• Torah (T): Shemot (Exodus) 24:1-18
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 60:17 – 61:9
• Apostolic (A): Matthew 26:27-28
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 1:1-4

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 32:8-12, 43 (T)
• Psalms 82:1-8; Psalms 89:5-8 (T)
• Luke 10:1-20 (T)
• John 7:14-19 (T)
• Acts 7:51-53 (T)
• Luke 8:19-21; Matthew 12:48-50; Mark 3:31-35 (T)
• Genesis 15:8-21 (T)
• Exodus 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 4:12-14 (T)
• Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-13 (T)
• Hebrews 10:11-23 (T, A)
• Romans 2:10-16 (T)
• Joshua 24:19-27 (T)
• 2 Chronicles 34:29-33 (T)
• Hebrews 9:11-20; Hebrews 12:22-29 (T)
• 1 Peter 1:1-2 (T)
• 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (T)
• Exodus 33:20-23; Judges 13:21-22; John 5:37-38; John 6:46; John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:13; 1 John 4:12 (T)
• Genesis 22:4-5 (T)
• Deuteronomy 4:23-24; Hebrews 12:28-29 (T)
• Exodus 34:27-28 (T)
• Deuteronomy 9:1-10 (T)
• Luke 4:16-21 (P)
• Matthew 11:1-6; Luke 7:2-23 (P)
• Matthew 5:1-5; Isaiah 57:11-15; Isaiah 62:1-2; Psalms 37:1-11 (P)
• 1 Corinthians 11:25-32 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Enoch 89:59-65; Enoch 90:20-27 (T)
• Sirach 45:1-5 (T)
• 2 Esdras 14:1-48 (T)
• Tobit 13:16-18 (T)
• Wisdom of Solomon 13:1-9 (T)
• A Moses Apocryphon 4Q377 Fragment 2 Column 2 (T)
• The Coming of Melchizedek 11Q13 Col. 2 (P)
• Redemption and Resurrection 4Q521 Fragment 2 + Fragment 4 Column 2 (P)
• Exodus 24:1-18 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.5.7-8 (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)

24:1 He said to Moses, “Come up to YHWH, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, [Eliezer and Ithamar],^(DSS) and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance. 2 Moses alone will come near to YHWH, but they will not come near. The people will not go up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the word of YHWHs, and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which YHWH has spoken will we do.” 4 Moses wrote all the word of YHWHs, then rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and slaughtered peace offerings of cattle to YHWH. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 He took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “All that YHWH has spoken [we will obey and we will do].”^(DSS) 8 Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Look, this is the blood of the covenant, which YHWH has made with you concerning all these words.” 9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, [Eliezer and Ithamar]^(DSS), and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. 10 [And they saw the place where the Elohim of Israel stood; and under his feet was as it were a work of sapphire slabs, and as it were the appearance of the firmament of the heavens in its purity. 11 And of the chosen ones of Israel there was not even one missing, and they appeared in the place of Elohim, and did eat and drink.]^(LXX) 12 YHWH said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the stone tablets, and the Torah, and the Command that I have written, that you may teach them.” 13 Moses rose up with Joshua, his minister, and Moses went up onto Elohim’s Mountain. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us, until we come again to you. Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can go to them.” 15 Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 the glory of YHWH settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day he called to Moses out of the middle of the cloud. 17 The appearance of the glory of YHWH was like consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the sons of Israel. 18 Moses entered into the middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Prophets Portion (P)

60:17 “For bronze I will bring gold; for iron I will bring silver; for wood, bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make peace your governor, and righteousness your ruler. 18 Violence will no more be heard in your land, nor desolation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. 19 The sun will be no more your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but YHWH will be your everlasting light, and your Elohim will be your glory. 20 Your sun will not go down any more, nor will your moon withdraw itself; for YHWH will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will end. 21 Then your people will all be righteous. They will inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 The little one will become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation. I, YHWH, will do this quickly in its time.”

61:1 The Spirit of [the Lord]^(DSS)(LXX) YHWH is on me, because [he]^(LXX) has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and [recovering of sight to the blind],^(DSS)(LXX) 2 to proclaim the year of the favor of YHWH and the day of vengeance of our Elohim, to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of YHWH, that he may be decorated. 4 They will rebuild the old ruins. They will raise up the former devastated places. They will repair the ruined cities that have been devastated for many generations. 5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks. Foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards. 6 But you will be called the priests of YHWH. Men will call you the servants of our Elohim. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory. 7 Instead of your shame you will have double. Instead of dishonor, they will rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double. Everlasting joy will be to them. 8 “For I, YHWH, love justice. I hate robbery for burnt offering. I will give them their reward in truth and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their seed will be known among the nations, and their seed among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the seed which YHWH has blessed.”

Apostolic Portion (A)

26:27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, 28  for this is my blood of the [renewed covenant],^(mss) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

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.

1:1 And it came to pass in the first year of the exodus of the sons of Israel out of Egypt, in the third month, on the sixteenth day of the month [2450 A.M.], that Elohim spake to Moses, saying: “Come up to Me on the Mount, and I will give thee two tables of stone [and the Torah and the Command], which I have written, that thou mayst teach them.” 2. And Moses went up into the mount of Elohim, and the glory of YHWH abode on Mount Sinai, and a cloud overshadowed it six days. 3. And He called to Moses on the seventh day out of the midst of the cloud, and the appearance of the glory of YHWH was like a flaming fire on the top of the Mount. 4. And Moses was on the Mount forty days and forty nights, and Elohim taught him the earlier and the later history of the division of all the days of the law and of the witness.

Related Scriptures

Deuteronomy 32:8-12, 43 (T)

32:10 When Elyon gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of man, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of [Elohim].^(DSS) 9 For the portion of YHWH is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. 12 YHWH alone led him. There was no foreign elohim with him… Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, [the heavens, together with him]^(DSS)(LXX) [and bow down to him all you elohim],^(DSS) (and let all the angels of Elohim worship him);^{(LXX)(cf. Hebrews 1:6)} rejoice you Nations, with his people, ^{(LXX)(cf. Romans 15:10)}, for he will avenge the blood of his [sons],^(DSS)(LXX) and will render vengeance to his enemies, and [will recompense those who hate him];^(DSS)(LXX) and [will atone]^(DSS) [for the land of his people].^(DSS)(LXX)

Psalms 82:1-8; Psalms 89:5-8 (T)

Psalms 82:1 A Psalm by Asaph. Elohim presides in the assembly of elohim. He judges among elohim. 2 “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah. 3 “Judge for the helpless and the fatherless. Do righteousness to the afflicted and dispossessed. 4 Rescue the helpless and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” 5 They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the land are shaken. 6 I said, “You are elohim, all of you are sons of the Most High. 7 Nevertheless you will die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.” 8 Arise, Elohim, judge the land, for you inherit all of the nations.

Psalms 89:5 The heavens will praise your wonders, YHWH, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the heavens can be compared to YHWH? Who among the Sons of Elohim is like YHWH, 7 a very awesome Elohim in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? 8 YHWH, Elohim of Armies, who is strong*, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.

Luke 10:1-20 (T)

10:1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. 2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. 8 Into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘the reign of Elohim has come near to you.’ 10 But into whatever city you enter and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the reign of Elohim has come near to you.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to the heavens, will be brought down to Sheol. 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from the heavens. 19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on nachashim and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in the heavens.”

7:14 But when it was now the middle of the feast, Yeshua went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Judeans therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?” 16 Yeshua therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from Elohim or if I am speaking from myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the Torah, and yet none of you keeps the Torah? Why do you seek to kill me?”

7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52 Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53 You received the Torah as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t guard it!”

Luke 8:19 His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. 20 Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of Elohim and do it.”

Matthew 12:48 But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 50  For whoever does the will of my Father who is in the heavens, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Mark 3:31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him. 32 A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.” 33 He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of Elohim is my brother, my sister, and mother.”

15:8 He said, “Lord YHWH, how will I know that I will inherit it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young dove.” 10 He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth; 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” 17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day YHWH cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Exodus 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, the ten words.

Deuteronomy 4:12 YHWH spoke to you out of the middle of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice. 13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, the ten words. He wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 YHWH commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it.

Jeremiah 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.”

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 10:11-23 (T, A)

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 the Lord, “I will put my Torah on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” (cf. Jeremiah 31:33) then he says, 17 “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” (cf. Jeremiah 31:34) 18 Now where forgiveness of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Yeshua, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, 21 and having a great priest over God’s house, 22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water, 23 let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

2:10 But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with Elohim. 12 For as many as have sinned without the Torah will also perish without the Torah. As many as have sinned under the Torah will be judged by the Torah. 13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified 14 (for when Nations who don’t have the Torah do by nature the things of the Torah, these, not having the Torah, are a Torah to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Torah written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when Elohim will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Yeshua the Messiah.

24:19 Joshua said to the people, “You can’t serve YHWH, for he is a holy Elohim. He is a zealous Elohim. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins. 20 If you forsake YHWH, and serve foreign elohim, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.” 21 The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve YHWH.” 22 Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen YHWH yourselves, to serve him.” They said, “We are witnesses.” 23 “Now therefore put away the foreign elohim which are among you, and incline your heart to YHWH, the Elohim of Israel.” 24 The people said to Joshua, “We will serve YHWH our Elohim, and we will obey his voice.” 25 So Joshua cut a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and a judgment in Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the Torah of Elohim; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of YHWH. 27 Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the word of YHWHs which he spoke to us. It will be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your Elohim.”

34:29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the house of YHWH with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small—and he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that was found in the house of YHWH. 31 The king stood in his place and cut a covenant before YHWH, to walk after YHWH, and to guard his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to do the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of Elohim, the Elohim of their fathers. 33 Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the sons of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve YHWH their Elohim. All his days they didn’t depart from following YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.

Hebrew 9:11 But Messiah having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim? 15 For this reason he is the mediator of a renewed covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. 17 For a covenant is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first has not been dedicated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Torah, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which Elohim has commanded you.”

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in the heavens, to Elohim the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Yeshua, the mediator of a renewed covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. 25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the land, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from the heavens, 26 whose voice shook the land then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the land, but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a Reign that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve Elohim acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our Elohim is a consuming fire.

1:1 Peter, an emissary of Yeshua the Messiah, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of Elohim the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Yeshua the Messiah and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

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 of 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 ministration 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.

Exodus 33:18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory*.” 19 He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of YHWH before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” 20 He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.” 21 YHWH also said, “Behold, there is a place by me, and you will stand on the rock. 22 It will happen, while my glory* passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face will not be seen.”

Judges 13:21 But the angel of YHWH didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of YHWH. 22 Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, because we have seen God.”

John 5:37 The Father himself, who sent me, has witnessed about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.

John 6:46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from Elohim. He has seen the Father.

John 1:18 No one has seen Elohim at any time. The only born [god],^(NU-Text) who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

John 1:18 (ESV) No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 1:18 (GNTA) No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 1:18 (NAS) No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 1:18 (NIV) No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John 1:18 (NLT) No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

John 1:18 (TLV) No one has ever seen God; but the one and only God,[a] in the Father’s embrace, has made Him known.

1 Timothy 6:13 I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Messiah Yeshua who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 15 which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

1 John 4:12 No one has seen Elohim at any time. If we love one another, Elohim remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

22:4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.”

Deuteronomy 4:23 Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of YHWH your Elohim, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which YHWH your Elohim has forbidden you. 24 For YHWH your Elohim is a consuming fire, a zealous Elohim.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, receiving a Reign that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve Elohim acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our Elohim is a consuming fire.

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, the ten commandments.

9:1 Hear, Israel! You are to pass over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to the heavens, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?” 3 Know therefore today that YHWH your Elohim is he who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and he will bring them down before you. So you will drive them out and make them perish quickly, as YHWH has spoken to you. 4 Don’t say in your heart, after YHWH your Elohim has thrust them out from before you, “For my righteousness YHWH has brought me in to possess this land;” because YHWH drives them out before you because of the wickedness of these nations. 5 Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations YHWH your Elohim does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 6 Know therefore that YHWH your Elohim doesn’t give you this good land to possess for your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. 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.

4:16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the scroll, and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (cf. Isaiah 61:1-2) 20 He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Matthew 11:1 When Yeshua had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and proclaim in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in the prison the works of Messiah, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” 4 Yeshua answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

Luke 7:1 After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. 3 When he heard about Yeshua, he sent to him Jewish elders, asking him to come and save his servant. 4 When they came to Yeshua, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6 Yeshua went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7 Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Yeshua heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” 10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well. 11 Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14 He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15 He who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother. 16 Fear took hold of all, and they glorified Elohim, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “Elohim has visited his people!” 17 This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region. 18 The disciples of John told him about all these things. 19 John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Yeshua, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 20 When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Immerser has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22 Yeshua answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

Matthew 5:1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, 3 “Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the reign of the heavens. 4 Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Happy are the afflicted, for they will inherit the land.

Isaiah 57:11 “Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven’t I held my peace for a long time, and you don’t fear me? 12 I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they will not benefit you. 13 When you cry, let those whom you have gathered deliver you, but the wind will take them. A breath will carry them all away, but he who takes refuge in me will possess the land, and will inherit my holy mountain.” 14 He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.” 15 For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a broken and low spirit, to revive the spirit of the low, and to revive the heart of the broken.

Isaiah 66:1 YHWH says: “Heaven is my throne, and the land is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest? 2 For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says YHWH: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is afflicted and of a crushed spirit, and who trembles at my word.

Psalms 37:1 Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. 2 For they will soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in YHWH, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Also delight yourself in YHWH, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to YHWH. Trust also in him, and he will do this: 6 he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun. 7 Rest in YHWH, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for YHWH will inherit the land. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. 11 But the afflicted will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

11:25 In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 31 For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

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.

Enoch 89:59-65; Enoch 90:20-27 (T)

Enoch 89:59 And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: “Let each individual of you pasture the sheep henceforward, and everything that I will command you that do ye. 60. And I will deliver them over unto you duly numbered, and tell you which of them are to be destroyed–and them destroy ye.” And He gave over unto them those sheep. 61. And He called another and spake unto him: “Observe and mark everything that the shepherds will do to those sheep; for they will destroy more of them than I have commanded them. 62. And every excess and the destruction which will be wrought through the shepherds, record (namely) how many they destroy according to my command, and how many according to their own caprice: record against every individual shepherd all the destruction he effects. 63. And read out before me by number how many they destroy, and how many they deliver over for destruction, that I may have this as a witness against them, and know every deed of the shepherds, that I may comprehend and see what they do, whether or not they abide by my command which I have commanded them. 64. But they will not know it, and thou shalt not declare it to them, nor admonish them, but only record against each individual all the destruction which the shepherds effect each in his time and lay it all before me.” 65. And I saw till those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to slay and to destroy more than they were bidden, and they delivered those sheep into the hand of the lions.

Enoch 90:20-27 And I saw till a throne was erected in the pleasant land, and the Lord of the sheep sat Himself thereon, and the other took the sealed books and opened those books before the Lord of the sheep. 21. And the Lord called those men the seven first white ones, and commanded that they should bring before Him, beginning with the first star which led the way, all the stars whose privy members were like those of horses, and they brought them all before Him. 22. And He said to that man who wrote before Him, being one of those seven white ones, and said unto him: “Take those seventy shepherds to whom I delivered the sheep, and who taking them on their own authority slew more than I commanded them.” 23. And behold they were all bound, I saw, and they all stood before Him. 24. And the judgement was held first over the stars, and they were judged and found guilty, and went to the place of condemnation, and they were cast into an abyss, full of fire and flaming, and full of pillars of fire. 25. And those seventy shepherds were judged and found guilty, and they were cast into that fiery abyss. 26. And I saw at that time how a like abyss was opened in the midst of the land, full of fire, and they brought those blinded sheep, and they were all judged and found guilty and cast into this fiery abyss, and they burned; now this abyss was to the right of that house. 27. And I saw those sheep burning and their bones burning.

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).

45:1 And he brought out of him a man of mercy, Which found favor in the sight of all flesh; A man beloved of Elohim and men, even Moses, Whose memorial is blessed. 2 He made him like to the glory of the saints, And magnified him in the fears of his enemies. 3 By his words he caused the wonders to cease; He glorified him in the sight of kings; He gave him commandment for his people, And showed him part of his glory. 4 He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness; He chose him out of all flesh. 5 He made him to hear his voice, And led him into the thick darkness, And gave him commandments face to face, Even the law of life and knowledge, That he might teach Jacob the covenant, And Israel his judgments.

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.

14:1 And it came to pass upon the third day, I sat under an oak, and, behold, there came a voice out of a bush near me, and said, Esdras, Esdras. 2 And I said, Here am I, Lord. And I stood up upon my feet. 3 Then said he to me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself, and talked with Moses, when my people were in bondage in Egypt: 4 and I sent him, and he led my people out of Egypt; and I brought him up to the mount of Sinai, where I held him by me for many days; 5 and told him many wondrous things, and showed him the secrets of the times, and the end of the seasons; and commanded him, saying, 6 These words will you publish openly, and these will you hide. 7 And now I say to you, 8 Lay up in your heart the signs that I have showed, and the dreams that you have seen, and the interpretations which you have heard: 9 for you will be taken away from men, and from henceforth you will remain with my Son, and with such as be like you, until the times be ended. 10 For the world has lost its youth, and the times begin to wax old. 11 For the world is divided into ten parts, and is come to the tenth: and half of the tenth remains. 12 Now [there remains of it two parts after the middle of the tenth part.]* 13 Now therefore set your house in order, and reprove your people, comfort the lowly among them, and instruct such of them as be wise, and now renounce the life that is corruptible, 14 and let go from the mortal thoughts, cast away from you the burdens of man, put off now your weak nature, 15 and lay aside the thoughts that are most grievous to you, and haste you to remove from these times. 16 For yet worse evils than those which you have seen happen will be done hereafter. 17 For look, how much the world will be weaker through age, so much the more will evils increase upon those who dwell therein. 18 For the truth will withdraw itself further off, and falsehood will be hard at hand: for now hastens the eagle to come, which you saw in vision. 19 Then answered I and said, I will speak before you, O Lord. 20 Behold, I will go, as you have commanded me, and reprove the people that now be: but those who will be born afterward, who will admonish them? for the world is set in darkness, and those who dwell therein are without light. 21 For your law is burned, therefore no man knows the things that are done of you, or the works that will be done. 22 But if I have found favor before you, send the Holy Spirit to me, and I will write all that has been done in the world since the beginning, even the things that were written in your law, that men may be able to find the path, and that they which would live in the latter days may live. 23 And he answered me and said, Go your way, gather the people together, and say to them, that they seek you not for forty days. 24 But look you prepare you many tablets, and take with you Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ethanus, and Asiel, these five, which are ready to write swiftly; 25 and come here, and I will light a lamp of understanding in your heart, which will not be put out, till the things be ended which you will write. 26 And when you have done, some things will you publish openly, and some things will you deliver in secret to the wise: tomorrow this hour will you begin to write. 27 Then went I forth, as he commanded me, and gathered all the people together, and said, 28 Hear these words, O Israel. 29 Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, and they were delivered from thence, 30 and received the law of life, which they kept not, which you also have transgressed after them. 31 Then was the land, even the land of Zion, given you for a possession: but you yourselves, and your fathers, have done unrighteousness, and have not kept the ways which the Most High commanded you. 32 And forasmuch as he is a righteous judge, he took from you for a while the thing that he had given you. 33 And now you are here, and your kindred are among you. 34 Therefore if so be that you will rule over your own understanding, and instruct your hearts, you will be kept alive, and after death you will obtain mercy. 35 For after death will the judgment come, when we will live again: and then will the names of the righteous be manifest, and the works of the impious will be declared. 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 keep 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.

*As the Aethiopic reads. Verses 11, 12 are omitted in the Syriac.

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.

13:16 For Jerusalem will be built with sapphires, emeralds, and precious stones; your walls and towers and battlements with pure gold. 17 The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with beryl, carbuncle, and stones of Ophir. 18 All her streets will say, “Hallelujah!” and give praise, saying, “Blessed be Elohim, who has exalted you forever!”

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

13:1 For truly all men who had no perception of Elohim were vain by nature, and didn’t gain power to know him who exists from the good things that are seen. They didn’t recognize the architect from his works. 2 But they thought that either fire, or wind, or swift air, or circling stars, or raging water, or luminaries of the heavens were elohim that rule the world. 3 If it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be elohim, let them know how much better their Sovereign Lord is than these, for the first author of beauty created them. 4 But if it was through astonishment at their power and influence, then let them understand from them how much more powerful he who formed them is. 5 For from the greatness of the beauty of created things, mankind forms the corresponding image of their Maker. 6 But yet for these men there is but small blame, for they too perhaps go astray while they are seeking Elohim and desiring to find him. 7 For they diligently search while living among his works, and they trust their sight that the things that they look at are beautiful. 8 But again even they are not to be excused. 9 For if they had power to know so much, that they should be able to explore the world, how is it that they didn’t find the Sovereign Lord sooner?

Frag. 2 Col. 2 And Eliba (?) responded, “Hea[r], O congregation of the LORD, and lend an ear, all who are here gathered: bear witness […] to a[ll] His wor[ds] and judgem[ents]. Cursed be the man who fails to preserve and car[ry out] all the commandments of the L]ORD as spoken by Moses His anointed, and who fails to follow the LORD, the Elohim of our fathers, He who has command[ed] is from the mountains of Sinai.

For He has spoken wi[th] the congregation of Israel face to face, as a man might speak with his friend. Since li[g]ht draws a man’s attention, He has appeared to us as a consuming flame in the heavens above, while on the land He has stood upon the mountain to teach. Surely there is no Elohim but Him, and no Rock like Him.” All the congregation answered, but they were seized with trembling in the face of Elohim’s glory and the wondrous thundering. So they stood at a distance.

Meanwhile, Moses, the man of Elohim, was with Elohim in the cloud. The cloud would cover him, for […] as he was sanctified. Elohim would speak through his mouth as though he were an angel; indeed, what herald of glad tidings was ever like him? […] He was a man of piety and […] such as were never created before or since […]

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

Col. 2 […] And concerning what Scripture says, “In [this] year of jubilee [you will return, every one of you, to your property” (Leviticus 25:13) and what is also written, “And this] is the [ma]nner of [the forgiveness]: every creditor will remit the claim that is held [against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because Elohim’s] forgiveness [has been proclaimed” (Deuteronomy 15:2): [the interpretation] is that it applies [to the L]ast Days and concerns the captives, just as [Isaiah said: “To proclaim the jubilee to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1)… just] as […] and from the inheritance of Melchizedek, f[or… Melchizedek, who will return them to what is rightfully theirs. He will proclaim to them the jubilee, thereby releasing th[em from the debt of a]ll their sins.

[He will pro]claim this decree in the fir[s]t [wee]k of the jubilee period that foll[ows nine j]ubilee periods. Then the “D[ay of Atone]ment” will follow af[ter] the [te]nth [ju]bilee period, when he will atone for all the Sons of [Light] and the peopl[e who are pre]destined to Mel[chi]zedek. Melchiz[edek]’s favor” (Isaiah 61:2, modified), [and] by his might w[i]ll judge Elohim’s holy ones and so establish a righteous ki[n]gdom, as it is written about him in the Songs of David, “A godlike being has taken his place in the council of Elohim; in the midst of the divine beings he holds judgement” (Psalms 82:1). Scripture also s[ays] about him, “Over [it] take your seat in the highest the heavens; A divine being will judge the peoples” (Psalms 7:7-8).

Concerning what Scripture s[ays, “How long will y]ou (plural: you-all) judge unjustly, and sh[ow] partiality to the wick[e]d? [S]el[ah]” (Psalms 82:2), the interpretation applies to Belial and the spirits predestined to him, becau[se all of them have rebe]lled, turn[ing] from Elohim’s precepts [and so becoming utterly wicked.] Therefore, Melchizedek will thoroughly prosecute the veng[ea]nce required by Go08 statu[te]s. [Also, he will deliver all the captives from the power of B]elial, and from the power of all [the spirits predestined to him.] Allied with him will be all the [“righteous] divine beings” (Isaiah 61:3). [The…] wh[ich…al]l the divine beings.

The vi[sitation] is the Day of [Salvation] that He has decreed [through Isai]ah the prophet [concerning all the captives,] inasmuch as Scripture sa[ys, How] beautiful upon the mountains are the fee[ t of] the messeng[er] who [an]nounces peace, who brings [good] news, [who announces salvat]ion, who [sa]ys to Zion, Your [di]vine being [reigns’” (Isaiah 52:7).] This scripture’s interpretation: “the mounta[ins” are the] prophet[s], they w[ho were sent to proclaim Elohim’s truth and to] proph[esy] to all I[srael]. The “messenger” is the [An]ointed of the spir[it], of whom Dan[iel] spoke, [“After the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed one will be cut off” (Daniel 9:26). The “messenger who brings] good news, who announ[ces salvation”] is the one of whom it is wri[tt]en, [“to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor, the day of vengeance of our Elohim;] to comfo[rt all who mourn” (Isaiah 61:2). This scripture’s interpretation:] he is to inst[r]uct them about all the periods of history for eter[nity…and in the statutes of] [the] truth. […] […dominion] that passes from Belial and ret[urns to the Sons of Light…] […] by the judgement of Elohim, just as it is written concerning him, [“who says to Zi[on ‘Your divine being reigns’” (Isaiah 52:7). [“Zi]on” is [the congregation of all the sons of righteousness, who] uphold the covenant and turn from walking [in the way] of the people. “Your di[vi]ne being” is [Melchizedek, who will del]iv[er them from the po]wer of Belial.

Concerning what Scripture says, “Then you will have the trumpet [sounded loud; in] the [seventh m]o[nth…”] (Leviticus 25:9.)

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

Frag. 2 + Frag. 4 Col. 2 […For the hea]vens and the land will listen to His Messiah [and all w]hich is in them will not turn away from the commandments of the holy ones. Strengthen yourselves, O you who seek the Lord, in His service.

Will you not find in the Lord in this, all those who hope in their heart? For the Lord seeks the poious and calls the righteous by name. Over the humble His spirit hovers, and He renews the faithful in His strength. For He will honor the pious upon the th[ro]ne of His eternal reign, setting prisoners free, opening the eyes of the blind, raising up those who are bo[wed down]. And for [ev]er (?) I (?) will hold fast [to] the [ho]peful and pious […] […] will not be delayed […] and the Lord will do glorious things which have not been done, just as He said. For He will heal the critically wounded, He will revive the dead, He will send good news to the afflicted, He will […the…], He will lead the […], and the hungry He will enrich (?). […] and […]

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

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Exodus 24:1-18 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Composed in Talmudic Israel (c.150 – c.250 AD). Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum (translation) of the Torah (Pentateuch) from the land of Israel (as opposed to the eastern Babylonian Targum Onkelos). Its correct title was originally Targum Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Targum), which is how it was known in medieval times. But because of a printer’s mistake it was later labeled Targum Jonathan, in reference to Jonathan ben Uzziel. Some editions of the Pentateuch continue to call it Targum Jonathan to this day. Most scholars refer to the text as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. This targum is more than a mere translation. It includes much Aggadic material collected from various sources as late as the Midrash Rabbah as well as earlier material from the Talmud. It is effectively a combination of a commentary and a translation. In the portions where it is pure translation, it often agrees with the Targum Onkelos. The date of its composition is disputed. It cannot have been completed before the Arabic conquest as it refers to Mohammad’s wife Fatimah, but might have been initially composed in the 4th Century AD. However, some scholars date it in the 14th Century.

Chapter 24 And Michael, the Prince of Wisdom, said to Mosheh on the seventh day of the month, Come up before the Lord, thou and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance. And Mosheh alone will approach before the Lord; but they will not draw nigh, nor may the people come up with him.

And Mosheh came and set before the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Mosheh wrote the words of the Lord, and arose in the morning and builded an altar at the lower part of the mountain; and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent the firstborn of the sons of Israel,-for until that hour had the firstborn had the (office of performing) worship, the tabernacle of ordinance not (as yet) being made, nor the priesthood given unto Aharon; and they offered burnt offerings and consecrated oblations of oxen before the Lord. And Mosheh took half of the blood of the offering, and put it in basins, and half of the blood of the offering he sprinkled upon the altar. And he took the Book of the Covenant of the Law and read before the people; and they said, All the words which the Lord hath spoken we will perform and obey. And Mosheh took half of the blood which was in the basins, and sprinkled upon the altar, to expiate the people, and said, Behold, this is the blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you upon all these words.

And Mosheh and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, went up. And Nadab and Abihu lifted up their eyes, and saw the glory of the Elohim of Israel; and under the footstool of His feet which was placed beneath His throne, was like the work of sapphire stone a memorial of the servitude with which the Mizraee had made the sons of Israel to serve in clay and bricks, (what time) there were women treading clay with their husbands; the delicate young woman with child was also there, and made abortive by being beaten down with the clay. And thereof did Gabriel, descending, make brick, and, going up to the heavens on high, set it, a footstool under the cathedra of the Lord of the world whose splendour was as the work of a precious stone, and as the power of the beauty of the heavens when they are clear from clouds. [JERUSALEM. The footstool of His feet as the work of pure sapphire stones, and as the aspect of the heavens when they are cleared from clouds.]

But upon Nadab and Abihu, the comely young men, was the plague not sent in that hour, but it awaited them on the eighth day for a retribution to destroy them; but they saw the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord, and rejoiced that their oblations were received with favour, and so did eat and drink.

And the Lord said to Mosheh, Ascend before Me at the mount, and I will there give thee the tables of stone on which I have set forth the rest of the words of the Law, and the six hundred and thirteen precepts which I have written for their instruction. And Mosheh arose and Jehoshua his minister; and Mosheh went up to the mountain on which was revealed the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord. And to the sages he had said, Expect us here, at the time of our return to you; and, behold, Aharon and Hur are with you; if there be any matter of judgment, bring it to them. And Mosheh went up into the mount, and the Cloud of Glory covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord’s Shekinah abode upon the mountain of Sinai, and the Cloud of Glory covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Mosheh from the midst of the Cloud. And the appearance of the splendour of the glory of the Lord was as burning fire with flashes of devouring fire; and the sons of Israel beheld and were awe-struck. And Mosheh entered into the midst of the Cloud, and ascended the mountain; and Mosheh was upon the mountain forty days and forty nights, learning the words of the Law from the mouth of the Holy One, whose Name be praised.

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.5.7-8 (T)

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

3.5.7. When matters were brought to this state, Moses went up again to Mount Sinai, of which he had told them beforehand. He made his ascent in their sight; and while he staid there so long a time, (for he was absent from them forty days,) fear seized upon the Hebrews, lest Moses should have come to any harm; nor was there any thing else so sad, and that so much troubled them, as this supposal that Moses was perished. Now there was a variety in their sentiments about it; some saying that he was fallen among wild beasts; and those that were of this opinion were chiefly such as were ill-disposed to him; but others said that he was departed, and gone to God; but the wiser sort were led by their reason to embrace neither of those opinions with any satisfaction, thinking, that as it was a thing that sometimes happens to men to fall among wild beasts and perish that way, so it was probable enough that he might depart and go to God, on account of his virtue; they therefore were quiet, and expected the event: yet were they exceeding sorry upon the supposal that they were deprived of a governor and a protector, such a one indeed as they could never recover again; nor would this suspicion give them leave to expect any comfortable event about this man, nor could they prevent their trouble and melancholy upon this occasion. However, the camp durst not remove all this while, because Moses had bidden them afore to stay there.

3.5.8. But when the forty days, and as many nights, were over, Moses came down, having tasted nothing of food usually appointed for the nourishment of men. His appearance filled the army with gladness, and he declared to them what care God had of them, and by what manner of conduct of their lives they might live happily; telling them, that during these days of his absence he had suggested to him also that he would have a tabernacle built for him, into which he would descend when he came to them, and how we should carry it about with us when we remove from this place; and that there would be no longer any occasion for going up to Mount Sinai, but that he would himself come and pitch his tabernacle amongst us, and be present at our prayers; as also, that the tabernacle should be of such measures and construction as he had shown him, and that you are to fall to the work, and prosecute it diligently. When he had said this, he showed them the two tables, with the ten commandments engraven upon them, five upon each table; and the writing was by the hand of God.