P)

43:1 But now YHWH [Elohim]^(LXX) who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel, says: “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you. 3 For I am YHWH your Elohim, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life. 5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. 6 I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the land— 7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.’ ”

Apostolic Portion (A)

21:1 I saw a new heavens and a new land (cf. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13), for the first heaven and the first land have passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of the heavens from Elohim, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, Elohim’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and Elohim himself will be with them as their Elohim. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the first things have passed away.” 5 He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of Elohim are faithful and true.” 6 He said to me, “I am the Alef and the Tav, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his Elohim, and he will be my son. 8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving sinners,^(mss) abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from Elohim, 11 having the glory of Elohim. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 having a great and high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Emissaries of the Lamb. 15 He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 16 The city is square. Its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. 19 The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire; the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I saw no temple in it, for YHWH El Shaddai and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of Elohim illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations of the the saved^(mss) will walk in its light. The kings of the land bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 25 Its gates will in no way be shut by day, for there will be no night there, 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it [so that they may enter].^{(some mss)} 27 There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

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 31:3-25 And he went up on the new moon of the seventh month to Bethel. And he built an altar at the place where he had slept, and he set up a pillar there, and he sent word to his father Isaac to come to him to his slaughter, and to his mother Rebecca. 4. And Isaac said: “Let my son Jacob come, and let me see him before I die.” 5. And Jacob went to his father Isaac and to his mother Rebecca, to the house of his father Abraham, and he took two of his sons with him, Levi and Judah, and he came to his father Isaac and to his mother Rebecca. 6. And Rebecca came forth from the tower to the front of it to kiss Jacob and embrace him; for her spirit had revived when she heard: “Behold Jacob thy son hath come”; and she kissed him. 7. And she saw his two sons, and she recognized them, and said unto him: “Are these thy sons, my son?” and she embraced them and kissed them, and blessed them, saying: “In you will the seed of Abraham become illustrious, and ye will prove a blessing on the land.” 8. And Jacob went in to Isaac his father, to the chamber where he lay, and his two sons were with him, and he took the hand of his father, and stooping down he kissed him, and Isaac clung to the neck of Jacob his son, and wept upon his neck. 9. And the darkness left the eyes of Isaac, and he saw the two sons of Jacob, Levi and Judah, and he said: “Are these thy sons, my son? for they are like thee.” 10. And he said unto him that they were truly his sons: “And thou hast truly seen that they are truly my sons.” 11. And they came near to him, and he turned and kissed them and embraced them both together. 12. And the spirit of prophecy came down into his mouth, and he took Levi by his right hand and Judah by his left. 13. And he turned to Levi first, and began to bless him first, and said unto him:, ‘May the Elohim of all, the very Lord of all the ages, bless thee and thy children throughout all the ages. 14. And may the Lord give to thee and to thy seed †greatness and great glory†, and cause thee and thy seed, from among all flesh, to approach Him to serve in His sanctuary as the angels of the face and as the holy ones. (Even) as they, will the seed of thy sons be for glory and greatness and holiness, and may He make them great unto all the ages. 15. And they will be princes and judges, and chiefs of all the seed of the sons of Jacob; They will speak the word of the Lord in righteousness, And they will judge all His judgments in righteousness. And they will declare My ways to Jacob And My paths to Israel. The blessing of the Lord will be given in their mouths To bless all the seed of the beloved. 16. Thy mother hath called thy name Levi, And justly hath she called thy name; Thou wilt be joined to the Lord And be the companion of all the sons of Jacob; Let His table be thine, And do thou and thy sons eat thereof; And may thy table be full unto all generations, And thy food fail not unto all the ages. 17. And let all who hate thee fall down before thee, And let all thy adversaries be rooted out and perish; And blessed be he that blesseth thee, And cursed be every nation that curseth thee. 18. And to Judah he said: May the Lord give thee strength and power To tread down all that hate thee; A prince shalt thou be, thou and one of thy sons, over the sons of Jacob; May thy name and the name of thy sons go forth and traverse every land and region. Then will the Nations fear before thy face, And all the nations will quake [And all the peoples will quake]. 19. In thee will be the help of Jacob, And in thee be found the salvation of Israel. 20. And when thou sittest on the throne of the honour of thy righteousness, There will be great peace for all the seed of the sons of the beloved, And blessed will he be that blesseth thee; And all that hate thee and afflict thee and curse thee Will be rooted out and destroyed from the land and accursed.” 21. And turning he kissed him again and embraced him, and rejoiced greatly; for he had seen the sons of Jacob his son in very truth. 22. And he went forth from between his feet and fell down and worshipped him. And he blessed them. And (Jacob) rested there with Isaac his father that night, and they ate and drank with joy. 23. And he made the two sons of Jacob sleep, the one on his right hand and the other on his left and it was counted to him for righteousness. 24. And Jacob told his father everything during the night, how the Lord had shown him great mercy, and how He had prospered (him in) all his ways, and protected him from all evil. 25. And Isaac blessed the Elohim of his father Abraham, who had not withdrawn His mercy and His righteousness from the sons of His servant Isaac.

Jubilees 31:26-32 And in the morning Jacob told his father Isaac the vow which he had vowed to the Lord, and the vision which he had seen, and that he had built an altar, and that everything was ready for the slaughter to be made before the Lord as he had vowed, and that he had come to set him on a donkey. 27. And Isaac said unto Jacob his son: “I am not able to go with thee; for I am old, and not able to bear the way: go, my son, in peace; for I am one hundred and sixty-five years this day; I am no longer able to journey, set thy mother (on a donkey) and let her go with thee. 28. And I know, my son, that thou hast come on my account, and may this day be blessed on which thou hast seen me alive, and I also have seen thee, my son. 29. Mayest thou prosper and fulfil the vow which thou hast vowed, and put not off thy vow; for thou wilt be called to account as touching the vow; now therefore make haste to perform it, and may He be pleased who hath made all things, to whom thou hast vowed the vow.” 30. And he said to Rebecca: “Go with Jacob thy son”; and Rebecca went with Jacob her son, and Deborah with her, and they came to Bethel. 31. And Jacob remembered the prayer with which his father had blessed him and his two sons, Levi and Judah, and he rejoiced and blessed the Elohim of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac. 32. And he said: “Now I know that I have an eternal hope, and my sons also, before the Elohim of all;” and thus is it ordained concerning the two; and they record it as an eternal witness unto them on the heavenly tables how Isaac blessed them.

Jubilees 32:1-15 And he abode that night at Bethel, and Levi dreamed that they had ordained and made him the priest of the Most High Elohim, him and his sons for ever; and he awoke from his sleep and blessed the Lord. 2. And Jacob rose early in the morning, on the fourteenth of this month, and he gave a tithe of all that came with him, both of men and cattle, both of gold and every vessel and garment, yea, he gave tithes of all. 3. And in those days Rachel became pregnant with her son Benjamin. And Jacob counted his sons from him upwards and Levi fell to the portion of the Lord, and his father clothed him in the garments of the priesthood and filled his hands. 4. And on the fifteenth of this month, he brought to the altar fourteen oxen from amongst the cattle, and twenty-eight rams, and forty-nine sheep, and seven lambs, and twenty-one kids of the goats as a burnt offering on the altar of slaughter, well pleasing for a sweet savour before Elohim. 5. This was his offering, in consequence of the vow which he had vowed that he would give a tenth, with their fruit-offerings and their drink-offerings. 6. And when the fire had consumed it, he burnt incense on the fire over the fire, and for a thank offering two oxen and four rams and four sheep, four he-goats, and two sheep of a year old, and two kids of the goats; and thus he did daily for seven days. 7. And he and all his sons and his men were eating (this) with joy there during seven days and blessing and thanking the Lord, who had delivered him out of all his tribulation and had given him his vow. 8. And he tithed all the clean animals, and made a burnt slaughter, but the unclean animals he gave (not) to Levi his son, and he gave him all the souls of the men. 9. And Levi discharged the priestly office at Bethel before Jacob his father in preference to his ten brothers, and he was a priest there, and Jacob gave his vow: thus he tithed again the tithe to the Lord and sanctified it, and it became holy unto Him. 10. And for this reason it is ordained on the heavenly tables as a law for the tithing again the tithe to eat before the Lord from year to year, in the place where it is chosen that His name should dwell, and to this law there is no limit of days for ever. 11. This ordinance is written that it may be fulfilled from year to year in eating the second tithe before the Lord in the place where it hath been chosen, and nothing will remain over from it from this year to the year following. 12. For in its year will the seed be eaten till the days of the gathering of the seed of the year, and the wine till the days of the wine, and the oil till the days of its season. 13. And all that is left thereof and becometh old, let it be regarded as polluted: let it be burnt with fire, for it is unclean. 14. And thus let them eat it together in the sanctuary, and let them not suffer it to become old. 15. And all the tithes of the oxen and sheep will be holy unto the Lord, and will belong to His priests, which they will eat before Him from year to year; for thus is it ordained and engraven regarding the tithe on the heavenly tables.

Jubilees 32:16-34 And on the following night, on the twenty-second day of this month, Jacob resolved to build that place, and to surround the court with a wall, and to sanctify it and make it holy for ever, for himself and his children after him. 17. And the Lord appeared to him by night and blessed him and said unto him: “Thy name will not be called Jacob, but Israel will they name thy name.” 18. And He said unto him again: “I am the Lord who created the heavens and the land, and I will increase thee and multiply thee exceedingly, and kings will come forth from thee, and they will judge everywhere wherever the foot of the sons of men hath trodden. 19. And I will give to thy seed all the land which is under the heavens, and they will judge all the nations according to their desires, and after that they will get possession of the whole land and inherit it for ever.” 20. And He finished speaking with him, and He went up from him, and Jacob looked till He had ascended into the heavens. 21. And he saw in a vision of the night, and behold an angel descended from the heavens with seven tablets in his hands, and he gave them to Jacob, and he read them and knew all that was written therein which would befall him and his sons throughout all the ages. 22. And he showed him all that was written on the tablets, and said unto him: “Do not build this place, and do not make it an eternal sanctuary, and do not dwell here; for this is not the place. Go to the house of Abraham thy father and dwell with Isaac thy father until the day of the death of thy father. 23. For in Egypt thou wilt die in peace, and in this land thou wilt be buried with honour in the sepulchre of thy fathers, with Abraham and Isaac. 24. Fear not, for as thou hast seen and read it, thus will it all be; and do thou write down everything as thou hast seen and read.” 25. And Jacob said: “Lord, how can I remember all that I have read and seen?” And he said unto him: “I will bring all things to thy remembrance.” 26. And he went up from him, and he awoke from his sleep, and he remembered everything which he had read and seen, and he wrote down all the words which he had read and seen. 27. And he celebrated there yet another day, and he slaughtered thereon according to all that he slaughtered on the former days, and called its name †”Addition,”† for †this day was added,† and the former days he called “The Feast.” 28. And thus it was manifested that it should be, and it is written on the heavenly tables: wherefore it was revealed to him that he should celebrate it, and add it to the seven days of the feast. 29. And its name was called †”Addition,” † †because that† it was recorded amongst the days of the feast days, †according to† the number of the days of the year. 30. And in the night, on the twenty-third of this month, Deborah Rebecca’s nurse died, and they buried her beneath the city under the oak of the river, and he called the name of this place, “The river of Deborah,” and the oak, “The oak of the mourning of Deborah.” 31. And Rebecca went and returned to her house to his father Isaac, and Jacob sent by her hand rams and sheep and he-goats that she should prepare a meal for his father such as he desired. 32. And he went after his mother till he came to the land of Kabrâtân, and he dwelt there. 33. And Rachel bare a son in the night, and called his name “Son of my sorrow”; for she suffered in giving him birth: but his father called his name Benjamin, on the eleventh of the eighth month in the first of the sixth week of this [2143 A.M.] jubilee. 34. And Rachel died there and she was buried in the land of Ephrath, the same is Bethlehem, and Jacob built a pillar on the grave of Rachel, on the road above her grave.

Jubilees 33:1-23 And Jacob went and dwelt to the south of Magdaladra’ef. 4 And he went to his father Isaac, he and Leah his wife, on the new moon of the tenth month. 2. And Reuben saw Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, the concubine of his father, bathing in water in a secret place, and he loved her. 3. And he hid himself at night, and he entered the house of Bilhah [at night], and he found her sleeping alone on a bed in her house. 4. And he lay with her, and she awoke and saw, and behold Reuben was lying with her in the bed, and she uncovered the border of her covering and seized him, and cried out, and discovered that it was Reuben. 5. And she was ashamed because of him, and released her hand from him, and he fled. 6. And she lamented because of this thing exceedingly, and did not tell it to any one. 7. And when Jacob returned and sought her, she said unto him: “I am not clean for thee, for I have been defiled as regards thee; for Reuben hath defiled me, and hath lain with me in the night, and I was asleep, and did not discover until he uncovered my skirt and slept with me.” 8. And Jacob was exceedingly wroth with Reuben because he had lain with Bilhah, because he had uncovered his father’s skirt. 9. And Jacob did not approach her again because Reuben had defiled her. And as for any man who uncovereth his father’s skirt his deed is wicked exceedingly, for he is abominable before the Lord. 10. For this reason it is written and ordained on the heavenly tables that a man should not lie with his father’s wife, and should not uncover his father’s skirt, for this is unclean: they will surely die together, the man who lieth with his father’s wife and the woman also, for they have wrought uncleanness on the land. 11. And there will be nothing unclean before our Elohim in the nation which He hath chosen for Himself as a possession. 12. And again, it is written a second time: “Cursed he be who lieth with the wife of his father, for he hath uncovered his father’s shame”; and all the holy ones of the Lord said “So be it; so be it.” 13. And do thou, Moses, command the sons of Israel that they observe this word; for it (entaileth) a punishment of death; and it is unclean, and there is no atonement for ever to atone for the man who hath committed this, but he is to be put to death and slain, and stoned with stones, and rooted out from the midst of the people of our Elohim. 14. For to no man who doeth so in Israel is it permitted to remain alive a single day on the land, for he is abominable and unclean. 15. And let them not say: to Reuben was granted life and forgiveness after he had lain with his father’s concubine, and to her also though she had a husband, and her husband Jacob, his father, was still alive. 16. For until that time there had not been revealed the ordinance and judgment and law in its completeness for all, but in thy days (it hath been revealed) as a law of seasons and of days, and an everlasting law for the everlasting generations. 17. And for this law there is no consummation of days, and no atonement for it, but they must both be rooted out in the midst of the nation: on the day whereon they committed it they will slay them. 18. And do thou, Moses, write (it) down for Israel that they may observe it, and do according to these words, and not commit a sin unto death; for the Lord our Elohim is judge, who respecteth not persons and accepteth not gifts. 19. And tell them these words of the covenant, that they may hear and observe, and be on their guard with respect to them, and not be destroyed and rooted out of the land; for an uncleanness, and an abomination, and a contamination, and a pollution are all they who commit it on the land before our Elohim. 20. And there is no greater sin than the fornication which they commit on land; for Israel is a holy nation unto the Lord its Elohim, and a nation of inheritance, and a priestly and royal nation and for (His own) possession; and there will no such uncleanness appear in the midst of the holy nation. 21. And in the third year of this sixth week [2145 A.M.] Jacob and all his sons went and dwelt in the house of Abraham, near Isaac his father and Rebecca his mother. 22. And these were the names of the sons of Jacob: the first-born Reuben, Shimon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, the sons of Leah; and the sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Dan and Naphtali, and the sons of Zilpah, Gad and Asher; and Dinah, the daughter of Leah, the only daughter of Jacob. 23. And they came and bowed themselves to Isaac and Rebecca, and when they saw them they blessed Jacob and all his sons, and Isaac rejoiced exceedingly, for he saw the sons of Jacob, his younger son, and he blessed them.

Jubilees 34:1-9 1. And in the sixth year of this week of this forty-fourth jubilee [2148 A.M.] Jacob sent his sons to pasture their sheep, and his servants with them to the pastures of Shechem. 2. And the seven kings of the Amorites assembled themselves together against them, to slay them, hiding themselves under the trees, and to take their cattle as a prey. 3. And Jacob and Levi and Judah and Joseph were in the house with Isaac their father; for his spirit was sorrowful, and they could not leave him: and Benjamin was the youngest, and for this reason remained with his father. 4. And there came the king[s] of Taphu and the king[s] of ‘Aresa, and the king[s] of Seragan, and the king[s] of Selo, and the king[s] of Ga’as, and the king of Bethoron, and the king of Ma’anisakir, and all those who dwell in these mountains (and) who dwell in the woods in the land of Canaan. 5. And they announced this to Jacob saying: ‘Behold, the kings of the Amorites have surrounded thy sons, and plundered their herds.’ 6. And he arose from his house, he and his three sons and all the servants of his father, and his own servants, and he went against them with six thousand men, who carried swords. 7. And he slew them in the pastures of Shechem, and pursued those who fled, and he slew them with the edge of the sword, and he slew ‘Aresa and Taphu and Saregan and Selo and ‘Amani- sakir and Ga[ga]’as, and he recovered his herds. 8. And he prevailed over them, and imposed tribute on them that they should pay him tribute, five fruit products of their land, and he built Robel and Tamnatares. 9. And he returned in peace, and made peace with them, and they became his servants, until the day that he and his sons went down into Egypt.

Jubilees 35:1-27 And in the first year of the first week of the forty-fifth jubilee [2157 A.M.] Rebecca called Jacob, her son, and commanded him regarding his father and regarding his brother, that he should honour them all the days of his life. 2. And Jacob said: “I will do everything as thou hast commanded me; for this thing will be honour and greatness to me, and righteousness before the Lord, that I should honour them. 3. And thou too, mother, knowest from the time I was born until this day, all my deeds and all that is in my heart, that I always think good concerning all. 4. And how should I not do this thing which thou hast commanded me, that I should honour my father and my brother! 5. Tell me, mother, what perversity hast thou seen in me and I will turn away from it, and mercy will be upon me.” 6. And she said unto him: “My son, I have not seen in thee all my days any perverse but (only) upright deeds. And yet I will tell thee the truth, my son: I will die this, year, and I will not survive this year in my life; for I have seen in a dream the day of my death, that I should not live beyond a hundred and fifty-five years: and behold I have completed all the days of my life which I am to live.” 7. And Jacob laughed at the words of his mother, because his mother had said unto him that she should die; and she was sitting opposite to him in possession of her strength, and she was not infirm in her strength; for she went in and out and saw, and her teeth were strong, and no ailment had touched her all the days of her life. 8. And Jacob said unto her: “Blessed am I, mother, if my days approach the days of thy life, and my strength remain with me thus as thy strength: and thou wilt not die, for thou art jesting idly with me regarding thy death.” 9. And she went in to Isaac and said unto him: “One petition I make unto thee: make Esau swear that he will not injure Jacob, nor pursue him with enmity; for thou knowest Esau’s thoughts that they are perverse from his youth, and there is no goodness in him; for he desireth after thy death to kill him. 10. And thou knowest all that he hath done since the day Jacob his brother went to Haran until this day; how he hath forsaken us with his whole heart, and hath done evil to us; thy flocks he hath taken to himself, and carried off all thy possessions from before thy face. 11. And when we implored and besought him for what was our own, he did as a man who was taking pity on us. 12. And he is bitter against thee because thou didst bless Jacob thy perfect and upright son; for there is no evil but only goodness in him, and since he came from Haran unto this day he hath not robbed us of aught, for he bringeth us everything in its season always, and rejoiceth with all his heart when we take at his hands, and he blesseth us, and hath not parted from us since he came from Haran until this day, and he remaineth with us continually at home honouring us.” 13. And Isaac said unto her: “I, too, know and see the deeds of Jacob who is with us, how that with all his heart he honoureth us; but I loved Esau formerly more than Jacob, because he was the first-born; but now I love Jacob more than Esau, for he hath done manifold evil deeds, and there is no righteousness in him, for all his ways are unrighteousness and violence, [and there is no righteousness around him]. 14. And now my heart is troubled because of all his deeds, and neither he nor his seed is to be saved, for they are those who will be destroyed from the land, and who will be rooted out from under the heavens, for he hath forsaken the Elohim of Abraham and gone after his wives and after their uncleanness and after their error, he and his children. 15. And thou dost bid me make him swear that he will not slay Jacob, his brother; even if he swear he will not abide by his oath, and he will not do good but evil only. 16. But if he desireth to slay Jacob, his brother, into Jacob’s hands will he be given, and he will not escape from his hands, [for he will descend into his hands.] 17. And fear thou not on account of Jacob; for the guardian of Jacob is great and powerful and honoured, and praised more than the guardian of Esau.” 18. And Rebecca sent and called Esau, and he came to her, and she said unto him: “I have a petition, my son, to make unto thee, and do thou promise to do it, my son.” 19. And he said: “I will do everything that thou sayest unto me, and I will not refuse thy petition.” 20. And she said unto him: “I ask you that the day I die, thou wilt take me in and bury me near Sarah, thy father’s mother, and that thou and Jacob will love each other, and that neither will desire evil against the other, but mutual love only, and (so) ye will prosper, my sons, and be honoured in the midst of the land, and no enemy will rejoice over you, and ye will be a blessing and a mercy in the eyes of all those that love you.” 21. And he said: “I will do all that thou hast told me, and I will bury thee on the day thou diest near Sarah, my father’s mother, as thou hast desired that her bones may be near thy bones. 22. And Jacob, my brother, also, I will love above all flesh; for I have not a brother in all the land but him only: and this is no great merit for me if I love him; for he is my brother, and we were sown together in thy body, and together came we forth from thy womb, and if I do not love my brother, whom will I love? 23. And I, myself, beg thee to exhort Jacob concerning me and concerning my sons, for I know that he will assuredly be king over me and my sons, for on the day my father blessed him he made him the higher and me the lower. 24. And I swear unto thee that I will love him, and not desire evil against him all the days of my life but good only.” And he sware unto her regarding all this matter. 25. And she called Jacob before the eyes of Esau, and gave him commandment according to the words which she had spoken to Esau. 26. And he said: “I will do thy pleasure; believe me that no evil will proceed from me or from my sons against Esau, and I will be first in naught save in love only.” 27. And they ate and drank, she and her sons that night, and she died, three jubilees and one week and one year old, on that night, and her two sons, Esau and Jacob, buried her in the double cave near Sarah, their father’s mother.

Jubilees 36:1-24 And in the sixth year of this week [2162 A.M.] Isaac called his two sons, Esau and Jacob, and they came to him, and he said unto them: “My sons, I am going the way of my fathers, to the eternal house where my fathers are. 2. Wherefore bury me near Abraham my father, in the double cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, where Abraham purchased a sepulchre to bury in; in the sepulchre which I dug for myself, there bury me. 3. And this I command you, my sons, that ye practise righteousness and uprightness on the land, so that the Lord may bring upon you all that the Lord said that he would do to Abraham and to his seed. 4. And love one another, my sons, your brothers as a man who loveth his own soul, and let each seek in what he may benefit his brother, and act together on the land; and let them love each other as their own souls. 5. And concerning the question of idols, I command and admonish you to reject them and hate them, and love them not; for they are full of deception for those that worship them and for those that bow down to them. 6. Remember ye, my sons, the Lord Elohim of Abraham your father, and how I too worshipped Him and served Him in righteousness and in joy, that He might multiply you and increase your seed as the stars of the heavens in multitude, and establish you on the land as the plant of righteousness which will not be rooted out unto all the generations for ever. 7. And now I will make you swear a great oath–for there is no oath which is greater than it by the name glorious and honoured and great and splendid and wonderful and mighty, which created the heavens and the land and all things together–that ye will fear Him and worship Him. 8. And that each will love his brother with affection and righteousness, and that neither will desire evil against his brother from henceforth for ever all the days of your life, so that ye may prosper in all your deeds and not be destroyed. 9. And if either of you deviseth evil against his brother, know that from henceforth every one that deviseth evil against his brother will fall into his hand, and will be rooted out of the land of the living, and his seed will be destroyed from under the heavens. 10. But on the day of turbulence and execration and indignation and anger, with flaming devouring fire as He burnt Sodom, so likewise will He burn his land and his city and all that is his, and he will be blotted out of the book of the discipline of the sons of men, and not be recorded in the book of life, but in that which is appointed to destruction, and he will depart into eternal execration; so that their condemnation may be always renewed in hate and in execration and in wrath and in torment and in indignation and in plagues and in disease for ever. 11. I say and testify to you, my sons, according to the judgment which will come upon the man who wisheth to injure his brother.” 12. And he divided all his possessions between the two on that day, and he gave the larger portion to him that was the first-born, and the tower and all that was about it, and all that Abraham possessed at the Well of the Oath. 13. And he said, “This larger portion I will give to the first-born.” 14. And Esau said, “I have sold to Jacob and given my birthright to Jacob; to him let it be given, and I have not a single word to say regarding it, for it is his.” 15. And Isaac said, “May a blessing rest upon you, my sons, and upon your seed this day, for ye have given me rest, and my heart is not pained concerning the birthright, lest thou shouldest work wickedness on account of it. 16. May the Most High Elohim bless the man that worketh righteousness, him and his seed for ever.” 17. And he ended commanding them and blessing them, and they ate and drank together before him, and he rejoiced because there was one mind between them, and they went forth from him and rested that day and slept. 18. And Isaac slept on his bed that day rejoicing; and he slept the eternal sleep, and died one hundred and eighty years old. He completed twenty-five weeks and five years; and his two sons Esau and Jacob buried him. 19. And Esau went to the land of Edom, to the mountains of Seir, and dwelt there. 20. And Jacob dwelt in the mountains of Hebron, in the tower of the land of the sojournings of his father Abraham, and he worshipped the Lord with all his heart and according to the visible commands according as He had divided the days of his generations. 21. And Leah his wife died in the fourth year of the second week of the forty-fifth jubilee [2167 A.M.], and he buried her in the double cave near Rebecca his mother, to the left of the grave of Sarah, his father’s mother. 22. And all her sons and his sons came to mourn over Leah his wife with him, and to comfort him regarding her, for he was lamenting her. 23. For he loved her exceedingly after Rachel her sister died; for she was perfect and upright in all her ways and honoured Jacob, and all the days that she lived with him he did not hear from her mouth a harsh word, for she was gentle and peaceable and upright and honourable. 24. And he remembered all her deeds which she had done during her life, and he lamented her exceedingly; for he loved her with all his heart and with all his soul.

Jubilees 37:1-25 And on the day that Isaac the father of Jacob and Esau died [2162 A.M.], the sons of Esau heard that Isaac had given the portion of the elder to his younger son Jacob and they were very angry. 2. And they strove with their father, saying: “Why hath thy father given Jacob the portion of the elder and passed over thee, although thou art the elder and Jacob the younger?” 3. And he said unto them “Because I sold my birthright to Jacob for a small mess of lentils; and on the day my father sent me to hunt and catch and bring him something that he should eat and bless me, he came with guile and brought my father food and drink, and my father blessed him and put me under his hand. 4. And now our father hath caused us to swear, me and him, that we will not mutually devise evil, either against his brother, and that we will continue in love and in peace each with his brother and not make our ways corrupt.” 5. And they said unto him, “We will not hearken unto thee to make peace with him; for our strength is greater than his strength, and we are more powerful than he; we will go against him and slay him, and destroy him and his sons. And if thou wilt not go with us, we will do hurt to thee also. 6. And now hearken unto us: Let us send to Aram and Philistia and Moab and Ammon, and let us choose for ourselves chosen men who are ardent for battle, and let us go against him and do battle with him, and let us exterminate him from the land before he groweth strong.” 7. And their father said unto them, “Do not go and do not make war with him lest ye fall before him.” 8. And they said unto him, “This too, is exactly thy mode of action from thy youth until this day, and thou art putting thy neck under his yoke. We will not hearken to these words.” 9. And they sent to Aram, and to ‘Adurâm to the friend of their father, and they hired along with them one thousand fighting men, chosen men of war. 10. And there came to them from Moab and from the sons of Ammon, those who were hired, one thousand chosen men, and from Philistia, one thousand chosen men of war, and from Edom and from the Horites one thousand chosen fighting men, and from the Kittim mighty men of war. 11. And they said unto their father: “Go forth with them and lead them, else we will slay thee.” 12. And he was filled with wrath and indignation on seeing that his sons were forcing him to go before (them) to lead them against Jacob his brother. 13. But afterward he remembered all the evil which lay hidden in his heart against Jacob his brother; and he remembered not the oath which he had sworn to his father and to his mother that he would devise no evil all his days against Jacob his brother. 14. And notwithstanding all this, Jacob knew not that they were coming against him to battle, and he was mourning for Leah, his wife, until they approached very near to the tower with four thousand warriors and chosen men of war. 15. And the men of Hebron sent to him saying, “Behold thy brother hath come against thee, to fight thee, with four thousand girt with the sword, and they carry shields and weapons”; for they loved Jacob more than Esau. So they told him; for Jacob was a more liberal and merciful man than Esau. 16. But Jacob would not believe until they came very near to the tower. 17. And he closed the gates of the tower; and he stood on the battlements and spake to his brother Esau and said, “Noble is the comfort wherewith thou hast come to comfort me for my wife who hath died. Is this the oath that thou didst swear to thy father and again to thy mother before they died? Thou hast broken the oath, and on the moment that thou didst swear to thy father wast thou condemned.” 18. And then Esau answered and said unto him, “Neither the sons of men nor the beasts of the land have any oath of righteousness which in swearing they have sworn (an oath valid) for ever; but every day they devise evil one against another, and how each may slay his adversary and foe. 19. And thou dost hate me and my children for ever. And there is no observing the tie of brotherhood with thee. 20. Hear these words which I declare unto thee, If the boar can change its skin and make its bristles as soft as wool, Or if it can cause horns to sprout forth on its head like the horns of a stag or of a sheep, Then will I observe the tie of brotherhood with thee. [And if the breasts separated themselves from their mother; for thou hast not been a brother to me.] 21. And if the wolves make peace with the lambs so as not to devour or do them violence, And if their hearts are towards them for good, Then there will be peace in my heart towards thee. 22. And if the lion becometh the friend of the ox and maketh peace with him, And if he is bound under one yoke with him and plougheth with him, Then will I make peace with thee. 23. And when the raven becometh white as the râzâ, Then know that I have loved thee And will make peace with thee. Thou shalt be rooted out, And thy sons will be rooted out, And there will be no peace for thee.” 24. And when Jacob saw that he was (so) evilly disposed towards him with his heart, and with all his soul as to slay him, and that he had come springing like the wild boar which cometh upon the spear that pierceth and killeth it, and recoileth not from it; 25. Then he spake to his own and to his servants that they should attack him and all his companions.

Jubilees 38:1-24 And after that Judah spake to Jacob, his father, and said unto him: “Bend thy bow, father, and send forth thy arrows and cast down the adversary and slay the enemy; and mayest thou have the power, for we will not slay thy brother, for he is such as thou, and he is like thee: let us give him (this) honour.” 2. Then Jacob bent his bow and sent forth the arrow and struck Esau, his brother, (on his right breast) and slew him. 3. And again he sent forth an arrow and struck ‘Adôrân the Aramaean, on the left breast, and drove him backward and slew him. 4. And then went forth the sons of Jacob, they and their servants, dividing themselves into companies on the four sides of the tower. 5. And Judah went forth in front, and Naphtali and Gad with him and fifty servants with him on the south side of the tower, and they slew all they found before them, and not one individual of them escaped. 6. And Levi and Dan and Asher went forth on the east side of the tower, and fifty (men) with them, and they slew the fighting men of Moab and Ammon. 7. And Reuben and Issachar and Zebulon went forth on the north side of the tower, and fifty men with them, and they slew the fighting men of the Philistines. 8. And Shimon and Benjamin and Enoch, Reuben’s son, went forth on the west side of the tower, and fifty (men) with them, and they slew of Edom and of the Horites four hundred men, stout warriors; and six hundred fled, and four of the sons of Esau fled with them, and left their father lying slain, as he had fallen on the hill which is in ‘Adûrâm. 9. And the sons of Jacob pursued after them to the mountains of Seir. And Jacob buried his brother on the hill which is in ‘Adûrâm, and he returned to his house. 10. And the sons of Jacob pressed hard upon the sons of Esau in the mountains of Seir, and bowed their necks so that they became servants of the sons of Jacob. 11. And they sent to their father (to inquire) whether they should make peace with them or slay them. 12. And Jacob sent word to his sons that they should make peace, and they made peace with them, and placed the yoke of servitude upon them, so that they paid tribute to Jacob and to his sons always. 13. And they continued to pay tribute to Jacob until the day that he went down into Egypt. 14. And the sons of Edom have not got quit of the yoke of servitude which the twelve sons of Jacob had imposed on them until this day. 15. And these are the kings that reigned in Edom before there reigned any king over the sons of Israel [until this day] in the land of Edom. 16. And Bâlâq, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Danâbâ. 17. And Bâlâq died, and Jobab, the son of Zârâ of Bôsêr, reigned in his stead. 18. And Jobab died, and ‘Asâm, of the land of Têmân, reigned in his stead. 19. And ‘Asâm died, and ‘Adâth, the son of Barad, 6 who slew Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avith. 20. And ‘Adâth died, and Salman, from ‘Amâsêqâ, reigned in his stead. 21. And Salman died, and Shaul of Râ’abôth (by the) river, reigned in his stead. 22. And Shaul died, and Ba’êlûnân, the son of Achbor, reigned in his stead. 23. And Ba’êlûnân, the son of Achbor, died, and ‘Adâth reigned in his stead, and the name of his wife was Maiṭabîth, the daughter of Mâṭarat, the daughter of Mêtabêdzâ’ab. 24. These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom.

Related Scriptures

28:9 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If Elohim will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and YHWH will be my Elohim, 22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be Elohim’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”

105:8 He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, 9 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac, 10 and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance,” 12 when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and sojourners in it. 13 They went about from nation to nation, from one reign to another people. 14 He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes, 15 “Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”

The Septuagint (from the Latin: septuāgintā literally “seventy”; often abbreviated as 70 in Roman numerals, i.e., LXX) is the earliest extant Koine Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures and was in wide use by the time of Yeshua and his disciples because most Jews could no longer read Hebrew. For this reason it is frequently quoted in the writings of the Apostles. According to the Letter of Aristeas that the Septuagint was translated at the request of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–247 B.C.E) by 70 Jewish scholars or, according to later tradition, 72, with six scholars from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, who independently produced identical translations. The miraculous character of the Aristeas legend indicates the esteem in which the translation was held in the ancient Jewish diaspora and, later, among followers of Yeshua.

35:16 And Jacob departed from Beth-el, and he pitched his tent beyond the tower of Gader. And it came to pass when he approached Chabratha, to come into Ephrath, Rachel bore. And in the giving birth she suffered birth pangs.

4:11 All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May YHWH make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which both built the house of Israel; and treat you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem…”

5:1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be listed according to the birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and from him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s)

49:3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power. 4 Boiling over like water, you will not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

22:30 A man will not take his father’s wife, and will not uncover his father’s skirt.

20:11 The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them will surely be put to death. Their blood will be upon themselves.

27:20 Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.

4:15 For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

Genesis 25:13-16; Genesis 26:34-35; Genesis 28:8-9 (T)

Genesis 25:13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations.

Genesis 28:34 When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a bitterness of spirit to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 28:8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father. 9 So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

1:35 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Qorach. 36 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek. 37 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 38 The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. 39 The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister. 40 The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. 41 The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 42 The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 43 Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the sons of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 44 Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 45 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 46 Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith. 47 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 48 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place. 49 Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 50 Baal Hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pai: and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 51 Then Hadad died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth, 52 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 53 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 54 chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.

17:8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out to fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with Elohim’s rod in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset. 13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 YHWH said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.” 15 Moses built an altar, and called its name “YHWH our Banner”. 16 He said, “Yah has sworn: ‘YHWH will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’ ”

25:17 Remember what Amalek did to you by the way as you came out of Egypt; 18 how he met you by the way, and struck the rearmost of you, all who were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he didn’t fear Elohim. 19 Therefore it will be, when YHWH your Elohim has given you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you will blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. You will not forget.

41:8 “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend, 9 You whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the land, and called from its corners, and said to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away.’

14:23 You will eat before YHWH your Elohim, in the place which he chooses to cause his name to dwell, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear YHWH your Elohim always.

14:25 I have said these things to you while still living with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

Matthew 18:10 See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in the heavens their angels always see the face of my Father who is in the heavens. 11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.

Acts 12:11-16 When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Miriam, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

Hebrews 1:13-14 But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?” 14 Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Additional Readings​

Though many parts of the popular collections of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs contain interpolated Christian idea added by later copyists, these testaments were originally Jewish works composed during the same period as the Dead Sea Scrolls. They are preserved only in Greek, but most scholars now agree that the testaments were modeled after Aramaic or Hebrew originals. This fact is particularly clear in the case of the Testament of Levi. Although the Greek Testament of Levi was not found at Qumran, scholars did discover portions of the present work, an Aramaic composition that seems to have influenced it.

1:1 The copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to observe, after he had lived a hundred and twenty-five years. 2 And he kissed them, and said: As Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so also was I to Jacob. 3 And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had no milk; therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid. 4 For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting twelve days, and she conceived and bare me. 5 For my father loved Rachel dearly, and prayed that he might see two sons born from her. 6 Therefore was I called Benjamin, that is, a son of days.

You will note some abbreviations, brackets, and symbols used in the following reading of the Dead Sea Scrolls translation:

• [ ] Square brackets surround lost areas in the scroll due to various types of damage. Words so enclosed are reconstructed and do not actually appear in the scroll. Square-bracketed portions may be simple guesses, calculated probabilities, or virtually certain: broken quotations filled out, for example, or wording that overlaps with another scroll.
• < > Angle brackets indicate errors in the original manuscript and a possible solution.
• ( ) Parentheses enclose various types of helpful information.
• { } Words that have been erased but are of interest are placed between curly brackets.
• “Q” (Qumran) numbers indicate the number of the cave the scroll was found and the manuscript number.
• Col. indicates the column number of the fragment or group of fragments. In the case of the more complete manuscripts, numbers refer to columns (e.g. 1QS and 1QH).
• An x in brackets indicates an unknown number.

Although the Greek Testament of Levi was not found at Qumran, scholars did discover portions of the present work, an Aramaic composition that seems to have influenced it.

4Q213 Frag. 1 Col. 2 …Then I went on […] to my father Jacob, and when […] from Abel-Main. Then […where] I laid down. And I remained […] Then I was shown a vision […] in the appearance of a vision, and I saw heav[en]… and a mountain] under me so high it reached [the heavens[n… and they opened] for me the gates of the heavens and an angel […] Mt. Athos MS And he said to me: Levi, to you and to your descendants the priesthood is given, to serve the Most High in the midst of the land and to atone for the sins of th eland. Then he gave the blessings of the priesthood… Oxford Geniza Text Col. A + 1Q21 …So we went to my father Isaac, and he blessed me. Then when Jacob my father was tithing everything he had in accordance with his vow, […] I ranked first, at the head of […]; and to me, of all his sons, he gave the fist of a ti[the] to Elohim, and he dressed me in priestly vestments, and officially appointed me as priest to Elohim Eternal. I offered all his slaughters and blessed my father for life and also my brothers. Then all of them blessed me, and my father too blessed me. When I finished Col. B offering the slaughters in Bethel, we left Bethel and lived in our great-grandfather Abraham’s palace with Isaac our grandfather. When Isaac our grandfather saw us all, he greeted us joyfully. When he recognized that I had become priest to Elohim Most High, the Lord of Heaven, he began to teach me authoritatively the priestly way of life. He said to me, Carefully avoid all ritual impurity and every kind of sin. Your way of life is to be more strict than all other humans. So now, my son, i will show you the proper way for you to live, not withholding from you any thing you need to know about the priestly way of life. First, carefully avoid, my son, all impure lewdness and every kind of improper sexual act. You must marry a woman from my clan, so as not to defile your seed with foreign women, because you are a holy seed, and holy is your seed as the holy temple, and because you are considered a holy priest to all the seed of Abraham. You are close to Elohim and close to all his holy angels. So keep your flesh clean from every impurity of any man. Col. D Now when four weeks of years in my life had passed, when I was twenty-eight, I took a wife from the stock of my great-grandfather Abraham, Milkah, daughter of Bathuel, the son of Laban, my mother’s brother…When I was en, I was brought into the land of Canaan, and I was eigtheen when I killed Shechem and eliminated those who commit crimes. I was nineteen years old when I became priest, and I was twenty-eight when I took a wife for myself.

The above excerpt is from Wise, Michael Owen, et al. The Dead Sea Scrolls: a New Translation. HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.

Numerous small fragments representing the Aramaic Testament of Levi from Cave 4 all date to the mid-first century B.C. Part of the Testament of Levi involves Levi being taken to the heavens and promised the priesthood forever, and then seven angels physically give him the insignia of the priesthood (as described in Exodus). This part parallels the beginning and end of a vision in the Aramaic Levi Document, whence the body of the vision is now lost; and is thought to preserve that part of the text.

[The seven departed from me] and I woke up from my sleep. Then [I said, ‘This is a vision and I am so amazed that I should have any vision.’ And] I [concealed] this also in my heart [and disclosed it] to no man. And we went to my father, Isaac, and he too blessed me thus. Then Jacob, my father, tithed all that he had in conformity with his vow and I was the first at the head [of the priesthood] and to me, one of his sons, he gave a gift … to Elohim, and he clothed me with the garment of the priesthood and he ordained me, and I became a priest of the everlasting Elohim …

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

1:1 The book of the words of Tobit, the son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asiel, of the tribe of Naphtali; 2 who in the days of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was carried away captive out of Thisbe, which is on the right hand of Kedesh Naphtali in Galilee above Asher. 3 I, Tobit walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I did many alms deeds to my kindred and my nation, who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. 4 When I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was yet young, all the tribe of Naphtali my father fell away from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should slaughter there, and the temple of the habitation of the Most High was hallowed and built therein for all ages. 5 All the tribes which fell away together slaughtered to the heifer Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my father. 6 I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it has been ordained to all Israel by an everlasting decree, having the first fruits and the tenths of my increase, and that which was first shorn; and I gave them at the altar to the priests the sons of Aaron. 7 I gave a tenth part of all my increase to the sons of Levi, who ministered at Jerusalem. A second tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it each year at Jerusalem. 8 A third tenth I gave to them to whom it was appropriate, as Deborah my father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father.

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.

14:36 Let no man therefore come to me now, nor seek after me these forty days. 37 So I took the five men, as he commanded me, and we went forth into the field, and remained there. 38 And it came to pass on the next day that, behold, a voice called me, saying, Esdras, open your mouth, and drink what I give you to drink. 39 Then opened I my mouth, and, behold, there was reached to me a full cup, which was full as it were with water, but the color of it was like fire. 40 And I took it, and drank: and when I had drunk of it, my heart uttered understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast, for my spirit retained its memory: 41 and my mouth was opened, and shut no more. 42 The Most High gave understanding to the five men, and they wrote by course the things that were told them, in characters which they knew not, and they sat forty days: now they wrote in the day-time, and at night they ate bread. 43 As for me, I spoke in the day, and by night I held not my tongue. 44 So in forty days were written fourscore and fourteen books. 45 And it came to pass, when the forty days were fulfilled, that the Most High spoke to me, saying, The first that you have written publish openly, and let the worthy and unworthy read it: 46 but guard the seventy last, that you may deliver them to such as be wise among your people: 47 for in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge. 48 And I did so.

Sirach 30:1-13 (ADD)

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

30:1 He who loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him, that he may have joy from him in the end. 2 He who chastises his son will have profit from him, and will brag about him among his acquaintances. 3 He who teaches his son will provoke his enemy to zeal. Before friends, he will rejoice in him. 4 His father dies, and is as though he had not died; for he has left one behind him like himself. 5 In his life, he saw his son and rejoiced. When he died, it was without regret. 6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one to repay kindness to his friends. 7 He who makes too much of his son will bind up his wounds. His heart will be troubled at every cry. 8 An unbroken horse becomes stubborn. An unrestrained son becomes headstrong. 9 Pamper your child, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will grieve you. 10 Don’t laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him, and you gnash your teeth in the end. 11 Give him no liberty in his youth, and don’t ignore his follies.* 12 †Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he become stubborn, and be disobedient to you, and there be sorrow to your soul.‡ 13 Chastise your son, and give him work, lest his shameless behavior be an offense to you.

1.21.3 And when he was gone thence, and was come over against Ephrata, he there buried Rachel, who died in child-bed: she was the only one of Jacob’s kindred that had not the honor of burial at Hebron. And when he had mourned for her a great while, he called the son that was born of her Benjamin, because of the sorrow the mother had with him. These are all the sons of Jacob, twelve males and one female.–Of them eight were legitimate,–viz. six of Lea, and two of Rachel; and four were of the handmaids, two of each; all whose names have been set down already.

1.22.1 From thence Jacob came to Hebron, a city situate among the Canaanites; and there it was that Isaac lived: and so they lived together for a little while; for as to Rebeka, Jacob did not find her alive. Isaac also died not long after the coming of his son; and was buried by his sons, with his wife, in Hebron, where they had a monument belonging to them from their forefathers. Now Isaac was a man who was beloved of Elohim, and was vouchsafed great instances of providence by Elohim, after Abraham his father, and lived to be exceeding old; for when he had lived virtuously one hundred and eighty-five years, he then died.

2.1.1 After the death of Isaac, his sons divided their habitations respectively; nor did they retain what they had before; but Esau departed from the city of Hebron, and left it to his brother, and dwelt in Seir, and ruled over Idumea. He called the country by that name from himself, for he was named Adom; which appellation he got on the following occasion:—One day returning from the toil of hunting very hungry, [it was when he was a child in age,] he lighted on his brother when he was getting ready lentile-pottage for his dinner, which was of a very red color; on which account he the more earnestly longed for it, and desired him to give him some of it to eat: but he made advantage of his brother’s hunger, and forced him to resign up to him his birthright; and he, being pinched with famine, resigned it up to him, under an oath. Whence it came, that, on account of the redness of this pottage, he was, in way of jest, by his contemporaries, called Adom, for the Hebrews call what is red Adom; and this was the name given to the country; but the Greeks gave it a more agreeable pronunciation, and named it Idumea. 2. He became the father of five sons; of whom Jaus, and Jalomus, and Coreus, were by one wife, whose name was Alibama; but of the rest, Aliphaz was born to him by Ada, and Raguel by Basemmath: and these were the sons of Esau. Aliphaz had five legitimate sons; Theman, Omer, Saphus, Gotham, and Kanaz; for Amalek was not legitimate, but by a concubine, whose name was Thamna. These dwelt in that part of Idumea which is called Gebalitis, and that denominated from Amalek, Amalekitis; for Idumea was a large country, and did then preserve the name of the whole, while in its several parts it kept the names of its peculiar inhabitants.