• Torah (T): Shemot (Exodus) 34:27 – 36:38
• Prophets (P): Jeremiah 31:31-40
• Apostolic (A): 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
• Additional Portion (ADD): Jubilees 50:1-13

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 9:7-21 (T)
• 1 Kings 19:8-9; Luke 4:1-2 (T)
• Psalms 75:10; 89:17; 92:10 (T)
• Deuteronomy 33:17 (T)
• 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (T)
• 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (T)
• Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-10; Luke 9:28-36 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 11:1-15 (T)
• Exodus 31:12-17 (T)
• Exodus 16:22-30 (T)
• Numbers 15:32-36 (T)
• 1 Kings 17:8-12 (T)
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (T)
• Hebrews 8:6-13; 10:11-18 (P)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Enoch 33:1-4 (P)
• Baruch (Letter of Jeremiah) 6:1-58 (A)
• Exodus 34:27 – 36:38 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.6.1 (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)

34:27 YHWH said to Moses, “Write these words; for in accordance with these words I have cut a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 He was there with YHWH forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, ten of the words. 29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mountain, Moses didn't know that the skin of his face [was horned]^(MTT) by reason of his speaking with him. 30 When Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face [was horned];^(MTT) and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he gave them all the commandments that YHWH had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses was done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before YHWH to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spoke to the sons of Israel that which he was commanded. 35 The sons of Israel saw Moses' face, that the skin of Moses' face [was horned];^(MTT) so Moses put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

35:1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which YHWH has commanded, that you should do them. 2 ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to YHWH: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. 3 You shall burn no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.' ” 4 Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which YHWH commanded, saying, 5 ‘Take from among you an offering to YHWH. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as YHWH's offering: gold, silver, bronze, 6 blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, 7 rams' skins dyed red, skins of blue, shittim wood, 8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate. 10 Let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that YHWH has commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12 the ark, and its poles, the lid, the veil of the screen; 13 the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the bread of the presence; 14 the lampstand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords; 19 the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to be adorned.' ” 20 All the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from the face of Moses. 21 They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought YHWH's offering for the work of the Appointed Tent, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments. 22 They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to YHWH. 23 Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and skins of blue, brought them. 24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver and bronze brought YHWH's offering; and everyone with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25 All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. 26 All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats' hair. 27 The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate; 28 with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The sons of Israel brought a freewill offering to YHWH; every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which YHWH had commanded to be made by Moses. 30 Moses said to the sons of Israel, “Behold, [Elohim]^(LXX) has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 He has filled him with the Spirit of Elohim, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship; 32 and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 33 in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship. 34 He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.

36:1 “Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom [was given]^(LXX) wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that YHWH has commanded.” 2 Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart [Elohim]^(LXX) had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it. 3 They received from Moses all the offering which the sons of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They kept bringing freewill offerings to him every morning. 4 All the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which he did. 5 They spoke to Moses, saying, “The people have brought much more than enough for the service of the work which YHWH commanded to make.” 6 Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the work they had was sufficient to do all the work, and too much. 8 All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. They made them with keruvim, the work of a skillful workman. 9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure. 10 He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. 11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second coupling. 12 He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite to one another. 13 He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was one. 14 He made curtains of goats' hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains. 15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure. 16 He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17 He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outermost in the second coupling. 18 He made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together, that it might be one. 19 He made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of skins of blue above. 20 He made the boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up. 21 Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board. 22 Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way. 23 He made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward. 24 He made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 25 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards 26 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 27 For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 28 He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part. 29 They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners. 30 There were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets. 31 He made bars of shittim wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 32 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward. 33 He made the middle bar to pass through in the middle of the boards from the one end to the other. 34 He overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. 35 He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with keruvim. He made it the work of a skillful workman. 36 He made four pillars of shittim for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of silver for them. 37 He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer; 38 and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their binders with gold, and their five sockets were of bronze.

Prophets Portion (P)

31:31 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant of mine they broke, although I was a husband to them,” says YHWH. 33 “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says YHWH: “I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 34 They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says YHWH, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” 35 YHWH, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the judgments of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar— YHWH of Armies is his name, says: 36 “If these judgments depart from before me,” says YHWH, “then the seed of Israel also will cease from being a nation before me forever.” 37 YHWH says: “If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the land searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done,” says YHWH. 38 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that the city will be built to YHWH from the tower of Hananel to the gate of the corner. 39 The measuring line will go out further straight onward to the hill Gareb, and will turn toward Goah. 40 The whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, will be holy to YHWH. It will not be plucked up or thrown down any more forever.”

Apostolic Portion (A)

12:1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were Nations, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by Elohim’s Spirit says, “Yeshua is accursed.” No one can say, “Yeshua is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same Elohim who works all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages. 11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires. 12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Messiah. 13 For in one Spirit we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

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.

50:1 And after this law I made known to thee the days of the Sabbaths in the desert of Sin[ai], which is between Elim and Sinai. 2. And I told thee of the Sabbaths of the land on Mount Sinai, and I told thee of the jubilee years in the sabbaths of years: but the year thereof have I not told thee till ye enter the land which ye are to possess. 3. And the land also will keep its sabbaths while they dwell upon it, and they will know the jubilee year. 4. Wherefore I have ordained for thee the year-weeks and the years and the jubilees: there are forty-nine jubilees from the days of Adam until this day, [2410 A.M.] and one week and two years: and there are yet forty years to come for learning the commandments of the Lord [2450 A.M.], until they pass over into the land of Canaan, crossing the Jordan to the west. 5. And the jubilees will pass by, until Israel is cleansed from all guilt of fornication, and uncleanness, and pollution, and sin, and error, and dwells with confidence in all the land, and there will be no more a Satan or any evil one, and the land will be clean from that time for evermore. 6. And behold the commandment regarding the Sabbaths—I have written (them) down for thee—and all the judgments of its laws. 7. Six days shalt thou labour, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your Elohim. In it ye will do no manner of work, ye and your sons, and your men—servants and your maid—servants, and all your cattle and the sojourner also who is with you. 8. And the man that does any work on it will die: whoever desecrates that day, whoever lies with (his) woman, or whoever says he will do something on it, that he will set out on a journey thereon in regard to any buying or selling: and whoever draws water thereon which he had not prepared for himself on the sixth day, and whoever takes up any burden to carry it out of his tent or out of his house will die. 9. Ye will do no work whatever on the Sabbath day save what ye have prepared for yourselves on the sixth day, so as to eat, and drink, and rest, and keep Sabbath from all work on that day, and to bless the Lord your Elohim, who has given you a day of festival and a holy day: and a day of the holy reign for all Israel is this day among their days for ever. 10. For great is the honour which the Lord has given to Israel that they should eat and drink and be satisfied on this festival day, and rest thereon from all labour which belongs to the labour of the children of men save burning frankincense and bringing oblations and slaughters before the Lord for days and for Sabbaths. 11. This work alone will be done on the Sabbath days in the sanctuary of the Lord your Elohim; that they may atone for Israel with slaughter continually from day to day for a memorial well-pleasing before the Lord, and that He may receive them always from day to day according as thou hast been commanded. 12. And every man who does any work thereon, or goes a journey, or tills (his) farm, whether in his house or any other place, and whoever lights a fire, or rides on any beast, or travels by ship on the sea, and whoever strikes or kills anything, or slaughters a beast or a bird, or whoever catches an animal or a bird or a fish, or whoever fasts or makes war on the Sabbaths: 13. The man who does any of these things on the Sabbath will die, so that the sons of Israel will observe the Sabbaths according to the commandments regarding the Sabbaths of the land, as it is written in the tablets, which He gave into my hands that I should write out for thee the laws of the seasons, and the seasons according to the division of their days. Herewith is completed the account of the division of the days.

Related Scriptures

9:7 Remember, and don’t forget, how you provoked YHWH your Elohim to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against YHWH. 8 Also in Horeb you provoked YHWH to wrath, and YHWH was angry with you to destroy you. 9 When I had gone up onto the mountain to receive the stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant which YHWH made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10 YHWH delivered to me the two stone tablets written with Elohim’s finger. On them were all the words which YHWH spoke with you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 It came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights that YHWH gave me the two stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant. 12 YHWH said to me, “Arise, get down quickly from here; for your people whom you have brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned away from the way which I commanded them. They have made a molten image for themselves!” 13 Furthermore YHWH spoke to me, saying, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people. 14 Leave me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under the heavens; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.” 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. The two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 I looked, and behold, you had sinned against YHWH your Elohim. You had made yourselves a molded calf. You had quickly turned away from the way which YHWH had commanded you. 17 I took hold of the two tablets, and threw them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes. 18 I fell down before YHWH, as at the first, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you sinned, in doing that which was evil in the sight of YHWH, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which YHWH was angry against you to destroy you. But YHWH listened to me that time also. 20 YHWH was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the brook that descended out of the mountain.

1 Kings 19:8 He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, Elohim’s Mountain. 9 He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, the word of YHWH came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Luke 4:1 Yeshua, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tested by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.

Psalms 75:10 I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

Psalms 89:17 For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.

Psalms 92:10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil.

33:13 About Joseph he said, “His land is blessed by YHWH, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath, 14 for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things that the moon can yield, 15 for the best things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16 for the precious things of the land and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers. 17 Majesty belongs to the firstborn of his herd. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples to the ends of the land. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.”

2:1 Hannah prayed, and said, “My heart exults in YHWH! My horn is exalted in YHWH. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 2 There is no one as holy as YHWH, for there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our Elohim. 3 “Don’t keep talking so exceedingly proudly. Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth, for YHWH is an Elohim of knowledge. By him actions are weighed. 4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who stumbled are armed with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry are satisfied. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes. 6 “YHWH kills and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol and brings up. 7 YHWH dispossesses and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up. 8 He raises up the helpless out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the land are YHWH’s. He has set the world on them. 9 He will guard the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength. 10 Those who strive with YHWH will be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the heavens. “YHWH will judge the ends of the land. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3 being revealed that you are a letter of Messiah, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living Elohim; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. 4 Such confidence we have through Messiah toward Elohim, 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from Elohim, 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a renewed covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away, 8 won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. 12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face so that the sons of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Messiah it passes away. 15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (T)

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

Matthew 17:1 After six days, Yeshua took with him Peter, Jacob, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. 4 Peter answered and said to Yeshua, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7 Yeshua came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” 8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Yeshua alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Yeshua commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

Mark 9:1 He said to them, “Amen, amen, I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the reign of Elohim come with power.” 2 After six days Yeshua took with him Peter, Jacob, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on land can whiten them. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Yeshua. 5 Peter answered Yeshua, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid. 7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Yeshua only. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.

Luke 9:28 About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and Jacob, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33 As they were parting from him, Peter said to Yeshua, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said. 34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” 36 When the voice came, Yeshua was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

11:1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Messiah. 2 Now I praise you, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Messiah, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Messiah is Elohim. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head veiled, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not veiled, let her hair also be cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or be shaved, let her be veiled. 7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, because he is the image and glory of Elohim, but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man; 9 for man wasn’t created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this cause the woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord. 12 For as wife came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from Elohim. 13 Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to Elohim unveiled? 14 Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a veil.

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

16:22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one; and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is that which YHWH has spoken, ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to YHWH. Bake that which you want to bake, and boil that which you want to boil; and all that remains over lay up for yourselves to be kept until the morning.’ ” 24 They laid it up until the morning, as Moses ordered, and it didn’t become foul, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to YHWH. Today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath. In it there will be none.” 27 On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather, and they found none. 28 YHWH said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to guard my commandments and my Torot? 29 Behold, because YHWH has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days. Everyone stay in his place. Let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

15:32 While the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 35 YHWH said to Moses, “The man will surely be put to death. All the congregation will stone him with stones outside of the camp.” 36 All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as YHWH commanded Moses.

17:8 the word of YHWH came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 She said, “As YHWH your Elohim lives, I don’t have anything baked, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jar. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

9:6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for Elohim loves a cheerful giver.

Hebrews 8:6 But now he has obtained a more excellent service, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises. 7 For if that first had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days are coming”, says YHWH, “that I will make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says YHWH. 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says YHWH: “I will put my Torah into their mind; I will also write them on their heart. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 11 They will not teach every man his fellow citizen and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” 13 In that he says, “A new”, he has made the first obsolete. But that which is becoming obsolete and grows aged is near to vanishing away.

Hebrews 10:11 Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same slaughters, which can never take away sins, 12 but he, when he had offered one slaughter for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of Elohim, 13 from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says YHWH, “I will put my Torah on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” then he says, 17 “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” 18 Now where forgiveness of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Related Additional Readings​

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.

33:1 And from thence I went to the ends of the land and saw there great beasts, and each differed from the other; and (I saw) birds also differing in appearance and beauty and voice, the one differing from the other. 2. And to the east of those beasts I saw the ends of the land whereon the heavens rests, and the portals of the heavens open. 3. And I saw how the stars of the heavens come forth, and I counted the portals out of which they proceed, and wrote down all their outlets, of each individual star by itself, according to their number and their names, their courses and their positions, and their times and their new moons, as Uriel the holy angel who was with me showed me. 4. He showed all things to me and wrote them down for me: also their names he wrote for me, and their laws and their companies.

The Letter of Jeremiah is apocryphal book in the Roman canon appended as a sixth chapter to the book of Baruch. The work is supposedly a letter sent by Jeremiah to Jews exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C., but it is not a letter, nor was it written by Jeremiah. It is a polemic against the worship of idols, developed around a verse in The Book of Jeremiah (10:11), stating that false elohim will perish. Possibly composed about 300 B.C. by a Jew living in Babylonia, the text suggests by its intensity that idolatry threatened fidelity to the Elohim of Israel. The author’s primary target was probably the Babylonian deity Tammuz, an agricultural elohim whose cult was associated with orgiastic fertility rites. Although the letter is extant only in Greek, certain linguistic and stylistic elements point to an original composition in Hebrew or Aramaic.

6:1 A copy of a letter, which Jerem[iah] sent to them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of Elohim. 2 Because of the sins which you have committed before Elohim, you will be led away captives to Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians. 3 So when you come to Babylon, you will remain there many years, and for a long season, even for seven generations: and after that I will bring you out peaceably from thence. 4 But now will you see in Babylon elohim of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear. 5 Beware therefore that you in no wise become like to the strangers, neither let fear take hold upon you because of them, when you see the multitude before them and behind them, worshiping them. 6 But say you in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship you. 7 For my angel is with you, and I myself do care for your souls. 8 For their tongue is polished by the workman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and with silver; yet are they but false, and can’t speak. 9 And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loves to be happy, they make crowns for the heads of their elohim: 10 and sometimes also the priests convey from their elohim gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves; 11 and will even give thereof to the common whores: and they deck them as men with garments, even the elohim of silver, and elohim of gold, and of wood. 12 Yet can’t these elohim save themselves from rust and moths, though they be covered with purple raiment. 13 They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, which is thick upon them. 14 And he that can’t put to death one that offends against him holds a sceptre, as though he were judge of a country. 15 He has also a dagger in his right hand, and an axe: but can’t deliver himself from war and robbers. 16 Whereby they are known not to be elohim: therefore fear them not. 17 For like as a vessel that a man uses is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their elohim: when they be set up in the temples their eyes be full of dust through the feet of those who come in. 18 And as the courts are made sure on every side upon him that offends the king, as being committed to suffer death; even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers. 19 They light them candles, yes, more than for themselves, whereof they can’t see one. 20 They are as one of the beams of the temple; and men say their hearts are eaten out, when things creeping out of the land devour both them and their raiment: they feel it not 21 when their faces are blackened through the smoke that comes out of the temple: 22 bats, swallows, and birds land on their bodies and heads; and in like manner the cats also. 23 Whereby you may know that they are no elohim: therefore fear them not. 24 Notwithstanding the gold wherewith they are beset to make them beautiful, except one wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for not even when they were molten did they feel it. 25 Things wherein there is no breath are bought at any cost. 26 Having no feet, they are borne upon shoulders, whereby they declare to men that they be nothing worth. 27 They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they can’t rise up again of themselves: neither, if they are bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but the offerings are set before them, as if they were dead men. 28 And the things that are slaughtered to them, their priests sell and spend; and in like manner their wives also lay up part thereof in salt; but to the poor and to the impotent they will give nothing thereof. 29 The menstruous woman and the woman in childbed touch their slaughters: knowing therefore by these things that they are no elohim, fear them not. 30 For how can they be called elohim? because women set meat before the elohim of silver, gold, and wood. 31 And in their temples the priests sit on seats, having their clothes tore, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads. 32 They roar and cry before their elohim, as men do at the feast when one is dead. 33 The priests also take off garments from them, and clotheir wives and children withal. 34 Whether it be evil that one does to them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down. 35 In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow to them, and keep it not, they will never exact it. 36 They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty. 37 They can’t restore a blind man to his sight, nor deliver any that is in distress. 38 They can show no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless. 39 They are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain, these elohim of wood, and that are overlaid with gold and with silver: those who minister to them will be confounded. 40 How should a man then think or say that they are elohim, when even the Kasdim themselves dishonor them? 41 Who if they will see one mute that can’t speak, they bring him, and entreat him to call upon Bel, as though he were able to understand. 42 Yet they can’t perceive this themselves, and forsake them: for they have no understanding. 43 The women also with cords about them sit in the ways, burning bran for incense: but if any of them, drawn by some that passes by, lie with him, she reproaches her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken. 44 Whatsoever is done among them is false: how should a man then think or say that they are elohim? 45 They are fashioned by carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be. 46 And they themselves that fashioned them can never continue long; how then should the things that are fashioned by them? 47 For they have left lies and reproaches to those who come after. 48 For when there comes any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them. 49 How then can’t men understand that they be no elohim, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague? 50 For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with gold and with silver, it will be known hereafter that they are false: 51 and it will be manifest to all nations and kings that they are no elohim, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of Elohim in them. 52 Who then may not know that they are no elohim? 53 For neither can they set up a king in a land, nor give rain to men. 54 Neither can they judge their own cause, nor deliver him that is wronged, being unable: for they are as crows between the heavens and land. 55 For even when fire falls upon the house of elohim of wood, or overlaid with gold or with silver, their priests will flee away, and escape, but they themselves will be burned apart like beams. 56 Moreover they can’t withstand any king or enemies: how should a man then allow or think that they be elohim? 57 Neither are those elohim of wood, and overlaid with silver or with gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers. 58 Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong will take from them, and go away withal: neither will they be able to help themselves.

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

3.6.1. Hereupon the Israelites rejoiced at what they had seen and heard of their conductor, and were not wanting in diligence according to their ability; for they brought silver, and gold, and brass, and of the best sorts of wood, and such as would not at all decay by putrefaction; camels’ hair also, and sheep-skins, some of them dyed of a blue color, and some of a scarlet; some brought the flower for the purple color, and others for white, with wool dyed by the flowers aforementioned; and fine linen and precious stones, which those that use costly ornaments set in ouches of gold; they brought also a great quantity of spices; for of these materials did Moses build the tabernacle, which did not at all differ from a movable and ambulatory temple. Now when these things were brought together with great diligence, [for every one was ambitious to further the work even beyond their ability,] he set architects over the works, and this by the command of Elohim; and indeed the very same which the people themselves would have chosen, had the election been allowed to them. Now their names are set down in writing in the sacred books; and they were these: Besaleel, the son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, the grandson of Miriam, the sister of their conductor and Aholiab, file son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Now the people went on with what they had undertaken with so great alacrity, that Moses was obliged to restrain them, by making proclamation, that what had been brought was sufficient, as the artificers had informed him; so they fell to work upon the building of the tabernacle. Moses also informed them, according to the direction of Elohim, both what the measures were to be, and its largeness; and how many vessels it ought to contain for the use of the slaughters. The women also were ambitious to do their parts, about the garments of the priests, and about other things that would be wanted in this work, both for ornament and for the divine service itself.