• Torah (T): Shemot (Exodus) 39:1 – 40:38
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 33:20 – 34:8
• Apostolic (A): Ephesians 2:17-22
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 45:5-22

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:6-9 (T)
• Deuteronomy 33:8-11 (T)
• Numbers 27:18-21; 1 Samuel 28:4-7 (T)
• Ezra 2:59-63; Nehemiah 7:61-65; 1 Esdras 5:36-40 (T)
• Ezekiel 44:15-25 (T)
• Numbers 7:1 (T)
• Numbers 9:15-23; 1 Kings 8:10-13; Revelation 15:1-8 (T)
• Exodus 13:20-22; Numbers 14:11-14; Deuteronomy 1:20-33; Nehemiah 9:11-21; Psalms 78:13-14; Psalms 105:39; 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (T)
• Psalms 125:1-2 (P)
• Revelation 6:13-14 (P)
• Isaiah 63:1-6 (P)
• Isaiah 57:16-21 (A)
• Romans 11:16-24 (A)
• Isaiah 14:1-2 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• 1 Maccabees 4:36-59; 14:29-49 (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.7.5; 3.8.3-10 (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)

39:1 Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as YHWH commanded Moses. 2 He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman. 4 They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. It was joined together at the two ends. 5 The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as YHWH commanded Moses. 6 They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel. 7 He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, as YHWH commanded Moses. 8 He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double. 10 They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row; 11 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; 12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings. 14 The stones were according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes. 15 They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. 16 They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 17 They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 18 The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front. 19 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward. 20 They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 21 They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod [as YHWH had commanded Moses],^(DSS) with a cord of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band on the inside of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as YHWH commanded Moses, [and he made the Urim and the Tummim as YHWH had commanded Moses].^(DSS) 22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn. 24 They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen. 25 They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates; 26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as YHWH commanded Moses. 27 They made the tunics of fine linen of woven work for Aaron and for his sons, 28 the turban of fine linen, the linen headbands of fine linen, the linen trousers of fine twined linen, 29 the sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as YHWH commanded Moses. 30 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet: “QODESH L'YHWH”. 31 They tied to it a cord of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as YHWH commanded Moses. 32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Appointed Tent was finished. The sons of Israel did according to all that YHWH commanded Moses; so they did. 33 They brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 34 the covering of rams' skins dyed red, the covering of skins of blue, the veil of the screen, 35 the ark of the witness with its poles, the lid, 36 the table, all its vessels, the bread of the presence, 37 the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light, 38 the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent, 39 the bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base, 40 the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Appointed Tent, 41 the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to adorn them. 42 According to all that YHWH commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did all the work. 43 Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as YHWH had commanded. They had done so; and Moses blessed them.

40:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “On the first day of the first new moon you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Appointed Tent. 3 You shall put the ark of the witness in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. 4 You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lampstand, and light its lamps. 5 You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the witness, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle. 6 “You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Appointed Tent. 7 You shall set the basin between the Appointed Tent and the altar, and shall put water therein. 8 You shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court. 9 “You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy. 10 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most holy. 11 You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it. 12 “You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Appointed Tent, and shall wash them with water. 13 You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, and he will be adorned for me. 14 You shall bring his sons, and put tunics on them. 15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, and they will be adorned for me. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” 16 Moses did so. According to all that YHWH commanded [them].^(DSS) 17 In the first new moon in the second year [after the departure from Egypt],^(DSS) on the first day of the new moon, the tabernacle was raised up. 18 [He]^(DSS) raised up its sockets, and set up [its hooks and]^(DSS) its boards, and its bars [were put in],^(DSS) and raised up its pillars. 19 The covering over the tent [was put in],^(DSS) and [he]^(DSS) put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as YHWH commanded Moses. 20 He took the covenant [and it was put]^(DSS) into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and the lid [was put]^(DSS) on the ark. 21 He brought the ark, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the witness, as YHWH commanded Moses. 22 The table [was put into]^(DSS) the Appointed Tent, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil. 23 He set the bread in order on it before YHWH, as YHWH commanded Moses. 24 He put the lampstand in the Appointed Tent, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 25 He lit the lamps before YHWH, as YHWH commanded Moses. 26 He put the golden altar in the Appointed Tent before the veil; 27 and he burned incense of sweet spices on it [before him],^(DSS) as YHWH commanded Moses. 28 He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Appointed Tent, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as YHWH commanded Moses. 30 He set the basin between the Appointed Tent and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash. 31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there. 32 When they went into the Appointed Tent, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as YHWH commanded Moses. 33 He raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the Appointed Tent, and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses wasn't able to enter into the Appointed Tent, because the cloud stayed on it, and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle. 36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys; 37 but if the cloud wasn't taken up, then they didn't travel until the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of YHWH was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Prophets Portion (P)

33:20 Look at Zion, the city of our appointed festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tent that won’t be removed. Its stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. 21 But there YHWH will be with us in majesty, a place of wide rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will go, neither will any gallant ship pass by there. 22 For [my Elohim is great; YHWH will not pass me by;]^(LXX) YHWH our judge. YHWH our lawgiver. YHWH our king. [YHWH,]^(LXX) he will save us. 23 Your rigging is untied. They couldn’t strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn’t spread the sail. Then the prey of a great plunder was divided. The lame took the prey. 24 The inhabitant won’t say, “I am sick.” The people who dwell therein will be forgiven their iniquity.

34:1 Come near, you nations, to hear! Listen, you peoples. Let the land and all it contains hear, the world, and everything that comes from it. 2 For YHWH is enraged against all the nations, and angry with all their armies. He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over for slaughter. 3 Their slain will also be cast out, and the stench of their dead bodies will come up. The mountains will melt in their blood. 4 [And the valleys will be split],^(DSS) and all of the army of the heavens will [fall].^(DSS) The heavens will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its armies will fade away, as a leaf fades from off a vine or a fig tree. 5 For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens. Behold, it will come down on Edom, and on the people of my curse, for judgment. 6 The sword of YHWH is filled with blood. It is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for YHWH has a slaughter in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. 7 The wild oxen will come down with them, and the young bulls with the mighty bulls; and their land will be drunken with blood, and their dust made greasy with fat. 8 For YHWH has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

Apostolic Portion (A)

2:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and of the household of Elohim, 20 being built on the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, Messiah Yeshua himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of Elohim in the Spirit.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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

45:5 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. 6 He exalted Aaron, a holy man like to him, Even his brother, of the tribe of Levi. 7 He established for him an everlasting covenant, And gave him the priesthood of the people; He blessed him with comely ornaments, And girded him about with a robe of glory. 8 He clothed him with the perfection of exultation; And strengthened him with apparel of strength, The linen trousers, the tunic, and the ephod. 9 And he compassed him with pomegranates of gold, And with many bells roundabout, To send forth a sound as he went, To make a sound that might be heard in the temple, For a memorial to the children of his people; 10 With a holy garment, with gold and blue and purple, the work of the embroiderer, With an oracle of judgment, even with the Urim and Tummim; 11 With twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman; With precious stones graven like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweler, For a memorial engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel; 12 With a crown of gold upon the mitre, having graven on it, as on a signet, HOLINESS, An ornament of honor, a work of might, The desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful. 13 Before him there never have been any such; No stranger put them on, but his sons only, and his seed perpetually. 14 His slaughters will be wholly consumed Every day twice continually. 15 Moses filled his hands, And anointed him with holy oil: It was to him for an everlasting covenant, And to his seed, all the days of the heavens, To minister to him, and to execute also the priest’s office, And bless his people in his name. 16 He chose him out of all living To offer slaughter to the Lord, Incense, and a sweet savor, for a memorial, To make reconciliation for your people. 17 He gave to him in his commandments, Yes, authority in the covenants of judgments, To teach Jacob the testimonies, And to enlighten Israel in his law. 18 Strangers gathered themselves together against him, And envied him in the wilderness, Even Dathan and Abiram with their company, And the congregation of Qorach, with wrath and anger. 19 The Lord saw it, and it displeased him; And in the wrath of his anger they were destroyed: He did wonders upon them, To consume them with flaming fire. 20 And he added glory to Aaron, And gave him a heritage: He divided to him the first fruits of the increase; And first did he prepare bread in abundance: 21 For they will eat the slaughters of the Lord, Which he gave to him and to his seed. 22 However in the land of the people he will have no inheritance, And he has no portion among the people: For he himself is your portion and inheritance.

Related Scriptures

Exodus 28:30 You will put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Tummim; and they will be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before YHWH. Aaron will bear the judgment of the sons of Israel on his heart before YHWH continually.

Leviticus 8:6 Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7 He put the tunic on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him and fastened it to him with it. 8 He placed the breastplate on him. He put the Urim and Tummim in the breastplate. 9 He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate, the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as YHWH commanded Moses.

33:8 About Levi he said, “Your Tummim and your Urim are for each of your kind ones, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah. 9 He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own sons for they have observed your word, and guard your covenant. 10 They will teach Jacob your judgments, and Israel your Torah. They will put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar. 11 YHWH, bless his skills. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again.”

Numbers 27:18 YHWH said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and command him in their sight. 20 You will give authority to him, that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey. 21 He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before YHWH. At his word they will go out, and at his word they will come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”

1 Samuel 28:4 The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Shaul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa. 5 When Shaul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 When Shaul inquired of YHWH, YHWH didn’t answer him by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Shaul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.”

Ezra 2:59 These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses and their seed, whether they were of Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two. 61 Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai, who took a woman of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. 62 These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood. 63 The governor told them that they should not eat of the holy of holies until a priest stood up to serve with Urim and with Tummim.

Nehemiah 7:61 These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel: 62 The sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda: six hundred forty-two. 63 Of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a woman of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. 64 These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood. 65 The governor told them not to eat of the holy of holies until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Tummim.

1 Esdras 5:36 These came up from Telmelah, and Telharsha, Cherub, Addan leading them, and Allar; 37 and they could not show their families, nor their stock, how they were of Israel: the sons of Delaiah the son of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred fifty two. 38 Of the priests, those who usurped the office of the priesthood and were not found: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Jaddus, who married Augia one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was called after his name. 39 When the description of the kindred of these men was sought in the register and was not found, they were removed from executing the office of the priesthood; 40 for Nehemias and Attharias told them that they should not be partakers of the holy until a high priest wearing Urim and Tummim should arise.

44:15 “…But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of my sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from me, will come near to me to minister to me. They will stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord YHWH. 16 “They will enter into my sanctuary, and they will come near to my table, to minister to me, and they will guard my instruction. 17 It will be that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they will be clothed with linen garments. No wool will come on them while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. 18 They will have linen turbans on their heads, and will have linen trousers on their waists. They will not clothe themselves with anything that makes them sweat. 19 When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they will put off their garments in which they minister and lay them in the holy rooms. They will put on other garments, that they not sanctify the people with their garments. 20 They will not shave their heads, or allow their locks to grow long. They will only cut off the hair of their heads. 21 None of the priests will drink wine when they enter into the inner court. 22 They will not take for their wives a widow, or her who is put away; but they will take virgins of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest. 23 They will teach my people between the holy and the common, and cause them to know between the unclean and the clean. 24 In a controversy they will stand to judge. They will judge it according to my judgments. They will guard my Torot and my statutes in all my appointed feasts. They will make my Sabbaths holy. 25 They will go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves…”

7:1 On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them

Numbers 9:15 On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Witness. At evening it was over the tabernacle, as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. 16 So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the sons of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the sons of Israel encamped. 18 At the commandment of YHWH, the sons of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of YHWH they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the sons of Israel kept the command of YHWH, and didn’t travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of YHWH they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of YHWH they traveled. 21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled; or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. 22 Whether it was two days, or a new moon, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the sons of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At the commandment of YHWH they encamped, and at the commandment of YHWH they traveled. They kept the command of YHWH, at the commandment of YHWH by Moses.

1 Kings 8:10 It came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of YHWH, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of YHWH filled the house of YHWH. 12 Then Solomon said, “YHWH has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.”

Revelation 15:1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the heavens: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them Elohim’s wrath is finished. 2 I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of Elohim. 3 They sang the song of Moses, the servant of Elohim, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord Elohim, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. 4 Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the witness in the heavens was opened. 6 The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their chests. 7 One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of Elohim, who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of Elohim and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.

Exodus 13:20 They took their journey from Sukkot, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 YHWH went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: 22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.

Numbers 14:11 YHWH said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? How long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” 13 Moses said to YHWH, “Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them. 14 They will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you YHWH are among this people; for you YHWH are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them, and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Deuteronomy 1:20 I said to you, “You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which YHWH our Elohim gives to us. 21 Behold, YHWH your Elohim has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as YHWH the Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed.” 22 You came near to me, everyone of you, and said, “Let’s send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we must go up, and the cities to which we will come.” 23 The thing pleased me well. I took twelve of your men, one man for every tribe. 24 They turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 25 They took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, “It is a good land which YHWH our Elohim gives to us.” 26 Yet you wouldn’t go up, but rebelled against the commandment of YHWH your Elohim. 27 You murmured in your tents, and said, “Because YHWH hated us, he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our heart melt, saying, ‘The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to the heavens. Moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there!’ ” 29 Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. 30 YHWH your Elohim, who goes before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you have seen how that YHWH your Elohim carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went, until you came to this place.” 32 Yet in this thing you didn’t believe YHWH your Elohim, 33 who went before you on the way, to seek out a place for you to pitch your tents in: in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day.

Nehemiah 9:11 You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters. 12 Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go. 13 “You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from the heavens, and gave them right judgments and Torah of truth good statutes and commandments, 14 and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a Torah, by Moses your servant, 15 and gave them bread from the heavens for their hunger, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them. 16 “But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your commandments, 17 and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are an Elohim ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them. 18 Yes, when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘This is your Elohim who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awful blasphemies, 19 yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. 20 You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. 21 “Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.

Psalms 78:13 He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap. 14 In the daytime he also led them in a cloud, and all night in a light of fire.

Psalms 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.

1 Corinthians 10:1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Messiah. 5 However with most of them, Elohim was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

125:1 Those who trust in YHWH are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so YHWH surrounds his people from this time forward and forever more.

6:13 The stars of the heavens fell to the land, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. 14 The heavens were removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” 2 Why is your clothing red, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat? 3 “I have trodden the wine press alone. Of the peoples, no one was with me. Yes, I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. 5 I looked, and there was no one to help; and I wondered that there was no one to uphold. Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me. My own wrath upheld me. 6 I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath. I poured their lifeblood out on the land.”

57:16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom I have made. 17 I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness and struck him. I hid myself and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. 19 I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says YHWH; “and I will heal them.” 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can’t rest and its waters cast up mire and mud. 21 “There is no peace”, says my Elohim, “for the wicked.”

11:16 If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree, 18 don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” 20 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear; 21 for if Elohim didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 See then the goodness and severity of Elohim. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for Elohim is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

14:1 For YHWH will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land. The foreigner will join himself with them, and they will unite with the house of Jacob. 2 The peoples will take them, and bring them to their place. The house of Israel will possess them in the land of YHWH for servants and for handmaids. They will take as captives those whose captives they were; and they will rule over their oppressors.

Related Additional Readings​

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

1 Maccabees follows this story until the death of Simon (the third son of Mattathias to rule over Israel) at the hands of the Egyptian Greeks (from about 175-134 B.C.).

4:36 But Judas and his kindred said, “Behold, our enemies are defeated. Let’s go up to cleanse the holy place and to rededicate it.” 37 All the army was gathered together, and they went up to mount Zion. 38 They saw the sanctuary laid desolate, the altar profaned, the gates burned up, shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest or as on one of the mountains, and the priests’ chambers pulled down; 39 and they tore their clothes, made great lamentation, put ashes upon their heads, 40 fell on their faces to the ground,  blew with the trumpets of signals, and cried toward the heavens. 41 Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those who were in the citadel until he had cleansed the holy place. 42 He chose blameless priests who were devoted to the law; 43 and they cleansed the holy place and carried the defiled stones out to an unclean place. 44 They deliberated what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which had been profaned. 45 A good plan came into their mind, that they should pull it down, lest it would be a reproach to them, because the Nations had defiled it. So they pulled down the altar 46 and laid up the stones on the temple hill in a convenient place, until a prophet would come to give an answer concerning them. 47 They took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar like the former. 48 They built the holy place and the inner parts of the house; and they consecrated the courts. 49 They made new holy vessels, and they brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. 50 They burned incense on the altar, and they lit the lamps that were upon the lampstand, and they gave light in the temple. 51 They set loaves upon the table, hung up the curtains, and finished all the work which they had done. 52 They rose up early in the morning, on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth new moon, which is the new moon Chislev, (circa B.C. 165) in the one hundred forty eighth year, 53 and offered slaughter according to the law on the new altar of burnt offerings which they had made. 54 At the time and day the Nations had profaned it, even then it was dedicated with songs, harps, lutes, and with cymbals. 55 All the people fell on their faces, worshiped, and gave praise, looking up toward the heavens, to him which had given them good success. 56 They celebrated the dedication of the altar eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and slaughtered a slaughter of deliverance and praise. 57 They decorated the front of the temple with crowns of gold and small shields. They dedicated the gates and the priests’ chambers, and made doors for them. 58 There was exceedingly great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Nations was turned away. 59 Judas and his kindred and the whole congregation of Israel ordained that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their seasons from year to year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the new moon Chislev, with gladness and joy.

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.).

3.7.5. Besides these, the high priest put on a third garment, which was called the Ephod, which resembles the Epomis of the Greeks. Its make was after this manner: it was woven to the depth of a cubit, of several colors, with gold intermixed, and embroidered, but it left the middle of the breast uncovered: it was made with sleeves also; nor did it appear to be at all differently made from a short coat. But in the void place of this garment there was inserted a piece of the bigness of a span, embroidered with gold, and the other colors of the ephod, and was called Essen, [the breastplate,] which in the Greek language signifies the Oracle. This piece exactly filled up the void space in the ephod. It was united to it by golden rings at every corner, the like rings being annexed to the ephod, and a blue riband was made use of to tie them together by those rings; and that the space between the rings might not appear empty, they contrived to fill it up with stitches of blue ribands. There were also two sardonyxes upon the ephod, at the shoulders, to fasten it in the nature of buttons, having each end running to the sardonyxes of gold, that they might be buttoned by them. On these were engraven the names of the sons of Jacob, in our own country letters, and in our own tongue, six on each of the stones, on either side; and the elder sons’ names were on the right shoulder. Twelve stones also there were upon the breast-plate, extraordinary in largeness and beauty; and they were an ornament not to be purchased by men, because of their immense value. These stones, however, stood in three rows, by four in a row, and were inserted into the breastplate itself, and they were set in ouches of gold, that were themselves inserted in the breastplate, and were so made that they might not fall out low the first three stones were a sardonyx, a topaz, and an emerald. The second row contained a carbuncle, a jasper, and a sapphire. The first of the third row was a ligure, then an amethyst, and the third an agate, being the ninth of the whole number. The first of the fourth row was a chrysolite, the next was an onyx, and then a beryl, which was the last of all. Now the names of all those sons of Jacob were engraven in these stones, whom we esteem the heads of our tribes, each stone having the honor of a name, in the order according to which they were born. And whereas the rings were too weak of themselves to bear the weight of the stones, they made two other rings of a larger size, at the edge of that part of the breastplate which reached to the neck, and inserted into the very texture of the breastplate, to receive chains finely wrought, which connected them with golden bands to the tops of the shoulders, whose extremity turned backwards, and went into the ring, on the prominent back part of the ephod; and this was for the security of the breastplate, that it might not fall out of its place. There was also a girdle sewed to the breastplate, which was of the forementioned colors, with gold intermixed, which, when it had gone once round, was tied again upon the seam, and hung down. There were also golden loops that admitted its fringes at each extremity of the girdle, and included them entirely.

3.8.3. Moses now purified the tabernacle and the priests; which purification was performed after the following manner:—He commanded them to take five hundred shekels of choice myrrh, an equal quantity of cassia, and half the foregoing weight of cinnamon and calamus [this last is a sort of sweet spice]; to beat them small, and wet them with an bin of oil of olives [an hin is our own country measure, and contains two Athenian choas, or congiuses]; then mix them together, and boil them, and prepare them after the art of the apothecary, and make them into a very sweet ointment; and afterward to take it to anoint and to purify the priests themselves, and all the tabernacle, as also the slaughters. There were also many, and those of various kinds, of sweet spices, that belonged to the tabernacle, and such as were of very great price, and were brought to the golden altar of incense; the nature of which I do not now describe, lest it should be troublesome to my readers; but incense 19 was to be offered twice a-day, both before sun-rising and at sun-setting. They were also to keep oil already purified for the lamps; three of which were to give light all day long, 20 upon the sacred candlestick, before Elohim, and the rest were to be lighted at the evening.

3.8.4. Now all was finished. Besaleel and Aholiab appeared to be the most skillful of the workmen; for they invented finer works than what others had done before them, and were of great abilities to gain notions of what they were formerly ignorant of; and of these, Besaleel was judged to be the best. Now the whole time they were about this work was the interval of seven new moons; and after this it was that was ended the first year since their departure out of Egypt. But at the beginning of the second year, on the new moon Xanthicus, as the Macedonians call it, but on the new moon Nisan, as the Hebrews call it, on the new moon, they consecrated the tabernacle, and all its vessels, which I have already described.

3.8.5. Now Elohim showed himself pleased with the work of the Hebrews, and did not permit their labors to be in vain; nor did he disdain to make use of what they had made, but he came and sojourned with them, and pitched his tabernacle in the holy house. And in the following manner did he come to it:—The heavens was clear, but there was a mist over the tabernacle only, encompassing it, but not with such a very deep and thick cloud as is seen in the winter season, nor yet in so thin a one as men might be able to discern any thing through it, but from it there dropped a sweet dew, and such a one as showed the face of Elohim to those that desired and believed it.

3.8.6. Now when Moses had bestowed such honorary presents on the workmen, as it was fit they should receive, who had wrought so well, he offered slaughters in the open court of the tabernacle, as Elohim commanded him; a bull, a ram, and a kid of the goats, for a sin-offering. Now I will speak of what we do in our sacred offices in my discourse about slaughters; and therein will inform men in what cases Moses bid us offer a whole burnt offering, and in what cases the law permits us to partake of them as of food. And when Moses had sprinkled Aaron’s vestments, himself, and his sons, with the blood of the beasts that were slain, and had purified them with spring waters and ointment, they became Elohim’s priests. After this manner did he consecrate them and their garments for seven days together. The same he did to the tabernacle, and the vessels thereto belonging, both with oil first incensed, as I said, and with the blood of bulls and of rams, slain day by day one, according to its kind. But on the eighth day he appointed a feast for the people, and commanded them to offer slaughter according to their ability. Accordingly they contended one with another, and were ambitious to exceed each other in the slaughters which they brought, and so fulfilled Moses’s injunctions. But as the slaughters lay upon the altar, a sudden fire was kindled from among them of its own accord, and appeared to the sight like fire from a flash of lightning, and consumed whatsoever was upon the altar.

3.8.7. Hereupon an affliction befell Aaron, considered as a man and a father, but was undergone by him with true fortitude; for he had indeed a firmness of soul in such accidents, and he thought this calamity came upon him according to Elohim’s will: for whereas he had four sons, as I said before, the two elder of them, Nadab and Abihu, did not bring those slaughters which Moses bade them bring, but which they used to offer formerly, and were burnt to death. Now when the fire rushed upon them, and began to burn them, nobody could quench it. Accordingly they died in this manner. And Moses bid their father and their brethren to take up their bodies, to carry them out of the camp, and to bury them magnificently. Now the multitude lamented them, and were deeply affected at this their death, which so unexpectedly befell them. But Moses entreated their brethren and their father not to be troubled for them, and to prefer the honor of Elohim before their grief about them; for Aaron had already put on his sacred garments.

3.8.8. But Moses refused all that honor which he saw the multitude ready to bestow upon him, and attended to nothing else but the service of Elohim. He went no more up to Mount Sinai; but he went into the tabernacle, and brought back answers from Elohim for what he prayed for. His habit was also that of a private man, and in all other circumstances he behaved himself like one of the common people, and was desirous to appear without distinguishing himself from the multitude, but would have it known that he did nothing else but take care of them. He also set down in writing the form of their government, and those laws by obedience whereto they would lead their lives so as to please Elohim, and so as to have no quarrels one among another. However, the laws he ordained were such as Elohim suggested to him; so I will now discourse concerning that form of government, and those laws.

3.8.9. I will now treat of what I before omitted, the garment of the high priest: for he [Moses] left no room for the evil practices of [false] prophets; but if some of that sort should attry to abuse the Divine authority, he left it to Elohim to be present at his slaughters when he pleased, and when he pleased to be absent. 21 And he was willing this should be known, not to the Hebrews only, but to those foreigners also who were there. For as to those stones, 22 which we told you before, the high priest bare on his shoulders, which were sardonyxes, [and I think it needless to describe their nature, they being known to every body,] the one of them shined out when Elohim was present at their slaughters; I mean that which was in the nature of a button on his right shoulder, bright rays darting out thence, and being seen even by those that were most remote; which splendor yet was not before natural to the stone. This has appeared a wonderful thing to such as have not so far indulged themselves in philosophy, as to despise Divine revelation. Yet will I mention what is still more wonderful than this: for Elohim declared beforehand, by those twelve stones which the high priest bare on his breast, and which were inserted into his breastplate, when they should be victorious in battle; for so great a splendor shone forth from them before the army began to march, that all the people were sensible of Elohim’s being present for their assistance. Whence it came to pass that those Greeks, who had a veneration for our laws, because they could not possibly contradict this, called that breastplate the Oracle. Now this breastplate, and this sardonyx, left off shining two hundred years before I composed this book, Elohim having been displeased at the transgressions of his laws. Of which things we will further discourse on a fitter opportunity; but I will now go on with my proposed narration.

3.8.10. The tabernacle being now consecrated, and a regular order being settled for the priests, the multitude judged that Elohim now dwelt among them, and betook themselves to slaughters and praises to Elohim as being now delivered from all expectation of evils and as entertaining a hopeful prospect of better times hereafter. They offered also gifts to Elohim some as common to the whole nation, and others as peculiar to themselves, and these tribe by tribe; for the heads of the tribes combined together, two by two, and brought a wagon and a yoke of oxen. These amounted to six, and they carried the tabernacle when they journeyed. Besides which, each head of a tribe brought a bowl, and a charger, and a spoon, of ten darics, full of incense. Now the charger and the bowl were of silver, and together they weighed two hundred shekels, but the bowl cost no more than seventy shekels; and these were full of fine flour mingled with oil, such as they used on the altar about the slaughters. They brought also a young bullock, and a ram, with a lamb of a year old, for a whole burnt offering, as also a goat for the forgiveness of sins. Every one of the heads of the tribes brought also other slaughters, called peace-offerings, for every day two bulls, and five rams, with lambs of a year old, and kids of the goats. These heads of tribes were twelve days in slaughtering, one slaughtering every day. Now Moses went no longer up to Mount Sinai, but went into the tabernacle, and learned of Elohim what they were to do, and what laws should be made; which laws were preferable to what have been devised by human understanding, and proved to be firmly observed for all time to come, as being believed to be the gift of Elohim, insomuch that the Hebrews did not transgress any of those laws, either as tested in times of peace by luxury, or in times of war by distress of affairs. But I say no more here concerning them, because I have resolved to compose another work concerning our laws.